Patent ID: 7788328

Claim:
A method for sharing a user's personal information management (PIM) data with another user across a forest boundary, the method comprising: automatically synchronizing user account information between a first directory server that is associated with a first forest and a second directory server that is associated with a second forest; wherein the synchronization includes synchronizing mailbox and security identifier (SID) information for each mailbox between the first directory server and the second directory server; wherein the first directory server identifies user accounts from the second directory server as contacts instead of users of the first directory server and wherein the second directory server identifies user accounts from the first directory server as contacts instead of users of the second directory server; obtaining mailbox and security identifier (SID) information for a first user, the first user being part of the first forest; setting a permission for the first user in the first forest to access PIM data of a second user, the second user being part of a second forest; wherein the PIM data comprises calendar data and contact data; receiving a request at a first mailbox server in the first forest to access PIM data for the second user in the second forest; in response to the first mailbox server not locating the PIM data for the second user, providing from the second directory server in the second forest identification information for a mailbox of the second user to a PIM application residing in the first forest in response to a request received from the PIM application in the first forest; and providing PIM data obtained from a second mailbox server in the second forest to the PIM application in the first forest in response to a request for PIM data from the PIM application, wherein the request is formed using the provided identification information.