Graphical communication user interface with graphical position user input mechanism for selecting a display image

A method comprising:

• storing a plurality of image files, each associated with at least one contact information element identifying a communication channel to a potential communication recipient;
• receiving a single image comprising a pictorial representation of a plurality of potential communication recipients, the single image having a plurality of image portions with each image portion visually representing a different one of the plurality of potential communication recipients;
• applying a pattern recognition mechanism to the single image to match each of the plurality of image portions to one or more of the image files and correlate the single image with one or more contact information elements associated with the image files, wherein the single image is associated with at least two different contact information elements;
• identify status information related to communication availability with at least one of the potential communication recipients represented by the plurality of image portions;
• after applying the pattern recognition mechanism, displaying the single image for user selection, wherein at least one of the image portions is visually modified based on the status information;
• receiving a user input selecting one of the plurality of image portions of the single image;
• and
• opening the communication channel identified by the contact information element associated with the selected image portion.

A device comprising:

• a processor;
• a communication interface, communicatively connected to the processor;
• a language input mechanism, communicatively connected to the processor;
• a monitor, communicatively connected to the processor;
• an input mechanism;
• and
• one or more media, communicatively connected to the processor and readable by the processor, wherein the one or more media comprises:
• an image file comprising a single image having a pictorial representation of a plurality of potential communication recipients, the single image having a plurality of image portions each representing a different one of the plurality of potential communication recipients;
• and
• executable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, configure the device:
• to identify status information related to communication availability with at least one of the potential communication recipients represented by the plurality of image portions,
• to apply a pattern recognition mechanism to the single image to match each of the plurality of image portions to one or more image files, each image file being associated with a contact information element identifying a communication channel to a potential communication recipient;
• to store information, based on application of the pattern recognition mechanism, that identifies an association of each image portion with a contact information element for the potential communication recipient represented by the image portion, wherein the single image is associated with at least two different contact information elements,
• to display the single image, after applying the pattern recognition mechanism, wherein at least one of the image portions is visually modified based on the status information,
• to receive a user input via the input mechanism selecting one of the plurality of image portions of the single image,
• to open a communication channel via the communication interface based on the contact information element associated with the selected image portion of the single image,
• to receive input via the language input mechanism, and
• to convey the input to the communication recipient represented by the selected image portion of the single image via the communication channel.