System and method for combined mailing of a plurality of diverse publications

• US 7,133,851 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald B. Benson
• Original Assignee: Donald B. Benson
• Inventors: Benson, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, AKIBA KANELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/641,095
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 209/584, 700/221, 700/200, 700/223, 705/401, 705/407, 705/410
• US Class Current: 705/410
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00185 Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office digital data processing G06F; coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece

Abstract

A system for combined mailing of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients at an optimized mail rate. The system includes a bindery for binding a plurality of the signatures where the bindery binding the plurality of signatures creates a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications. Each of the plurality of first and second publications are in a unique order, where the unique order identifies each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients. A co-mailer is part of the system for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form a plurality of diverse publications. The co-mailer merges the plurality of first and second publications in the unique order to send the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients at the optimized mail rate.

Claims

1. A system for combined mailing (co-mailing) of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

a bindery for binding a plurality of signatures, the bindery binding the plurality of signatures to create a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications, each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications being in an order, the order identifying each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients; and

a co-mailer for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form the plurality of diverse publications, the co-mailer comprising

a merge stream that merges the plurality of first publications and the plurality of second publications into the order to mail the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients;

a sortation device that receives the plurality of diverse publications merged by the merge stream and sorts each of the plurality of diverse publications by a mail rate;

a first print head, the first print head printing an identifier information on each of the plurality of diverse publications in a customized orientation and a customized placement on a first portion of each of the plurality of diverse publications; and

a second print head, the second print head printing the identifier information on each of the plurality of diverse publications in a customized orientation and a customized placement on a second portion of each of the plurality of diverse publications.

2. A system for combined mailing (co-mailing) of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

a bindery for binding a plurality of signatures, the bindery binding the plurality of signatures to create a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications, each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications being in an order, the order identifying each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients, the bindery further comprising;

a thickness measurement device that determines a thickness of each of the plurality of publications; and

a weight measurement device that determines a weight of each of the plurality of publications;

a co-mailer for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form the plurality of diverse publications, the co-mailer comprising

a merge stream that merges the plurality of first publications and the plurality of second publications into the order to mail the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients; and

a sortation device that receives the plurality of diverse publications merged by the merge stream and sorts each of the plurality of diverse publications by a mail rate.

3. A system for combined mailing (co-mailing) of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

a bindery for binding a plurality of signatures, the bindery binding the plurality of signatures to create a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications, each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications being in an order, the order identifying each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients; and

a co-mailer for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form the plurality of diverse publications, the co-mailer comprising

a merge stream that merges the plurality of first publications and the plurality of second publications into the order to mail the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients;

a sortation device that receives the plurality of diverse publications merged by the merge stream and sorts each of the plurality of diverse publications by a mail rate; and

a co-mailer merge and sequence module that receives a plurality of verified sequence lists from the bindery, each of the plurality of verified sequence lists containing the order for each of the plurality of publications received from the bindery, the co-mailer merge and sequence module merging each of the plurality of verified sequence lists to create a merged verified sequence list, the merged verified sequence list sequenced in the order to determine the mail rate.

4. A system for combined mailing (co-mailing) of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

a bindery for binding a plurality of signatures, the bindery binding the plurality of signatures to create a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications, each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications being in an order, the order identifying each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients; and

a co-mailer for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form the plurality of diverse publications, the co-mailer comprising

a merge stream that merges the plurality of first publications and the plurality of second publications into the order to mail the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients;

a sortation device that receives the plurality of diverse publications merged by the merge stream and sorts each of the plurality of diverse publications by a mail rate;

a co-mailer merge and sequence module that receives a plurality of verified sequence lists from the bindery, each of the plurality of verified sequence lists containing the order for each of the plurality of publications received from the bindery, the co-mailer merge and sequence module merging each of the plurality of verified sequence lists to create a merged verified sequence list, the merged verified sequence list sequenced in the order to determine the mail rate; and

a co-mailer control module, the co-mailer control module receiving the merged verified sequence list from the co-mailer merge and sequence module, the co-mailer control module transmitting the merged verified sequence list to the co-mailer for determining the mail rate.

5. A system for combined mailing (co-mailing) of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

a bindery for binding a plurality of signatures, the bindery binding the plurality of signatures to create a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications, each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications being in an order, the order identifying each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients; and

a co-mailer for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form the plurality of diverse publications, the co-mailer comprising

a merge stream that merges the plurality of first publications and the plurality of second publications into the order to mail the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients;

a sortation device that receives the plurality of diverse publications merged by the merge stream and sorts each of the plurality of diverse publications by a mail rate; and

a co-mailer control module, the co-mailer control module controlling a first print head and a second print head on the co-mailer, each of the first and second print heads printing an identifier information on each of the plurality of diverse publications in a customized orientation and a customized placement on a portion of each of the plurality of diverse publications.

6. A method for co-mailing of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

providing an order to a bindery, the order defining an order that each of a plurality of publications are bound by the bindery, the providing step further comprising;

providing the order in a form of a record list to a bindery sequence list module in communication with the bindery, the record list containing an identifier information for each of the plurality of recipients; and

sequencing the record list in a predetermined sequence to obtain a sequence list used to determine a mail rate;

binding, by the bindery, a plurality of signatures to create the plurality of publications, each of the plurality of publications being in the order, the binding step further comprising;

selecting the plurality of signatures based on at least one field in the record list for each of the plurality of recipients;

binding the plurality of signatures selected in the selecting step;

printing the identifier information from the sequence list on the plurality of signatures;

determining a weight and a thickness of each of the plurality of publications, the weight and the thickness being inserted into the sequence list; and

verifying the order of each of the plurality of publications, the verifying step further comprising updating the sequence list to record each of the plurality of publications that are not in the order to generate a verified sequence list;

merging, by a co-mailer, the plurality of publications in the order to form the plurality of diverse publications;

sorting, by a sortation device, the plurality of diverse publications merged by the mail rate; and

sending the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients.

7. A method for co-mailing of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

providing an order to a bindery, the order defining an order that each of a plurality of publications are bound by the bindery, the providing step further comprising;

providing the order in a form of a record list to a bindery sequence list module in communication with the bindery, the record list containing an identifier information for each of the plurality of recipients; and

sequencing the record list in a predetermined sequence to obtain a sequence list used to determine a mail rate;

binding, by the bindery, a plurality of signatures to create the plurality of publications, each of the plurality of publications being in the order, the binding step further comprising;

selecting the plurality of signatures based on at least one field in the record list for each of the plurality of recipients;

binding the plurality of signatures selected in the selecting step;

printing the identifier information from the sequence list on the plurality of signatures;

determining a weight and a thickness of each of the plurality of publications, the weight and the thickness being inserted into the sequence list; and

verifying the order of each of the plurality of publications, the verifying step further comprising updating the sequence list to record each of the plurality of publications that are not in the order to generate a verified sequence list;

merging, by a co-mailer, the plurality of publications in the order to form the plurality of diverse publications, the merging step further comprising;

transferring a plurality of verified sequence lists to a co-mailer merge and sequence sort module in communication with the co-mailer, each of the plurality of verified sequence lists representing the plurality of publications;

merging, by the co-mailer merge and sequence sort module, the plurality of verified sequence lists into the order to obtain a merged verified sequence list;

using the merged verified sequence list to determine a mail rate for each record in the merged verified sequence list, the merged verified sequence list containing the mail rate being an merged verified sequence list;

transferring the merged verified sequence list to a co-mailer control module to drive the co-mailer;

inserting the plurality of diverse publications on a merge stream on the co-mailer;

verifying the order of each of the plurality of diverse publications on the merge stream using the identifier information;

printing an the identifier information on each of the plurality of diverse publications;

verifying, after the printing step, the physical qualities of each of the plurality of diverse publications;

rejecting each of the plurality of diverse publications damaged during the co-mailing step and verified as damaged during the verifying step;

sorting each of the plurality of diverse publications by a mail rate category;

bundling a predetermined number of the plurality of diverse publications into a bundled plurality of diverse publications;

labeling the bundled plurality of diverse publications; and

transferring the bundled plurality of diverse publications to a postal office;

sorting, by a sortation device, the plurality of diverse publications merged by the mail rate; and

sending the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients.

8. A method for co-mailing of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

providing an order to a bindery, the order defining an order that each of a plurality of publications are bound by the bindery, the providing step further comprising;

providing the order in a form of a record list to a bindery sequence list module in communication with the bindery, the record list containing an identifier information for each of the plurality of recipients; and

sequencing the record list in a predetermined sequence to obtain a sequence list used to determine a mail rate;

binding, by the bindery, a plurality of signatures to create the plurality of publications, each of the plurality of publications being in the order, the binding step further comprising;

selecting the plurality of signatures based on at least one field in the record list for each of the plurality of recipients;

binding the plurality of signatures selected in the selecting step;

printing the identifier information from the sequence list on the plurality of signatures;

determining a weight and a thickness of each of the plurality of publications, the weight and the thickness being inserted into the sequence list; and

verifying the order of each of the plurality of publications, the verifying step further comprising updating the sequence list to record each of the plurality of publications that are not in the order to generate a verified sequence list;

merging, by a co-mailer, the plurality of publications in the order to form the plurality of diverse publications, the merging step further comprising;

transferring a plurality of verified sequence lists to a co-mailer merge and sequence sort module in communication with the co-mailer, each of the plurality of verified sequence lists representing the plurality of publications;

merging, by the co-mailer merge and sequence sort module, the plurality of verified sequence lists into the order to obtain a merged verified sequence list;

using the merged verified sequence list to determine a mail rate for each record in the merged verified sequence list, the merged verified sequence list containing the mail rate being an merged verified sequence list;

transferring the merged verified sequence list to a co-mailer control module to drive the co-mailer;

inserting the plurality of diverse publications on a merge stream on the co-mailer;

verifying the order of each of the plurality of diverse publications on the merge stream using the identifier information;

printing an the identifier information on each of the plurality of diverse publications;

verifying, after the printing step, the physical qualities of each of the plurality of diverse publications;

rejecting each of the plurality of diverse publications damaged during the co-mailing step and verified as damaged during the verifying step;

sorting each of the plurality of diverse publications by a mail rate category;

bundling a predetermined number of the plurality of diverse publications into a bundled plurality of diverse publications;

labeling the bundled plurality of diverse publications; and

transferring the bundled plurality of diverse publications to a postal office;

determining the mail rate by;

determining, using the merged verified sequence list, a first group of the plurality of recipients within a five digit zip code;

determining, within the first group, a carrier route total number of the plurality of recipients within a first carrier route walk sequence;

assigning an enhanced carrier route mail rate when the carrier route total number is greater than a carrier route predetermined minimum;

determining, within the first group, a five digit number of the plurality of recipients within the five digit zip code not applied the enhanced carrier route mail rate;

assigning a five digit zip code rate when the five digit number is greater than a five digit zip code predetermined minimum;

determining, within a second group, the second group having a plurality of recipients with diverse five digit zip code, a three digit zip code total number of the plurality of recipients within a three digit zip code not applied a five digit mail rate or a carrier route mail rate;

assigning a three digit zip code mail rate when the three digit zip code total number is greater than a three digit zip code predetermined minimum; and

assigning a standard mixed mail rate to a third group of recipients, the third group of recipients receiving the plurality of diverse publications remaining that are not in the first group or the second group;

sorting, by a sortation device, the plurality of diverse publications merged by the mail rate; and

sending the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients.

9. A co-mailer for mailing a plurality of diverse publications, comprising:

a plurality of pockets for receiving the plurality of diverse publications;

a merge stream for receiving the plurality of diverse publications from the pockets;

a first print head in the merge stream, the first print head printing a mail rate on a predetermined number of each of the plurality of diverse publications in a customized orientation and a customized placement on a first portion of the predetermined number of the plurality of diverse publications; and

a second print head in the merge stream, the second print head printing the mail rate on a second predetermined number of the plurality of diverse publications in a customized orientation and a customized placement on a second portion of the second predetermined number of each of the plurality of diverse publications.