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How to Compose Intelligent Mail Barcode Data.
Dec 26th
The Intelligent Mail barcode or IMB (formerly known as the 4-State Customer Barcode or 4CB or USPS4CB) is a new type of bar code introduced by USPS in USA. Although similar barcodes have been in use in other countries for quite a while, IMB gets accepted in USA recently. It can encode tracking code and routing number in 65 bars, hence combines the capabilities of the POSTNET™ barcode and the PLANET Code® barcode into one unique barcode. Unlike POSTNET and PLANET, where two variations of bars (long and short) have been used, IMB uses 4 variations of bars: tracker, ascending, descending, full. We will discuss these in details in barcode structure section.
Compose Intelligent Mail Barcode Data
As we already know that Intelligent Mail Barcode can encode tracking number which is 20 digits long and a routing number or delivery point zip code which can be 0 to 11 digits long. Therefore Intelligent Mail Barcode or IMB can encode up to 31 numeric values. Although alpha numeric value can be encoded with 4 state code, IMB only encodes numeric value for now.
- Tracking Code: Tracking code composed of the following sections:
| Barcode Identifier | 2 (2nd digit must be 0–4)
E.g., Value Optional Endorsement Line (OEL) Description 00 Default / No OEL Information 10 Carrier Route (CR), Enhanced Carrier Route (ECR), and FIRM 20 5-Digit/Scheme 30 3-Digit/Scheme Etc. |
It is assigned by USPS to encode the presort identification which is currently stated as human readable on the optional endorsement line (OEL). |
| Service Type Identifier 3 | 3 digits long
700 = First-Class Mail with no services 702 = Standard Mail with no services 704 = Periodicals with no services 706 = Bound Printed Matter with no services |
It is also assigned by USPS for any combination of services requested on the mail piece. |
| Mailer Identifier | 6 or 9 digits depending on serial number stated below.
Mailer ID & serial number combined should be 15 digits long |
The Mailer Identifier is a 6 or 9 digit number assigned by USPS to identify a business entity who is sending the mail piece.. |
| Serial Number | 6 (when used with 9 digit Mailer ID)
9 (when used with 6 digit Mailer ID) |
The Serial Number is a 6 or 9 digit number set by the mailer to uniquely track and identify the mail piece. |
- The routing Number: The routing number or The Delivery Point ZIP Code is set by the mailer for routing the mail piece. Mailer can leave this blank or set to 5, 9, or 11 digits long.
GS1 DataBar Encodation
Dec 9th
DataBar Encodation
GS1 DataBar (formerly RSS Barcode) consists of few barcode symbologies which can further categorized into 3 groups.
Group 1:
- GS1 DataBar Regular
- GS1 DataBar Truncated
- GS1 DataBar Stacked
- GS1 DataBar Stacked Omni Directional
This group encodes 13 digits data and appends a mod 10 check digit at the end. It also contains a linkage flag in the beginning to indicate whether a 2D barcode is attached to it or not. If it is starts with ‘0’ it will not expect a 2D part, otherwise a 2D barcode is attached. Therefore, all together a 14 digit barcode can have 2 x 1013 variations without counting 2D parts. All the barcodes in this group share same encoding technique and have the same pattern. GS1 DataBar Truncated barcode, as the name suggests, shortens the height of regular barcode and it is usually used in a tight place where bigger size barcode is hard to accomodate. A GS1 DataBar Stacked, however, chops off pattern in two rows separated by 2 narrow rows of separator bar. While GS1 DataBar Stacked has a shorter bar height, GS1 DataBar Stacked Omni directional has a standard full height and can be scanned omni directionally.
GS1 DataBar with Composite Component
Structurally GS1 DataBar has three components:
- Guard Bar: A bar/space pattern which indicates the start and end of the barcode. For stacked barcode each row contains guard bars in the beginning and at the end.
- Data Character: A complex algorithm converts encoded digits into Data Characters which is represented with few bars and spaces. For this group of barcode we have 4 data characters.
- Finder Pattern: Finder patterns are a bar/space patters to indicate the specific location of the data characters. It also calculate check digit. In this group of barcode we have two finder patterns.
Group 2:
- GS1 DataBar Limited
This group which has only one symbology which is different from other barcodes structurally and functionally. It encodes 13 digits, but it has an indicator flag in addition to a 2D linkage flag, leaving other 12 digits for data, Therefore, it can encode 2 x 2 x 1012 different numbers. It has two Data Characters, and a check digit in the middle of them. It also contains guard bars in the beginning and at the end of the barcode. It is not suitable for omni directional scanning.
GS1 DataBar Limited
GS1 DataBar Llimited with Composite Component
Group 3
- GS1 DataBar Expanded
- GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked
This group is completely different than other two groups. It is a variable length barcode symbology, and can encode up to 74 digits or 41 alpha numeric characters. Its structure can hold up to 22 segments. Like others, this group also consists of Data Characters, Finder Pattern, guard Bars, and check digit pattern. It has a full height and can be scanned omni directionally. The two types of barcodes in this group can encode variable length data by applying application identifier or AI. AI tells decoder how long is the data for the corresponding Indentifier. For example, AI (17) indicates an expiration date which is 6 digits long. Sometimes we will have variable length AI. For example, AI (21) represents a serial number, which can be 1 to 21 digits long. To indicate the end of the number we append FNC1 character at the end of the serial data.
GS1 Expanded
GS1 DataBar Expanded with Composite Component
GS1 Expanded Stacked also follows the similar pattern but it grows by adding rows at the bottom. You can control how wide each row will be by changing segment per row value.
GS1 Expanded Stacked
GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked w/ Composite Component
GS1 Expanded Stacked is also used in coupon industry along with many different industries, especially health care and freshproduce sector. It gains a lot of popularity due to its encoding capabilities of many application identifier for different purposes. In coupon industry, currently the use of expanded stacked barcode is in transition period. Before everyone officially moves to Expanded Stacked barcode, it is now being used as interim coupon format. In interim format, Expanded Stacked barcode is appended with upc code replacing UCC/EAN part.
GS1 DataBar Interim Coupon
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