AutoInput unlock screen

[Willoughby]

In short, what the description says.  I know this is a Tasker forum as opposed to an AutoInput forum, but maybe someone knows the answer.  Using a combination of stock Tasker actions and AutoInput, I've created a profile where if I receive a text from a specific person, I will respond with an MMS which will send a screen shot of my location on the map.  It works fine as long as I use "none" as the "sceen lock type" from within my phones settings.  The task that runs will wait a couple of seconds, get a location, open map with that location, then wait a little to let it fully load, then I use AutoInput to take a screenshot, then Tasker will compose an MMS with that screenshot as the attachment.  Tasker won't actually send the message (you can't even select a recipient), so I again rely on AutoInput for this in four steps to a)select recipients, b) select contact, c) done, and then finally d) send.  And it all works perfectly.

The problem is that it only works if the phone "wakes up" to the home screen when receiving a text which only happens with no screen lock security of any kind.  I know there are ways to do it that involve rooting my phone, but that's just not something I'm interested in.

[Rich D]

> The problem is that it only works if the phone "wakes up" to the home screen when receiving a text which only happens with no screen lock security of any kind.  I know there are ways to do it that involve rooting my phone, but that's just not something I'm interested in.

I think if there was a non rooted way to bypass the screen lock it would make the whole idea of a screen lock pointless..    I have never heard of a non root method to bypass the screen lock.. 

[Rich D]

>
> I think if there was a non rooted way to bypass the screen lock it would make the whole idea of a screen lock pointless..    I have never heard of a non root method to bypass the screen lock.. 

Perhaps if you are looking for a screen lock to just keep prying eyes out of your device you could build a 'semi secure' screen lock with tasker then you would have full control over it.

[Willoughby]

There's an idea. It's not really security. I'd be fine if I could use no security, but just a swipe to wake up my phone, but the task won't work unless the text wakes the phone up directly to the home screen. Even with the swipe only method, it doesn't work.

It's not necessarily the pass code that I want to use. It's just that if the phone is set to wake up directly to the home screen, it is problematic for me because I drive with the phone in my crouch and I'm inadvertently waking it up and doing God knows what while I'm driving.

I'll look into creating some sort of semi security using tasker. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Rich D]

Oh, I thought you were looking to override screen lock.

I believe in the past you could wake up the device and avoid the keyguard with just a action / alert / pop up.  Be sure to have the 'show over keyguard'  ticked.

I just checked and this still works on my device.

I have a rooted Motorola Droid 4 / Stock ROM   / Tasker  /  Version:  4.8m / Android version 4.1.2

[Willoughby]

This works!  Thanks you very much!  I assume that the action/alert/popup only works to wake the phone to the home screen when your security is set to swipe only, correct?

I was originally trying to override the screen lock, so you didn't misunderstand.  I use the passcode just because I always have, and it's something I'm used to.  Best case scenario, I'd like a passlock - and a way to bypass it without rooting my phone, but short of that, I would at least want to be able to require a swipe before the home screen opens up.  This helps here.  The idea is to be able to send a text that says "Where are you?" and the phone will respond with a photo of the map with the phone's location (really just for fun), but then I got to thinking I could have it take a photo with the front-facing camera and send that as well, so I'd have a picture of the thief who stole my phone were that to ever happen ;).  Though a knowing thief - without a passcode - could just go in and turn off that profile!!

Thanks again for your help.

[Willoughby]

I meant the phone would respond whenever RECEIVING a text that says "Where are you?" from a specific sender and responding to that sender with what I described above.

[Don D]

FWIW my wife and I have a similar setup using autoremote.  When either of us sends the other a specific request (either via text or AR) then the receiving phone gets gps coordinates and replies with those coordinates in the same manner as the requesting message. Upon receipt of the coordinates, the receiving phone automatically launches google maps and plots the gps.  This method doesn't require a screenshot, so the phone can remain locked.

A few more unsolicited thoughts - we have it set up so that the request can be sent either via AR or text.  Neither alerts the receiver (sounds muted on this incoming message).  The reason we have it both ways is that while we prefer to use AR, if the phone to be located is being used as a phone then internet is disabled (thanks Verizon).  In such cases, we use text if no AR response comes.

Also, if you want to avoid AR, you can always reply with a link that will allow the receiver to open your current location in google maps.  My text response is "I am at http://maps.google.com/maps?z=12&t=m&q=loc:%LOC"

[Don D]

Wow that was poorly written on my part - slight edits below:

FWIW my wife and I have a similar setup using autoremote or text.  For example, when wife phone sends request for husband's location, then the husband's phone gets gps coordinates and replies with those coordinates via text or AR (whichever method was used by wife to send request). Upon receipt of the coordinates, wife's phone automatically launches google maps and plots the gps.  This method doesn't require a screenshot, so the phone can remain locked.

A few more unsolicited thoughts - we have it set up so that the request can be sent either via AR or text.  Neither alerts the receiver (sounds muted on this incoming message).  The reason we have it both ways is that while we prefer to use AR, if the phone to be located is in use for voice communications (talking on the phone) then internet is disabled (thanks Verizon).  In such cases, we use text to send a second request if no AR response comes.

[Willoughby]

I require the screenshot simply because my girlfriend has an iPhone, so I can't make her end do anything with the information.  You've just solved my problem entirely though.  I didn't think of just sending a regular SMS text message (which can be done without unlocking the phone at all) with a link containing the location variable.  Thanks!!