# US 2010/0169832 A1 · Floating Hierarchical Menu of Navigation History > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169832 A1 - Document ID: US20100169832A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/636,449 - Filed: 2009-12-11 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-15 - Inventors: Fred Faching Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169832A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 16/954: Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method for enabling access to a history of previously accessed data items includes (a) providing a floating hierarchical menu of navigation history which may alternatively be located at any portion of a main window including a hierarchical tree displaying a plurality of previously accessed data items in response to a first user input, and (b) providing for a second user input to select the hierarchical level of nodes displayed, wherein each such data item is displayed as a node of the tree and each such node may be selected to retrieve the previously accessed data item. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for enabling access to a history of previously accessed data items, the method comprising the steps of: (a) in response to receiving a first input by a user via an interface device, displaying a hierarchical menu of navigation history within a main window of a graphical user interface accessed by the user, wherein the hierarchical menu floats on the main window to at least partially obstruct the main window or contents thereof, wherein the hierarchical menu displays a listing corresponding to a plurality of previously accessed data items by the user, wherein the listing is visually arranged as a node structure comprising at least one parent node representative of an identifier common to one or more child nodes depending therefrom, wherein the one or more child nodes respectively correspond to the previously accessed data items; and (b) in response to receiving a second input from the user corresponding to a selection of one of the child nodes, retrieving the corresponding previously accessed data item. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the interface device is a mouse, a touch pad, or a trackball, wherein the interface device includes a first and second button. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first input is actuation of the first button on the interface device, and wherein the second input is actuation of the second button on the interface device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one parent node is configured to be expanded or collapsed to reveal or hide, respectively, the one or more child nodes by actuation of the second button of the interface device when a pointer icon of the user interface is situated on the at least one parent node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein each child node is highlighted when a pointer icon of the user interface is moved over each child node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the child node is highlighted upon selection thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying the retrieved previously accessed data item in the main window of the graphical user interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the previously accessed data item is selected from the list consisting of: (a) one or more web page addresses; (b) one or more pages from content having multiple pages; and (c) one or more issued commands. ### Claim 9 A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer, causes the processor to: (a) in response to receiving a first input by a user via an interface device, displaying a hierarchical menu of navigation history within a main window of a graphical user interface accessed by the user, wherein the hierarchical menu floats on the main window to at least partially obstruct the main window or contents thereof, wherein the hierarchical menu displays a listing corresponding to a plurality of previously accessed data items by the user, wherein the listing is visually arranged as a node structure comprising at least one parent node representative of an identifier common to one or more child nodes depending therefrom, wherein the one or more child nodes respectively correspond to the previously accessed data items; and (b) in response to receiving a second input from the user corresponding to a selection of one of the child nodes, retrieving the corresponding previously accessed data item. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the interface device is a mouse, a touch pad, or a trackball, wherein the interface device includes a first and second button. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first input is actuation of the first button on the interface device, and wherein the second input is actuation of the second button on the interface device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to expand or collapse to reveal or hide, respectively, the one or more child nodes upon actuation of the second button of the interface device when a pointer icon of the user interface is situated on the at least one parent node. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to highlight each child node when a pointer icon of the user interface is moved over each child node. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to highlight each child node upon selection thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to display the retrieved previously accessed data item in the main window of the graphical user interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the previously accessed data item is selected from the list consisting of: (a) one or more web page addresses; (b) one or more pages from content having multiple pages; and (c) one or more issued commands.