Method and apparatus for dynamic prioritization of electronic mail messages

A method for prioritization of a user's electronic mail messages comprising the steps of:

• (a) identifying an existing priority bid of a received electronic mail message;
• (b) comparing a priority bid of an incoming electronic mail message to said existing priority bid for said received electronic mail message;
• and
• (c) if said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message is less than or equal to said existing priority bid of said received electronic mail message, increasing said priority bid for said incoming electronic mail message.

A method for prioritization of a user's electronic mail messages using a computer having a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing in said memory an auction pool comprising a plurality of received electronic mail messages, each of said electronic mail messages comprising an associated priority bid;
• (b) receiving an incoming electronic mail message having a priority bid;
• (c) comparing said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message to said associated priority bids of said received electronic mail messages;
• and
• (d) if said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message is less than or equal to a respective associated priority bid of any electronic mail message in said auction pool, increasing said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message.

A method for prioritizing electronic mail messages in a user's electronic inbox, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a plurality of electronic mail messages, each of said messages comprising a respective priority bid, said plurality of message comprising an auction pool;
• (b) receiving an incoming electronic mail message having a priority bid;
• (c) if said priority bid of said incoming message is less than or equal to said respective priority bid of any message in said auction pool, increasing said priority bid of said incoming message to exceed said respective priority bid;
• (d) adding said incoming message to said auction pool;
• and
• (e) displaying in descending order of priority bids a list of said messages in said auction pool.

A method for providing a categorized display of a recipient's electronic mail messages, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a first electronic mail message comprising a first identifier associated with a first category;
• (b) receiving a second electronic mail message comprising a second identifier associated with a second category;
• (c) causing information relating to said first electronic mail message to be displayed in a first section of a mail reader display;
• and
• (d) causing information relating to said second electronic mail message to be displayed in a second section of said mail reader display.

A method for sending categorizable electronic mail messages in an electronic mail system, said method comprising:

• (a) preparing an electronic mail message for transmission to a recipient;
• (b) including in said electronic mail message category identification data usable to associate said electronic mail message with a corresponding section of a plurality of sections of said recipient's mail reader display;
• and
• (c) transmitting said electronic mail message via said electronic mail system.

A computer program product for categorizing a recipient's electronic mail messages, said computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer program product comprising:
• (a) computer readable code for receiving an electronic mail message;
• (b) computer readable code for associating said electronic mail message with a category;
• (c) computer readable code for causing information identifying said electronic mail message to be displayed in a corresponding section of a plurality of sections of a mail reader display, said corresponding section corresponding to said category.

A mail client computer for receiving and categorizing electronic mail, the mail client computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
• a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
• a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for receiving an electronic mail message;
• a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for associating said electronic mail message with a category;
• and
• a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for causing information identifying said electronic mail message to be displayed in a corresponding section of a plurality of sections of a mail reader display, said corresponding section corresponding to said category.

A mail server computer for categorizing electronic mail, the mail server computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
• a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
• a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for receiving an electronic mail message;
• a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for associating said electronic mail message with a category;
• and
• a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for causing information identifying said electronic mail message to be displayed in a corresponding section of a plurality of sections of a mail reader display, said corresponding section corresponding to said category.

A mail client computer for sending categorizable electronic mail, the mail client computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
• a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
• a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for preparing an electronic mail message for transmission to a recipient;
• a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for including in said electronic mail message category identification data usable to associate said electronic mail message with a corresponding section of a plurality of sections of said recipient's mail reader display;
• and
• a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for transmitting said electronic mail message via said electronic mail system.

A computer program product for prioritization of a user's electronic mail messages comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer program product comprising:
• (a) computer readable code for storing an auction pool comprising a plurality of electronic mail messages, each of said electronic mail messages comprising a respective priority bid;
• (b) computer readable code for receiving an incoming electronic mail message having a priority bid;
• (c) computer readable code for determining if said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message is less than or equal to said respective priority bid of any of said electronic mail messages in said auction pool, and for responsively increasing said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message to exceed said respective priority bid;
• (d) computer readable code for adding said incoming electronic mail message to said auction pool;
• and
• (e) computer readable code for causing to be displayed, in descending order of priority bids, a list of said electronic mail messages in said auction pool.

A mail client computer for receiving and prioritizing electronic mail, the mail client computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
• a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
• a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for storing an auction pool comprising a plurality of electronic mail messages, each of said electronic mail messages comprising a respective priority bid;
• a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for receiving an incoming electronic mail message having a priority bid;
• a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for determining if said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message is less than or equal to said respective priority bid of any of said electronic mail messages in said auction pool, and for responsively increasing said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message to exceed said respective priority bid;
• a fourth program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for adding said incoming electronic mail message to said auction pool;
• a fifth program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for causing to be displayed, in descending order of priority bids, a list of said electronic mail messages in said auction pool.

A mail server computer for prioritizing electronic mail, the mail client computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
• a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
• a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for storing an auction pool comprising a plurality of electronic mail messages, each of said electronic mail messages comprising a respective priority bid;
• a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for receiving an incoming electronic mail message having a priority bid;
• a third program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for determining if said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message is less than or equal to said respective priority bid of any of said electronic mail messages in said auction pool, and for responsively increasing said priority bid of said incoming electronic mail message to exceed said respective priority bid;
• a fourth program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for adding said incoming electronic mail message to said auction pool;
• a fifth program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for causing to be displayed, in descending order of priority bids, a list of said electronic mail messages in said auction pool.

A mail client computer for sending electronic mail, the mail client computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory operatively connected to said central processing unit;
• a telecommunications device operatively connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating via a communications network;
• a first program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for preparing an electronic mail message for transmission to a recipient, said electronic mail message comprising maximum bid data reflecting a maximum amount receivable by said recipient;
• and
• a second program stored in said memory and executable by said central processing unit for transmitting said electronic mail message via said electronic mail system.