WHAT
YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT USPS BARCODESOne of the best ways for mailers to save money and ensure timely and efficient postal handling is to submit qualifying automation rate mailings. The Postal Service provides worksharing discounts to mailers who can presort and barcode their mail. Qualifying barcoded mailpieces enjoy significant postage discounts, especially for large volume mailings, and provide for accurate and fast processing on high speed barcode sorters in postal facilities.
The Postal Service now offers discounts for letters, flats, and not flat machinable mailpieces that bear a qualifying barcode and meet the required physical specifications. This module covers the specifications and printing requirements of all barcodes for which the Postal Service offers discounts to mailers.
WHAT
YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT USPS BARCODESUpon completion of this module, you should be able to do the following:
In 1980 the Postal Service invented a unique barcoding method called POSTNET, for POSTal Numeric Encoding Technique. The POSTNET barcode is a graphic method of encoding ZIP+4 code information. The POSTNET barcode is used for sortation of letter, flat-size mail and parcels under 6 ounces. A POSTNET delivery point barcode on letter-size mail enables the Postal Service to possibly sort the mail in the sequence that the carrier walks his route.
Every mailpiece in an automation rate mailing must bear a qualifying barcode. Letter and flat-size mailpieces require either a POSTNET barcode or IMB. Software and hardware that can preprint a barcode on your mail is available from various manufacturers at a relatively low cost. Some types of equipment can print a barcode on your envelope insert and allow the barcode to show through a window.
Other equipment can print barcodes on labels and allow you to apply the barcoded labels to your mailpieces. Addressing machines range from small desktop units to sophisticated add-on adapters for large mail stuffing/folding/labeling machines. Some mailers have purchased Optical Character Readers much like the postal service uses to barcode their mail in the lower right corner of their mailpiece.
Under the concept of worksharing, you can benefit from the largest allowable discounts on your domestic mail, if you can successfully produce qualifying barcodes and meet all other automation and presort requirements.
Publication 95, Quick Service Guide, provides a thorough overview of mail preparation requirements. See QSG 201a, 230d, and 240c, for descriptions of the preparation for First-Class Mail and Standard Mail automation letters and flats.
QSG 230d, 240c, 330b, 340b
Once the barcode is applied on letters, it can be read by the more efficient barcode sorters (BCS). Letter-size mail bearing a delivery point barcode bypasses the more complex optical character reader (OCR) and the postal handling associated with OCR processing, saving time and money for you and the Postal Service.
The benefits of preprinting accurate, qualifying barcodes on your mailpieces include the following:
The POSTNET barcode represents the digits of the ZIP+4 code (required for automation rate flat-size mail) and the delivery point code (required for automation rate letter-size mail) for the delivery address on the mailpiece.
The POSTNET delivery point barcode is usually unique for each address in the mailing, and provides the most efficient way in the modern postal system to sort a mailpiece to its final destination.
A delivery point barcode provides the Postal Service with the ability to uniquely identify the precise delivery point of a given mailpiece and to sort the mail in delivery sequence using a BCS. The correct delivery point barcode must be derived from a CASS-certified delivery point code address matching process.
The ZIP+4 code typically represents a "street side," "block face," or group of houses on a street, but does not represent any particular house on the block. The delivery point barcode is formed by adding 2 additional digits to the basic ZIP+4 barcode.
By adding the last two digits of the house number to the existing 9-digit ZIP+4 code, a unique barcode can be derived that represents one exact house. Residential delivery point barcodes are derived using this simple concept. For some high rise buildings or an apartment complex, the delivery point Code is derived from a more complex set of rules. For Post Office box addresses, the Postal Service generally uses the last two digits of the box number (e.g., BOX 34007 has delivery point digits of 0 and 7).
A POSTNET delivery point barcode is made up of tall bars and short bars. The bars are arranged in sets of five to represent the digits in the ZIP+4 code and the delivery point. Each digit is represented by a different configuration of these five bars.
All ZIP Codes currently in use can be represented by placing five bar combinations, one after the other, in linear fashion (see illustration). The barcode can be printed in the lower right corner of a letter-size mailpiece or in the address block.
Each digit in the ZIP+4 code, and the delivery point numbers, is represented by five bars, as mentioned above, always in a combination of two tall bars and three short bars. By adding the positional values of the two tall bars and ignoring the positional values of the three short bars, the five-bar POSTNET barcode can represent any digit from 0 through 9.
Every POSTNET barcode begins and ends with a tall frame bar. They serve no purpose other than as end markers for the barcode itself. They denote where the numeric ZIP+4 code information encoded in the barcode begins and ends.
The last number encoded in every barcode is a correction character. This is in addition to the ZIP+4 code information, and is appended at the end, just before the last frame bar. The correction character serves as an on-the-fly check digit for the barcode sorters and is used to confirm the accuracy of the barcode information as read by the machinery.
The correction character is derived by adding the sum of all the numbers encoded in the barcode and subtracting that number from the next whole integer of 10.
Ex:
ZIP+4 code = 11011-9000
1 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 9 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 13
Since the sum is 13, then the next whole integer of 10 is 20. (If the sum had been 23, then the next whole integer of 10 would have been 30. And so on....)
20 - 13 = 7
Therefore, for this example, the proper correction character for this POSTNET ZIP+4 barcode would be 7. The number would be encoded in the last set of five tall and short bars, just before the final tall frame bar.
A POSTNET Delivery Point Barcode encodes two additional characters following the ZIP+4 code information. This type of barcode is required for letter-size automation discounts, and optional for flat-sized.
The delivery point characters, combined with the ZIP+4 code information, uniquely identify the precise delivery point of a given mailpiece. This allows the Postal Service to sort the mail in delivery sequence using barcode sorter (BCS). The two delivery point characters are typically the last two digits of the primary street or box number of the delivery address.
The delivery point characters are added to the barcode at the end of the ZIP+4 code information, prior to the correction character, and are included in the sum used to derive the correction character.
A proper delivery point barcode consists of 62 bars.
|
Zip+4 Code information |
9 sets of 5 bars |
= 45 |
|
Delivery point |
2 sets of 5 bars |
= 10 |
|
Correction character |
1 set of 5 bars |
= 5 |
|
Frame bars |
2 sets of 1 bar |
= 2 |
|
|
|
|
| Total | = 62 |
Count the total number of bars for a "quick check." If they total 62, it's likely to be a qualifying delivery point barcode!
The POSTNET barcode is a 2 of 5 code using positional weights. Each numeral encoded in the barcode is represented by a set of 2 tall and 3 short bars. Each bar in this set of 5 has a numeric "weight" or "value" based on its position. The value of the position is turned on when the space is occupied by a tall bar.
The positional weights are shown below. The first position or bar has a value of 7. The second position has a value of 4, the third position has a value of 2, the fourth position has a value of 1, and the fifth position has a value of 0.
The positional weights are a constant and never change. These values are only active or turned on when the position is occupied by a tall bar.
7 4 2 1 0
Only 2 positions or values are ever active in any set of 5 bars, hence the designation "2 of 5 code." So, each number in a ZIP+4 code, as encoded in a POSTNET ZIP+4 barcode, is represented by a set of 2 tall and 3 short bars. The number itself is derived by adding the numeric value of the 2 active positions, or tall bars.
Examples
7 4 2 1 0
4 + 1 = 5
In the preceding example, the two bars occupying the positions with a value of 4 and 1 are tall. Therefore, the numeric values of these positions are active. The number encoded by each set of 5 bars is derived by adding the numeric values of the active positions (indicated by the 2 tall bars). Therefore, the number encoded by the set of 2 tall and 3 short bars in the example is 5.
All single digit numerals from 0 to 9 can be represented by this process. The only numeral that does not decode logically by this method is 0. Since there is only one position with a value of 0, it cannot be added to itself. Therefore, 0 is derived by adding the positional values of 7 and 4, which derives no other useful single digit number.
7 + 4 = 0
7 4 2 1 0
1 + 0 = 1
7 4 2 1 0
2 + 0 = 2
7 4 2 1 0
2 + 1 = 3
7 4 2 1 0
4 + 0 = 4
7 4 2 1 0
4 + 1 = 5
7 4 2 1 0
4 + 2 = 6
7 4 2 1 0
7 + 0 = 7
7 4 2 1 0
7 + 1 = 8
7 4 2 1 0
7 + 2 = 9
7 4 2 1 0
All ZIP+4 codes currently in use can be represented by placing these 5 bar combinations, one after the other, in a linear fashion. Each set of 5 bars represents one of the numbers in the ZIP+4 code.
It is important that the POSTNET barcodes on your mail meet the barcode print specifications discussed later in this module. It is equally important that the barcode accurately represents the delivery address. An incorrect or improperly printed barcode can result in the mailpiece being missorted. These inaccuracies cause extra costs and processing steps for the Postal Service, as well as delays in the delivery of the mail.
The Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) improves the accuracy of delivery points, ZIP+4 codes, 5-digit ZIP Codes, and carrier route codes on mailpieces. All mailings claimed at automation and carrier route rates must be produced from address lists properly matched and coded with CASS-certified address matching methods. Also included in this process is Delivery Point Validation (DPV) and Locatable Address Conversions System (LACS Link™).
For automation rate mailings, the CASS matching process must have taken place within six months of the date of mailing. With carrier route rate mailings, the CASS matching process must have taken place within three months of the date of mailing. This ensures the Postal Service that the barcodes and carrier route information from which the USPS derives its workshare savings are accurate and will not cause any additional handling.
Mailers/mailing agents are required to keep this CASS Certificate (Form 3553) for one year from the date of mailing. It must be made available to the USPS on a 24-hour notice.
A list of CASS certified vendors is available at http://ribbs.usps.gov by clicking on Vendor Information. Purchasing the software will allow you to perform the required matching process on your own computer. Alternatively, you may choose to use the services of a professional list broker or mailing house who will process your database for you.
Exercise 5 - 1Directions: Circle the best response or fill in the blank to answer the following questions. Check your answers when you have completed the exercise.
1. Every mailpiece in an automation rate mailing must bear a qualifying barcode.
a. true
b. false
2. If you prebarcode your mail, the mailpiece usually skips the initial OCR processing step and goes directly to the ____________ sorter.
3. The first and last bars of the barcode are called ____________ bars.
4. The sum of the 12 digits (the ZIP+4 code, the delivery point information, and the correction character) encoded in a delivery point barcode must always equal a multiple of __________ .
5. The correction character in a barcode that reads 20852-182915 is __________ .
6. Each set of 5 bars in a POSTNET barcode consists of 2 __________ bars and 3 __________.
7. What does CASS-certified software do?
a. applies ZIP+4 code information to an address database
b. provides a ready made address database for barcode testing
c. Codes And Sends Samples of a product by mail
d. allows a database to be delivered in house-by-house sequence
8. a. Decode the following delivery point barcode.
8. b. Does the barcode match the ZIP Code?
1. a, true; 100 percent of the pieces in a prebarcoded discount mailing must bear a qualifying barcode.
2. barcode; benefits of prebarcoding include faster and more efficient mail processing, reduction in postage costs, and more consistent delivery times with fewer misdeliveries.
3. frame; the frame bars denote the beginning and the end of the numeric information encoded in the POSTNET barcode.
4. 10; the correction character is used on-the-fly by the barcode sorters to validate the information decoded from the barcode.
5. 7; 2+0+8+5+2+1+8+2+9+1+5 = 43. The next whole integer of 10 is 50. Therefore, the correction character must be 7 (43+7=50).
6. tall, short; the numerals encoded in a POSTNET barcode are derived by adding the positional values of the 2 tall bars out of every set of 5 tall and short bars. Therefore, 2 tall and 3 short bars comprise each set of 5 bars.
7. a, applies ZIP+4 code information to an address database; the ZIP+4 and delivery point information derived by CASS-certified address matching software is required prior to printing POSTNET barcodes for USPS discounts.
8. a. 98765-4321 (delivery point is "23" and the correction character is "0").
8. b. yes, the barcode matches the ZIP Code.
In order to qualify for USPS prebarcoding discounts, your preprinted POSTNET barcodes (and the material they are printed upon) must meet the following technical requirements covered in this module. Your MDA can provide guidance with these requirements.
USPS barcode sorters respond to the difference between the amount of light reflected by the ink used to print the barcode, versus the amount of light reflected from the background paper on which the barcode is printed. This difference is defined as print reflectance difference (PRD). A PRD of at least 30 percent in the red and green portions of the optical spectrum is necessary for the satisfactory reading of POSTNET barcodes.
The BCS responds best when the barcode is printed in black ink (which absorbs the maximum amount of light) on a white background (which reflects the maximum amount of light). Black ink on a white background creates the greatest PRD. Other color combinations may qualify and can be measured using a USPS-certified envelope reflectance meter. Contact your MDA for testing to ensure compliance with the 30 percent minimum PRD.
The background of the paper where the delivery point barcode is to be placed should be uniform in color and have a reflectance of at least 50 percent in the red and 45 percent in the green portions of the optical spectrum. White and pastel colors generally satisfy this requirement. Compliance with this requirement is also measured using an envelope reflectance meter.
The background (envelope, card, insert, etc.) on which the delivery point barcode is printed must not contain dark fibers or background patterns with a print contrast ratio (PCR) of more than 15 percent (such backgrounds tend to be interpreted as bar patterns by the BCS).
This requirement extends to envelope insert or security pattern show-through, within the clear area surrounding the barcode. Print contrast ratio (PCR) is measured by a USPS or USPS-licensed envelope reflectance meter.
The vertical position of adjacent bars must not vary more than 0.015 inch from bar to bar when measured from the baseline (bottom) of the barcode.
Acceptable Baseline Shift
Unacceptable Baseline Shift
The MDA uses a reticle to measure the individual bar tolerances
in a barcode.
Two types of bar tilt can occur when printing barcodes on mailpieces. Pattern skew occurs when the entire barcode pattern is not precisely parallel to the bottom edge of the mailpiece. Bar rotation occurs when individual bars are tilted (not perpendicular) with respect to the baseline of the barcode pattern itself.
The combined pattern skew and bar rotation is to be limited to a maximum tilt of the bars (as they appear on the mailpiece) of ±5 degrees.
On flat-size mail, the bar rotation must not exceed ±10 degrees. Pattern
skew is not a requirement for flat-size mail.
Ensure that extraneous ink or ink voids do not cause any bar to fail to meet the dimension and spacing requirements.
Excess ink can prevent a barcode sorter from successfully interpreting the barcode.
Lack of proper ink coverage may cause a barcode to be less than the minimum required dimensions.
Print the individual bars of the barcode within the dimensional tolerances listed in the following tables.
| Dimension | Measurement | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 0.125 inch | ±0.010 inch |
| Width | 0.020 inch | ±0.005 inch |
| Dimension | Measurement | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 0.050 inch | ±0.010 inch |
| Width | 0.020 inch | ±0.005 inch |
22±2 bars per inch.
Pitch (center to center)
minimum 0.0416 inch
maximum 0.050 inch
White Space (between bars)
minimum 0.012 inch
maximum 0.040 inch
When printing barcodes on your mailpieces, ensure that the bars meet the minimum standards but do not exceed the maximums.
Exercise 5 - 2Directions: Circle the best response or fill in the blank to answer the following questions. Check your answers when you have completed the exercise.
1. The difference between the amount of light reflected by the ink used to print a barcode and the amount of light reflected by the background paper is referred to as the ____________ reflectance difference (PRD).
2. In order to qualify for USPS barcoded discounts, you must maintain a PRD, in the red and green spectrums, of at least:
a. 20 percent
b. 30 percent
c. 40 percent
d. 50 percent
3. Extraneous printing, background patterns, or "bleed through" in the area where the barcode is printed must not create a print contrast ratio (PCR), as measured by a USPS envelope reflectance meter, of more than:
a. 5 percent
b. 10 percent
c. 15 percent
d. 20 percent
4. The bottom edge of all bars in a barcode must rest on a common baseline, within a tolerance of plus or minus 0.015 inches above or below this baseline.
a. true
b. false
5. The horizontal spacing of the bars in a barcode must be a minimum of __________ bars per inch to a maximum of __________ bars per inch.
6. Your local mailpiece design analyst can measure the individual bar print tolerances required by the USPS using a:
a. magnifying glass
b. ruler
c. reticle
d. micrometer
7. Two types of bar tilt that can occur when printing barcodes on mailpieces are pattern ____________ and bar ____________.
1. Print; the greatest PRD is generated using black ink on a white background.
2. b, 30 percent; a 30 percent PRD, as measured by a USPS envelope reflectance meter is required for postal prebarcoding discounts.
3. c, 15 percent; extraneous printing with a PCR greater than 15 percent may interfere with the correct interpretation of a barcode by USPS barcode sorters.
4. a, true; barcodes comprised of individual bars printed outside this tolerance may not be recognized as barcodes by USPS barcode sorters.
5. 20, 24; all bars in a qualifying POSTNET barcode must be printed with a spacing of 22±2 bars per inch.
6. c, a reticle; the MDA uses a scribed, magnifying eyepiece called a reticle to measure the bar printing and spacing tolerances specified by USPS regulations.
7. skew, rotation; the tilt of the entire barcode's baseline to the edge of the mailpiece is called pattern skew. The tilt of individual bars to the barcode's baseline is called bar rotation.
In 2003, the United States Postal Service (USPS) published the Intelligent Mail® Corporate Plan. This plan identified several key strategies including: Uniquely Identify Mail and Mail Aggregates; Develop and Deploy an Enabling Infrastructure; and Enhance Address Quality. This plan provided the following vision:
“To capitalize on the value of information about mail, the Postal Service and its customers will place an information-rich code on all mail, aggregates of mail, and business forms, enabling end-to-end visibility into the mail stream.”
In support of this OneCode Vision®, the Postal Service, in partnership with the mailing industry, developed the Intelligent Mail® barcode (formally known as the 4-state Customer Barcode). It is the next generation in the evolution of Postal Service barcode technology. It offers a more effective alternative to our existing barcodes by increasing the amount of information that is present on letter and flat mailpieces, allowing for expanded tracking capability, and creating greater visibility into the mailstream.
The Intelligent Mail barcode is a height-modulated barcode that encodes a 31-digit string of mailpiece data into 65 vertical bars. These bars may be present in one of four possible states: full bar, ascender, tracker,
and descender.
The following table compares the dimensions of the Intelligent Mail barcode to those of the POSTNET™ and PLANET Code® barcodes.
Attribute |
11-digit POSTNET |
13-digit PLANET |
Intelligent Mail Barcode |
Number of bars |
62 |
72 |
65 |
Bar Width |
0.020 ± 0.005 inch |
0.020 ± 0.005 inch |
0.020 ± 0.005 inch |
Horizontal Pitch |
22 ± 2 bars per inch |
22 ± 2 bars per inch |
22 ± 2 bars per inch |
Height of Full Bar |
0.125 ± 0.010 inch |
0.125 ± 0.010 inch |
0.145 ± 0.020 inch* |
The Postal Service offers a suite of services for letters and flats using the Intelligent Mail barcode. This suite of services is called the OneCode Solution™ suite. Since the initial launch of the Intelligent Mail barcode on September 1, 2006, mailers have had the option of using the Intelligent Mail barcode on letter mail for the Confirm® Service, referred to as OneCode Confirm™, and a version of Address Change Service™ (ACS™), called OneCode ACS™, for First-Class Mail®. The Intelligent Mail barcode can be used for automation-rate eligibility with or without these services requested.
Effective May 1, 2007, the Postal Service expanded use of the Intelligent Mail barcode by allowing mailers to use it on automation-rate First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail®, and Bound Printed Matter flat-size mailpieces for rate eligibility in lieu of POSTNET barcodes. The Postal Service allows First-Class Mail, Periodicals, and Standard Mail flats with Intelligent Mail barcodes to participate in OneCode Confirm. The Postal Service allows First-Class Mail, Bound Printed Matter, and Periodical letters and flats with Intelligent Mail barcodes to participate in OneCode ACS.
At the present time, use of the Intelligent Mail barcode is optional; however, many customers have found that, because it offers significant advantages over POSTNET and PLANET Code barcodes (including using less mailpiece “real estate” and offering more overall data capacity), it makes good business sense to use this new format.
Current plans are to require the Intelligent Mail barcode to qualify for automation discounts beginning in 2009. In the meantime, the Postal Service will continue to support the use of the POSTNET barcode for encoding the delivery point barcode, the PLANET Code barcode for encoding tracking information for Confirm, and alphanumeric characters for conveying participant code and Keyline information for ACS.
The Intelligent Mail barcode carries a data payload of 31 digits comprised of the following elements.
Type |
Field |
Field Length (in digits) |
Tracking Code |
Barcode Identifier |
2 (2nd digit must be 0–4) |
Service Type Identifier |
3 |
|
Mailer Identifier |
6 or 9 |
|
Serial Number |
9 (when used with 6 digit Mailer ID) |
|
Routing Code |
Delivery Point ZIP Code™ |
0, 5, 9, or 11 |
Total Data Payload |
31 (maximum) |
|
NOTE: The 20-digit Tracking Code construct may change depending on selected services in order to allow expanded tracking capabilities.
Barcode Identifier
The Barcode Identifier field is a 2-digit field that is reserved to encode the presort identification that is currently printed in human readable form on the optional endorsement line (OEL) as well as for future Postal Service use. Generally, this field should be left as “00” by OneCode Confirm™ and OneCode ACS™ users. The exception is for automation-rate eligible flat mail with an optional endorsement line, where the Intelligent Mail barcode must contain OEL coding corresponding to the correct sortation level of each piece. The following table provides the OEL codes for use within the Intelligent Mail barcode.
Barcode ID |
Description |
Example of currently applied OEL |
10 |
Carrier Route (CR), Enhanced Carrier Route (ECR), and FIRM |
******************************** FIRM 12345 |
| 20 | 5-Digit/Scheme |
***************************** 5-DIGIT 12345 |
| 30 | 3-Digit/Scheme |
******************************** 3-DIGIT 771 |
| 40 | Area Distribution Center (ADC) |
************************ ALL FOR ADC 105 |
| 50 | Mixed Area Distribution Center (MADC), Origin Mixed ADC (OMX) | ***************** ORIGIN MIXED ADC 117 *************************** MIXED ADC 640 ************************ MIXED ADC 60821 |
The Service Type Identifier field is a 3-digit field that indicates participation, or the lack of, in various Postal Service programs. Each 3-digit value will correspond to a particular mail class with a particular combination of service(s). Eventually the Postal Service anticipates supporting many combinations of class and service using this field; however, initially only a limited set of offerings will be available. The following table provides codes and corresponding service descriptions.
Service Type ID |
Description |
040 |
First Class Mail with Destination Confirm |
042 |
Standard Mail with Destination Confirm |
044 |
Periodicals with Destination Confirm |
050 |
Origin Confirm |
080 |
First Class Mail with Address Service Requested |
| 082 | First-Class Mail with Change Service Requested |
| 782 | Periodicals with Address Service Requested |
| 784 | Periodicals with Change Service Requested |
| 422 | Bound Printed Mail with Address Service Requested |
| 431 | Bound Printed Mail with Change Service Requested |
140 |
First Class Mail with Destination Confirm and Address Service Requested |
| 240 | First-Class Mail with Destination Confirm and Change Service Requested |
| 144 | Periodicals with Destination Confirm and Address Service Requested |
| 244 | Periodicals with Destination Confirm and Change Service Requested |
Beyond simply identifying when a mailpiece carries special services, the Intelligent Mail barcode will identify the mail class—even when no additional service is requested. The following table identifies the Service Type Identifier that should be used. If a mailer cannot use one of the defined mail class designations, they should call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) Help Desk at (877) 640-0724 to request an exception.
Service Type ID |
Mail Class Description |
700 |
First Class Mail with no additional services |
702 |
Standard Mail with no additional services |
704 |
Periodicals with no additional services |
| 706 | Bound Printed Matter with no additional services |
Mailer Identifier and the Serial Number are numeric fields designed to encode service and customer-specific information. The following table shows the payload layout for the Intelligent Mail barcode for use with OneCode Confirm. The corresponding fields from a PLANET Code barcode are also shown.
Intelligent Mail Barcode |
PLANET Code Destination Confirm |
PLANET Code Origin Confirm |
|||
Field Name |
Length |
Field Name |
Length |
Field name |
Length |
Barcode ID |
2 |
|
|||
Service Type ID |
3 |
Service Type ID |
2 |
Service Type ID |
2 |
Mailer Identifier |
6 or 9 |
Subscriber ID |
5 |
|
|
| Serial Number | 6 or 9 Depends on length of MID |
Mailing ID |
4 or 6 |
Customer ID |
9 or 11 |
Routing ZIP |
0, 5, 9, 11 |
|
|||
It is important to note that the table above provides a general overview of the fields contained within the Intelligent Mail barcode. In certain instances (depending on the service requested) the Mailer Identifier and Serial Number fields may be combined and reallocated to meet the data needs of the respective program. Further program-specific instructions are provided below.
The Mailer Identifier field is a 6-digit or 9-digit number that identifies a specific agent in the mail preparation process who has some responsibility for the ownership, content, make up, or preparation of the mail. The PostalOne!® Help Desk is responsible for issuing Mailer IDs to any customer that does not plan to subscribe to OneCode Confirm or OneCode ACS. These Mailers, without a previously-assigned Mailer ID, should contact the PostalOne! Help Desk at (800) 522-9085 for assistance.
Mail owners and mail preparers will be granted 6-digit or 9-digit Mailer IDs based upon their mail volume and criteria identified by the PostalOne! System. A mail owner or preparer who mails at least 40 million pieces per year will receive 6-digit Mailer IDs; all others will receive 9-digit Mailer IDs.
Current Destination Confirm subscribers should append a leading zero (0) to their previously-assigned 5-digit Subscriber ID
to populate the MID field and contact the Help Desk for Confirm service to ensure
their account is configured for the Intelligent Mail barcode. OneCode ACS subscribers will be assigned 6-digit Mailer IDs in place of their previously-assigned ACS 7-character participant code (which is used to uniquely identify the mailer for each particular mail class).
The Serial Number is a 6-digit or 9-digit field depending on the length of the Mailer ID. For Destination Confirm, this field will hold the existing Mailing ID field, which can be expanded to 9-digits if so desired. Otherwise, leading zeros should be used to fill the field completely. When using the Intelligent Mail barcode for Origin Confirm, subscribers may combine the Mailer Identifier field and the Serial Number field into a 15-digit field to hold the existing 9-digit or 11-digit Customer ID field plus additional digits. Subscribers can expand this field to 15-digits if so desired. Otherwise, leading zeros should be used to fill the field completely. OneCode ACS users should use the Serial Number field to encode information they previously encoded within the Keyline field.
The Routing ZIP Code™ field is designed to be used to encode the destination ZIP code of the mailpiece. Mailers may opt to encode a 5, 9 or 11-digit ZIP Code within this field. Unlike POSTNET barcode, the Routing ZIP Code within the Intelligent Mail barcode does not require a check digit. In certain situations the mailer may opt not to provide a Routing Code; however, mailers should adhere to the following program-specific guidance.
OneCode Confirm requires either a 9 or 11-digit Routing ZIP to serve as the “Subscriber ID” for Origin Confirm users. When used as a Subscriber ID, the Routing ZIP Code used must be registered within the subscriber’s Confirm account.
When using OneCode Confirm for “seeding” within an automation discount mailing, a non-seeded mailpiece may use the Intelligent Mail barcode with a proper routing ZIP Code to meet the automation discount criteria. Such an Intelligent Mail barcode should use one of the Service Type IDs defined for use as a Mail Class Designator (those codes without services) to indicate that the piece is not intended to generate Confirm information. The Mailer Identifier field should contain the appropriate Subscriber ID.
Additional details pertaining to the use of the Intelligent Mail barcode as part of OneCode ACS is available in a new OneCode ACS document supplementing Publication 8b- Address Change Service. Additional details about the use of the Intelligent Mail barcode as part of the OneCode Confirm program is available in Publication 197 - Confirm® Service User Guide. These documents can be downloaded from the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System (RIBBS) website at: http://ribbs.usps.gov/OneCodeSolution
Encoding data into a POSTNET or PLANET Code is very straightforward: each digit in the payload is represented by a predefined pattern of 5 bars. Encoding data into an Intelligent Mail barcode is more complex. The encoding algorithm that translates the 31 digits in the payload into 65 bars is defined in the USPS publication, Specification USPS-B-3200, which is available for download from the same RIBBS web site.
To facilitate the adoption of the Intelligent Mail barcode, the USPS has developed, and is making available at no charge, a web-based, interactive encoder-decoder tool, and an extensive library of encoding software and fonts suitable for encoding and printing the Intelligent Mail barcode in mail production environments using selected operating systems and printing architectures. These resources are available from the same RIBBS web site.
To download the library of encoding software and fonts from the RIBBS website, you must first request a user ID and password by calling the NCSC Help Desk at (877) 640-0724. You must log in using your assigned user ID and password before you can download from the library.
Once logged in, you will be able to download the encoding software package for any particular operating system of interest. Each package contains all the files needed to use the encoder software under that operating system in any of the languages or applications that are supported. The USPS currently provides software for a total of 20 combinations of operating systems, languages, and application environments:
From the same RIBBS website, registered and logged in users will be able to download the font package for any operating system of interest. Each package contains all the files needed to install and use the font for that operating system.
The placement configurations of the Intelligent Mail barcode on a letter-size and flat-size mail are defined in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™). This section presents the following commonly used placement configurations. For additional details concerning barcode placement, please refer to 202.5, 302.4.2 and 503.13.3 of the DMM.
In describing code placement, the terms “above” and “below the address” are used here to mean the following, as defined in 202.5 of the DMM. The term “’above the address” here means either:
1. Above the address line containing the recipient’s name, or
2. Above or below the Keyline information, or
3. Above or below the optional endorsement line
The term “below the address” means:
4. Below the city, state, and ZIP Code line.
The mail piece images used to illustrate these configurations are not meant to be exact or exhaustive.
Configuration 1
• Mailer applies the Intelligent Mail barcode above or below the address within the address block.
•
Mailer encodes the delivery point code in the Intelligent Mail barcode along with the tracking code.
Configuration 2(a)
• Mailer applies the Intelligent Mail barcode above the address within the address block.
• Mailer encodes the delivery point code in a POSTNET barcode below the address in the address block.
Configuration 2(b)
• Mailer applies the Intelligent Mail barcode below the address within the address block.
•
Mailer encodes the delivery point code in a POSTNET barcode above the address in the address block.
Configuration 3
• Mailer applies the Intelligent Mail barcode with or without POSTNET barcode within
the address block as in Configuration 1, 2(a), or 2(b).
• MLOCR applies POSTNET barcode in the barcode clear zone, along with the human readable automation marking‡ and ZIP Code to the left.
Configuration 4
• Mailer does not apply POSTNET barcode or the Intelligent Mail barcode directly in the address block.
• MLOCR applies the POSTNET barcode in the barcode clear zone, along with the human readable automation marking and ZIP Code to the left.
• In addition, MLOCR applies the Intelligent Mail barcode containing the tracking code above the address block.
Configuration 5
• Mailer does not apply POSTNET barcode or the Intelligent Mail barcode directly in the address block.
•
MLOCR applies the Intelligent Mail barcode containing the routing code and tracking code in the barcode clear zone, along with the human readable automation marking and ZIP Code to the left.
Any yellow forwarding label applied by the Computerized Forwarding System (CFS) and Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS) will not interfere with the Intelligent Mail barcode applied by the mailer or the MLOCR when the Intelligent Mail barcode is placed above the address. The tracking information in the Intelligent Mail barcode will continue to be available.
Any forwarding label applied may obscure the Intelligent Mail barcode if it is located below the address within the address block or in the barcode clear zone, and the tracking information may no longer be available. To preserve the tracking information, it would be necessary to add a new capability to combine the new routing code with the tracking code in the original Intelligent Mail barcode into a new Intelligent Mail barcode that is then printed on the forwarding label. Changes to enable PARS to print a new Intelligent Mail barcode on the forwarding label are being evaluated.
In some of the above code placement configurations, the mail piece may end up with more than one routing code in either the POSTNET barcode or the Intelligent Mail barcode. Mail processing equipment uses the following precedence rules to select the routing code to use for sorting:
If a valid routing code is present in the barcode at the lower right barcode clear zone, it has the highest precedence for routing regardless of whether it is an Intelligent Mail barcode or a POSTNET barcode.
Otherwise, if there is more than one POSTNET barcode and/or Intelligent Mail barcode elsewhere on the mailpiece, precedence, from the highest to the lowest, is as follows:
• POSTNET barcode with delivery point code
• POSTNET barcode with ZIP+4 code
• POSTNET barcode with 5-digit ZIP code
• Any Intelligent Mail barcode
The Intelligent Mail barcode decoding software has undergone rigorous testing on various pieces of mail processing equipment in both controlled and live production environments. Virtually all Delivery Bar Code Sorters (DBCS), Carrier Sequence Bar Code Sorters (CSBCS), and Automated Flats Sorting Machines (AFSM) have been upgraded and successfully tested.
Several mailers helped expand the test scenarios to include live mail testing at diverse mail processing locations. Additionally, the Postal Service’s National Customer Service Center that applies the Intelligent Mail barcode for Confirm service on Move Validation Letters (MVL) participated in these tests. Scan records captured by the mail processing equipment were carefully analyzed to ensure that the equipment performed as expected.
For general information, or to download specifications, addenda to publications for various services, and the library of encoding software and fonts, please visit the RIBBS web site at: http://ribbs.usps.gov/OneCodeSolution .
If you want to obtain user ID and password to download the library of encoding software and font, or if you need technical assistance in using the online tool or the library of encoding software and font, please contact the NCSC Help Desk at
(877) 640-0724.
The Help Desk for Confirm service can be reached at (800) 238-3150.
The Help Desk for ACS can be reached at (800) 331-5746.
The Help Desk for PostalOne! can be reached at (800) 522-9085.
Exercise 5 - 3Directions: Circle the best response or fill in the blank to answer the following questions. Check
your answers when you have completed the exercise.
1. How many bars in an IMB?
a. 62
b. 65
c. 52
d. 32
2. The IMB can be used for:
a. Onecode Confirm
b. Onecode ACS
c. Automation discounts
d. All of the above
3. The IMB carries a “Data Payload” of up to ___________ Digits, and is comprised of two main components, the _____________ code and the ____________ code.
4. The Intelligent Mail® barcode on a letter size envelope can be placed in four locations.
a. True
b. False
5. The bars in an IMB are Tracker, Ascender, Descender and Short
a. True
b. False
1. b, 65; IMB is a height modulated barcode consisting of 65 vertical bars.
2. d, All of the above; IMB can be used with CONFIRM Service, Address Change Service and Automation letter and flat mail discounts
3. 31, tracking, routing; The IMB carries a “Data Payload” of up to 31digits
4. false; The Intelligent Mail barcode on a letter-size envelope can be placed in five locations.
• Above the address line containing the recipient’s name,
• Above the Keyline information,
• Below the Keyline information,
• Below the city, state, and ZIP Code line,
5. Barcode clear zone false; The bars in an IMB are Tracker, Ascender, Descender and Full
The UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode must accurately represent the correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code of the delivery address to claim the parcel barcode discount.
Barcodes must be printed on substrate material that preserves the optical specification as described in the AIM-USA Uniform Symbology Specification documents. Typically, white label stock commonly used for barcode generation is suitable, providing it is not glossy (causing mirror-like, specular reflection) or prone to smearing or smudging.
The basic elements of the postal routing UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode are:
If the postal routing barcode is printed on a separate label, the human-readable equivalent of the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code preceded by the word “ZIP” must be printed between 1/8” and 1/2” below the barcode. Alternatively, the word “ZIP” may be placed no less than 10 times the average narrow bar or space element width and no more than 1/2” to the left of the barcode. “ZIP” must be printed in at least 10-point bold sans-serif type. While not recommended, if the postal routing barcode is printed on the delivery address label and is in close proximity of the delivery address, the human-readable equivalent of the ZIP Code and the word “ZIP” may be omitted.
More in depth information on the following options can be found in Publication 91, Confirmation Services Technical Guide found in http://pe.usps.gov/ through the Additional Publications link. Eligible machinable parcels may qualify for the parcel barcode discount and bear a Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation barcode using one of the following options:
A single concatenated barcode that combines the postal routing information and the Delivery or Signature Confirmation information may be used on parcels eligible for the barcode discount. Single concatenated barcodes must be prepared in accordance with the technical specifications and requirements in DMM 708.5 for Delivery Confirmation and for Signature Confirmation along with Publication 91, Confirmation Services Technical Guide. If a parcel bears a single concatenated barcode, no other barcode that contains the postal routing code can be affixed to the package.
The human-readable information for the concatenated or concatenated/integrated barcode (explained below) must include as text the Application Identifiers (AI) 420 and 91 and the full tracking identification number. When the AI 420 and ZIP Code information is sued, it must be parsed separately from the main body of the test. The first group will contain the 420 AI, space, 5-digit ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code, space, with the remaining human-readable text parsed in groups of four with the remaining digits grouped at the end as shown in the example below.
Mailers may also place both a postal routing barcode and either a Delivery Confirmation barcode or a Signature Confirmation barcode on the same parcel as shown in the example below.
We now have separate price categories for machinable parcels. To facilitate more efficient handling, a 5-Digit UCC/EAN 128 barcode or POSTNET barcode as appropriate is required. If not, unless prepared in a 5-Digit scheme or 5-Digit sacks or pallets, pieces will be subject to an additional surcharge. A barcode discount may be applicable for a qualifying package service product.
The USPS offers barcode discounts for letter size, flat-size mailpieces and specific machinable parcels. Prebarcoding by mailers allows the Postal Service to process and deliver the mail more accurately and efficiently. The gain in efficiency allows the Postal Service to return workshare savings to the mailer in the form of postage discounts. To guarantee these discounts for you and your clients, ensure that your mailpieces meet the design requirements as stated in the Domestic Mail Manual and outlined in this guide. The next module covers the actual mailpiece design parameters and barcode positioning requirements for automated mailings.
Exercise 5 - 4 Directions: Circle the best response or fill in the blank to answer the following questions. Check your answers when you have completed the exercise.
1. To avoid the surcharge on non-barcoded parcels they must be prepared in ____________ scheme or __________ sacks or pallets.
2. At a minimum, for the delivery address on the mailpiece, each qualifying parcel barcode must encode the correct:
a. 5-Digit ZIP Code
b. Delivery Point Code
c. Carrier Route Code
d. Carrier Route Walk Sequence Number
3. The PRD for a qualifying parcel barcode must be at least:
a. 30 percent
b. 40 percent
c. 50 percent
d. 60 percent
4. If a qualifying parcel barcode is printed on a label separate from that of the delivery address, the mailer must also print, in human-readable characters:
a) the verifier character
b) the 5-digit ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code preceded by the word “ZIP”.
c) the identifier code
d) all of the above
1. 5-digit, 5-digit; 5-digit scheme or 5-digit sacks are required to avoid the non-barcode surcharge.
2. a, 5-digit ZIP Code; or ZIP+4 code. All of the
approved symbologies require at least the
ZIP or ZIP+4 code to be encoded in the barcode. The different symbologies also
require
the encoding of additional information, either an identifier code or a
correction character.
3. b, 40 percent; a PRD (the print reflectance difference
between the light reflected by the printed bars versus the light reflected by
the white spaces) of 40 percent is required to
qualify for discount. The measurement is made by a USPS or USPS-licensed
envelope reflectance meter.
4. b, the 5-digit ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code preceded by the word “ZIP”; in this case, the mailer must print only the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code for the delivery address preceded by the word “ZIP”. Any additional information encoded in the barcode should be omitted.
