Virtual digital imaging and method of using the same in real state

• US 20050273458A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Total Intellectual Property Protective Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Total Intellectual Property Protective Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Adams, Michael Shane
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

The present invention concerns an all-inclusive virtual tour website that features virtual tours of real estate properties. The present invention further concerns methods for allowing real estate related businesses to advertise on the website while complying with applicable guidelines. The present invention further allows various product and service vendors to advertise on the website. The present invention also provides information about various neighborhoods, civic, and other important information to potential home buyers. The present invention also contemplates lead generation services, such as generating loan application information, which may then be provided to lending institutions for bidding or sale. The present inventor also concerns related software, business methods, and Internet websites, platforms or other portals

Claims

1. A real estate virtual tour platform designed to prevent kickbacks and appearances of impropriety between real estate agents and real estate related service or product providers comprising:

a virtual tour platform that is independently owned from the real estate agents and the real estate related service or product providers;

wherein the real estate agents and the real estate related service or product providers pay advertising fees directly to the virtual tour platform;

wherein the advertising fees are not tied to leads;

wherein the real estate agents select preferred real estate service or product providers;

wherein the selected preferred real estate service or product providers are pooled with additional real estate service or product providers selected at random; and

wherein an additional random selection from the pool chooses real estate service or product providers to appear with a real estate advertisement.

2. The platform according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the real estate agents is selected from the group consisting of real estate related agents, agencies, brokers, and companies.

3. The platform according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the real estate related service or product providers is selected from the group consisting of individuals and businesses related to mortgage businesses, insurance businesses, settlement businesses, title companies, credit services, furniture sellers, construction services and products, landscape services and products, decorators, paint companies, and home improvement services and products.

4. The platform according to claim 1, wherein a probability factor is assigned for the likelihood of preferred real estate service or product providers being chosen in the additional random selection.

5. The platform according to claim 1, wherein a probability factor is assigned for the likelihood of preferred real estate service or product providers being chosen in the additional random selection, and wherein the number of preferred real estate service or product providers or the number of additional real estate service or product providers is modified to change the probability factor.

6. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the real estate agent is able to choose different preferred real estate service or product providers at any time.

7. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the additional random selection is repeated at intervals.

8. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the virtual tour platform collects data and tracks advertisement viewing and usage information.

9. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the virtual tour platform collects data and tracks real estate agent performance information.

10. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the virtual tour platform collects data and tracks viewing and usage information concerning real estate service or product providers.

11. The platform according to claim 1, wherein information concerning advertisement viewing and usage, real estate agent performance, or viewing and usage of real estate service or produce providers, are collected and processed.

12. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the platform selects real estate service or product providers based on geographic location of the advertised real estate.

13. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the platform provides one or more additional information selected from the group consisting of information about the city, educational system, crime rate, demographics, real estate sale prices, local governments, local parks and recreation, local events, and local businesses.

14. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the virtual tour platform uses one or more photo images selected from the group consisting of digital still images, film, and 360 degree images, and panoramic images.

15. The platform according to claim 1, wherein different user groups are given different access to information available on the platform.

16. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the platform is a computer software program.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of selling mortgage application information to mortgage companies for a fee, wherein the fee is not tied to actual consummation of loans.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of selling mortgage application information to mortgage companies for a fee, wherein the fee is not tied to actual consummation of loans, and wherein the mortgage companies bid on the application.

17. A method of providing a virtual tour platform for buying and selling real estate and real estate related services and products without violating anti-kickback laws comprising:

establishing ownership of the virtual tour platform independent from real estate agents and real estate related service or product providers;

requiring the real estate agents and the real estate related service or product providers to pay advertising fees directly to the virtual tour platform;

wherein the advertising fees are not tied to leads generated;

allowing real estate agents to select preferred real estate service or product providers;

pooling the selected preferred real estate service or product providers to additional real estate service or product providers selected at random; and

additionally randomly selecting real estate service or product providers from this pool to appear with a real estate advertisement.