Method and system for collecting and pooling unqualified batches of mail for pre-sorting

Abstract

A method and system is provided for collecting relatively small batches of mail that, alone, would not qualify for mailing at a pre-sorted postage rate and pooling them together with others for pre-sorting into a qualified batch of pre-sorted mail. The inventive method involves transporting mail in a traceable container to a holding facility where it is pooled with others for pickup and processing by a mail pre-sorting business. The mail may be metered at a reduced program rate. The system creates a cooperative of participating mail senders working together to earn a lower effective postage rate. The method further provides a solution to the technical problem of postal sorting equipment that is overburdened by medium-sized batches of unsorted mail. The solution identifies and diverts such batches for processing at a separate facility before the batch is tendered to the postal service.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for processing mail pieces into a pre-sorted batch for mailing, comprising: 
 a plurality of senders of said mail pieces, each of said senders to fill a container with said mail pieces;    one or more holding facilities to receive said containers from said senders and gather said containers into one or more pools; and    a pre-sorting business to receive said pools from said holding facilities and sort said mail pieces into a pre-sorted batch.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a program rate of postage is applied to each of said mail pieces by each of said senders.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said program rate is less than a full rate, said full rate set by said postal service for mailing an unsorted mail piece.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-sorting business applies a program postage rate to each of said mail pieces in each of said containers, for a total applied postage equal to said program rate times the number of said mail pieces therein, 
 wherein said pre-sorting business is reimbursed by each of said senders of each said container in the amount of said total applied postage plus a fee for applying said postage.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said holding facilities is part of a transport business.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a transport business provides said containers in an empty condition to said senders.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said containers are pre-addressed to one of said holding facilities.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a transport business transports said containers from said senders to said holding facility.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said pre-sorting business pays a transporter rebate to said transport business.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said senders pay a transport fee to said transport business.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said transport fee is paid in exchange for transporting one of said containers, independent of the number of said mail pieces therein.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said transport fee is paid in exchange for transporting one of said containers according to its weight.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-sorting business transports said pools from one or more of said holding facilities to said pre-sorting business.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-sorting business comprises a plurality of pre-sorting businesses.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-sorting business tenders said pre-sorted batch to a postal service for mailing.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-sorting business prepares a document certifying to a postal service that said pre-sorted batch is qualified for mailing at an entry rate of postage.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said entry rate is less than said program rate.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said postal service pays a rebate to said pre-sorting business, said rebate representing the difference between an entry rate of postage and a program rate, 
 said program rate representing the amount of postage applied to each unsorted mail piece,    said entry rate representing the reduced amount of postage required for mail tendered in a pre-sorted batch to said postal service.    
     
     
         19 . A method of supplying mail pieces to a mail pre-sorting business for sorting, comprising: 
 communicating a program rate of postage to a plurality of mail senders, said senders to apply said program rate to said mail pieces, said senders to fill one or more containers with said mail pieces;    receiving said containers from said senders; and    holding said containers in one or more pools at one or more holding facilities for distribution to said pre-sorting business.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of transporting said containers from said senders to one or more of said holding facilities in exchange for a transport fee.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of transporting one or more of said pools to said pre-sorting business.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of receiving a transporter rebate from said pre-sorting business.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of containers in an empty condition to said senders.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of pre-addressing said containers to one or more of said holding facilities.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of receiving a request for pickup from one or more of said senders.  
     
     
         26 . A method of collecting mail pieces from a plurality of senders of said mail pieces, comprising: 
 agreeing to pay a transporter rebate to a transport business in exchange for the collection of a plurality of containers by said transport business into one or more pools, each of said containers collected from said senders by said transport business, each of said containers filled with said mail pieces;    receiving said pools; and    paying said transporter rebate.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a program rate of postage is applied to each of said mail pieces by said senders, said method further comprising: 
 opening said containers;    sorting said mail pieces into a pre-sorted batch;    preparing a document certifying to a postal service that said pre-sorted batch is qualified for mailing at an entry rate, said entry rate being less than said program rate;    tendering said batch to a postal service for mailing at said entry rate; and    receiving a rebate from said postal service, said rebate representing the difference between said entry rate and said program rate.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of commingling said mail pieces.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said rebate is greater than said transporter rebate.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 opening said containers;    applying a program postage rate to each of said mail pieces in each of said containers, for a total applied postage equal to said program rate times the number of said mail pieces therein;    receiving a fee from each of said senders of each said container in the amount of said total applied postage plus a fee for applying said postage;    sorting said mail pieces into a pre-sorted batch;    preparing a document certifying to a postal service that said pre-sorted batch is qualified for mailing at an entry rate, said entry rate being less than said program rate;    tendering said batch to a postal service for mailing at said entry rate; and    receiving a rebate from said postal service, said rebate representing the difference between said entry rate and said program rate.    
     
     
         31 . A system for financing the processing of mail pieces into a pre-sorted batch that qualifies for mailing at an entry rate of postage, said system comprising: 
 a program rate of postage to be applied to each of said mail pieces by each of a plurality of participating senders of said mail pieces;    a transport fee to be paid by said senders to a transport business in exchange for transporting a container filled with said mail pieces by said senders;    a transporter rebate to be paid by a mail pre-sorting business to said transport business in exchange for receiving a plurality of containers and holding said containers in one or more pools;    a rebate to be paid by said postal service to said pre-sorting business in exchange for tendering said pre-sorted batch, said rebate representing the difference between said entry rate and said program rate; and    an agreement between and among said senders, said transport business, and said mail pre-sorting business.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said transport fee is paid in exchange for transporting one of said containers, independent of the number of said mail pieces therein.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said transport fee is paid in exchange for transporting one of said containers according to its weight.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said rebate is greater than said transporter rebate.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said entry rate is less than said program rate; and    said program rate is less than a full rate, said full rate set by said postal service for mailing an unsorted mail piece.    
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a program cost is less than a full cost, said program cost equal to said transport fee plus a program fee, said program fee equal to said program rate times the number of said mail pieces, said full cost equal to a full rate set by said postal service for mailing an unsorted mail piece times the number of said mail pieces.  
     
     
         37 . A cooperative for pooling small batches of unsorted mail pieces for processing into a pre-sorted batch that qualifies for mailing at an entry rate of postage, said cooperative comprising: 
 a plurality of senders of said mail pieces, each of said senders to fill a container with said mail pieces;    a transport business to receive said containers from said senders and gather said containers into one or more pools at one or more holding facilities; and    a pre-sorting business to receive said pools from said holding facilities, sort said mail pieces into said pre-sorted batch, and tender said batch to a postal service,    said cooperative bound by an agreement between and among said senders, said transport business, and said mail pre-sorting business.    
     
     
         38 . The cooperative of  claim 37 , wherein said pre-sorting business comprises a plurality of pre-sorting businesses.  
     
     
         39 . The cooperative of  claim 37 , wherein said agreement further provides that each of said senders may: 
 apply a program rate of postage to each of said mail pieces; and    pay a transport fee to said transport business in exchange for collecting one of said containers.    
     
     
         40 . The cooperative of  claim 37 , wherein said agreement further provides that said transport business may: 
 receive requests from said senders who desire entry into said cooperative;    provide a plurality of said containers in an empty condition, pre-addressed to one or more of said holding facilities, to each of said senders;    establish a program rate of postage based upon operating conditions within said cooperative;    communicate said program rate to each of said senders;    receive a transport fee for each of said containers collected from said senders; and    receive a transporter rebate from said pre-sorting business in exchange for the collection of a plurality of said containers into one or more of said pools.    
     
     
         41 . The cooperative of  claim 37 , wherein said agreement further provides that said pre-sorting business may: 
 open said containers within said pool;    commingle said mail pieces;    prepare a document certifying to said postal service that said pre-sorted batch is qualified for mailing at said entry rate;    receive a rebate from said postal service, said rebate representing the difference between said entry rate and said program rate; and    pay a transporter rebate to said transport business in exchange for the collection by said transport business of a plurality of said containers into one or more of said pools.    
     
     
         42 . In a postal service having a postal service facility and a plurality of mail senders, a method of processing medium-sized batches of unsorted mail pieces into a larger pre-sorted batch for mailing, said method characterized by the steps of: 
 establishing one or more holding facilities;    establishing a mail pre-sorting facility separate from said postal service facility;    monitoring the size of batches of mail tendered by said senders;    identifying said medium-sized batches of unsorted mail pieces, said batches having a quantity between a lower limit and an upper limit, said mail pieces within said batches bearing a program postage rate;    diverting each of said medium-sized batches into one or more containers and transporting said containers to one of said holding facilities, where said containers are gathered into one or more pools;    transporting said pools to said mail pre-sorting facility for sorting into a pre-sorted batch; and    receiving said pre-sorted batch for mailing at an entry rate of postage at said postal service facility.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said entry rate is less than said program rate.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said lower limit depends in part upon the total sorting load at said postal service facility on a particular day.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said upper limit depends in part upon the sorting capacity and the total sorting load at said mail pre-sorting facility on a particular day.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said mail pre-sorting facility is owned and operated by a private mail pre-sorting business.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said postal service pays a rebate to said pre-sorting business, said rebate representing the difference between said entry rate and said program rate.  
     
     
         48 . In a mail preparation system, a method of processing medium-sized batches of unsorted mail pieces into a larger pre-sorted batch for delivery to a postal service, said method characterized by the steps of: 
 establishing one or more holding facilities;    establishing a mail pre-sorting facility separate from a postal service facility;    monitoring the size of batches of mail tendered by a plurality of mail senders;    identifying said medium-sized batches of unsorted mail pieces, said batches having a quantity between a lower limit and an upper limit, said mail pieces within said batches bearing a program postage rate;    diverting each of said medium-sized batches into one or more containers and transporting said containers to one of said holding facilities, where said containers are gathered into one or more pools;    transporting said pools to said mail pre-sorting facility for sorting into a pre-sorted batch; and    delivering said pre-sorted batch for mailing at an entry rate of postage to said postal service facility.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said entry rate is less than said program rate.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said lower limit depends in part upon the needs of the sender and the costs of participating in the system.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said upper limit depends in part upon the minimum number of mail pieces in a batch acceptable for processing at a mail pre-sorting facility by a mail pre-sorting business.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said postal service pays a rebate to said pre-sorting business, said rebate representing the difference between said entry rate and said program rate.  
     
     
         53 . In a mail preparation system having a postal service facility, a plurality of mail senders, and a mail pre-sorting facility, a method of supplying medium-sized batches of unsorted mail pieces to said mail pre-sorting facility, said method characterized by the steps of: 
 receiving requests from said senders;    distributing empty containers to said senders, said containers to be filled with said mail pieces;    transporting said containers from said senders to one or more holding facilities; and    gathering said containers into one or more pools for distribution to said pre-sorting facility.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising the step of notifying said senders of a program postage rate to be applied to each of said mail pieces.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising the step of receiving a transport fee from said senders for transporting said containers.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising the step of receiving a transporter rebate from said mail pre-sorting facility for collecting said pools.  
     
     
         57 . In a mail preparation system having a postal service facility, a plurality of mail senders, and a mail pre-sorting facility, a method of collecting medium-sized batches of unsorted mail pieces for processing, said method characterized by the steps of: 
 receiving one or more pools of containers, each of said containers collected from said senders, each of said containers filled with said mail pieces;    opening said containers;    sorting said mail pieces into a pre-sorted batch; and    tendering said pre-sorted batch to said postal service facility for mailing at an entry rate of postage.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising the step of commingling said mail pieces.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising the step of preparing a document certifying to said postal service that said pre-sorted batch is qualified for mailing at an entry rate.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said postal service pays a rebate to said pre-sorting business, said rebate representing the difference between said entry rate and a program rate, said program rate representing the postage applied to each of said mail pieces by said sender.