device except in some embodiments selected calls such as 911 emergency calls for example may still be permitted from a locked device locking of the device 10 effectively prevents the user from entering information into or extracting information out of the device other than to enter a password or provide some other predetermined user input in order to unlock the device turning again to step 208 in the event that the device lock timer has not run out of time a check is done to determine if a user stimulus has recently been issued by the mobile device 10 a user stimulus includes attempts by the device 10 to get the attention of a user that may not be currently looking at the device and in an example embodiment the user stimulus includes for example an audible prompt such as a beep or ring or a physical prompt such as a vibration such prompts may be issued by other applications running on the mobile device 10 for a variety of reasons u2014 for example stimuli may be issued in response to a new incoming email or other message received over wireless network 50 to announce an incoming phone call or a page or to issue a reminder of an event scheduled in a calendar type or to do list type of application if no stimulus has been issued to the user the process 200 loops back to step 204 and repeats steps.