Abstract: A graphical user interface displays a unique graphical indexing element such as a tab for each engaged and non-engaged messaging session. The user chooses which messaging session to make engaged by selecting its graphical indexing element. The graphical indexing elements have various distinctive characteristics to indicate the status of their respective messaging sessions, such as engaged, non-engaged with no unread messages, or non-engaged with at least one unread message. The messaging sessions may all be docked, in which event the engaged messaging session is displayed in a window pane set and the other messaging sessions are not displayed, or may be selectively undocked, in which event the engaged messaging session and the undocked messaging sessions are displayed in respective window pane sets. The engaged window pane set supports the communication of original or predefined messages between the user's digital device and the pal's messaging-enabled digital device, regardless of capability.

Abstract: A user is provided with a secure database containing information in diverse categories that relates to the user and that may be represented at least in part in bar code form and communicated with light from a mobile communications device. The diverse information is obtained from any combination of a variety of vendor and governmental computer systems, internet service providers, and communications devices. The user has access to the database using a mobile communications device for displaying, managing, and entering information, and for communicating information in bar code form with light. The user first selects the category that contains the specific item of information, and then selects the specific item of information. The specific item of information then is communicated in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device for scanning by a bar code scanner to obtain the desired good or service.