Methods for information transformation and exchange

Abstract

Methods for sellers of goods and services for providing information relating to existence and features of what they provide, to buyers using a system as herein described that enables a buyer to identify and obtain collections of information that comprise a subset of the contents of a database having multiple records provided by a plurality of sellers. A seller may use a conventional home or office computer including without limitation PC's and MACINTOSH™ computers to transmit information to a system as provided, which is accessible to users also via a conventional home or office computer. A user specifies desired criteria and the system provides the user a subset of information upon which further decisions by the user can be made. In some embodiments, systems and methods provided relate to information concerning the inventory of new home construction in a selected region, which region may include a general metropolitan area.

1 ) Method for distribution of information comprising transformation, transmittal, and computer storage of collections of information containing records that relate to features of real property for sale, the process comprising:
 providing a human-readable first collection of information relating to features of real property offered for sale;   transforming said information into electronic signals;   transmitting said electronic signals from a first computer to a second computer, said second computer being configured to store information based on said electronic signals in a database memory in a computer-readable format, to provide stored information;   performing a search query of said database memory from a third computer that is remotely located from said second computer;   transforming a subset of said stored information into electronic signals responsive to said search query;   transmitting said electronic signals responsive to said query to said third computer; and   transforming said electronic signals responsive to said query into a human-readable format, to provide a second collection of information relating to features of real property that is offered for sale that comprises a subset of said first collection of information.   
     
     
         2 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein said database memory is a property records database. 
     
     
         3 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein said human readable format comprises characters printed on at least one sheet of paper. 
     
     
         4 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein said human readable format comprises characters displayed on a computer monitor. 
     
     
         5 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein said real property offered for sale contains a dwelling that is new home construction. 
     
     
         6 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first collection of information and said second collection of information are tangible collections of information. 
     
     
         7 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein both of said first collection of information and said second collection of information are tangible collections of information. 
     
     
         8 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein the contents of said second collection of information is tailorable by a person operating said third computer based on features of real property offered for sale. 
     
     
         9 ) A method according to  claim 1  further comprising generating an invoice applicable to the operator of said first computer based on the number of times a property record caused to be resident in said database memory by said operator of said first computer is accessed by a person operating said third computer. 
     
     
         10 ) A method according to  claim 1  wherein said human-readable format is a listing of properties in a search results table, further comprising arranging said second collection of information so that records having the most-recent timestamps are prioritized to appear more towards the top of the listing, than records having older timestamps. 
     
     
         11 ) A billing method for data communication services comprising:
 maintaining in computer-readable memory records relating to goods or services provided by a seller, each record being associated with a descriptor representing a general description of a good or service, which descriptor is a clickable hyperlink that when clicked by a remote user causes a detailed record relating to a good or service to be displayed on the remote user's computer;   permitting a plurality of unique remote users to access said records using a search query engine over a computer network connection, said users being able to decide whether to merely view said descriptor, or to click on the descriptor hyperlink to view a detailed record;   determining the number of times all unique remote users access detailed records in said memory provided by a single seller;   billing said single seller an amount proportional to the number of times all unique remote users access detailed records in said memory provided by that single seller, over any pre-determined billing period, subject to the proviso that said seller is not billed any additional amount for second or subsequent clicks by a given unique remote user on a descriptor hyperlink associated with a given unique record.   
     
     
         12 ) A method according to  claim 11  wherein said pre-selected time frame is shorter than a billing cycle. 
     
     
         13 ) A method according to  claim 11  wherein said pre-selected time frame is longer than a billing cycle. 
     
     
         14 ) A method according to  claim 11  wherein said pre-selected time frame covers any interval of time within a billing cycle. 
     
     
         15 ) A billing method for data communication services comprising:
 maintaining in computer-readable memory records relating to real estate properties provided by a seller, each record being associated with a descriptor representing a general description of a real estate property, which descriptor is a clickable hyperlink that when clicked by a remote user causes a detailed record of a property to be displayed on the remote user's computer;   permitting a plurality of unique remote users to access said records using a search query engine over a computer network connection, said users being able to decide whether to merely view said descriptor, or to click on the descriptor hyperlink to view a detailed record;   determining the number of times all unique remote users access detailed records of property records in said memory provided by a single seller;   billing said single seller an amount proportional to the number of times all unique remote users access detailed records of property records in said memory provided by that single seller, over any pre-determined billing period, subject to the proviso that said seller is not billed any additional amount for second or subsequent clicks by a given unique remote user on a descriptor hyperlink associated with a given unique property record within a pre-selected time frame.   
     
     
         16 ) A method according to  claim 15  wherein said pre-selected time frame is shorter than a billing cycle. 
     
     
         17 ) A method according to  claim 16  wherein said pre-selected time frame is longer than a billing cycle. 
     
     
         18 ) A method according to  claim 17  wherein said pre-selected time frame covers any interval of time within a billing cycle. 
     
     
         19 ) A method of advertising real estate properties for sale comprising:
 providing a database in computer-readable memory, said database including a plurality of records, wherein each record is associated with a unique real estate property, said records each including searchable fields containing details relating to a real estate property;   providing a search engine configured to search said plurality of records based on features associated with real estate properties selected by a user of said search engine, said search engine being configured to output a listing comprising a subset of said plurality of records present in said database responsive to said features indicated by a remote user;   providing online access over a computer network connection to said search engine to a plurality of users remotely-located from said database, said plurality of users including both sellers and potential buyers of real estate property;   providing a display of a map to a user who is a potential buyer, said map indicating locations of properties present in said listing; and   optionally, providing driving instructions to said user who is a potential buyer to at least one of said properties present in said listing,   billing a seller an amount proportional to the number of unique potential buyers that access a record for a property owned or controlled by said seller and present in said database.   
     
     
         20 ) A method according to  claim 19  wherein said plurality of records are uploaded to said database by a plurality of sellers present at remote locations from said database. 
     
     
         21 ) A method according to  claim 20  wherein said search engine is configured to provide said listing arranged in chronological order, based on the date and times that records present in said database were last updated. 
     
     
         22 ) A method according to  claim 19  wherein said seller is not billed additional amounts for repeated access to the same property record by a unique potential buyer over any time interval selected by the administrator of said method. 
     
     
         23 ) A method according to  claim 19  wherein said map and said listing are provided as portions of a single display on a computer monitor.