Abstract: A method of automatically aggregating an online user community, and graphical user interface for same, the method including one or more of the following: a user creating the online community; the user defining an aggregation policy for the online user community; a service provider retrieving the aggregation policy; the service provider applying the aggregation policy to an other user; determining whether the other user fits the aggregation policy; adding the other user to the online user community; the user defining an anti-aggregation policy; the service provider retrieving the anti-aggregation policy; determining whether the other user fits the anti-aggregation policy; and removing the other user from the online user community when the other user fits the anti-aggregation policy.

Abstract: A system and method of authenticating the identity of a remote fax machine during a faxing operation is provided. An X.509-type Certificate received from the remote fax machine is validated to affirm it can be properly associated with the remote machine. The Certificate's public key is used to verify the remote fax machine has the corresponding private key. A Certificate's Common Name then compared to an Expected Name to authenticate the identity of the remote fax machine prior to sending a fax to prevent an unwanted misdirection of faxed information and to screen incoming faxes for unwanted spam.

Abstract: A method of automatically aggregating an online user community, and graphical user interface for same, the method including one or more of the following: a user creating the online community; the user defining an aggregation policy for the online user community; a service provider retrieving the aggregation policy; the service provider applying the aggregation policy to an other user; determining whether the other user fits the aggregation policy; adding the other user to the online user community; the user defining an anti-aggregation policy; the service provider retrieving the anti-aggregation policy; determining whether the other user fits the anti-aggregation policy; and removing the other user from the online user community when the other user fits the anti-aggregation policy.