Patent ID: 7941752

Claim:
A graphical user interface (“GUI”) provided on a display device for displaying a directory of contacts of a user, the GUI comprising: a contact information icon representative of current contact information for the user, wherein the contact information icon is displayed in a first window of the GUI; a drop down menu associated with the contact information icon for setting current contact information for the user; a list of contacts displayed in the first window of the GUI; for each contact in the list of contacts, a preference and policy category for the contact, wherein the preference and policy category for the contact is displayed in the first window of the GUI; and for each contact in the list of contacts, a feature icon indicative of whether a feature is enabled for the contact according to the preference and policy category for the contact, wherein the feature icon is displayed in association with the contact in the first window of the GUI; wherein, for each of the contacts, an appearance of the feature icon associated with the contact is automatically updated in the first window of the GUI when a change in the setting of the current contact information for the user occurs; wherein, for each contact, an appearance of the feature icon associated with the contact is indicative of a manner in which a communications event initiated by the contact will be handled.