Patent ID: 7607027

Claim:
A method of securing data stored on a first electronic device, the electronic device adapted to communicate with a second electronic device, the first electronic device including an application containing one or more preprogrammed security features 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 the second electronic device, 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 second electronic device, re-setting the activation timer within the first electronic device based upon a signal from the second electronic device; and if communication is not established between the first electronic device and the second electronic device prior to the grace period elapsing: determining that the grace period has elapsed based upon the grace timer; and initiating destruction of an encryption key stored on the first electronic device.