System and method for sending encrypted messages to a distribution list

A computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions executable on a mobile communication device, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause acts to be performed on the mobile communication device, the acts comprising:

• identifying a distribution list address in a message;
• determining one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list address;
• for each member address, determining if a public key for a member identified by the member address is available on the mobile communication device;
• for each member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device, encrypting the message to the member by employing asymmetric encryption at the mobile communication device using the public key for the member;
• sending the encrypted message to the distribution list address without replacing the distribution list address with member addresses if each of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list identifies at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device;
• at the mobile communication device, determining that not all members identified by the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list are able to decrypt the message, if at least one of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list does not identify at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device;
• at the mobile communication device, expanding the distribution list address within a header of the message only after determining that not all members identified by the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list are able to decrypt the message, by replacing the distribution list address with one or more member addresses that identify one or more members whose public key is available on the mobile communication device;
• and
• sending the message to each of the one or more member addresses that identify one or more members whose public key is available on the mobile communication device if at least one of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list does not identify at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device.

A system for sending encrypted messages utilizing a distribution list comprising a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to perform acts comprising:

• identifying a distribution list address in a message;
• determining one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list address;
• for each member address, determining if a public key for a member identified by the member address is available on the mobile communication device;
• for each member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device, encrypting the message to the member by employing asymmetric encryption at the mobile communication device using the public key for the member;
• sending the encrypted message to the distribution list address without replacing the distribution list address with member addresses if each of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list identifies at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device;
• at the mobile communication device, determining that not all members identified by the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list are able to decrypt the message, if at least one of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list does not identify at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device;
• at the mobile communication device, expanding the distribution list address within a header of the message only after determining that not all members identified by the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list are able to decrypt the message, by replacing the distribution list address with one or more member addresses that identify one or more members whose public key is available on the mobile communication device;
• and
• sending the message to each of the one or more member addresses that identify one or more members whose public key is available on the mobile communication device if at least one of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list does not identify at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device.

A method of sending encrypted messages from a mobile communication device utilizing a distribution list, the method comprising:

• identifying a distribution list address in a message;
• determining one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list address;
• for each member address, determining if a public key for a member identified by the member address is available on the mobile communication device;
• for each member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device, encrypting the message to the member by employing asymmetric encryption at the mobile communication device using the public key for the member;
• at the mobile communication device, determining that not all members identified by the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list are able to decrypt the message, if at least one of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list does not identify at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device;
• if each of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list identifies at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device, sending the encrypted message to the distribution list address without replacing the distribution list address with member addresses;
• and
• if at least one of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list does not identify at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device,
• providing an option of sending the encrypted message to the distribution list address if at least one of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list does not identify at least one member whose public key is available on the mobile communication device,
• determining if the option is exercised,
• sending the encrypted message to the distribution list address if the option is exercised,
• at the mobile communication device, expanding the distribution list address within a header of the message only after determining that not all members identified by the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list are able to decrypt the message, by replacing the distribution list address with one or more member addresses that identify one or more members whose public key is available on the mobile communication device if the option is not exercised, and
• sending the message to each of the one or more member addresses that identify one or more members whose public key is available on the mobile communication device if the option is not exercised.