Method and apparatus for storage and distribution of real estate related data

• US 20060190285A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: West Virginia University
• Original Assignee: West Virginia University
• Inventors: Baker, David V., Harris, Trevor M., Refsland, Scot Thrane
• Application Number:
  US11/267,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190285A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software for storage and distribution of real estate related data. Some embodiments include a database of data representing three-dimensional topographic views of geographic areas and a computer system adapted to present a topographic view of a geographic area based on a query by a user for information related to a listing of a property for sale or lease. In some embodiments, properties for sale or lease are plotted and identified within a three-dimensional topographic view providing the searcher a neighborhood view of the area of interest. Users can move around the three-dimensional topographic view as if they are flying overhead.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a database of data representing three-dimensional topographic views of geographic areas;

a computer system adapted to present a topographic view of a geographic area based on a query by a user for information related to a listing of a property for sale or lease.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the database of data representing three-dimensional topographic views of geographic areas includes aerial photographic data that is displayable on the computer system along with the topographic view.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein information related to a listing of a property for sale or lease is retrieved by the computer system from a real estate listing service database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is a mobile computing device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the mobile computing device includes a global-positioning data receiving device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the mobile computing device is a personal digital assistant.

7. A system comprising:

a three-dimensional terrain module;

an imaging module;

a mapping module;

a property listing module; and

a display module, wherein the display module generates visual display output data including data from one or more of the three-dimensional terrain module, the imaging module, the mapping module, and the property listing module.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the display module transmits the visual display output data over a network in response to a request for the visual output data.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the visual display output data is viewable in a software application capable of functioning at least in part as a web browser.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a feature module, wherein the feature module provides access to data from features including GeoPoints, businesses, schools, parks, government entities, and other features of interest to parties involved in a real estate search.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a search module, wherein the search module searches data including data available from the property listing module, the mapping module, and the feature module based on received search criteria.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein output from the search module in response to received search criteria includes search result identifiers plotted with in the visual display output of the display module.

13. A method comprising:

receiving real estate listing search criteria;

searching a real estate listing database for available properties based on the received real estate listing criteria;

receiving a number of available properties from the searching; and

plotting the available properties in a three-dimensional topographic view.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving real estate listing search criteria includes:

receiving two or more search locations and a radius of interest from each;

identifying a union area of the two or more search areas;

searching the real estate listing database for available properties within the union area; and

plotting the available properties in the three-dimensional topographic view, wherein the three-dimensional view is of an area including the union area.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the search criteria includes text search criteria.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving feature category filtering input, wherein the feature category filtering input identifies categories of features to display; and

searching a feature database to identify features to plot in the three-dimensional topographic view; and

plotting the identified features in the three-dimensional topographic view.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the feature category filtering input identifies one or more of academic facilities, businesses, entertainment facilities, landmarks, and government facilities.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

measuring distances between plotted available properties and plotted identified features;

plotting in the three-dimensional topographic view, the measured distances.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein plotting the available properties in a three-dimensional topographic view includes displaying for an available property an image of the respective property floating in the three-dimensional topographic view above the property.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the three-dimensional topographic view is an interactive view allowing a user to move throughout the three-dimensional topographic view.