Intelligent Mail barcode - Revision history

Dan Tobias at 13:19, 9 March 2014

2014-03-09T13:19:14Z

Dan Tobias: /* Resources and utilities */

2013-08-13T02:05:26Z

‎Resources and utilities

Dan Tobias at 22:23, 28 July 2013

2013-07-28T22:23:56Z

Dan Tobias: /* Links */

2013-06-17T21:09:11Z

‎Links

Dan Tobias at 03:56, 12 May 2013

2013-05-12T03:56:36Z

Dan Tobias at 01:31, 12 May 2013

2013-05-12T01:31:04Z

Dan Tobias: Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=physical |subcat=Bar codes }} The '''Intelligent Mail barcode''' is a bar code format for U.S. postal mailings, in the process of being deployed to s..."

2013-05-12T01:10:01Z

Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=physical |subcat=Bar codes }} The '''Intelligent Mail barcode''' is a bar code format for U.S. postal mailings, in the process of being deployed to s..."

New page

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=physical
|subcat=Bar codes
}}

The '''Intelligent Mail barcode''' is a bar code format for U.S. postal mailings, in the process of being deployed to supersede the older [[POSTNET]] codes.

Unlike other bar code systems which code based on bar thickness, Intelligent Mail bars (like POSTNET before it) are distinguished by their height. In POSTNET, there were two heights, while the Intelligent Mail format uses both height and vertical position to distinguish four different types of bars. Digits are encoded by combinations of these bar types. In addition to the encoding of zip codes as with POSTNET, additional digits identify service type and mailer (each bulk-mailing business gets its own identification number).

Bulk mailers apply bar codes to the pieces being mailed as one of the requirements of qualifying for discounted rates. The post office adds bar codes to other mail in the course of sorting.

The USPS can't seem to decide consistently whether to use its '''usps.com''' or '''usps.gov''' domain when providing resources related to these codes, as seen in the links below; this is in keeping with its split personality of being a company and a governmental entity at once.

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:Intelligent Mail barcode|Wikipedia article]]
* [http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/708.pdf USPS standards document describing bar codes and other mail standards]
* [https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailmailpieces Intelligent Mail resources]
* [https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=encodertool Intelligent Mail barcode online encoder/decoder]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 |image=Intelligent-mail-barcode.png
 }}
 The '''Intelligent Mail barcode''' is a bar code format for U.S. postal mailings, in the process of being deployed to supersede the older [[POSTNET]] codes.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:31, 12 May 2013
Line 11:		Line 11:

	The USPS can't seem to decide consistently whether to use its '''usps.com''' or '''usps.gov''' domain when providing resources related to these codes, as seen in the links below; this is in keeping with its split personality of being a company and a governmental entity at once.		The USPS can't seem to decide consistently whether to use its '''usps.com''' or '''usps.gov''' domain when providing resources related to these codes, as seen in the links below; this is in keeping with its split personality of being a company and a governmental entity at once.
		+
		+	Despite the "intelligent" nature of these codes, the high-IQ society Mensa has yet to gain the capacity to provide them on the mailing labels and address files sent to its local groups for mailing of their newsletters.

	== Links ==		== Links ==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * [https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailmailpieces Intelligent Mail resources]
 * [https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=encodertool Intelligent Mail barcode online encoder/decoder]
 == Other links ==
 * [[Wikipedia:Intelligent Mail barcode|Wikipedia article]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 The '''Intelligent Mail barcode''' is a bar code format for U.S. postal mailings, in the process of being deployed to supersede the older [[POSTNET]] codes.
-Unlike other bar code systems which code based on bar thickness, Intelligent Mail bars (like POSTNET before it) are distinguished by their height. In POSTNET, there were two heights, while the Intelligent Mail format uses both height and vertical position to distinguish four different types of bars. Digits are encoded by combinations of these bar types. In addition to the encoding of zip codes as with POSTNET, additional digits identify service type and mailer (each bulk-mailing business gets its own identification number).
+Unlike other bar code systems which code based on bar thickness, Intelligent Mail bars (like POSTNET before it) are distinguished by their height. In POSTNET, there were two heights, while the Intelligent Mail format uses both height and vertical position to distinguish four different types of bars (known as a "four-state" system, transcribable using [[DAFT]] notation). Digits are encoded by combinations of these bar types. In addition to the encoding of zip codes as with POSTNET, additional digits identify service type and mailer (each bulk-mailing business gets its own identification number).
 Bulk mailers apply bar codes to the pieces being mailed as one of the requirements of qualifying for discounted rates. The post office adds bar codes to other mail in the course of sorting.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 Despite the "intelligent" nature of these codes, the high-IQ society Mensa has yet to gain the capacity to provide them on the mailing labels and address files sent to its local groups for mailing of their newsletters.
-== Links ==
+== Standards documents ==
-* [[Wikipedia:Intelligent Mail barcode|Wikipedia article]]
 * [http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/708.pdf USPS standards document describing bar codes and other mail standards]
 * [https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailmailpieces Intelligent Mail resources]
 * [https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=encodertool Intelligent Mail barcode online encoder/decoder]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |formattype=physical
 |subcat=Bar codes
 }}