Patent ID: 8296851

Claim:
A method for using a host electronic computing device to monitor data stored in an electronic computing device remote from the host electronic computing device, each of the electronic computing devices adapted for selective electronic communication with the other, comprising the steps of: providing a self-cannibalizing software program for the remote device, the self-cannibalizing software program comprising a unique identifier, a current expiration time value, a comparator for comparing the current expiration time value against a time-based parameter of the remote device, and a security trigger configured to be activated by the self-cannibalizing software at a preset time; providing a second software program for the host device, the second software program comprising an identifier and an expiration time reset schedule, including at least a day of the week list, which is stored at the host device and configured to control when the expiration time of the self-cannibalizing software must be reset in order to prevent an automatic launch of the security trigger at the remote device; the second software program allowing the host device to search through data stored on the remote electronic computing device such that the system is adapted to be used to, at least, secure copies of documents to be produced as part of a system document production request; identifying the remote device via the unique identifier; and monitoring the data stored in the remote device.