Active path menu navigation system

1. An apparatus for navigating an information structure, the apparatus including a processor configured to:

provide a graphical menu interface displaying the items of a given level of the information structure and enabling selection thereof;

dynamically construct an active path as a sequence of active links after an item of the information structure has been selected;

upon provisional selection of a given one of said active links, display one or more items on a given level of the information structure associated with said provisionally selected active link without affecting the active path; and

allow a user to access an item in the information structure by selecting the item from the one or more items displayed by one of the active links on the active path;

wherein a function is associated with at least one of said active links.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further configured to allow provisional selection of the one or more items to display one or more additional items on a given level of the information structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more active links allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure when a pointer is rolled over one of the active links.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more active links allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure when one of the active links is selected.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more active links allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure when a visual icon associated with one of the active links is selected.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the active links in the active path allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure without changing the active path.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a user may directly access one or more active links in the active path by selecting the active link.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the selection of an active link causes the active path to truncate to the selected active link.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further configured to provide pre-defined shortcuts to enable access to a given item in the information structure, wherein selection of a pre-defined shortcut dynamically constructs an active path including one active link corresponding to each item necessary to navigate to the given item in the information structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein two functions are associated with at least one of said active links.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein execution of said functions is initiated by selecting different portions of said at least one of active link.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said function is a search function.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least two functions are associated with at least one of said active links.

14. A method for navigating an information structure, comprising:

providing a graphical menu interface displaying the items of a given level of the information structure and enabling selection thereof;

dynamically constructing an active path as a sequence of active links after an item of the information structure has been selected;

upon provisional selection of a given one of said active links, displaying one or more items on a given level of the information structure associated with said provisionally selected active link without affecting the active path; and

allowing a user to access an item in the information structure by selecting the item from the one or more items displayed by one of the active links on the active path;

wherein a function is associated with at least one of said active links.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the active path is further configured to allow provisional selection of the one or more active links to display one or more additional items on a given level of the information structure.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more active links allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure when a pointer is rolled over one of the active links.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more active links allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure when one of the active links is selected.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more active links allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure when a visual icon associated with one of the active links is selected.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the active links in the active path allow the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure without changing the active path.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein a user may directly access one or more active links in the active path by selecting the active link.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the selection of an active link causes the active path to truncate to the selected active link.

22. The method of claim 14 further configured to provide pre-defined shortcuts to enable access to a given item in the information structure, wherein selection of a pre-defined shortcut dynamically constructs an active path including one active link corresponding to each item necessary to navigate to the given item in the information structure.

23. The method of claim 14 , wherein two functions are associated with at least one of said active links.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein execution of said functions is initiated by selecting different portions of said at least one of active link.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein said function is a search function.

26. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least two functions are associated with at least one of said active links.