System and method for processing bulk mail

A system for processing a mailing consisting of a plurality of identical printed items to be grouped into bundles, each bundle having items with an identical general address, the system comprising:

• means for calculating the maximum number of items of a given weight which can be grouped in a bundle, such that each bundle weighs less than or equal to a given maximum allowable weight, and
• means for calculating the total weight of each maximized bundle,
• means for receiving information as to bulk mailing centers (BMC), each BMC associated with a group of zip codes,
• means for receiving information as to postal zones and rates to a particular zip code from the BMCs
• means for temporarily associating a bundle with a first BMC chosen from the information received as to BMCs,
• means for comparing the number of bundles associated with each first BMC to a given minimum required bundle count per BMC,
• for a first BMC for which the minimum required bundle count is not met, means for associating a second BMC for each bundle assigned to a first BMC,
• wherein the second BMC is chosen separately for each bundle so as to provide the lowest postal rate from the zip code of each bundle to a particular second BMC,
• means for finally assigning each bundle to an appropriate BMC,
• means for assigning the appropriate postal zone for each general address from the appropriate BMC to the zip code of each bundle,
• means for receiving addressee information, including a general address having a zip code and particularized information for each addressee, and
• means for calculating the postal rate for each bundle, wherein the postal rate for each bundle is calculated based on the total weight and postal zone for each bundle.

A system for processing a mailing consisting of a plurality of identical printed items to be grouped into bundles, each bundle having items with an identical general address, the system comprising:

• means for calculating the maximum number of items of a given weight which can be grouped in a bundle, such that each bundle weighs less than or equal to a given maximum allowable weight, and
• means for calculating the total weight of each maximized bundle,
• means for receiving postal rate information based on postal zones,
• means for receiving addressee information, including a general address having a zip code and particularized information for each individual addressee,
• means for communicating the addressee information to a labeling apparatus,
• means for communicating the addressee information to a bundling apparatus,
• means for instructing the bundling apparatus to prepare bundles which consist of no more than the maximum number of allowable items and which satisfy a minimum required bundle weight,
• means for instructing the bundling apparatus to complete a previous bundle and to begin a new bundle when an item bearing a new general address enters a bundling stage in the bundling apparatus,
• wherein the completion of the previous bundle comprises adding filler items going to the same general address, but lacking particularized information for an individual address, in order to maximize the bundle, and
• means for calculating the postal rate for each bundle, wherein the postal rate for each bundle is calculated based on the total weight and postal zone for each bundle.

A method for processing a mailing consisting of a plurality of identical printed items to be grouped into bundles, each bundle having items with an identical general address, the system comprising the steps of:

• calculating the maximum number of items of a given weight which can be grouped in a bundle, such that each bundle weighs less than or equal to a given maximum allowable weight, and
• calculating the total weight of each maximized bundle,
• receiving postal rate information based on postal zones,
• receiving addressee information, including a general address having a zip code and particularized information for each individual addressee, wherein the address information is in the form of range parameters for the general address, further comprising forming a series of individual addresses for the general address based on the range parameters, and
• calculating the postal rate for each bundle, wherein the postal rate for each bundle is calculated based on the total weight and postal zone for each bundle.

A method for processing a mailing consisting of a plurality of identical printed items to be grouped into bundles, each bundle having items with an identical general address, comprising the steps of:

• calculating the maximum number of items of a given weight which can be grouped in a bundle, such that each bundle weighs less than or equal to a given maximum allowable weight, and
• calculating the total weight of each maximized bundle,
• receiving information as to bulk mailing centers (BMC), each BMC associated with a group of zip codes,
• receiving information as to postal zones and rates to a particular zip code from the BMCs
• temporarily associating a bundle with a first BMC chosen from the information received as to BMCs,
• comparing the number of bundles associated with each first BMC to a given minimum required bundle count per BMC,
• for each first BMC for which the minimum required bundle count is not met, associating a second BMC for each bundle temporarily assigned to said first BMC,
• wherein the second BMC is chosen separately for each bundle so as to provide the lowest postal rate from the zip code of each bundle to a particular second BMC,
• finally assigning each bundle to an appropriate BMC,
• assigning the appropriate postal zone for each general address from the appropriate BMC to the zip code of each bundle,
• receiving addressee information, including a general address having a zip code and particularized information for each addressee, and
• calculating the postal rate for each bundle, wherein the postal rate for each bundle is calculated based on the total weight and postal zone for each bundle.

A method for processing a mailing consisting of a plurality of identical printed items to be grouped into bundles, each bundle having items with an identical general address, the system comprising the steps

• calculating the maximum number of items of a given weight which can be grouped in a bundle, such that each bundle weighs less than or equal to a given maximum allowable weight,
• calculating the total weight of each maximized bundle,
• receiving postal rate information based on postal zones,
• receiving addressee information, including a general address having a zip code and particularized information for each individual addressee,
• communicating the addressee information to a labeling apparatus,
• communicating the addressee information to a bundling apparatus,
• instructing the bundling apparatus to prepare bundles which consist of no more than the maximum number of allowable items and which satisfy a minimum required bundle weight,
• instructing the bundling apparatus to complete a previous bundle and to begin a new bundle when an item bearing a new general address enters a bundling stage in the bundling apparatus,
• wherein the completion of the previous bundle comprises adding filler items going to the same general address, but lacking particularized information for an individual addressee, in order to maximize the bundle, and
• calculating the postal rate for each bundle, wherein the postal rate for each bundle is calculated based on the total weight and postal zone for each bundle.