A method for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system on a display of an electronic device using a two-dimensional four-directional pointing device enabling a user to operate the pointing device in four directions within two dimensions, the method comprising: determining (205,215) whether the pointing device has not been operated to execute a primary function of the electronic device for a predetermined time-out period; if it is determined that the pointing device has not been operated to execute the primary function of the electronic device for the predetermined time-out period, detecting an operation of said pointing device by the user in one of the two dimensions of the pointing device, including detecting the direction of the operation; displaying, upon detecting the operation before displaying the menu, a 1st level of said multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons (120A, 120B, 120C) in proximity to a pointer on a portion of the display, thereby enabling the user to affect the position and orientation of the menu over a background image, in that said icons (120A, 120B, 120C) are displayed over the background image parallel to the detected direction of the movement of said pointing device; scrolling said icons relative to said pointer said dimension of the detected direction of the operation responsive to operating said pointing device in said dimension of the detected direction of the operation when said dimension of the detected direction is the same dimension as the one in which the icons are displayed; and selecting one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operating said pointing device in the other dimension than the dimension of the detected direction of the operation. determining (205,215) whether the pointing device has not been operated to execute a primary function of the electronic device for a predetermined time-out period; if it is determined that the pointing device has not been operated to execute the primary function of the electronic device for the predetermined time-out period, detecting an operation of said pointing device by the user in one of the two dimensions of the pointing device, including detecting the direction of the operation; displaying, upon detecting the operation before displaying the menu, a 1st level of said multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons (120A, 120B, 120C) in proximity to a pointer on a portion of the display, thereby enabling the user to affect the position and orientation of the menu over a background image, in that said icons (120A, 120B, 120C) are displayed over the background image parallel to the detected direction of the movement of said pointing device; scrolling said icons relative to said pointer said dimension of the detected direction of the operation responsive to operating said pointing device in said dimension of the detected direction of the operation when said dimension of the detected direction is the same dimension as the one in which the icons are displayed; and selecting one of said icons in closest proximity to said pointer responsive to operating said pointing device in the other dimension than the dimension of the detected direction of the operation.