Collaborative system for online search

• US 10,078,866 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Inventors: Eraker, David, Dougherty, Adam Michael, Smith, Edward M., Eraker, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Sittner, Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US15/436,443
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/167 Closing

Abstract

A collaborative real estate search is described. Overlay data including indications of properties for sale within a geographic area are provided to a first user device. The overlay data are capable of being overlaid on a map of the geographic area on a user interface. Selections of some of the properties for sale are received from the first user device and a list of those properties is stored within a folder associated with the first user. The system enables a second user device—associated with a second user who is associated with the first user—to access the list of the properties selected by the user. This includes enabling the second user device to cause information regarding the properties to be stored within the folder. The information is made available for display on a user interface of the first user device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more data stores including information identifying;

a plurality of land parcels offered for acquisition within a geographic area; and

a plurality of user accounts associated with non-real-estate agent end-users of the system, the plurality of user accounts including at least a first user account associated with a first computing device and a second user account associated with a second computing device; and

one or more processors in communication with the data store, the one or more processors configured to at least;

generate a first content item for display on the first computing device, the first content item corresponding to a first user interface through which a first user associated with the first user account can;

select a land parcel, from the plurality of land parcels, to designate an association between the land parcel and the first user account, and

select, from the plurality of user accounts, multiple other user accounts as authorized to;

i) view the association of the land parcel and the first user account, and ii) designate an association between an additional land parcel of the plurality of land parcels and the first user account;

receive, via the first user interface, a selection of the land parcel to designate the association between the land parcel and the first user account;

generate, within the one or more data stores, the association of the land parcel with the first user account;

receive, via the first user interface, selection of the second user account as authorized to;

i) view the association of the land parcel and the first user account, and ii) designate the association between the additional land parcel as associated with the first user account;

generate a second content item for display on the second computing device, the second content item corresponding to a second user interface that;

indicates to a second user associated with the second user account, the association of the land parcel and the first user account, and

enables selection of the additional land parcel to designate the association between the additional land parcel and the first user account;

receive, via the second user interface, the selection of the at least one additional land parcel to designate the association between the additional land parcel and the first user account;

generate, within the one or more data stores, the association between the first user account and the additional land parcel;

receive, via the first user interface, an authorization to permit a third user account, from the plurality of user accounts, i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between a third land parcel and the first user account;

transmit a third content item to a third computing associated with the third user account, the third content item corresponding to a third user interface that;

indicates the association of the land parcel and the first user account, and

enables selection of the third land parcel to designate the association between the third land parcel and the first user account;

receive, via the third user interface, a selection of the third land parcel to designate the association of the third land parcel and the first user account; and

generate, within the one or more data stores, the association of first user account and the third land parcel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one land parcel of the plurality of land parcels is a real estate property.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user interface further enables the first user to transmit a message to an agent, and wherein the second user account is distinct from an account of the agent.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more data stores further include information identifying one or more agent accounts distinct from the plurality of user accounts.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second user accounts are associated with an individual agent account of the one or more agent accounts.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user interface further enables the first user to provide a comment associated with the land parcel, and wherein the second user interface displays the comment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second user interface further enables a second user associated with the second computing device to provide a comment associated with the land parcel, and wherein the first user interface displays the comment to the first user.

8. Non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to:

generate a first content item for display on a first user computing device associated with a first user, the first content item corresponding to a first user interface that enables a first user to;

select a land parcel, from a plurality of land parcels for which information is maintained on the computing system, to designate an association of the land parcel and a first user account of the first user, and

select, from a plurality of user accounts associated with non-real-estate agent end-users of the computing system, multiple other user accounts as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between an additional land parcel of the plurality of land parcels and the first user account;

receive, via the first user interface, a selection of the land parcel to designate the association of the land parcel and the first user account;

receive, via the first user interface, selection a second user account, of the plurality of user accounts, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between the additional land parcel and the first user account;

generate, within one or more data stores of the computing system, the association of the first user account and the land parcel;

generate a second content item for display on a second user computing device associated with a second user, the second content item corresponding to a second user interface that;

indicates the association of the land parcel and the first user account, and

enables selection of the additional land parcel to designate the association between the additional land parcel and the first user account;

receive, via the second user interface, the selection of the at least one additional land parcel to designate the association of the additional land parcel and the first user account;

generate, within the one or more data stores, the association of the first user account with the additional land parcel;

receive, via the first user interface, selection of a third user account, from the plurality of user accounts, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between a third land parcel and the first user account;

transmit, to a third computing associated with the third user account, a third content item corresponding to a third user interface that indicates the association of the land parcel and the first user account and that enables selection of the third land parcel to designate the association of the third land parcel and the first user account;

receive, via the third user interface, the selection of the third land parcel to designate the association of the third land parcel and the first user account; and

generate, within the one or more data stores, the association of the first user account and the third land parcel.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the first user interface further enables the first user to transmit a message to an agent, and wherein the second user account is distinct from an account of the agent.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the second user interface further enables selection of one or more other user accounts, from the plurality of user accounts on the computing system, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between additional land parcels and the first user account, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computing system to:

receive, via the second user interface, selection of a fourth user account, of the plurality of user accounts, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between additional land parcels and the first user account; and

store within the one or more data stores an authorization of the fourth user account i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between additional land parcels and the first user account.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computing system to:

transmit, to a computing device associated with the fourth user account, a fourth content item corresponding to a fourth user interface that enables selection of a fourth land parcel to designate an association of the fourth land parcel with the first user account;

receive, via the fourth user interface, the selection of the fourth land parcel; and

generate, within the one or more data stores, the association of the first user account and the fourth land parcel.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the first user interface includes a map of a geographic area include the plurality of land parcels.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the selection of the land parcel is received in response to selection of the land parcel as displayed on the map.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the first user interface further enables the first user to provide a comment associated with the land parcel, and wherein the second user interface displays the comment.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

generating a first content item corresponding to a first user interface that enables a first user to;

select a land parcel, from a plurality of land parcels, to designate an association between the land parcel and a first user account of the first user, and

select, from a plurality of user accounts associated with non-real-estate agent end-users, multiple other user accounts as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between an additional land parcel of the plurality of land parcels and the first user account;

receiving, via the first user interface, a selection of the land parcel to designate an association of the first user account with the land parcel;

receiving, via the first user interface, selection of a second user account, of the plurality of user accounts, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate the association between the additional land parcel and the first user account;

generating, within one or more data stores, the association of the first user account and the land parcel;

generating a second content item for display on a second computing associated with the second user account, the second content item corresponding to a second user interface that;

indicates the association of the land parcel and the first user account, and

enables selection of the additional land parcel to designate the association between the additional land parcel and the first user account;

receiving, via the second user interface, the selection of the at least one additional land parcel;

generating, within the one or more data stores, the association of the first user account and the additional land parcel;

receiving, via the first user interface, selection of a third user account, from the plurality of user accounts, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association between a third land parcel and the first user account;

transmitting, to a third computing associated with the third user account, a third content item corresponding to a third user interface that indicates the association of the land parcel and the first user account and that enables selection of the third land parcel to designate the association of the third land parcel and the first user account;

receiving, via the third user interface, the selection of the third land parcel to designate the association of the third land parcel and the first user account; and

generating, within the one or more data stores, the association of the first user account and the third land parcel.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the first user interface further enables the first user to transmit a message to an agent, and wherein the second user account is distinct from an account of the agent.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the first user interface further enables the first user to provide a comment associated with the land parcel, and wherein the second user interface displays the comment.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the second user interface further enables selection of one or more other user accounts, from the plurality of user accounts on the computing system, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association of additional land parcels and the first user account, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

receiving, via the second user interface, selection of a fourth user account, of the plurality of user accounts, as authorized i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association of additional land parcels and the first user account; and

storing within the one or more data stores an authorization to the fourth user account i) to view the association of the land parcel and the first user account and ii) to designate an association of additional land parcels and the first user account.