Patent ID: 7277601

Claim:
An authentication system for authenticating one or more items, said system comprising: means for applying substantially identical validation references to each of a plurality of items in a batch of items to be transported from a first location to at least one second location, means for allocating an identity code to identify said entire batch, first storage means for storing information associated with said identity code, said information relating to the location, origin or ownership of said batch, means at said second location for logging the arrival of said batch and for allocating a unique identifier to each of a plurality of consignments of items selected from said batch, second storage means for storing information associated with each of said unique identifiers, said information relating to the location of each of said consignments, identification means for reading each of said validation references and identifying said one or more items, third storage means for storing information relating to the location, origin and/or ownership of said one or more items from said identification means, and means for displaying said information relating to a respective item when the validation reference thereof has been read, wherein said unique identifier comprises a hash value having 20 or more characters.