Patent ID: 7181498

Claim:
A method for filtering messages for a node on a network, comprising: determining an adaptive cut-off radius for a community based in part on a rate of growth for membership in the community that is separated by a first degree of separation, wherein a cut-off degree of separation for the cut-off radius is adapted to be relatively large if the rate of growth is relatively high, and wherein the cut-off degree of separation for the cut-off degree of separation for the cut-off radius is adapted to be relatively small if the rate of growth is relatively low; determining a degree of separation between each of a plurality of nodes that are associated with a first node, wherein the first node and at least a portion of the associated plurality of nodes are granted membership in the community based on a number of degrees of separation between the first node and a second node in the community, and wherein the granting of membership in the community is limited by at least the adaptive cut-off radius for the community; determining a level of trust for the first node in the community based on the number of degrees of separation between the first node and another node in the community; and if a message is received by the first node in the community from the other node in the community, employing the level of trust associated with the other node to determine if the message is to be delivered to at least one trusted folder associated with the first node.