US Patent 8638939 User authentication on an electronic device

The present disclosure provides for the use of non-alphanumeric, non-biometric inputs to authenticate a user accessing secured data or functions on an electronic device. In one embodiment, an authentication screen is invoked by use of a gesture input via a touch-sensitive structure. In such an embodiment, an authentication screen may be invoked with no outward appearance on the display as to the existence of the data or function for which access is sought. The authentication may be based upon a gesture, a sequence of selected objects, or another non-alphanumeric, non-biometric input.