Ως εφευρέτες αναφέρονται οι Scott Forstall, Imran Chaudhri, Bas Ording, Freddy Allen Anzures, Marcel Van Os, Stephen O. Lemay και Greg Christie. Παραδόξως, δικαστήριο στην Ολλανδία δεν είχε κάνει αποδεκτή την αίτηση της Apple επειδή υπήρχε ήδη συσκευή το 2004-5 από την Neonode (N1m) που έδειχνε μια παρόμοια τεχνική με το "slide to unlock"
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. In addition, there is a need for sensory feedback to the user regarding progress towards satisfaction of a user input condition that is required for the transition to occur.