Patent ID: 6212638
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method for providing authentication identification symbols on a plurality of objects comprising the steps of:a) providing a first sequence of symbols;b) selecting a first and second subsets of symbols from said first sequence, said first and second subsets of symbols being selected to be unpredictable so that knowledge of one or more of said symbols in said subsets cannot be employed to predict other symbols in said subset;c) providing said first and second subsets of symbols to an individual for use as authentication symbols on a plurality of objects;d) marking each of said objects with an identification symbol pair comprising a first symbol from said first subset, and a second symbol from said second subset;e) entering a symbol pair into a checking means to check whether it is valid, said checking means carrying out the steps of:f) checking the first symbol in said pair to determine whether it is valid, and if not, generating an indication that the symbol pair is invalid;g) if said first symbol in said pair is valid, checking said second symbol in said pair to determine whether it is valid, and if so, generating an indication that said symbol pair is valid, and if not, generating an indication that said symbol pair is invalid.