Automated mailpiece processing

Abstract

System and method for the addressing of mail pieces by a variable printing system. Information allowing a mail piece to be associated with a mailing list of address information is printed on the mail piece prior to processing of the piece by a variable printing system. As the piece is processed by the variable printing system, the information printed on the piece is read and used to identify a mailing list from among a plurality of available mailing lists. Address information for that mail piece is obtained from the identified mailing list and printed on the mail piece by the variable printing system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated method for preparing a plurality of mail pieces for automated addressing, the method comprising:
 receiving an order for the printing of a design on a plurality of mail pieces, the design comprising customer-specified content;   receiving a mailing list containing at least a plurality of addresses with which the customer desires the mail pieces be addressed,   associating the mailing list with the order,   incorporating into the design information enabling printed mail pieces printed with the design to be associated with the received mailing list.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the incorporated information is encoded as a bar code within the design. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 printing the plurality of mail pieces with the design and incorporated information enabling the printed mail pieces to be associated with the received mailing list.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 printing the plurality of mail pieces with the design and incorporated information enabling the printed mail pieces to be associated with the received mailing list.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for preparing a plurality of mail pieces for automated addressing, comprising:
 at least one processing system configured to receive an order for the printing of a design on a plurality of mail pieces, the design comprising customer-specified content, and to receive a mailing list containing at least a plurality of addresses with which the customer desires the mail pieces be addressed and to associate the mailing list with the order; and   one or more processors configured to incorporate into the design information enabling printed mail pieces printed with the design to be associated with the received mailing list.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the incorporated information is encoded as a bar code within the design. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one processing system configured to instruct a printing system to print the plurality of mail pieces with the design and incorporated information enabling the printed mail pieces to be associated with the received mailing list.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one processing system configured to instruct a printing system to print the plurality of mail pieces with the design and incorporated information enabling the printed mail pieces to be associated with the received mailing list.