Networked computer system providing an integrated suite of web services and a geographic information system (GIS) for real property and land parcels

• US 8,255,418 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Real Estate Portal USA LLC
• Original Assignee: Real Estate Portal USA LLC
• Inventors: Fuhry, David Patrick, Harwood, Joseph Walter, McGee, Robert James, Schuring, Allison McDaniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Cheryl
• Application Number:
  US12/772,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 707/756, 707/770, 707/802, 705/313, 709/203
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

Systems and methods to search for, gather, transform, integrate, and present information representative of real property and land parcels. The systems and methods are web-based and include a spatial database configuration having an input side and an output side. The input side is capable of transforming data gathered from multiple disparate sources in an automated or semi-automated manner. The output side is capable of presenting an intuitive interface for users to search for, access, and view the transformed information.

Claims

1. A networked computer system to search for, gather, transform, integrate, and present information representative of real property and land parcels, said networked computer system comprising:

a spatial database architecture of hardware and software configured and programmed to;

automatically import source information representative of real property and land parcels from a plurality of disparate data sources across a plurality of disparate counties, assessing authorities, taxing authorities, and mapping authorities and being in a plurality of disparate data formats,

automatically transform said source information from said plurality of disparate data formats having said source information to a standardized data format having normalized data,

automatically store said normalized data in said standardized data format,

perform a global search of said stored normalized data based on any of a plurality of predefined search parameters and combinations thereof to generate search results data; and

at least one web server operationally interfacing to said spatial database architecture and being configured and programmed to provide access to and real-time interaction with said spatial database architecture by an end-user.

2. The networked computer system of claim 1 wherein said spatial database architecture is further configured and programmed to export at least a portion of said search results data as selected by said end-user via said at least one web server.

3. The networked computer system of claim 1 wherein said at least one web server is further configured and programmed to transform at least a portion of said search results data to map image data.

4. The networked computer system of claim 1 wherein said at least one web server is further configured and programmed to direct said end-user towards at least one external web site to access external data associated with said search results data.

5. The networked computer system of claim 4 wherein said external data includes at least one of county auditor/assessor data and county recorder data.

6. The networked computer system of claim 4 wherein said spatial database architecture is further configured and programmed to analyze and transform at least one of said search results data and said external data to form analysis results data.

7. The networked computer system of claim 6 wherein said spatial database architecture is further configured and programmed to export at least a portion of said analysis results data as selected by said end-user via said at least one web server.

8. The networked computer system of claim 6 wherein said analysis results data include at least one of tax analysis data and comparable properties data.

9. The networked computer system of claim 6 further comprising at least one end-user computer device operationally interfacing to said at least one web server and configured and programmed to receive and display user interface screens, map image data, said search results data, said external data, and said analysis results data.

10. The networked computer system of claim 1 wherein said spatial database architecture and said at least one web server are further configured and programmed to direct said end-user towards at least one external map web site and to integrate at least a portion of said search results data with at least one map of said at least one external map web site.

11. The networked computer system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of predefined search parameters include at least a parcel identification number and a deeded owner name.

12. The networked computer system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of predefined search parameters include at least one of a land use code, a sale price, an address, a neighborhood code, a transfer date, a school district, a zip code, a municipality, a land value, an improvement value, a total market value, a building square-footage, and an acreage.

13. The networked computer system of claim 1 wherein said access to and real-time interaction with said spatial database architecture is via at least one of a web site hosted on said at least one web server and a web server application supported by said at least one web server.

14. A networked computer system to search for, gather, transform, integrate, and present information representative of real property and land parcels, said networked computer system comprising:

a spatial database architecture of hardware and software comprising;

means for automatically importing source information representative of real property and land parcels from a plurality of disparate data sources across a plurality of disparate counties, assessing authorities, taxing authorities, and mapping authorities and being in a plurality of disparate data formats,

means for automatically transforming said source information from said plurality of disparate data formats having said source information to a standardized data format having normalized data,

means for automatically storing said normalized data in said standardized data format, and

means for performing an end-user directed global search of said stored normalized data based on any of a plurality of predefined search parameters and combinations thereof to generate search results data; and

at least one web server comprising;

means for operationally interfacing to said spatial database architecture, and

means for providing access to and real-time interaction with said spatial database architecture by an end-user.

15. The networked computer system of claim 14 further comprising means for providing access to and real-time interaction with said means for performing a global search by an end-user.

16. The networked computer system of claim 14 further comprising means for transforming at least a portion of said search results data to map image data.

17. The networked computer system of claim 14 further comprising means for exporting at least a portion of said search results data as selected by said end-user.

18. The networked computer system of claim 14 further comprising means for directing said end-user towards at least one external web site to access external data associated with said search results data.

19. The networked computer system of claim 18 wherein said external data includes at least one of county auditor/assessor data and county recorder data.

20. The networked computer system of claim 18 further comprising means for analyzing and transforming at least one of said search results data and said external data to form analysis results data.

21. The networked computer system of claim 20 further comprising means for exporting at least a portion of said analysis results data as selected by an end-user.

22. The networked computer system of claim 20 wherein said analysis results data include at least one of tax analysis data and comparable properties data.

23. The networked computer system of claim 20 further comprising means for displaying user interface screens, map image data, said search results data, said external data, and said analysis results data.

24. The networked computer system of claim 14 further comprising means for directing said end-user towards at least one external map web site and integrating at least a portion of said search results data with at least one map of said at least one external map web site.

25. The networked computer system of claim 14 wherein said plurality of predefined search parameters include at least a parcel identification number and a deeded owner name.

26. The networked computer system of claim 14 wherein said plurality of predefined search parameters include at least one of a land use code, a sale price, an address, a neighborhood code, a transfer date, a school district, a zip code, a municipality, a land value, an improvement value, a total market value, a building square-footage, and an acreage.

27. A computerized method to search for, gather, transform, integrate, and present information representative of real property and land parcels, said method comprising:

using a spatial database architecture of hardware and software to;

automatically import source information representative of real property and land parcels from a plurality of disparate data sources across a plurality of disparate counties, assessing authorities, taxing authorities, and mapping authorities and being in a plurality of disparate data formats;

automatically transform said source information from said plurality of disparate data formats having said source information to a standardized data format having normalized data;

automatically store said normalized data in said standardized data format; and

perform an end-user initiated global search of said stored normalized data based on any of a plurality of prefined search parameters and combinations thereof to generate search results data; and

using at least one web server to;

operationally interface to said spatial database architecture, and

provide access to and real-time interaction with said spatial database architecture by an end-user.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising transforming at least a portion of said search results data to map image data.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising exporting at least a portion of said search results data as selected by an end-user.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising directing said end-user towards at least one external web site to access external data associated with said search results data.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said external data includes at least one of county auditor/assessor data and county recorder data.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising analyzing and transforming at least one of said search results data and said external data to form analysis results data.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising exporting at least a portion of said analysis results data as selected by an end-user.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said analysis results data include at least one of tax analysis data and comparable properties data.

35. The method of claim 27 further comprising directing said end-user towards at least one external map web site and integrating at least a portion of said search results data with at least one map of said at least one external map web site.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising displaying at least one of user interface screens, map image data, said search results data, said external data, and said analysis results data.

37. The method of claim 27 wherein said plurality of predefined search parameters include at least a parcel identification number and a deeded owner name.

38. The method of claim 27 wherein said plurality of predefined search parameters include at least one of a land use code, a sale price, an address, a neighborhood code, a transfer date, a school district, a zip code, a municipality, a land value, an improvement value, a total market value, a building square-footage, and an acreage.