Commingling optimization of mail

Abstract

A processing system and method for nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs includes a pre-sort facility which creates a first set of diverted mail items and a first set of associated data while a print and mail manufacture facility generates a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data and then receives the first set of diverted mail items and first set of associated data from the pre-sort facility and then commingles the first and second sets of mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to the first and second sets of associated data to produce commingled mail items which reduces postal costs in mailing the commingled mail item

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mail item processing system for nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs, comprising:
 a) at least one pre-sort facility, wherein said pre-sort facility creates a first set of diverted mail items and a first set of associated data;   b) a print and mail manufacture facility that generates a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data and receives said first set of diverted mail items and first set of associated data from said pre-sort facility; and   c) means for commingling said first and second sets of mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to said first and second sets of associated data to produce commingled mail items which reduces postal costs in mailing the commingled mail items.   
     
     
         2 . A mail item system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for assembling a plurality of mail items going to one address within a single envelope. 
     
     
         3 . A method for the nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs, comprising the steps:
 a) diverting a first set of mail items at a pre-sort facility that creates a first set of mail items and a first set of associated data;   b) generating a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data at a print and mail manufacture facility;   c) receiving said first set of mail items and said first set of associated data from said pre-sort facility; and   d) commingling said first set of diverted mail items with said second set of manufactured mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to said first and second sets of associated data to produce reduced postal mailing costs in mailing the commingled mail items.   
     
     
         4 . A method for the nationwide commingling of mail items according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of assembling a plurality of mail items going to one address within a single envelope. 
     
     
         5 . A mail item processing system for nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs, comprising:
 a) a plurality of pre-sort facilities, wherein each pre-sort facility creates a first set of diverted mail items and a first set of associated data;   b) a print and mail manufacture facility that generates a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data and receives said first set of diverted mail items and first set of associated data from each of said pre-sort facilities; and   c) means for commingling said first and second sets of mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to said first and second sets of associated data to produce commingled mail items which reduces postal costs in mailing the commingled mail items.   
     
     
         6 . A mail item system according to  claim 5 , further comprising means for assembling a plurality of mail items going to one address within a single envelope. 
     
     
         7 . A method for the nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs, comprising the steps:
 a) diverting a first set of mail items at a plurality of pre-sort facilities that creates a first set of mail items and a first set of associated data;   b) generating a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data at a print and mail manufacture facility;   c) receiving said first set of mail items and said first set of associated data from said pre-sort facilities; and   d) commingling said first set of diverted mail items with said second set of manufactured mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to said first and second sets of associated data to produce reduced postal mailing costs in mailing the commingled mail items.   
     
     
         8 . A method for the nationwide commingling of mail items according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of assembling a plurality of mail items going to one address within a single envelope.