Direct, gesture-based actions from device's lock screen

A mobile device for executing an action comprising:

• a lock screen module configured to output, at a touch screen of the mobile device a lock screen view configured to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to the mobile device;
• a gesture interpretation module that, while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen is configured to detect, at the touch screen, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape, wherein the touch gesture is entered by a user at any position on the touch screen, the touch gesture being of any size relative to the pre-defined shape;
• and
• a lock action module that, in response to detecting the touch gesture and while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen, is configured to execute, by the mobile device, a particular action on determined, at least in part, on the pre-defined shape;
• at least one memory unit that stores each of the lock screen module, the gesture interpretation module, and the lock action module;
• at least one computer processor that implements each of the lock screen module, the gesture interpretation module, and the lock action module;
• whereby detection of the touch gesture initiates the particular action while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen;
• and
• whereby executing the particular action while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen and in response to the touch gesture being entered at any position on the touch screen prevents inadvertent access while the mobile device is obscured from view.