Barcode Technology - PLANET Barcode               Hide the description

PLANET (Postal Alpha Numeric Encoding Technique) barcode was used by the United States Postal Service to

identify and track pieces of mail during delivery - the Post Office's "CONFIRM" services. It was fully superseded by Intelligent Mail Barcode by January 28, 2013.

Valid characters: 0123456789

PLANET is one of the many barcode formats currently in use.

A Barcode is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form.

The barcode formats has two categories:

One-dimensional (1D) --- Barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines.

Two-dimensional (2D) --- Using rectangles, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns to represented data.

Check digit:

All PLANET Codes include a check-sum digit or correction character. This digit must always be the single-digit number (i.e., 0-9) which, when added to the sum of the other digits in the barcode, results in a whole number that is a multiple of 10.

Human Readable:

Most barcodes display their corresponding values below them, which makes it possible to human read and manually  enter the barcode values into the equivalent system when the barcode label is worn out and cannot be read by the barcode scanner.

The Advantages of using barcodes:

Using barcode system will improve the inventory control is improved, it can track inventory accurately, inventory levels can be reduced it will lower the rate of eavesdropping. The location of the inventory and device can also be tracked, thereby reducing the time it takes to find the inventory and device.

The barcode system provide better data. Because a barcode can store various information such as inventory and pricing, especially when using QR Code, it can store thousands of characters, so the data stored in the barcode can be quickly obtained by the barcode reader, this fast turnaround ensures that time is not wasted on data entry or retrieval. In addition, the barcode can be customized to include other relevant information as needed. They provide fast and reliable data for various applications.

When barcodes are used in management information systems, they can promote better decision-making. Because data is obtained quickly and accurately, you can quickly obtain a full range of information for the entire company or organization, so it is possible to make more informed decisions. Better decisions can ultimately save time and money.

FAQ About PLANET Barcode

What is the historical origin of the PLANET barcode?

The PLANET barcode is a barcode used by the Postal Service for use in the United States Postal Service's (USPS) mail tracking system.

The PLANET barcode was developed by the USPS in 1997. It is based on the POSTNET barcode and adds some extra bars and spaces to provide more information and functionality.

PLANET barcode is the abbreviation of (Postal Automated Redirection System and Tracking Network), which can be used to track the delivery status, forwarding address, return address, etc. of mail.

The PLANET barcode is usually printed in the lower right corner of the mail, alongside the POSTNET barcode.

PLANET barcodes can be recognized and interpreted by a dedicated scanner or smartphone app.

The PLANET barcode has been phased out by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and replaced by a new barcode called the (Intelligent Mail) barcode.

What are the structural characteristics of PLANET barcodes?

PLANET barcodes consist of 12 or 14 digits, of which the first and last digits are check digits used to detect errors. The middle 10 or 12 digits are divided into two parts. The first 5 or 6 digits indicate the destination of the email, and the last 5 or 6 digits indicate the serial number of the email.

PLANET barcode uses two different widths of bars and spaces to represent numbers, where narrow bars and narrow spaces represent 0, and wide bars and wide spaces represent 1. Each number consists of 5 bars and spaces.

For example, 0 means "narrow narrow narrow narrow narrow", 1 means "wide narrow narrow narrow narrow narrow", and so on.

It is a postal numeric code used to identify the destination and type of mail.

It consists of 12 digits, each digit corresponds to a long or short bar, the long bar represents 1, and the short bar represents 0.

Its first two digits indicate the mail type, such as 01 for priority mail, 02 for standard mail, etc.

Its last 10 digits indicate the mail destination, which is the zip code and post office number.

It has a start character and a terminator at both ends, which are a long bar and a short bar respectively.

What is the difference between PLANET barcode and POSTNET?

The POSTNET barcode is a barcode used to guide mail delivery. It only contains the destination information of the mail, that is, the postal code and street number.

PLANET barcode is a barcode used to track the status of mail. It contains the serial number and other information of the mail and can be used to confirm the delivery, forwarding, return, etc. of the mail.

POSTNET barcodes and PLANET barcodes are often printed side by side on mail items, occupying different heights for easier differentiation and identification.

Both POSTNET barcodes and PLANET barcodes use two different widths of bars and spaces to represent numbers, but the encoding rules are different.

POSTNET barcodes use a coding method called "2 of 5", where each number consists of two wide bars and three narrow spaces. PLANET barcodes use a coding method called "4 of 5", where each number consists of four wide bars or spaces and one narrow bar or space.

Both the POSTNET barcode and the PLANET barcode have been phased out by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and replaced by a new barcode called the "Intelligent Mail" barcode. This new barcode can encode POSTNET and PLANET data into a single symbol and provide more functionality and capacity.

What is the difference between PLANET barcodes and Intelligent Mail barcodes?

The PLANET barcode is a barcode that has been eliminated. It can only be used to track the status of mail, but cannot be used to guide the delivery of mail.

Smart Mail Barcodes are a new type of barcode that can be used to both track and guide mail delivery, and can provide more functionality and capacity.

PLANET barcodes and Smart Mail barcodes are encoded differently. PLANET barcodes use a coding method called "4 of 5", where each number consists of four wide bars or spaces and one narrow bar or space. Intelligent mail barcodes use a coding method called "4-state", where each number is composed of four bars of different heights.

PLANET barcodes and Smart Mail barcodes have different lengths. PLANET barcodes consist of 12 or 14 digits, of which the first and last digits are check digits. Smart mail barcodes consist of a 31- or 65-digit number that includes five fields: barcode identifier, service type identifier, mailer ID, serial number, and routing code.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of PLANET barcodes?

Advantage:

It can improve the efficiency of mail sorting and delivery.

Human errors and delays can be reduced.

Can be combined with other barcodes or QR codes to provide more information.

Shortcoming:

Requires specialized scanning equipment and software.

Easily affected by contamination, damage or occlusion, resulting in recognition failure.

Encoding capacity is limited and cannot store too much data.

What are the advantages of Intelligent Mail barcodes over PLANET barcodes? Why can it replace the PLANET barcode?

Intelligent Mail barcodes can encode additional data, including the mail's destination, type, serial number, service type and mail processing information.

Intelligent Mail barcodes can participate in a variety of postal services, such as confirmation, address correction, recycling, etc., while Postnet and PLANET barcodes can only be used for sorting and tracking.

The Intelligent Mail barcode uses a more efficient encoding method that combines long and short bars into four different states, while the Postnet and PLANET barcodes only use two states.

 http://barcode.design/ - For Online

 http://Free-Barcode.com/ - For PC

EasierSoft Ltd.    Technology Support:  cs@easiersoft.com