Patent ID: 7284208

Claim:
A method for enabling a user of an interactive data processing application, comprising at least one application feature and at least one application setting, to engage in a first content interaction activity, within a content structure presented by the application to the user, and to contemporaneously engage in at least one content navigation activity, within at least one of the application and the content structure, independently of the first content interaction activity, comprising the steps of: (a) defining at least one independent content navigation interface, in addition to, and independent from, the at least one application feature of the application and having at least one interface setting independent from the at least one application setting, within at least one of: an application content presentation region occupied by the content structure, and an application region outside said application content presentation region, but within a region defined by said interactive data processing application; (b) generating, in said at least one independent content navigation interface, at least one content interaction region for interaction therewith by the user; (c) presenting, to the user, at least one of a plurality of discrete content elements within said at least one content interaction region, for selective navigation therethrough by the user in a user-determined sequence; (d) generating, in said at least one independent content navigation interface, and proximal to said at least one content interaction region, at least one proximal content navigation control selectively operable, when presented with a plurality of discrete content elements within said at least one content interaction region, to enable selective navigation between said plural discrete content elements within said at least one content interaction region in said user-determined sequence, without interfering with the first content interaction activity, and without affecting the displayed portion of the content structure; (e) in response to utilization, by the user, of said at least one independent content navigation interface to navigate between at least a portion of the plural discrete content elements, generating a historical record of at least one previously viewed discreet content element and of a navigation sequence therethrough; and (f) enabling the user to utilize said at least one independent content navigation interface to navigate backward, only to said plural discrete content elements recorded in said historical record.