VMware, Inc.
Multi-entry point navigation for user interfaces

Abstract:

Disclosed are various approaches for implementing a navigation system that facilitates navigation through hierarchically-related views within a user interface using multiple independent entry points. The user interface can include multiple navigation components that each independently provide a user access to available views in the user interface. Upon a user selection for a view through interaction with one of the navigation components, a request for data used to build the view can be sent to a server. If the view is valid, an instance of the view is dynamically generated and displayed in the user interface and each navigation component is updated to be consistent with the selected view. If the view is invalid, updated navigation data is used to rebuild the navigation hierarchy and the navigation components are updated according to the updated navigation hierarchy.