Method and system for mail piece production utilizing a data center and inter-related communication networks
First Claim
1. A method of defining and producing a finished mail piece, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting at a first node, a plurality of characteristics which together define a mailing;
(b) creating a document and storing said document in electronic form;
then directing that said stored document be included in a print job comprising said mailing;
(c) creating an address list comprising one or more destination addresses and storing said address list in electronic form and then selecting said stored address list for inclusion in said print job;
(d) transmitting said print job to a terminal node wherein said terminal node is not co-located with, nor under the control of, said first node;
(e) receiving said print job at said terminal node;
said terminal node for receiving said print job and for directing said print job to a mail production means for producing said mail piece;
said mail production means further comprising;
(i) a first printer; and
(ii) a second printer;
(f) printing on said first printer said destination address to an envelope wherein each of said destination addresses is printed to a corresponding envelope;
(g) printing on said second printer said document, wherein said document is printed in accordance with characteristics selected at said first node;
(h) inserting said printed document into said printed envelope to form an unfinished mail piece;
(i) sealing said unfinished mail piece;
(j) franking said unfinished mail piece, in accordance with characteristics selected at said first node and with characteristics determined at said second node, in order to form a finished mail piece; and
(k) placing said finished mail piece into a mail stream for delivery to said destination address printed thereon.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a method for producing a finished mail piece. The method allows a system user to select at a first node, a plurality of characteristics which define a mailing. These characteristics include selection of a document to be printed at a terminal node and a list of addresses to which the printed document will be sent. Once selections have been made, the print job is transmitted to a terminal node which comprises a data processor, an envelope printer, and a document printer among other elements. The document printer will print the document in accordance with the characteristics selected at the first node; and, the envelope printer will print addresses from the address list to corresponding envelopes. Once the document has been printed, it is inserted into the envelope by inserting means to form an unfinished mail piece. The unfinished mail piece is sealed and then franked with appropriate postage in order to form a finished mail piece. The mail piece is then placed into a mail stream for delivery to the destination address. A receipt indicative of the print job and delivery into the mail stream may be optionally generated by the terminal node and transmitted to the first node. Several nodal layers can be created such that the first node can transmit the print job to a second node which can further transfer the print job to subsequent nodes for printing and routing.
82 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of defining and producing a finished mail piece, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting at a first node, a plurality of characteristics which together define a mailing; (b) creating a document and storing said document in electronic form;
then directing that said stored document be included in a print job comprising said mailing;(c) creating an address list comprising one or more destination addresses and storing said address list in electronic form and then selecting said stored address list for inclusion in said print job; (d) transmitting said print job to a terminal node wherein said terminal node is not co-located with, nor under the control of, said first node; (e) receiving said print job at said terminal node;
said terminal node for receiving said print job and for directing said print job to a mail production means for producing said mail piece;
said mail production means further comprising;(i) a first printer; and (ii) a second printer; (f) printing on said first printer said destination address to an envelope wherein each of said destination addresses is printed to a corresponding envelope; (g) printing on said second printer said document, wherein said document is printed in accordance with characteristics selected at said first node; (h) inserting said printed document into said printed envelope to form an unfinished mail piece; (i) sealing said unfinished mail piece; (j) franking said unfinished mail piece, in accordance with characteristics selected at said first node and with characteristics determined at said second node, in order to form a finished mail piece; and (k) placing said finished mail piece into a mail stream for delivery to said destination address printed thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for producing a mail piece comprising:
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(a) first data processing means for selecting a document, selecting an address list, and selecting a plurality of characteristics which together define a mailing; (b) transmission means for transmitting said mailing to a second data processing means wherein said second data processing means is not co-located with, nor under the control of, said first data processing means; (c) second data processing means for receiving said mailing and downloading said mailing to a plurality of printer means comprising a first printer and a second printer; (d) first printer means comprising said first printer for printing addresses from said address list to envelopes; (e) second printer means comprising said second printer for printing said document to media selected at said first data processing means; (f) inserter means for inserting said printed documents into said envelopes to form an unfinished mail piece; (g) sealing means for sealing said unfinished mail piece; and (h) franking means for franking said unfinished mail piece to form a finished mail piece. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification