System and method for accessing geographic-based data

• US 20040128215A1
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Costar Realty Information Incorporated (CoStar Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CoStar Group Inc.
• Inventors: Hofman, Deborah, Evatt, Bob, Florance, Andrew C., Choi, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

A system and method for creating a unified commercial real estate data model through collection, distribution and use of information in connection with commercial real estate and for creating a web-based marketplace that facilitates the efficient and secure buying, selling, and leasing of commercial properties. The invention provides a digital marketplace in which the members of the commercial real estate and related business community can continuously interact and facilitate transactions by efficiently exchanging accurate and standardized information. An embodiment provides a system and method for providing communication and analytical tools that interface with a commercial real estate database and support commercial real estate transactions between parties. These communication and analytical tools can include: 1) a survey tool; 2) a commercial real estate transaction tool; 3) a tour scheduling tool; 4) an activity summary tool; 5) a tool for analyzing commercial real estate data; and 6) a map search tool.

Claims

1. In a system comprising a real estate database containing information regarding commercial real estate properties, a method for disseminating information contained in the real estate database comprising:

receiving from a user a series of points on a map that define a polygonal search area;

receiving search attributes from the user;

searching the real estate database for properties within the polygonal search area that meet the search attributes; and

displaying, to the user, information about the properties within the polygonal search area that meet the search attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the search attributes are specific to properties for lease.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying comprises plotting an icon on the map a location corresponding to a property within the polygonal search area that meets the search attributes.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying a photograph of the property when a mouse pointer is positioned over the icon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying comprises displaying a list of the properties within the polygonal search area that meet the search attributes, wherein the list provides property descriptions, property addresses, and property prices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the polygonal search area is irregular.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the map is an aerial photograph.

8. A method for retrieving geographic-based commercial real estate data comprising:

receiving an area drawn on a map;

converting the drawn area into pixels;

converting the pixels into latitude and longitude coordinates;

calculating a spatial index based on the latitude and longitude coordinates;

searching the commercial real estate database for properties matching the latitude and longitude coordinates and the spatial index; and

displaying the matching properties.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the drawn area is a radius, and wherein converting the drawn area into pixels comprises converting the drawn area into a bounding box defined by the length of the radius.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the drawn area is a polygon, and wherein converting the drawn area into pixels comprises converting the drawn area into multiple quadrangles based on the polygon.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates are converted by sending an XML message to a mapping application.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving additional search attributes, and wherein searching comprises searching the commercial real estate database for properties matching the latitude and longitude coordinates, the spatial index, and the search attributes.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the search attributes are specific to properties for lease.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the search attributes include price per building square foot, gross acres, and year built.