US 6,674,038 B1Granted

Information based network process for mail sorting/distribution

AssigneeSiemens Dematic Postal Automation, L.P.

InventorJohn S. Latta

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Abstract

In a network-based mail processing system and method of the invention, the originating presort bureau or node is defined as the first bureau to receive and process mail, usually near the point of creation. Each presort bureau or node in the network is generally also a destination bureau or node since each processes mail from other nodes for delivery to recipients in its respective region by the postal regional sorting centers associated with its destination codes. Interactive network processing enables higher density of sorts at destination nodes and reduces overall sorts, postage, and sort costs over non-interactive processing centers. The term “presort bureau” is used to connote a service bureau or any other entity which is a) part of the enterprise network, b) processes mail created and entered by itself or by mailers it services, and/or c) processes mail interactively with other network nodes. A similar network is described for mail-like items.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for distributing mail items, which mail items are created by a number of originators for delivery to a number of recipients having different addresses through a postal service, which postal service has a set of postal regional sorting centers having an associated set of postal regions, which postal regional sorting centers sort incoming mail pieces for shipment to local post offices within the associated postal region for delivery to the recipients, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving mail items from an originator at one of a plurality of receiving private processing centers each having an associated set of one or more destination codes;
(b) sorting the received mail items into groups by the sets of destination codes;
(c) transferring each group of mail items having a destination code different from one of those associated with the receiving private processing center to a corresponding destination private processing center;
(d) at each private processing center, converting any mail items in data form transferred in step (c) and any mail items in data form having a destination code which corresponds to one of those associated with the destination processing center into mail pieces;
(e) at each processing center, sorting mail pieces from steps (c) and (d) together with any mail pieces received directly from originators having a destination code which corresponds to one of those associated with the receiving processing center into batches effective to reduce processing costs as compared to mailing the same mail pieces with the postal service in an originating entry unsorted condition and without mail pieces received from other processing centers;
and
(f) delivering the batches from step (e) to one or more of the postal regional sorting centers for delivery to the recipients.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/668,598Filed 22 Sep 2000 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Sep 1999
Granted: 6 Jan 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B07C 3/00
Sorting according to destination
G07B 17/00024
Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system: physical or organizational…
Y10S 209/90
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids: sorting flat-type mail
B07C
Postal sorting