Abstract: One or more contact controls associated with one or more corresponding contacts are displayed by a computing system at a display device. The contact controls can be hosted by any number of third party applications. The contact controls may include static and/or animated images associated with the contact to reflect a desired behavior, emotion, status or action. The contact controls are linked to contact information, such that a selection of the contact controls enables a user to access the contact information and data sources associated with the contact. A communicative action can also be initiated with the contact control by dragging and dropping the contact control onto an icon or object associated with the communication application.

Abstract: An interface for enabling a user to quickly access contact information and contact-centric tasks is displayed when an appropriate request for a contact card associated with a contact is received. The contact card displays contact information corresponding with the contact as well as contact-centric tasks that may be engaged in between the client computing system and the computing system of the contact. The list of contact-centric tasks is organized according to predetermined criteria, such as whether the contact-centric task is associated with an application that has provided contact information to the client computing system and whether the contact is a member of a group utilizing a contact-centric task. The contact card may also include an object comprising a type-in line for launching communication with the contact.

Abstract: A computing system and a user interface display requested data corresponding with a contact at a display device. The requested data includes contact information, communication histories, and files associated with the contact. The requested data is obtained from one or more contact information directories located locally and/or remotely from the computing system. The user interface also displays contact-centric tasks that may be engaged in between the user and the contact based upon the capabilities of the corresponding computing systems or that can be performed on a contact. Some of the contact information can be edited with an edit mode of the user interface. The contact may be a person, group, organization, or household.

Abstract: An interface for enabling a user to quickly access contact information automatically displays a list of expected contacts that are most likely to be selected by the user when attention is directed to a type-in line requiring contact information. When a contact is selected, the corresponding and appropriate contact information is automatically entered into the type-in line. If a user does not select a listed contact, but instead begins manually typing in the contact information then the interface performs a search and displays a list of unexpected contacts having contact information matching the typed input from the user. The interface also provides a menu with additional search options for searching for desired contact information. The additional search options include directory searching and filtered searching. The application hosting the interface can specify the appropriate contact information that it requires.

Abstract: An interface for enabling different contact information for a plurality of different contacts to be aggregated from numerous data stores into a single contact management system includes a window frame for displaying the contact information in a variety of rich views that graphically illustrate patterns existent within the contact information. Some of the available views include hierarchical, organizational, chronological, social, geographical and operational views of the contact information. The interface also enables a user to search through the aggregate contact information by search term and by filter. The interface also includes another window frame for displaying exploded, detailed, or additional information about selected directories and contacts.