Maxi code barcode is a type of two dimensional barcode used to store information about the postal and shipment packages in United States Parcel Services. It is a machine readable barcode standard developed by United Parcel Services and has public domain license. Although it is called barcode, it consists of large number of dots arranged in hexagonal grid pattern. Maxi code is also commonly known as Dense Code, UPS code, Target and Bird’s Eye. ISO standard which supports maxi code is ISO/IEC 16023.
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Structure
Maxi code is a square of 1 inch which as a bull’s eye in the middle of the code. Bull’s eye is surrounded by a pattern of dots arranged in a hexagonal pattern. Maxi code is capable of storing both ASCII and extended ASCII characters. Maxi codes encode two messages; primary message and secondary message. Primary message contains information about the postal code, country code and the receiver’s class information. Secondary message contains information regarding the actual address of the receiver; it can include other data as well.
History and Purpose
Maxi barcode was developed to store parcel and shipping information in United States Parcel services and was designed by the same organization in the year 1992.
Advantages
Maxi barcode is a two dimensional barcode and has a very high density, it can encode large amount of data in small area.
Maxi barcode can encode all the ASCII as well as extended ASCII characters, which is not possible in most of the linear barcodes.
Fault tolerance and damage recovery of Maxi barcode is very high, and distorted and damaged barcodes can be decoded with little effort.
Maxi barcode is extremely secure.
Limitations
Complex encoding and decoding algorithm which requires extensive user training to understand.
Cannot be decoded by simple linear scanning devices.
Usage
As aforementioned, United States Parcel Services are the biggest user of this barcode standard. This barcode is used to encode routing information regarding the shipments and parcels delivered across the country.