Patent ID: 8161122

Claim:
A method for graphical user interface (“GUI”) based management of electronic communications, comprising the steps of: receiving an electronic communication containing a message; computing a situational prioritization value for an electronic communication dependent on a filter implementing a curve modeling a time-dependent equation representing the message's relative priority, where a weight is given to the importance of the type of curve in comparison to other curves, and an efficiency representing the validity of the filter at a particular time, wherein the situational prioritization value is updated during a lifecycle of the electronic communication; computing an inherent prioritization value for the electronic communication dependent on a first factor based on message attributes, message content analysis, and personal or organizational rules and policies, a second factor representing an importance of the message's dimension being analyzed, and a third factor representing an estimated accuracy and validity based on an amount of information for the message's dimension being analyzes; wherein the message content analysis includes consideration of: an intended number of recipients, a status of the message's initiator in an organization in which the message initiator is a member, a status of at least one of the message's active participant, a number of intermediate paths encountered by the electronic message before being received, at least one keyword in at least one of the subject and body of the message, a formatting of one of the electronic communication and the message and, if present, consideration of a name, file type and content of an attachment or an embedded message; assigning a dynamic prioritization score to the electronic communication, wherein the dynamic prioritization score is a quantitative metric obtained using an overall combined situational and inherent prioritization model based on the situational prioritization value and the inherent prioritization value, the quantitative metric is based at least on user-defined criteria including a particular instant of time; and determining a prioritization category for each electronic communication based on the dynamic prioritization score.