Property Assessment & Prospecting Tool

• US 20150213315A1
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Real Data Guru, Inc.
• Original Assignee: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust U/A/D April 13 2010
• Inventors: Gross, John Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 9,536,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30132 Masonry; Concrete
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30161 Wood; Lumber
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30184 Infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0008 checking presence/absence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/176 Urban or other man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/07 Target detection

Abstract

A property assessment system includes image processing logic configured to identify building structure attributes from image data and rate their associated condition. The outputs can include property condition ratings, occupancy predictions and similar scores

Claims

1. A method of assessing building structures with a computing system comprising:

a. providing a first reference file containing first image data for an outside portion of a first target building structure;

b. providing an electronic structure classifier programmed and trained to process said first image data and perform at least the following operations;

i. detect a plurality of individual building elements in said first target building structure;

ii. rate a condition associated with each of said plurality of individual building elements;

iii. assign a first rating to such first target building structure, which rating identifies one of an occupancy prediction, a purchase prospect score, or an overall exterior physical condition of such building structure.

2. The method of claim 1 further including a step:

compiling a set of reference images containing said individual building elements and said condition, wherein said reference images include tags for said individual building elements and said condition.

3. The method of claim 2 further including a step:

training said electronic structure classifier using said set of reference images

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a database of building elements and attributes is compiled and consulted during step (b).

6. The method of claim 2 including a step:

processing said set of reference images to identify a set of visual features associated with said individual building elements and said condition.

7. The method of claim 6 further including a step:

processing said first image data as a set of individual blocks, wherein each block in said set is analyzed to identify one or more visual features.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein a building envelope is identified and defined for said first building structure.

9. The method of claim 7 further including a step:

identifying one or more individual building elements and/or conditions in a block based on identifying said visual features.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said individual building elements and/or conditions in a block are identified based on comparing said first image data to a noise-processed version of said first image data.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein a preliminary score is provided indicating a confidence in a presence of said individual building elements and said conditions.

12. The method of claim 9 further including a step:

generating a visual output containing annotation data for said first image data identifying selected identified individual building elements and associated conditions for said first building structure.

13. The method of claim 10 further including a step:

receiving confirmation data provided by a human confirming one or more of said annotation data.

14. The method of claim 1 further including a step:

detecting and classifying other objects in said first image data correlated with occupancy of such building structure, including one or more of a vehicle, an living organism, person, or other personal property item.

15. The method of claim 1 further including a step:

detecting and classifying other objects in said first image data, including one or more of trash, debris or other item correlated with an occupancy of such building structure.

16. The method of claim 1 further including a step:

detecting and classifying an architectural type of said first building structure.

17. The method of claim 1 further including a step:

processing a query to generate a search report identifying other building structures similar to said target building structure, including structures matching said occupancy prediction, said purchase prospect score, said overall exterior physical condition of such building structure, and/or a presence of one or more of said individual structure elements.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said query is received from a mobile device, along with a first image captured by said device of said first building structure.

19. The method of claim 16 further including a step:

processing said query to identify said first building structure, based on comparing said first image to other images for said first building structure stored in said first reference file.

4. The method of claim wherein said detected individual building elements, associated conditions and first rating are stored in a database of properties.