Patent ID: 8621602

Claim:
An authentication system including a plurality of electronic tags and at least one reader station for verifying an authenticity of an electronic tag; each of the electronic tags being associated with a respective unique identity and including: a memory including a first memory location for storing a pre-computed challenge and a second memory location for storing a pre-computed response that is associated with the pre-computed challenge; the first memory location being non-readable from outside the electronic tag; and an access circuit configured to only provide the pre-computed response stored in the second memory location in response to receiving a challenge that matches the pre-computed challenge stored in the first memory location; each of the reader stations being operative to, for an electronic tag: obtain the respective unique identity; determine for the respective unique identity a corresponding challenge; send the corresponding challenge to the electronic tag; receive a response from the electronic tag; and verify the authenticity of the electronic tag by comparing the received response to a response that is associated with the corresponding challenge.