Method and apparatus for managing real estate data

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.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer system for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the system comprising:
 a mobile client device having a touch screen display, a processor, a non-transitory memory and instructions stored in the memory in the form of an app, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the client device to:
 receive a substantially linear trace element from a user through the touch screen user interface over a map displayed on the touch screen user interface; 
 defining a geographic corridor based on the substantially linear trace element and a predetermined width; 
 transmit a query corresponding to the geographic corridor to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records; 
 receive, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query; 
 receive map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records; 
 format the data as display data on the touch screen display; and 
   display the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.   
     
     
         2 . A computer implemented method for providing real estate data to a user on a mobile device having a touch screen user interface, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile device, a substantially linear trace element from a user through the touch screen user interface over a map displayed in the touch screen user interface;   defining a geographic corridor based on the substantially linear trace element and a predetermined width;   transmitting, by the mobile device, a query corresponding to the geographic corridor to a server, the server having a database of real estate data stored in the form of property records;   receiving, from the server, data related to property records that satisfy the query;   receiving map data for a geographic region corresponding to the property records;   formatting the data as display data on the touch screen display; and   displaying the data in a map window displaying graphical indicators on a geographic map for at least a subset of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined width is variable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined width is variable. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a record window displaying textual and image information for at least two of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query is displayed on the touch screen user interface simultaneously with the map window. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a record window displaying textual and image information for at least two of the properties corresponding to the property records satisfying the query is displayed on the touch screen user interface simultaneously with the map window.