2D Barcode
Linear Barcode
Intelligent Mail
Intelligent Mail
Intelligent Mail Barcode is a linear barcode which used in the USPS mail stream. The Intelligent Mail is the service offered by United States Postal Service. The Intelligent Mail Barcode is used to sort and track letters and flats.
Intelligent Mail Barcode combines the capability of the POSTNE barcode and PLANET Code barcode. It is consisted of the routing ZIP Code information and tracking information. It is also known as USPS Intelligent Mail Container Barcode, USPS IM Container Barcode, IM Container Barcode and One Code Solution.
Data Encoded in Intelligent Mail Barcode
The Intelligent Mail barcode is a 4-state barcode that consist of 65 bars. A 4-state barcode is based on the ascenders and descenders. Character set of it is numeric digits from 0 to 9. Those digits represented the tracking code and routing code.

Tracking code should be 20-digit long. It contains of the Barcode Identifier, Service Type Identifier, Mailer Identifier, and Serial Number fields.

The routing code contains of the routing ZIP Code information. The maximum digits Intelligent Mail barcode encoded is 31 digits.
How to Encode Intelligent Mail Barcode

There are 6 steps to encode the Intelligent Mail Barcode:
  • Convert the data fields into Binary Data. The data fields refers to the routing code and tracking code. The Binary Data should not over 104 bits (13 bytes). The routing code shall be converted from a 0-,5-, 9-, or 11-digit string to an integer value. At the end of step one, the binary data shouldb be filled with the routing code and tracking code.
  • Generate 11-Bit CRC on Binary Data. The FCS value (11-bit CRC Frame Check Sequence) is employing the Generator Polynomial (0xF35) to the rightmost 102 bits of the Binary Data.
  • Convert the Binary Data to Codewords.
  • Insert additional information into Codewords.
  • Convert Codewords to Characters.
  • Convert Characters to the Intelligent Mail Barcode.
Physical Dimensions of Intelligent Mail Barcode
Vertical dimensions: The height of barcode is 0.125 inch to 0.165 inch. The vertical dimensions should be based on the centerline of the barcode.

Horizontal dimensions: The barcode pitch should be 22 + or -2 /inch. The horizontal dimensions should be based on the centerline of the individual bars. The width of the individual bars should be printed of 0.020 + or -2 /0.005 inch.

Clear Zone: Clear Zone helps scanner to locate the barcode. It is surrounded the barcode. The clear zone above and below the barcode should be at least 0.028 inch. The clear zone at the end of the barcode should be at least 0.125 inch.

Intelligent Mail Barcode Identifier
There are 2 types of Intelligent Mail Barcode identifier: Barcode identifier and Service type identifier. Printing of human-readable representation is optional depending on the Service Type Identifier specified by the Intelligent Mail barcode.

The Barcode Identifier is specified by the USPS for presorting printed identification. The value of Barcode Identifier should be two digits. The description of the optional Endorsement line is below:
  • 00 refers to Default/ No OEL information;
  • 10 refer to Carrier Route (CR), Enhanced Carrier Route (ECR), and FIRM;
  • 20 refer to 5-Digit/Scheme;
  • 30 refer to 3-Digit/Scheme;
  • 40 refer to Area Distribution Center (ADC);
  • 50 refer to Mixed Area Distribution Center (MADC), Origin Mixed ADC (OMX).
Service type identifier is the three-digit value which represents the class of the mail and service requirement by the sender. The mail class refers to the first-class, standard mail, or periodical classes.
  • Value 700 refers to First-Class Mail with no services;
  • Value 700 refers to First-Class Mail with no services;
  • Value 702 refers to Standard Mail with no services;
  • Value 704 refers to Periodicals with no services;
  • Value 706 refers to Bound Printed Matter with no services.