System and method for transacting retrieval of real estate property listings using a remote client interfaced over an information network

• US 7,430,555 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baynet World, Inc. (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Baynet World, Inc. (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sealand, Michael D., Mizrahi, Joseph, Gross, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Al-Hashemi; Sana
• Application Number:
  US10/243,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/100, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

A system and method for transacting retrieval of real estate property listings using a remote client interfaced over an information network is described. A set of real estate property listings is maintained in a structured database. Each listing includes a characteristics set describing property listing information organized according to property class. A remote client is interfaced in a dynamic search session via a communications link transiently connected over an information network. The remote client maintains both program code and data exclusively in a general purpose random access memory configured for both transient and persistent storage. A target characteristics set describing one or more such listings in at least one such property class is received from the remote client upon initiation of the session. The listings matching the target characteristics set from the structured database are identified. The listings are provided to the remote client upon termination of the session.

Claims

1. A system for transacting retrieval of real estate property listings using a portable computing device, comprising:

a real estate property listing database comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings;

a portable computing device that maintains a local database comprising at least some of the property listings;

a server that maintains the real estate property listing database and for managing a dynamic search session on the personal computing device to automatically update the local database, comprising;

a logical communications link for periodically interfacing the portable computing device with the sewer;

a search engine for receiving target characteristics at the server;

a comparison component for identifying those property listings in the real estate property listing database matching the target characteristics; and

a response component for automatically providing the property listings from the real estate property listing database to the local database; and

a local server for regularly providing updates to the real estate property listing database to the personal computing device, comprising;

a session manager for continuously transacting an access session with the server to identify at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database; and

a paging module for sending a notification of the at least one properly listing to the personal computing device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein identification of the property listings is implemented using a query language selected from the list comprising a structured query language and Extensible Markup Language.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a daemon component for periodically interfacing to the portable computing device in a further dynamic search session via the communications link, the search engine identifying additional property listings matching the target characteristics from the real estate property listing database, and the response component making the additional property listings available to the portable computing device.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the response component sends the property listings as at least one of an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, a Short Messaging Service message, and a Multimedia Messaging Service message.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a paging component for paging the portable computing device using a push notification selected from the list comprising an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, the Short Messaging Service, Wireless Application Protocol, Multimedia Messaging Service, Hypertext Transport Protocol, TCP/IP, and Wi-Fi.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of real estate property listing databases storing the property listings.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display for displaying the property listings on the portable computing device in at least one of a pre-filtered format and a page display format.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprises at least one of a interior description, type, style, bedrooms, bathrooms, property picture, a map, driving directions, school information, mortgage rate, pricing, tax information, and nearby business information.

9. A method for transacting retrieval of property listings using a portable computing device, comprising:

maintaining on a server a real estate property listing database comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings;

maintaining a local database comprising at least some of the property listings on a portable computing device;

managing a dynamic search session on the personal computing device with the server to automatically update the local database, comprising;

periodically interfacing the portable computing device with the server via a logical communications link;

receiving target characteristics at the server;

identifying those property listings in the real estate property listing database matching the target characteristics; and

automatically providing the property listings from the real estate property listing database to the local database; and

regularly providing updates to the real estate property listing database to the personal computing device from a local server, comprising;

continuously transacting an access session on the local server with the server to identify at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database; and

sending a notification of the at least one property listing to the personal computing device from the local server.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

implementing identification of the property listings using a query language selected from the list comprising a structured query language and Extensible Markup Language.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

periodically interfacing to the portable computing device in a further dynamic search session via the communications link;

identifying additional property listings matching the target characteristics from the real estate property listing database; and

making the additional property listings available to the portable computing device.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

sending the property listings as at least one of an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, a Short Messaging Service message, and a Multimedia Messaging Service message.

13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

paging the portable computing device using a push notification selected from the list comprising an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, the Short Messaging Service, Wireless Application Protocol, Multimedia Messaging Service, Hypertext Transport Protocol, TCP/IP, and Wi-Fi.

14. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

storing the property listings in a plurality of real estate property listing databases.

15. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

displaying the property listings on the portable computing device in at least one of a pre-filtered format and a page display format.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the characteristics comprises at least one of a interior description, type, style, bedrooms, bathrooms, property picture, a map, driving directions, school information, mortgage rate, pricing, tax information, and nearby business information.

17. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 9.

18. A system for periodically notifying a portable computing device of real estate property listing updates, comprising:

a real estate property listing database comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings;

a local database comprising at least some of the property listings maintained on a portable computing device;

a server that maintains the real estate property listing database, comprising;

an interface for periodically interfacing with the portable computing device to automatically update the local database in a dynamic search session via a logical communications link when matching property listings are identified;

a search engine for storing target characteristics from the portable computing device;

a comparison component for periodically identifying those property listings matching the target characteristics; and

a response component for automatically providing the property listings from the real estate property listing database to the local database; and

a local server, comprising;

a session manager for continuously transacting an access session with the server to identify at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database; and

a paging module for sending a notification of the at least one property listing to the personal computing device from the local server to regularly provide updates to the real estate property listing database.

19. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a compiler for implementing identification of the property listings using a query language selected from the list comprising a structured query language and Extensible Markup Language.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the response component sends the property listings as at least one of an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, a Short Messaging Service message, and a Multimedia Messaging Service message.

21. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a paging component for paging the portable computing device using a push notification selected from the list comprising an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, the Short Messaging Service, Wireless Application Protocol, Multimedia Messaging Service, Hypertext Transport Protocol, TCP/IP, and Wi-Fi.

22. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of real estate property listing databases storing the property listings.

23. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a search method for specifying the target characteristics on the portable computing device.

24. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a communications interface for forming the communications link using at least one of a wireless network, a telephonic exchange, or a digital data internetwork.

25. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a display for displaying the property listings on the portable computing device in at least one of a pre-filtered format and a page display format.

26. A system according to claim 18, wherein the characteristics set comprises at least one of a interior description, type, style, bedrooms, bathrooms, property picture, a map, driving directions, school information, mortgage rate, pricing, tax information, and nearby business information.

27. A method for periodically notifying a portable computing device of real estate property listing updates, comprising:

maintaining a real estate property listing database comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings on a server;

maintaining a local database comprising at least some of the property listings on a portable computing device;

storing target characteristics received from the portable computing device;

periodically identifying those property listings matching the target characteristics;

periodically interfacing with the portable computing device to automatically update the local database in a dynamic search session via a logical communications link when matching property listings are identified;

automatically providing the property listings from the real estate property listing database to the local database;

continuously transacting an access session with the server to identify at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database; and

sending a notification of the at least one property listing to the personal computing device from the local server to regularly provide updates to the real estate property listing database.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

implementing identification of the property listings using a query language selected from the list comprising a structured query language and Extensible Markup Language.

29. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

sending the identified property listings as at least one of an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, a Short Messaging Service message, and a Multimedia Messaging Service message.

30. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

paging the portable computing device using a push notification selected from the list comprising an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, the Short Messaging Service, Wireless Application Protocol, Multimedia Messaging Service, Hypertext Transport Protocol, TCP/IP, and Wi-Fi.

31. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

storing the property listings in a plurality of real estate property listing databases.

32. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

specifying the target characteristics on the portable computing device.

33. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

forming the communications link using at least one of a wireless network, a telephonic exchange, or a digital data internetwork.

34. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

displaying the identified property listings on the portable computing device in at least one of a pre-filtered format and a page display format.

35. A method according to claim 27, wherein the characteristics set comprises at least one of a interior description, type, style, bedrooms, bathrooms, property picture, a map, driving directions, school information, mortgage rate, pricing, tax information, and nearby business information.

36. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 27.

37. A system for remotely retrieving real estate property listings using a portable computing device, comprising:

a real estate property listing database on a server comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings;

a local database comprising at least some of the property listings on a portable computing device; and

a database module for periodically interfacing to the server to automatically update the local database with the real estate property listing database in dynamic search sessions via a logical communications link, comprising;

a session manager for sending target characteristics from the portable computing device to the server; and

a search method for automatically retrieving those property listings matching the target characteristics from the real estate property listing database to the local database and for receiving a notification of at least one of a new and changed property listing sent as a message from a local server that continuously monitors the real estate property listing database and transacts an access session to regularly provide in the message updates to the real estate property listing database and identify the at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the property listings are received from the server as at least one of an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, a Short Messaging Service message, and a Multimedia Messaging Service message.

39. A system according to claim 37, further comprising:

a communications interface for forming the communications link using at least one of a wireless network, a telephonic exchange, or a digital data internetwork.

40. A method for remotely retrieving real estate property listings using a portable computing device, comprising:

maintaining a real estate property listing database on a server comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings;

maintaining a local database comprising at least some of the property listings on a portable computing device;

periodically interfacing to the server to automatically update the local database with the real estate property listing database in dynamic search sessions via a logical communications link, comprising;

sending target characteristics from the portable computing device to the server; and

automatically retrieving those property listings matching the target characteristics from the real estate property listing database to the local database; and

receiving a notification of at least one of a new and changed property listing sent as a message from a local server that continuously monitors the real estate property listing database and transacts an access session to regularly provide in the message updates to the real estate property listing database and identify the at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising:

receiving the property listings from the server as at least one of an email message, a page, a facsimile, a telephone call, a Short Messaging Service message, and a Multimedia Messaging Service message.

42. A method according to claim 40, further comprising:

forming the communications link using at least one of a wireless network, a telephonic exchange, or a digital data internetwork.

43. An apparatus for transacting retrieval of property listings using portable computing means, comprising:

real estate property listing database means comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings maintained by server means;

portable computing means configured to periodically interface to the server means in a dynamic search session via logical communications means, comprising;

local database means comprising at least some of the property listings;

searching means for receiving target characteristics from the portable computing means;

comparing means for identifying those property listings matching the target characteristics; and

responding means for automatically providing the property listings from the real estate property listing database means to the local database means; and

local server means for regularly providing updates to the real estate property listing database means to the local database means of the personal computing means, comprising;

access session means for continuously transacting an access session to identify at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database means and

paging means for sending a notification of the at least one property listing to the personal computing means.

44. An apparatus for periodically notifying portable computing means of real estate property listing updates, comprising:

real estate property listing database means comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings;

local database means comprising at least some of the property listings on portable computing means;

server means that maintains the real estate property listing database means and for periodically interfacing to the portable computing means in a dynamic search session via logical communications means when matching property listings are identified, comprising;

searching means for storing target characteristics received from the portable computing means;

comparing means for periodically identifying those property listings matching the target characteristics in the property listing database means; and

responding means for automatically providing the property listings from the real estate property listing database means to the local database means; and

local server means, comprising;

access session means for continuously transacting an access session with the server means to identify at least one of a new and changed property listing; and

paging means for sending a notification of the at least one property listing to the personal computing means from the local server means to regularly provide updates to the real estate property listing database means.

45. An apparatus for remotely retrieving real estate property listings using a portable computing means, comprising:

real estate property listing database means on server means comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings;

local database means comprising at least some of the property listings on portable computing means; and

database means for periodically interfacing to the server means to automatically update the local database means with the real estate property listing database means in dynamic search sessions via logical communications means, comprising;

session access means for sending target characteristics from the portable computing means to the server means; and

searching means for automatically retrieving those property listings matching the target characteristics from the real estate property listing database means to the local database means and for receiving a notification of at least one of a new and changed property listing sent as a message from local server means that continuously monitors the real estate property listing database means and transact an access session to regularly provide in the message updates to the real estate property listing database means and identify the at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database means.

46. An apparatus for retrieval of property listings according to property class, comprising:

portable computing means;

real estate property listing database means comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings in at least one property class maintained on database server means;

local database means maintained on the portable computing means; and

client means for performing a dynamic session with the database server means, comprising;

searching means for providing target characteristics comprising at least one such property class to the database server means; and

session managing means for automatically receiving information identifying and describing those properties among the property listings that meet the target characteristics from the real estate property listing database means into the local database means; and

updater means for receiving a notification of at least one of a new and changed property listing sent as a message from local server means that continuously monitors the real estate property listing database means and transacts an access session to regularly provide in the message updates to the real estate property listing database means and identify the at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database means.

48. An apparatus according to claim 46, each property class comprising at least one of single family residential, common interest development, multi residential, mobile homes, residential lots and lands, commercial lots and lands, commercial/industrial, business opportunity, commercial rental, and residential rental.

47. A method for retrieval of property listings according to property class, comprising:

providing a portable computing device;

maintaining a real estate property listing database comprising a set of characteristics describing property listings in at least one property class;

maintaining a local database on the portable computing device;

performing a dynamic session with a database server that maintains the real estate property listing database, comprising;

providing target characteristics comprising at least one such property class to the database server; and

automatically receiving information identifying and describing those properties among the property listings that meet the target characteristics from the real estate property listing database into the local database; and

receiving a notification of at least one of a new and changed property listing sent as a message from a local server that continuously monitors the real estate property listing database and transacts an access session to regularly provide in the message updates to the real estate property listing database and identify the at least one of a new and changed property listing in the real estate property listing database.

49. A method according to claim 47, each property class comprising at least one of single family residential, common interest development, multi residential, mobile homes, residential lots and lands, commercial lots and lands, commercial/industrial, business opportunity, commercial rental, and residential rental.