Automatic electronic message filtering method and apparatus

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor associated with a computing device perform a method comprising:

• extracting information from a first electronic message directed to a user;
• identifying, using the extracted information, a first item referenced in the first electronic message, the identifying comprising analyzing the extracted information to identify the first item;
• determining an item category for the identified first item, the determining comprising using the identified first item to search a data store associating the identified first item and the item category;
• generating the electronic message filter, an electronic message filter generation comprising using the determined item category as electronic message filtering criteria for the electronic message filter, the electronic message filter further having a filter action;
• automatically determining expiration information indicating a time frame for applicability of the electronic message filter, the determining comprising using a trained statistical machine model corresponding to the item category and the user to determine the expiration information;
• using the electronic message filter in a time frame in accordance with the determined expiration information, the using comprising:
• identifying a second electronic message directed to the user, the identifying comprising determining, using information extracted from the second electronic message, that the second electronic message references a second item belonging to the item category;
• and
• performing the filtering action with the second electronic message.

A method comprising:

• generating, at a computing device, an electronic message filter associated with a user, the electronic message filter comprising item category filtering criteria and a filter action;
• automatically determining, by the computing device, expiration information indicating a time frame for applicability of the electronic message filter, the determining comprising using a trained statistical machine model corresponding to the item category to determine the expiration information;
• using, by the computing device, the electronic message filter in a time frame in accordance with the determined expiration information, the using comprising:
• identifying an electronic message directed to the user, the identifying comprising determining, using information extracted from the electronic message, that the electronic message references an item belonging to the item category;
• and
• performing the filtering action on the electronic message.