Patent ID: 7113601

Claim:
A method for securely transmitting data from a sending communication device to a receiving communication device comprising: in response to a user input selecting a secure mode via a user interface on a sending communication device, asserting a first notification via said user interface indicating to a user that a secured connection is not ready, and initiating a connection with a receiving communication device; determining whether said receiving communication device is capable of secured communication, and based on said determination selectively asserting a second notification via said user interface indicating to said user that a channel status from the set comprising: unsecured channel available; and secured channel pending; receiving at said sending communication device at least one public key from said receiving communication device, said public key corresponding to at least one private key of said receiving communication device that is stored in a secure portion of said receiving communication device; in response to receipt of said at least one public key, said sending communication device redirecting user communications through an encryption circuit and asserting a third notification via said user interface indicating to said user that a secure channel is active; using at said sending communication device said at least one public key to transform clear digital data into encrypted digital data; said sending communication device forwarding said encrypted digital data to said receiving communication device; and using said at least one private key at said receiving communication device to decrypt said encrypted digital data.