Patent ID: 7329824

Claim:
A method of processing mail items, comprising: receiving a mail drop comprising a plurality of trays of mail items, wherein each tray contains mail items addressed to a common recipient; associating each tray with a tray tag, wherein each tray tag includes recipient information identifying processing requirements relating to the recipient, wherein the mail is processed by a processor for the recipient according to the processing requirements, and wherein the processor receives compensation from the recipient based on the processor's performance with respect to the processing requirements; segmenting the mail into a plurality of process segments depending upon certain characteristics of the mail items; processing each of the plurality of process segments through different processes such that each process segment has a status with respect to its process; using the tray tag to periodically update at least one process segment's status information in a process management system, wherein the at least one process segment is from a particular tray; and using the status information of the at least one process segment to manage the processing of a different process segment from the particular tray.