Method and apparatus for visual navigation of information objects

Claim 2

A navigable structure for visual objects, the navigable structure stored in a memory and comprising: a sequence of one or more levels, each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links; and one or more vertical links, each vertical link forming a connection between two visual objects included in adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels.

Claim 3

A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 further comprising one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels.

Claim 4

A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects include interactive menus.

Claim 5

A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects are associated with video information.

Claim 6

A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects are associated with graphics information.

Claim 7

A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects are associated with online transaction information.

Claim 8

A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the levels are organized to correspond to a chosen theme.

Claim 11

A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of creating one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels.

Claim 12

A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of downloading the navigable structure from a server computer to a client computer.

Claim 15

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the navigable structure includes one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, and wherein the specified link is a lateral link, a vertical link or a hyperspace link.

Claim 16

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the interactive command is input using a mouse or other pointing device.

Claim 17

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the interactive command is input using a voice recognition device.

Claim 18

A computer program product including a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for navigation within a navigable structure of visual objects where the navigable structure includes a sequence of one or more levels, each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links, and one or more vertical links, each vertical link forming a connection between two visual objects included in adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, the computer program product comprising: a first portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to initialize a current visual object variable to be equal to a predefined initial visual object; a second portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to display the current visual object; a third portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to receive an interactive command from a navigator user, the interactive command instructing the navigator to traverse a specified link, with the specified link being a lateral link or a vertical link; a fourth portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to follow the specified link; and a fifth portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to update the current visual object to reflect the traversal of the specified link.

Claim 19

A computer program product including a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for navigation within a navigable structure of visual objects where the navigable structure includes a sequence of one or more levels, each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links, and one or more vertical links, each vertical link forming a connection between two visual objects included in adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, the computer program product comprising: a first portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to initialize a current visual object variable to be equal to a predefined initial visual object; a second portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to display the current visual object; a third portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to receive an interactive command from a navigator user, the interactive command instructing the navigator to traverse a specified link, with the specified link being a lateral link or a vertical link; a fourth portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to follow the specified link; and a fifth portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to update the current visual object to reflect the traversal of the specified link.

Claim 20

A computer program product as recited in claim 15 wherein the navigable structure includes one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, and wherein the specified link is a lateral link, a vertical link or a hyperspace link.