System and method for providing geographically-related content over a network

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein said network is the Internet.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein a geocoder is used in determining geographic coordinates from said specific geographic location information.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein said specific geographic location information includes an address.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein said specific geographic location information corresponds to said user's home address.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 , wherein said specific geographic location information includes Global Positioning System (GPS) data.

Claim 8

A communications system comprising: a content provider node, said content provider node configured to store plural content topics and plural geographic levels, each one of said plural content topics associated with one of said plural geographic levels; a communications device coupled to said content provider node, wherein said communications device has an associated geographic location; wherein said communications device is configured to provide a request for content to said content provider node, said request for content comprising a desired content topic and information relating to said associated geographic location of said communication device; and wherein said content provider node is configured to be responsive to requests for content from said communications device by providing content to said communication device, wherein said content seamlessly corresponds to a geographic area encompassing said associated geographic location of said communication device; said geographic area corresponding to said one of said plural geographic levels associated with said desired content topic.

Claim 9

A communications system comprising: a content provider node, said content provider node configured to store plural content topics and plural geographic levels, each one of said plural content topics associated with one of said plural geographic levels; a communications device coupled to said content provider node, wherein said communications device has an associated geographic location; wherein said communications device is configured to provide a request for content to said content provider node, said request for content comprising a desired content topic and information relating to said associated geographic location of said communication device; and wherein said content provider node is configured to be responsive to requests for content from said communications device by providing content to said communication device, wherein said content seamlessly corresponds to a geographic area encompassing said associated geographic location of said communication device; said geographic area corresponding to said one of said plural geographic levels associated with said desired content topic.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7 , wherein said user node is coupled to said network through a wireless medium.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 , wherein said information relating to said associated geographic location comprises GPS coordinate data of said communication device.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 , wherein said desired geographic level is a census tract.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 , wherein said desired geographic level is a neighborhood.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 , wherein said desired geographic level is a subdivision.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 , wherein said desired geographic level is a school district.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 , wherein said desired geographic level is a trade area.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1 , wherein said content includes a chat room service, said chat room service comprising the step of allowing said user to access one or more electronic chat rooms corresponding to said geographic area.

Claim 18

The method of claim 15 , wherein said chat room service further comprises instant messaging functionality.

Claim 19

The method of claim 1 , wherein said content includes a bulletin board service, said bulletin board service comprising the step of allowing the user to access one or more electronic bulletin boards corresponding to said geographic area.

Claim 20

The method of claim 1 , wherein said content includes an email distribution service, said email distribution service comprising the step of providing access to said user one or more email distribution lists corresponding to said geographic area.

Claim 21

The method of claim 1 , wherein said content includes one or more promotional notices corresponding to said geographic area.

Claim 22

The method of claim 1 , wherein said content includes one or more links to web sites corresponding to said geographic area.

Claim 23

The method of claim 1 , wherein said content includes a directory service, said directory service comprising telephone directory information corresponding to said geographic area.

Claim 24

A communications system, comprising: a content provider node, said content provider node configured to store plural content topics and plural geographic levels, each one of said plural content topics associated with one of said plural geographic levels; and a web site hosted by said content provider node, wherein said web site is configured to be accessible by one or more remote users, wherein each of said one or more remote users has an associated geographic location, and wherein said content provider node is configured to store said associated geographic location; and wherein said content provider node is configured to be responsive to requests for content from one or more remote users by providing content on said web site for said one or more remote users, said requests for content including a desired content topic; and wherein said content seamlessly corresponds said desired content topic to a geographic area encompassing said associated geographic location; said geographic area corresponding to said one of said plural geographic levels associated with said desired content topic.

Claim 25

A communications system, comprising: a content provider node, said content provider node configured to store plural content topics and plural geographic levels, each one of said plural content topics associated with one of said plural geographic levels; and a web site hosted by said content provider node, wherein said web site is configured to be accessible by one or more remote users, wherein each of said one or more remote users has an associated geographic location, and wherein said content provider node is configured to store said associated geographic location; and wherein said content provider node is configured to be responsive to requests for content from one or more remote users by providing content on said web site for said one or more remote users, said requests for content including a desired content topic; and wherein said content seamlessly corresponds said desired content topic to a geographic area encompassing said associated geographic location; said geographic area corresponding to said one of said plural geographic levels associated with said desired content topic.

Claim 26

The system of claim 22 , wherein said associated geographic location comprises geocoded coordinates.

Claim 27

A communications system comprising: a user node configured to operatively couple to a network, said user node configured to provide requests for information on said network, and said user node having an associated geographic location; and a content provider node configured to operatively couple to said network, said content provider node having a respective web site, and said content provider node configured to store plural content topics and plural geographic levels, each one of said plural content topics associated with one of said plural geographic levels; wherein said web site is configured to be accessible by said user node, and is configured to store said associated geographic location; wherein said content provider node is configured to be responsive to requests for information from said user node by providing content on said web site for said user node, said requests for information comprising a desired content topic; and wherein said content seamlessly corresponds to said desired content topic and to a geographic area encompassing said associated geographic location of said user node; said geographic area corresponding to said one of said plural geographic levels associated with said desired content topic.

Claim 28

A communications system comprising: a user node configured to operatively couple to a network, said user node configured to provide requests for information on said network, and said user node having an associated geographic location; and a content provider node configured to operatively couple to said network, said content provider node having a respective web site, and said content provider node configured to store plural content topics and plural geographic levels, each one of said plural content topics associated with one of said plural geographic levels; wherein said web site is configured to be accessible by said user node, and is configured to store said associated geographic location; wherein said content provider node is configured to be responsive to requests for information from said user node by providing content on said web site for said user node, said requests for information comprising a desired content topic; and wherein said content seamlessly corresponds to said desired content topic and to a geographic area encompassing said associated geographic location of said user node; said geographic area corresponding to said one of said plural geographic levels associated with said desired content topic.

Claim 29

The system of claim 22 , wherein said geographic area is dynamically determined by said content provider node based upon said geographic level associated with said desired content topic and said associated geographic location.

Claim 30

The system of claim 25 , wherein said desired geographic level is a census tract.

Claim 31

The system of claim 25 , wherein said desired geographic level is a neighborhood.

Claim 32

The system of claim 25 , wherein said desired geographic level is a subdivision.

Claim 33

The system of claim 25 , wherein said desired geographic level is a school district.

Claim 34

The system of claim 25 , wherein said desired geographic level is a trade area.

Claim 35

The system of claim 22 , wherein said content includes a chat service, wherein said chat service comprises one or more electronic chat rooms corresponding to said geographic area and configured to be accessible by said one or more remote users.

Claim 36

The system of claim 31 , wherein said chat room service further comprises instant messaging functionality.

Claim 37

The system of claim 22 , wherein said content includes a bulletin board service, wherein said bulletin board service comprises one or more electronic bulletin boards corresponding to said geographic area and configured to be accessible by said one or more remote users.

Claim 38

The system of claim 22 , wherein said content includes an email distribution service, said email distribution service comprising one or more email distribution lists corresponding to said geographic area and configured to be accessible by said one or more remote users.

Claim 39

The system of claim 22 , wherein said content includes one or more promotional notices corresponding to said geographic area, wherein said promotional notices are configured to be accessible by said one or more users.

Claim 40

The system of claim 22 , wherein said content includes one or more links to web sites corresponding to said geographic area, wherein said one or more links are configured to be accessible by said one or more remote users.

Claim 41

The system of claim 22 , wherein said content includes a directory service, said directory service including telephone directory information corresponding to said geographic area, and configured to be accessible by said one or more remote users.

Claim 42

The system of claim 24 , wherein said network is the Internet.