Patent US 6,246,778

A system and method of marking goods for authentication and tracking purposes is described. The system and method include a central control which enables the system. The method and system are accomplished in real time affording manufacturers the ability to eliminate problems associated with counterfeiting and diversion which begin at one or more manufacturing site which are remote from central control. A central control unit enables the system by providing an allotment of marks to one or more host units. Each host unit directs marking terminals to mark, at locations remote from the host units, particular goods or packages with specific information encoding symbols. Items are preferably marked directly, but alternately can be identified by means of affixed fixtures which are marked with encoding symbols either prior to, or subsequent to, affixing to the items. Following marking, items are scanned to insure proper marking. Once within the commerce stream, items can be checked by illuminating the symbols marked thereon and cross referencing this data with the host database by using a field reading unit, or alternately decoded into clear text at the field reader for analysis.