Patent ID: 8063332
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: B07C,G07B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for sorting and commingling mail from a plurality of mail sources and for tracking the mail pieces through the sorting and commingling with a high degree of integrity, the method comprising: uniquely identifying each mail piece from batches of mail pieces received from the mail clients; populating an electronic file of records for the mail pieces, including the unique identification of each mail piece; sorting and commingling the mail pieces from the batches of mail at a first location, in a first pass, into first collections, based on a first sort scheme, wherein a plurality of the first collections do not yet meet postal rules for a desired level of postage discounts; loading each of the first collections into a uniquely identified first mail container; for each respective mail piece, associating the unique identification of one of the first mail containers into which it is likely the respective mail piece has been sorted on the first pass with the record of respective mail piece in the electronic file; transporting the first mail containers containing the plurality of first collections that do not yet meet postal rules for the desired level of postage discounts to a second location; at the second location, sorting and commingling mail pieces from the mail containers containing the plurality of first collections together with additional mail pieces, in a subsequent pass, into a plurality of subsequent collections based on intended destination information so as to meet the postal rules for the desired level of postage discounts; loading each of the subsequent collections into a uniquely identified second mail container, for transport to a postal delivery authority; and for each respective mail piece sorted into a subsequent collection, associating the unique identification of one of the subsequent mail container into which the respective mail piece is sorted on the subsequent pass with the record of respective mail piece sorted on the subsequent pass in the electronic file.