초록 ▼

A method and apparatus of automatically matching sellers of property with potential buyers through a communications network (preferably the Internet) in which a host system communicates with the sellers and the potential buyers over telephone or dedicated data transmission lines. The host system obt

A method and apparatus of automatically matching sellers of property with potential buyers through a communications network (preferably the Internet) in which a host system communicates with the sellers and the potential buyers over telephone or dedicated data transmission lines. The host system obtains and stores a first set of records each corresponding to a property to be sold. The first set of records can then be search by a remote data terminal associated with a potential buyer. The results of this search are then provided to the potential buyer, who indicates specific property listings that the potential buyer may be interested in purchasing. The potential buyer provides identifying information which is then provided to the sellers of the indicated property. Provisions are made to ensure that the sellers who list property support the system. Further, the system permits automatic evaluation of potential buyers to screen buyers whose information does not match minimum criteria provided by the seller.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for selectively displaying property listings to potential buyers and for obtaining buyer profile information associated with said potential buyers which is provided to sellers of property described in said property listings, comprising: a host system; a plurality of remote data terminals; d

A system for selectively displaying property listings to potential buyers and for obtaining buyer profile information associated with said potential buyers which is provided to sellers of property described in said property listings, comprising: a host system; a plurality of remote data terminals; data transmission means providing a signal path for data exchange between said host system and said plurality of data terminals; data storage means within said host system, said data storage means maintaining a plurality of data records of different types, including: property records, buyer records, and seller records; processing means within said host system including a central processing unit and associated memory means; and communications means associated with said host system, said communications means being controlled by said processing means to provide and receive data transmissions between said host system and said remote terminals; wherein said processing means selectively retrieves said property records in accordance with sorting criteria provided by one of said plurality of remote terminals, and provides information contained in said property records to said remote terminals; wherein upon request by a user of one of said plurality of remote terminals, said processing means obtains buyer profile information corresponding to the user, the buyer profile information including buyer qualification information; wherein the processing means compares said buyer qualification information with a threshold values stored within a retrieved property record, and, when the buyer qualification information exceeds the threshold value determined by the information stored within the property record said processing means creates a buyer record based on said buyer profile information that indicates which of said property records were requested by the user who provides said buyer profile information, said host system selectively providing said buyer record to each seller of the property listed in said property records using information stored in said seller records; wherein said seller records includes seller identification information and seller account status information, the seller account status information determining whether said second data records are accessible to a seller.