Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A recipient computer system may receive one or more electronic messages. The recipient computer system may send one, two, or more challenge messages to the sender of the electronic messages in determining whether to deliver the electronic message. The recipient computer system may accept or reject an electronic message based on the response, or lack of response, to the challenge messages. The recipient computer system may send two or more challenge messages at intervals. A sender computer system may record activity of the sender computer system for a recipient computer system to use in determining whether to deliver an electronic message. A sender computer system may provide a summary of that activity with an electronic message. A sender computer system may provide an authorization key for a recipient computer system to use in determining whether to deliver an electronic message. The authorization key may be generated by a third party.

Abstract: A computer programmed to represent a spreadsheet that can be displayed to a user, the spreadsheet including an array of cells for storing user entered data, the programmed computer including programmed logic for designating a group of one or more cells within the spreadsheet, the group of one or more cells containing a first set of user entered data; programmed logic for creating an alternative for the group of one or more cells, said alternative containing a second set of user entered data that is different from the first set of user entered data; and programmed logic for enabling the user to select between the group of one or more cells and the alternative as the source of the data that is used in a corresponding group of cells within the spreadsheet.

Abstract: A system for linking elements representing stored information in a data base comprising a link structure formed in a section of the data base independent of the elements, a pointer in the link structure indicating the location of a first element, and a second pointer in the link structure indicating the location of a second element. The data base contains items comprising textual data and a plurality of categories into which the items may be categorized such that each item may be linked to more than one category. The invention automatically assigns an element in a data base to a parent category if it has been assigned to a child category of the parent. The invention will allow a user to modify data in a data base in a view mode, and will resolve ambiguities by guessing as to the most likely interpretation intended by the user. The invention will allow a user to change the number or organization of categories in the data base while the user is in a view mode.