Feed forward mail load notification system and method

• US 20030110142A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ouchida, Donald, Higgins, Clay, Sesek, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/022,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20030110142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/404
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A method and apparatus for feed forward mail load notification to a mail carrier in a mass mailing operation. Various aspects of the production of mail pieces are monitored and a forecast is provided to the carrier. Aspects monitored include scheduling, consumable levels, manpower, equipment maintenance, planned and unplanned downtime and so forth. The information is correlated into a forecast and provided to the carrier on a routine basis, enabling the carrier to react accordingly. In a closed loop implementation, the carrier provides feedback related to its responsiveness to the forecast, and the mass mailer adapts accordingly. The mass mailing operation is contiguously monitored, and the forecast is updated when events cause expected production to deviate from the current forecast. Thus, the carrier is notified at the earliest time of the mail piece load to be expected from the mass mailer.

Claims

1. A method of feed forward mail load notification to a carrier in a mass mailing operation, comprising the steps of:

monitoring mail production;

producing a mail load forecast to the carrier, and

notifying the carrier of a change in said mail load forecast if said monitoring step indicates a variance in mail production.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving feedback from the carrier related to the carrier'"'"'s capacity to accept mail and

adjusting mail production in response to said feedback.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving feedback from the carrier related to the carrier'"'"'s capacity to accept mail and

requesting the services of a second carrier to accept excess production in the event the carrier is unable to accept the entire mail load production.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring a mail production schedule.

5. The method of claim 1 wher ein said m onitoring step comprises monitoring production history.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring present mail inventory.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring an equipment maintenance schedule.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring a present mail production rate.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast is resolved to daily production forecasts.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast is a rolling forecast that is updated periodically.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the total number of mail pieces.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the total weight of mail pieces.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the destination of mail pieces.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the routing of mail pieces.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast is communicated to the carrier via the Internet.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast is communicated to the carrier via a private network.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail load forecast is communicated to the carrier telephonically.

18. An apparatus for feeding forward mail load notification to a carrier in a mass mailing operation, comprising:

means for monitoring mail production;

means for producing a mail load forecast to the carrier; and

means for notifying the carrier of a change in said mail load forecast if said

means for monitoring indicates a variance in mail production.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving feedback from the carrier related to the carrier'"'"'s capacity to accept mail and

means for adjusting mail production in response to said feedback.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving feedback from the carrier related to the carrier'"'"'s capacity to accept mail and

means for requesting the services of a second carrier to accept excess production in the event the carrier is unable to accept the entire mail load production.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for monitoring monitors a mail production schedule.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for monitoring monitors production history.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for monitoring monitors present mail inventory.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for monitoring monitors an equipment maintenance schedule.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for monitoring monitors a present mail production rate.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast is resolved to daily production forecasts.

27. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast is a rolling forecast that is updated periodically.

28. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the total number of mail pieces.

29. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the total weight of mail pieces.

30. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the destination of mail pieces.

31. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast indicates the routing of mail pieces.

32. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast is communicated to the carrier via the Internet.

33. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast is communicated to the carrier via a private network.

34. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mail load forecast is communicated to the carrier telephonically.