Patent ID: 7917443

Claim:
A system for authenticating one or more instantiations of a product comprising: a plurality of instantiations of a product, each of the plurality of instantiations being marked with a unique code string selected from a subset of unique code strings that is derived from a code string model having finite parameters of code string length and code string character types, the finite parameters defining the total quantity of unique code strings, a size B of a subset of unique code strings of a total quantity of unique code strings is selected based on the equation B=P*(N D ), where P is a probability of guessing a code string of a subset of unique code strings, N is a quantity of the finite parameters of a code string length, D is a quantity of code string character types, and N D is the total quantity of unique code strings; one or more secure servers each having a database, one database storing the subset of unique code strings therein; a communication device that receives an entry therein of one of the certain quantity of unique code strings marked on or affixed to one instantiation and transmits an inquiry signal containing the one unique code string to one of the one or more secure servers, wherein the one secure server receives the inquiry signal, searches the one database thereon to validate the authenticity of the one unique code string, and transmits a return signal to the communication device regarding validation of the authenticity of the one instantiation, and wherein a network links the one or more secure servers to the communication device.