Abstract: An apparatus for providing location context data includes a location identification module, an area selection module, a data module, and a display module. The location identification module identifies one or more geographic locations from a software application. The area selection module selects, for each geographic location, a corresponding geographic area having proximity to the geographic location. The data module retrieves a rating and one or more statistics for each corresponding geographic area. The display module formats, for each identified geographic location, the rating and one or more statistics of the corresponding geographic area for display by the software application.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for establishing a social networking system. A network platform for storing content of interest to a particular group is established. An interface means provides a pathway to access the content. The supporting platform comprises hardware supporting a series of applications which include a points system application for awarding points to a system member in respect of certain transactions facilitated by an exchange engine. A hierarchical structure is created within the system and is determined by establishing a ranking structure and placing each of the members at a particular rank level based upon a pre-determined level of points within their accounts. Each of the members receives access to a set of rewards; the rewards being made available to a particular rank level. Additionally, access to certain functionality within the social networking system is determined in accordance with rank structure.