An Apple patent (number 8209637) for unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image has appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Per the patent, a device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device.

The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.
The disclosed embodiments relate generally to user interfaces that employ touch-sensitive displays, and more particularly, to the unlocking of user interfaces on portable electronic devices.

The inventors are Imran Chaudhri, Bas Ording, Freddy Allen Anzures, Marcel Van Os, Scott Forstall and Greg Christie. Also appearing today at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office are:

° Patent number 8209612 for application of speed effects to a video presentation. Some embodiments provide a method of specifying speed effects for playing a video clip. The method defines a set of speed effects for the video clip. It then displays in real-time a presentation of the video clip that accounts for the set of speed effects defined for the video clip. Gary Johnson is the inventor.

° Patent number 8209630 for a device, method, and graphical user interface for resizing user interface content. Aspect ratio locking alignment guides for gestures are disclosed. The inventors are Will John Thimbleby, Jay Christopher Capela and Christopher Douglas Weeldreyer.

° Patent number 8209632 for an image mask interface. Systems and methods are disclosed for an image editing process on an electronic device that uses an image mask to edit an image object. The image editing process may include an image mask overlying the image object and having a frame and an aperture. The inventors are Elizabeth Gloria Guarino Reid and Kurt Allen Revis.