# US 10,311,532 B2 · Method and apparatus for managing real estate data

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- Number: US 10,311,532 B2
- Document ID: US10311532B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/360,566
- Filed: 2016-11-23
- Published: 2017-04-06
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2012-06-07
- Assignees: CoStar Realty Information, Inc.
- Applicants: CoStar Realty Information, Inc.
- Inventors: Andrew C. Florance; Bob Evatt; Scot Bohl; John Merritt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311532B2

## CPC

- G06Q 50/163: Real estate management
- G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases
- G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management
- G06Q 50/16: Real estate
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A system and method for managing real estate data using a mobile device, such as a tablet computer. The data is displayed in a manner that facilitates quick analysis suing a mobile device. User interfaces, processing, and other features provide a mobile user with information required to make intelligent decisions on real estate transactions. A tour can be constructed based on a subset of data returned as a result of a database query.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for minimizing over-plotting of icons on maps that are displayed in response to search queries, the method comprising:
receiving an initial query;
determining (i) coordinates associated with a geographic area that is visible on a first map that is displayed on a first user interface, (ii) an icon size, in pixels or points, of icons that are to be placed on a second map to represent geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) a screen size, in pixels or points, of a screen on which the first user interface is displayed;
defining multiple geographic sub-areas for each of which to (i) return a maximum of n results to the initial query and (ii) display the maximum of n icons of the determined icon size, based at least on (i) the coordinates associated with the geographic area that is visible on the first map that is displayed on the first user interface, (ii) the icon size in pixels or points, of the icons that are to be placed on the second map to represent the geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) the screen size, in pixels or points, of the screen on which the first user interface is displayed;
generating a modified query based on the initial query, wherein the modified query is configured to return the maximum of n results for each of the multiple geographic sub-areas;
obtaining the maximum of n results for each geographic sub-area based on searching a real estate database using the modified query; and
providing, for output, a second user interface including (i) a second map, and (ii) the maximum of n icons that each represent a corresponding geographic location associated for each geographic sub-area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein defining the multiple geographic sub-areas comprises associating each of the multiple sub-areas with one of a plurality of predetermined sizes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The computer-implemented method of claim 2, comprising:
receiving data indicating a zoom level adjustment of the second map; and
in response to receiving the data indicating the zoom level adjustment, adjusting the multiple geographic sub-areas of the second user interface to be associated with another predetermined size of the plurality of predetermined sizes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising:
determining that the initial query includes a predetermined word; and
in response to determining that the initial query includes a predetermined word, adjusting a granularity of the second user interface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising:
determining whether the maximum of n results for each geographic sub-area based on searching a real estate database using the modified query satisfies a predetermined threshold of results for each geographic sub-area of the second user interface; and
in response to determining that the maximum of n results for each geographic sub-area based on searching a real estate database using the modified query does not satisfy the predetermined threshold of results for each geographic sub-area of the second user interface, generating a second modified query based on the initial modified query, the second modified query being configured to satisfy the predetermined threshold of results for each geographic sub-area of the second user interface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising:
receiving one or more inputs that filter the initial query; and
generating the modified query based on the one or more filters and the initial query, wherein the modified query is configured to return the maximum of n results for each of the multiple geographic sub-areas.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, each of the multiple geographic sub-areas corresponds to a predetermined shape, the predetermined shaped including longitudinal and latitudinal parameters.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising:
determining whether the first map includes a predefined zoom level; and
in response to determining that the first map does not include a predefined zoom level, defining multiple geographic sub-areas based at least on (i) the coordinates associated with the geographic area that is visible on the first map that is displayed on the first user interface, (ii) the icon size in pixels or points, of the icons that are to be placed on the second map to represent the geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) the screen size, in pixels or points, of the screen on which the first user interface is displayed.

### Claim 9

A system for minimizing over-plotting of icons on maps that are displayed in response to search queries, comprising:
one or more computing devices and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computing devices, to cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:
receiving an initial query;
determining (i) coordinates associated with a geographic area that is visible on a first map that is displayed on a first user interface, (ii) an icon size, in pixels or points, of icons that are to be placed on a second map to represent geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) a screen size, in pixels or points, of a screen on which the first user interface is displayed;
defining multiple geographic sub-areas for each of which to (i) return a maximum of n results to the initial query and (ii) display the maximum of n icons of the determined icon size, based at least on (i) the coordinates associated with the geographic area that is visible on the first map that is displayed on the first user interface, (ii) the icon size in pixels or points, of the icons that are to be placed on the second map to represent the geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) the screen size, in pixels or points, of the screen on which the first user interface is displayed;
generating a modified query based on the initial query, wherein the modified query is configured to return the maximum of n results for each of the multiple geographic sub-areas;
obtaining the maximum of n results for each geographic sub-area based on searching a real estate database using the modified query; and
providing, for output, a second user interface including (i) a second map, and (ii) the maximum of n icons that each represent a corresponding geographic location associated for each geographic sub-area.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein defining the multiple geographic sub-areas comprises associating each of the multiple sub-areas with one of a plurality of predetermined sizes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the operations comprise:
receiving zoom level adjustment of the second map; and
in response to receiving the zoom level adjustment, adjusting the multiple geographic sub-areas of the second user interface to be associated with another predetermined size of the plurality of predetermined sizes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the operations comprise:
determining that the initial query includes a predetermined word; and
in response to determining that the initial query includes a predetermined word, adjusting a granularity of the second user interface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the operations comprise:
determining whether the maximum of n results for each geographic sub-area based on searching a real estate database using the modified query satisfies a predetermined threshold of results for each geographic sub-area of the second user interface; and
in response to determining that the maximum of n results for each geographic sub-area based on searching a real estate database using the modified query does not satisfy the predetermined threshold of results for each geographic sub-area of the second user interface, generating a second modified query based on the initial modified query, the second modified query being configured to satisfy the predetermined threshold of results for each geographic sub-area of the second user interface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the operations comprise:
receiving one or more inputs that filter the initial query; and
generating the modified query based on the one or more filters and the initial query, wherein the modified query is configured to return the maximum of n results for each of the multiple geographic sub-areas.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein each of the multiple geographic sub-areas corresponds to a predetermined shape, the predetermined shaped including longitudinal and latitudinal parameters.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the operations comprise:
determining whether the first map includes a predefined zoom level; and
in response to determining that the first map does not include a predefined zoom level, defining multiple geographic sub-areas based at least on (i) the coordinates associated with the geographic area that is visible on the first map that is displayed on the first user interface, (ii) the icon size in pixels or points, of the icons that are to be placed on the second map to represent the geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) the screen size, in pixels or points, of the screen on which the first user interface is displayed.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for minimizing over-plotting of icons on maps that are displayed in response to search queries, the software comprising instructions executable by one or more computing devices which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:
receiving an initial query;
determining (i) coordinates associated with a geographic area that is visible on a first map that is displayed on a first user interface, (ii) an icon size, in pixels or points, of icons that are to be placed on a second map to represent geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) a screen size, in pixels or points, of a screen on which the first user interface is displayed;
defining multiple geographic sub-areas for each of which to (i) return a maximum of n results to the initial query and (ii) display the maximum of n icons of the determined icon size, based at least on (i) the coordinates associated with the geographic area that is visible on the first map that is displayed on the first user interface, (ii) the icon size in pixels or points, of the icons that are to be placed on the second map to represent the geographic locations of results of the initial query, and (iii) the screen size, in pixels or points, of the screen on which the first user interface is displayed;
generating a modified query based on the initial query, wherein the modified query is configured to return the maximum of n results for each of the multiple geographic sub-areas;
obtaining the maximum of n results for each geographic sub-area based on searching a real estate database using the modified query; and
providing, for output, a second user interface including (i) a second map, and (ii) the maximum of n icons that each represent a corresponding geographic location associated for each geographic sub-area.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein defining the multiple geographic sub-areas comprises associating each of the multiple sub-areas with one of a plurality of predetermined sizes.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the operations comprise:
receiving zoom level adjustment of the second map; and
in response to receiving the zoom level adjustment, adjusting the multiple geographic sub-areas of the second user interface to be associated with another predetermined size of the plurality of predetermined sizes.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations comprise:
determining that the initial query includes a predetermined word; and
in response to determining that the initial query includes a predetermined word, adjusting a granularity of the second user interface.