Mechanism for verifying the authenticity of a product

A method, comprising:

• storing, at a plurality of memory segment locations in a product that must be authenticated for use by a host device, said host device being implementable in a plurality of device versions, a corresponding plurality of enciphered executable functions;
• receiving from the host device a first signal which includes an identifier that identifies a selected segment location of the plurality of memory segment locations, wherein the identifier of the selected segment location is assigned to a particular device version of the plurality of device versions of the host device;
• accessing the selected segment location to retrieve the particular enciphered executable function of the corresponding plurality of enciphered executable functions that is stored at the selected segment location;
• deciphering the particular enciphered executable function;
• storing the particular deciphered executable function;
• receiving from the host device a second signal requesting product execution of the particular deciphered executable function;
• executing by the product of the particular deciphered executable function to generate a result;
• and
• returning the result to the host device as proof that the product is authenticated for use with the particular device version of the host device.