Patent ID: 7917961
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for selectively allowing or denying communication access to a user coupled to an electronic communications network by other users coupled to the electronic communications network, comprising: A. receiving an inbound message over the electronic communications network from a sender user, wherein the inbound message includes an identifier associated with the sender user and an identifier associated with a recipient user, and wherein the sender identifier and the recipient identifier define a channel; B. for the channel, determining pursuant to security settings dynamically alterable by said recipient user, and using the sender identifier and the recipient identifier, one of at least three security states to be associated with the inbound message while maintaining the channel, wherein C. for the channel, if delivery is allowed pursuant to the determined security state, adding a user interface to the inbound message, wherein the user interface is configured to allow the recipient user to control the security settings associated with the recipient user while maintaining the channel.