Patent ID: 7617394

Claim:
A system for authenticating compatibility, comprising: a battery pack; a notebook personal computer including: a first memory storing first authentication procedures for authenticating including a set of pre-stored functions; a microcomputer configured to execute said procedures such that said microcomputer functions as the following: a random number generator configured to generate a random number R; a function signal generator configured to generate a function selection signal K for identifying one of said set pre-stored functions; a signal combiner configured to combine the random number with the function selection signal K into a combined signal; a function calculator configured to select said one of said set of pre-stored functions using said function selection signal K and apply said selected one of said pre-stored functions to operate on said random number to produce a first data result; a first interface unit for communicating said combined signal, including said function selection signal K and said random number R, to said battery pack and receiving a second data result from said battery pack; a comparison unit configured to compare said first data result with said second data result and determine if a match exists; a power source management circuit for effecting a power connection between said battery pack and said notebook personal computer; and a connection determination unit configured to control said power source management circuit to accept the power connection between said battery pack and said notebook personal computer if said match exists and reject the power connection if the match does not exist by disconnecting a charging connection to said battery pack; and said battery pack including: a battery; an integrated circuit having operation circuits for effecting operations; a second memory storing procedures for calculating battery charge levels, and second authentication procedures for authenticating including said set of pre-stored functions; and said operation circuits being configured to execute said second authentication procedures such that said operation circuits function as the following: a second interfacing unit for interfacing with said first interfacing unit to receive said combined signal and transmit said second data result; a charge capacity determination unit; a signal separator configured to separate the random number from the function selection signal K; and a second function calculator configured to select said one of said set of pre-stored functions using said function selection signal K to effect the selection and apply said selected one of said pre-stored functions to operate on said random number to produce said second data result and engage said second interfacing unit to transmit said second data result to said first interfacing unit of said notebook personal computer.