Patent ID: 8281146
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: a computer system, which includes one or more processors, establishing a group for sending and receiving group messages, the group being associated with a group address and including a plurality of group members having a first trust relationship, the group being configured to facilitate the sending of any group messages that are directed towards the group address by any of the plurality of group members to each of the plurality of group members based on the first trust relationship; receiving, from a first user that is not one of the plurality of group members, a request to communicate with a second user that is one of the plurality of group members, the request to communicate comprising a request to establish a second trust relationship between the first and second users so that messages sent by the first user to the group address are sent to the second user based on the second trust relationship; receiving, from the second user, an acceptance of the first user's request to communicate; in response to receiving the second user's acceptance of the first user's request to communicate, establishing the second trust relationship between the first and second users; receiving, from the first user, a first group message directed towards the group address; based on the second trust relationship exists between the first and second users, sending the first group message to the second user; and if no trust relationship exists between the first and third users, refraining from sending the first group message to the third user.