AUTOMATED DETERMINATION OF RETURN ENVELOPE OMISSION OR INCLUSION

摘要

A mailing service maintains a database of customers that receive periodic billing statements, such as from a vendor or vendors that operate or are associated with the mailing service. The mailing service may initiate sending a printed copy of a billing statement to a customer, and include with that billing statement a remittance mechanism that is provided for the customer's use in providing a monetary payment related to the billing statement. Based on receiving a communication related to the customer and/or the billing statement, the mailing service may automatically determine to send future printed billing statements to the customer without including a remittance mechanism for the customer's use, and based on such determination may thereafter initiate sending additional printed billing statements to the customer without including a remittance mechanism.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
one or more hardware processors; a mailing preparation device that is communicatively coupled to the one or more hardware processors; one or more components that, when executed by at least one of the one or more hardware processors:
transmit first electronic control signals to the mailing preparation device to cause the mailing preparation device to generate a printed copy of a first billing statement for a customer of one or more vendors;transmit second electronic control signals to the mailing preparation device to cause the mailing preparation device to prepare and forward to the customer an envelope that includes the printed copy of the first billing statement and a remittance mechanism for the customer's use in providing a monetary payment related to the first billing statement;receive, based at least in part on the forwarded prepared envelope, an indication of at least one communication from the customer related to the first billing statement;automatically determine, based at least in part on the at least one indicated communication, to provide future printed copies of additional billing statements to the customer without including a return envelope;transmit third electronic control signals to the mailing preparation device to cause the mailing preparation device to generate a printed copy of a subsequent billing statement for the customer; andtransmit, based at least in part on the automatic determination, fourth electronic control signals to the mailing preparation device to cause the mailing preparation device to prepare and forward to the customer, without including a remittance mechanism, a subsequent envelope that includes the printed copy of the subsequent billing statement for the one or more vendors.