Message processing apparatus, wireless device and method of storing a message in a wireless device

1. Method of storing a message in a wireless device, comprising:

receiving an un-encrypted message at a wireless device, the wireless device being the recipient identified in the un-encrypted message;

determining whether the un-encrypted message includes at least one predetermined criteria, wherein the determining whether the un-encrypted message includes the at least one predetermined criteria includes comparing an assigned sender information associated with the message to a predetermined sender information and identifying a source of the un-encrypted message;

responsive to said comparing the assigned sender information associated with the message and identifying the source of the un-encrypted message to the predetermined sender information, encrypting the message in the wireless device; and

responsive to said comparing the assigned sender information associated with the message and identifying the source of the un-encrypted message to the predetermined sender information, storing the encrypted message in the wireless device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein receiving the message in a wireless device includes receiving the message through a communication connection associated with a public wireless communication network.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the received message is a text message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message or a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) message.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the assigned sender information is a phone number.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined sender information is a list of predetermined phone numbers.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the message includes the at least one predetermined criteria includes comparing a content of the message with a predetermined content.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the predetermined content includes at least one keyword.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein encrypting the message includes encrypting the message using a secret key.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising retrieving the secret key from a secure memory associated with the wireless device.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising retrieving the encrypted message from the wireless device, receiving a secret information assigned to the secret key, and decrypting the retrieved message.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the secret information is derived from biometric information.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising modifying an indication bit associated with the message.

13. Message processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store at least one predetermined criteria;

a filtering unit configured to determine whether an un-encrypted message received by a wireless device includes the at least one predetermined criteria, the wireless device being the recipient identified in the un-encrypted message, wherein the determining whether the un-encrypted message includes the at least one predetermined criteria includes comparing an assigned sender information associated with the un-encrypted message and identifying source of the un-encrypted message to a predetermined sender information;

a storage unit; and

an encryption unit;

wherein the storage unit is configured to, responsive to said comparing the assigned sender information associated with the un-encrypted message and identifying the source of the un-encrypted message to the predetermined sender information, pass the un-encrypted message to the encryption unit for encryption of the message and, responsive to said comparing the assigned sender information associated with the un-encrypted message and identifying the source of the un-encrypted message to the predetermined sender information, to store the encrypted message in the message processing apparatus.

14. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 13 , wherein the message was received through a communication connection associated with a public wireless communication network.

15. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 13 , the filtering unit further configured to compare a content of the message with a predetermined content, and the memory further to store the predetermined content.

16. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 13 , the encryption unit further configured to encrypt the message using a secret key.

17. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a key retrieving unit to retrieve the secret key from a secure memory associated with the wireless device.

18. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 16 , further comprising an input unit to receive a secret information assigned to the secret key.

19. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a decryption unit configured to decrypt the encrypted message only if a correct secret information assigned to the secret key has been received.

20. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 13 , further comprising an identity management unit configured to register a secret information representing an identity of an authorized user of the wireless device.

21. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 20 , the identity management unit further configured to assign the secret information to a secret key.

22. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 20 , the identity management unit further configured to change the registered secret information upon receipt of the correct current secret information.

23. Message processing apparatus as recited in claim 22 , further comprising an administration unit configured to change the registered secret information upon authorization by a trusted authority.

24. A wireless device comprising:

a message processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store at least one predetermined criteria;

a filtering unit configured to determine whether an un-encrypted message received by the wireless device includes the at least one predetermined criteria, the wireless device being the recipient identified in the un-encrypted message, wherein the determining whether the un-encrypted message includes the at least one predetermined criteria includes comparing an assigned sender information associated with the un-encrypted message and identifying a source of the un-encrypted message to a predetermined sender information;

a storage unit; and

an encryption unit;

wherein the storage unit is configured to, responsive to said comparing the assigned sender information associated with the un-encrypted message and identifying the source of the un-encrypted message to the predetermined sender information, pass the un-encrypted message to the encryption unit for encryption of the message and, responsive to said comparing the assigned sender information associated with the un-encrypted message and identifying the source of the un-encrypted message to the predetermined sender information, to store the encrypted message in the wireless device.