| 摘要 |
A program controlled automatic mail processor includes custom rates software to facilitate processing of mixed mail streams for posting via a plurality of classes, without manual sorting of the mail into classes or manual selection of classes during mail processing. A user defines a custom rates template, specifying classes and break point parameters (e.g. weight values) for controlling shifts between the selected classes. The mail processor uses the template and previously stored standard postage rate tables to develop a custom rates rate table for processing mail in multiple classes. Once the custom rates rate table is established, an operator can select any table from among the standard tables and one or more such custom rates rate tables. The operator then begins feeding mail through the mail processor. The mail processor checks a parameter value (e.g. weight) of each piece of mail and applies the appropriate postage value from the currently selected table. In particular, if the user selects a custom rates rate table, the mail processes pieces of mail in a single stream in multiple mail classes, using class break point or classification information and corresponding rate information from the custom rates rate table.
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