Patent ID: 7868264

Claim:
A sorting system for sorting a plurality of mail pieces that include standard class mail pieces and higher class mail pieces, the plurality of mail pieces being for delivery no earlier than an initial delivery date by carriers from a postal facility to final destination addresses, comprising: means for collecting data about each of the plurality of mail pieces including data concerning the class of the mail piece and a latest delivery date if the class of the mail piece is standard class; a plurality of holders, each holder dimensioned for receipt of one mail piece; means for creating an association of the collected data concerning each mail piece with the respective one of the plurality of holders into which the mail piece is loaded; withholding means, for withholding a mail piece from delivery on the initial delivery date to a final destination address, if the collected data associated with the respective holder indicates that the mail piece loaded in the respective holder is a standard class mail piece having a latest delivery date after the initial delivery date, provided that the collected data associated with the plurality of holders indicates that there are no other of the plurality of mail pieces addressed to the same destination address as said standard class mail piece and having either a higher class than standard class or having a latest delivery date on or before the initial delivery date; and a sorter for sorting the mail pieces that are not withheld based upon the collected data associated with each of said holders, so that the mail pieces are sorted according to their final destination addresses.