Graphical user interface and method and apparatus of navigating using same

A computer implemented method for dynamically populating a graphical user interface menu with a pop-up menu containing cross-navigational elements to navigate between different hierarchical lists of data, the method comprising:

• displaying a graphical user interface on a display having a menu with a first hierarchical list of categories and a second hierarchical list of categories, the hierarchical lists of categories being arranged into common tiers of data comprising multiple tiers hierarchically organized within each of the first and second hierarchical lists, wherein the first hierarchical list of categories and the second hierarchical list of categories are two of a plurality of hierarchical lists maintained in a database of data pertaining to a plurality of retail items, wherein the database further associates the data into the plurality of hierarchical lists providing tiered organizational structures within each of the hierarchical lists and wherein the multiple tiers in each of the plurality of hierarchical lists comprises a root tier and one or more sub-tiers;
• tracking, over time, historic repetitive navigations to different ones of the multiple tiers of the data using the graphical user interface;
• identifying, based on the historic repetitive navigations according to tracked breadcrumb trail data tracked over time, an interest relevance specific to a particular user between two or more different tiers of two or more different hierarchical lists and of a same sub-tier level;
• determining which hierarchical list and which tier at a first sub-tier level of the multiple tiers along the hierarchical list has been selected by the particular user of numerous different users having access to the database through the displayed graphical user interface displayed through a respective electronic device used by the respective one of the numerous different users;
• and
• dynamically change and displaying, via a processor, a pop-up menu, displayed associated with the particular user and in response to the selection by the particular user of the selected hierarchical list and the selected tier, based on the identified interest relevance of the selected hierarchical list and the selected tier to display data associated with the selected hierarchical list and the selected tier as well as cross-navigational data corresponding to the common tier of data at the same first sub-tier level from the other, non-selected, hierarchical list to simplify navigation between hierarchical lists in accordance with the identified interest relevance between tiers of different ones of the hierarchical lists.

A graphical user interface for dynamically populating and providing a pop-up menu containing cross-navigational elements to navigate between different hierarchical lists of data, the method comprising:

• a display for displaying a graphical user interface having a menu with a first hierarchical list of categories and a second hierarchical list of categories, the hierarchical lists of categories being arranged into common tiers of data comprising multiple tiers hierarchically organized within each of the first and second hierarchical lists, wherein the first hierarchical list of categories and the second hierarchical list of categories are two of a plurality of hierarchical lists maintained in a database of data pertaining to a plurality of retail items, wherein the database further associates the data into the plurality of hierarchical lists providing tiered organizational structures within each of the hierarchical lists and wherein the multiple tiers in each of the plurality of hierarchical lists comprises a root tier and one or more sub-tiers;
• a control unit executing code and configured to:
• track, over time, historic repetitive navigations to different ones of the multiple tiers of the data using the graphical user interface;
• identify, based on the historic repetitive navigations according to tracked breadcrumb trail data tracked over time, an interest relevance specific to a particular user between two or more different tiers of two or more different hierarchical lists and of a same sub-tier level;
• determine which hierarchical list and which tier at a first sub-tier level of the multiple tiers along the hierarchical list has been selected by the particular user, of numerous different users having access to the database through the displayed graphical user interface displayed through a respective electronic device used by the respective one of the numerous different users, and configured to dynamically change and display on the display, via a processor, a pop-up menu, displayed associated with the particular user and in response to the selection by the particular user of the selected hierarchical list and the selected tier, based on the identified interest relevance of the selected hierarchical list and the selected tier to display data associated with the selected hierarchical list and the selected tier as well as cross-navigational data corresponding to the common tier of data at the same first sub-tier level from the other, non-selected, hierarchical list to simplify navigation between hierarchical lists in accordance with the identified interest relevance between tiers of different ones of the hierarchical lists.