Hover controlled user interface element

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:

• 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 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.

An apparatus, comprising:

• 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;
• a first logic configured to produce characterization data concerning a control action by the object, where the characterization data is independent of where the object is located in the hover-space;
• and
• a second logic configured to:
• selectively control a first user interface element displayed by the apparatus on the input/output interface as a function of the characterization data and a state of the user interface element, where the state depends, at least in part, on a user action performed using a virtual keyboard that is deployable on the input/output interface, where selectively controlling 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.