Electronic real estate access system

• US 9,128,471 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shah Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Shah Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Shahid, Ayman Atef, Shahid, Shady Atef
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBINIYI, PAULSON IDOWU
• Application Number:
  US13/691,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.28, 340/5.61, 340/5.65, 340/5.72, 340/7.73, 340/5.74, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.85, 705/7.29, 705/51, 705/313
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00206 the keyless data carrier being hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A system for providing physical access to a building that is for sale, lease, or rent is described. The system includes a server, a remote device located at the building that prohibits access to the building, and a handheld device. The handheld device transmits location information for the handheld device and identification information to the server. The server identifies the building based on the location information and transmits marketing information for the building to the handheld device. The device displays the marketing information and transmits a request for access to the building, the request transmitted to the server. The remote device is configured to provide access to the building when the remote device receives an access signal from the server or from the handheld device. The access signal is sent from the server based on confirmation of the location information for the handheld device and confirmation of the identification information.

Claims

1. A system for providing physical access to a building that is for sale, lease, or rent, the system comprising:

a server;

a remote device located at the building, the remote device configured to prohibit access to the building; and

a handheld device having;

a display;

a location receiver;

an rf transmitter;

an rf receiver;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored computer instructions executable on the one or more processors, the computer instructions comprising instructions for;

causing to be transmitted, to the server, first location information for the handheld device based on location signals received at the location receiver;

causing to be transmitted, to the server, identification information for the handheld device or the user of the handheld device;

causing to be received, from the server, marketing information for the building, wherein the building was identified based on the first location information transmitted to the server and based on user profile information associated with the identification information;

causing to be displayed, on the display, the received marketing information; and

causing to be transmitted, to the server, a request to provide access to the building;

wherein the remote device is configured to provide access to the building when an access signal is received from the server or the handheld device, and wherein the access signal is sent based on confirmation of second location information for the handheld device and confirmation of the identification information for the handheld device or the user of the handheld device;

wherein the confirmation of the second location information for the handheld device comprises confirmation that the second location information indicates the handheld device is within a threshold distance of the remote device; and

wherein the conformation of the second location information for the handheld device further comprises confirmation that the second location information is received within a determined time of receiving the request to provide access, wherein the first location information comprises a first absolute location and the second location information comprises a second absolute location, wherein a first distance between the first absolute location and the remote device is longer than a second distance between the second absolute location and the remote device, and wherein the second location information is caused to be transmitted subsequent to the first location information being caused to be transmitted, and wherein confirmation of the identification information for the handheld device or the user of the handheld device comprises;

accessing an identity data selected from the group consisting of biometric data, state issued identification data, and signature data.

2. The system of claim 1, the computer instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving a user input, the user input indicating interest in the marketing information;

causing to be transmitted, to the server, a marketing request to provide additional characteristics about the building, the marketing request transmitted in response to receiving the user input; and

receiving, from the server, supplementary characteristics about the building.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the threshold distance is based in part on the precision of the second location information.

4. The system of claim 1, the computer instructions further comprising instructions for:

causing to be received, from the server, the access signal; and

causing to be transmitted, to the remote device, the access signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the absolute location is determined based on GPS signal information.

6. A handheld device for coordinating physical access to a building that is for sale, lease, or rent, the handheld device comprising:

a display;

a location receiver;

an rf transmitter;

an rf receiver;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored computer instructions executable on the one or more processors, the computer instructions comprising instructions for;

causing to be transmitted, to one or more servers, first location information for the handheld device based on location signals received at the location receiver;

causing to be transmitted, to the one or more servers, identification information for the handheld device or the user of the handheld device;

causing to be received, from the one or more servers, marketing information for the building, wherein the building was identified by the one or more servers based on the first location information transmitted to the one or more servers;

causing to be displayed, on the display, the received marketing information; and

causing to be transmitted, to the one or more servers, a request to provide access to the building;

wherein a remote device is configured to provide access to the building in response to the remote device receiving an access signal from the one or more servers or the handheld device, and wherein the access signal is sent based on confirmation of second location information for the handheld device and confirmation of the identification information for the handheld device or the user of the handheld device; and

wherein the confirmation of the second location information for the handheld device comprises confirmation that the second location information indicates the handheld device is within a threshold distance of the remote device; and

wherein the conformation of the second location information for the handheld device further comprises confirmation that the second location information is received within a determined time of receiving the request to provide access, wherein the first location information comprises a first absolute location and the second location information comprises a second absolute location, wherein a first distance between the first absolute location and the remote device is longer than a second distance between the second absolute location and the remote device, and wherein the second location information is caused to be transmitted subsequent to the first location information being caused to be transmitted, and wherein confirmation of the identification information for the handheld device or the user of the handheld device comprises;

accessing an identity data selected from the group consisting of biometric data, state issued identification data, and signature data.

7. The handheld device of claim 6, the computer instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving a user input, the user input indicating interest in the marketing information;

causing to be transmitted, to the one or more servers, a marketing request to provide additional characteristics about the building, the marketing request transmitted in response to receiving the user input; and

receiving, from the one or more servers, supplementary characteristics about the building.

8. The handheld device of claim 6, wherein the threshold distance is based in part on the precision of the second location information.

9. The handheld device of claim 6, the computer instructions further comprising instructions for:

causing to be received, from the server, the access signal; and

causing to be transmitted, to the remote device, the access signal.

10. The handheld device of claim 6, wherein the absolute location is determined based on GPS signal information.