Method and system for processing batches of mail to increase efficiency of the mailstream
First Claim
1. A method for processing mail pieces comprising:
- receiving a first plurality of mail pieces from a first mailer, each mail piece in the first plurality of mail pieces having information associated with each mail piece printed thereon;
receiving a second plurality of mail pieces from a second mailer, each mail piece in the second plurality of mail pieces having information associated with each mail piece printed thereon;
combining the first plurality and second plurality of mail pieces into an aggregation;
reading the information printed on each mail piece in the aggregation;
sorting the aggregation into a plurality of batches of mail pieces based on the information printed on each of the mail pieces;
selecting from a plurality of carriers a respective carrier for delivery of each of the plurality of batches of mail pieces; and
providing each of the plurality of batches of mail pieces to the respective selected carrier for delivery.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mail processing system and method for reducing delivery expenses is provided. When a mailer prepares a batch of mail pieces, the mailer will print on each mail piece information associated with each mail piece. The mailer provides the batch of mail pieces to a mail processing facility. The mail processing facility can then combine batches of mail received from different mailers together to form a single aggregation. The mail processing facility reads the information associated with each mail piece and sorts the aggregation into a plurality of batches based on the information read from each mail piece. A carrier can then be selected, from among a plurality of different carriers, for each of the plurality of batches that preferably provides the desired delivery services at the lowest cost for delivery.
42 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for processing mail pieces comprising:
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receiving a first plurality of mail pieces from a first mailer, each mail piece in the first plurality of mail pieces having information associated with each mail piece printed thereon;
receiving a second plurality of mail pieces from a second mailer, each mail piece in the second plurality of mail pieces having information associated with each mail piece printed thereon;
combining the first plurality and second plurality of mail pieces into an aggregation;
reading the information printed on each mail piece in the aggregation;
sorting the aggregation into a plurality of batches of mail pieces based on the information printed on each of the mail pieces;
selecting from a plurality of carriers a respective carrier for delivery of each of the plurality of batches of mail pieces; and
providing each of the plurality of batches of mail pieces to the respective selected carrier for delivery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification