Secure product identification and verification

1. A method for initializing a process for securely controlling a production facility, comprising:

electronically receiving configuration data from an electronic data store;

electronically storing the configuration data for a production run, wherein the configuration data for the production run specifies parameters used in the production of products, the specified parameters including at least one parameter selected from one or more of: a range of product identifiers having a starting value and an ending value, a machine for production, a production line, a factory, a product to be produced, and a volume of product to be produced;

transmitting the configuration data to an authorization module;

at the authorization module:

determining whether the production run according to the specified parameters in the configuration data is authorized;

generating validated configuration data comprising a key, a representation of a plurality of authorized product identifiers, and a security token;

transmitting the validated configuration data to a signature module; and

at the signature module, signing the validated configuration data;

based on the signed validated configuration data, generating and physically applying a secure product identifier or a code generated with the secure product identifier, on at least one of the products in the production, the products in the production having been produced according to the signed validated configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if the configuration data for the production run is authorized;

if the production run is authorized:

generating the security token and associating the token with the configuration data; and

digitally signing the configuration data by generating a digital signature and associating the digital signature with the configuration data.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the digitally signed configuration data and the digital signature at a production machine;

at the production machine, verifying the digital signature associated with the digitally signed configuration data; and

calculating a set of the secure product identifiers based on the digitally signed configuration data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

producing products in a production run according to the digitally signed configuration data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the production run is authorized further comprises retrieving licensing data from a licensing server.

6. A method for generating a code for securely identifying products produced at a production facility, comprising:

electronically receiving configuration data from an electronic data store;

electronically storing the configuration data for a production run, wherein the configuration data for the production run specifies parameters used in the production of products, the specified parameters including at least one parameter selected from one or more of: a range of product identifiers having a starting value and an ending value, a machine for production, a production line, a factory, a product to be produced, and a volume of product to be produced;

transmitting the configuration data to an authorization module;

at the authorization module:

determining whether the production run according to the specified parameters in the configuration data is authorized;

generating validated configuration data comprising a key, a representation of a plurality of authorized product identifiers, and a security token;

transmitting the validated configuration data to a signature module;

at the signature module, signing the validated configuration data;

at an identification module, receiving a request for a product identifier and generating a product identifier in response to the request;

transmitting the product identifier from the identification module to a signature module;

digitally signing the product identifier at the signature module; and

transmitting the digitally signed product identifier to a printer module for physically applying on at least one of the products in the production, the products in the production having been produced according to the signed validated configuration data.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

electronically receiving configuration data from the electronic data store;

electronically storing the configuration data for the production run, wherein the configuration data for the production run specifies parameters used in the production of products;

transmitting the configuration data to the authorization module;

at an authorization module:

determining whether the production run is authorized;

generating validated configuration data comprising the key, a representation of a plurality of authorized product identifiers, and the security token;

transmitting the validated configuration data to a signature module;

at the signature module, signing the validated configuration data.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the request is for a range of identifiers.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining if the configuration data for the production run is authorized;

if the production run is authorized:

generating a security token and associating the token with the configuration data; and

digitally signing the configuration data by generating a digital signature and associating the digital signature with the configuration data.

10. A method for authenticating a production of products, comprising:

electronically storing configuration data for a production run, wherein the configuration data for the production run specifies parameters used in the production of products, the specified parameters including at least one parameter selected from one or more of: a range of product identifiers having a starting value and an ending value, a machine for production, a production line, a factory, a product to be produced, and a volume of product to be produced;

determining if the configuration data for the production run according to the specified parameters in the configuration data is authorized;

if the production run is authorized:

generating a security token and associating the token with the configuration data; and

digitally signing the configuration data by generating a digital signature and associating the digital signature with the configuration data;

receiving the digitally signed configuration data and the digital signature at a production machine;

at the production machine, verifying the digital signature associated with the digitally signed configuration data;

calculating a set of secure product identifiers based on the digitally signed configuration data;

producing products in a production run according to the digitally signed configuration data; and

printing the set of secure product identifiers on the products according to the digitally signed configuration data, the products in the production having been produced according to the digitally signed configuration data.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the configuration data represents a range of products to be produced.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the configuration data represents a range of products, machines, factories, ranges, or product volumes that are authorized.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving a verification request, the request comprising a product identifier.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining if the configuration data for the production run is authorized by reference to a license manager.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

generating the security token for a range of products; and

associating the security token with the range of products.