Abstract:
A method, computer program product and system are disclosed for procuring, identifying, collecting, analyzing and tracking potential buyers and investors of real property using an electronic network like the Internet. A central managing authority uses uniquely configured data processing devices and signage bearing QR Codes to induce potential buyers of real estate to electronically contact the central managing authority in manner which allows the central managing authority to track when, how and where the potential customers where induced to make contact. The disclosed method and system uniquely assist the central managing authority in the solicitation of the newly acquired sales leads to save expending inefficient amounts of time and money inherent in realizing traditional methods. Signage is printed bearing and RFID tag or two- or three-dimensional bar codes, such as a QR Code, and positioned in accordance with a predetermined criteria. Certain embodiments of the present invention include substitute means of identifying, soliciting, tracking, and analyzing potential buyers of real estate and other commercial offerings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to computer implemented processes, and more particularly relates to a signage and a data processing system for procuring, identifying, and electronically analyzing potential buyers, investors, contractors, and lessees of real estate using unique signage. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Potential buyers of real estate and other large commercial products must consider a great deal more information than can be displayed on traditional drive-by signage in deciding whether or not to purchase, lease, sublease, or develop real estate. Increasingly, this information is accessed by potential buyers online via the Internet if the potential buyers can find the URLs containing the proper information after having their interest piqued. Potential buyers of real estate often lack the time or ability to transcribe long URLs displayed on signage when driving, or walking, by the signage. This reality has lead to the development of object hyperlinks, such as QR Codes and other two-dimensional matrices, which automatically direct individuals to target URLs when photographed and scanned with a digital camera, optical reader, bar code scanner, or the like. 
         [0005]    Traditional signage, and current developments in the art, provide no means of identifying the exact time and date that a potential buyer became interested in real property advertised conventionally, or where a potential buyer was oriented with respect to the signage when his or her interest was piqued. Sellers and marketers of large commercial offerings such as real estate often decide to expend promotional advertising budgets on signage based only on traffic estimates usually generated by third-parties, and/or on estimated traffic conversion rates rather than the measured amounts of conversions themselves. For this reason, it is often difficult for real estate developers and marketers to know where to optimally position signage, what signage locations are worthy of marketing expenditures, and to otherwise optimize marketing campaigns. 
         [0006]    The present invention beneficially teaches a uniquely configured species of signage and method of tracking potential buyers the signage generates that overcome prior shortcomings in art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a method, system, apparatus and computer program product for procuring, identifying and analyzing potential buyers, investors and lessees of real estate. The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art; and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available methods, systems and apparatii, and that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus, method, computer program product, and system for procuring, identifying and analyzing potential buyers of real estate. 
         [0008]    A computer program product is disclosed, comprising a computer readable medium, having computer usable program code executable to perform operations for procuring, identifying, and tracking potential buyers of a commercial product, the operations of the computer program product comprising: printing signage bearing a two-dimensional matrix bar code, wherein said matrix bar code stores object hyperlinks to a URL exclusively associated with the signage, wherein said signage advertises a commercial product; and storing the physical location of the signage in a database under the exclusive control of a central managing authority intending to profit from the sale of the commercial product; storing tracking information comprising the time, date, and location where the signage was photographed or scanned by a potential buyer, wherein said tracking information is derived from scripts embedded into the source code of a website to which the URL resolves. 
         [0009]    The operation of the computer program product further comprise displaying information to the potential buyer about a commercial product via the website to which the URL resolves; requesting personal information about the potential buyer via the website; incorporating the personal information of the potential buyer into the database, said personal information structured in one or more computer readable files and comprising one or more of name, address, email, telephone number, employer, income, and profession; referencing the personal information and the tracking information in determining whether to reposition the signage; and referencing the personal information and the tracking information in determining where to situate new signage. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the commercial product is real property and the matrix bar code is a QR Code. In other embodiments, the signage comprises a portable device selected from the group consisting of a shirt, grocery bag, hat, car, soda bottle, and kite. The signage may also comprise more than one matrix bar code combined into a lenticular print. 
         [0011]    The lenticular print may be configured such that only one matrix bar code is visible from one or more predetermined positions relative to the signage. The computer program product may further comprise an operation of tracking the position from which a potential buyer was induced to contact the central managing authority. 
         [0012]    The computer program product may further comprise an operation of predetermining an ideal physical location to display the signage by querying a database of available signage locations and by querying statistical historical data specific to a geographic location, the statistical historical data comprising one or more of traffic figures, population figures, demographic information, promotional expenditures for organizations competing with the central managing authority, reported profits, and fixed costs assigned to available signage locations. 
         [0013]    In still further embodiments, the computer program product comprises repositioning the signage to a second ideal physical location as historical data in the database is updated and after the signage is originally positioned. The signage further may comprise an active RFID tag or the signage may comprise a passive RFID tag. 
         [0014]    The computer program product may also further comprise an operation of notifying a client of the central managing authority that the one or more potential buyers have contacted the central managing authority through the URL and/or further comprise remunerating a third-party for each contact made with the central managing authority by a potential buyer. 
         [0015]    A system and method are also disclosed, whose modules and operations are functionally similar to those of the computer program product. 
         [0016]    Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
         [0018]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system for procurement, identification and analysis of potential buyers and investors of real estate in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a computer system for procurement, identification and analysis of potential buyers and investors of real estate in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method of procuring, identifying and analyzing potential buyers and investors of real estate in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of signage printed in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of signage printed in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0026]    The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. The apparatus modules recited in the claims may be configured to impart the recited functionality to the apparatus. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system for procurement, identification and analysis of potential buyers and investors of real estate in accordance with the present invention. The system  100  comprises a central managing authority  102 , a potential buyer  103 , a print module  104 , signage  105 , a storage module  106 , a QR Code  107 , a tracking module  108 , a display module  110 , a request module  112 , a personal information module  114 , a query module  116 , a reference module  118 , and a database  120 . 
         [0028]    The central managing authority  102  may comprise any individual, organization, entity, or combination thereof, tasked with selling, marketing, holding and/or advertising real estate or other large commercial products and services such as machinery, aircraft, vehicles, waste disposal services, construction services, and the like. 
         [0029]    The central managing authority  102  may also comprise a computer program running on one or more data processing devices (DPDs), such as a server, computer workstation, router, mainframe computer, or the like. In various embodiments, the DPD comprises one or more processors. The processor is a computing device well-known to those in the art and may include an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”). 
         [0030]    In the present invention, the central managing authority  102  may route information from the tracking module  108  and/or from the database  120  to any DPD, device, person, company, organization, or the like in communication with the central managing authority  102 , including the owners of real estate. 
         [0031]    In this embodiment, the central managing authority  102  stores tracking information gathered from the potential buyer  103  electronically via the Internet. The central managing authority  102  is in logical communication via the Internet with the cellular phones of potential buyers  103 , or through other personal DPDs such as laptops, Palm Pilots®, digital cameras, and the like. Alternative, the central managing authority  102  may be in logical communication with potential buyers  103  through a networked environment, such as local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). 
         [0032]    In various embodiments, the central managing authority  102  may make available via the display module  110  information about a commercial offering, including pictures, written descriptions, and contact information. Alternatively, the central managing authority may email potential buyers  103  with information about the real estate or commercial offering using variations of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), Post Office Protocol (POP), or other protocols well-known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0033]    The potential buyer  103  may comprise any individual, organization, or group of individuals and/or organizations, including a pedestrian, driver, pilot, construction worker, office worker, or anyone else who comes within view of commercial signage. Though referred to throughout this application as “potential buyers  103 ,” the potential buyers  103  may comprise individuals and/or organizations interested in buying real estate, interested in investing in real estate (such as real estate investment trusts and the like), interested in leasing real estate, interested in selling real estate, interested in constructing buildings on real estate, and the like. 
         [0034]    The potential buyers are visually exposed to the signage  105 , usually while driving, walking, or otherwise traversing within view of the signage&#39;s  105  face. In some embodiments, a plurality of streets, walkways, or buildings are within view of the face of the signage  105 . It is one of the objects of the present invention to teach means of identifying the street, building, walkway, or location from which the signage  105  was viewed by one or more potential buyers  103  through the use of more than one QR Code  107  printed on the signage  105  as a lenticular print. 
         [0035]    Lenticular prints are well-known to those of skill in the art. Lenticular prints comprise a plurality of two-dimensional images interlaced atop each other and combined into a single image or file. The interlaced image can be printed directly onto a substrate surface such as synthetic paper and overlaid with a lenticular lens. When properly created, lenticular prints create an illusion of depth or show a different image from the different angles and positions from which the lenticular print is viewed. 
         [0036]    In the present invention, by printing the QR Codes  107  lenticularly, more than one QR Code  107  can be simultaneously printed in the same position on the signage  105  and potential buyers  103  who photograph or scan the signage  105  can be directed to specific URLs exclusively associated with the differing positions from which the potential buyer  103  photographed the QR Code  107 . 
         [0037]    By printing QR Codes  107  in this fashion, a central managing authority  102  can determine the position where a majority or minority of its potential buyers  103  became interested in purchasing real estate or other commercial offerings advertised on the signage  105 . 
         [0038]    The print module  104 , in the shown embodiment, prints signage bearing one or more two-dimensional matrix bar codes, such as QR Codes  107 . The matrix bar code comprises an object hyperlink. Digital cameras and other personal DPDs can be configured to recognize the matrix bar code and automatically direct potential buyers  103  to Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and/or domain names on the Internet identified by the object hyperlink. 
         [0039]    The print module  104  may determine what size text to use in printing the signage and/or which colors to use by referencing one or more databases or computer files external to the central managing authority  102  which contain information about the distance between roads or walkways fronting the signage  105 . For greater distances, the print module  104  may print the signage with larger sized fonts than the print module  104  would for signage intended to be positioned in closer proximity to the potential buyers  103 . Additionally or alternatively, in various embodiments, the print module  104  may print the signage  105  in colors predetermined to contrast with the surrounding topology and/or surrounding print media. To that end, the print module  104  may reference pictures of areas and objects surrounding the intended location of the signage  105 . 
         [0040]    The system  100  includes signage  105 . The signage  105  may be square, rectangular, circular, triangular, or irregularly shaped. The QR Code  107  may be positioned anywhere on the signage  105 , or above or below the post or bracket securing the signage  105 . The signage  105  may comprise printed media, such as poster, billboard, pylon, magazine, business card, or marquee. In other embodiments, the signage  105  may comprise digital media, such as a computer screen publically displayed at sporting events or other public gatherings using technologies such as LCD, plasma, LED, cathode-ray projection, and the like. 
         [0041]    The signage  105  be may fixed in place or transportable such as signage  105  appearing on the side of an automobile, on a bumper sticker, brochures, folders, shirts, hats, shoes, and the like. The signage  105  may appear in non-traditional locations, such as the bottom of swimming pools, or inscribed into fields in view of aircraft. The signage  105  may comprise a plurality of QR Codes  107  or other two-dimensional matrices. The signage  105  may be displayed adjacent to, and within view of, the commercial product or may be displayed remotely and out of view of the commercial product. 
         [0042]    The storage module  106  stores the physical location of the printed signage  105 . In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the central managing authority  105  predetermines an optimal location for the printed signage  105  to be displayed by referencing historical data comprising traffic figures, advertising costs, and socio-economic information about potential buyers  103  likely to see the signage  105 . 
         [0043]    The QR Code  107  comprises a two-dimensional bar code readable by digital cameras. QR Codes  107  are well-known to those of skill in the art. In the shown embodiment, the QR Code  107  comprises an object hyperlink to a URL exclusively associated with the signage  105 . 
         [0044]    When the QR Code  107  is photographed and/or scanned by a potential buyer  103 , the potential buyer  103  is directed to a URL resolving to a website with information about a real estate offering. In some embodiments, the potential buyer  103  is automatically directed the URL upon photographing the QR Code  107 . In other embodiments, the potential buyer  103  is directly later to the URL after activating DPDs in logical communication with the Internet or a wireless network. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the QR Code  107  may be digitally displayed to potential buyers, such as on a Jumbotron computer display at a sporting event. In embodiments comprising a digitally displayed QR Code, the QR Code  107  or substitute two-dimensional matrix may be printed dynamically onto the digital display such that it changes with passing time. In these embodiments, the QR Code  107  may comprise a timestamp indicating the exact or approximate time that the QR Code  107  was displayed so that the central managing authority  102  can determine for the purpose of storing tracking information the time that potential buyers  103  photographed the QR Code  107 . 
         [0046]    The signage  105  and/or the QR Code  107  may additionally or alternatively comprise passive and/or active radio frequency identification (RFID) tags well-known to those of skill in the art and scannable by potential buyers passing within view of the signage  105 . The QR Codes  107  in the present invention may comprise Aztec Codes, barcodes, ShotCodes, touchtags, and the like. 
         [0047]    The QR Code  107  may be printed in black-and-white, grayscale, or any combination of colors well-known to those of skill in the art, or printed lenticularly. The colors and size of the QR Code  107  may be automatically predetermined to be visible from predetermined distances away from the location of the signage  105 . 
         [0048]    The Internet is well-known to those of skill in the art. The Internet  104  may comprise any collection of interconnected computers and computer networks linked by Ethernet cables, wireless connections, and the like, such as the world-wide-web. 
         [0049]    The commercial offering advertised on the signage  105  may comprise any valuable commercial items or services retailing for more than $25,000, less than or equal to $25,000, or real estate retailing for any price. 
         [0050]    The tracking module is configured to identify the time, date, and location where the signage  105  was photographed or scanned by the potential buyers  103 . The tracking information is derived, in some embodiments, from scripts embedded into the source code of a website to which the URL resolves which is displayed by the display module  110 . 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, the tracking module  108  identifies the time the QR Code  107  and/or signage  105  were photographed by referencing the clock of the central managing authority  102  when contact with the central managing authority  102  is initiated by the potential buyer  103 . In other embodiments, the tracking module  108  determines when the QR Code  107  was scanned by referencing information dynamically displayed in QR Code  107  incorporated into digitally displayed signage  105 . 
         [0052]    The display module  110  displays information about the real estate or commercial offering to the potential buyer  103  via the Internet or other wireless connections. 
         [0053]    The request module  112  prompts the potential buyer  103  to input personal information that is stored in the database  120 . 
         [0054]    The personal information may comprise a computer readable file transmittable over a signal bearing medium like the Internet and storable on a computer readable storage. The personal information may comprise one or more of: age, address, gender, credit rating, email, telephone number, income, education, and purchasing practices. 
         [0055]    The personal information module  114  is configured, in some embodiments, to incorporate the personal information in one or more computer readable files or the database  120  for later reference by other modules in the system and/or method operations of the present invention. 
         [0056]    The query module  116  is configured to reference personal information contained in the database  120  and/or the tracking information also stored in the database  120  to determine where the signage  105  needs to be repositioned and whether the signage  105  is profitable. The query module  116  may be configured to determine the degree to which a current signage location satisfies a predetermined criteria meant to identify the profitability of the signage  105 . 
         [0057]    The reference module  118  is configured to reference personal information contained in the database  120  and/or the tracking information also stored in the database  120  to determine where to situate new signage printed by the printing module  104 . The reference module  118  may be configured to determine the degree to which proposed signage locations satisfy a predetermined cost-effective criteria meant to identify only profitable signage locations. 
         [0058]    The database  120  comprises a database under the exclusive or non-exclusive control of the central managing authority  102 . Databases are well-known to those of skill in the art. The database  120  preferably comprises a structured computer-readable file, but may also comprise a book, audio recording, video, digital image, or the like. The database  120  may comprise a relational computer database managed by a relational database management system (RDBMS) or a database management system (DBMS), such as Oracle, DB2, Firebird, SQL, or other DBMSs as are well-known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0059]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram illustrating one embodiment for procurement, identification and analysis of potential buyers and investors of real estate in accordance with the present invention. The computer system  200  includes a central managing authority  102 , potential buyers  103   a - c , signage  105 , a QR Code  107 , a database  120 , servers  202   a - c , and tracking information  204   a - c.    
         [0060]    The central managing authority  102 , potential buyers  103   a - c , signage  105 , QR Code  107 , and database  120  are substantially described above in relation to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0061]    The central managing authority  102 , in the shown embodiment, selects an optimal location to display the signage  105  from a list of available signage locations saved in computer readable memory and made accessible to the central managing authority  102  and its reference module  118 . The central managing authority  102  references statistical historical data comprising the quantities of potential customers  103  that have contacted the central managing authority  102  or other third-parties who have advertised at each available location. The statistical historical data may also comprise cost data associated with advertising signage at each of the available locations. 
         [0062]    The servers  202   a - c  comprise DPDs well-known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0063]    In the shown embodiment, potential buyers  103   a - c  view the signage  105  comprising lenticularly printed QR Codes  107  and are directed to different URLs based on the locations exclusively associates with the location from which the potential buyers  103   a - c  viewed the signage  105 . In the shown embodiment, differing servers  202   a - c  display differing websites to the potential buyers  103   a - c , each website being exclusively associated with the URL that the potential buyers  103   a - c  were directed to. 
         [0064]    The servers  202   a - c  collect tracking information  204   a - c  from the potential buyers  103   a - c  and transmit the tracking information  204   a - c  in computer readable files to the central managing authority  102  where the tracking information  204   a - c  is stored in persistent storage, such as in the database  120 . 
         [0065]    The tracking information comprises data useful in determining which signage  105  was photographed by the potential customer  103  and/or which QR Code  107  was photographed by the potential customer  103 . The tracking information may comprise a timestamp indicating the time the signage  105  was photographed, the location where the signage  105  was located, and/or the orientation of a potential customer  103  to the signage  105 . 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart of a method  300  of procuring, identifying and analyzing potential buyers and investors of real estate in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0067]    The method  300  substantially includes the embodiments and modules described above with regard to the apparatus, computer program product, and system depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         [0068]    The method  300  begins as signage  105  comprising a QR Code  107  is printed  302 . The physical location where the signage  105  is positioned is then stored  304  in the database  120 . In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the signage  105  is positioned in a location predetermined by the central managing authority  102  to be the optimal choice from a finite group of possibilities based an analysis of historical data. 
         [0069]    The method  300  proceeds as shown. 
         [0070]    Various embodiments of the method  300 , may comprise a surveying step in which a potential buyer  103  who has reached the central managing authority  102  via the Internet directly (without using a QR Code) is prompted to answer a series of questions about the QR Code  107  specifically or QR Codes generally, such as: Did you see the black and white box? Did you see the QR Code? What is a QR Code? Would you like to download QR software of codexes? Why did you contact the central managing authority? How many times did you see the signage before scanning it? And when did you scan the signage? Where did you see the signage you scanned? 
         [0071]    The teachings of the present invention in the surveying step are directed to the denotation of the question formed by the words, not the exact wordings themselves. 
         [0072]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the central managing authority may tutor the potential buyer  103  on what QR Codes  107  are and how the potential buyer  103  can make use of them in the future. 
         [0073]    Next, this contact information  116  is stored  506  in persistent storage where it can be eventually or immediately transmitted to other third-parties. 
         [0074]      FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of signage  400  printed in accordance with the present invention. The signage  400  includes a sign  105 , a QR Code  107 , and URL  402 . 
         [0075]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the QR Code  107  directs potential buyers  103  to a geo-specific domain name or URL  402 , meaning the domain name itself or URL  402  denotes information specific to the real estate offered for sale, such as the real estates address as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0076]      FIG. 4B  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of signage  450  printed in accordance with the present invention. The signage  450  includes a sign  105 , a QR Code  107 , and URL  402 . 
         [0077]    The QR Code  107  shown in the expanded view of this embodiment directs users to the domain name &lt;573main.com&gt;, rather than the domain name &lt;573mainstreet.com&gt; which may be shown in printed in text on the signage  105  in some embodiments. By directing potential buyers  103  to a different base domain when they manually key the domain name than when the potential buyer  103  scans the QR Code  107 , the present invention teaches new means of tracking how potential buyers  103  arrived at information stored by the central managing authority  102  and displayed to potential buyers  103  via the Internet. 
         [0078]    Because the domain name referenced in the QR Code  107  differs from the domain name printed on the signage  105 , the central managing authority  102  can identify the method that a potential customer  103  used to reach the central managing authority  102 . 
         [0079]    The “base domain name” is defined, for the purposes of this invention, to denote the domain name registered with an ICANN approved registrar and appearing immediately before the gTLD (generic top-level domain), ccTLD (internationalized top-level domain), and the like, rather than after the gTLD, or a sub-domain, etcetera. 
         [0080]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.