House tour guide system
First Claim
1. A system for an automated house tour guide, said system comprising:
- a portable computerized communication device having a graphic user interface comprised of a touch-screen, a speaker, and a means for loading data to the device;
a database software application that contains a script that provides information about a house; and
a proximity /motion sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a system for an automated house tour guide that improves the exchange of information between a seller and a prospective buyer, where that information is normally only available through a combination of pictures and datasheets of a house, a number of public databases, an informed real estate agency, and a seller of the house. The invention merges these sources and puts them at the fingertips of the prospective buyer so that the buyer can take a self-directed tour of the house, or in the company of an agent of the buyer, or in the company of the seller. The system is composed of a portable computerized communication device having a graphic user interface with a touch-screen, a speaker, and a means for loading data to the device; a database software application that contains a script that provides information about the corresponding house; and a proximity/motion sensor. The motion sensor can be disabled, as appropriate. The portable computerized communication device can furthermore operate wirelessly, thereby opening up access to the Internet, cell phones, the PSTN, contact with a real estate home office computer network. The system can be configured for use by the seller or an agent of the seller to provide information during an open house, or configured for use by the prospective buyer, or an agent of a buyer to conduct a tour of houses. The script, in addition to describing the house on a room-by-room basis, also typically has information on amenities, the community, financial data, age and environmental data, the start time for an open house, the end time for the open house, and other information that may be of interest to the prospective buyer.
34 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for an automated house tour guide, said system comprising:
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a portable computerized communication device having a graphic user interface comprised of a touch-screen, a speaker, and a means for loading data to the device;
a database software application that contains a script that provides information about a house; and
a proximity /motion sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21)
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15. A method for automating open house tour guides, said method comprising:
- positioning at an entrance a device that has a proximity/motion sensor that detects the presence of an individual taking the tour, and an audio component;
sensing an individual and activating the audio component;
delivering a verbal script, wherein the verbal script describes information about the house.
- positioning at an entrance a device that has a proximity/motion sensor that detects the presence of an individual taking the tour, and an audio component;
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16. A method for automating home tour guides, said method comprising:
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providing a portable computerized communication device with a graphic user interface having a touch-screen, a speaker, a digital image of a house plan, and a database software application that contains a script that provides information about the house;
displaying a house plan on the screen; and
touching the screen at a point in the house plan, thereby actuating the script to provide information about that point. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification