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Advanced Package Processing System [APPS] MTAC – August 2004

Advanced Package Processing System [APPS] MTAC – August 2004. Agenda. System Description Deployment Status Bundle Processing Machine Recognition Characteristics Sample Image Review (not in handouts) Federal Register Notice Future Initiatives. APPS Mail Characteristics.

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Advanced Package Processing System [APPS] MTAC – August 2004

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  1. Advanced Package Processing System [APPS]MTAC – August 2004

  2. Agenda • System Description • Deployment Status • Bundle Processing • Machine Recognition Characteristics • Sample Image Review (not in handouts) • Federal Register Notice • Future Initiatives

  3. APPS Mail Characteristics

  4. APPS Deployment Status • 74 Machines, 70 sites • First Article Test completed May ‘04 • Deployment from Aug ‘04 to Oct ‘05

  5. Bundle Processing on APPS • APPS uses optical character recognition (OCR) technology to read both OEL and address block information to sort the mail • Current read rates for OEL bundles is around 80% • Read failures occur due to: • The address block is obscured by opaque strapping material • The address block is obscured by opaque shrink wrap • The OCR fails to correctly decode the OEL

  6. Image Capture Gray Scale Image – 5,807Kb OCR decodes Binary Image Binary Image – 201Kb

  7. Clear Strapping Examples Strap flush with surface Strap spaced away from surface

  8. Federal Register Notice • Recommends placing the address label in one of the four corners of the mailpiece • Where the label WILL be covered - Proposed DMM Changes • Clear strapping (less than 70% haze) • Clear shrinkwrap (less than 70% haze) • An optional bundle label: Includes the OEL, the words “OPTIONAL BUNDLE LABEL”, and the City, State, and ZIP Code

  9. OCR Decoding Challenge APPS OCR Result Mis-segmented Characters, not Identified as “*” “SORT” read as “SORF” Due to touching “*”

  10. Future OEL improvements These are NOT in the proposed DMM changes • Add a bar code to the package and / or OEL label • Use of OCR-friendly fonts for OEL data • Add redundant single-character indication of OEL type • Eliminate dashes ( - ) in OEL, which can appear to touch when printed poorly • Separate fill characters with spaces, to eliminate near-touching

  11. APPS Recommended Address Font • Recommendations same as Flats OCR Optimization • Use 10-12 point font size • Recommended Fonts: Arial Lucida FAX Arial Black Lucida Sans Copperplate OCR-A Courier OCR-B MT Courier New SF Sans Serif Helvetica Tahoma • Avoid narrow type & script fonts

  12. APPS Point of Contact • For questions regarding APPS processing contact: Scott Bombaugh Manager, Material Handling Technology USPS Engineering (703)280-7849

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