LOCATION-BASED VOTING

1 . A method of displaying location-based preference events, the method comprising:

receiving multiple content contributions from a plurality of users of an automated preference system that includes one or more processors, wherein each content contribution is accompanied by associated location information;

storing the content contributions;

receiving a first location of a first user of the preference system; and

transmitting to the first user one or more of the multiple content contributions, wherein:

the one or more content contributions are associated with the first location; and

the one or more content contributions are ranked according to votes received from users associated with the first location.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a content contribution comprises:

receiving content submitted by a given user; and

receiving a location of the given user as of the time the content is submitted.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the location of the given user is one of:

an address;

a name of an area; and

geographic coordinates.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after receiving the multiple content contributions:

receiving votes on the multiple content contributions from one or more users of the preference system;

wherein at least one of the one or more users is associated with the first location.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a second user is associated with the first location if the second user submits a vote on a content contribution from the first location.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a second user is associated with the first location if the second user resides in the first location.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a first content contribution is associated with the first location when it is submitted from that location.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising ranking the one or more content contributions prior to the transmitting, wherein the ranking comprises:

ranking a first content contribution above a second content contribution having more total votes than the first content contribution;

wherein the first content contribution has more votes than the second content contribution from users associated with the first location.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a vote from a given user for a given content contribution comprises a positive preference event initiated by the given user for the given content contribution.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a positive preference event is a digg.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a second user is associated with the first location by being located in the first location when voting on a content contribution.

12 . A computer program product for displaying location-based preference events, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving multiple content contributions from a plurality of users of an automated preference system, wherein each content contribution is accompanied by associated location information;

storing the content contributions;

receiving a first location of a first user of the preference system; and

transmitting to the first user one or more of the multiple content contributions, wherein:

the one or more content contributions are associated with the first location; and

the one or more content contributions are ranked according to votes received from users associated with the first location, other than the first user.

13 . A preference system for displaying location-based preference events, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

receive, from a plurality of users, multiple content contributions and associated location information;

store the multiple content contributions;

receive a first location of a first user of the preference system; and

transmit to the first user one or more of the multiple content contributions, wherein:

the one or more content contributions are associated with the first location; and

the one or more content contributions are ranked according to votes received from users associated with the first location, other than the first user.

14 . The preference system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a database for storing the multiple content contributions;

wherein each of the multiple content contributions is stored in the database in association with the associated location.

15 . The preference system of claim 13 , wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

receive votes on the multiple content contributions from one or more users of the preference system;

wherein at least one of the one or more users is associated with the first location.

16 . The preference system of claim 13 , wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

rank a first content contribution above a second content contribution having more total votes than the first content contribution;

wherein the first content contribution has more votes than the second content contribution from users associated with the first location.

17 . The preference system of claim 13 , wherein a second user is associated with the first location if the second user submits a vote on a content contribution from the first location.

18 . The preference system of claim 13 , wherein a second user is associated with the first location if the second user resides in the first location.

19 . The preference system of claim 13 , wherein a vote from a given user for a given content contribution comprises a positive preference event initiated by the given user for the given content contribution.