Patent ID: 7506160

Claim:
A method for adding data encryption services to a document processing device comprising the steps of: receiving encryption enablement software into an associated document processing device, which encryption enablement software includes at least two alternative encryption mechanisms; receiving selection data representative of a selected one of the alternative encryption mechanisms; activating, on the document processing device, a selected one of the alternative encryption mechanisms in accordance with the selection data; generating a prompt to an associated user to selectively engage the selected encryption mechanism; receiving instructions from the associated user to commence encryption of an associated electronic document file; encrypting the electronic document file using a encryption algorithm set by the encryption enablement software; dividing the electronic document file into multi-byte blocks; generating a multi-bit encryption key; segmenting the multi-bit encryption key into a first encryption key portion and a second encryption key portion; encrypting the electronic document file by using first encryption key portion to form first level encryption data from the multi-byte blocks in accordance with the selected encryption mechanism; decrypting the first level encryption data with the second encryption key portion to form second level encryption data in accordance with the selected encryption mechanism; and encrypting the second level encryption data with the first encryption key portion to form final level encryption data in accordance with the selected encryption mechanism.