Mechanism for locking a computer display and for unlocking the display when purposely used

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a display screen configurable in a locked state and an unlocked state;
• a graphical user interface (GUI) that presents at least one icon on the display screen and accepts user actuation of the at least one icon only when the display screen is in the unlocked state, and wherein the display screen is darkened and the GUI is prevented from accepting user actuation of the at least one icon when the display screen is in the locked state;
• a touch lock mechanism coupled to the display screen for presenting a button onto a portion of the display screen in response to a touch actuation on the display screen when the display screen is in the locked state, wherein if the touch lock mechanism recognizes continuous user actuation onto only the button beyond a predetermined amount of time, the touch lock mechanism is configured to transition the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state;
• and
• a bypass mechanism coupled to the display screen for bypassing the presentation of the button onto the portion of the locked display screen and immediately transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state upon connection of the portable electronic device to a power cord.

A method for unlocking a display screen of a portable electronic device, the display screen being in a locked state, which presents a dark background on the display screen and prevents a graphical user interface of the portable electronic device from accepting user actuation of one or more icons, which are presented on the display screen when the display screen is in an unlocked state, the method comprising:

• detecting user interaction with the portable electronic device or the display screen when the display screen is in the locked state;
• determining a source of the user interaction, wherein if the source of the user interaction is determined to be a touch actuation on the display screen, the method further comprises:
• presenting a button onto a portion of the locked display screen;
• transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state only if the button is continuously actuated for a predetermined amount of time;
• and
• bypassing the presentation of the button onto the portion of the disabled display screen and immediately transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state upon connection of the portable electronic device to a power cord.