Using e-mail message characteristics for prioritization

A computer storage device that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method for providing prioritization, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

• providing a plurality of processing states in series, each of the plurality of processing states having a respective corresponding priority calculator;
• providing a plurality of priority queues respectively corresponding to the plurality of processing states;
• and
• passing a message serially through the plurality of processing states, wherein at each of the plurality of processing states, the message is re-prioritize by the respective corresponding priority calculator and saved in a respective corresponding priority queue, wherein higher-priority messages are de-queued from respective corresponding priority queues before lower-priority messages, and wherein the message is de-queued from the respective corresponding priority queue in a different order than a first-in-first-out (FIFO) order.

A system for providing prioritization, the system comprising:

• a memory storage;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:
• calculate a priority level for a message, the calculated priority level for the message being based upon at least one of the following:
• at least one direct characteristic of the message or at least one aggregated characteristic of the message;
• place the message in a first priority queue;
• de-queue the message from the first priority queue in an order based upon the calculated priority level for the message, wherein messages having higher calculated priority levels are de-queued from the first priority queue before messages having lower calculated priority levels, and wherein the order the message is de-queued from the first priority queue is different than a first-in-first-out (FIFO) order;
• expand distribution group recipients corresponding to the message;
• re-calculate the priority level for the message based upon the expanded distribution group recipients;
• place the message in a second priority queue;
• de-queue the message from the second priority queue based upon the re-calculated priority level for the message, wherein messages having higher re-calculated priority levels are de-queued from the second priority queue before messages having lower re-calculated priority levels;
• and
• deliver the message.