Identification, storage and display of land data on a website

• US 20020198736A1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LandNet Corp.
• Original Assignee: LandNet Corp.
• Inventors: Harrison, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management

Abstract

Disclosed is a land website that provides a personalized database on which data can be stored, retrieved, customized and communicated (e.g., by e-mail) relating to a particular piece of property. The database can be accessible via a password and a security code over the Internet and may be encrypted for transmission. Land websites can be established that contain image data, map libraries, virtual tours, legal descriptions, title information, e-documents, actual pictures of property and various other information. Unique 3-D imaging of composite images can be provided on the land website as well as fly-around composite 3-D images. The land website provides a unique way of packaging information relating to a piece of land in a single, accessible location. A boundary applet tool is provided on the land website portal that allows a user to simply and easily draw boundaries around the property of interest and then submit an order for more detailed information about the property of interest. Various map data and image data are provided to assist the user in drawing the boundaries. Acreage amounts are automatically calculated based upon the size and area drawn by the user. Properties of interest can be easily accessed by a global coordinate system or by searching on map data that is provided on a wide range of scales.

Claims

1. A method of generating a personalized land website that provides information relating to an area of land, said personalized land website providing a dedicated Internet accessible location that provides an archive of said information, comprising:

providing map image data over the Internet that is accessible to a creator that desires to generate said land website;

providing boundary drawing tools to said user to allow said creator to circumscribe a boundary around said area of land on said map image data;

determining global coordinates of said boundary;

generating additional map image data and other image data located within and around said boundary;

storing said map image data, additional map image data and other image data in storage locations on said land website that are accessible to users of said personalized land website;

providing additional storage locations on said personalized land website that are accessible to said users to allow storage of text information relating to said area of land.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing further storage locations on said personalized land website that are accessible to said users to allow said creator to store photographic data relating to said area of land.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing toggling tools that allow said users to rapidly access said additional map image data and other image data located within and around said boundary.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically generating said boundary on said additional map image data and said other image data;

displaying said boundary with said additional map image data and said other image data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing imaging tools to allow said map image data, additional map image data and other image data to be modified.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of providing imaging tools further comprises:

providing imaging tools that allow features to be added or removed from said image data;

providing imaging tools that allow said image data to be combined.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing additional storage locations further comprises providing additional storage locations on said land website that are accessible to said users to allow storage of legal documents relating to said area of land.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing map image data comprises providing USGS map image data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating additional map image data comprises generating BLM maps.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating additional map image data comprises generating 2.5 D map image data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating other image data comprises generating satellite image data.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating other image data comprises generating aerial image data.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating other image data comprises generating 3D satellite image data.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of protecting said storage areas further comprises:

providing separate security codes for said storage area;

limiting access to said storage areas by controlling distribution of said security codes.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing additional storage areas for storing textual information relating to said area of land.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing further storage areas for storing photographic information relating to said area of land.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing image modification tools to allow modification of said map image data, additional map image data and other image data.

14. A method of generating a personalized land website that contains information relating to an area of land at a single location that is accessible on the Internet comprising:

providing map image data over the Internet that is accessible to a creator that desires to generate said personalized land websites;

providing boundary drawing tools to said creator to allow said creator to circumscribe a boundary around said area of land;

generating a frame window around said boundary;

determining global coordinates of said frame window;

providing additional map image data and other image data located within said global coordinates of said frame window;

storing said map image data, additional map image data and other image data in storage areas on said personalized land website;

protecting said storage areas and additional storage areas with at least one security code.

19. A land website that allows a creator to generate a personalized land website, said personalized land website providing a dedicated Internet accessible location for archiving information relating to an area of land comprising:

a storage device that stores map image data that is accessible to a creator of said personalized land website;

boundary drawing tools that allow said creator to circumscribe as boundary around said area of land using said map image data and said other image data;

a frame window generator that generates a frame window around said area of land by identifying global coordinates on said map image data and other image data that identify map image data and other image data to be stored on said personalized land website;

an Internet accessible storage area on said land website having an Internet address that stores said map image data and other image data as a personalized land website for access by users;

browser compatible imaging tools that interface with browsers utilized by said users to allow said users to view said map image data and other image data.