Proximate device locator

A method, comprising steps of:

• identifying contact information of users connected to a social media network;
• identifying the social media network;
• for each of the users connected to the social media network, identifying networked stations of a particular type associated with the users;
• and
• responsive to an inquiry received from a requesting networked station, transmitting through a communications network to the requesting networked station, information identifying the users connected to the social media networks associated with the networked stations of the particular type.

A system, comprising:

• an interface for communications with a requesting networked station via a communication network;
• a processor coupled to the interface;
• a storage device accessible to the processor;
• programming for execution by the processor, stored in the storage device;
• wherein execution of the programming of the processor configures the system to perform functions, including functions to:
• a. receive an inquiry for information about a networked station of a particular type, from the requesting networked station;
• b. identify a first location of the requesting networked station;
• c. based on second locations of other networked stations, identify networked stations of the particular type that have been within a set distance of the identified first location;
• d. for each respective one of the networked stations of the particular type, identify contact information associated with the respective networked stations of the particular type;
• and
• e. responsive to the inquiry received from the requesting networked station, transmitting through a communications network to the requesting networked station, information comprising the contact information associated with the networked stations of the particular type.