Patent Publication Number: US-2021182319-A1

Title: Map search interface system for gis objects having non-specifiable location attributes

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to search interfaces and, more particularly, to map search interface system for GIS objects having non-specifiable location attributes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a typical map search interface  100  of the prior art for searching for properties wherein the location thereof cannot be specified, such as for off-market property sale listings. 
     The interface  100  comprises a search interface  101  and a search parameter input field  102  into which various search parameters may be entered. The interface  101  comprises a map rendering  103  displaying properties matching the search parameters. 
     However, without disclosing the specific location of each matching property, the interface  100  rather typically shows the general region  104  of the search results within a degree of proximity such that the specific location of each property cannot be determined with certainty. 
     The present invention seeks to provide improvements to map search interfaces for searching for GIS objects wherein location attributes thereof cannot be displayed or specified which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative. 
     It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to one aspect, there is provided a map search interface system comprising computer program code instructions controllers configured to: receive, in relation to user profiles of a first type, GIS object location and attribute data of a plurality of GIS objects; receive, in relation to a user profile of a second type, GIS object search parameters; at least one of receive and determine a geographic subregion within GIS data; determine a subset of GIS objects of the plurality of GIS objects falling within the geographic subregion according to location data thereof and the geographic subregion; assign search parameter match total categories to each of the subset of GIS objects according to attribute data of the subset of GIS objects and the GIS object search parameters; and generate a map search interface comprising a map rendered from the GIS data, the map search interface displaying the geographic subregion and the search parameter match total categories of the subset of GIS objects, without displaying a specific location of each respective GIS object. 
     The geographic subregion may be selected from subregions specified by the GIS data. 
     The geographic region may be displayed as a boundary demarcation overlay on the map. 
     At least one of receiving and determining a geographic subregion within the GIS data may comprise receiving, via the map search interface, a geographic region identifier and looking up the geographic region boundary data from the GIS data. 
     The map may be an interactive map and wherein at least one of receiving and determining the geographic subregion within the GIS data may comprise determining the geographic subregion in accordance with a view port of the map. 
     The geographic subregion may be selected as a most central geographic subregion within the viewport. 
     The map search interface may display each search parameter match total category as a numeric value. 
     The map search interface may display each search parameter match total category as at least one of a different colour and a different shade of a colour. 
     The map search interface may comprise a plurality of search parameter input fields and wherein the search parameter match total categories may be displayed dynamically responsive to data input via the search parameter input fields. 
     The system may further comprise receiving a selection of a category via the map search interface and displaying an informational interface listing of the GIS objects within the category without displaying a specific location thereof. 
     The system may further comprise receiving a GIS object ID of a GIS object wherein the computer program code instruction controllers may be further configured to: determine a geographic subregion according to location data of the GIS object; assign a search parameter match total category to the GIS object according to attributes of the GIS object and the GIS object search parameters; and generating a GIS object informational interface comprising a map rendered from the GIS data and displaying the geographic subregion and the search parameter match total category. 
     The geographic subregion may be generated as a boundary demarcation overlay on the map. 
     The boundary demarcation overlay may be displayed in at least one of a colour and a shade of colour according to the search parameter match total category. 
     The search parameter match total category may be displayed using a visual indicator wherein elements thereof may be highlighted according to the search parameter match total category. 
     The visual indicator may comprise a plurality of concentric layers and wherein subsets thereof may be displayed at least one of from outside in an inside out depending on the search parameter match total category. 
     Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a map search interface in accordance of the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  shows a map search interface system in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary map search interface in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows a process for the generation of the map search interface of  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows an exemplary GIS object information interface in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a process for generating the GIS object information interface of  FIG. 5  in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a GIS object comprising location and attribute data; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a user profile information interface in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a process for generating the interface of  FIG. 8  in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  shows a map search interface system  200  which may comprise a server  201  in operable communication with a plurality of client terminals  202  across a wide area network  203  such as the Internet. 
     Each computing device shown in  FIG. 2  comprises a processor  204  for processing digital data. The processor  204  is operably coupled to a memory device  205  across a system bus  206 . The memory device  205  stores digital data including computer program code instructions and associated data therefor. In use, the processor  204  fetches these computer program code instructions and the associated data from the memory device  205  for interpretation and execution in implementing the functionality provided herein. 
     Each computer device may comprise a data interface  207  for sending and receiving data across the wide area network  203 . 
     Each client terminal  202  may comprise a digital display device  208  in operable communication with the respective processor  204  and system bus  206  thereof for displaying digital data including user interfaces  209 . At least one of the client terminals  202  displays a map search interface  210 . 
     In embodiments, the server  201  execute a webserver application  211  wherein at least one client terminal  202  executes a web browser application for rendering webpage resources served by the webserver  211 . 
     The computer program code instructions may be logically divided into various computer program code instruction controllers  212  and associated data  213 . 
     The server  201  may comprise a user interface controller  214  for controlling the user interfaces  209  and the rendering controller  212  for rendering maps, including of the map search interface  210 . 
     The associated data  230  may comprise GIS data  215  and a plurality of GIS objects  216  used in relation to the GIS data  215 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a plurality of GIS objects  216  used in relation to the GIS data  215 . Each GIS object  216  comprises location data  217  and other attributes  218 . In relation to real estate, the attributes  218  may represent attributes including price, features (such as number of bathrooms, bedrooms, garages and the like) and proximity (such as proximity to schools, transport and the like) and other attributes. 
       FIG. 3  shows an exemplary map search interface  210  in accordance with an embodiment. 
     The interface  210  comprises a map  219  which is rendered by the rendering controller  212  using the GIS data  215 . As is shown, the map rendering  219  may display streets, suburb names and other features and locations. The map  219  may be interactive and may comprise navigational controls  220  for panning and zooming. 
     The interface  211  may comprise a search parameter interface  221  comprising a plurality of input fields  222  into which various search parameters may be input. With reference to real estate, search parameters may be input to search for real estate properties according to price, features, proximity and other search parameters. 
     Whereas the search parameter interface  211  is shown overlaid or adjacent the map  219  in a preferred embodiment for interactive real-time searching, in alternative embodiments, search parameters may be stored in relation to user profiles  223  which may be configured during user registration. 
     The interface  210  may comprise a region search interface  224  which may comprise a subregion search input field  225  wherein subregions within the map  219  may be searched. 
     Typically, the system  200  employs suburbs defined within the GIS data  215  as subregions. In this regard, a postcode, suburb name or the like may be input into the subregion search input field  225 . 
     Alternatively, the system  200  may determine the plurality or the main subregion within the view port  227  of the map  219  as the user navigates using the navigational controls  220 . For example, as the user pans using the navigational controls  220 , the user interface controller  214  may determine a rectangular GIS boundary according to the view port  227  of the map  219  dependent on the panned location and zoom setting of the navigational controls  220  and select a main subregion  226  therein, such as a subregion  226  most centrally located within the view port  227  of the map  219 . 
     The map search interface  210  may further comprise a categorisation interface  228  representing search parameter match totals categories of GIS objects within the subregion  226 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates exemplary processing  229  for generating the map search interface  210  in accordance with an embodiment which will be described in accordance with an exemplary application for searching for off-market real estate properties for which specific locations thereof cannot be displayed or specified. 
     A plurality of users register with the system  200 , thereby creating a plurality of respective user profiles  223 . 
     A first type of user profile may be for seller users which, for example, use client terminal  202 A, to list their properties for off-market sale. As such, each user would input specifics in relation to their property (GIS object), including the location and attributes. 
     The location specified for each GIS object may be any location data suitable for allowing the system  200  to determine which GIS objects fall within respective subregion/suburbs  226 . 
     For example, the location may be specified by GPS coordinates or street number. In less preferred embodiments, the location may be specified by street name. 
     As such, at step  223 , the system receives GIS object location and attribute data of a plurality of GIS objects (in this example, off-market real estate properties for sale). 
     Continuing the example, potential purchasers wishing to search for off-market properties similarly create user profiles  223 , using client terminals  202 C for example. 
     As alluded to above, when creating a user profile, each potential purchaser user may input the GIS object/property search parameters. For example, a potential purchaser user may specify that the user is interested in a three bedroom, one garage house, within 5 km of a primary school for less than $1.8 million. 
     Alternatively, the user may input such GIS object search parameters using the search parameter input fields  222  of the search parameter interface  221  when searching in real-time. As such, as the user adjusts the data within the fields  222 , the interface  210  may update in substantial real-time. 
     As such, at step  231 , the system  200  receives GIS object search parameters. 
     At step  232 , the system  200  receives or determines a geographic subregion  226  within the GIS data  215 . 
     As alluded to above, a user may input a subregion  226  identifier, such as a postcode or suburb name into the subregion search input field  225  of the interface  210 . Alternatively, the system may determine the main subregion  226  displayed within the view port  227  of the map  219  as the user navigates using the navigational controls  220 . 
     In embodiments, the system  200  may display a boundary demarcation overlay  237  around the selected or active subregion  226 . 
     At step  233 , the system  200  determines a subset of GIS objects from the plurality of GIS objects falling within the geographic subregion  226  according to the provided location data of the plurality of GIS objects. In this example, the system  200  may select the properties falling within the boundary  237  of the subregion  226 . 
     At step  234 , the system  200  assigns search parameter match total categories to the subset of selected GIS objects according to the total number of attributes of each GIS object/property matching search parameters. 
     For example, for a property comprising three bedrooms and costing $1.6 million and being 2.4 km from a primary school, 0 would be assigned to a search parameter searching for four bedrooms, 1 would be assigned to a search parameter searching for properties less than $1.8 million and 1 would be assigned to a search parameter searching for properties less than 5 km from a primary school, thereby generating a search parameter match total of 2. As such, the GIS object/property would be assigned to the “2” search parameter match total category. 
     Further for example, for five search parameter input fields  222 , each GIS object/property  215  within the subregion  226  could be assigned to a category ranging from zero (no search parameter matches) to 5 (all parameters matching). 
     At step  235 , the system  200  generates the map search interface  210  comprising the map  219  rendered from the GIS data  215 . 
     At step  236 , the user interface controller  214  displays the geographic region (which, as alluded to above, may be a boundary demarcation overlay  237  rendered within the map  219  but, in embodiments, may be displayed adjacent the map  219  including in word form) along with the categorisation interface  228  which displays search parameter match total categories  238  for the subset of GIS objects/properties  215  within the geographic subregion  226 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , each category  238  may display a numeric total  239  along with a description  240 . Additionally, or alternatively, each category  238  may be displayed according to a colour scale or colour shade wherein, for example, green indicates all search parameters matching and red indicates no parameters matching with colours or shades in between. 
     In alternative embodiments, shapes may be used to display the categories  238 . 
     In embodiments, the user may click on a particular category  238  to view a listing of GIS objects/properties therein. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exemplary GIS object information interface  241  which, according to the present example may be an off-market property listing information page. The user may click through to the information interface  214  via the aforedescribed listing of GIS objects/properties of each category  238 . The interface  241  may comprise a number of information regions  242  including text and image data. 
     The interface  241  may further comprise a map  219 . The interface  241  may further display the subregion  226  which may be displayed as a boundary overlay  237  displayed on the map  219  or alternatively adjacently displayed information, including in word format. 
     The interface  241  may further comprise a visual match indicator  243 . 
       FIG. 6  shows exemplary processing  244  by the system  200  for displaying the GIS object information interface  241 . 
     The processing  244  may similarly comprise receiving the GIS object location and attribute data of a plurality of GIS objects at step  245 . 
     At step  247 , the system  200  may receive a GIS object ID which, in this example, may be a property ID. 
     At step  248 , the system  200  determines the geographic subregion  226  using the GIS data  215  and the location data of the GIS object. In this example, the geographic subregion  226  may be the suburb within which the identified property is located. 
     At step  249 , the system  200  assigns a search parameter match category to the GIS object according to attribute data from the GIS object and the GIS object search parameters. As alluded to above, the GIS object search parameters may be stored in relation to a user profile or alternatively derived from the search parameter input fields  222  displayed in a previous screen. 
     At step  250 , the system generates the interface  241  comprising the map  219  rendered from the GIS data. 
     At step  251 , the system displays the geographic region  226  and the category of the GIS object according to the GIS object search parameters without displaying the specific location of the GIS object. 
     In the embodiment shown, the geographic subregion is displayed as the boundary  237  demarcation overlay  237 . 
     The boundary demarcation overlay  237  may be displayed in a colour or shade according to the calculated search parameter match category. 
     For example, where the GIS object/property meets all of the users search parameters, the boundary demarcation overlay  237  may be displayed green whereas, should none be matched, the boundary demarcation  237  may be displayed red. 
     Additionally, or alternatively, the search parameter match total category may be displayed using the visual indicator  243 . The visual indicator  243  may comprise a plurality of layers  252 . Should all of the search parameter match, all of the layers  252  may be highlighted whereas, if none of the search parameters match, none of the layers  252  may be highlighted whereas should only a partial number of search parameters match, the layers  252  may be correspondingly partially highlighted, either from the outside in or from the inside out. 
     As such, in this example, using the visual indicator  243 , the user is able to quickly visually ascertain the suitability of the property according to the users search parameters. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary profile information interface  253  which, in this example, may display information in relation to a real estate agent profile of a real estate agent who, for example, uses client terminals  202 B. The interface  253  may comprise various information regions  242  in relation to the profile including in text and image data format. 
       FIG. 9  shows exemplary processing  254  for generating the interface  253  which will be described with reference to present off-market property listing example. 
     At step  255 , the system  200  may similarly receive GIS object location and attribute data of a plurality of GIS objects which, in this example, represent a plurality of off-market listings. 
     At step  256 , the system  200  may receive GIS object attributes which, in this example, represent the attributes of a property of a potential seller. 
     At step  257 , the system  200  receives profile relationships which, in this case, represents relations between profiles relating to prospective purchaser and agent profiles. Specifically, using the map search interface  210 , the user may click on a particular category  238  to display GIS object/property information interfaces  241  for the GIS objects/properties of the selected category  238 . 
     Then, for a particular GIS object/property, the user may use the interface  241  to make contact with an agent associated with the GIS object/property. As such, the system  200  may update the profiles  223  to relate the profile of the agent and the profile of the interested prospective purchaser. 
     At step  258 , the system  200  receives a profile ID which, in this example, is an agent profile ID such that information of the agent can be displayed using the interface  253 . 
     At step  259 , the system  200  determines a subset of GIS objects of the plurality of GIS objects according to the profile relationships. In this example, the system  200  selects the GIS objects/properties associated with the agent. 
     At step  260 , the system  200  assigns GIS object attribute match total categories to the subset of GIS objects according to the GIS object attributes in the profile relationships. In this example, the system  200  determines which GIS objects/properties associated with the agent profile similar to the attributes of the GIS object of the prospective seller. 
     At step  261 , the system  200  displays categories  262  using the interface which may display the number of seller profiles of each category. 
     For example, the interface  253  may represent that an identified agent has 22 prospective purchasers who are looking for properties matching all four of the attributes of the potential seller&#39;s property, 16 prospective purchasers who are looking for properties matching three of the attributes, 10 prospective purchasers who are looking for properties matching two of the attributes and six prospective purchasers who are looking for properties matching none of the attributes. 
     Similarly, the categories  262  may display the numeric total, or colour or shape indication depending on the match total. 
     In embodiments, the system  200  may be configured for generating a map search interface  210  wherein the categories  238  displayed represent an aggregation of GIS objects. 
     For example, in accordance with the present example, a plurality of potential sellers may combine their respective properties together such that the categorisation  238  may further represent the combined size thereof in addition to the search parameter match total category. In this way, a property developer may search for combined properties potentially available for combined development wherein the categories  238  display not only the search parameter match total category but also the size aggregation of the combined GIS objects/properties, such as for example, providing categorisation label comprising “large”, “medium”, and “small”. In alternative embodiments, the aggregation may represent strata entitlement as opposed to surface area. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention. 
     The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.