Patent ID: 6928551

Claim:
A method for selectively denying access to encoded data, said method comprising the steps of: loading an encryption key into a mission planning workstation at a first location; connecting a media device to said mission planning workstation; loading said encryption key from said mission planning workstation into said media device; encrypting sensitive data using said encryption key; loading the encrypted data onto the media device; loading unencrypted data onto a media device, wherein data necessary to enable a target portable computing device associated with a vehicle to return to a location selected as a mission end location remains unencrypted; disconnecting said media device from the mission planning workstation; connecting a media device to the target portable computing device; powering up the target portable computing device, thereby enabling it to execute a desired program or process; transferring said encryption key to volatile memory from said media device; transporting the target portable computing device and media devices to a location physically distant from the mission planning workstation; deleting said encryption key from said media device in response to said transport step; maintaining said encryption key only in volatile memory after said deleting step; and deleting the encryption key from volatile memory resident on the target portable computing device responsive to an operator; or automatically deleting the encryption key from volatile memory resident on the target portable computing device in the event of a loss of power to the target portable computing device.