MOBILE APPLICATION FOR REAL ESTATE SHOPPING

• US 20140304178A1
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ShowingTime.com, Inc. (Zillow Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Showing Suite, Inc. (Zillow Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bengson, Rick Robert, Siegler, Seth
• Application Number:
  US14/246,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20140304178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

According to certain inventive techniques, a buyer'"'"'s mobile device running an application is in communication with a server to facilitate communication regarding the showing of a listed real estate property. Using the application, the buyer can check into the showing. If a location of the buyer'"'"'s mobile device then exceeds a predetermined distance from the property, a feedback request is automatically sent to the mobile device from the server.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication regarding a listed property using a mobile device running an application, wherein the mobile device is in communication with at least one server, and wherein the method comprises:

determining a first location of the mobile device;

receiving, by the application from the mobile device, a signal indicative of a request by a user of the mobile device to check in to a showing of the listed property;

if a comparison of the first location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property satisfies a first condition, presenting an option for the user to check in to the showing of the listed property via the mobile device;

receiving, by the application from the mobile device, a signal indicative of an affirmation by the user to check in to the showing of the listed property;

in response to receiving the signal indicative of an affirmation by the user to check in to the showing of the listed property, checking the user in to the showing of the listed property;

after checking the user in to the showing of the listed property, determining a second location of the mobile device;

if a comparison of the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property satisfies a second condition, automatically providing a feedback request to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the comparison of the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property satisfies the second condition, automatically checking the user out of the showing of the listed property.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending a communication to the mobile device indicating that the showing of the listed property has ended.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first condition is satisfied when the first location of the mobile phone and the location of the listed property are in the same zip code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second condition is satisfied when a distance between the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property is greater than a predetermined distance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second condition is satisfied when a distance between the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property is greater than a predetermined distance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback request comprises a push notification on the mobile device.

8. At least one computer-readable device including instructions for execution by at least one processor on a mobile device, wherein when the instructions are executed, the instructions cause the mobile device to perform operations including:

receiving a signal indicative of a request by a user of the mobile device to check in to a showing of a listed property;

obtaining a first location of the mobile device;

wirelessly transmitting, from the mobile device, a communication containing the first location of the mobile device;

wirelessly receiving a communication indicating that the listed property is available for the showing when a comparison the first location of the mobile device with a location of the listed property satisfies a first condition;

when the listed property is available for showing, providing an option for the user of the mobile device to check in to the showing of the listed property;

receiving a signal indicative of an affirmation by the user to check in to the showing of the listed property;

after receiving a signal indicative of an affirmation by the user to check in to the showing of the listed property, obtaining a second location of the mobile device;

wirelessly transmitting a communication containing the second location of the mobile device;

wirelessly receiving a feedback request when a comparison of the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property satisfies a second condition.

9. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 8, wherein when the instructions are executed, the instructions cause the mobile device to perform operations further including:

wirelessly receiving a communication that indicates checking out of the showing when the comparison of the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property satisfies the second condition.

10. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 8, wherein the first condition is satisfied when the first location of the mobile phone and the location of the listed property are in the same zip code.

11. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 10, wherein the second condition is satisfied when a distance between the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property is greater than a predetermined distance.

12. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 8, the second condition is satisfied when a distance between the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property is greater than a predetermined distance.

13. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 8, wherein the feedback request comprises a push notification.

14. A method for facilitating communication regarding a listed property using a server, wherein the server is in communication with at least one mobile device, and wherein the method comprises:

receiving a communication from the mobile device including a first location of a mobile device;

comparing the first location of the mobile device with a location of a property to determine if a first condition is satisfied;

if the first condition is satisfied, sending a communication to the mobile device including an indication the property is available for showing;

receiving a communication from the mobile device including a request to check in to a showing of the property;

subsequent to said receiving a communication from the mobile device including a request to check in to a showing of the property, receiving a communication from the mobile device including a second location of a mobile device;

comparing the second location of the mobile device with the location of a property to determine if a second condition is satisfied;

if the second condition is satisfied, sending a communication to the mobile device including a feedback request.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending a communication to the mobile device indicating checking out of the showing when the comparison of the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property satisfies the second condition.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first condition is satisfied when the first location of the mobile phone and the location of the listed property are in the same zip code.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second condition is satisfied when a distance between the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property is greater than a predetermined distance.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second condition is satisfied when a distance between the second location of the mobile device and the location of the listed property is greater than a predetermined distance.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the feedback request comprises a push notification.