A pharmaceutical anti-counterfeiting method using time controlled numeric tokens

An anti-counterfeit and authentication method using time controlled numeric tokens enabling a secure logistic chain is presented. Implementation of the method is illustrated with a pharmaceutical anti-counterfeit system. The method uses active RFID technology in combination with product seal. Authenticity is verified by comparing time controlled ID-codes, i.e. numeric tokens, stored in RFID tags and by identical numeric tokens stored in a secure database. The pharmaceutical products are protected from the supplier to the pharmacist, with the possibility to extend the authentication out to the end customer. The ability of the method is analyzed by discussion of several possible scenarios. It is shown that an accuracy of 99.9% telling the customer she has an authentic product is achieved by the use of 11-bit ID-code strings.