Abstract: A method and system are provided for allowing a user to efficiently manage communications. A system for allowing a user having a unique identity is provided, wherein the unique identity is associated with a plurality of electronic devices. The system includes a service for assigning a reference to a user's unique identity, wherein other identities can access the user's unique identity only by using the reference. The system additionally includes permission controls for allowing the user to control access to the unique identity by restricting authorization to a selected set of other identities. Groups of individuals may receive different levels of authorization such that some individuals may be authorized to make live contact and others may be required to leave a message. Preference controls allow the system user to select at least one associated, device from a plurality of associated devices for receiving communication upon an access attempt by an authorized user.

Abstract: A digital history service presents a user's collected data in an historical format such as a timeline that includes various interactions with objects and people over the course of time wherein the digital history data was retrieved and correlated from the various data stores. An example of such a retrieval is to select a sequence of items from the data store based on an algorithm that determines the next item based on its relationship to the current item. The relationship could be a complex combination of the date, time of year, historical events in the past, the person(s) or objects involved in a given event, the location of an event, past or upcoming national holidays, calendar items, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing historical data are provided. Based upon user interaction, a time period of interest and historical data, the systems and methods perform cross-correlation algorithms and interpret which items are to be accessed and displayed to the user via a user interface vis-a-vis a timeline portion and navigation region. Based on frequency and recency usage patterns, and/or user preferences, items are assigned relative weights and displayed accordingly in the timeline portion and navigation region of the user interface. Each item that can be displayed within the system has a unique identification, which may be translated to one or more visual symbols within the user interface. In various non-limiting embodiments, the system leverages a distributed database store which stores and indexes items that make up a digital history.