Unlocking schemes

Abstract

An end device may include a camera configured to capture an image of an object, a touch screen configured to receive a touch input and a processor configured to determine to unlock the end device based, at least in part, on a relation between the image of the object and the touch input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An end device, comprising:
 a camera configured to capture an image of an object;   a touch screen configured to receive a touch input; and   a processor configured to determine to unlock the end device based, at least in part, on a relation between the image of the object and the touch input.   
     
     
         2 . The end device of  claim 1 , wherein the captured image is displayed on the touch screen, and
 the touch input is received while the captured image is displayed on the touch screen.   
     
     
         3 . The end device of  claim 1 , wherein the captured image is displayed on the touch screen for a predetermined time and, then, the displayed image is removed from the touch screen, and
 the touch input is received after the displayed image is removed from the touch screen.   
     
     
         4 . The end device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises:
 a touch input recognition unit configured to recognize a trace of the touch input;   a boundary detection unit configured to detect a first boundary of the object from the image of the object;   a similarity calculation unit configured to calculate a first similarity between the trace of the touch input and the first boundary of the object; and   a control unit configured to determine to unlock the end device based, at least in part, on the first similarity.   
     
     
         5 . The end device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store at least one image of the object,   wherein the boundary detection unit is further configured to detect a second boundary of the object from the at least one image stored in the memory,   the similarity calculation unit is further configured to calculate a second similarity between the first boundary and the second boundary, and   the control unit determines to unlock the end device further based, at least in part, on the second similarity.   
     
     
         6 . The end device of  claim 5 , wherein the processor comprises:
 a texture recognition unit configured to recognize a first texture of the object from the captured image and a second texture of the object from the at least one image stored in the memory,   wherein the similarity calculation unit is further configured to calculate a third similarity between the first texture and the second texture, and   the control unit determines to unlock the end device further based, at least in part, on the third similarity.   
     
     
         7 . The end device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first texture and the second texture includes at least one of a color of the object and a pattern of the object. 
     
     
         8 . The end device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store at least one image of the object and at least one touch input associated with the object,   wherein the processor comprises:   a similarity calculation unit configured to calculate a fourth similarity between the received touch input and the at least one touch input stored in the memory and a fifth similarity between the captured image and the at least one image stored in the memory; and   a control unit configured to determine to unlock the end device based, at least in part, on the fourth similarity and the fifth similarity.   
     
     
         9 . The end device of  claim 8 , wherein the similarity calculation unit calculates the fourth similarity based, at least in part, on a trace of the received touch input and a trace of the at least one touch input stored in the memory, and
 the similarity calculation unit calculates the fifth similarity based, at least in part, on a texture of the object.   
     
     
         10 . The end device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store an information regarding an unlock permission location,   wherein the processor comprises:   a location information obtaining unit configured to obtain a location information of the end device, and   wherein the processor determines to unlock the end device further based, at least in part, on the location information of the end device and the information regarding the unlock permission location   
     
     
         11 . The end device of claim of  10 , wherein the processor determines to unlock the end device if the location information of the end device falls within a tolerance range from the unlock permission location. 
     
     
         12 . The end device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store a password,   wherein the processor comprises:   a numeral image display unit configured to display, on the touch screen, a numeral image including a plurality of numerals;   a numeral recognition unit configured to recognize, based at least in part on the touch input, at least one numeral selected on the numeral image; and   a control unit configured to determine whether the at least one recognized numeral is identical to the password and determine to unlock the end device.   
     
     
         13 . The end device of  claim 12 , wherein the captured image of the object is displayed on the touch screen, and
 the numeral image is overlaid on the captured image.   
     
     
         14 . The end device of  claim 12 , wherein the numeral image display unit is further configured to select the numeral image from among a plurality of numeral images depending on a kind of the object. 
     
     
         15 . The end device of  claim 12 , wherein the object has thereon at least one numeral, and
 the numeral image is generated based on the captured image of the object.   
     
     
         16 . The end device of  claim 1 , wherein the captured image includes at least one character, and
 the end device further comprises:   a memory configured to store a password,   wherein the processor comprises:   a character reader configured to read at least one character selected on the captured image; and   a control unit configured to determine whether the at least one character read by the character reader is identical to the password and determine to unlock the end device.   
     
     
         17 . The end device of  claim 16 , wherein the captured image includes a keyboard image. 
     
     
         18 . A method performed under control of an end device, comprising:
 capturing an image of an object;   receiving a touch input; and   determining to unlock the end device based, at least in part, on a relation between the image of the object and the touch input.   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing computer-executable instructions that cause an end device to perform the method of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause an end device to perform operations, comprising:
 capturing an image of an object;   receiving a touch input; and   determining to unlock the end device based, at least in part, on a relation between the image of the object and the touch input.