Patent attributes
An authentication apparatus includes: a combination information generator that generates first combination information indicating a combination of physical characteristics of at least two of first elements included in a first semiconductor device; a group identification information generator that generates first group identification information based on the combination of the physical characteristics of the at least two of the first elements, the first group identification information being for identifying the first semiconductor device as belonging to a same group as another semiconductor device manufactured in a same process; a transmitter that transmits the first combination information to an authentication partner; a receiver that receives second group identification information that the authentication partner generates in accordance with the first combination information; and an information verifier that compares the first group identification information with the second group identification information.