Patent Publication Number: US-2006020522-A1

Title: Method of conducting interactive real estate property viewing

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a method of conducting interactive real estate property viewing for non-present buyers. More particularly, the method includes a reactive real-time continuous visual feed of the property for the prospective buyer in conjunction with an audio feed between a real estate agent and that buyer.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Viewing real estate as a buyer may be time consuming and expensive. Travel to a prospective property may have to occur at inconvenient times, and the necessity of multiple trips causing high travel and lodging expenses, as well as stress to the prospective buyer.  
      Agents may be able to identify acceptable properties for a buyer through detailed discussions, questionnaires, information sheets or other information gathering endeavors. Additionally, prospective buyers may view property listings remotely through mailings and internet sites. However, these methods do not allow a real estate agent to comprehensively answer particular questions that the prospective buyer may have without undue delays.  
      There is a need in the art to provide real-time viewing of real estate to a prospective buyer. The present invention addresses this and other needs.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention includes a method for showing real property for sale to a prospective buyer comprising locating a real-time camera at a subject real property, transmitting a real-time visual feed of the real property from the camera to a remotely located visual display device for viewing by the prospective buyer of the real estate, displaying the real-time visual feed on the visual display device; communicating between the prospective buyer and real estate agent over an audio transmission feed effective for the prospective buyer to ask real-time questions regarding the real property relative to the displayed real-time visual feed to the real estate agent and the real estate agent to communicate information back to the prospective buyer and, concurrently, moving the camera in real-time through the real property in response to directions from the real estate agent to address the buyer&#39;s questions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG. 1  illustrates the method for showing real property for sale to a prospective buyer of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The present invention is a method for showing real property for sale (“subject real property”) to a prospective buyer without the necessity of the buyer coming to the location of the real property. As seen in  FIG. 1 , a real-time camera  10  that provides a continuous camera feed  12  (“continuous camera” or “visual feed”) is located on the subject real property  20  under the control of the real estate agent  30  or the real estate agent&#39;s assistant  32 . The real property may be residential, commercial, or other property subject to viewing by a buyer.  
      Real-time cameras  10  include those cameras  10  that convert a received visual image into a signal for transmission to a remote location on an on-going basis over the time period of the operation of the camera  10 , i.e., a movie-like visual scan is seen by the prospective buyer  40  rather than still singular picture-like views of the real property. Representative real-time cameras  10  include, for example, the Aiptek 6-in-1 Pocket DV Web Cam DV45000, Creative Labs Webcam for Notebooks PD 1170, Dynex PC Web Camera DX-WC 101, Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro 961240-0403, etc. The real-time camera  10  provides a continuous visual feed  12  of the real property that communicates these views of the real property  20  to the prospective buyer  40  of the real estate  20 , while the prospective buyer  40  is located in a remote, i.e., different, location from the real property  20 . Real-time includes the direct transmission of a visual signal, allowing for normal transit times of the signal, that allows the prospective buyer  40  and real estate agent  30  to continue discussions throughout the property  20  during the viewing, with simultaneous or near-simultaneous verbal reference to the visual feed to the prospective buyer  40 .  
      As the prospective buyer  40  views the property  20 , the prospective buyer  40  and real estate agent  30  communicate through a real-time audio transmission feed  52  that allows the prospective buyer  40  to ask questions regarding the real property  20  to the real estate agent  30  and the real estate agent  30  to answer those questions and further describe the real property  20  to the prospective buyer  40 . As the real estate agent  30  and prospective buyer  40  discuss different attributes of the real property  20 , the real estate agent  30  moves the camera  10  to different locations and views of the real property  20  to address the buyer&#39;s questions. The audio feed  52  may be directed through an audio component of the camera  10  unit having audio capability, telephone or other audio transmission device  50 , if desired.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the real-time camera  10  transmits the visual feed  12  over the internet or other transmission means that allow the prospective buyer  40  to readily receive the visual link. Viewing maybe on a computer, television, or other like device  16  for displaying visual images. Likewise, the audio feed  52  may occur over the internet, telephone communication or other means  50  appropriate for the real estate agent  30  to field questions from the prospective buyer  40  and direct the continuous camera  30  in response to those questions and/or comments.  
      Movement of the camera  10  may include a zoom-in capability  60  for enlarging particular aspects or parts of the real property  20 , freeze-frame capability, assistant support of the continuous camera  10  under direction of the real estate agent  30 , having the continuous camera  10  supported by the real estate agent  30 , such as with the continuous camera  10  mounted on, or controlled in relation to, the real estate agent&#39;s head, or other such arrangements suitable for moving the camera  10  at the real estate agent&#39;s directions. In one embodiment, the real-time continuous camera feed is viewable by the real estate agent  30  as the agent  30  speaks to the prospective buyer  40 , such as through a side camera viewing screen. Additionally, the continuous camera  12  may include multiple camera unit inputs, preferably with each unit controlled by assistants under the direction of the real estate agent  30  who may control and/or screen the visual feed between the different units during transmission for the prospective buyer  40 . Once viewed, the real property  20  is known to the prospective buyer  40  for consideration to be purchased.  
     EXAMPLE 1  
     Prophetic  
      A manager of a large company is being relocated from Seattle, Wash. to Norfolk, Va. in six months. The manager contacts a real estate agent in Norfolk, Va. and discusses with the real estate agent the house size, yard size, and style of house wanted in Norfolk, Va. The manager logs onto her computer, and downloads software to receive a video and audio feed from the real estate agent. Three days later, the real estate agent schedules four 30-minute conferences with the manager, with 30 minute time period in-between each conference. The real estate agent travels to a first real property prior to the first conference with a real-time camera. The manager uses her computer to enter into the audio and visual feed from the real estate agent.  
      Once the manager has entered the audio and visual feed from the camera located at the property, the real estate agent proceeds to “walk the property” using the visual feed while talking with the prospective buyer over the audio feed. Simultaneously to the real estate agent using the camera to provide a visual feed from the property to the manager&#39;s computer screen, the real estate agent discusses the property, allowing both the visual and audio feed to compliment each other in describing the real property tot he manager. As the manager questions the real estate agent about the property such as the location of the door leading into the kitchen, the real estate agent steps back for the continuous camera to get a wide view of the kitchen door and explains to the manager through the audio feed about the flow patterns within the kitchen. As the real estate agent begins to travel into one of the bedrooms, the manager asks about the access into the kitchen from the living room, and the real estate agent back-tracks through the kitchen with the continuous camera to show the prospective buyer access on the other side of the kitchen. The camera is used to zoom in on the window treatments in the living room. After 25 minutes, the manager is not impressed with the house, says bye to the real estate agent and logs off of the computer. The real estate agent travels to the second house and, at the appointed time, the manager enters into the audio and visual feed from the agent a second time to view the second house. This is repeated for the subsequent houses.  
     EXAMPLE 2  
     Prophetic  
      The method of example 1, where the manager enters a website to access the audio and visual feed from the real estate agent.  
     EXAMPLE 3  
     Prophetic  
      The method of example 1, where the audio feed occurs through a telephone line.  
     EXAMPLE 4  
     Prophetic  
      The method of example 1, where the real estate agent has two camera units controlled by two assistants. As the assistants “walk the property”, in addition to being sent to the manager, the visual feed from the camera units are sent to the real estate agent at a second computer in her office with each camera feed view being numbered and showing on both computers. As the real estate agent and manager discuss the individual views of the real property, either the manager or real estate agent can enlarge individual visual feeds on the separate computer screens. Additionally, the real estate agent is in radio communication with the assistants to direct the assistants where to move their camera.  
     EXAMPLE 5  
     Prophetic  
      The method of example 4 using four assistants with four separate cameras and visual feeds.  
      The foregoing summary, description, examples and drawings of the invention are not intended to be limiting, but are only exemplary of the inventive features which are defined in the claims.