PRIORITY AND SECURITY CODING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC MAIL MESSAGES

The priority and security encoding system for electronic mail messages functions to ascribe a message characterization code to the electronic mail message that enables the router as well as the destination message server to more efficiently process the electronic mail message, based upon the message characterization code. The message characterization code is assigned by the message originator, or the message server that serves the message originator, to identify the nature of the electronic mail message. The message characterization code can be defined to denote any one or more message related factors, such as: message content, identification of the message originator, identification of the message recipient, or other message processing factors. The message characterizing code is used by the message routers, network nodes, and destination message server to prioritize the processing of electronic mail messages and optionally provide subscriber defined alternate routing of certain classes of messages. This message characterizing code can also be used to automatically initiate various electronic message security measures to safeguard the most sensitive classes of messages, without the need for subscriber intervention.