Improved handling of couplable device recognition tasks in an electronic device such as a cell phone, smart phone, computer system, recording device or others is facilitated. Recognition of a couplable device such as a battery so as to enable exchange of power between the device and the battery or other couplable device functionality is determined by a match between one of a plurality of digital strings stored in the device and the decrypted response to an encrypted challenge derived from the one of stored strings. Control is exercised over the distribution of the encryption elements which enable the improved handling of the tasks.