Computing system for operating report production facilities

• US 6,256,624 B1
• Filed: 08/17/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rebenack, Larry M., Haufschild, Kurtis A., Pollard, Larry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Veillard, Jacques
• Application Number:
  US09/135,349
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/7, 707/204, 707/10, 705/34, 705/401, 705/410, 705/411, 705/406, 705/40, 709/217
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/08 Sorting, i.e. grouping record carriers in numerical or other ordered sequence according to the classification of at least some of the information they carry by merging two or more sets of carriers in ordered sequence G06F7/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The disclosure includes a computational system (110) that implements a method for controlling operation of report production facilities. The system (110) is particularly suited to efficiently operating a facility that prints mail pieces and inserts the mail pieces in envelopes for delivery by the U.S. Postal Service. In one implementation, the system (110) includes a main processor (112) that receives constituent data and sequentially stores the data in report recipient files (116). The main processor (112) is utilized to process the stored data to create relational database files (118, 120). The database files (118, 120) include index fields which facilitate tracking and sorting of the data based in part upon postal rates, report lengths, and other distribution and production criteria. The main processor (112) may then be operated to create report output files (160) to be used by a report production facility (160) in printing and inserting the mail pieces. The report output files (160) may be created to obtain lower postal rates through presorting into postal discount categories such as carrier routes and zip code classifications. The report data may be located in the report recipient files (116), without further sequential processing, through the use of location data stored in the database files. The system (110) may further include a scheduler program (114) that controls creation of a report output file (122) by monitoring operational capacities of a report production facility (160), customer requirements via a system operator (124), and the contents of the database files (118, 120).

Claims

1. A method for use in operating a report production facility, said report production facility configured for preparing information reports for transmittal by a delivery system to a plurality of report recipients, comprising the steps of:

defining a set of output index fields for storing processing information useable in said operating of said report production facility;

receiving report data associated with each of said report recipients;

sequentially storing said report data in report recipient files;

processing said report recipient files to create a report index database file including an index record associated with each of said report recipient files, each of said index records including at least said output index fields;

using said processing information stored in said output index fields of said report index database file to create a report output file by selectively retrieving said report data from a selectable set of said report recipient files, said report output file being configured for use by said report production facility in preparing said information reports;

employing a scheduling means to contact said report production facility and determining a capacity of said production facility to receive and process said report output file, and to prepare said information reports.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said information reports has a page quantity value and said output index fields include a report length field for storing said page quantity value for each of said report recipient files.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said report production facility includes a plurality of inserters, each of said inserters having a page quantity capability for inserting information reports having a corresponding page quantity value into an envelope for delivery by said delivery system to said report recipients.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said using step includes the following substeps:

determining an input capacity of each of said inserters to receive and insert additional information reports;

comparing each of said input capacities to rank said inserters in descending order based on input capacity; and

selectively retrieving said report data from report recipient files having a page quantity value in said report length field corresponding to said page quantity capability of an inserter being ranked as having the largest input capacity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving, sequentially storing, processing and using steps are performed at least partially contemporaneously.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivery system is the U.S. Postal Service and said output index fields include a postal category field for storing postal pricing classifications, said postal pricing classifications including special routing, heavy mailing, foreign mailing, carrier route, 5-digit zip code, and 3-digit zip code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said using step includes selecting one of said postal pricing classifications, processing said report index database file to locate said index records having said one of said postal pricing classifications in said postal category field, and selectively retrieving said report data from each of said report recipient files corresponding to said located index records.

8. A method for use in operating a report production facility, said report production facility being adapted for preparing information reports from a report output file that includes report data associated with a plurality of report recipients, said method comprising the steps of:

selectively retrieving report data stored in a set of report recipient files by processing a report index database file, said report index database file including an index record associated with each of said report recipient files, wherein said index records include output index fields containing processing information;

creating said report output file from said selectively retrieved report data; and

transmitting said report output file to said report production facility for use in preparing said information reports.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said output index fields include an output format field including information associated with the physical form of said information report, a report length field including a page quantity value, a postal category field including postal pricing classifications, a state field, and a transmittal verification field, said postal pricing classifications including special routing, heavy mailing, foreign mailing, carrier route, 5-digit zip code, and 3-digit zip code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said report production facility includes a plurality of inserters having a page quantity capability for inserting prepared information reports having a corresponding page quantity value into an envelope and said selectively retrieving step is performed based on said page quantity value stored in said report length field and a determinable input capacity of each of said inserters.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said selectively retrieving step includes selecting one of said postal pricing classifications, processing said report index database file to locate said index records having said one of said postal pricing classifications in said postal category field, and selectively retrieving said report data from each of said report recipient files corresponding to said located index records.

12. A method for use in preparing information reports for transmittal by a delivery system to report recipients, comprising the steps of:

providing a first data storage means for storing report data associated with said report recipients, said first data storage means including a report recipient file corresponding to each of said report recipients;

sequentially storing report data associated with each of said report recipients into said report recipient files of said first data storage means;

coupling a data processing means, for processing said report recipient files, to each of said first data storage means, a second data storage means for storing data in database files, a third data storage means, including a report output file, for storing data for transmittal to a report preparation facility, and said report production facility;

creating a report index database file by processing said report recipient files with said data processing means, said report index database file having an index record associated with each of said processed report recipient files and being stored in said second data storage means, wherein each of said index records includes a plurality of output index fields and at least one storage position data field for storing position data, said position data including information for locating, free from sequential searching, said each of said report recipient files in said first data storage means;

creating a report output file for transmittal to said report production facility, wherein the step of creating said report output file comprises the substeps of;

receiving at said data processing means an output value;

operating said data processing means to process said report index database file to locate each of said index records having said output value in one of said output index fields;

locating in said first data storage means a report recipient file associated with each of said index records located in said operating substep, wherein said locating substep is performed by said data processing means by utilizing said position data included in said storage position data field of each of said located index records; and

utilizing said data processing means to transfer said report data from each of said located report recipient files to said report output file of said third data storage means; and

transmitting, with said data processing means, said report data in said report output file from said third data storage means to said report production facility for production of said information reports and transmittal to said delivery system for delivery to said report recipients.

13. The method of claim 12, said first data storage means configured for storing report data having a variable size into said report recipient files.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving said report data from a plurality of data processing centers, said data processing centers being in communication with said data processing means and at least one of said data processing centers being located at a location different from said data processing means.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said report data is received from at least seven of said data processing centers.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said delivery system is at least one of the U.S. Postal Service, a private package delivery service, and an Internet distribution service.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said delivery system is the U.S. Postal Service and said output index fields include an output format field including information associated with the physical form of said information report, a report length field including a page quantity value, a postal category field including postal pricing classifications, a state field, and a transmittal verification field, said postal pricing classifications including special routing, heavy mailing, foreign mailing, carrier route, 5-digit zip code, and 3-digit zip code.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said output value is transmitted from said report production facility, whereby said report production facility is operable to control said report data included in said report output file at least partially as a function of a capacity of said report production facility to receive and process said report data, said capacity being a function of said page quantity value in said report length field.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a tracking means for determining and storing a current total for each of said postal pricing classifications in said postal category field, said current totals being increased when an index record having one of said each of said postal pricing classifications is stored in said second data storage means and being decreased when an index record having one of said each of said postal pricing classifications is verified transmitted to said report output file.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

providing a scheduling means for controlling said creation of said report output file and said operation of said report production facility, wherein said scheduling means is in communication with said data processing means, said report production facility, and said tracking means; and

utilizing said scheduling means to determine said output value as a function of a capacity of said report production facility to receive and process said report data and of said current totals for each of said postal pricing classifications, wherein said scheduling means compares said current totals for each of said postal pricing classifications with a minimum quantity defined by the U.S. Postal Service for obtaining said each of said postal pricing classifications.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said tracking means includes an index count database file including a special routing count field, a heavy mailing count field, a foreign mailing count field, a carrier route count field for each carrier route, a 5-digit zip code count field for each 5-digit zip code delivery area serviced by said report production facility, and a 3-digit zip code count field for each 3-digit zip code delivery area serviced by said report production facility.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said data processing means is coupled to a plurality of said report production facilities.

23. A method for use in operating a report production facility, said report production facility being adapted for preparing information reports for transmittal by a delivery system to report recipients, comprising the steps of:

providing a first data storage means for storing report data associated with said report recipients, said first data storage means including a report recipient file corresponding to each of said report recipients;

sequentially storing report data associated with each of said report recipients into said report recipient files of said first data storage means;

coupling a data processing means for processing said report recipient files to each of said first data storage means, a second data storage means for storing data in database files, a third data storage means, including a report output file, for storing data for transmittal to a report production facility, and said report production facility;

creating a report index database file by processing said report recipient files with said data processing means, said report index database file having an index record associated with each of said processed report recipient files and being stored in said second data storage means, wherein each of said index records includes a plurality of output index fields and at least one storage position data field for storing position data, said position data including information for locating, free from sequential searching, said each of said report recipient files in said first data storage means;

providing a scheduling means for controlling preparation of said information reports by said report production facility, wherein said scheduling means is in communication with said data processing means and said report production facility;

creating a report output file for transmittal to said report production facility, wherein the step of creating said report output file comprises the substeps of;

determining with said scheduling means a capacity of said report production facility to receive and process said report data;

utilizing said scheduling means to determine, as a function of said determined capacity, an output value for use in selecting a plurality of said report recipient files for transfer to said report production facility;

receiving at said data processing means said output value from said scheduling means;

operating said data processing means to process said report index database file to locate each of said index records having said output value in one of said output index fields;

locating in said first data storage means a report recipient file associated with each of said index records located in the operating substep, wherein said locating substep is performed by said data processing means by utilizing said position data included in said storage position data field of each of said located index records; and

utilizing said data processing means to transfer said report data from each of said located report recipient files to said report output file of said third data storage means; and

transmitting, with said data processing means, said report output file from said third data storage means to said report production facility for production of said information reports and transmittal to said delivery system for delivery to said report recipients.

24. The method of claim 23, said scheduling means being responsive to operator commands enabling an operator to specify said output value.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said scheduling means substantially continuously performs said determining said capacity of said report preparation facility substep.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said information reports have a plurality of output formats and a plurality of page quantity values and said report production facility includes a plurality of printers adaptable to print said information reports in each of said output formats and a plurality of inserters for inserting said printed information reports into envelopes for delivery by said delivery system, each of said inserters having a page quantity capability for inserting said printed information reports having a corresponding page quantity value.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said determining said capacity of said report production facility to receive and process said report data substep includes determining a capacity of each of said printers to receive a report output file and determining an input capacity of each of said inserters having a particular page quantity capability.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said determining said capacity of said report production facility to receive and process said report data substep further includes monitoring an operating status of each of each of said printers and each of said inserters.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said data processing means is in communication with said printers of said report production facility, said transmitted report output file includes report data having an output format, and said transmitted report output file is received by one of said printers adapted to print said output format of said report data.

30. An apparatus for processing report data associated with report recipients to create a report output file, said apparatus comprising:

input means for receiving said report data related to each of said report recipients;

memory means for sequentially storing said report data in report recipient files and for storing at least a portion of said report data in a report index database file, said report index database file including an index record associated with each of said report recipients, wherein said index records include output index fields for storing said at least a portion of said report data;

data processing means for processing said report recipient files to retrieve said output index fields in said index records, said data processing means further being operable to compare said output index fields in said index records, said data processing means further being operable to compare said output index fields to a receivable output value so as to selectively retrieve said report data is transferred to said report output file; and

a scheduling means for controlling preparation of said information reports by said report production facility, wherein said scheduling means is in communication with said data processing means and a report production facility, where said scheduling means is further configured to;

determine a capacity of said report production facility to receive and process said report data; and

determine, as a function of said determined capacity, and output value for use in selecting a plurality of said report recipient files for transferred to said report production facility.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said output index fields include a report length field, a postal category field, a state field, a transmittal verification field, and an output format field.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said report data stored in said postal category field includes postal pricing classifications including special routing, heavy mailing, foreign mailing, carrier route, 5-digit zip code, and 3-digit zip code.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said report data stored in said report length field includes a page quantity value.