What is PD CEN/TS 15448 - Interface between image controller and enrichment devices about?
PD CEN/TS 15448 is a technical specification with a purpose to define the requirements of the OCR/VCS Standard interface and to convey these requirements in context to the reader. PD CEN/TS 15448 therefore covers the mail piece processing interface between the image controller and the enrichment devices.
PD CEN/TS 15448 describes the requirements in the case of real-time enrichment: operational mode of an Enrichment Device (ED), where the ED replies within the specified expiration time to the Image Controller (IC); the IC has to keep track of all mail pieces waiting for a reply from an ED. The ED does not keep the persistence of mail pieces outside a channel connection with the IC. The ED has to have the processing power available to enrich a mail piece. There is one and only one response for a mail piece. A later version of PD CEN/TS 15448 shall describe the case of deferred enrichment: operational mode of an enrichment device, where the ED may pre-request mail pieces from the IC. The ED has to keep persistence of the mail piece to enrich it later and keep the result available for a result request from the IC. There is no response expected by IC from the ED. The submission strategy in case of one IC connected to many ED’s is not part of the interface. It is for optimizing the mail flow in case of identical ED’s, or for defining the order in which different ED’s are activated (cascaded versus parallel submission).
Note 1: The interface between Image Controller and Image Controller is not part of PD CEN/TS 15448.
Note 2: The submission strategy of the IC shall be part of the specification and certification of the IC, which is not part of PD CEN/TS 15448.
Who is PD CEN/TS 15448 - Interface between image controller and enrichment devices for?
PD CEN/TS 15448 on interface between image controller and enrichment devices is useful for:
- Network controllers
- Software developers
- Technical programmers
- Computer engineers
- Interface development
Why should you use PD CEN/TS 15448 - Interface between image controller and enrichment devices?
There is a growing demand on the postal operators to combine parts of their sorting automation equipment from different suppliers to optimize performance. In the past this has led to project specific interfaces being negotiated between one postal operator and one or multiple suppliers. These project-specific interfaces were developed by the suppliers and maintained for an agreed period of time. The benefits of these interfaces are expected to be that they:
- Are fixed in an international standard (with change control)
- Are agreed and implemented by major suppliers
- Are agreed by customers and therefore used in calls for tenders
- Will result in net savings with the high initial development effort and consequent higher basic equipment prices being more than offset by reduced project development, integration and maintenance costs
- Will minimize the need for project integration effort by reducing implementation timescales
- Will increase competition between suppliers by stimulating product improvements
PD CEN/TS 15448 covers the interface between an image controller and so-called enrichment devices (OCR, Video Coding System or Voting System). The communication partners of this interface will be called IC on the one side and ED on the other side. Other work items (subject to the agreement of CEN/TC331 and the UPU Standards Board) will be defined to cover other areas as and when the need is identified and the resources for development become available. A separate project group for each interface will undertake the work. Using PD CEN/TS 15448 provides manufacturers with the security, reliability, and credibility to gain global acceptance.