Patent ID: 6587806
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method for determining a period of time to perform a sorting operation comprising the steps of:measuring a quantity of mailpieces to be sorted; measuring a first time interval to perform a first sort of the quantity of mailpieces; estimating a second time interval to perform a second sort of the quantity of mailpieces as a function of the quantity of mailpieces to be sorted and the first time interval; determining an average processing time interval for each mailpiece of the quantity of mailpieces the average processing time interval being a function of the quantity of mailpieces; determining a malfunction during a sorting process; calculating an average error time for each mailpiece that is a function of the malfunction and the quantity of mailpieces; modifying the average processing time interval as a function of the average error time to generate an-updated time interval; comparing the second Urns interval to the updated time interval; and outputting a message signal based on the comparing step.