Graphical tree depicting search or browsing history

摘要

A method and apparatus for facilitating a user's browsing experience. A graphical history navigation tree is constructed and displayed as the user browses or previews electronic data (e.g., web pages, documents, images, electronic mail). A tree root is placed when the user opens a browser, initiates a new search or specifies that a new tree should be started. Thereafter, as the user accesses content linked to a given page, nodes corresponding to the content are added to the tree and connected to the tree node corresponding to the given page. The user may immediately return to any node's content by clicking or mousing-over the node. Nodes may be marked (e.g., by color, size) or notated to allow rapid identification of their content and/or level of interest to the user.