METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

• US 20110119258A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Dorner, Steven, Forutanpour, Babak
• Granted Patent: US 8,713,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

Methods and systems provide tools that enable users to manage electronic messages by obtaining additional information about senders, receivers or entities mentioned in messages. A computing device may identify a sender or recipient of an electronic message and search a database to obtain additional data about the sender or recipient. The additional data may be displayed with the electronic message. The additional data may also be used to calculate importance values that the computing device can use to highlight, preferentially display, or sort the electronic messages. The importance values may be calculated by applying sorting algorithms to the retrieved additional data based on user defined criteria. Importance values may also be based upon information obtained from messages. A graphical user interface may be implemented to enable users to specify criteria and weighting factors to apply in sorting electronic messages.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a plurality of electronic messages, comprising:

parsing each of the plurality of electronic messages to obtain identity information about an entity associated with each electronic message;

searching a first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information;

retrieving additional data related to the obtained identity information from the first database; and

adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic message based on the retrieved additional data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic messages are email messages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is selected from a recipient of each electronic message, a sender of the electronic message, an individual mentioned in each electronic message, and a company mentioned in each electronic message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first database is accessed via the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first database is a contacts database.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing at least a portion of the retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information in a prior search results database;

searching the prior search results database for previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information; and

accessing previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information from the prior search results database,

wherein searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database are performed if no previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database are performed if previously retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database but the time since a last search exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises modifying a display of at least one of the plurality of electronic messages based upon an importance value calculated by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises sorting the plurality of electronic messages by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message to generate an importance value.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises:

calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data; and

sorting the plurality of electronic messages based on the calculated importance value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional data is selected from the group consisting of company name, job title, age, gender, ethnicity, income, social networking data, social network linkages, Google™

hits, alma mater, home value, home address, images, political affiliation, political donations, number of times a reply has been sent to a sender of the message, number of times a message from a sender has been received but not opened, and distance to sender'"'"'s company.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain information within the message body to determine a time required to review the message;

determining a time required to review importance factor based on the determined time required to review the message; and

including the determined required time to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine its original Internet portal address;

determining an ExternalOrInternal importance factor based on the original Internet portal address; and

including the determined ExternalOrInternal importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a political party of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

determining a PoliticalParty importance factor base on the determined political party; and

including the determined PoliticalParty importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

obtaining images of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

determining Attractiveness importance factor base on the obtained images; and

including the determined Attractiveness importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a Gender of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a gender importance factor base on the gender of the sender; and

including the determined gender importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the date of the message;

determining a DateSent importance factor base on the date of the message; and

including the determined DateSent importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a Preapproved importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined required to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain a keyword;

determining a Keyword importance factor base on obtained keywords; and

including the determined Keyword importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine a list of recipients of the message;

determining a SentJustToMe importance factor base on the list of recipients of the message; and

including the determined SentJustToMe importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

determining a CompanyCareAbout importance factor base on the identity of a sender'"'"'s company; and

including the determined CompanyCareAbout importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

23. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining an alma mater of the sender based on the identify of the sender;

determining an Alum importance factor base on the determined alma mater; and

including the determined Alum importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

24. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a FamilyMember importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined FamilyMember importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

25. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining an estimated wealth of the sender based on the identity of a sender

determining an EstimatedWealth importance factor base on the estimated wealth of the sender; and

including the determined EstimatedWealth importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

26. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender to determine a number of social network connections associated with the sender;

determining a Popularity importance factor base sender connections on the determined number of social network connections associated with the sender; and

including the determined Popularity importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

27. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender;

determining a FriendsInCommon importance factor base on sender connections identified on the social network; and

including the determined FriendsInCommon importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

28. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a measure of how much the sender has traveled by searching a database using the identity of a sender;

determining a WellTraveled? importance factor base on the measure of how much the sender has traveled; and

including the determined WellTraveled? importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

29. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

determining a NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

including the determined NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

30. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

determining a NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

including the determined NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

31. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain words used in the message;

determining a FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor base on the words used in the message; and

including the determined FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

32. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine an age of the sender;

determining an Age importance factor base on the determined age of the sender; and

including the determined Age importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

33. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a nation of origin of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a NationalOrigin importance factor base on the determined nation of origin of the sender; and

including the determined NationalOrigin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

34. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database to obtain images of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a skin tone of the sender based on the obtained images of the sender;

determining a ColorOfSkin importance factor base on the determined skin tone; and

including the determined ColorOfSkin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

35. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to;

determining a ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to; and

including the determined ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

36. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened;

determining a ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened; and

including the determined ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

37. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine an identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

determining a location of the sender'"'"'s company;

determining a distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company;

determining a DistanceFromCompany importance factor based on the determined distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company; and

including the determined DistanceFromCompany importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

38. The method of claim 10, further comprising highlighting at least a portion of a display of each electronic message based upon the importance value.

39. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

multiplying a weighting factor times an importance factor based on an additional data related to the obtained identity information.

40. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

applying a first algorithm to a first type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a first criterion importance factor;

applying a second algorithm to a second type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a second criterion importance factor; and

calculating the importance value by summing a product of the first criterion importance factor times a first weighting factor and a product of the second criterion importance factor times a second weighting factor.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising receiving user inputs selecting criteria for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first type of additional data, the first algorithm, the second type of additional data, and the second algorithm are determined based upon the received user inputs.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor are determined based upon the receive user inputs.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein searching the first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information is only performed for information relevant to an algorithm for which a corresponding weighting factor is greater than a threshold value.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface including user-interface icons that a user can manipulate with a user interface pointing device to indicate relative priorities of importance criteria,

wherein receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages comprises determining user manipulations of the user-interface icons included in the displayed graphical user interface and interpreting the user manipulations as a relative priority.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising receiving user inputs identifying a condition to be compared to one of the first or second types of additional data and a conditional operation to be performed on an electronic message when the condition is satisfied by the one of the first or second types of additional data.

46. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a communication circuit coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with a network and receive electronic messages,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

parsing each of a plurality of electronic messages to obtain identity information about an entity associated with each electronic message;

searching a first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information;

retrieving additional data related to the obtained identity information from the first database; and

adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data.

47. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the plurality of electronic messages are email messages.

48. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the entity is selected from a recipient of each electronic message, a sender of the electronic message, an individual mentioned in each electronic message, and a company mentioned in each electronic message.

49. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the first database is accessed via the Internet through the communication circuit.

50. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the first database is a contacts database stored in the memory.

51. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

storing at least a portion of the retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information in a prior search results database;

searching the prior search results database for previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information; and

accessing previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information from the prior search results database,

wherein searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database are performed if no previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database.

52. The computing device of claim 51, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database are performed if previously retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database but the time since a last search exceeds a predetermined threshold.

53. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises modifying a display of at least one of the plurality of electronic messages based upon an importance value calculated by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message.

54. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises sorting the plurality of electronic messages by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message to generate an importance value.

55. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises:

calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data; and

sorting the plurality of electronic messages based on the calculated importance value.

56. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the additional data is selected from the group consisting of company name, job title, age, gender, ethnicity, income, social networking data, social network linkages, Google™

hits, alma mater, home value, home address, images, political affiliation, political donations, number of times a reply has been sent to a sender of the message, number of times a message from a sender has been received but not opened, and distance to sender'"'"'s company.

57. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain information within the message body to determine a time required to review the message;

determining a time required to review importance factor based on the determined time required to review the message; and

including the determined required time to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

58. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine its original Internet portal address;

determining an ExternalOrInternal importance factor based on the original Internet portal address; and

including the determined ExternalOrInternal importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

59. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

60. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a political party of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

determining a PoliticalParty importance factor base on the determined political party; and

including the determined PoliticalParty importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

61. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

obtaining images of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

determining Attractiveness importance factor base on the obtained images; and

including the determined Attractiveness importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

62. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a Gender of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a gender importance factor base on the gender of the sender; and

including the determined gender importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

63. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the date of the message;

determining a DateSent importance factor base on the date of the message; and

including the determined DateSent importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

64. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a Preapproved importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined required to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

65. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain a keyword;

determining a Keyword importance factor base on obtained keywords; and

including the determined Keyword importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

66. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine a list of recipients of the message;

determining a SentJustToMe importance factor base on the list of recipients of the message; and

including the determined SentJustToMe importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

67. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

determining a CompanyCareAbout importance factor base on the identity of a sender'"'"'s company; and

including the determined CompanyCareAbout importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

68. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining an alma mater of the sender based on the identify of the sender;

determining an Alum importance factor base on the determined alma mater; and

including the determined Alum importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

69. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a FamilyMember importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined FamilyMember importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

70. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining an estimated wealth of the sender based on the identity of a sender

determining an EstimatedWealth importance factor base on the estimated wealth of the sender; and

including the determined EstimatedWealth importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

71. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender to determine a number of social network connections associated with the sender;

determining a Popularity importance factor base sender connections on the determined number of social network connections associated with the sender; and

including the determined Popularity importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

72. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender;

determining a FriendsInCommon importance factor base on sender connections identified on the social network; and

including the determined FriendsInCommon importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

73. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a measure of how much the sender has traveled by searching a database using the identity of a sender;

determining a WellTraveled? importance factor base on the measure of how much the sender has traveled; and

including the determined WellTraveled? importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

74. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

determining a NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

including the determined NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

75. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

determining a NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

including the determined NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

76. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain words used in the message;

determining a FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor base on the words used in the message; and

including the determined FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

77. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine an age of the sender;

determining an Age importance factor base on the determined age of the sender; and

including the determined Age importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

78. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a nation of origin of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a NationalOrigin importance factor base on the determined nation of origin of the sender; and

including the determined NationalOrigin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

79. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database to obtain images of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a skin tone of the sender based on the obtained images of the sender;

determining a ColorOfSkin importance factor base on the determined skin tone; and

including the determined ColorOfSkin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

80. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to;

determining a ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to; and

including the determined ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

81. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened;

determining a ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened; and

including the determined ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

82. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine an identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

determining a location of the sender'"'"'s company;

determining a distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company;

determining a DistanceFromCompany importance factor based on the determined distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company; and

including the determined DistanceFromCompany importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

83. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising highlighting at least a portion of a display of each electronic message based upon the importance value.

84. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

multiplying a weighting factor times an importance factor based on an additional data related to the obtained identity information.

85. The computing device of claim 55, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

applying a first algorithm to a first type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a first criterion importance factor;

applying a second algorithm to a second type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a second criterion importance factor; and

calculating the importance value by summing a product of the first criterion importance factor times a first weighting factor and a product of the second criterion importance factor times a second weighting factor.

86. The computing device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising receiving user inputs selecting criteria for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first type of additional data, the first algorithm, the second type of additional data, and the second algorithm are determined based upon the received user inputs.

87. The computing device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor are determined based upon the receive user inputs.

88. The computing device of claim 87, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that searching the first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information is only performed for information relevant to an algorithm for which a corresponding weighting factor is greater than a threshold value.

89. The computing device of claim 87, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising displaying a graphical user interface including user-interface icons that a user can manipulate with a user interface pointing device to indicate relative priorities of importance criteria,

wherein receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages comprises determining user manipulations of the user-interface icons included in the displayed graphical user interface and interpreting the user manipulations as a relative priority.

90. The computing device of claim 87, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising receiving user inputs identifying a condition to be compared to one of the first or second types of additional data and a conditional operation to be performed on an electronic message when the condition is satisfied by the one of the first or second types of additional data.

91. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

92. The computing device of claim 46, wherein the computing device is a server, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to adjust the display of the plurality of electronic messages by adjusting the plurality of messages stored in memory prior to being downloaded by a recipient user computer.

93. A computing device, comprising:

means for parsing each of the plurality of electronic messages to obtain identity information about an entity associated with each electronic message;

means for searching a first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information;

means for retrieving additional data related to the obtained identity information from the first database; and

means for adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data.

94. The computing device of claim 93, wherein the plurality of electronic messages are email messages.

95. The computing device of claim 93, wherein means for parsing each of the plurality of electronic messages to obtain identity information about the entity associated with each electronic message comprises means for parsing each of the plurality of electronic messages to obtain identity information about one of a recipient of each electronic message, a sender of the electronic message, an individual mentioned in each electronic message, and a company mentioned in each electronic message.

96. The computing device of claim 93, further comprising means for accessing the first database via the Internet.

97. The computing device of claim 93, wherein the first database is a contacts database.

98. The computing device of claim 93, further comprising:

means for storing at least a portion of the retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information in a prior search results database;

means for searching the prior search results database for previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information; and

means for accessing previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information from the prior search results database,

wherein means for searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database comprises means for searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database if no previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database.

99. The computing device of claim 96, wherein means for searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database comprises means for searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database if previously retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database but the time since a last search exceeds a predetermined threshold.

100. The computing device of claim 93, wherein means for adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises means for modifying a display of at least one of the plurality of electronic messages based upon an importance value calculated by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message.

101. The computing device of claim 93, wherein means for adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises means for sorting the plurality of electronic messages by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message to generate an importance value.

102. The computing device of claim 93, wherein means for adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises:

means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data; and

means for sorting the plurality of electronic messages based on the calculated importance value.

103. The computing device of claim 102, wherein the additional data is selected from the group consisting of company name, job title, age, gender, ethnicity, income, social networking data, social network linkages, Google™

hits, alma mater, home value, home address, images, political affiliation, political donations, number of times a reply has been sent to a sender of the message, number of times a message from a sender has been received but not opened, and distance to sender'"'"'s company.

104. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to obtain information within the message body to determine a time required to review the message;

means for determining a time required to review importance factor based on the determined time required to review the message; and

means for including the determined required time to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

105. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine its original Internet portal address;

means for determining an ExternalOrInternal importance factor based on the original Internet portal address; and

means for including the determined ExternalOrInternal importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

106. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining a HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

means for including the determined HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

107. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining a political party of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

means for determining a PoliticalParty importance factor base on the determined political party; and

means for including the determined PoliticalParty importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

108. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for obtaining images of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

means for determining Attractiveness importance factor base on the obtained images; and

means for including the determined Attractiveness importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

109. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining a Gender of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

means for determining a gender importance factor base on the gender of the sender; and

means for including the determined gender importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

110. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the date of the message;

means for determining a DateSent importance factor base on the date of the message; and

means for including the determined DateSent importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

111. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining a Preapproved importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

means for including the determined required to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

112. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to obtain a keyword;

means for determining a Keyword importance factor base on obtained keywords; and

means for including the determined Keyword importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

113. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine a list of recipients of the message;

means for determining a SentJustToMe importance factor base on the list of recipients of the message; and

means for including the determined SentJustToMe importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

114. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

means for determining a CompanyCareAbout importance factor base on the identity of a sender'"'"'s company; and

means for including the determined CompanyCareAbout importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

115. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining an alma mater of the sender based on the identify of the sender;

means for determining an Alum importance factor base on the determined alma mater; and

means for including the determined Alum importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

116. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining a FamilyMember importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

means for including the determined FamilyMember importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

117. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining an estimated wealth of the sender based on the identity of a sender

means for determining an EstimatedWealth importance factor base on the estimated wealth of the sender; and

means for including the determined EstimatedWealth importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

118. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender to determine a number of social network connections associated with the sender;

means for determining a Popularity importance factor base sender connections on the determined number of social network connections associated with the sender; and

means for including the determined Popularity importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

119. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender;

means for determining a FriendsInCommon importance factor base on sender connections identified on the social network; and

means for including the determined FriendsInCommon importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

120. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining a measure of how much the sender has traveled by searching a database using the identity of a sender;

means for determining a WellTraveled? importance factor base on the measure of how much the sender has traveled; and

means for including the determined WellTraveled? importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

121. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

means for determining a NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

means for including the determined NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

122. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

means for determining a NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

means for including the determined NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

123. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to obtain words used in the message;

means for determining a FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor base on the words used in the message; and

means for including the determined FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

124. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine an age of the sender;

means for determining an Age importance factor base on the determined age of the sender; and

means for including the determined Age importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

125. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for determining a nation of origin of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

means for determining a NationalOrigin importance factor base on the determined nation of origin of the sender; and

means for including the determined NationalOrigin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

126. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for accessing a database to obtain images of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

means for determining a skin tone of the sender based on the obtained images of the sender;

means for determining a ColorOfSkin importance factor base on the determined skin tone; and

means for including the determined ColorOfSkin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

127. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to;

means for determining a ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to; and

means for including the determined ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

128. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

means for accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened;

means for determining a ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened; and

means for including the determined ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

129. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

means for parsing the electronic message to determine an identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

means for determining a location of the sender'"'"'s company;

means for determining a distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company;

means for determining a DistanceFromCompany importance factor based on the determined distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company; and

means for including the determined DistanceFromCompany importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

130. The computing device of claim 102, further comprising means for highlighting at least a portion of a display of each electronic message based upon the importance value.

131. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

means for multiplying a weighting factor times an importance factor based on an additional data related to the obtained identity information.

132. The computing device of claim 102, wherein means for calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

means for applying a first algorithm to a first type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a first criterion importance factor;

means for applying a second algorithm to a second type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a second criterion importance factor; and

means for calculating the importance value by summing a product of the first criterion importance factor times a first weighting factor and a product of the second criterion importance factor times a second weighting factor.

133. The computing device of claim 132, further comprising means for receiving user inputs selecting criteria for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first type of additional data, the first algorithm, the second type of additional data, and the second algorithm are determined based upon the received user inputs.

134. The computing device of claim 132, further means for comprising receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor are determined based upon the receive user inputs.

135. The computing device of claim 132, wherein means for searching the first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information comprises means for searching the first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information relevant to an algorithm for which a corresponding weighting factor is greater than a threshold value.

136. The computing device of claim 132, further comprising means for displaying a graphical user interface including user-interface icons that a user can manipulate with a user interface pointing device to indicate relative priorities of importance criteria,

wherein means for receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages comprises means for determining user manipulations of the user-interface icons included in the displayed graphical user interface and interpreting the user manipulations as a relative priority.

137. The computing device of claim 132, further comprising means for receiving user inputs identifying a condition to be compared to one of the first or second types of additional data and a conditional operation to be performed on an electronic message when the condition is satisfied by the one of the first or second types of additional data.

138. The computing device of claim 93, wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

139. The computing device of claim 93, wherein the computing device is a server, and wherein means for adjusting the display of the plurality of electronic messages comprises means for adjusting the plurality of messages stored in memory prior to being downloaded by a recipient user computer.

140. A processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

parsing each of a plurality of electronic messages to obtain identity information about an entity associated with each electronic message;

searching a first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information;

retrieving additional data related to the obtained identity information from the first database; and

adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data.

141. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the plurality of electronic messages are email messages.

142. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the entity is selected from a recipient of each electronic message, a sender of the electronic message, an individual mentioned in each electronic message, and a company mentioned in each electronic message.

143. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the first database is accessed via the Internet through the communication circuit.

144. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the first database is a contacts database stored in the memory.

145. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

storing at least a portion of the retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information in a prior search results database;

searching the prior search results database for previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information; and

accessing previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information from the prior search results database,

wherein searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database are performed if no previously retrieve additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database.

146. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 145, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that searching the first database and retrieving additional data from the first database are performed if previously retrieved additional data related to the obtained identity information is retrieved from the prior search results database but the time since a last search exceeds a predetermined threshold.

147. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises modifying a display of at least one of the plurality of electronic messages based upon an importance value calculated by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message.

148. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises sorting the plurality of electronic messages by applying an algorithm to the additional data retrieved for each electronic message to generate an importance value.

149. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that adjusting a display of the plurality of electronic messages based on the retrieved additional data comprises:

calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data; and

sorting the plurality of electronic messages based on the calculated importance value.

150. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the additional data is selected from the group consisting of company name, job title, age, gender, ethnicity, income, social networking data, social network linkages, Google™

hits, alma mater, home value, home address, images, political affiliation, political donations, number of times a reply has been sent to a sender of the message, number of times a message from a sender has been received but not opened, and distance to sender'"'"'s company.

151. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain information within the message body to determine a time required to review the message;

determining a time required to review importance factor based on the determined time required to review the message; and

including the determined required time to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

152. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine its original Internet portal address;

determining an ExternalOrInternal importance factor based on the original Internet portal address; and

including the determined ExternalOrInternal importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

153. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined HowOftenIHaveReplied importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

154. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a political party of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

determining a PoliticalParty importance factor base on the determined political party; and

including the determined PoliticalParty importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

155. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

obtaining images of the sender based on the identity of a sender;

determining Attractiveness importance factor base on the obtained images; and

including the determined Attractiveness importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

156. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a Gender of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a gender importance factor base on the gender of the sender; and

including the determined gender importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

157. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the date of the message;

determining a DateSent importance factor base on the date of the message; and

including the determined DateSent importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

158. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a Preapproved importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined required to review importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

159. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain a keyword;

determining a Keyword importance factor base on obtained keywords; and

including the determined Keyword importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

160. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine a list of recipients of the message;

determining a SentJustToMe importance factor base on the list of recipients of the message; and

including the determined SentJustToMe importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

161. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

determining a CompanyCareAbout importance factor base on the identity of a sender'"'"'s company; and

including the determined CompanyCareAbout importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

162. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining an alma mater of the sender based on the identify of the sender;

determining an Alum importance factor base on the determined alma mater; and

including the determined Alum importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

163. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a FamilyMember importance factor base on the identity of a sender; and

including the determined FamilyMember importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

164. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining an estimated wealth of the sender based on the identity of a sender

determining an EstimatedWealth importance factor base on the estimated wealth of the sender; and

including the determined EstimatedWealth importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

165. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender to determine a number of social network connections associated with the sender;

determining a Popularity importance factor base sender connections on the determined number of social network connections associated with the sender; and

including the determined Popularity importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

166. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a social network based on the identity of a sender;

determining a FriendsInCommon importance factor base on sender connections identified on the social network; and

including the determined FriendsInCommon importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

167. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a measure of how much the sender has traveled by searching a database using the identity of a sender;

determining a WellTraveled? importance factor base on the measure of how much the sender has traveled; and

including the determined WellTraveled? importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

168. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

determining a NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

including the determined NumberOF_?_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

169. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the types of punctuation used in the message;

determining a NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor base on the types of punctuation used in the message; and

including the determined NumberOf_!_Marks importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

170. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to obtain words used in the message;

determining a FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor base on the words used in the message; and

including the determined FriendlinessOfMessage importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

171. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine an age of the sender;

determining an Age importance factor base on the determined age of the sender; and

including the determined Age importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

172. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

determining a nation of origin of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a NationalOrigin importance factor base on the determined nation of origin of the sender; and

including the determined NationalOrigin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

173. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database to obtain images of the sender based on the identity of the sender;

determining a skin tone of the sender based on the obtained images of the sender;

determining a ColorOfSkin importance factor base on the determined skin tone; and

including the determined ColorOfSkin importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

174. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to;

determining a ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages received from the sender that previously have been read but not replied to; and

including the determined ReadButNotRepliedTo importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

175. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine the identity of a sender;

accessing a database using the identity of the sender to determine a measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened;

determining a ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor base on the determined measure of electronic messages previously received from the sender that have not been opened; and

including the determined ReceivedButNotOpened importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

176. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message based on a plurality of importance factors determined from the additional data comprises:

parsing the electronic message to determine an identity of a sender'"'"'s company;

determining a location of the sender'"'"'s company;

determining a distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company;

determining a DistanceFromCompany importance factor based on the determined distance to the location of the sender'"'"'s company; and

including the determined DistanceFromCompany importance factor as one of the plurality of importance factors used to calculate the importance value.

177. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising highlighting at least a portion of a display of each electronic message based upon the importance value.

178. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

multiplying a weighting factor times an importance factor based on an additional data related to the obtained identity information.

179. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 149, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that calculating an importance value for each electronic message comprises:

applying a first algorithm to a first type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a first criterion importance factor;

applying a second algorithm to a second type of additional data related to the obtained identity information to obtain a second criterion importance factor; and

calculating the importance value by summing a product of the first criterion importance factor times a first weighting factor and a product of the second criterion importance factor times a second weighting factor.

180. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 179, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising receiving user inputs selecting criteria for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first type of additional data, the first algorithm, the second type of additional data, and the second algorithm are determined based upon the received user inputs.

181. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 179, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages,

wherein the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor are determined based upon the receive user inputs.

182. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 181, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that searching the first database for additional data related to the obtained identity information is only performed for information relevant to an algorithm for which a corresponding weighting factor is greater than a threshold value.

183. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 181, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising displaying a graphical user interface including user-interface icons that a user can manipulate with a user interface pointing device to indicate relative priorities of importance criteria,

wherein receiving user inputs identifying priorities for sorting the plurality of electronic messages comprises determining user manipulations of the user-interface icons included in the displayed graphical user interface and interpreting the user manipulations as a relative priority.

184. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 181, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising receiving user inputs identifying a condition to be compared to one of the first or second types of additional data and a conditional operation to be performed on an electronic message when the condition is satisfied by the one of the first or second types of additional data.

185. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to be executed by a processor of a personal computer.

186. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 140, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to be executed by a processor of a server, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations to adjust the display of the plurality of electronic messages by adjusting the plurality of messages stored in memory prior to being downloaded by a recipient user computer.