United States Patent (19)
`Keithley et al.
`
`|||||||
`USOO5584.025A
`11
`Patent Number:
`5,584,025
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`54 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR
`TRACKING AND VEWING DATA
`
`8/1993 Kaplan .................................... 235/375
`5,237,157
`8/1993 Tenma et al. ........................... 364/406
`5,237,498
`5,369,571 11/1994 Melts ...................................... 364/401
`
`75) Inventors: Ronald D. Keithley, Charlottesville;
`Kevin L. Keithley, Earlysville, both of
`evin
`ellney, EarlySV111e, poln o
`
`Harrell
`RE.famil the
`SSSIOil Eelle-WC W.
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sheldon H. Parker
`
`73) Assignee: The Real Estate Network,
`Charlottesville, Va.
`
`Appl. No.: 420,701
`(21
`-.
`22 Filed:
`Apr. 12, 1995
`Related U.S. Application Data
`63 continuation of serNo. 145,399, oct. 29, 1993, abandoned.
`www W y w w -r avy
`3.
`(51) Int. Cl." ............................................ G06F 17/40
`I52 U.S. Cl. ......................................... 395/615: 364/225.4
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 395/600, 161;
`364/401, 408
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`l/1984 Cichelli et al. ........................... 370/92
`4,429,385
`8/1987 Hale et al. .......
`... 235,380
`4,689.478
`l/1989 Shavit et al. .
`... 364/40
`4,799,156
`5,032,989 7/1991 Tornetta ..........
`... 364/40
`5,191,410 3/1993 McCalley et al. ........................ 358/86
`5,235,680 8/1993 Bijnagte .................................. 395/61
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An information processing system for acquiring and dis
`playing information relating to a specific industry or interest,
`the example herein being real estate and related goods and
`services. The system comprises a server which has an
`input/output device for receiving and transmitting data,
`database files, and database storage. A media terminal for
`producing files, including digitized property descriptions, is
`Provided. The media terminal has a digitizer for analog
`digital signal converting, an i?o device for transmitting, and
`a data entry device. An end user terminal provides the ability
`to enter, transmit, receive and display data to and from the
`file server. An agent's terminal is equipped to enter and
`display data, as well as transmit information to and from the
`file server. The system is configured such that real estate
`information is received at the media terminal, edited, and,
`once approved, stored at the file server. The information is
`accessible from either the agent's or end user's terminals.
`The compilation of information in the databases includes
`demographic statistics which are usable by Advertisers and
`various industry related entities.
`
`9 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`9 OO
`
`NATIONAL REGIONAL STATELOCAL CUSOM HELP
`NOURY DATE
`AD NUMBER
`NOURY CRUANTITY
`
`f 80.0555-234
`8005555678
`80.05559.012
`80.055534
`18005.55516
`180055578
`18OO5551920
`80.0555222
`
`0-03-93
`01-04-93
`0-05-93
`O-08-93
`02-09-93
`04-15-93
`05-07-93
`06-19-93
`
`11,958
`10,450
`52,358
`90,560
`62,985
`11,040
`17,508
`11771
`
`PROPERT
`INGRES
`PROPERTY
`(EE
`
`PRICE
`
`PROPERTY
`ADWERTISER
`INQUIRES
`RETRIEWALS
`LEASE
`PURCHASE
`MOWING
`
`ADVERTISER
`RETREEWALS
`SPACE
`RECUREMENTS
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 1
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`302
`/
`
`1
`
`?om 12
`
`f
`
`1 OO
`
`3O4
`
`
`
`
`
`ava atavacavatava? aava?
`avy avaayaaaa aava2
`arrate/attacar avata
`ey
`
`f
`29
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 2
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`10
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`
`
`se Gef b, se -
`
`12
`oGo
`
`CD
`N4349
`
`s: Isis sp
`Saras
`52
`
`Fig. 2
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 3
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`
`
`Fig. 3
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 4
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`200
`
`
`
`Fig. 4
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 5
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`1
`ODD
`
`302
`/
`t 3
`
`304
`
`ZL
`
`/7
`
`300
`\
`
`400
`
`41 O
`
`412
`7
`
`1
`
`CD
`448
`
`Fig. 5
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 6
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`
`
`Fig. 6
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 7
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`
`
`
`
`CE HIV-IVNI ?N|HVEH HO-, CIENOILCHVO CIESOTO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`:ETH-HOHd A LHBcHOHCH
`
`00/
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 8
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`
`
`008
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 9
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 10, 1996
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`5,584,025
`
`
`
`006
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 10
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`5,584,025
`
`1.
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR
`TRACKING AND VEWING DATA
`
`This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/145,399
`filed on 10/29/93 now abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`O
`
`15
`
`Brief Description of the Invention
`The instant invention relates to a method of accessing
`industry specific information, such as real estate properties
`for sale, through multimedia personal computers. The dis
`closed invention includes an interactive multimedia com
`munications system for the production, digitization, com
`pression and decompression, transmission, and retrieval of
`real property data and related information. The access pro
`vides detailed information on a particular property, commu
`20
`nity, financing, demographics, and related information. The
`information can be accessed on demand by Real Estate
`Agents as well as by End Users wherever their multimedia
`device is located. The instant system presents a new adver
`tising medium for industry-specific advertisers or evengen
`eral advertisers as the case may be. The instant system is a
`response-driven, full service, real-time advertising medium
`capable of generating direct response vehicles (i.e., coupons,
`reply and order mechanisms, etc.) to viewers. For illustrative
`purposes, the real estate industry is used as an example
`herein, however, the disclosed system can be used for other
`applications, i.e., travel, employment opportunities, auc
`tions, antique or rare articles for sale, automobiles, boats,
`aircraft, etc. Because each property profile and advertise
`ment regardless of sponsor has its own identification code
`and each user of the disclosed system has their own access
`code, the instant invention provides detailed data on all
`aspects of viewership and response. When, where, and how
`often an advertisement and/or profile is viewed is instantly
`recorded by the disclosed system. The instant invention is a
`measurable advertising medium which measures advertising
`in terms of exposure, response, and level of interest. View
`ership and response patterns can be retrieved by advertisers,
`agents, and subscribers via the disclosed system's demo
`graphic retrieval databases.
`45
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`50
`
`55
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
`Each year large numbers of the population move, requir
`ing property purchasing, leasing, selling and related ser
`vices. In the residential market, real estate agents and
`homeowners selling their own properties spend considerable
`time matching seller to buyer and vice-versa. In the agent's
`case, buyers review property listings from a Multiple Listing
`Service at the agents office, making judgments based on
`photographs and limited information. The details are gen
`erally on a single sheet at best, and include the number of
`rooms, occasionally size of rooms, number of bathrooms,
`land size, and any out-buildings such as barns. The proper
`ties chosen for review must then be physically shown, so
`60
`Real Estate Agents then drive potential buyers around show
`ing properties, which wastes both time and money. Potential
`purchasers often need to take time off from work and spend
`many hours riding around looking at properties. The prior art
`system is, at best, time consuming and inefficient. Everyone
`involved in the house hunt must be prepared to devote a
`substantial amount of time to viewing properties.
`
`65
`
`2
`On the other side of the transaction, sellers often have
`potential buyers looking at their homes who are not inter
`ested in making a purchase or worse yet, not financially
`qualified. Frequently a property is inaccessible when a
`potential purchaser wants to view it or a "no-show' occurs
`after the agent and/or seller went to considerable time and
`effort to present the property. Likewise, the agent and seller
`have a significant investment of time, effort and money at
`stake if the buyer fails to qualify for financing or the closing
`doesn't occur as scheduled.
`The commercial real estate market is almost identical to
`the residential market in regard to how properties are
`reviewed and chosen. One primary difference is, however,
`the due diligence performed by both users and investors of
`commercial real estate. Typically, users and real estate
`investors will seek the financial data on a property prior to
`even physically seeing it. Extensive information regarding
`comparable rents, vacancy rates, and similar properties is
`often the norm. Obtaining this information is often difficult
`and once received, it is limited in scope. In addition,
`landlords typically dislike disturbing existing tenants with
`the showing of their property to a potential purchaser or new
`tenant.
`At present, real estate agents from around the United
`States employ various forms of a property listing system
`often referred to as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
`These systems are usually not accessible by agents outside
`the local system and provide little information on properties
`elsewhere or any network for referrals. In addition, any type
`of market data generated by the MLS is local in nature and
`cannot be easily translated into state, regional, or national
`trends. In most instances the current listing system provides
`Small opportunity for an agent to handle the sale of a client's
`property and the purchase of a new property for the same
`client unless the move is local,
`The majority of real estate advertising today is through
`local newspapers and trade publications. These advertise
`ments are limited to space and production deadlines and
`readership is certainly hoped for, but in nearly every case
`unaccounted for. If changes in price, terms, or availability
`occur, the new information is restricted to production dead
`lines and such. In short, the traditional advertising mediums
`used for real estate advertising are usually non-measurable,
`limited in choice, fairly expensive and often non-exclusive
`in nature.
`Another major marketing tool employed by both agents
`and sellers alike is "open houses.' Due to access, conve
`nience, and work schedules, "open houses' have been
`confined to weekends and predominately Sunday after
`noons. The “open house' continues to be a valuable mar
`keting tool but is limited to time constraints.
`Often real estate agents are restricted for ethical and/or
`legal reasons from informing clients about local schools,
`churches and civic organizations. As a result, newcomers to
`an area have to investigate these facilities themselves and
`often under the pressure of time and convenience.
`Illiquidity in the real estate marketplace often creates
`transactions wherein the seller will finance all or a portion of
`the purchase price. While presently, there are numerous
`entities that purchase these notes, there is no common
`medium for note-holders to advertise these security instru
`ments for sale or exchange. Likewise, no medium exists
`which compiles data on these instruments.
`Traditionally, the real estate industry has faced illiquidity,
`high capitalization (and the costs thereof), and cyclical
`trends. The "boom' decade of the 80's created an abundance
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 11
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`5,584,025
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`3
`of real estate and agents who market it. The current recession
`has produced a large correction in real estate prices which
`brings an already over supply of agents chasing fewer
`closings and smaller commissions. Having already noted the
`cyclical nature of the real estate industry, it still is important
`to realize that most agents even in good times or bad don't
`get both sides of a transaction. In other words, the sale of
`their client's current home and the purchase of their new
`property. Bridging this inefficiency as well as the others
`covered herein would yield greater productivity in the real
`estate marketplace and better use of personnel.
`Therefore, the desire of all parties is a cost effective,
`efficient, and convenient means of retrieving detailed prop
`erty information. With the system of the current application,
`consumers can view real property advertisements including
`digitized pictorial graphics and audio information, mortgage
`qualification programs and guidelines, mortgage rates, and
`different community profiles at their convenience and in the
`comfort of their own homes through use of the instant
`system. Once the End Users have narrowed down their
`choices, they meet with a Real Estate Agent at his or her
`office and access the Real Estate Agent's exclusive system.
`The Real Estate Agent's system details more about the
`property such as the Seller's name, property address, and
`listing agent information. In essence, anyone involved in a
`real estate transaction can readily retrieve and view all types
`of properties and related goods and services without the
`inefficiencies of the prior art system.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The instant invention is directed at an information pro
`cessing system for acquiring and displaying real estate and
`industry related information. The system includes a Server
`having an i/o (input/output device) through which data is
`received and transmitted, and database storage for storing
`digital real estate information. Preferably the database stor
`age includes the capability of storing scanned graphic
`images, video, and sound, as well as standard data.
`The system further includes media terminals for produc
`tion of files, including digitized property descriptions. The
`media terminal has digitizing capabilities to digitize analog
`input and i?o for receiving and transmitting the digitized
`information.
`End users enter requests and receive the requested infor
`mation, including property descriptions, at the End User
`terminal. The end user terminal has means for inputting and
`displaying data, such as a cable television converter, and a
`microcomputer (for decompression, storage, and error cor
`rection), and either an internal or external i?o for receiving
`and transmitting data.
`The Real Estate Agent terminals are used for entering and
`receiving information and are equipped with a means for
`inputting and displaying data and i?o for receiving and
`transmitting data.
`The i/o of the system components are configured to
`communicate between the Media, End User, Real Estate
`Agent and Demographic Information Subscriber and Server.
`Digitized real estate information, consisting of property
`descriptions, is received by the Server from all input sources
`via the i/o of the media terminal. The received digital real
`estate information is then stored in the Server's database.
`Viewer selected portions of digital real estate information
`are transmitted to the end user terminal, where they are
`displayed for viewing.
`65
`The Media, End User, Real Estate Agent and Demo
`graphic Subscriber terminals have compression/decompres
`
`4
`sion capabilities for file storage and/or transmission. Also,
`optionally and preferably, the Server stores information
`regarding property profiles, real estate professionals, com
`munity profiles, real estate financing, local businesses and
`services, and demographic retrievals, all of which can be
`received and displayed by the viewer. The instant system is
`configured to prevent access to certain real estate informa
`tion, but configured to make that same information available
`to other users.
`The instant invention is a method of acquiring and dis
`playing real estate information, the system utilizes an infor
`mation processing system containing a Server with i?o for
`receiving and providing data and database storage. Analog
`property descriptions of real estate properties are digitized
`and entered along with additional information, and edited at
`terminals. The proofed information is stored in the database
`in a manner in which the data can be selectively accessed.
`The End User enters data at their terminal specific to their
`real estate needs or services. This data is then sent to the
`Server, where the property profiles are selected and sent to
`the End User. Real Estate Agents can access the Server's
`databases through entry at their terminals and retrieve infor
`mation. The system has the ability to access and transmit
`selected files, depending upon the requests of the user. In all
`cases, viewer selections are captured and stored by the
`Server.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The advantages of the instant disclosure will become
`more apparent when read with the specifications and the
`drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic of the major components according
`to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic showing the flow of raw data in
`production to digitization, editing, transmission, and storage
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic showing the flow of data being
`compressed and decompressed, transmitted, and proofed
`between the media company and the Real Estate Agent
`according to the instant invention;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic which represents the flow of data
`from storage at the Server's central location to the Real
`Estate Agent according to the present invention,
`FIG. 5 is a schematic which represents the flow of data
`from storage at the Server's central location to the End User
`for viewing according to the instant invention;
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart composite of FIGS. 2 through 5
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is an example of one possible multimediagraphical
`advertisement screen according to the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is an example of one possible graphical advertise
`ment screen used by Real Estate Agents according to the
`instant invention; and,
`FIG. 9 is an example of one possible graphical advertise
`ment screen used by Demographic Retrieval Users accord
`ing to the instant invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The instant invention discloses a network system which
`allows the users to interactively access and retrieve on
`demand extensive information on databases throughout the
`world regardless of time zone differences. The application of
`the instant disclosure described herein applies to the Real
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 12
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`5
`Estate Industry, however the disclosed system can be used
`for other applications. For use within this disclosure, the
`following terminology is used for consistency and should in
`no way limit the scope of the invention.
`End User-The party viewing the database files. Typi
`cally an End User of real estate looking to lease and/or
`purchase real property. The End User generally has access to
`only limited files and can optionally have input capability to
`alter the files they are viewing. The End User can include
`viewers seeking ideas for home building, decorating or
`remodeling. In addition, relocation companies or depart
`ments in corporations, architects, etc., are also included.
`Real Estate Companies and Agents-The sales agent or
`facilitator of a real estate transaction and the primary user of
`the instant system. The Real Estate Agent has access to the
`instant system regardless of where the system is accessed.
`Media-The primary party responsible for production of
`property files and possibly all other advertising displayed on
`the system. The Media has access to all files on the Server
`and, alternatively, may be part of the Server's system. The
`Media can include multimedia communications, conglom
`erates, or local media entities.
`Server-The computer system which stores all files. Input
`facilities for raw data may be located at the Server's loca
`tion.
`Multimedia device-A device and/or system which
`includes, but is not limited to, video and audio-graphic
`conferencing and multimedia messaging with electronic and
`voice mail system so specifications and other text-based
`material and voice communications can occur rapidly and
`without time zone interference. This unit is capable of
`storing, transmitting, receiving, compressing, decompress
`ing and error correcting, digital information for displaying
`text, graphics, audio and video.
`Advertiser-An entity promoting goods and/or services
`related to a specific industry. The advertising can be directed
`to any of the users in the instant system and direct response
`vehicles (i.e., coupons, reply and order mechanisms, etc.)
`are made available to viewers.
`Demographic Information Subscriber-The recipient of
`demographic information which is generated by the instant
`system. Throughout the instant invention certain portions of
`demographic information can remain proprietary, but the
`demographic flow of the populace is available to Subscribers
`and industry-related advertisers.
`It should be noted that a company or individual can fall
`into two or more of the foregoing categories. A moving
`company, for example, can be an Industry Related Adver
`tiser and also a Subscriber retrieving demographic informa
`tion for marketing purposes. In another example, an archi
`tect could be an advertiser of their services and, at the same
`time, be an End User accessing the disclosed system to
`monitor design trends, new housing developments, and
`competitive practices.
`FIG. 1 is an overview of the major system components
`which would be required to complete the disclosed system.
`The media's multimedia device 100 would preferably con
`sist of a digitizer 108, compress/decompress unit 106,
`modem 104, and multimedia PC 102. The real estate agent's
`multimedia device 200 would preferably comprise the mul
`timedia PC 202, the modem 206 and the compress/decom
`press unit 204. The End User's, or Subscriber's, multimedia
`device 300 preferably consists of a multimedia unit 302 and
`a viewing device 304. The viewing device 304 can be the
`End User's television, a monitor, or other apparatus which
`allows for multimedia viewing. The multimedia unit 302 can
`
`6
`be a computer system or a cable television converter with a
`microprocessor or other technology which provides for
`compression or decompression, error correcting, transmis
`sion, and storage. Alternatively, the multimedia unit 302 can
`be made part of the End User's viewing device 304. The
`Server's Processor, or unit 400, preferably comprises a
`modem 410, a Server's computer 412 and databases 420,
`422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444,
`446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, and 462. The
`Server's computer 412 alternatively can be a workstation,
`minicomputer or microcomputer or other device. Although
`reference herein is made to information transfer via modem,
`it should be noted that cable, satellite, fiber optics, or other
`means for transferring information can also be utilized. The
`method of transferring the information is based on the
`current availability within the communities.
`In the drawings herein the Server's computer 412 is at a
`separate location from the media's multimedia device 100,
`and all communication is conducted through the use of
`modems 104, 206, and 410. Alternatively, the Server's
`computer 412 can be included in the same location as the
`media's multimedia device 100 with a hardwire link up
`between the two. If the Server's Processor 400 is not
`hardwired to the media's multimedia device 100, means for
`directly entering information into the Server's computer 412
`other than through media's multimedia device 100 may be
`desired. This can be through an additional PC wired to the
`Server's computer 412, scanner, personal digital assistant, or
`any other method known in the art.
`The For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Property Profiles Data
`base 420 could include any type of real property offerings
`marketed by owners. The Auction Property Profiles Data
`base 422 could include any type of real property offerings
`marketed via auctions. The Agent Property Profiles Data
`base 424 could include any type of real property offerings
`marketed by real estate agents. The Agent Referral Database
`426 could include any real estate agents and their companies
`who market property via the disclosed system. The Trans
`action Processing Database 428 generates and confirms
`appointments and significant dates for all parties involved in
`a real estate transaction. This same database contains a
`general accounting file for Real Estate Companies which can
`be exported to their primary accounting program. The Agent
`Leads Database 430 is a compilation of inquiries generated
`when an End User or other interested party views a particu
`lar property profile the Agent has advertised/listed on the
`disclosed system. The Agent Market Data Database 432 is a
`compilation of files such as inventory reports, sales-to-date,
`expired listings and contracts pending. The Government and
`Civic Organizations Database 434 is a compilation of gov
`ernment and civic organizations on a local, state, regional,
`and national basis that the viewer can access to obtain
`information on particular issues such as Zoning laws or
`involvement in a civic organization. The Community Pro
`files Database 436 contains video vignettes on communities
`where properties are available for purchase, lease, or
`exchange. The Events and Attractions Database 438 could
`have files such as Arts & Entertainment, Annual Events,
`Sports, and Special Attractions. The Educational Facilities
`Database 440 could consist of public, private, and trade
`schools, as well as colleges and libraries. The Real Estate
`Related Services Database 442 could comprise the following
`files: real estate companies, real estate agents, banks, mort
`gage companies, attorneys, insurance companies, moving
`companies, home inspectors, builders, property manage
`ment, appraisers, architects, title companies, and any other
`type of real estate related service. The Home Services
`
`5,584,025
`
`10
`
`5
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`ResMan Exhibit 1010, Page 13
`ResMan, LLC v. Karya Property Management, LLC
`IPR2021-00844
`
`

`

`7
`Database 444 is a compilation of files such as decorators,
`furniture and antique dealers, appliance dealers, building
`supply centers, remodeling services, home security services,
`and any other type of home service business or entity. The
`Restaurants and Lodging Database 446 could consist of
`hotel and motel files or bed and breakfast files as well as
`restaurant files. The Mortgage Programs Database 448 is a
`compilation of all available mortgage programs such as
`conventional, fixed, or adjustable rate mortgage programs.
`The Personal Mortgage Analysis Database 450 is a compi
`lation of information derived from viewer input in regard to
`financing the purchase of any of the properties viewed. The
`Mortgage Rates Database 452 is a compilation of various
`mortgage rates offered by lenders on a local, state, regional,
`or national basis. The Real Estate Notes Database 454 is a
`compilation of real estate backed notes and securities offered
`for sale, servicing, or exchange on a local, state, regional, or
`national basis. The Property Inquiry Database 456 consists
`of all qualitative inquiries generated by viewers seeking
`more information on specific property profiles viewed on the
`disclosed system. The Property Retrieval Database 458 is
`generated by viewership of any property profiles wherein the
`viewer may or may not be interested in pursuing the trans
`action but has viewed the property. The Advertising Inquir
`ies Database 460 comprises all qualitative inquiries gener
`ated by viewers seeking more information on specific goods
`or services advertised on the disclosed invention. The
`Advertiser Retrieval Database 462 is generated by viewer
`ship of any advertising message wherein the viewer may or
`may not be interested in obtaining more information about
`the advertiser's goods and/or services. All files are stored on
`their respective databases, providing easy access and
`manipulation. The databases are continually updated to
`ensure accurate, up-to-date information at all times. The
`foregoing files and databases are used as examples only, and
`should not in any way limit the scope of the instant disclo
`Ste.
`FIG. 2 illustrates the information flow to and from the
`Media's multimedia device 100 to the Server's Processor
`400. The raw data is either gathered from outside sources,
`generally in the form of analog information 110, or entered
`directly at the Media's multimedia PC 102. Any analog
`information 110, albeit audio, video, photos, text, or graph
`ics, must be digitized by Media's digitizer 108 to be read by
`the PCs used herein. The digitized information is sent
`directly to the Media's multimedia PC 102. Information
`from Real Estate Agents and other sources is received via the
`Media's modem 104, or by any other means, for entry into
`the Media's multimedia device 100. Data produced by the
`Media's personnel is directly entered onto the multimedia
`PC 102. Once entered, the information is edited at the
`media's multimedia PC 102, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
`In FIG. 3, the edited information is placed in a file which
`corresponds to its existing database and compressed at the
`Media's compress/decompress unit 106. For example, the
`agent property profile is sent via Media's modem 104 to the
`Real Estate Agent's modem 206. The new file is received via
`the Real Estate Agent's modem 206 where it is sent to the
`Real Estate Agent's compress/decompress unit 204. After
`decompression, the file is sent to the Agent's multimedia PC
`202 for review and proofing. The Real Estate Agent enters
`either approval or proofing instructions at this point.
`After proofing, the file is sent back to the Media's
`multimedia device 100 with instructions for changes. When
`final approval has been granted by the Agent, the file is sent,
`65
`as shown in FIG. 2, via the Media's modem 104 to the
`Server's modem 410. Each file sent to the Server's computer
`
`60
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`5,584,025
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`8
`412 is designated a location, ensuring it will be stored with
`other similar files on the database in the Server's computer
`412.
`FIG. 4 depicts the information flow from the Server's
`Processor 400 directly to the Real Estate Agent's multimedia
`device 200. The request for specific files is compressed at the
`Real Estate Agent's compress/decompress unit 204 and sent,
`via Agent's modem 206, to the Server's modem 410 where
`it is transmitted to the Server's computer 412. The requested
`files are then transmitted via modems 410 and 206, decom
`pressed 204, and accessible on the Agent's PC 202. The
`Agent Referral Database 426 contains information on all
`agents and their companies located at the Server's computer
`412 for the purposes of communicating any changes at the
`central location. In the event an Agent procures a transaction
`on a property listed by another Agent, the information for
`referral compensation would be accessible in this database.
`The Agent Referral Database 426 also creates an up-to-date
`directory of Agents and their respective Brokers/companies.
`The disclosed system allows Agents access to privileged
`information not available to the general public, such as the
`Seller's name, phone number, address, listing expiration
`date, and any notations entered into the file by the listing
`agent. The Agents would also have access to For Sale By
`Owner (FSBO) and Auction Profiles.
`The Transaction Processing Database 428 generates and
`confirms appointments and significant dates for all