System and method for prioritizing communications messages

• US 20070036301A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MEC Management, LLC (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota)
• Original Assignee: SF IP Properties 30 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Connor, Joe, Voticky, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.220
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method of sorting a received information message in which a source of delivery of the message is indicated by a unique identifier accompanying the message, for example, in an e-mail or voice message system. The method includes steps of receiving the message, looking-up the identifier in a database, assigning a code for the message per the result of the step of looking-up, and prioritizing or forwarding the message according to the code.

Claims

1. A method for an electronic communications message system to prioritize an information message, comprising:

defining a plurality of virtual mailboxes;

determining a personalized identifier corresponding to a message;

locating the personalized identifier in a database;

assigning from the database a priority code corresponding to the personalized identifier; and

depositing the message into at least two of the plurality of virtual mailboxes wherein the message is prioritized within each of the at least two virtual mailboxes, using different priority criteria in each mailbox.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a priority hierarchy corresponding to the plurality of virtual mailboxes; and

choosing the at least two mailboxes based upon the priority hierarchy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon biometric data transmitted in conjunction with the message

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon information that does not require coordination between a sender of a message and a recipient of the message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a priority alphanumeric code (PAC) in conjunction with a message;

wherein the message is prioritized based upon the PAC.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising invalidating a specific PAC once the specific PAC has been employed to prioritize a message so that the specific PAC can not be reused.

8. An electronic communications message prioritization system, comprising:

a plurality of virtual mailboxes;

a personalized identifier corresponding to a message;

logic for locating the personalized identifier in a database;

logic for assigning from the database a priority code corresponding to the personalized identifier; and

logic for depositing the message into at least two of the plurality of virtual mailboxes wherein the message is prioritized within each of the at least two virtual mailboxes, using different priority criteria in each mailbox.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a priority hierarchy corresponding to the plurality of virtual mailboxes; and

logic for choosing the at least two mailboxes based upon the priority hierarchy.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the message.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon biometric data transmitted in conjunction with the message

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon information that does not require coordination between a sender of a message and a recipient of the message.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a priority alphanumeric code (PAC) transmitted in conjunction with a message;

wherein the message is prioritized based upon the PAC.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising logic for invalidating a specific PAC once the specific PAC has been employed to prioritize a message so that the specific PAC can not be reused.

15. A computer programming product, comprising:

a memory,

a plurality of virtual mailboxes;

a personalized identifier corresponding to a message;

logic, stored on the memory, for locating the personalized identifier in a database;

logic, stored on the memory, for assigning from the database a priority code corresponding to the personalized identifier; and

logic, stored on the memory, for depositing the message into at least two of the plurality of virtual mailboxes wherein the message is prioritized within each of the at least two virtual mailboxes, using different priority criteria in each mailbox.

16. The computer programming product of claim 15, further comprising:

a priority hierarchy corresponding to the plurality of virtual mailboxes; and

logic, stored on the memory, for choosing the at least two mailboxes based upon the priority hierarchy.

17. The computer programming product of claim 15, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the message.

18. The computer programming product of claim 15, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon biometric data transmitted in conjunction with the message

19. The computer programming product of claim 15, wherein the personalized identifier is based upon information that does not require coordination between a sender of a message and a recipient of the message.

20. The computer programming product of claim 15, further comprising:

a priority alphanumeric code (PAC) transmitted in conjunction with a message;

wherein the message is prioritized based upon the PAC.