While Apple may have patented the “slide to unlock” feature found on iOS devices and some non-iOS devices, it looks like Google may have been granted the patent for a pattern unlock screen, a feature we’re sure many Android users are familiar with.
“A lock screen view is displayed on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent access to the mobile device’s data. While the mobile device is locked, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape is detected on a touch screen of the mobile device independently of the initial position of the touch gesture on the touch screen.”
That’s not all to the patent though. Another patent reveals more lock screen features that build on the pattern lock feature on Android phones. According to the patent, these new gestures while performed in the lock screen could call up certain widgets, such as the calendar to remind you of your appointments, or maybe even messages, or even the ability to directly call a predefined number.
“In response to detection of the touch gesture, a particular action is executed on the mobile device while the mobile device stays locked. The particular action determined according to the pre-defined shape. In this way, detection of the touch gesture causes the particular action to execute while keeping the mobile device locked.”
No word on when Google plans to turn this patent into reality, but it’s definitely a pretty interesting features with a lot of possibilities.