Wireless intelligent real estate electronic lock box

• US 7,177,819 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Romano, Guy George, Austin, William Bryan, Muncaster, George William
• Primary Examiner(s): Vig; Naresh
• Application Number:
  US10/658,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 70/63, 340/5
• US Class Current: 705/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/00 Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00

Abstract

An intelligent real estate system including an intelligent real estate sign having embedded processing functionality and a wireless communication device capable of receiving wireless electronic queries and programming instructions and for communicating with local and remote information sources about a real estate property and with controlling agents for reporting status. Further included is an electronic lock box controlling access to the real estate property and having an embedded wireless communication device capable of receiving messages and control signals from the real estate sign and from a property owner/occupant and/or real estate agents for reporting status. An earth battery may also be included, at least partially contained within the real estate sign and supplying power to the real estate sign.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic lock box corresponding to a real estate property having a wireless communication system embedded therein for wirelessly receiving, storing and communicating information about the real estate property and controlling access to the real estate property by providing a mechanical or electronic key, the wireless communication system being capable of transmitting the information to a remote device in response to receiving a query for the information from the remote device,

wherein the information about the real estate property includes at least one selected from the group comprising a price of the real estate property, a square footage of the real estate property, a virtual tour of the real estate property, a number of bedrooms within the real estate property and an availability of the real estate property.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic lock box is hermetically sealed.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic lock box is capable of receiving requests and transmitting information about the real estate property to a transmitting/receiving device located within a predetermined proximity of the electronic lock box.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transmitting/receiving device is one of a client configured device and a controlling agent device, the client configured device capable of requesting information about the real estate property from the electronic lock box, transmitting queries about the real estate property to the electronic lock box, transmitting client information to the electronic lock box, transmitting client information to a remote real estate office via the electronic lock box, viewing information received from the electronic lock box or recording voice or text messages in the electronic lock box.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controlling agent device is capable of performing all client configured device functions and is further capable of at least enabling, programming and disabling the electronic lock box, overriding access restrictions of the electronic lock box, viewing information stored by the electronic lock box, downloading information stand by the electronic lock box, interacting with other premises electronic equipment, and maintaining the electronic lock box.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic lock box is capable of holding at least one key therein.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic lock box comprises at least one of the group consisting of a memory, a proximity device reader, a display, a clock and an alarm.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electronic lock box is capable of storing at least one of a group comprising a time of a visit to the real estate property, a duration of the visit to the real estate property, an identity of a person who visited the real estate property and comments and/or suggestions form the person who visited the real estate property.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electronic lock box can communicate via network to a controlling real estate office, the controlling real estate office transmitting a control signal to the electronic lock box to permit access to the real estate property.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electronic lock box is capable of recording an attempt to gain access to the real estate property.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electronic lock box can restrict access to the real estate property based upon communicated entry rules.

12. A real estate system comprising:

an electronic lock box having a wireless communication system embedded therein located within a predetermined proximity of a real estate property and controlling access to real estate property by providing a mechanical or electronic key, the electronic lock box being capable of wirelessly receiving, storing and communicating information about the real estate property; and

a transmitting/receiving device configured to transmit a query for the information about the real estate property to the electronic lock box and receive the information from the electronic lock box in response to query, wherein the information about the real estate property includes at least one selected from the group comprising a price of the real estate property, a square footage of the real estate property, a virtual tour of the real estate property, a number of bedrooms within the real estate property and an availability of the real estate property.

13. A method of marketing a real estate property comprising:

providing an electronic lock box within a predetermined proximity of the real estate property for controlling access to the real estate property by releasing a mechanical or electronic key;

receiving by the electronic lockbox information about the real estate property;

storing the information about the real estate property in the electronic lockbox;

receiving, by the electronic lock box, a query about the real estate property from a transmitting/receiving device; and

transmitting the information about the real estate property from the electronic lock box to the transmitting/receiving device in response to receiving the query, wherein the information about the real estate property includes at least one selected from the group comprising a price of the real estate property, a square footage of the real estate property, a virtual tour of the real estate property, a number of bedrooms within the real estate property and an availability of the real estate property.