CEN/TS 14631:2005

Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Symbols and abbreviations
5 Definition and allocation of receptacle asset numbers
   5.1 Definition
   5.2 Field of application
   5.3 Allocation of receptacle asset numbers
   5.4 Delegation of authority to issue receptacle asset numbers
   5.5 Allocation of receptacle asset numbers under the UPU IAC
       5.5.1 Introduction; use of issuer code or format code
       5.5.2 Case in which the UPU IAC is followed by an S37
             format code
       5.5.3 Case in which the UPU IAC is followed by an issuer
             code
6 Representation of receptacle asset numbers on receptacles
   6.1 Requirement for machine readable representation
   6.2 Representation as a code 128 bar code
       6.2.1 Bar coding requirement
       6.2.2 Use of data identifier
       6.2.3 Code 128 Element width
       6.2.4 Code 128 bar height
       6.2.5 Positioning and orientation
   6.3 Representation in human-readable form
   6.4 Representation on the receptacle in other forms
7 References to receptacle asset numbers in messages
   7.1 Introduction
   7.2 ISO/IEC 15418 representation of receptacle asset number
       references
   7.3 EDIFACT representation of receptacle asset number
       references
   7.4 ASN.1 representation of receptacle asset number references
   7.5 OCR and human-readable receptacle asset number references
8 Data capture and use of receptacle asset numbers
   8.1 Data capture
   8.2 Decomposition of receptacle asset numbers
9 Postal receptacle attributes
10 Representation of receptacle attributes
Annex A (informative) Examples of bar codes
      A.1 Introduction
      A.2 Illustration of bar code for postal receptacle
      A.3 Illustration of bar code for postal receptacle label
          for a pallet
      A.4 Illustration of bar code for postal receptacle label
          for a tray
Bibliography

This Technical Specification defines a mechanism for the unique identification of individual receptacles. It specifies the method of construction of the identifier, referred to as the receptacle asset number, and defines one required and a number of optional methods by which this identifier can be associated with (affixed to) the receptacle itself.The receptacle asset number is defined in accordance with the specification of ISO/IEC 15418 data identifier number 5B, which defines a Receptacle Asset Number or container identifier constructed in accordance with the hierarchical principles defined in ISO/IEC 15459.The specification also identifies a number of receptacle attributes, or characteristics, which it may be useful to communicate between parties making use of the receptacle concerned.A coded representation of one of these attributes - equipment qualifier - is integrated into the structure of the receptacle asset number. The others are not defined in detail in this document. Precise definitions and encoding formats for them will be developed over time, as a result of practical experience of use of the specification. The definitions will be included in an appropriate reference specification, such as UPU standards S25 [17] and M82 [10], which serve as baseline definition documents for attributes used in postal industry communications about postal items, mail aggregates and receptacles.The application of this specification is voluntary in the sense that receptacles are not required to be individually identified.NOTE 1Not all receptacles need to have a receptacle identifier. In particular, in today's environment, mailbags and disposable trays are not normally identified explicitly - rather their contents are. Many posts are, however, starting to individually identify more valuable receptacles and this practice is expected to spread, including to trays, as the advantages of being able to individually track and control receptacle movement become more appa