System and method for processing mail including pre-sorted mail, and a smart mail box adaptable for use with the system and method

摘要

A method for processing mail provides a pre-sorting service to a market which is not recognized by any public or private entity in the mailing and shipping industry. This market includes businesses and/or individuals who alone are unable to satisfy the minimum requirements of a postal service for pre-sort mail. The method in includes providing a mail box for collecting pre-sort mail in an office building, business area, or another publicly accessible venue, collecting mail from the mail box, and then combining it into pre-sorted bundles which satisfy postal service requirements for pre-sort mail. The bundles are then submitted to a post office to thereby realize a profit. The invention is also a smart mail box which includes a processor for performing at least one of a variety of mail-related and communications functions. To aid the customer, the box may include a display. A remotely located management center may monitor the status of the box to provide enhanced services to consumers. The invention is also a mail box which expands its capacity to accommodate more mail when a detector detects that the mail box has reached a predetermined state of fullness.