Hover controlled user interface element
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a user interface on a device having a hover-sensitive input/output interface, the method comprising:
- identifying a state associated with a user interface element associated with the input/output interface, where the state depends, at least in part, on a user action performed using a virtual keyboard that is displayable on the input/output interface;
identifying a control action performed by an object in a hover-space associated with the input/output interface, where the hover-space comprises a three dimensional volume existing in an area accessible to the input/output interface;
selectively controlling the availability of the virtual keyboard on the input/output interface as a function of the control action; and
selectively configuring the user interface element as a function of the state and the control action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example apparatus and methods concern controlling a hover-sensitive input/output interface. One example apparatus includes a proximity detector that detects an object in a hover-space associated with the input/output interface. The apparatus produces characterization data concerning the object. The characterization data may be independent of where in the hover-space the object is located. The apparatus selectively controls the activation, display, and deactivation of user interface elements displayed by the apparatus on the input/output interface as a function of the characterization data and interface state. Selectively controlling the activation, display, and deactivation of the user interface elements includes allocating display space on the input/output interface to the user interface elements when they are needed for an operation on the apparatus and selectively reclaiming space on the input/output interface allocated to the user interface elements when they are not needed for an operation on the apparatus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a user interface on a device having a hover-sensitive input/output interface, the method comprising:
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identifying a state associated with a user interface element associated with the input/output interface, where the state depends, at least in part, on a user action performed using a virtual keyboard that is displayable on the input/output interface; identifying a control action performed by an object in a hover-space associated with the input/output interface, where the hover-space comprises a three dimensional volume existing in an area accessible to the input/output interface; selectively controlling the availability of the virtual keyboard on the input/output interface as a function of the control action; and selectively configuring the user interface element as a function of the state and the control action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
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identifying a state associated with a user interface element associated with an input/output interface, where the state depends, at least in part, on a user action performed using a virtual keyboard that is displayable on the input/output interface; identifying a user configurable control action performed by an object in a hover-space associated with the input/output interface, where the hover-space comprises a three dimensional volume existing in an area accessible to the input/output interface, where identifying the control action comprises; receiving a signal from an active detection system provided by the device or from a passive detection system provided by the device, where the signal identifies a gesture independent of the position of the virtual keyboard, identifies the entry of a digit into the hover-space, identifies the presence of a digit at a pre-determined location in the hover-space, identifies the presence of a digit at a location in the hover-space related to the position of the virtual keyboard, identifies a gesture that is related to the position of the virtual keyboard, identifies the removal of a digit from the hover-space, or identifies that a digit has moved less than a threshold amount in the hover-space over a threshold period of time; selectively controlling the availability of the virtual keyboard on the input/output interface as a function of the control action, where controlling the availability of the virtual keyboard happens within a threshold amount of time, and where controlling the availability of the virtual keyboard comprises; making one hundred percent of the virtual keyboard visible on the input/output interface and making virtual keys associated with the virtual keyboard active for receiving a virtual keystroke; making less than one hundred percent of the virtual keyboard visible on the input/output interface, and making virtual keys associated with the virtual keyboard inactive for receiving a virtual keystroke; splitting the virtual keyboard into at least two pieces, positioning a first piece of the at least two pieces at a first position on the input/output interface, and positioning a second piece of the at least two pieces at a second, different position on the input/output interface, where less than one hundred percent of the first piece is visible on the input/output interface and where less than one hundred percent of the second piece is visible on the input/output interface; positioning a portion of the virtual keyboard within a threshold distance of an edge of the input/output interface, or changing the opacity of the virtual keyboard; selectively configuring the user interface element as a function of the state and the control action; selectively displaying the user interface element on the input/output interface at a location that makes an insertion point associated with the user interface element visible during virtual typing performed in the hover-space using the virtual keyboard, where the location depends, at least in part, on the state; providing an indication that the virtual keyboard is about to be re-configured, the indication being a graphical indication, an audible indication, or a haptic indication; receiving an inbound message through an application programming interface (API) provided by a process running on the device; selectively reconfiguring how the availability of the virtual keyboard will be controlled as a function of the control action based on the inbound message, and selectively providing an outbound message to the process through the API, where the outbound message concerns an action performed using the virtual keyboard or an action performed using the user interface element.
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a hover-sensitive input/output interface; a proximity detector configured to detect an object in a hover-space comprising a three dimensional volume disposed in proximity to the input/output interface; at least one processor creating a first signal configured to produce characterization data concerning the object, where the characterization data is independent of where the object is located in the hover-space; and creating a second signal configured to selectively control the activation, display, and deactivation of a first user interface element displayed by the apparatus on the input/output interface as a function of the characterization data, where selectively controlling the activation, display, and deactivation of the first user interface element includes allocating display space on the input/output interface to the first user interface element when the first user interface element is needed for an operation on the apparatus and selectively reclaiming space on the input/output interface allocated to the first user interface element when the first user interface element is not needed for an operation on the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification