Method and apparatus for previewing and selecting a network resource using a rotary knob for user input

A client system for accessing wide area network resources, the client system comprising:

• a display having a viewing area and a previewing area, where the previewing area includes a selection frame;
• a user selection knob configured to generate a clock signal and a data signal, where the clock signal indicates that the knob is being rotated and the data signal indicates a direction of rotation of the knob;
• a selection switch configured to generate a selection signal;
• a memory subsystem configured to store a predetermined hierarchy of network resources, where the hierarchy of network resources includes a plurality of network resource identifier pairs, where each one of the plurality of network resource identifier pairs further includes a network resource identifier value corresponding to a network resource accessible via a wide area network and a graphic representing the network resource;
• a network access circuit configured to communicate with the wide area network;
• and
• a processor system coupled to the display, the user selection knob, the selection switch, the memory subsystem, and the network access circuit, where the processor system is configured to receive and decode the clock signal and the data signal in order to control a data index that selectively indexes one of the plurality of network resource identifier pairs, where the processor system is further configured to display the graphic from the network resource identifier pair indicated by the data index in the selection frame of the display, and where the processor system is still further configured, responsive to receiving the selection signal, to format a command that
• includes the network resource identifier value of the network resource identifier pair indicated by the data index and transmit the command onto the wide area network via the network access circuit.