Systems, techniques, and methods for providing location assessments

• US 20090089149A1
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walk Score Management LLC (Redfin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Walk Score Management LLC (Redfin Corporation)
• Inventors: Kocher, Jesse G., Mathieu, Michael C., Lerner, Matthew R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing location assessments are provided. Example embodiments provide a Location Assessment Provider System, which generates and provides assessments of various characteristics of specified locations. In one embodiment, the Location Assessment Provider System receives a specified location, determines a location assessment for the specified location, generates a visual representation of the determined location assessment, and provides the generated visual representation to a client system. Determining a location assessment may be based on geographic-related information about, or associated with, the specified location, such as the presence and location of geographic-related features associated with the specified location. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing location assessments of geographic locations, the method comprising:

obtaining from a location assessment provider a location assessment for an indicated location, the location assessment including a score based on distances between the indicated location and each of multiple geographic-related entities that are situated near the indicated location, each of the multiple geographic-related entities belonging to a different category of geographic-related entities; and

presenting a representation of the determined location assessment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the score is based on weighting the distances between the indicated location and each of the multiple geographic-related entities, the weighting providing a value that is inversely related to the a respective one of the distances.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed by a real estate information provider, and wherein the indicated location is a street address of a residence that is available for purchase.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing to a client system an indication of the score along with other information about the indicated location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the other information about the indicated location includes information about a residence.

6. The method of claim 1 invoked by a real-estate software application.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed to provide urban planning related information.

8. A computing system for providing location assessments of geographic locations, comprising:

a memory;

location assessment interface stored in the memory and configured to obtain from a location assessment provider a location assessment for an indicated location, the location assessment including a score based on distances between the indicated location and each of multiple geographic-related entities that are situated near the indicated location, each of the multiple geographic-related entities belonging to a different category of geographic-related entities; and

a display configured to present a representation of the determined location assessment.

9. The computing system of claim 8 wherein the system is used to provide real estate data.

10. The computing system of claim 8 wherein the location assessment provider is an embedded module within the computing system.

11. The computing system of claim 8 wherein the location assessment provider is invoked via an application programming interface from within the computing system.

12. The computing system of claim 8 wherein the location assessment is a walkability assessment.

13. The computing system of claim 8 wherein the location assessment provider is a bikeability assessment.

14. The computing system of claim 8 wherein the location assessment provider is a safety assessment.

15. A computer-implemented method for providing political assessments of geographic locations, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a street address;

determining a plurality of political contributions made within an area around the indicated street address;

categorizing the plurality of political contributions into a plurality of categories;

for each of the plurality of categories, determining a share based on the ratio of the number of political contributions in the category to the number of political contributions in the plurality of political contributions;

generating a street address-based political assessment based at least in part on the determined shares; and

providing a graphic representation of the generated political assessment, the graphic representation illustrating at least some of the determined shares.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of contributions is associated with a political party, and wherein the categorizing of each of the plurality of political contributions is based on the political party associated with the political contribution.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of contributions is made to the associated political party or to an entity affiliated with the associated political party.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the location assessment includes a graphical chart including graphical indications of each of the determined shares, each of the graphical indications defining an area that is proportional in size to a magnitude of a respective one of the determined shares.