BIPS (for Business Interactive Processing System) Graphic Support was originally called CAPS II Graphic Support. CAPS II stood for Census Automated Processing Systems, the II signifying second generation.

The earlier CAPS I had been the development and support of a set of files, programs, and network configurations for the Standard Statistical Establishment Listing (SSEL), in effect a master file of establishments in the economic areas including company affiliation, administrative data, and historical data, with capabilities for retrieving and updating this information.