Method and system for advertising real estate over the internet

• US 20020184117A1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Properties Online, LLC
• Original Assignee: Properties Online, LLC
• Inventors: Provost, Amanda
• Granted Patent: US 6,760,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

An Internet-based method and system permits users to list their real estate properties on respective web site pages, edit their pages, and create new pages for additional listings. A feature of the invention provides for opening a domain name file for each new page and for E-mailing a request to register the new domain names. Such web site creation and editing may be made whenever the user wishes by simply accessing a home page, entering a corresponding service function such as editing an existing page or creating a new page. The user can then carry out the selected function from a personal computer over the Internet. The domain name may correspond to a parameter of the property such as its street address.

Claims

1. A method of advertising products and services through at least one web site on the Internet, such products and services having frequently changing parameters rendering it desirable for a seller to also frequently modify the web site to keep the advertising current, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a home web site;

b) determining at said home web site whether a user is an existing customer or a new customer and linking to either of at least two alternative second web sites depending upon said determination;

c) if the user is an existing customer, presenting user log-in data entry at said corresponding second web site;

d) verifying that the log-in data is valid;

e) offering the verified user a selection from a plurality of service functions, at least one of said functions being the creation of a new web site for advertising an added product or service;

f) linking the user who has selected said creation service function to a site creation page and permitting the user to select a new site layout and to enter data related to said added product or service;

g) providing payment data entry to said user and verifying said payment data; and

h) linking the user to a final page for finalizing said new site creation, updating appropriate database entries, and obtaining a file folder corresponding to a domain name for said new web site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an Email to an appropriate agency requesting registration of said domain name.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an Email to said customer acknowledging said new web site creation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an Email to a selected third party acknowledging said new web site creation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in step e) at least one other of said functions is the amendment of an existing customer site;

and further comprising the step of i) linking the user who has selected said amendment service function to an administer page providing existing web page editing entries to said user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

i) if the user is a new customer, presenting new customer account creation data entry at another corresponding second web site;

j) verifying that account creation data is not duplicative and does not cause a conflict; and

k) adding said new customer user to a corresponding data base.

7. A method of advertising real estate properties at a web site on the Internet;

the method comprising the steps of;

a) providing a home web site;

b) providing user log-in data entry to verify the user'"'"'s account status;

c) linking the verified user to a new site creation page permitting the user to select a new site layout regarding at least one additional real estate property and to enter data pertaining to said additional real estate property;

d) presenting a page to permit said user to confirm said new site layout and data, update appropriate database entries corresponding to said new site layout and data, and create a file folder corresponding to a domain name for said new site.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising the additional step of sending E-mail to an appropriate agency requesting registration of said domain name.

9. The method of claim 7 comprising the additional step of sending an E-mail to said customer acknowledging said new site creation.

10. The method of claim 7 comprising the additional step of sending an E-mail to a selected third party acknowledging said new site creation.

11. A method of advertising real estate through a central portal on the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a home web site;

b) determining at said home web site whether a user is a new seller or an existing seller;

c) if the user is a new seller, enabling the new seller to create an account;

d) returning the new seller to the home web site upon creating the account such that the new seller becomes an existing seller;

e) if the user is an existing seller, presenting the existing seller with log-in data entry at a second web site;

f) verifying that the log-in data is valid such that the existing seller is a verified seller;

e) offering the verified seller the ability to create a new web site for providing information on the real estate;

f) linking the verified seller to a site creation page wherein the verified seller may select a new site layout and enter data relating to the real estate;

whereby said verified seller may continually access the new web site creation for updating and deleting data on the new web site creation, and whereby a buyer may access the new web site creation indirectly through the home site page or directly through a URL that identifies the new web site creation.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing payment data entry to the verified seller verifying said payment data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising linking the verified seller to a final page for finalizing the new web site creation.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising offering the verified seller a plurality of service functions.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said server device also provides for editing of at least one said web site page of each said user.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said domain name corresponds to a parameter of said new real estate property listing.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said parameter is the street address of said new real estate property listing.

15. A system for advertising real estate on the Internet and permitting a user to add new linked web sites corresponding to additional real estate properties offered by the user;

the system comprising;

a plurality of computers each having an Internet browser and being connected for communication through an ISP to the Internet;

at least one web server having a corresponding data base and being connected to said Internet, said web server and corresponding data base having account and web site data for a plurality of users, each such user being assigned at least one web site page pertaining to at least one real estate property; and

said server having a device for receiving data corresponding to a new real estate property listing, generating a corresponding new web site page and creating a file having a corresponding domain name.