Patent ID: 7647381

Claim:
In a first server included in a first electronic messaging system capable of receiving electronic messages, the first server associated with a first database, a method of determining whether an incoming electronic message should initiate a filter mechanism, the method comprising: at a first server associated with a first electronic messaging system identified by a first domain name, receiving an incoming message; identifying a first sender associated with the incoming message; maintaining behavioral information about the first sender on a database associated with the first server associated with the first electronic messaging system; issuing a request to a second server associated with at least a second electronic messaging system, the second electronic messaging system being identified by a second domain name that is different than the first domain name of the first electronic messaging system, wherein the request includes a federated token that allows the second server associated with at least the second electronic messaging system to respond to the request for the behavioral information without issuing a challenge to the first server associated with the first electronic messaging system; receiving a response containing behavioral information for at least the first sender from the second server associated with at least a second electronic messaging system; parsing the behavioral information from the response; applying predetermined criteria to the behavioral information stored in the database and the behavioral information parsed from the second server associated with at least the second electronic messaging system to determine if the sender is approved or unapproved; sending the incoming message directly to a recipient's inbox if the sender is determined to be approved; and initiating a filter mechanism if the sender is determined to be unapproved.