Navigation of an N-dimensional hierarchical structure using a 2-dimensional controller

1. A method for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system using a two-dimensional controller, comprising:

detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller;

displaying responsive to said detection topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display, said icons being displayed over a background image and horizontally if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller is horizontal and vertically if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller is vertical;

scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension; and

selecting one of said icons responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said selecting initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system associated with said one of said icons.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system is displayed following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said icons represent context-sensitive functions.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said context-sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to a feature of interest in proximity to said pointer, setting a location waypoint, and returning to a current location.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of additional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in-view on said display and features outside of the display area, a category function to search for features based on categories, and an index function to facilitate searching through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse-grained controls.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising ceasing display of said multi-hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons.

10. A system for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system of a device having a primary function, comprising:

a display;

a two-dimensional controller for facilitating control of said primary function, whereupon results of said primary function are presented on said display; and

a processor for (i) executing said primary function, (ii) detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller, (iii) causing display responsive to said detection of an topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display, said icons being displayed over a background image and horizontally if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller “is horizontal and vertically if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller is vertical”, (iv) scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension, and (v) selecting one of said icons responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said processor selectively initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system associated with said one of said icons.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein said processor causes display of said topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein said icons represent context-sensitive functions.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said context-sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to an area of interest in proximity to said pointer, setting a location waypoint, and returning to a current location.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein said next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of additional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in-view on said display and features outside of the display area, a category function to search for features based on categories, and an index function to facilitate searching through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse-grained controls.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein said controller ceases display of said multi-hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons.

19. A method for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system using a two-dimensional controller, comprising:

detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller;

displaying responsive to said detection topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display, said icons being displayed over a background image and horizontally if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller “is horizontal and vertically if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller is vertical”;

scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension; and

selecting one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said selecting initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system associated with said one of said icons.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein said topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system is displayed following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein said icons represent context-sensitive functions.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said context-sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to a feature of interest in proximity to said pointer, setting a location waypoint, and returning to a current location.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein said next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of additional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in-view on said display features outside of the display area, a category function to search for features based on categories, and an index function to facilitate searching through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse-grained controls.

27. The method of claim 19 , further comprising ceasing display of said multi-hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons.

28. A system for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system of a device having a primary function, comprising:

a display;

a two-dimensional controller for facilitating control of said primary function, whereupon results of said primary function are presented on said display; and

a processor for (i) executing said primary function, (ii) detecting a dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller (iii) causing display responsive to said detection of topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display, said icons being displayed over a background image and horizontally if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller “is horizontal and vertically if said detected dimension of initial operation of said two-dimensional controller is vertical”, (iv) scrolling said icons in a first dimension relative to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in said first dimension, and (v) selecting one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operating said controller in a second dimension.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein said processor selectively initiates one of either execution of a function associated with said one of said icons or displaying a next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system associated with said one of said icons.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein said second dimension is perpendicular to said first dimension.

31. The system of claim 28 , wherein said processor causes display of said topmost level of said multi-hierarchical menu system following a predetermined period of inactivity of said controller.

32. The system of 28 , wherein said icons represent context-sensitive functions.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein said context-sensitive functions include at least one of searching for information relating to an area of interest in proximity to said pointer, setting a location waypoint, and returning to a current location.

34. The system of claim 29 , wherein said next level of said multi-hierarchical menu system includes a plurality of additional icons representing further functions related to said one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer.

35. The system of claim 34 , wherein said further functions include at least one of a filter function to search between features currently in-view on said display features outside of the display area, a category function to search for features based on categories, and an index function to facilitate searching through an alphabetical list using fine and coarse-grained controls.

36. The system of claim 28 , wherein said controller ceases display of said multi-hierarchical menu system responsive to scrolling said icons beyond a last one of said icons.