Mail delivery system and method

Abstract

The invention provides a holder for manual delivery of mail to a recipient having one or more alert marks thereon which signify that a predetermined action should be taken during mail delivery. The holder may be a bag, folder or any similar device suitable for holding mail and accepting printing. The alert marking distinguishes the holder from others lacking such a mark and prompts the mail carrier to inspect the holder's contents for a potential problem, such as mail not properly deliverable to that address.

1 . A holder for manual delivery of mail to a recipient, improved in that the holder has one or more alert marks thereon which signify that a predetermined action should be taken during mail delivery.  
   
   
       2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is a bag.  
   
   
       3 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is a folder.  
   
   
       4 . A system for manual delivery of mail to a series of recipients, comprising: 
 a stack of folders each comprising a front flap, a back flap and a central fold;    one or more mail pieces disposed in each folder, wherein all of the mail pieces in each folder are to be delivered to the same recipient, and the folders are stacked in a predetermined order for a carrier delivery route;    wherein one or more folders in the stack have one or more alert marks thereon which each signify that a predetermined action should be taken during mail delivery.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , therein some folders have one or more alert marks thereon, and the majority of the folders are free of such marks.  
   
   
       6 . A method for preparing mail for delivery, comprising: 
 sorting mail to carrier delivery order to create a series of batches of mail for delivery to respective recipients;    packaging the batches of mail in mail holders;    determining by application of computer-implemented alert trigger criteria whether a condition exists indicating an enhanced probability that one or more mail pieces in each batch is not correctly addressed such that it should not be delivered to that recipient; and    printing an alert mark on the mail holder for a batch containing one or more mail pieces having an enhanced probability of not being correctly addressed.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the holder is a folder.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the holder is a bag.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising a step of manually inspecting mail inside holders having alert marks thereon prior to delivery of such mail.