Collaborative System for Online Search

• US 20130254072A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Inventors: Eraker, David, Dougherty, Adam Michael, Smith, Edward M., Eraker, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,576,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/167 Closing

Abstract

A collaborative real estate search is described. Overlay data including indications of properties for sale within a geographic area are provided to a first user device. The overlay data are capable of being overlaid on a map of the geographic area on a user interface. Selections of some of the properties for sale are received from the first user device and a list of those properties is stored within a folder associated with the first user. The system enables a second user device—associated with a second user who is associated with the first user—to access the list of the properties selected by the user. This includes enabling the second user device to cause information regarding the properties to be stored within the folder. The information is made available for display on a user interface of the first user device.

Claims

1. Computer-readable storage media comprising programming instructions that are executable by a computing system to:

provide, to a first user device associated with a first user and responsive to a search query, map overlay data stored within a data set of the computing system, the map overlay data including indications of one or more properties that are for sale within a geographical area;

receive from the first user device one or more selections of a subset of the properties for sale;

store a list of the subset of the properties for sale within a folder associated with the first user;

enable a second user device that is associated with a second user to access the list of the subset of the properties, including enabling the second user device to cause information regarding the subset of the properties to be stored within the folder, the second user being associated with the first user; and

make the information regarding one or more of the subset of the properties for sale within the first folder available for display on a user interface of the first user device.

2. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the folder is a first folder, wherein the subset of the properties is a first subset of the properties, wherein the list is a first list, and wherein the programming instructions are further executable by the computing system to:

receive from the second user device one or more selections of a second subset of the properties for sale;

store a second list of the second subset of the properties for sale within a second folder associated with the first user; and

enable the first device to make the second subset of the properties viewable on the user interface of the first device.

3. The computer-readable storage media of claim 2, wherein the information is first information, and wherein the programming instructions are further executable to:

receive from the first user device second information regarding either the first subset or the second subset of the properties; and

restrict, based on user selection received via the user interface, the second information regarding either the first subset or the second subset of the properties available to a subset of the users of the computing system, the subset of the users associated with the first user.

4. The computer-readable storage media of claim 3, wherein second information includes one or more of text-based comments, pictures, or videos.

5. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the programming instructions are further executable to receive user selection associating the second user with the first user.

6. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

computer-readable media including a plurality of programming instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to;

provide, responsive to search query received from a user device associated with a user, overlay data for one or more land parcels that are for sale within a geographic area, the overlay data capable of being overlaid on a map of the geographic area on a user interface of the first user device;

receive, from the first user device, one or more selections of a subset of the land parcels;

store in a favorites folder a list of the subset of the land parcels; and

enable the user device to provide additional information regarding the subset of the land parcels, including enabling the user device to provide indication that the information is viewable only by a subset of a population of users of the system, the subset of the population being associated with the user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user device is a first user device, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the plurality of programming instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

provide the list of the subset of the land parcels to a second user device upon a determination that a second user associated with the second user device is one of the subset of the population of users; and

store information regarding the subset of the land parcels, the information received from the second user device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to restrict access to the information regarding the subset of the land parcels to the first user and to one or more of the subset of the population of the users.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the user device is a first user device, wherein the user is a first user, wherein the subset of the land parcels is a first subset of the land parcels, and wherein the plurality of programming instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

receive from a second user device associated with a second user that is one of the subset of the population of users, one or more selections of a second subset of the land parcels;

store in a suggested folder a list of the second subset of the land parcels;

cause the list of the second subset of the land parcels to be displayed on the user interface; and

enable the first user device to provide information regarding the second subset of the plurality of land parcels via the user interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to restrict access to the information regarding the second subset of the plurality of land parcels to one or more of the subset of the population of users.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the information regarding the second subset of the land parcels includes one or more of text-based information, video, or images.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the plurality of programming instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to receive authorizations to include a second user in the subset of the population of users.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

computer-readable storage media including a plurality of programming instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to;

provide to an agent user device associated with an agent user, based at least on the agent user being authorized by a consumer user, a favorites list created by the consumer user, the favorites list including a subset of a plurality of land parcels available for sale;

receive from the user device information regarding the first subset of the plurality of land parcels;

store the information regarding the first subset of the plurality of land parcels; and

transmit to a consumer user device associated with the consumer user, the information regarding the first subset of the plurality of land parcels.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the subset of the plurality of land parcels is a first subset of the plurality of land parcels, and wherein the plurality of programming instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

receive from the agent user device one or more indications of a second subset of the plurality of land parcels;

store the second subset of the plurality of land parcels in a suggested list, the suggested list associated with the consumer user; and

transmit the suggested list to the consumer user device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

receive from the consumer user device information regarding the second subset of the plurality of land parcels;

store the information regarding the second subset of the plurality of land parcels; and

transmit the information regarding the second subset of the plurality of land parcels to the agent user device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information regarding the second subset of the plurality of land parcels includes one or more of pictures or videos.

17. A method, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems,

providing, to a consumer user device responsive to a search query, an image of a geographic area and overlay data associated with the geographic area that includes indications of one or more properties for sale within the geographic area, the geographic area and the one or more properties for sale identified based at least on the search query;

receiving from the consumer user device, a selection of one of the properties for sale within the geographic area;

adding the one of the properties for sale to a favorites list associated with a consumer user associated with the consumer user device; and

restricting access to the favorites list to the consumer user and a subset of a plurality of system users that are associated with the consumer user.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving information regarding the one of the properties for sale from an agent user device; and

associating the information regarding the one of the properties for sale with the favorites list, the associating based at least on a determination that an agent user associated with the agent user device is included in the subset of the plurality of system users that are associated with the consumer user.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from an agent user device another selection of another one of the properties for sale;

adding the another one of the properties for sale to a suggested list associated with the consumer user; and

transmitting to the consumer user device the suggested list including the another one of the properties for sale.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving from the consumer user device a selection to enter into a transaction to purchase the one of the properties for sale.