Abstract: The present invention provides for assisting a user in efficiently interacting with a mobile device by providing a persistent graphical user interface, e.g., a sidebar tile. This persistent user interface allows direct exposure to the mobile device without requiring the user to launch or open an application for interacting with the mobile device. Further this persistent user interface may include state or status information for attributes or features of a mobile device, e.g., battery power, ringer volume, signal strength, etc., which may be represented as objects or bar parts. These objects that show status may be automatically updated for providing a useful visual representation showing the current state of the features. Further, the persistent user interface may include objects representing the functionality of the mobile device, e.g., configuration, ringer volume, making a call, etc., which provides for easy accessibility at a single entry point for interacting with the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking real-time communication data within a single contact tracking application for diverse communication providers and applications. A global data store is synchronized with real-time communication data, such as presence, status, unread messages, and unread notifications, from each application/provider. Real-time communication data for contacts dynamically determined to be recent contacts is retrieved from the data store, based on properties such as a most recent communication time, a communication count, and the like. Real-time communication data corresponding to contacts identified as pinned contacts for which display of real-time communication data is preferred, also may be retrieved. A user interface is generated for displaying the one or more recent and/or pinned contacts, which may vary in size based on the number of contacts identified as pinned contacts, from which a contact may be selected for real-time conversation or e-mail.