The live lock screen feature is one of the main tricks users are available to accomplish on a Windows Phone 8 device, all thanks to Microsoft. The feature allows for the customization of the lock screen by adding your favorite apps to the screen: this removes the need to unlock your phone to view the weather or other content updates.

To keep this feature in-house and away from prying eyes, Microsoft has applied for a patent on the technology.

Here is what you want to know:

Active Lock Wallpapers:

"The subject disclosure is directed towards a technology in which a mobile device such as a phone automatically changes its lock wallpaper content (e.g., an image or video) that appears when the device is in its lock state. An API or the like allows information to be received from an application or service according to which the content is changed, including obtaining the content as needed. The lock wallpaper content may change in response to an automatic change event, and may correspond to a current device context. For example, lock wallpaper content may be displayed based upon a currently playing podcast, audio track, or currently running application program or service. The lock wallpaper may change among content obtained from a social networking site, or from a favorites store. The device may allow gesturing to change the content."

There's also another interesting technology Microsoft is trying to patent, called the capacitive touch controls lockout.

"In embodiments of capacitive touch controls lockout, a computing device includes a touch-screen display for user interaction, and includes one or more capacitive touch controls for user selection as a device input to initiate a device action. The computing device also includes a lockout service that is implemented to disable one or more of the capacitive touch controls based on user interaction with the touch-screen display."

Need to know more? Read along. USPTO1, USPTO 2