The current Address Change Service (ACS), an automated electronic process for providing address corrections, requires mailers to print alphanumeric characters (keyline and participant code) in the address block that would be either automatically read or manually keyed on the Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS). A new PLANET barode to represent the alphanumeric characters has been developed with the goal of reducing manual keying on PARS.

     A study of mailing industry processes and technologies was initiated in 2000, and an update was conducted in 2003. This study gathered critical information about the mailing industry and mailing technology to ensure that future address and coding standards can be readily adopted by the mailing industry. It will also guide the Postal Service in developing strategies to align the mailing industry's capabilities and technology obsolescence and replacement pattern with the Postal Service's emerging Intelligent Mail initiatives.

     Responding to the needs of mailers who present Standard Mail and Periodical flats in presorted bundles, the Postal Service is extending track and trace capability to flats bundles. A barcode for bundles has been defined to uniquely identify bundles so they can be tracked when sorted on material handling systems in mail processing plants and when handled at the Delivery Units. The barcode will include the level of presort and the delivery unit ZIP Code to facilitate automated sorting in the plants. Testing is expected in 2004.

     Today, retail customers apply a barcoded label for Delivery Confirmation and each of the special services, such as Registered Mail and Insured Mail. This requires multiple labels to be applied and scanned. An effort was initiated in 2003 to consolidate nine of the common retail shipping labels into a Standard Shipping Label (SSL) that would be generated by the Point of Service (POS) ONE terminals and on Self Service Platforms. A preliminary design of the SSL was completed

in 2003 and is being evaluated. Testing on BMC equipment was conducted to understand how barcode characteristics affect read rate in order to guide the design of the SSL. A final version of the SSL specifications is expected to be released in 2004.

     The current tray and sack labels do not contain unique identification and therefore cannot be used for tracking. An Enhanced Distribution Label (EDL) has been developed to provide unique identification for trays and sacks. Similarly, a barcoded label for uniquely identifying containers has also been developed. These labels along with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags will be tested in a series of Surface Visibility Pilots beginning in late 2003.

     The Postal Service will develop and deploy a set of enterprise-wide common infrastructures to generate and capture codes on mail and aggregates, and disseminate the information in near real time. Prepositioned, leveragable infrastructure enables an enterprise to quickly build and deploy business applications that respond to emerging customer and internal needs.

     The wide field of view (WFOV) camera being deployed on all letter mail automation equipment currently reads POSTNET barcode, PLANET barcode, the information based indicia (IBI) and other 2-dimensional barcodes. In support of the initiative to potentally adopt a 4-state barcode for CONFIRM and other services, a developmental effort was initiated in 2003 to modify the WFOV camera software to capture and decode 4- state barcodes. Testing and deployment of the new decoding software is planned for 2004.