Patent ID: 8412641

Claim:
A method, implemented using a distributed computer system, of managing delivery carriers, comprising: receiving a first set of delivery data from a first mail processor at a first computer of the distributed computer system; receiving a second set of delivery data from a second mail processor at a second computer of the distributed computer system; determining, using the distributed computer system, routes for delivery for the first mail processor based on a first set of business rules applied to the first set of delivery data; determining, using the distributed computer system, routes for delivery for the second mail processor based on a second set of business rules applied to the second set of delivery data; assigning, using the distributed computer system, mail items to delivery carriers based on the determined routes; transmitting, using the distributed computer system, mail item assignment information to the first mail processor and the second mail processor; monitoring the determined routes, wherein monitoring includes: receiving update information from the delivery carriers while the mail items are being delivered on the determined routes, wherein the update information relates to at least one of the routes for delivery and a capacity of the delivery carriers; and dynamically reassigning the mail items to different delivery carriers based on the update information received from the delivery carriers during monitoring.