Messaging systems and methods

摘要

A third-party can subscribe to one or more electronic message group lists without joining the group lists by creating a trust relationship between the subscriber and a group list member. In particular, the subscriber can send a trust indicator to the group member, who can then determine whether to accept the trust indicator for all or specific groups that are associated with the group member, as appropriate. In at least one embodiment, the group member can send a trust indicator acceptance message to the subscriber that identifies the group member, and any or all group lists associated with the group member. The subscriber can then receive messages directed to the trusted group member or group lists, and can send group messages to the group lists subject to a receive setting associated with the group lists or group members of the group lists.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
establishing, using at least one processor, a group that includes a plurality of group members, wherein membership in the group establishes a first trust level among the plurality of group members that enables each of the plurality of group members to send and/or receive group messages without a trust challenge; establishing a second trust level between one or more subscribers that are not one of the plurality of group members and the group; receiving a message from a sender that is intended for the group; determining a trust level between the sender and the group based on whether the sender is a group member or a subscriber; in response to the sender being a group member and the trust level between the sender and the group is the first trust level, sending the message to the group members; in response to the sender being a subscriber and the trust level between the sender and the group is the second trust level, determining if a trust relationship exists between the sender and each member of the group, if no trust relationship exists between a particular member of the group and the sender, delivering the message to the particular member of the group only if the sender passes a trust challenge; and if a trust relationship exists between the particular member of the group and the sender, delivering the message to the particular member of the group without the trust challenge; and in response to the sender being neither a group member nor a subscriber and there is no trust level between the sender and the group, blocking the message from being delivered to the group.