Encoding
The transfer and exchange of address data takes place through an ecoding of the conceptual model.
Most exchange standards use XML or GML as encoding.
Some standards (INSPIRE Address and US), in addition to specifying encoding and data content, also provide a specification of processes or services that are needed to enable actual exchange.
Three international exchange standards (by OASIS, UPU and INSPIRE) exist and their scopes may overlap. The exchange requirement is well covered by these existing international standards and it is not recommended to propose a new one. Instead, it is recommended that guidelines be developed on how users of existing international standards can exchange their data, e.g. to provide interoperability among the UPU, OASIS and INSPIRE standards.