METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING REAL ESTATE DATA

• US 20130332877A1
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Costar Realty Information Incorporated (CoStar Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CoStar Group Inc.
• Inventors: Evatt, Bob, FLORANCE, Andrew C., Bohl, Scot, Merritt, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

A system and method for managing real estate data using a mobile device, such as a tablet computer. The data is displayed in a manner that facilitates quick analysis suing a mobile device. User interfaces, processing, and other features provide a mobile user with information required to make intelligent decisions on real estate transactions. A tour can be constructed based on a subset of data returned as a result of a database query.

Claims

1. A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:

a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to;

receive a query from a user;

transmit the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records; and

format the data as display data on the touch screen display, wherein the display data is formatted for display in the map window by receiving information corresponding to a set of records each having an associated geographic location, determining the size of a map viewing area, determining a size of at least one graphical indicator, determining a geographic region of the map viewing area, determining plural geographic sub-regions within the geographic region based on the size of a map viewing area, the size of the at least one graphical indicator, and the geographic region, and limiting a number of graphical indicators in a given geographic sub-region to display a graphical indicator for each of the subset of properties;

display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

2. A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:

a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to;

receive a query from a user, the query defining a real estate sub-market;

transmit the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

format the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

3. A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:

a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to;

receive a query from a user, the query including a parameter specifying records of properties having available space;

transmit the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

format the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

4. A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:

a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to;

receive a query from a user, the query defining a geographic corridor and specifying a width of the geographic corridor;

transmit the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

format the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

5. A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:

a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to;

receive a query from a user, the query defining a date range for lease expirations;

transmit the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

format the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

6. A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:

a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to;

receive a query from a user;

transmit the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

format the data as display data on the touch screen display;

display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query; and

cause the client device to receive a selection of a subset of properties corresponding to records satisfying the query and create a tour with records corresponding to the subset of properties and a defined order for visiting the properties in the subset of properties.

7. A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:

a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to;

receive a query from a user, the query being based on user input and at least one of location information of the client device and index information from the database;

transmit the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

format the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

8. A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user;

transmitting the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records; and

formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display, wherein the display data is formatted for display in the map window by receiving information corresponding to a set of records each having an associated geographic location, determining the size of a map viewing area, determining a size of at least one graphical indicator, determining a geographic region of the map viewing area, determining plural geographic sub-regions within the geographic region based on the size of a map viewing area, the size of the at least one graphical indicator, and the geographic region, and limiting a number of graphical indicators in a given geographic sub-region to display a graphical indicator for each of the subset of properties; and

displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

9. A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user, the query defining a real estate sub-market;

transmitting the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

10. A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user, the query including a parameter specifying records of properties having available space;

transmitting the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

11. A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user, the query defining a geographic corridor and specifying a width of the geographic corridor;

transmitting the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

12. A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user, the query defining a date range for lease expirations;

transmitting the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.

13. A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user;

transmitting the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display;

displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query; and

causing the client device to receive a selection of a subset of properties corresponding to records satisfying the query and create a tour with records corresponding to the subset of properties and a defined order for visiting the properties in the subset of properties.

14. A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user, the query being based on user input and at least one of location information of the client device and index information from the database;

transmitting the query to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;

receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;

receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;

formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display; and

displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query and a record window displaying textual and image information for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.