Abstract:
A device and a method for generating sales leads for cemeteries utilizing three-hundred and sixty degree panoramic imagery in connection with a cemetery database is provided where a cemetery database made up of cemetery interment data is combined with three-hundred and sixty degree imagery of the cemetery and a user interface is built to search and view the combined database. By providing access to the combined database and using data request functions in the user interface, sale leads will be generated for the cemeteries.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/724,698, filed Nov. 9, 2012 and U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 14/078,418, filed Nov. 12, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to cemetery sales lead generation devices, and, more particularly, a sales lead generation device that that utilizes a cemetery databases that is in connection with three-hundred and sixty degree imagery. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Cemeteries have directories of names, dates, location of plots, and two dimensional maps that can be used to located a particular plot or interment. The cemetery maps usually include roadways, structures and other details and these maps often utilize a unique naming convention to the particular cemetery. Up until now, there has never been the connection of this information kept by a cemetery with a three-hundred and sixty degree image map of the cemetery. Individuals searching for particular interment have not previously been able to search over the Internet utilizing a three-hundred and sixty degree image of the interment sites. Additionally, there has not previously existed a sales lead generation tool used by cemeteries that incorporated the use of three-hundred and sixty degree imagery of any type. This invention creates a new manner in which individuals may search through cemetery databases and a new manner for cemeteries to generate sales leads by utilizing three-hundred and sixty degree imagery mapping with other cemetery data. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one embodiment of the invention a sales lead generation system may contain a searchable cemetery database, a cemetery database containing names, dates and locations of interments within the cemetery, two dimensional maps and drawings of cemeteries that includes roadways, physical structures and detailed unique naming conventions which includes layout of lots, sections, rows and plots; a three-hundred and sixty degree map of interments created by the use of a three-hundred and sixty degree mapping system that may include a Point Grey Ladybug camera system (or a functional equivalence), a portable computing system such as a laptop computer, a power supply, a global positioning system, and a customized backpack and customized hardware that mount all the components into a three-hundred and sixty degree mapping system; and an interface to search the database in the form of a website that may be found on the Internet that may allow searching by name, date, location or cemetery name, and may provide results in the form of text data, two dimensional cemetery maps and three-hundred and sixty degree panoramic images and any interconnected data between the three, and may also allow for lead generation by way of having a user input contact data into the website that may be sent to a cemetery, and by providing web page space to display cemetery services, allows for memorials and memorial pages to be created by a user by sending data through the website to the cemetery for approval to be posted on the website and provides a function to a user to tag a particular location found in the three-hundred and sixty degree viewer and link that image to the cemetery interment data. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment the invention may be a method for creating a cemetery sales lead by using a searchable cemetery database, collecting cemetery data containing names, dates and locations of interments within the cemetery, two dimensional maps and drawings of cemeteries that includes roadways, physical structures and detailed unique naming conventions which includes layout of lots, sections, rows and plots; creating a three-hundred and sixty degree map of interments by the use of a three-hundred and sixty degree mapping system that may include a Point Grey Ladybug camera system (or a functional equivalence), a portable computing system such as a laptop computer, a power supply, a global positioning system, and a customized backpack and customized hardware that mount all the components into the three-hundred and sixty degree mapping system; interconnecting the cemetery data and three-hundred and sixty degree maps and other relevant data into a database that includes overlaying existing cemetery drawings and maps and superimposing onto a mapping source and tagging three-hundred and sixty degree images with two dimensional maps, and; providing the data in an interface on a website that may be found on the Internet that allows searching by name, date, location or cemetery name, and may provide results in the form of text data, two dimensional cemetery maps and three-hundred and sixty degree panoramic images and any interconnected data between the three, and may also allow for lead generation by way of having a user input contact data into the website that can be sent to a cemetery, by providing web page space to display cemetery services, and allow for memorials and memorial pages to be created by a user by sending data through the website to the cemetery for approval to be posted on the website, and by having a user tagging interface that collects user information when a user links image data with the cemetery data and send the user information to the cemetery. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    In the accompanying drawings, various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent according to the following description exemplified by the drawings, which are shown by way of example only, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a chart displaying the components and functions of a cemetery sales lead generation system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates the components that can be used to create a three-hundred and sixty degree mapping system; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a user interface to the cemetery database; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a memorial page of the user interface; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a search page that can search the cemetery database; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a cemetery services page of the user interface; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example of an about cemetery page of the user interface; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a cemetery contact page of the user interface; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example of two-dimensional maps that may be supplied by cemeteries. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made to embodiments of the cemetery sales lead generator, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Details, features, and advantages of cemetery sales lead generator will become further apparent in the following detailed description of embodiments thereof. 
         [0017]    Any reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “a certain embodiment,” or a similar reference to an embodiment is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such terms in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0018]    The cemetery sales leads generation system  100  will provide cemeteries with a sales lead generation tool and a searching tool for the general public to search for past family, friends or notable people to see where they are interned and see the interment site through three-hundred and sixty degree panoramic imagery. 
         [0019]    The sales lead generation system  100  may utilize a custom created cemetery database  110 .  FIG. 1  shows the interconnected components of one embodiment of a cemetery database  110 . The cemetery database  110  may be made up of cemetery interment data  111  that may consist of plots names  112 , plot dates  113 , plot locations  114 , two dimensional maps  115  made up of sections  116 , rows  117 , plots  118 , cemetery roadways  119 , cemetery landmarks  120 , two dimensional reference points  121 ; and three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130  that may contain three-hundred and sixty degree image data  131 , and three-hundred and sixty degree spatial reference point data  132 . The two dimensional reference points  121  may be made up of an x-y axis data or section and row data, or other customary cemetery reference point conventions. The three-hundred and sixty degree spatial reference point data  132  may be made up of an x-y-z axis data, or GPS data or other customary coordinates used in conjunction with the three-hundred and sixty degree panoramic images. 
         [0020]    The cemetery interment data  111  may be gathered from information kept by a cemetery. Each cemetery can provide this information either electronically or in paper form. Two dimensional maps  115  that include cemetery roadways  119 , cemetery landmarks  120  and detailed unique naming convention may be collected, such as in  FIG. 9 . These maps  115  are two dimensional graphical representations of the cemetery interments. It is understood that a cemetery may have additional information that would be relevant to the cemetery interment data  111  and such additional information may be incorporated into the cemetery interment data  111 . The cemetery interment data  111  may also be gathered from other public or private records or by surveying the cemetery itself. 
         [0021]    The three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130  may be gathered by using a custom three-hundred and sixty degree image generation mapping system  200  as seen in  FIG. 2 . The three-hundred and sixty degree image generation mapping system  200  can be used to map and video an entire cemetery. The three-hundred and sixty degree image generation mapping system  200  may have a multi-directional camera  210 , a portable computer  220 , a custom backpack mounting system  230 , a power supply  240 , a global positioning system  250  and a hard drive data recorder  260 . The mapping system  200  can be mounted onto a custom backpack mounting system  230  that the multi-directional camera  210  is attached to. The mapping of the cemetery may take place by using the backpack mounted mapping system  200 , allowing the mapping system to record and walking in a systematic fashion throughout the cemetery going through each section and row to record the he three-hundred and sixty degree images data  131 . The backpack system  230  can also be equipped with a global positioning system  250  to track and geospatially locate the three-hundred and sixty degree images data  131  with three-hundred and sixty degree spatial reference point data  132 . This geospatial location function may place location data in the form of a sixty degree spatial reference point data  132  within the three-hundred and sixty degree images data  131 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment the three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130  may be processed and overlaid with a graphically developed cemetery two dimensional map  115 , thereby linking information between the cemetery interment data  111  and the three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130 . This overlaying process may take place by linking corresponding two dimensional reference points  121  with three-hundred and sixty degree spatial reference points  132 . The two-dimensional map  115  may also be in the form of aerial view photography in addition to hand-drawn paper maps. 
         [0023]    The multi-directional camera  210  may be a Point Grey Ladybug camera or another multi-directional camera of functional equivalence. The portable computer  220  may be any computing device that can interface with the multi-directional camera  210  and may be a laptop, smart phone or any other functional equivalent. Alternative embodiments may utilize a custom electric scooter that can be used with the backpack  230  to capture the three-hundred and sixty degree image data  131 . 
         [0024]    Software may be used to create the three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130 . Point Grey Research offers open source software called the Ladybug SDK. This software can process the captured three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130  and link the corresponding three-hundred and sixty degree spatial reference point data  132  to the three-hundred and sixty degree image data  131 . Custom post processing software may also be used to further correct the locations of the three-hundred and sixty degree stream files. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment the cemetery database may contain user created spatial tag data  400 . This user created spatial tag data  400  may have data that links a particular three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130  with the cemetery interment data  111 . The spatial tag data  400  may contain information linking a particular three-hundred and sixty degree image data  131  with any of the cemetery interment data  111 , plots names  112 , plot dates  113 , plot locations  114 , two dimensional maps  115  or two dimensional reference points  121 . Furthermore, the spatial tag data  400  may be linked to multiple forms of data within the cemetery interment data  111 . In one embodiment the user spatial tag data  400  creates the link between the two dimensional reference points  121  and the three-hundred and sixty degree spatial reference point data  132 . 
         [0026]    The sales lead generation system  100  may also have a user interface  140 . The user interface  140  may be a website portal made up of various web pages. Some of these web pages may be a custom viewer navigation interface  141 , search page  142 , search result page  143 , memorial page  144 , cemetery services page  145 , about cemetery page  146 , cemetery directions page  147 , and cemetery contact page  148 . The user interface  140  may also have functionality to deliver user data  149  to an administrator  160 . The administrator may be a cemetery or agent with the responsibility of maintaining the user interface  140 . The user interface  140  may have an administrator interface  155  that an administrator  160  may use to collect and deliver user data  149  approve or deny memorial page postings  152  and verify user created spatial tag data  400 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 3 , a custom viewer navigation interface  141  may be developed using Flash software to display three-hundred and sixty degree panoramas  131  and allow a tool for users to virtually view and tour any location throughout the particular cemetery site. Custom icons can allow the user to zoom in  171  and out  172  and move left  173 , right  174 , front  175  and back  176 , move the viewer image to an adjacent row  177 , move backward through a row  178  and forward through a row  179 . Custom software may be created to develop a detailed map  180  displaying roads  181 , structures  182  and other unique naming convention of the each cemetery. The map may be overlaid to combine and cross reference data found within the cemetery interment data  111  and the three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130 . The map overlay can be embedded within the two-dimensional map  180  and combined with adjacent features on the custom viewer navigation interface  141 . Added features may include allowing a user to navigate the three-hundred and sixty degree panorama by using an interface such as a computer cursor to spin the panoramic picture around. The custom viewer  170  can allow a user to navigate a three dimensional landscape virtually by means of spinning the panoramic image and navigating forwards and backwards through the image. 
         [0028]    The user interface  140  may also allow uploading data to the cemetery database  110 . Through the administrator interface  155  the administrator may upload a two dimensional image into the cemetery database  110  that is linked to a two dimensional reference points  121 , so to be able to update the cemetery database  110  after the three-hundred and sixty degree mapping has taken place. Additionally, the administrator  160  may upload data entries of plot names  112 , plot dates  113 , and plot locations  114  and other cemetery interment data  111  as they change through time. 
         [0029]    The user interface  140  may also contain a user created spatial tagging feature  190 . The tagging feature may be contained within the custom viewer navigation interface  141 . The user may make the tag by selecting the spatial tagging feature  190  in the custom viewer navigation interface  141 . The resulting user created spatial tag data  400  creates a link between the cemetery interment data  111  and the three-hundred and sixty degree cemetery mapping data  130 . In one embodiment, when a user conducts a subsequent search containing a linked user created spatial tag data  400 , the custom viewer navigation interface  141  will display the tagged image location. The website administrator  160 , who may be the cemetery itself, will verify the tagging. As a part of the user created spatial tagging feature  190 , users may be asked for their contact information  149  as a part of the verification process. The contact information  149  can then be sent to cemeteries as a form of new sales leads. 
         [0030]    The user interface  140  may additionally contain the following functions and features. As seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , a search function  142  can be developed to allow the user to search the database for names and locations of cemeteries located within the database. The user may search by either the name of the interred individual or by the name of the cemetery. Search results  143  may consist of names and location as defined by each cemeteries unique name convention. As seen in  FIG. 5 , search results may also show a list of cemeteries that may match the search criteria and show the cemeteries locations on a search results map  161 . It would be understood that  FIG. 5  represents an embodiment where the principle home page of the user interface  140  incorporates both the search page  142  with the search results page  143  and provides cemetery search engine experience for the user. 
         [0031]    One embodiment may entail having a search functionality that allows the user to begin with a bird&#39;s-eye-view of the cemetery and allow the user to zoom into a section of interest where the individual&#39;s interment is located, as found in the search result. The user may then enter the three-hundred and sixty degree ground view of that section and begin searching for the particular site or headstone they are interested in by moving up, down and between the rows virtually. In this way the cemetery can be virtually toured. Once a grave site is found, a user can tag the site as being connected to a particular interment. 
         [0032]    As seen in  FIG. 6 , a custom page may be developed to display services  145  offered at the particular cemetery searched or the cemetery linked to the search result. Existing services  156  and proposed services for sale that a particular cemetery offers to their customers may be collected to be included in cemetery services page  145 . The gathered services information may include a list and description of each service. It can also include photos corresponding to each service offered. The development of cemetery services page  145  displaying services  156  offered at each cemetery may appear on the main website page ( FIG. 5 ) whenever a search is made linked to that cemetery, along with the necessary contact information. The individual may also see areas within the cemetery that are available for future interments. The cemetery services page  145  can allow the user to make a selection of services offered and allow the input of their contact information  149 . These leads may be directly sent to the particular cemetery via email or the generation of daily reports. These leads may also be accessed through the administrator interface  155 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows that a link  157  may be developed to display a memorial page  144  for each search result  143 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , a user may if he or she desires post a memorial message  158 . The posting interface  152  can allow for the input of the contact information of the user  149 . The proposed memorial message  158  can be sent to the particular cemetery for approval via the administrator interface  155 . Memorial messages may be of the type to allow users to pay respects to the interred individual, while the cemetery administrator  160  has the ability as a message moderator. The contact information  149  collected can be sent directly to the cemetery by email or the generation of daily reports. The memorial page contact info  149  also may be accessed through the administrator interface  155 . The memorial page may also utilize a custom viewer  141  and display the cemetery map  180  that show the location of the particular interment. In one embodiment a link  153  to a location given from the search result  143  can be used to navigate the user to the memorial page  144  for the search result individual. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows an about cemetery page  146 . The about cemetery page may provide information about the particular cemetery, its religious affiliation, if any, its location and other contact information. The about cemetery page can be a landing page when the user searches for a cemetery rather than an individual and clicks the link to view that cemetery. One possible embodiment is to provide cemeteries with a stand-alone un-branded website. This customized website user interface  141  may feature the same mapping, search and location features mentioned above, but with a customized look and style. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  depicts the cemetery contact page  148 . The cemetery contact page  148  may collect user data  149  and a user message  159 . The user data  149  and user message  159  will be sent to the administrator  160  and may be viewed using the administrator interface  155 . The user contact data  149  collected by the cemetery contact page  148  may be used as a source for cemetery sales leads. The sale leads information may be gathered and accessible to the administrator  160  from the administrator interface  155 . The sale lead information may also be sent directly to a predetermined email or other contact address. These directly sent sales leads may be programmed to be sent daily, weekly or on any other time basis and may be sent in a stand alone fashion or alone with usage reports that may be generated by the user interface  141 . 
         [0036]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternations could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements, apparatuses, systems, and methods disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention.