US 5,235,680 A · Apparatus and method for communicating textual and image information between a host computer and a remote display terminal

Abstract

A system and method for storing, retrieving displaying, printing and otherwise manipulating color images stored in a central "host" computer from a realtor's remote data terminal includes a host computer which stores and maintains a database containing listings of real estate properties on the market. The host computer also optionally can store image information relating to specific properties. Images can be loaded from remote terminals over telephone lines to the host system on an interactive basis. Images can then be retrieved from the host system, also on an interactive basis, for display, printing, or storage on a storage medium associated with the remote display terminals. Images may also be deleted on an interactive basis from a remote terminal. A specific communications protocol conveys image data between the host computer and remote data terminals. This protocol includes specific "time-out" limitations, CRC error checking schemes, and a specific "handshaking" signalling sequence that must be observed before the host system will permit manipulation of image files.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An automatic multi-user rapid response real estate property information exchange system for interactively acquiring, retrieving and displaying both graphical and textural information corresponding to real estate properties by a plurality of user simultaneously from separate remote locations, said system permitting images of real estate properties to be provided by plural remote data terminals to a multi-user host computer system over telephone lines for storage into a database for subsequent automatic retrieval from said database for subsequent automatic retrieval from said database by said plural remote data terminals on a real time interactive basis, said system comprising:

a multi-user host computer system for storing a data base including data representing text corresponding to real estate properties and data representing images corresponding to said properties and for permitting automatic retrieval of stored data substantially simultaneously on a real time interactive basis by plural remote data terminals;
and
said plural remote data terminals connectable to said host computer system via telephone lines, said plural remote data terminals accessing and retrieving said text and image data stored by said host computer system, each said remote data terminal including:
means for receiving video signals representing an image of a said property;
means coupled to said receiving means for converting said video signals to digital video signals representing said image,
means for compressing said digital video signal to form compressed digital video signals,
means for providing digital textural information signals corresponding to said property,
means for transmitting said compressed digital video signals, said digital textural information signals, and an associated multiple-listing service number, to said host computer system over said telephone lines,
means for receiving compressed digital video signals and digital textual information signals over said telephone lines from said host computer system, and
means for displaying images and text in response to received digital video signals and digital textural information signals received over said telephone lines,
wherein said host computer system includes:
communications means for substantially simultaneously connecting with said plural remote data terminals via said telephone lines, including database means for receiving and storing, in said database, said compressed digital video and textural information signals transmitted by said plural remote data terminals over said telephone lines, and
providing means for automatically retrieving from said database, based on multiple listing service number, on a real time interactive basis, said received compressed digital video signals representing an image of said property and for efficiently providing said retrieved compressed digital video signals and said textural information signals over said telephone lines on a real time interactive basis, to said remote data terminals.

10 more elements

A method of interactively exchanging real estate property image data between a multi-user host computer system and a remote display terminal to permit images of real estate properties to be provided by plural remote data terminals to a multi-user host computer system over telephone lines for storage into a database and subsequent automatic retrieval on a real time interactive basis by said plural remote data terminals, said method comprising:

(a) transmitting text from said remote display terminal to said host computer system;
(b) interactively requesting, through a text data transmission from said remote display terminal, an image from said host computer system;
and
(c) automatically responding to said request by performing the following steps:
(1) transmitting, in response to said request, a first predetermined escape sequence from the host system to the display terminal directing the display terminal to enter a blocked data transmission protocol;
(2) transmitting a data packet stored in an image database maintained by the host system from the host system to the display terminal;
(3) providing an acknowledge message from the display terminal to the host system in response to receipt of the data packet transmitted by step (2);
(4) repeating (2) and (3) until all data representing said image has been transmitted;
(5) transmitting a further predetermined escape sequence from the host system to the display terminal after all said data representing said image has been transmitted;
and
substantially concurrently performing said step (c) for plural said remote display terminals so as to permit said plural remote display terminals to substantially simultaneously access said host computer system.

8 more elements

An automatic multi-user real estate listing information storage and retrieval system with digitized video image handling capabilities, said system capable of simultaneous access by a plurality of user from separate remote locations, so as to permit images of real estate properties to be provided by plural remote user stations to a multi-user host computer system over a telecommunications network for storage into a database and subsequent automatic retrieval in a real time interactive basis by said plural remote data terminals, said method comprising:

a multi-user host processor for automatically responding to and interactively handling data inquiries from plural remote user substantially simultaneously over said telecommunications network, said host processor including:
mass storage means for storing a digital information database containing plural textual real estate property listings and associated compressed digital signal images corresponding to said real estate properties, and
host processor telecommunicating means for telecommunicating said stored digital information substantially simultaneously to said plural remote user stations over said telecommunications network;
said plural user stations being remote from said host processor, each said remote plural user station including remote station telecommunicating means for exchanging digital signals with said host processor telecommunicating means on a real time interactive basis over said telecommunications network and display means for displaying real estate property listing information represented by said exchanged digital signals;
at least one of said remote user stations further comprising:
generating means, responsive to image signals provided to one said user station, said image signals representing an image of a real estate property, said generating means for generating at least one digital signal image message in a compressed form representing said image, and
remote station telecommunicating means cooperating with said host processor telecommunicating means for transmitting said digital signal image message in a compressed form from said one remote user station to said host processor over said telecommunications network;
said host processor further including file manager means connected to said host processor telecommunicating means for automatically receiving said transmitted compressed digital signal image message, for storing said received digital signal image message, for associating said stored compressed digital signal image message with one of said textual listings, and for permitting efficient later automatic repetitive retrieval of said compressed digital signal image message along with said associated textual listing substantially simultaneously on an interactive basis by said plural user terminals over said telecommunications network while preventing conflicting image operations on the same stored image messages.

5 more elements

An interactive method of accessing and displaying both text and images corresponding to real estate property at a remote user station connected by a telecommunications network to a host processor so as to permit images of real estate properties to be provided by plural remote user stations to a multi-user host computer system over a telecommunications network for incorporation into a database and subsequent automatic retrieval from said database on a real time interactive basis by said plural remote data terminals, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a request for an optional image function from said remote user station to said host processor;
(b) in response to receipt of said request by said host processor, automatically prompting a user of the remote user station for a real estate multiple listing number;
(c) transmitting a multiple listing number from said remote user station to said host processor in response to said prompt;
(d) providing a predefined abbreviated text in mini listing format describing a real estate property that corresponds to said transmitted multiple listing number and transmitting said abbreviated text from said host processor to said remote user station;
(e) displaying said abbreviated mini listing text format on a display of said remote user station;
(f) operating both said remote user station and said host processor in blocked file transfer mode while performing said displaying step (e) in response to signals generated at said host processor and transmitted to said remote user station;
(g) is said blocked file transfer mode, transmitting data representing said real estate property image corresponding to said transmitted multiple listing number from said host processor to said remote user station and receiving said image data with said remote user station;
(h) substantially concurrent with the reception of said image data at said remote user station displaying said real estate property image on said remote user display station in response to said received image data such that said mini listing text format and said real estate property image become simultaneously viewable on said display;
(i) transmitting a further text listing format describing said real estate property corresponding to said multiple listing number from said host processor to said remote user station;
(j) receiving said further text listing format with said remote user station;
and
(k) allowing said user to alternately view, on said remote user station display,:
(1) said mini listing text format and said real estate property image;
and
(2) said further text listing format, without repeating said transmitting step (g).

12 more elements

A multi-user system for interactively communicating image and text data representing real estate properties between a host computer and a plurality of simultaneously functioning remote user workstations over a telecommunications network including in-line components producing responses to certain data signals, so as to permit images of real estate properties to be provided by plural remote user workstations to a multi-user host computer over a telecommunications network for incorporation into a database and subsequent retrieval from said database on a real time interactive basis by said plural remote user workstation, said system including:

data providing means at at least one remote user workstation for providing digital data signals representing an image of a real estate property;
data transmitting means at said remote user workstation for transmitting said digital image data signals over said telecommunications network;
data receiving means at said host for automatically receiving and storing said transmitted digital image data signals in a database for later automatic retrieval by said remote user workstation over said transmission network on an interactive basis;
first translating means connected between said providing means and said data transmitting means for translating only certain image digital data signals from initial digital data values to other digital data values prior to transmission, said other values inhibiting said response to said in-line components;
and
second translating means connected to said data receiving means for translating received digital data image signals having said other digital data values back to said initial digital data values.

3 more elements

A multi-user system for interactively communicating image and text data associated with real estate properties between a multi-user host computer and a plurality of simultaneously functioning remote user workstations over a telecommunications network to permit images of real estate properties to be provided by plural remote user workstations to a multi-user host computer over a telecommunications network for incorporation into a database and subsequent retrieval from said database on a real time interactive basis by said plural remote user workstation, said system including:

data providing means at said remote user workstation for providing data signals representing an image of a real estate property and for compressing said data signals for later decompression and display by the same or different remote workstation;
data transmitting means connected to said providing means and to said telecommunications network for transmitting said image data signals over said telecommunications network in a compressed form to said host;
data received means at said host connected to said telecommunications network for automatically receiving said compressed transmitted image data signals;
data means connected to said data receiving means for automatically storing in association with a multiple listing service number, said compressed transmitted image data signals in an image signal database substantially in the compressed form in which they are received by said data receiving means;
data access means connected to said data storing means for automatically retrieving compressed image data signals of real estate property in automatic unattended response to requests initiated by said remote user workstation, said requests including specifying a real estate multiple listing service number, said data access means capable of serving multiple remote user workstations substantially simultaneously;
and
data transmitting means connected to said data access means and to said telecommunications network for automatically transmitting over said telecommunications network said retrieved data signals to said remote user workstation substantially in the compressed form in which they were previously received by said data receiving means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for communicating textual and image information between a host computer and a remote display terminal

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for communicating textual and image information between a host computer and a remote display terminal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30