Patent ID: 8756069

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for processing items, the method comprising: receiving a request by a computer of a dispatcher, from a courier over a network, to pick up one or more items addressed to at least one customer which the courier serves; determining, by the dispatcher computer, whether the dispatcher is available to process the one or more items; if the dispatcher is available, sending a message to the courier, by the dispatcher computer over the network, that the one or more items are available for pickup when the dispatcher completes processing of the one or more items; if the dispatcher is busy, sending a message to the courier, by the dispatcher computer over the network, providing an estimated time for later pickup; tracking a volume of a flow of items to the at least one customer; determining a flow pattern based at least in part on the flow of items to the at least one customer; and scheduling at least one time for pickup by the courier based at least in part on the flow pattern of items to the at least one customer.