Data collection and dissemination system with literature distribution and email follow-up

• US 7,853,479 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MFTB Holdco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Showing Suite, Inc. (Zillow Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bengson, Rick Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen; Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US11/428,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.49, 705/14.55, 705/14.56, 705/14.66
• US Class Current: 705/14.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for collecting and disseminating customer and agent data, distributing real estate marketing literature, issuing literature vouchers, issuing commission receipts, and sending follow-up emails to solicit feedback data. The system includes a customer terminal, which is in communication with a data center, which, in turn, is in communication with a business terminal. The customer terminal includes a device for inputting customer and agent data and a device for distributing relevant marketing literature and issuing literature vouchers and commission receipts. The customer and agent data is sent to the data center, where it is stored for subsequent retrieval by a salesperson using the business terminal. The data center automatically generates and sends follow-up emails to the customer and agent to solicit feedback data. When the feedback data is received, the data center updates the relevant customer and agent data with the feedback data.

Claims

1. A system for collecting and disseminating data and for distributing literature, the system comprising:

a customer terminal that collects customer data and issues a literature voucher after said customer terminal collects said customer data, said literature voucher being exchangeable for marketing literature;

a data center that receives said customer data from said customer terminal and stores said customer data; and

a business terminal having access to said stored customer data;

wherein said customer terminal is linked with said data center, and said data center is linked with said business terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said customer terminal comprises:

an input device for inputting said data; and

a dispensing device that dispenses said literature voucher, said literature voucher being pre-printed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said customer terminal comprises:

an input device for inputting said data; and

a printer that prints said literature voucher.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said customer terminal comprises one of a keyboard, keypad, touch-screen, mouse, trackball, or microphone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said business terminal comprises a computer with Internet access.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said customer terminal and said business terminal comprise a single device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center sends a follow-up email to an email address collected as part of said customer data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said customer terminal collects agent data from an agent and issues a commission receipt to the agent.

9. The system of claim 8, where said data center sends a follow-up email to an email address collected as part of said agent data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said literature voucher is issued after at least a portion of said customer data is verified.

11. A system for collecting and disseminating customer and agent data, and sending follow-up emails, the system comprising:

a customer terminal for collecting customer and agent data, said data including at least one of name, contact information, price range, and purchase criteria;

a literature bin for housing literature, said literature bin dispensing said literature after collecting a minimum amount of said customer and agent data;

a data center for receiving said customer and agent data from said customer terminal and for storing said customer and agent data; and

a business terminal for accessing said customer and agent data;

wherein said data center is linked with said customer terminal, said business terminal, and the Internet; and

further wherein one of said customer terminal, data center, and business terminal automatically generates and sends a follow-up email to an email address collected as part of said customer and agent data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said literature bin is accessible through a controlled door.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said business terminal comprises a computer with Internet access.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said customer terminal and said business terminal comprise a single device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said customer terminal further comprises a visual display.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said customer terminal further comprises a printer for printing one of a commission receipt and literature voucher.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said customer terminal further comprises a dispenser for dispensing pre-printed literature vouchers.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said data center receives feedback data in response to said follow-up email and updates said customer and agent data with said feedback data.

19. A method of collecting, disseminating, and following-up on potential home buyer leads and of distributing commission receipts, said method comprising the steps of:

a customer terminal receiving agent data entered via an input device;

said customer terminal transmitting said agent data to a data center;

said data center storing said agent data;

said customer terminal dispensing a commission receipt; and

one of said customer terminal or said data center automatically sending a follow-up email to an email address provided as part of said agent data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

a business terminal accessing said agent data stored at said data center.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

said data center receiving feedback data solicited by said follow-up email and updating said agent data stored at said data center.