Christopher S Brehm

US Patent:

7522971, Apr 21, 2009

Filed:

Aug 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/510381

Inventors:

Christopher Scott Brehm - Alpharetta GA, US
Stanley Alan Engel - Cumming GA, US
Michael Todd McAlpin - Alpharetta GA, US
Sandy Lee Pittman - Alpharetta GA, US
Joseph Clay Teate - Alpharetta GA, US

Assignee:

United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

700219, 209900, 209933

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.

US Patent:

20020053533, May 9, 2002

Filed:

Nov 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/013105

Inventors:

Christopher Brehm - Alpharetta GA, US
Stanley Engel - Cumming GA, US
Michael McAlpin - Alpharetta GA, US
Sandy Pittman - Alpharetta GA, US
Joseph Teate - Alpharetta GA, US

International Classification:

B07C005/02

US Classification:

209/003100, 209/630000, 209/584000, 209/900000

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.