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A flexible and extensible context server for collecting, maintaining, and disseminating context information is disclosed. The context server receives requests from requesters for context information via a secure context server interface (SCS API). Communication between the requesters and the context server is conducted by means of predetermined forms. The requests received at the SCS API are passed to a mediator, which collects data from various context drivers. Each context driver is coupled to the mediator, and collects predetermined type of context information from at least one context information source. The mediator determines the appropriate context driver which can handle the request, based on its type. Operation of the context server is also controlled by a set of context utilities, including a context cache for storing recently obtained context information, a privacy engine for storing privacy preferences and …