Method and apparatus for compiling data from property title documents

• US 20070174070A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First American Data Tree LLC (First American Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: First American Data Tree LLC (First American Financial Corporation)
• Inventors: Look, Nicholas, Jafa, Evan
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

A method and apparatus for collecting property data from sources using a mobile device, such as a tablet pc, and to upload that property data to a database. The property data is then proofed and immediately returned to the searcher using the mobile device for error corrections. If there are no errors, the method and apparatus of the invention saves the data and returns the requested property data to the requester. If there are errors, the method and apparatus of this invention requests revisions from the searcher, proofs the order again, and returns the requested property data to the requester.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of gathering property data comprising the steps of:

uploading property data requests to a first computer database;

selectively downloading the property data requests using a mobile device based upon an area covered by the mobile device;

collecting property data from various sources;

inputting the property data into the mobile device;

uploading the property data from the mobile device to a second computer database; and

proofing the property data for an error.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of gathering information for the property data requests from in-house or 3rd party sources.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the property data in a third computer database.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of delivering the property data to a requester.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the selectively downloading step takes place using a wireless or wired connection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the inputting the property data into the mobile phone is performed via an electronic form that is similar to a paper form.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a personal digital assistant or a tablet pc.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the initial step of checking that the property for which the property data request was generated may be located within a property database.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the proofing step includes validation of the data for accuracy at a time before and after an order has been submitted.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising a second step of checking that property data for the property for which the property data request has been made does not already exist within a property data database.

11. A property data retrieval method comprising the steps of:

submitting a request for property data to a server;

searching a database for the property data;

generating a data request for the property data not found in the database;

transferring the data request to a mobile device;

obtaining information requested in the data request;

populating data fields with the information;

validating the information in the data fields; and

updating the database with the information from the data fields.

12. The property data retrieval method of claim 11 further comprising the step of sending a report to complete the request for property data.

13. The property data retrieval method of claim 11 wherein the data request is in the form of an electronic form.

14. The property data retrieval method of claim 13 wherein the data fields are embedded in the electronic form.

15. The property data retrieval method of claim 11 wherein the data fields are validated by the mobile device.

16. The property data retrieval method of claim 11 wherein validating is completed by a human proofer.

17. The property data retrieval method of claim 16 wherein the human proofer may add or edit the data fields.

18. The property data retrieval method of claim 11 wherein the mobile device is a personal data assistant or a tablet PC.

19. A computer-enabled apparatus for gathering property data comprising:

a first storage means for storing property data requests;

a mobile device, connected to the first storage means, for gathering the property data;

a second storage means, connected to the mobile device, for storing property data received from said mobile device; and

a proofing means, connected to the second storage means, for error checking the property data.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a third storage means connected to the proofing means for storing the property data.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a delivery means, connected to the third storage means, for delivering property data to a requester.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the mobile device connects to said first and second storage means using a wireless or wired connection.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said mobile device is a personal digital assistant or a tablet pc.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a property database, connected to the first storage means, for checking that the property for which the property data request was generated may be located.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a property data database, connected to the first storage means, for checking that property data for the property for which the property data request has been made has not already been saved.