Data-driven navigation and navigation routing

Abstract

The described technology is directed towards data-driven navigation, in which a next navigation location depends on variable data associated with an interactive user interface element (rather than a fixed link). The data may be in a hierarchy of data models. A menu contains interactive navigation elements, each bound to a data model. A selected interactive navigation element results in locating a data model associated with the selected element. The data model is used to determine the next navigation location. Also described is hierarchical navigation to one item of a level as well as lateral and peer navigation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed at least in part on at least one machine, comprising, rendering a representation of a navigation location, including providing a set of one or more interactive user interface elements that are each bound to a data model, detecting selection of a selected user interface element that is bound to an associated data model, accessing the associated data model, and using data in the associated data model to determine a next navigation location. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associated data model includes data that indicates that the next navigation location comprises a menu location having another set of one or more interactive user interface elements that are each bound to a data model, and further comprising, navigating to the menu location, including rendering a representation of the menu location that includes the other set of the one or more interactive user interface elements. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the next navigation location comprises a content player location and further comprising, rendering a representation of the content player location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein rendering the representation of the content player location plays content identified in the associated data model. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the next navigation location comprises a search location and further comprising, rendering a representation of the search location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, changing the associated data model to change a subsequent navigation to a different location. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associated data model includes data that indicates that the next navigation location comprises a menu location having another set of one or more interactive user interface elements that are each bound to a data model, and further comprising, changing the associated data model to have a different set of one or more interactive user interface elements upon a subsequent navigation to the next menu location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, wherein the associated data model is part of a hierarchy of data models, and further comprising, changing the hierarchy of data models by changing the data of at least one data model. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising: a plurality of data models arranged in a hierarchy, in which the hierarchy is based upon information in each higher-level data model that binds that higher-level data model to a set comprising one or more lower-level data models, and a navigation system configured to use data in a higher-level data model to access a lower-level data model of the higher level model's set, the navigation system including a navigation router that uses data in the lower lower-level data model to determine a navigation location to which to navigate to provide a user interface that corresponds to the navigation location and is based upon the lower-level data model. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the navigation router maps location type information in the lower-level data model to a location. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the navigation location comprises one or more user interface objects rendered in a view object. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the higher-level data model corresponds to a higher-level menu navigation location having an interactive user interface element bound to the lower-level data model, and wherein the navigation system navigates to the navigation location identified in the selected lower-level data model based upon interaction with the interactive user interface element. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the interaction causes navigation among hierarchical levels of navigation locations that correspond to the data model hierarchy, including navigation between navigation locations within a same hierarchical level, and wherein the navigation system maintains a navigation stack containing only one location for each hierarchical level. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the navigation system provides an anchor location above which navigation history is maintained and below which navigation history is discarded. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the navigation system provides an anchor location above which navigation history is maintained and below which navigation history is discarded if user intent indicates that the navigation history is to be discarded. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the navigation system automatically generates at least part of a navigation history to simulate a navigation stack. 
     
     
         17 . One or more machine-readable media having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:
 presenting a menu to a user, the menu containing at least one interactive navigation element bound to a data model;   detecting selection of an interactive navigation element;   accessing a set of data models to locate a data model associated with the interactive navigation element;   using the data model to determine a navigation location; and   navigating to the navigation location.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more machine-readable media of  claim 17  wherein navigating to the navigation location comprises rendering a page containing visible information that is based at least in part upon the data model, and allowing user interaction with the page. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more machine-readable media of  claim 18  having further computer-executable instructions comprising, maintaining a reference to the navigation location in a navigation stack, including replacing any reference in the navigation stack that references a location in a same hierarchical level to which the page corresponds. 
     
     
         20 . The one or more machine-readable media of  claim 17  wherein navigating to the navigation location comprises invoking a content player that plays audiovisual content associated with the navigation location.