Electronic identification system and method with source authenticity

摘要

An RF electronic identification system ( 10 ) is disclosed and claimed. The system includes at least one transponder encoder ( 14.1 ) for writing data into a memory arrangement ( 52 ) of a selected transponder ( 1.1 ) of a plurality of transponders ( 1.1 to 1 .n) adapted to receive data from the at least one encoder. The system further includes at least one verifier ( 16 ) for interrogating a selected transponder ( 1.1 ) and to read data stored in the transponder. The encoder includes a controller ( 42 ) for providing an identification code characteristic of the encoder to form part of the data to be written into the transponder. The verifier includes computing means ( 56 ) for extracting the identification code from the data read thereby and for comparing the code to authorized codes. An indicator ( 18 ) provides an indication whether the identification code corresponds to any of the authorized codes or not. A method of verifying the authenticity of a transponder is also disclosed and claimed.