Optimizing mail delivery systems by merging mailings
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An article processing system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of user batch stations each having means for assembling article batches and determining article parameters of said batches and computer means for storing said determined article parameters;
(b) a data center having computer means;
(c) a shipping station for receiving batch articles and for processing same for delivery to article addressees, said shipping station offering discounts for submitted article batches that comply with certain regulations and are properly documented;
(d) a communications data link connecting the user station computers and the data center computer;
(e) said data center comprising;
(i) means for collecting from multiple user stations via said data link data representing article parameters of article batches assembled or to be assembled to be forwarded to the shipping station,(ii) means for processing said article parameters data for determining ways for merging some or parts or all of said article batches such that a merged batch will qualify for discounts when delivered to said shipping station,
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Abstract
A system and method for optimizing mail delivery of batch mail. A network is established interconnecting plural batch mailers, a data center, and the Postal Service. Mail data on the mail batches is transmitted to the data center. This enables the data center to generate data to the mailers for merging mail batches to achieve additional postage discounts, to schedule and route mail carriers external to and within the Postal System to increase efficiency of handling, and to interact with the Postal Service for logistics planning and drop-off point and timing of mail batches to expedite processing.
132 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An article processing system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of user batch stations each having means for assembling article batches and determining article parameters of said batches and computer means for storing said determined article parameters; (b) a data center having computer means; (c) a shipping station for receiving batch articles and for processing same for delivery to article addressees, said shipping station offering discounts for submitted article batches that comply with certain regulations and are properly documented; (d) a communications data link connecting the user station computers and the data center computer; (e) said data center comprising; (i) means for collecting from multiple user stations via said data link data representing article parameters of article batches assembled or to be assembled to be forwarded to the shipping station, (ii) means for processing said article parameters data for determining ways for merging some or parts or all of said article batches such that a merged batch will qualify for discounts when delivered to said shipping station,
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2. An article processing system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of user batch stations each having means for assembling article batches and determining article parameter said batches and computer means for storing said determined article parameters; (b) a data center having computer means; (c) a shipping station for receiving batch articles and for processing same for delivery to article addressees said shipping station requiring shipping funds so as to process articles delivered to it and offering discounts for submitted article batches that comply with certain regulations and are properly documented; (d) a communications data link connecting the user station computers and the data center computer; (e) said data center comprising; (i) means for collecting from multiple user stations via said data link data representing article parameters of article batches assembled or to be assembled to be forwarded to the shipping station, (ii) means for processing said article parameters data for determining ways for merging some or parts or all of said article batches such that a merged batch will qualify for discounts when delivered to said shipping station, (iii) means for creating the data for producing the required documentation to accompany the merged batch, (iv) means for communicating via the data link with the user stations whose batches are to be merged to transmit to them information enabling their respective mail batches to be merged.
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3. A mail processing system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of user batch mailing stations each having means for assembling mail batches and determining mail parameters of said batches and computer means for storing said determined mail parameters; (b) a data center having computer means; (c) a postal station for receiving batch mail and for processing same for delivery to mail addressees, said postal station requiring postage funds so as to process ail delivered to it and offering discounts for submitted batch mailings that comply with certain regulations and are properly documented; (d) a communications data link connecting the user station computers and the data center computer; (e) said data center comprising; (i) means for collecting from multiple user stations via said data link data representing mail parameters of mail batches assembled or to be assembled to be forwarded to the postal station, (ii) means for processing said mail parameters data for determining ways or merging some or parts or all of said multiple mail batches such hat a merged batch will qualify for discounts when delivered to said postal station, (iii) means for creating the data for producing the required documentation to accompany the merged batch, (iv) means for communicating via the data link with the user stations whose batches are to be merged to transmit to them information enabling their respective mail batches to be merged. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for improving the processing of mail in a system having a plurality of user batch mailing stations each having means for assembling mail batches and determining and storing mail parameters of said batches, a data center, and a postal station for receiving batch mail and for processing same for delivery to mail addressees, said postal station offering discounts for batch mailings that comply with certain regulations and are properly documented, comprising the steps:
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(a) establishing a communications data link connecting the user stations to the data center; (b) collecting from multiple user stations via said data link data representing mail parameters of assembled mail batches to be forwarded to the postal station, (c) processing said mail parameters data for determining ways for merging some or parts or all of said multiple mail batches such that one or more merged batches will qualify for discounts when delivered to said postal station or delivery time through the system will be reduced, (d) creating the data for producing the required documentation to accompany a batch, (e) communicating via the data link with the user stations whose batches are to be merged to transmit to them information concerning merging of their respective mail batches. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a method of mail processing in a system comprising a plurality of user batch mailing stations each having means for assembling individual mail batches and determining predetermined parameters of said batch, a post office having mail processing facilities which are used to process mail having certain parameters, and a data center in communication with the user mailing stations and possessing information as to the handling by the post office processing facilities of batch mailings, comprising the steps:
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(a) receiving from the user mailing stations data representing one or more parameters of plural mail batches to be delivered to a post office processing facility, (b) determining from said received data of step (a) whether said individual mail batches have common parameters allowing the post office processing facility to bulk process combined plural individual batches, (c) transmitting to the user mailing stations information enabling combining individual mail batches that can be bulk processed when delivered to the post office processing facility. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A mail processing system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of user batch mailing stations each having means for assembling mail batches and determining mail parameters of said batches and computer means for processing and storing said determined mail parameters; (b) a data center having computer means; (c) a postal station for receiving batch mail and for processing same for delivery to mail addressees; (d) a plurality of carriers for transporting mail batches; (e) a communications data link connecting the user station computers and the data center computer and the carriers; (f) said data center comprising; (i) means for collecting from multiple user stations via said data link data representing mail parameters of assembled mail batches to be forwarded to the postal station, (ii) means for collecting from multiple carriers data representing available capacity; (iii) means for processing said mail parameters data and said carriers data for determining ways for merging some or parts or all of said multiple mail batches and delivering them along at least a portion of a route to the Postal Station, (iv) means for communicating via the data link with the user stations whose batches are to be merged and with the carriers to transmit to them a schedule for pick-ups of said mail batches. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. In a method of mail processing in a system including a data center, multiple user batch mailing stations coupled to communicate with said data center, and a post office center having mail processing facilities and equipment and coupled to communicate with said data center, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving data relating to predetermined parameters of batches of mail that has been or will be forwarded to said post office center; (b) receiving logistics planning information; (c) using the information received in steps (a) and (b) for transmitting to said user mailing stations batch merging information and scheduling information for delivering the said mail batches, to a post office processing facility. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification