Patent ID: 8515877
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a mailing including a plurality of mail articles, the method comprising steps of: obtaining mail characteristic data associated with the mailing, the mail characteristic data being pre-processing data available before the mailing is processed on an inserter or a sorter, the mail characteristic data having a data format other than postal authority approved electronic mail formats; determining one or more postal authority destination entry locations associated with the plurality of mail articles based on the mail characteristic data; estimating, by a computer, a value of destination entry postage discounts associated with the plurality of mail articles based at least in part upon the one or more destination entry locations; generating destination makeup information associated with said one or more destination entry locations, the destination makeup information including at least one of weight information of the mailing, mail article piece count and information about a number of containers for the mailing; sending, via a network, the destination makeup information, to a transportation company; and in response to the destination makeup information, receiving, by the computer, from the transportation company via the network, delivery carrier information associated with the mailing, the delivery carrier information including at least a cost of transporting one or more of the plurality of mail articles to each destination entry location, and a plurality selected from the group consisting of truck pickup scheduling, transportation time, delivery route information, weather conditions, shipping options, comparative delivery carrier data and delivery requirement information.