User Interfaces for Displaying Geographic Information

• US 20130254670A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Inventors: Eraker, David, Dougherty, Adam Michael, Smith, Edward M., Eraker, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,760,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide user interfaces for overlaying a displayed image of a geographic area with graphical information derived from a plurality of data layers that are received in response to a search query. The graphical information includes graphical indications derived from or included in the first one of the plurality of the data layers that show the locations of the subset of the plurality of land parcels in the geographic area. Other information is also overlaid on the image of the geographic area.

Claims

1. Computer-readable storage media comprising programming instructions that are executable by a computing system to:

transmit a user-input search request to a remote server;

receive an image of a geographic area, the geographic area having a plurality of land parcels;

receive a plurality of data layers having graphical information related to at least a subset of the plurality of land parcels in the geographic area, a first one of the plurality of data layers corresponding to search results that are responsive to the search request, the first one of the plurality of data layers including locations of the subset of the plurality of land parcels in the geographic area;

displaying on a user interface the image of the geographic area; and

overlaying the displayed image of the geographic area with graphical information derived from the plurality of data layers, including graphical indications derived from or included in the first one of the plurality of the data layers that show the locations of the subset of the plurality of land parcels in the geographic area.

2. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the graphical indications include icons that show the locations of the subset of the plurality of land parcels in the geographic area.

3. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the graphical indications include outlines of the subset of the plurality of land parcels in the geographic area.

4. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the programming instructions are further executable by the computing system to toggle display of a second one of the plurality of data layers, the toggle based at least on user input received by the computing system through the user interface.

5. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the one or more data layers includes a road map data layer, and the programming instructions are further executable by the computing system to overlay the displayed image of the geographic area with a road map derived from or included in the road map data layer.

6. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the one or more data layers include a land parcel overlay layer, and the programming instructions are further executable by the computing system to overlay the displayed image of the geographic area with boundary lines, derived from or included in the land parcel overlay layer, for the plurality of land parcels in the geographic area.

7. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the programming instructions are further executable by the computing system to:

provide a navigation capability via the user interface, the navigation capability enabling a user to cause display of a different portion of the geographic area by display of a previously undisplayed portion of the image of the geographic area or by display of a different image that corresponds to the different portion of the geographic area; and

cause, responsive to the navigation, different graphical indications derived from or included in the first one of the plurality of data layers, or a second one of the plurality of data layers, to be overlaid onto the previously undisplayed portion of the image or the different image.

8. A computer module for rendering a graphical user interface on a display, the computer module being stored in one or more computer readable media and executed on one or more processors such that, when executed, the graphical user interface comprises:

a first pane to present (1) an image of a geographic area, (2) a boundary associated with a parcel of land in the geographic area, and (3) a street map overlay; and

a second pane adjacent the first pane to present real estate sale information about the property in response to selection of an area identified by the boundary associated with the parcel of land.

9. The computer module of claim 8, wherein the first plane to further present a visual definition of one or more of a neighborhood or a school district within the geographic area.

10. The computer module of claim 8, wherein the first plane to further present graphical representations of one or more of schools, hospitals, or retail establishments within the geographic area.

11. The computer module of claim 8, wherein the image of the geographic area includes one of satellite imagery or aerial imagery.

12. The computer module of claim 8, wherein the real estate information includes one or more of a photograph of a structure on the parcel of land, an address of the parcel of land, square footage of a structure on the parcel of land, a year a structure on the parcel of land was built, or a number of bedrooms within a structure of the parcel of land.

13. The computer module of claim 8, wherein the real estate information includes tax information related to the parcel of land.

14. A system for providing a user interface, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

computer-readable storage media including a plurality of programming instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to;

provide an image of a geographic area to a client device;

determine, based on a search query received from the client device, a subset of a plurality of land parcels within a geographic area; and

provide, to the client device, a plurality of data layers usable to superimpose graphical information onto the image of the geographic area as it is displayed within a user interface of the client device, one of the data layers usable to superimpose one or more graphical indications of locations of the subsets of the plurality of land parcels.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more graphical indications include:

one or more outlines of one or more areas within the geographic area that correspond to the subset of the plurality of land parcels;

or

one or more icons that indicate the one or more locations.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein another one of the plurality of data layers is usable to superimpose a road map onto the image of the geographic area.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein another one of the plurality of data layers is usable to superimpose a zoning map of the geographic area, wherein the zoning map indicates areas corresponding to the plurality of land parcels within the geographic area.

18. A method, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems,

receiving, from a user device, a search query;

determining from the search query a subset of a plurality of land parcels within a geographic area;

transmitting, to the client device, an image of the geographic area; and

transmitting, to the client device, a plurality of data layers usable to superimpose graphical information onto the image of the geographic area as the image is displayed within a user interface of the user device, one of the data layers usable to superimpose one or more graphical indications of one or more locations of the subset of the plurality of land parcels.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more graphical indications include one or more outlines of one or more areas within the geographic area that correspond to the subset of the plurality of land parcels.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more graphical indications include one or more icons that indicate the one or more locations.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein another one of the plurality of data layers is usable to superimpose, onto the image of the geographic area, a visual definition of one or more of a neighborhood or a school district within the geographic area.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein another one of the plurality of data layers is usable to superimpose, onto the image of the geographic area, a visual tracing of one or more of roadways within the geographic area.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein another one of the plurality of data layers is usable to superimpose, onto the image of the geographic area, graphical representations of one or more of schools, hospitals, or retail establishments within the geographic area.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein another one of the plurality of data layers is usable to superimpose a zoning map of the geographic area, wherein the zoning map indicates areas corresponding to the plurality of land parcels within the geographic area.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the image of the geographic area includes one of satellite imagery, aerial imagery, or a street map of the geographic area.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the image of the geographic area includes one of satellite imagery or aerial imagery, and wherein another one of the plurality of data layers is usable to superimpose a street map on the image of the geographic area.