Real-estate method and apparatus for searching for homes in a search pool for exact and close matches according to primary and non-primary selection criteria

Claim 1

A method for searching for items in a search pool based on selected search features, comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of primary and non-primary search features to be used for basing a search for items in the search pool; comparing each item in the search pool with said plurality of primary search features; eliminating items in the search pool which are not an exact match or a near match with said plurality of primary search features; comparing each item remaining in the search pool with said plurality of non-primary search features; assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a feature in said plurality of primary and non-primary search features, all said points to be assigned to said features being predetermined and not requiring input by a user requesting said searching for said items; and generating a predetermined number of items in the search pool with the highest total points.

Claim 2

A method for searching for items in a search pool based on selected search features, comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of primary and non-primary search features to be used for basing a search for items in the search pool; comparing each item in the search pool with said plurality of primary search features; eliminating items in the search pool which are not an exact match or a near match with said plurality of primary search features; comparing each item remaining in the search pool with said plurality of non-primary search features; assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a feature in said plurality of primary and non-primary search features, all said points to be assigned to said features being predetermined and not requiring input by a user requesting said searching for said items; and generating a predetermined number of items in the search pool with the highest total points.

Claim 6

An apparatus for searching for items in a search pool based on selected plurality of primary and non-primary search features, said apparatus comprising: a first storage element for storing text data of the search pool; a second storage element for storing audio and visual data of the search pool; a comparator element for comparing each item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to said plurality of primary or non-primary search features, said comparator element comparing each item with said plurality of primary search features before comparing selected said each item which is an exact match or a near match to said primary search feature with said non-primary search features; a point assignment element for assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a primary or a non-primary feature in said search features, said point assignment element assigning points to an item based on a plurality of tables including a predetermined schedule of points to be assigned to said features of an item; a third storage element for storing said text, audio, visual data and said point assignment element of the search pool; a CPU for processing the data in said first storage element, said second storage element and said third storage element; and a display element for displaying said search features and search results.

Claim 7

An apparatus for searching for items in a search pool based on selected plurality of primary and non-primary search features, said apparatus comprising: a first storage element for storing text data of the search pool; a second storage element for storing audio and visual data of the search pool; a comparator element for comparing each item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to said plurality of primary or non-primary search features, said comparator element comparing each item with said plurality of primary search features before comparing selected said each item which is an exact match or a near match to said primary search feature with said non-primary search features; a point assignment element for assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a primary or a non-primary feature in said search features, said point assignment element assigning points to an item based on a plurality of tables including a predetermined schedule of points to be assigned to said features of an item; a third storage element for storing said text, audio, visual data and said point assignment element of the search pool; a CPU for processing the data in said first storage element, said second storage element and said third storage element; and a display element for displaying said search features and search results.

Claim 11

A system for searching for items in a search pool based on selected plurality of primary and non-primary search features, said system comprising: a first storage element for storing text data of the search pool; a second storage element for storing audio and visual data of the search pool; a comparator element for comparing each item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to said plurality of primary or non-primary search features, said comparator element comparing each item with said plurality of primary search features before comparing selected said each item which is an exact match or a near match to said primary search feature with said non-primary search features; a point assignment element for assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a primary or a non-primary feature in said search features, said point assignment element assigning points to an item based on a plurality of tables including a predetermined schedule of points to be assigned to said features of an item; a third storage element for storing said text, audio, visual data and said point assignment element of the search pool; a CPU for processing the data in said first storage element, said second storage element and said third storage element; and a display element for displaying said search features and search results comprising items with highest total points.

Claim 12

A system for searching for items in a search pool based on selected plurality of primary and non-primary search features, said system comprising: a first storage element for storing text data of the search pool; a second storage element for storing audio and visual data of the search pool; a comparator element for comparing each item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to said plurality of primary or non-primary search features, said comparator element comparing each item with said plurality of primary search features before comparing selected said each item which is an exact match or a near match to said primary search feature with said non-primary search features; a point assignment element for assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a primary or a non-primary feature in said search features, said point assignment element assigning points to an item based on a plurality of tables including a predetermined schedule of points to be assigned to said features of an item; a third storage element for storing said text, audio, visual data and said point assignment element of the search pool; a CPU for processing the data in said first storage element, said second storage element and said third storage element; and a display element for displaying said search features and search results comprising items with highest total points.

Claim 16

An apparatus for searching for items in a search pool based on selected plurality of primary and non-primary search features, said apparatus comprising: means for storing text data of the search pool; means for storing audio and visual data of the search pool; means for comparing each item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to said plurality of primary or non-primary search features, said means for comparing compares each item with said plurality of primary search features before comparing selected said each item which is an exact match or a near match to said primary search feature with said non-primary search features; means for assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a primary or a non-primary feature in said search features, said means for assigning points to an item performing said assigning based on a plurality of tables including a predetermined schedule of points to be assigned to said features of an item; means for storing said text, audio, visual data and said means for assigning points; means for processing the data in said means for storing text, said means for storing audio and said means for assigning; and means for displaying said search features and search results.

Claim 17

An apparatus for searching for items in a search pool based on selected plurality of primary and non-primary search features, said apparatus comprising: means for storing text data of the search pool; means for storing audio and visual data of the search pool; means for comparing each item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to said plurality of primary or non-primary search features, said means for comparing compares each item with said plurality of primary search features before comparing selected said each item which is an exact match or a near match to said primary search feature with said non-primary search features; means for assigning points to an item in the search pool for a feature which is an exact match or a near match to a primary or a non-primary feature in said search features, said means for assigning points to an item performing said assigning based on a plurality of tables including a predetermined schedule of points to be assigned to said features of an item; means for storing said text, audio, visual data and said means for assigning points; means for processing the data in said means for storing text, said means for storing audio and said means for assigning; and means for displaying said search features and search results.

Claim 21

An apparatus for performing a search for homes in a search pool, and housed in an enclosure comprising: a touch monitor for displaying selection screens, and for accepting inputs, said selection screens displaying a predetermined number of selection features; a database containing a predetermined number of items to be searched; a search software for producing a predetermined number of search results based on said predetermined number of primary and non-primary selection features and by searching through said database for said items with features matching said primary and non-primary selection features and assigning points to said features corresponding to matching primary and non-primary selection features, said primary selection features being evaluated before said non-primary selection features, all said points to be assigned to said features being predetermined and not requiring input of said points by a user requesting said search; a computer for running said search software; a printer for producing a printout with information on a predetermined number of search results; a printer output portion for dispensing said printout; and a first storage element for storing said database.

Claim 22

An apparatus for performing a search for homes in a search pool, and housed in an enclosure comprising: a touch monitor for displaying selection screens, and for accepting inputs, said selection screens displaying a predetermined number of selection features; a database containing a predetermined number of items to be searched; a search software for producing a predetermined number of search results based on said predetermined number of primary and non-primary selection features and by searching through said database for said items with features matching said primary and non-primary selection features and assigning points to said features corresponding to matching primary and non-primary selection features, said primary selection features being evaluated before said non-primary selection features, all said points to be assigned to said features being predetermined and not requiring input of said points by a user requesting said search; a computer for running said search software; a printer for producing a printout with information on a predetermined number of search results; a printer output portion for dispensing said printout; and a first storage element for storing said database.

Claim 29

A system for performing a search for homes in a search pool, and housed in an enclosure comprising: a touch monitor for displaying selection screens, and for accepting inputs, said selection screens displaying a predetermined number of selection features; a database containing a predetermined number of items to be searched; a search software for producing a predetermined number of search results based on said predetermined number of primary and non-primary selection features and by searching through said database for said items with features matching said primary and non-primary selection features and assigning points to said features corresponding to matching primary and non-primary selection features, said primary selection features being evaluated before said non-primary selection features, all said points to be assigned for said features being predetermined and not requiring input of said points by a user requesting said search; a computer for running said search software; a printer for producing a printout with information on a predetermined number of search results; a printer output portion for dispensing said printout; and a first storage element for storing said database.

Claim 30

A system for performing a search for homes in a search pool, and housed in an enclosure comprising: a touch monitor for displaying selection screens, and for accepting inputs, said selection screens displaying a predetermined number of selection features; a database containing a predetermined number of items to be searched; a search software for producing a predetermined number of search results based on said predetermined number of primary and non-primary selection features and by searching through said database for said items with features matching said primary and non-primary selection features and assigning points to said features corresponding to matching primary and non-primary selection features, said primary selection features being evaluated before said non-primary selection features, all said points to be assigned for said features being predetermined and not requiring input of said points by a user requesting said search; a computer for running said search software; a printer for producing a printout with information on a predetermined number of search results; a printer output portion for dispensing said printout; and a first storage element for storing said database.