System and method for aggregating and distributing geotagged content

Abstract

A system and method for aggregating and distributing geotagged content comprises a server, a database, and a user interface. A user accesses the user interface to identify a spatial area and request content from a plurality of content providers that is geotagged with a location within the identified spatial area. The user interface may be on a webpage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for aggregating and distributing geotagged content, comprising:
 a server having a network connection;   a storage accessible by the server;   a user interface comprising a representation of a geographic location, the user interface in electronic communication with a user computer and providing for identification of a spatial area relative to the representation of a geographic location;   a formatter for formatting a request for geotagged content; and   a filter for filtering geotagged content;   wherein information related to format preferences for at least one of a plurality of content providers is stored on said storage;   wherein the server requests geotagged content relevant to the identified spatial area from the plurality of content providers, at least one of the requests having been formatted by the formatter; and   wherein the geotagged content received from the plurality of content providers in response to the requests is aggregated, filtered by the filter, and distributed over a network to the user computer.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the representation of a geographic location is a map. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the user interface comprises shapes for identifying the spatial area on the map. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the aggregation of content comprises at least one of normalization or ranking of the content. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein content is ranked using at least one of a content popularity or a content creator popularity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the requested geotagged content comprises photos and texts uploaded to the plurality of content providers by users of social networking sites. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the user interface comprises a webpage. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the user interface comprises an application for a mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a translator, wherein the translator translates data relating to the identified spatial area into geographically-identifying information suitable for requesting content from at least one of the plurality of content providers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the data relating to the identified spatial area comprises coordinates and the geographically-identifying information comprises a point and radius. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the user has a user account associated with user preferences that are stored in the storage. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the filter filters using user-defined filter conditions. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the filter filters out geotagged content having a geotag location that is not within the identified spatial area. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the server inserts advertising into the requested geotagged content for display through the user interface. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the advertising relates to a geographic location of the identified spatial area. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the advertising relates to a descriptor of the geotagged content. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the identified spatial area comprises at least two noncontiguous areas. 
     
     
         18 . A geofeed of content, comprising:
 a server having a network connection;   a storage accessible by the server;   a user interface comprising a representation of a geographic location, the user interface in electronic communication with a user computer and providing for identification of a spatial area relative to the representation of a geographic location; and   a plurality of geotagged content obtained from a plurality of content providers, the plurality of geotagged content relevant to the identified spatial area;   wherein the plurality of geotagged content is aggregated from the plurality of content providers, filtered by a filter, and distributed over a network to the user computer.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of geotagged content comprises photos and texts uploaded to the plurality of content providers by users of social networking sites. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the user interface comprises a webpage. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the user interface comprises an application for a mobile device. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of geotagged content is sorted by a content ranking determined by the system. 
     
     
         23 . A method for aggregating and distributing geotagged content, comprising the steps of:
 providing a server having a network connection;   providing a storage accessible by the server;   providing a user interface accessible by a user computer;   accepting input from the user computer over a network, the input comprising the identification of a spatial area through the user interface;   formatting, on the server, a request for geotagged content, using the identified spatial area, into a format preferable for at least one of a plurality of content providers;   requesting content relevant to the identified spatial area from the plurality of content providers;   aggregating the requested geotagged content on the server;   filtering the aggregated content; and   distributing the filtered content to the user computer;   wherein the storage stores information on the format preferences for at least one of the plurality of content providers.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the step of aggregating comprises at least one of the steps of normalizing the content and ranking the content. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of ranking uses at least one of a content popularity or a content creator popularity 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the user interface comprises a map for identifying the spatial area. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the spatial area is defined relative to the geolocation of the user computer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the spatial area is an area within a distance of the geolocation of the user computer. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the aggregated content comprises a status update from a social networking site and a photo from a photo sharing site. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the user interface comprises a webpage. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the user computer comprises a mobile device and the user interface comprises an application for a mobile device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the step of translating the identified spatial area into geographically-identifying information suitable for requesting content from at least one of the plurality of content providers. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the step of sending from the server information to at least one of the plurality of content providers for association with geotagged content, the information pertaining to user interaction with the geotagged content through the user interface.