Methods for routing items for communications based on a measure of criticality

Abstract

The routing of prioritized documents such as email messages is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first receives a text. The method assigns a priority to the document, based on a text classifier such as a Bayesian classifier or a support-vector machine classifier. The method then routes the text based on a routing criteria. In one embodiment the routing is directed by a measure of priority that reflects the expected cost of delayed review of the document.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 795,713, filed on Mar. 8, 2004, entitled “Methods for Routing Items for Communications Based on a Measure of Criticality,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 620,116, filed on Jul. 15, 2003, entitled “Methods for Routing Item for Communications Based on a Measurement of Criticality”, which is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 364,528, filed on Jul. 30, 1999 entitled “Methods for Routing Documents Based on a Measure of Criticality.” This application is related to the copending applications entitled “Methods for Automatically Assigning Priorities to Documents and Messages” filed on Jul. 30, 1999 and assigned Ser. No. 09 / 364,527, “Integration of a Computer-Based Message Priority System with Mobile Electronic Devices” filed on Jul. 30, 1999 and assigned Ser. No. 09 / 365,293, “Methods for Display, Notification, and Inter...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Embodiments of the invention provide for advantages over the prior art. A user, for example, in one embodiment, may ask that he or she only be disturbed if the priority of the text is greater than a given threshold. Thus, even if the user receives over 100 different emails, he or she will be alerted to the most important email, and then will be able to deal with the other email when the user has time. Prioritization, in other words, makes email much more useful in environments where a lot of email is exchanged on a regular basis.

Problems solved by technology

Chief among these shortcomings is that many users now face a deluge of email every day, such that the capability of being able to send and receive email has almost become a hindrance to their day-to-day ability to get their job done, as opposed to being an asset.

With such large numbers of email, it is difficult to manage the email, such that the users read the most important messages first.

Limited solutions to this problem have been attempted in the prior art.

These limited solutions, however, do not strike at the basic problem behind email—that with so much email being received, it would be most useful for a user to be able to have his or her computer automatically prioritize the email by importance or review urgency, and perform actions based on that prioritization.

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