1. A processing system comprising: a code physically associated with a source, said code comprising a plurality of patterns arranged in a mark, wherein only one of the plurality of patterns contains a guide pattern, wherein each pattern includes one or more pattern elements arranged in pattern element zones, each respective pattern of the plurality of patterns having a pattern signature based on a predetermined physical attribute corresponding to the one or more pattern elements within the respective pattern; a detection device configured to capture the mark; and a controller coupled to the detection device configured to generate physical attribute data associated with the captured mark, receive the physical attribute data, and determine the one or more pattern signatures in the mark by performing an arithmetic calculation on the physical attribute data.