1 Intelligent Mail Barcodes Electronic Documentation Mail Preparation Requirements MTAC 117 November 6, 2007

2  Mail Preparation Requirements  Intelligent Mail® Barcodes  Electronic Documentation Agenda

3 Vision An Integrated Approach Electronic Mailing Information Electronic Centralized Payment Scan at Entry Induction Electronic Advance Notification Unique Barcodes Mail Preparation Electronic In-Process & Performance-Based Mail Verification

4 Intelligent Mail® Barcodes

PRIMACY PKWY STE 201 MEMPHIS TN Address Change Service John Doe 6449 AMBERVIEW CV MEMPHIS TN Unique IDs allow tracking of “nested” pieces as they are containerized Unique Container Barcode Unique Mailpiece Barcode Unique Tray Barcode Creating Visibility

6 Suite of Intelligent Mail Barcodes The common thread of Intelligent Mail barcodes:  Uniquely identify the sender  Uniquely identify the mailpiece or mail aggregate  Provide a destination ZIP Code for sortation & routing  Encode Special Service indicators or Address Change Service™ (ACS) requests Intelligent Mail® Barcode Intelligent Mail® Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode 6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201 MEMPHIS TN Address Change Service John Doe 6449 AMBERVIEW CV MEMPHIS TN

7 Barcodes Decoded ID (2N) TypeIndicator TypeIndicator Intelligent Mail BARCODE ( for letters and flats ): 6-Digit and 9-Digit Mailer IDs Serial Number (9N) Mailer ID (6N) Serial Number (6N)Mailer ID (9N) Serial Number (12A/N) ApplicationIdentifier (2N) ApplicationIdentifier (2N) Mailer ID (9N) Barcode ID (2N) Service Type Barcode ID (2N) Service Type ID (2N) Mailer ID (6N) ZIP Code ( 0, 5, 9, or 11N ) Serial Number (9A/N) Intelligent Mail CONTAINER barcode: 6-Digit and 9-Digit Mailer IDs Barcodes Decoded LABEL SOURCE LABEL TYPE LABEL SOURCE LABEL TYPE - 8 Serial Number (8N) ZIP Code (5N) Content Identifier Number (CIN) (3N) Mailer ID (6N) Serial Number (5N) Intelligent Mail TRAY barcode: 6-Digit and 9-Digit Mailer IDs ZIP Code (5N) Content Identifieer Number (CIN) (3N) Mailer ID (9N)

8 Intelligent Mail® Barcode FROM THIS TO THIS Used on Letters and Flats

9 For Letters and Flats  Height-modulated barcode  Uses 4-state symbology:  Ascender, Descender, Tracker, and Full bar Key Specification Tolerances  Overall barcode length between and inches  Overall barcode height between and inch  Vertical barcode clear zone at least inch Other physical characteristics are same as POSTNET Intelligent Mail ® Barcode Specifications Attribute11-digit POSTNET13-digit PLANETIntelligent Mail Barcode Number of bars Bar Width ± inch Horizontal Pitch 22 ± 2 bars per inch

10 Intelligent Mail® Barcode Data Construct NOTE: See the Intelligent Mail barcode specification and the Technical Resource Guide on OEL indicators Barcode IDIdentifies the presort makeup in conjunction with an Optional Endorsement Line -- most users will leave it as “00”. Service Type ID: Identifies special service requests (e.g. OneCode Confirm and/or OneCode ACS) or Mail Class when used for automation rate discount without any services. If no Special Services are requested use: 700 for First-Class mail; 702 for Standard mail; 704 for Periodicals; 706 Bound Printed Matter. Mailer ID6-digit or 9-digit number that uniquely identifies the mail owner or mailing agent. Serial Number Uniquely identifies the mailpiece or mailing. ZIP Code:For routing, must contain a proper ZIP Code to obtain the automation rate discount ZIP Code ( 0, 5, 9, or 11N ) Barcode ID (2N) Service Type ID (2N) Barcode ID (2N) Service Type ID (2N) Intelligent Mail BARCODE ( for letters and flats ): 6-Digit and 9-Digit Mailer IDs Serial Number (9N) Mailer ID (6N) Serial Number (6N)Mailer ID (9N)

11 Generating the Intelligent Mail Barcode 1.Identify any desired services (e.g. OneCode Confirm and/or OneCode ACS, and/or Automation Discounts). 2.Obtain Mailer ID from the chosen service helpdesk, or from PostalOne! when used only for automation rate discount. 3.Devise strategy to uniquely identify each mailpiece or mailing via the barcode Serial Number. 4.Put it all together a)Assemble all data fields together: Barcode ID, Service Type ID, Mailer ID, Serial Number and Delivery ZIP Code b)Run encoder software: requires 20-digit Tracking Code and up to 11-digit Routing Code into 65-character string. c)Apply font on 65-character string (A, T, D, F….) 5.Print barcode on mailpiece or save barcode image for later.

12 Resources  Rapid Information Bulletin Board System:  Intelligent Mail Barcode for letters and flats  Encoder Software, Fonts and Online Decoding Tool  Intelligent Mail Barcode Specifications  Technical Resource Guide  Mailer ID Guidelines  OneCode Confirm and OneCode ACS Technical Guides  Domestic Mail Manuals  USPS Publications

13 Intelligent Mail® Tray Label Older, Existing Label New, Transitional10/24-digit Intelligent Mail Tray Label Transition Strategy Intelligent Mail ® Tray labels and Intelligent Mail ® Tray barcodes Future Label (3-5 years)

14 Intelligent Mail ® Tray Barcode The Intelligent Mail ® Tray Barcode:  Provides routing/sorting information  Provides Mailer ID  Uniquely identifies every tray/sack/tub  Provides specific mail content information In addition, for USPS internal tray barcode formats:  Identifies specific mail flow  Identifies specific transportation  Identifies specific processing and delivery information

15 10-digit Tray Barcode Construct  Barcode Symbology: Interleaved 2 of 5 (10-digit)  Does not provide for unique identification 10-Digit Encoded Data Elements Field No. Field Description Field Size Character Position 1ZIP -3 or 5-digit51-5 2CIN Digit processing code (USPS) 29-10

16 24-digit Tray Label Construct 24-Digit Encoded Data Elements Barcode ElementPositionDefinition ZIP Code1–5Identifies the tray or sack’s destination in accordance with the USPS DMM Content Identifier Number (CIN) 6–8Describes the contents of the tray or sack based in accordance with the USPS DMM Label Source9The value ‘1’ is used for Automation Compatible, Barcoded, and Machinable Mail The value ’7’ is used for all other mail Mailer ID (MID)*10–18A six-digit or nine-digit USPS assigned ID used to uniquely identify the preparer of the tray or sack Serial Number*19–23A unique five-digit number for each tray or sack Label Type24“1” when used with a six-digit MID and “8” when used with a nine-digit MID  Barcode Symbology: 24-digit: ISS Code 128, subset C *Optional Program Field (16–18), a three-digit data field used only in conjunction with a six-digit MID to expand Serial Number Field to eight-digits

17 Generating IM ™ Tray Labels For Intelligent Mail Tray labels:  Obtain and follow the specifications available on the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: to create and print labels  Soon to be available: Use the Web-based Intelligent Mail Customer Label Distribution System (CLDS) to order labels from the Label Printing Center in Topeka  This system will eventually replace Passport when the “future 24-digit only” tray label is implemented in 3-5 years

18 Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode The Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode:  Is applied on a “Placard” or Pallet Label  Identifies Mailer  Establishes a unique “serial number” for each pallet/container  Associates pallet/container to unique mailing Mailer’s Container Label

19 IM ™ Container Label Specification

20 Intelligent Mail ® Container Barcode Construct For Containers: Uses GS1-128 – formerly UCC/EAN 128 Example:

21 Generating Intelligent Mail Container Labels For Intelligent Mail Container Labels:  Go to the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: for the Intelligent Mail Container Barcode specifications  Go to the DMM for the layout instructions of the (pallet/placard) labels

22 Electronic Documentation

23 Intelligent Mail Documentation Intelligent Mail Barcode Tray Pallet Pieces Intelligent Mail Tray Barcode Intelligent Mail Pallet Barcode Customer System PostalOne! System Electronic Mailing Information  Mail.dat  Web Services  Postage Statement Wizard

24 1.Intelligent Mail® Barcode with a Unique ID on every mailpiece in the mailing with electronic documentation 2.Intelligent Mail® Barcode with same ID on all pieces unique for a bundle, tray, sack or tub with electronic documentation 3.Intelligent Mail® Barcode with same ID on all pieces unique for a mailing with electronic postage statement Mail Preparation Mail Preparation Requirements

25  Mailers apply an Intelligent Mail® barcode with a Unique Mailpiece ID for each piece in the mailing  Mailers submit electronic documentation with mailpiece, handling unit and container nesting information Mail Preparation 1.Intelligent Mail® Barcode with a Unique ID on every mailpiece in the mailing with electronic documentation MIDDelivery Point ZIPUnique Mailpiece ID INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE

26  Mailers apply the same Intelligent Mail® barcode on all pieces in each Bundle, Tray, Sack or Tub.  Mailers submit electronic documentation with handling unit and container nesting information  Aggregate piece data by Handling Unit Mail Preparation 2.Intelligent Mail® Barcode with same ID on all pieces unique for a bundle, tray, sack or tub with electronic documentation MIDDelivery Point ZIPUnique Mailing ID INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE

27 Mail Preparation 3.Intelligent Mail® Barcode with same ID on all pieces unique for a mailing with electronic postage statement  For Mailings <10,000 with postage affixed to each piece at the correct rate or if each piece is of identical weight and the pieces are separated by rate  This option is for a mailing presented on a single postage statement, accepted, and inducted on the same day and at the same time in it’s entirety.  Mailers apply an Intelligent Mail® barcode with same ID on mailpieces in a mailing  Mailers submit electronic postage statement MIDDelivery Point ZIPUnique Mailing ID INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE

28  A Mail Owner who mails 10 million or more pieces annually will be assigned a 6-Digit MID with a maximum of one MID per 10 million pieces in annual mail volume.  A Mail Owner who mails less than 10 million annually will be assigned a 9-Digit MID with a maximum of one 9-digit MID per 1 million pieces in annual mail volume.  A Mailing Agent at a location which mails 10 million or more mailpieces annually will be assigned one 6-Digit MID with a maximum of 1 MID per 10 million pieces per mailing location.  A Mailing Agent at a location which mails less than 10 million pieces annually will be assigned one 9-Digit MID with a maximum of 1 MID per 1 million pieces per mailing location. Mailer ID 6-Digit MID9-Digit Serial Number INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE 9-Digit MID 6-Digit Serial Number INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE Mail Owners and Mailing Agents will be assigned either a 6-digit or 9-digit Mailer ID based on volume.

29  Call PostalOne! Helpdesk at for Mailer ID assignments for Letter & Flat Mailers, and for Mailers looking to use Intelligent Mail barcodes on Trays, Sacks, Tubs and Containers  Call Confirmation Services Helpdesk at for Mailer ID assignments for Package Mailers  Call Confirm Helpdesk at for Mailer ID assignments for Mailers looking to use OneCode Confirm™  Call ACS Helpdesk at for Mailer ID assignments for Mailers looking to use OneCode ACS™ Mailer ID

30 Mailer who typically writes or types postage statements Mailer who does not use software to generate mailing information Mailer who typically mails less than $7000 annually on business mailings Postage Statement Wizard® The typical user of the Postage Statement Wizard falls into one or more of the following categories: The Postage Statement Wizard is an easy, online method for creating electronic postage statements.

31 All domestic postage statements can be typed into the PSW tool and electronically submitted. First-Class Mail ® & Priority Mail ® – PS Form 3600 Periodicals - PS Form 3541 Standard Mail ® - PS Form 3602 Package Services - PS Form 3605 Provide Mailing ID or Mailpiece ID Range (new) No supporting documentation can be typed into PSW. You still need to provide hardcopy supporting documentation when presenting your mail. Postage Statement Wizard®

32 Postage statements that can be submitted using Mail.dat ®  First-Class & Priority Mail - PS Form 3600  Periodicals - PS Form 3541  Standard Mail - PS Form 3602  Package Services - PS Form 3605 Supporting documentation that will be generated:  Qualification Report  Customer Mail Report  Summary ZIP Destination Report  Postage Summary Report Mail.dat® Mail.dat provides the capability for customers to send electronic postage information using an industry standard set of files that USPS uses to create postage statements and mailing documentation.

33 Typical user of Mail.dat ® falls into one or more of the following categories: Performs transportation planning & drop-shipping Mails large volumes and complex presorts Use software programs to prepare and produce mailings Anyone that uses presort software that produces a Mail.dat ® output can use this method. You will need to register with IDEAlliance and pay a user license fee to use this file specification. Mail.dat®

34 The PostalOne! system provides you with a choice of transfer methods for your mailing data files (Mail.dat files).  Manual mode. Online tool which enables you to upload your Mail.dat to the Postal Service. In Manual mode, you log on the USPS PostalOne! system, select the files you want to send, and then transfer them.  Batch mode. Batch mode allows you to schedule file transfers to take place automatically, for example at 2 a.m. Once Batch mode is set up, no one needs to be present when the file transfer takes place. This capability requires additional infrastructure and configuration work. If you use the Batch mode file transfer process, your company must have a SSL certificate installed and set up. The Batch Processor software required http/https protocol to communicate through port 444. If firewall settings prevent http/https communication through port 444, reconfigure your firewall to allow this traffic. Mail.dat®

35  Mail.dat® Specification: The PostalOne! system complies with the Mail.dat® File Specification. As a result, your mailing files must comply with this specification. We recommend that you obtain and read the specification located at:  User License Code (ULC) prerequisites: To be an authorized user of the Mail.dat® specification, our company must have a ULC, also called a Provider Code. This the ULC code can be obtained by accessing the Idealliance Web site.  Hardware prerequisites : The workstation requirements to send data files are a PC with a Pentium II 266 MHz processor, Microsoft® Windows® 95/98 operating system, and 64 MB RAM. Depending on the size of the Mail.dat® job, RAM requirements vary.  Software prerequisites : The base software requirements are Microsoft Internet Explorer® 5.0 or later with the Java™ Virtual Machine (JVM) plug-in or Netscape® Communicator 6.0 or later with JVM plug-in. The JVM should be version Mail.dat® There are various prerequisites that should be followed prior to using Mail.dat®.

36 Mail.dat® Used for PostalOne!

37 Mailers may submit mailpiece information in the.PDR file of Mail.dat®.  Submitted as part of regular Mail.dat® submission through PostalOne!  Allows for Unique Mailpiece ID or Unique Mailing ID Piece Level Mail.dat FieldLengthData Type Job ID*8Alphanumeric CQT Database ID*8Zero fill prior to numeric Package ID*6Alphanumeric, if numeric only, fill left with zeroes. Piece ID22Alphanumeric Piece Barcode*11Numeric Line-Of-Travel Sequence Number 4Numeric Line-Of-Travel Seq. Direction Code 1Alphanumeric Walk Sequence Number5Numeric "Wasted Piece" Indicator1Alphanumeric Delivery Signature Confirmation ID 22Alphanumeric Piece 4-State Barcode / Planet Code* 31Numeric PDR Record Status1O,D,I,U MLOCR Rate and Postage Marking* 7A/N Machine Identifier4A/N Mailer ID of Mail Owner9A/N Move Update Method1Numeric Mailer ID of Barcode Applicator9A/N Reserve9Alphanumeric Closing Character1#

38 Mailers may also submit mailpiece information via the ADIS Specification.  Submitted as part of regular Mail.dat® submission through PostalOne!  Allows for Unique Mailpiece ID or Unique Mailing ID  Associated to Mail.dat® Piece Level Mail.dat Production Group Header Element Description Length Data Type Unique Sequence Number22Alphanumeric Internal Customer Number20Alphanumeric Four-State Barcode Contents31Alphanumeric Unique Bag, Tray or Tub Number6Alphanumeric Address Detail Element Description LengthData Type Production Group Id3Alphanumeric Production Job Id8Alphanumeric Address Detail File Record Count9Numeric

39 Mailers will provide logical and physical container information using the.CSM file in Mail.dat®. Nesting Requirements CSM Container Parent (Logical) CSM Container Sibling (Physical)  Logical containers (i.e. pallets going to the same location) will have a parent record in the.CSM file  Physical containers will have a sibling record in the.CSM file that associates them to the appropriate parent  Sibling records will inherit the status of the parent record (i.e. only parent container can be set to “Ready to Pay”)

40 Mailers will provide logical and physical handling unit information using the.CSM file in Mail.dat®. Nesting Requirements

41 Mail.dat® Specification Deep Dive Specification can be found at Technical Guide can be found at: Mail.dat®

42 Postage statements that can be submitted using Web Services  First-Class & Priority Mail - PS Form 3600  Periodicals - PS Form 3541  Standard Mail - PS Form 3602  Package Services - PS Form 3605 Supporting documentation that will be generated:  Qualification Report Web Services Web Services provides the capability for customers to send electronic postage information using XML that USPS uses to create postage statements and mailing documentation.

43 Typical mailer who would use Web Services: Uses presort software programs Mails all volumes Mails frequently (daily/weekly) However, you must have presort software that has PostalOne! Web Services capabilities or has technology to produce XML outputs. To obtain more information about Web Services you should speak to your mailing software vendor or may contact PostalOne! Customer Support at to obtain information on how you develop your own Web Services capabilities. Web Services

44 Web Services Postage Web Services  Create Mailing Group  Submit Postage Statement  Submit Qualification Report  Create Content  Create Content Detail  Submit Plant Verified Drop Shipment Forecasting (new)  Forecast Create/Update/Cancel Piece Level Details (new)  Single Piece Level Detail  Batch Piece Level Detail The following Web Services message types are used to submit electronic mailing information. Scheduling  Delivery Appointment Inquiry  Delivery Appointment Create/ Update/Cancel  Delivery Appointment Content Create/Update/Cancel  Delivery Appointment Shell Create/Update/Cancel  Content Query Request  Origin Entry Create/Update/ Cancel (new)

45 New Web Services have been defined to support piece level documentation.  Submitted as part of regular Web Service submission through PostalOne!  Allows for Unique Mailpiece ID or Unique Mailing ID  Two acceptable methods  Individual Piece Level  Batch Level Piece Level Web Service

46 Piece Level Web Service AttributeLengthMax Length *Mailing Group ID8Alphanumeric *Customer Group ID8Numeric *Customer Container ID6Numeric *Piece Intelligent Mail Barcode31Alphanumeric MLOCR Rate and Postage Marking7Alphanumeric Mail Piece Weight5Numeric Mail Piece Rate3Numeric Mail Piece Presort Level5Alphanumeric Mail Owner ID9Numeric Machine ID2Numeric IMB Applier ID9Numeric Extra Service – COD1Alphanumeric Insured Value5Numeric Due Sender5Numeric Extra Service – Cert of Mailing1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Certified Mail1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Delivery Confirmation1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Insurance1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Registered Mail1Alphanumeric Declared Value5Numeric Extra Service – Restricted Delivery1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Return Receipt1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Signature Confirmation1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Special Handling1Alphanumeric Extra Service – Receipt for Merchandise1Alphanumeric Individual Piece Level Web Service

47 Batch Level Piece Web Service Piece Level Web Service AttributeLengthMax Length *Mailing Group ID8Alphanumeric *Customer Group ID8Numeric *Customer Container ID6Numeric *Piece Intelligent Mail Barcode – Upper Range 31Alphanumeric *Piece Intelligent Mail Barcode – Lower Range 31Alphanumeric MLOCR Rate and Postage Marking 7Alphanumeric Mail Piece Weight5Numeric Mail Piece Rate3Numeric Mail Piece Presort Level5Alphanumeric Mail Owner ID9Numeric Machine ID2Numeric IMB Applier ID9Numeric

48 Tray/Pallet Web Services Two new Web Services have been defined to support physical tray and container information. AttributeLengthData Type *Mailing Group ID8Alphanumeric *Customer Group ID8Numeric *Customer Container ID6Numeric Intelligent Mail® Tray Barcode 24Alphanumeric Tray Weight6Numeric Physical Tray File AttributeLengthData Type *Mailing Group ID8Alphanumeric *Customer Group ID8Numeric *Customer Container ID6Numeric Intelligent Container Barcode 21Alphanumeric Pallet Weight6Numeric Physical Pallet File

49 Web Services Specification can be found at: or Web Services

50 To sign-up for PostalOne!, contact your local Business Mail Entry Office or contact the PostalOne! Help Desk at Reference Documents can be obtained at the following sites:  For an overview and understanding of electronic postage documentation, refer to “The of Electronic Postage Documentation” available at:  Additional information on Mail.dat is available at:  Additional information on Web Services is available at:  Additional information on the Postage Statement Wizard will be available at:  Additional information on IDEAlliance is available at:  PostalOne!® Sign-Up