LAND SOFTWARE TOOL

• US 20080130955A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LandNet Corp.
• Original Assignee: LandNet Corp.
• Inventors: Graham, James J., Harrison, Craig D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/907 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user. A cursor drawing tool allows the Internet user to draw and edit boundaries on the map and image data by simply clicking the cursor on the corner points of the boundary. An acreage calculation tool is also provided that calculates the acreage of an enclosed boundary. A distance measurement tool is also provided. The cursor information tool provides information relating to the name and creation date of the map and image data in accordance with the location of the cursor on the screen. The information can be communicated by printing, downloading, or e-mailing.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining map identification information relating to a specific map in a set of digital maps in response to the location of a cursor comprising:

performing said method of obtaining said map identification information relating to said specific map in said set of digital maps in response to said location of said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

determining coordinates of said cursor on a screen displaying said set of digital maps by counting pixels from an origin point;

converting cursor screen coordinates to cursor geographic coordinates;

locating a correct row for said specific map in a plurality of rows of said set of digital maps by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum values of said plurality of rows;

locating a correct proximity location of said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum proximity values of maps in said correct row;

identifying said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with map polygons for maps located in said correct proximity location;

retrieving stored map identification information relating to said specific map; and

using said stored map identification information as a repository for said map identification information to perform investigatory functions relating to said specific map.

41. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing said investigatory functions using said repository, said investigatory functions selected from the group consisting of:

selling land, buying land, developing land, subdividing land, lending with respect to land, insuring with respect to land, determining ownership rights of land, surveying land, brokering land, appraising land, engineering with respect to land, planning with respect to land, researching land titles, financing land, performing an environmental audit, determining mineral rights of land, and determining water rights of land.

2. A method of obtaining map identification information relating to a specific map in a set of digital maps in response to the location of a cursor comprising:

performing said method of obtaining said map identification information relating to said specific map in said set of digital maps in response to said location of said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

determining coordinates of said cursor on a screen displaying said set of digital maps by counting pixels from an origin point;

converting cursor screen coordinates to cursor geographic coordinates;

locating a correct row for said specific map in a plurality of rows of said set of digital maps by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum values of said plurality of rows;

locating a correct proximity location of said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum proximity values of maps in said correct row;

identifying said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with map polygons for maps located in said correct proximity location;

retrieving stored map identification information relating to said specific map; and

updating said stored map identification information relating to said specific map identified by said cursor screen coordinates as said cursor screen coordinates change due to said cursor being moved.

3. A method of obtaining map identification information relating to a specific map in a set of digital maps in response to the location of a cursor comprising:

performing said method of obtaining said map identification information relating to said specific map in said set of digital maps in response to said location of said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

determining coordinates of said cursor on a screen displaying said set of digital maps by counting pixels from an origin point;

converting cursor screen coordinates to cursor geographic coordinates;

locating a correct row for said specific map in a plurality of rows of said set of digital maps by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum values of said plurality of rows;

locating a correct proximity location of said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum proximity values of maps in said correct row;

identifying said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with map polygons for maps located in said correct proximity location; and

retrieving stored map identification information relating to said specific map, wherein said stored map identification information comprises at least one of the group consisting of;

map dates, image dates, map names, image names, and other map data.

42. The method of claim 3 further comprising displaying said stored map identification information in a message center section of said screen.

4. A method of obtaining land description data relating to land described by a specific map in a set of digital maps in response to the location of a cursor comprising:

performing said method of obtaining said land description data relating to said specific map in said set of digital maps in response to said location of said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

determining coordinates of said cursor on a screen displaying said set of digital maps by counting pixels from an origin point;

converting cursor screen coordinates to cursor geographic coordinates;

locating a correct row for said specific map in a plurality of rows of said set of digital maps by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum values of said plurality of rows;

locating a correct proximity location of said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum proximity values of maps in said correct row;

identifying said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with map polygons for maps located in said correct proximity location; and

retrieving said land description data described by said specific map.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said land description data comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

streaming video of said land, ground level photo images of said land, title documents relating to said land, mineral rights relating to said land, water rights relating to said land, physical features of said land, information relating to man-made objects and structures built on said land, information relating to man-made objects and structures to be built on said land, and other data relating to said land.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising using said land description data to perform investigatory functions relating to said land described by said specific map.

43. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of performing said investigatory functions using said repository, said investigatory functions selected from the group consisting of:

selling land, buying land, developing land, subdividing land, lending with respect to land, insuring with respect to land, determining ownership rights of land, surveying land, brokering land, appraising land, engineering with respect to land, planning with respect to land, researching land titles, financing land, performing an environmental audit, determining mineral rights of land, and determining water rights of land.

7. A method of obtaining map description data relating to a specific map in a set of digital maps in response to the location of a cursor comprising:

performing said method of obtaining said map description data relating to said specific map in said set of digital maps in response to said location of said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

determining coordinates of said cursor on a screen displaying said set of digital maps by counting pixels from an origin point;

converting cursor screen coordinates to cursor geographic coordinates;

locating a correct row for said specific map in a plurality of rows of said set of digital maps by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum values of said plurality of rows;

locating a correct proximity location of said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum proximity values of maps in said correct row;

identifying said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with map polygons for maps located in said correct proximity location; and

retrieving stored map description data relating to said specific map.

44. The method of claim 7 wherein said stored map description data comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

nearest elevation with respect to said cursor geographic coordinates, nearby geographical features with respect to said cursor geographic coordinates, map legends, and map scale.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said nearby geographical features comprise at least one of the group consisting of:

lakes, parks, towns, natural objects, man-made objects, structures built on the land, and structures planned to be built on the land.

46. The method of claim 7 further comprising using said stored map description data as a repository for said map description data to perform investigatory functions relating to said specific map.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of performing said investigatory functions using said repository, said investigatory functions selected from the group consisting of:

selling land, buying land, developing land, subdividing land, lending with respect to land, insuring with respect to land, determining ownership rights of land, surveying land, brokering land, appraising land, engineering with respect to land, planning with respect to land, researching land titles, financing land, performing an environmental audit, determining mineral rights of land, and determining water rights of land.

8. A method of obtaining location description data relating to a specific map in a set of digital maps in response to the location of a cursor comprising:

performing said method of obtaining said location description data relating to said specific map in said set of digital maps in response to said location of said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

determining coordinates of said cursor on a screen displaying said set of digital maps by counting pixels from an origin point;

converting cursor screen coordinates to cursor geographic coordinates;

locating a correct row for said specific map in a plurality of rows of said set of digital maps by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum values of said plurality of rows;

locating a correct proximity location of said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum proximity values of maps in said correct row;

identifying said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with map polygons for maps located in said correct proximity location; and

retrieving said location description data relating to said specific map.

48. The method of claim 8 wherein said location description data comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

latitude and longitude coordinates;

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates;

county;

postal code;

parcel;

tract;

lot and block; and

township, range, and section.

49. The method of claim 8 further comprising updating said location description data identified by said cursor screen coordinates as said cursor screen coordinates change due to said cursor being moved.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising displaying said location description data in a message center section of said screen.

51. The method of claim 8 further comprising using said location description data to perform investigatory functions relating to said specific map.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of performing said investigatory functions using said location description data, said investigatory functions selected from the group consisting of:

selling land, buying land, developing land, subdividing land, lending with respect to land, insuring with respect to land, determining ownership rights of land, surveying land, brokering land, appraising land, engineering with respect to land, planning with respect to land, researching land titles, financing land, performing an environmental audit, determining mineral rights of land, and determining water rights of land.

9. A method of obtaining e-documents relating to a specific map in a set of digital maps in response to the location of a cursor comprising:

performing said method of obtaining said e-documents relating to land described by said specific map in said set of digital maps in response to said location of said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

determining coordinates of said cursor on a screen displaying said set of digital maps by counting pixels from an origin point;

converting cursor screen coordinates to cursor geographic coordinates;

locating a correct row for said specific map in a plurality of rows of said set of digital maps by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum values of said plurality of rows;

locating a correct proximity location of said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with minimum and maximum proximity values of maps in said correct row;

identifying said specific map by comparing said cursor geographic coordinates with map polygons for maps located in said correct proximity location; and

retrieving stored e-documents relating to said land described by said specific map.

53. The method of claim 9 wherein said stored e-documents comprise at least one of the group consisting of:

title abstracts, deed information, legal descriptions, leases, rights-of-way, surveys, watershed studies, easements, loan information, appraisal reports, grazing leases, insurance, conservation easements, ownership rights, and public land leases.

54. The method of claim 9 further comprising using said e-documents to perform investigatory functions relating to said specific map.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising the step of performing said investigatory functions using said e-documents, said investigatory functions selected from the group consisting of:

selling land, buying land, developing land, subdividing land, lending with respect to land, insuring with respect to land, determining ownership rights of land, surveying land, brokering land, appraising land, engineering with respect to land, planning with respect to land, researching land titles, financing land, performing an environmental audit, determining mineral rights of land, and determining water rights of land.

10. A method of locating a boundary on a plurality of digital maps and images comprising:

performing said method of locating said boundary on said plurality of digital maps and images using an Internet accessible software tool;

obtaining a first digital map with said boundary overlaid on said first digital map, wherein said boundary is comprised of a plurality of boundary points delineating screen coordinates of said boundary on said first digital map;

analyzing said screen coordinates of said plurality of boundary points;

generating geographic coordinates for said plurality of boundary points in response to analysis of said screen coordinates;

generating lines between said geographic coordinates of said plurality of boundary points to produce boundary lines of said boundary;

displaying said boundary lines;

displaying said plurality of boundary points and said boundary lines at corresponding geographic locations on additional digital maps and images;

toggling between said additional digital maps and images to view the location of said plurality of boundary points and said boundary lines on said additional digital maps and images; and

adjusting said location of said plurality of boundary points, as needed, to accurately locate said plurality of boundary points on said first digital map and said additional digital maps and images.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing access to said method of locating said boundary on said plurality of digital maps and images to a user over an Internet connection for a fee.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said fee comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a periodic subscription fee permitting unlimited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map and a periodic subscription fee permitting limited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising paying said fee by credit card using secure processes over said Internet connection.

14. A method of locating a boundary point on a plurality of digital maps and images comprising:

performing said method of locating said boundary point on said plurality of digital maps and images using an Internet accessible software tool;

obtaining a first digital map with said boundary point overlaid on said first digital map, wherein said boundary point has screen coordinates on said first digital map;

analyzing said screen coordinates of said boundary point;

generating geographic coordinates for said boundary point in response to analysis of said screen coordinates;

displaying said boundary point at a corresponding geographic location on additional digital maps and images;

toggling between said additional digital maps and images to view the location of said boundary point on said additional digital maps and images; and

adjusting said location of said boundary point, as needed, to accurately locate said boundary point on said first digital map and said additional digital maps and images.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing access to said method of locating said boundary point on said plurality of digital maps and images to a user over an Internet connection for a fee.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said fee comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a periodic subscription fee permitting unlimited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map and a periodic subscription fee permitting limited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising paying said fee by credit card using secure processes over said Internet connection.

18. A method of generating a boundary on a digital map using a cursor comprising:

performing said method of generating said boundary on said digital map using said cursor using an Internet accessible software tool;

generating an initial boundary point by activation of said cursor at an initial location on said digital map by clicking a mouse;

analyzing screen coordinates of said initial boundary point;

generating geographic coordinates for said initial boundary point in response to analysis of said screen coordinates;

drawing said boundary from said initial boundary point using a drawing tool;

analyzing screen coordinates of said boundary drawn by said drawing tool;

generating additional boundary points for said boundary in response to analysis of said boundary drawn by said drawing tool;

analyzing screen coordinates of said additional boundary points;

generating geographic coordinates for said additional boundary points; and

generating boundary lines between said geographic coordinates of said initial and additional boundary points.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising deleting a subset of boundary points from said boundary points of said boundary after said boundary is completed and redrawing said boundary accordingly.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising adding a subset of boundary points to said boundary points of said boundary after said boundary is completed and redrawing said boundary accordingly.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising panning across said digital map to assist in creating and editing said boundary.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said process of panning across said digital map to assist in creating and editing said boundary is performed while continuously creating and editing said boundary and without deselecting said drawing tool.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

first searching geographic databases accessible on said Internet to locate said digital map that shows an area of interest for said boundary to be generated on said digital map; and

viewing said area of interest on said digital map prior to generating said boundary on said digital map.

24. The method of claim 18 further comprising accessing said Internet accessible software tool through an affiliate website.

25. The method of claim 18 further comprising creating a land website to store said boundary.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising selecting said digital map from a set of digital maps presented in a map gallery.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein said boundary points are connected as a series of said boundary lines, said series of said boundary lines having a line beginning and a line ending delineated by a beginning boundary point and an ending boundary point, said beginning boundary point and said ending boundary point match, and each boundary line of said boundary lines being generated and displayed as said boundary points are added.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein said boundary points are connected as a series of said boundary lines, said series of said boundary lines having a line beginning and a line ending delineated by a beginning boundary point and an ending boundary point, said beginning boundary point and said ending boundary point do not match, and each boundary line of said boundary lines being generated and displayed as said boundary points are added.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein said boundary points are connected as a series of said boundary lines and said boundary lines do not cross, each boundary line of said boundary lines being generated and displayed as said boundary points are added.

30. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

saving said boundary to computer readable storage media;

exiting said Internet accessible software tool;

starting said Internet accessible software tool; and

re-opening said boundary in said Internet accessible software tool.

31. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing access to said method of generating said boundary on said digital map using said cursor to a user over an Internet connection for a fee.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said fee comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a periodic subscription fee permitting unlimited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map and a periodic subscription fee permitting limited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising paying said fee by credit card using secure processes over said Internet connection.

56. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

editing said boundary after re-opening said boundary with said Internet accessible software tool such that said boundary may be saved and edited as needed.

34. A method of using an Internet accessible tool to generate a boundary on a digital map using a cursor comprising:

generating an initial boundary point using said Internet accessible tool by activation of said cursor at an initial location on said digital map by clicking a mouse;

analyzing screen coordinates of said initial boundary point;

generating geographic coordinates for said initial boundary point in response to analysis of said screen coordinates;

generating additional boundary points by activation of said cursor at additional locations on said digital map by clicking a mouse;

analyzing screen coordinates of said additional boundary points;

generating geographic coordinates for said additional boundary points;

generating lines between said geographic coordinates of said initial and additional boundary points; and

providing access to said method of using an Internet accessible tool to generate a boundary on a digital map using a cursor to a user over an Internet connection for a fee.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said fee comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a periodic subscription fee permitting unlimited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map and a periodic subscription fee permitting limited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising paying said fee by credit card using secure processes over said Internet connection.

37. A method for providing Internet access to digital geographic mapping to a user comprising:

making an Internet connection to a host computer, said host computer containing digital geographic mapping tools;

providing access to said digital geographic mapping tools over said Internet connection to said user for a fee.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said fee comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a periodic subscription fee permitting unlimited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map and a periodic subscription fee permitting limited use of said method of generating a boundary on a digital map.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising paying said fee by credit card using secure processes over said Internet connection.

40. A method of generating a boundary on a digital map using geographic coordinates of a plurality of corner points of said boundary comprising:

generating a geographic coordinates table;

entering said geographic coordinates of said plurality of corner points of said boundary in said geographic coordinates table;

locating coordinates of said plurality of corner points of said-boundary on said digital map by reference to an origin point, said coordinates corresponding to adjacent geographic coordinates;

generating lines between said coordinates to display said boundary on said digital map; and

performing said method of generating said boundary on said digital map using said geographic coordinates of said plurality of corner points of said boundary using an Internet accessible software tool.