Patent ID: 7540016
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of securing data stored on a first electronic device, the first electronic device being adapted to communicate with one of a plurality of other electronic devices, the plurality of other electronic devices including an internal electronic device within a firewall and an external electronic device outside the firewall, the first electronic device including an application containing at least one preprogrammed security feature and having set therein an activation interval and a grace period, wherein the activation interval is a non-zero period and the grace period is a non-zero period, the method comprising the steps of: automatically setting, upon communication between the first electronic device and one of the plurality of other electronic devices, an activation timer within the first electronic device; at a point in time subsequent to the automatically setting, determining that the activation interval has elapsed based upon the activation timer; subsequent to the elapsing of the activation interval, automatically setting a grace timer within the first electronic device; if, prior to the grace period elapsing, communication is established between the first electronic device and the plurality of other electronic devices, re-setting the activation timer within the first electronic device based upon a signal from one of the plurality of other electronic devices; and if communication is not established between the first electronic device and one of the plurality of other electronic devices prior to the grace period elapsing: determining that the grace period has elapsed based upon the grace timer; and initiating the at least one preprogrammed security feature.