Location Information Security Module for Emergency Call Privacy

The patent introduces a Location Information Security Module (LISM) as an intermediary component that sits between the location provider and third-party applications. This module acts as a security gatekeeper, receiving location information requests from applications and validating them against security policies before granting access. The LISM mediates between the need for emergency communication access and user privacy protection by implementing certificate-based authentication and policy enforcement, allowing only authorized emergency calls to bypass privacy settings while blocking unauthorized access attempts.

The patent implements local quality by applying different security policies to different applications and contexts. The Location Information Security Module evaluates each location request individually, examining the application's identity, the user's privacy settings, and whether the request constitutes a genuine emergency. Trustworthy emergency applications receive privileged access when needed, while untrusted applications are blocked regardless of emergency claims. This selective, context-dependent approach allows the system to override privacy settings only for verified emergency situations while maintaining security against malicious applications.

The patent implements self-service by enabling the Location Information Security Module to autonomously evaluate and decide on location requests without requiring manual user intervention for each request. The LISM maintains security policies, validates application certificates, and makes authorization decisions automatically based on pre-configured rules. This automation reduces the complexity burden on users while maintaining strong security controls, as the system serves itself by managing security operations without requiring user configuration or approval for each emergency call.