Navigation tool for device user interface

An apparatus comprising:

• a digital processor coupled to a display and to a processor-readable storage device, wherein the processor-readable storage device includes one or more instructions executable by the digital processor to perform the following acts:
• accessing navigation history information pertaining to user interaction with software;
• accessing device screen properties for a mobile device display;
• displaying via the mobile device display, one or more representations of breadcrumbs in accordance with the navigation history information and the device screen properties, resulting in displayed breadcrumbs;
• detecting when a number of breadcrumbs exceeds a threshold number of breadcrumbs;
• in response to the detection of the number of breadcrumbs exceeding the threshold number of breadcrumbs, changing at least some of the breadcrumbs to an active breadcrumb object configured as a user interface control to represent plural breadcrumbs;
• and
• in response to selection of the active breadcrumb object, presenting a user interface overflow control, wherein the user interface overflow control includes a plurality of intervening breadcrumbs representing one or more previously displayed user interface display screens, wherein at least one of the plurality of intervening breadcrumbs is configured as an intervening breadcrumb object configured with a plurality of sides, wherein the intervening breadcrumb object includes at least a first expand control positioned within and adjacent to a first side of the intervening breadcrumb object for navigating to a sub-breadcrumb, and a second expand control positioned within and adjacent to a second side of the intervening breadcrumb object for navigating to the sub-breadcrumb, wherein the first expand control is configured with a shape indicating a first breadcrumb expand and collapse direction, and when activated to expand the sub-breadcrumb, displays the sub-breadcrumb in a first position relative to the intervening breadcrumb object adjacent to the first side corresponding to the first breadcrumb expand and collapse direction, wherein the second expand control is configured with a shape to indicate a second breadcrumb expand and collapse direction.

A non-transitory processor-readable storage device including instructions executable by a digital processor, the processor-readable storage device including one or more instructions for:

• accessing navigation history information pertaining to user interaction with software;
• accessing device screen properties for a mobile device display;
• displaying via the mobile device display, one or more representations of breadcrumbs in accordance with the navigation history information and the device screen properties, resulting in displayed breadcrumbs;
• detecting when a number of breadcrumbs exceeds a threshold number of breadcrumbs;
• and
• in response to the detection of the number of breadcrumbs exceeding the threshold number of breadcrumbs, changing at least some of the breadcrumbs to an active breadcrumb object configured as a user interface control to represent plural breadcrumbs;
• and
• in response to selection of the active breadcrumb object, presenting a user interface overflow control, wherein the user interface overflow control includes a plurality of intervening breadcrumbs representing one or more previously displayed user interface display screens, wherein at least one of the plurality of intervening breadcrumbs is configured as an intervening breadcrumb object configured with a plurality of sides, wherein the intervening breadcrumb object includes at least a first expand control positioned within and adjacent to a first side of the intervening breadcrumb object for navigating to a sub-breadcrumb, and a second expand control positioned within and adjacent to a second side of the intervening breadcrumb object for navigating to the sub-breadcrumb, wherein the first expand control is configured with a shape indicating a first breadcrumb expand and collapse direction, and when activated to expand the sub-breadcrumb, displays the sub-breadcrumb in a first position relative to the intervening breadcrumb object adjacent to the first side corresponding to the first breadcrumb expand and collapse direction, wherein the second expand control is configured with a shape to indicate a second breadcrumb expand and collapse direction.