Method of authenticating an object or entity using a random binary ID code subject to bit drift

A method for determining whether an object is a member of a population, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. configuring each member of the population to generate instances of a binary identification code (ID) having N bit positions, where N>2,
• wherein bits residing in some of the bit positions of each member's ID do not vary in state from instance-to-instance of that member's ID, and
• wherein a bit residing in at least one bit position of some members' IDs varies in state from instance-to-instance of those members' IDs;
• b. for each member of the population, analyzing a plurality of instances of an ID generated by that member of the population to produce a drift profile for that member's ID indicating whether, for each bit position of that member's ID, a bit residing at that bit position varied in state among the analyzed plurality of instances of that member's ID.

A method for determining whether an object is a member of a population,

• wherein each member of the population generates instances of a binary identification code (ID) having N bit positions,
• wherein the ID generated by each member of the population differs from IDs generated by other members of the population,
• wherein bits residing in some of the bit positions of each members' ID do not vary in state from instance-to-instance of that ID,
• wherein a bit residing in at least one bit position of some members' IDs varies in state from instance-to-instance of those members' IDs, and
• wherein the object generates instances of a binary identification code having N bit positions, the method comprising the steps of:
• a. for each member of the population, analyzing a plurality of instances of the ID generated by that member of the population to produce a drift profile for that member's ID indicating whether, for each bit position of that member's ID, a bit residing at that bit position varied in state among the analyzed plurality of instances of that member's ID, and
• b. analyzing a plurality of instances of the ID generated by the object to produce a drift profile for the object's ID indicating whether, for each bit position of the object's ID, a bit residing at that bit position varied in state among the analyzed plurality of instances of the object's ID, and
• c. comparing the drift profile for the object's ID to a drift profile for the ID of a particular member of the population to determine whether the object is that particular member of the population.