Geographic search engine having independent selections of direction and distance from a relocatable hub
First Claim
1. A method for location of real estate properties by a user, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a property database of real estate properties, said property database including a property record for each of said properties, said property record including a physical location of said property;
(b) providing a hub database of hubs, said hub database including a hub record for each of said hubs, said hub record including a physical location of said hub;
(c) selecting a hub;
(d) selecting a range of distances from said hub;
(e) selecting a range of directions from said hub, said range of directions being independent of said range of distances;
(f) checking each of said property records to determine if said property is within said selected range of distances and said selected range of directions from said hub;
(g) creating a result that includes all of said properties that fall within said selected range of distances and said selected range of directions from said hub;
(h) presenting said result to said user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for searching a geographic database for properties within a specified range of distances and range of directions from a selected hub location. The invention includes a global computer network, the database, and a search program. The network includes a database computer, a user interface computer, and a search computer. Each database record includes a physical location of the property. The search program takes as inputs a selected hub, a range of distances, and a range of directions. The search program iterates through the records to find those properties the fall within the parameters and displays them to the user.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for location of real estate properties by a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a property database of real estate properties, said property database including a property record for each of said properties, said property record including a physical location of said property;
(b) providing a hub database of hubs, said hub database including a hub record for each of said hubs, said hub record including a physical location of said hub;
(c) selecting a hub;
(d) selecting a range of distances from said hub;
(e) selecting a range of directions from said hub, said range of directions being independent of said range of distances;
(f) checking each of said property records to determine if said property is within said selected range of distances and said selected range of directions from said hub;
(g) creating a result that includes all of said properties that fall within said selected range of distances and said selected range of directions from said hub;
(h) presenting said result to said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for location of real estate properties by a user, said system comprising:
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(a) a global computer network including a database computer, a user interface computer, and a search computer;
(b) a property database of real estate properties, said property database residing on said database computer, said property database including a property record for each of said properties, said property record including a physical location of said property;
(c) a hub database of hubs, said hub database residing on said database computer, said hub database including a hub record for each of said hubs, said hub record including a physical location of said hub;
(d) an input interface displayed on said user interface computer, said input interface providing the ability for said user to enter search parameters and to initiate a search, said search parameters including a hub selection, a range of distances selection, and a range of directions selection, said range of distances selection being independent of said range of directions selection;
(e) a search program that runs on said search computer, said search program using said search parameters, said hub database, and said property database to create a result that includes all of said properties that are within said range of distances and said range of directions from said hub; and
(f) a result interface that displays said result to said user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification