System and method for initiating protected instant messaging conversations

Abstract

A system and method are provided for initiating protected instant messaging conversations. The method includes enabling a shared secret to be sent to a contact to initiate a key exchange to protect messages exchanged in an instant messaging conversation, the shared secret being sent using a communication medium other than instant messaging. After the shared secret has been sent, the method includes displaying a pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface prior to receiving a confirmation associated with receipt of the shared secret by the contact, the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface comprising an option to resend the shared secret.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
 enabling, by a processor of the electronic device, a shared secret to be sent to a contact to initiate a key exchange to protect messages exchanged in an instant messaging conversation, the shared secret being sent using a communication medium other than instant messaging; 
 after the shared secret has been sent, displaying, on a display of the electronic device, a pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface prior to receiving a confirmation associated with receipt of the shared secret by the contact, the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface comprising an option to resend the shared secret; and 
 displaying, on the display of the electronic device, at least one notification in the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface, the at least one notification comprising a status associated with the confirmation of the shared secret. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the display of the electronic device, at least one further notification after a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the key exchange is associated with a first security policy which is different from a second security policy. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first security policy utilized a higher level of security than the second security policy. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the display of the electronic device, an input field comprising the shared secret. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared secret is automatically populated in the input field. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared secret is editable. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the display of the electronic device, at least one notification in a user interface other than the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying, on the display of the electronic device, the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface after detecting, by the processor, selection of the at least one notification. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the other user interface provides a list of instant messaging conversations. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the other user interface provides a list of entries associated with a plurality of applications. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shared secret comprises at least one of a pass phrase, a challenge, and a series of values. 
     
     
       13. An electronic device comprising a processor, memory, and a display, the memory comprising computer executable instructions for:
 enabling a shared secret to be sent to a contact to initiate a key exchange to protect messages exchanged in an instant messaging conversation, the shared secret being sent using a communication medium other than instant messaging; 
 after the shared secret has been sent, displaying a pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface prior to receiving a confirmation associated with receipt of the shared secret by the contact, the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface comprising an option to resend the shared secret; and 
 displaying at least one notification in the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface, the at least one notification comprising a status associated with the confirmation of the shared secret. 
 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for operating an electronic device, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:
 enabling a shared secret to be sent to a contact to initiate a key exchange to protect messages exchanged in an instant messaging conversation, the shared secret being sent using a communication medium other than instant messaging; 
 after the shared secret has been sent, displaying a pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface prior to receiving a confirmation associated with receipt of the shared secret by the contact, the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface comprising an option to resend the shared secret; and 
 displaying at least one notification in the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface, the at least one notification comprising a status associated with the confirmation of the shared secret. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , further comprising instructions for displaying at least one further notification after a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , further comprising instructions for displaying at least one notification in a user interface other than the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions for displaying the pending protected instant messaging conversation user interface after detecting selection of the at least one notification. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the other user interface provides a list of instant messaging conversations.