Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Real Estate Property and Agent Location Method
BACKGROUND OF_INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention reLates to the real estate industry. Vendors of real estate
properties seelc real estate agents to list their properties. Purchasers look for
suitable properties to purchase or real estate agents who may locate such
properties for them. Real estate agents advertise to attract potential purchasers
and vendors and look for available properties to meet purchaser's needs. In
15 the traditional market, vendors and purchasers do not have an easy way to
review the qualifications of real estate agents in order to select one that meets
their requirements. As well, potential purchasers may not practically look for
suitable properties to purchase without going through a real estate agent who
locates suitable properties. Purcha3ers may drive around looking for properties
20 displaying a for sale sign; however this proces~ does not provide purchasers
with any information on a property, for which they must typically contact a
xeal estate agent to discover. When purchasers first approach a real estate
agent, they are not sure of the type of real estate property that they would be
interested in and could afford. As a result, often it requires a real ~state agent's
25 time to qualify purchasers as to the type of property that they would be
interested in purchasing and their fixtancial means. This is inefflcient use of a
real estate agent's time and deL~ys the sales cycle.
Real estate agents, under the current system, typically advertise their
30 services in newspapers, direct mail pieces and other media of the same type.
This type of advertising is often not very efficient or cost-effective as it i5 not
always targeted directly to people who are considering selling or purchasing
real estate property. As well, when purchasers ~all a real estate agent, the agent
is often out of the office and purchasers must leave a message. It is important
35 that the real estate agent returns purchaser's calls as soon as possible and
currently this involves the agent continually call;ng the office for any
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telephone messages that may have been left. Agents also use mobile pagers to
avoid the necessity of calling their office for messages. The message left for the
real estate agent in either case may contain errors and typically contains only
the name and nun~ber of the person who called, but no detailed message from
5 the caller. Some agents intercept messages left for other agents and return the
call to the purchasers, thereby stealing the lead from the intended agent.
When potential purchasers contact a real estate agent seeking suitable
real estate proper~ies to purchase, real estate agents must access paper based
` 10 listing sheets of available real estate property or, access a central computer
database containing listings of available real estate properties, generally
referred to as a "multiple listing service" or "MLS". This computer which
stores real estate listings may be accessed through terminals for retrieval of
specific information relating to a given property. However, the search of the
stored information is typically dependent on the operators intricate knowledge
of the local area, its political subdivisions and informal housing tract
designations. Furthermore, the public may not access this multiple listing
service as access to this database is restricted to real estate agents who also must
have expertise in how the system operates. To list a real estate property or to
update information on a property already listed on the MLS system usually
takes one or more days. In a busy real estate rnarket, using a database that is
one or more days out of date could lead a real estate agent to suggest properties
`` which are still ~ILS listed as being available which in fact have been sold. This
- wastes the agent's time and may be frustrating to both the agent and the
.~ 25 purchaser.
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As a result, in the traditional real estate market, there are time delays between
` when a purchaser first decides that he is interested in looking for properties to
purchase, locating a suitable real estate agent, meeting the real estate agent and
selecting suitable properties for view~ng, and purchasing a property.
In order to overcome some of the difficulties in the traditional real
estate market, the prior art has disclosed several inventions which improve
the operation of the real estate industry.
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For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,136 to Cicunpa discloses a method of
gathering a massive inventor,v of real estate properties in a city and storing
them on video disk for later review by real estate agents and potential
5 purchasers. The invention of Ciampa however, is not intended to overcome
the difficulties in the real estate industry as described above, as it is directed
primarily to providing a massive database of real estate properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,576 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,989 to Tornetta disclose
10 real estate search and location methods. These methods encompass the use of
a remo~e CRT or a personal computer which has access to a central database of
real estate properties. The remote user uses a graphical locator interface for
defining the desired area of search for real estate properties. Properties may be
further qualified by price, type of struchlre ancl other criteria ~vlùch may be
15 specified before a database search is conducted. Once properties matching thedescription of the criteria are located, they are displayed on the graphic
interface and the user has the ability to zoom ;n and zoorn out to smaller or
larger areas under the method. As with the M.LS system, the Tornetta patents
also require the use of a remote Cl~T or a personal computer ru~ming a
20 software communications program and the use of a modem to communicate
data o~rer the telephone line to the central computer containing the database.
The required use of this cornputer tec~nology limits the widespread use of the
Tometta methods as members of the public generalIy do not have access to
personal computers running suitable communication software and modems.
25 If they do have the suitable hardware and software, they may not have the
expertise to know how to operate the computer to locate properties of interest.
As a result, under the Tornetta methods p~chasers would still have to attend
at a real estate offlce to have a real estate agent or operator operate the Tornetta
rernote CRT in order to locate properties of interest.
Prior art also discloses local transmitter devices which are installed at
real estate properties which are available for sale. These devices allow a
poten~al purchasers to hear details on a house using their car radio while in
their car parked outside o~ a particular real estate property for sale. However,
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again, this has the limitation that a purchaser must locate the propert,v initially
and the property must have one of these local transmitters installed.
The object of the present invention is to overcome several of these
5 difficulties. One object is to provide widespread public access to search and
locate real estate properties or real estate agents in which they would be
interested, through the use of any telephone set.
Another object is to allow vendors and purchasers quick access to real
10 estate property and real estate agent information selected by them. This
includes properties or agents with the characteristics that match their needs,
and provide information on open houses.
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Another object of the invention is to allow real estate agents to provide
15 detailed advertisements on themselves and on real estate properties that theyhave listed, thereby attracting potential p-lrchasers and vendors. Still anotherobject of the invention is to qualify purchasers so that they know what type of
properties they would be interested in and could afford, resulting in saving
~; time of a real estate agellt in qualifying a ~urchaser and shorteni~g the sales
,! 20 cyde.
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Another object is to keep telephone messages confidential to the called
real estate agent and allow t~e messages to be error free and detailed in scope.
Another object of the present invention is to utilize, as a component, an
interactive voice response system, also called a voice ir~formation processor
system and interface such a system to a real-time database to ~acilitate on-linesearching and researching of the database based upon multiple search criteria.
A typical interactive voice response processing system is comprised of a
30 computer, an interface to the telephone network, disk storage for storing
greetings and to record messages, all of which are controlled by a computer
program. It does not include a real-time database or an interface to a real-timedatabase. It also has no facilities to connect to a specific telephone nuinber
located from a database or to send information located by facsimile.
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An interactive voice response system system is well known for use in
automated voice mail systems and in automated telephone operator systems.
In a voice mail system, the facility is provided for a caller who calls a specific
5 person to leave a voice message which is recorded for later access and play-back
by that person. In an automated telephone operator system, a caller may enter
the extension number or name of the party to whom the caller wishes to speak i
and the system then connects the caller to the desired telephone extension.
The caller in either of these current systems uses the push-buttons on a
10 telephone set each of which activates an electronic sound having a fixed tone.
In the case of a rotary dial telephone set, a separate commonly available push
button pad is available to duplicate the push buttons of a telephone set to
activate fixed tone sounds.
15 ~nteractive voice response systems are also known for "Talking Yellow Pages"
classified advertising. In this system a caller selects a particular telephone
number to gain access to a recorded message on a particular subject matter,
such as the weather report or stock quotations. This system really has no
meml provided to the caller and does not conlain a database.
Interactive voice response systems are also known in dating services or
telepersonal messaging services. In this applicatlon, ~ caller may select from ameml to hear recorded personal messages under that menu item. This system
does not, however, provide an interface to a full-featured database providing
25 real-time searching and researching of a database based upon multiple search
criteria.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
As indicated, the objects of the present invention are to overcome many
of the difficulties experienced in the current real estate indus-try. The
` invention allows any member of the public to remotely real-time search for
available and suitable real estate properties on a database. A caller uses any
telephone to call a telephone number corresponding to a computer database of
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available properties. When the telephone call is made the computer database
system of the invention (called "Host")answers the telephone using an
interactive voice response component of the invention, which verbally greets
the caller, through recorded messages or voice synthesis, provides the caller
5 with a menu of choices and prompts the caller for responses. After the caller
provides a response, the system may provide additional sequential menus and
prompt the caller for sequential responses.
Using this method in this manner, callers may sequentially specify the
10 search criteria for the property in which they are interested. Once a caller
completes the criteria selection, a real-time search is performed on the database
to locate available real estate properties which match the criteria. The caller
then hears a recorded message providing a description for each of the
properties so located.
As a result, any potential purchaser may, without contacting a real estate
agent, acquire information on real estate properties available that meet the
needs of the p~lrchaser. As this method uses a telephone set, no training is
required in order to practice the method of the invention. The method may be
Z0 used ~4 hours a day, 7 days a week, which is usef~ll for potential purchasers who work shift hours or those who seek infoImation on weekends.
I~sing the same me~od, vendors may use the method of the invention
to access information on properties similar to their property in order to allow
25 them to determine if their property is, for example, listed at the appropriate
selling price.
After listening to the recorded particular information on a property,
callers may request to be connected directly to the responsible real estate agent
30 by responding with the appropriate menu choice.
In a similar way, callers may also leave a voice mail message for a real
estate agent relating, for example, to a proper~y of interest located in the search.
A voice mail message is a message from a caller recorded by the Host for a
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particular receiving party, which may only be accessed and played-back by that
receiving party. Additionally, a caller may request a paper copy of information
relating to any property located which could be sent by facsimile or by mail.
A purchaser in selecting -the criteria for a search may select the criteria
for properties that it would be interested in such as: the geographic area; the
: property type; and the price range. The caller may also request to be served in
the language of his choice. To one skilled in the field there could be other
criteria provided to conduct searches on the Host database.
` The potential purchasers or vendors may also use the method of the
present invention to select appropriate real estate agents. Using this method, apurchaser may call a telephone number which will be answered by the Host
indicating a menu of options and requesting a response from the caller.
Subsequent menu options and responses may also be provided to allow callers
to define criteria for selecting an agent. In this manner a caller may locate
available real estate agents which most suit tlle caller's requirements. These
requirements could indude the geographic area handled by the agent, the
property types in which the agent is an expert and the languages spoken.
Callers also initially hear a short advertisement by the agent. The caller may
leave a voice mail message for any agent located in the search.
The present invention also allows authorized real estate agents to access
the real estate database system, again from any telephone. The real estate agentmay provide an identity number and a password to the system which allows
the agent to gain access to listen to any voice mail messages left for the agent,
modify information on any properties currently listed on the database by the
agent, add new properties to the database, and delete that agent properties from-the database. The real estate agent may also transmit information on any of
the agent's properties by facsimile to the Host. This is the information
provided to a caller who requests information on that particular property.
The present invention overcomes many of the difficulties currently
experienced in the real estate industry. To purchasers and vendors it may
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provide a free up-to-date source of categorized and detailed information on
available real estate properties, open houses available in their area, and real
estate agents. The method is very convenient, easy to use (no training is
required) and may be accessed by any member of the public to locate real estate
5 properties or agents. Furthermore, a purchaser or vendor using the invention
may now locate real estate agents that meet their personal needs in order to
choose one to list a property with or to work with in purchasing a property.
The method may also enable a purchaser to locate open houses which are
available for viewing.
There are many advantages of the invention for real estate agents. It
provides a consistent targeted and cost effecti~re method of advertising to
vendors and purchasers. A real estate agent advertisement is played to callers
to the Host where that agent is located in the database search based upon the
15 caller's criteria. Real estate agents may indicate their expertise ancl strengths
resulting in broader exposure at minimal cost which likely result in more
contacts with purchasers and vendors, enabling more sales. It also allows
agents who do not list properties to advertise themselves professionally, which
is not currently available through traditional methods. The method of the
20 invention provides accurate, interesting, detailed and personal property
descriptions provides potential purchasers with more information than
normally would be available through traditional methods and at~racts them to
use the real estate agents who use the system. The method also saves the time
of real estate ageffls by eliminating the need to personally describe the same
25 property to many callers. The method allows for a property to be placed on the
market immediately, in fact even while the agent is at the property of the
vendor, impressing the vendor with the fast and efficient listing service. A
real estate agent when seeking information on a property listed by anot~er
agent may use the method for acquiring detailed information without the need
30 to contact the listing agent, thereby saving time for both parties. The real estate
agent is provided with complete personal confidential voice mail messages
from callers who may leave a detailed message, allowing a real estate agent to
respond directly to their needs and remove the possibility of incorrect
messages. The voice mail messages are kept confidential as they are directed
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only to the appropriate agent and therefore other agents may not have access to
them. The method of the invention saves money by eliminating the expense
of office staff or an answering service to take messages 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
BRIE~F DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to
10 the accompany drawings in which:
FI~;. 1 is a block diagram of the invention showing public access and real
estate agent access to the real estate property, open house, and agent database;
EIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the procedure for members of the
public to access the database, select criteria and hear recorded information on
real estate properties or real estate agents matching the criteria located in the
database;
FIG. 3 is a detailed llow diagram showi~:lg the procedure to follow for
real estate agents to access the database to listen to their voice mail messages,
update an agent's profile, update property information and recorded
advertisements for properties listed, and to send information on real estate
proper~ies by facsimile to the Host; and
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FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing in detailed how members of the public
would practise the method of the invention to access and search the real estate
property and real estate agent databases.
" 30
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1, shows an overview of a system according to the present
invention which includes a central host computer system 1 (called "Host 1")
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; which contains a database of available real estate properties and of real estate
agents which is connected by telecommunications links 2 to a plurality of
push-button remote telephone sets, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (cellular telephone in an
automobile). Host 1 is also connected to a telephone line 8 suitable for sendingfacsimile transmissions and Host 1 has the ability to send information from its
.' database on selected real estate properties by facsimile using telephone line 8.
Host 1 also has the ability to print a paper copy of information on available
selected real estate properties which may subsequently be enclosed in an
` envelope 9 and mailed to a caller.
Host 1 contains a database of available property listings which contains a
plurality of listings of property which are available for sale, lease or rent. The
database is used for search and delivery of relevant property information to
, those enquiring of the system with certain spedfications to be described later.
~Iost 1 also maint~ins a database of real estate properties that have open
;~ houses. EIost 1 also maintains a database of real estate agent profiles. Host 1
includes a voice mail messaging system which may store messages left by
callers.
Host 1 would be comprised of a comp~lter, an interface to the telephone
network, a interactive voice response processing system, disk storage -for
storing greetings and to record messages, all of which are control!ed by a
ccmputer program. It also includes a database which may be searched in real-
time, or could be interfaced to a real-time database. It also has facilities to dial a
specific telephone number located from a database and connect a caller to that
number; or to send information located by facsimile.
The method involves a caller 10, 11 or 12 which may be a purchaser,
vendor or real estate agent, dialling the telephone number o~ Host 1. Multiple
callers may use a single telephone number at the same time to access Host 1.
Host 1 answers the call and presents various verbal menus which are described
in more detail below, allowing a caller to specify the criteria for the desired
property to be located. The caller may input data to Host 1 using the push-
buttons on a telephone set, each of which activates an electronic sound having
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a fixed tone. The method of inputting data is not limited to the use of a push-
button telephone set or separate hand held tone generating unit, but may
indude other means of inputting data such as voice recognition processes,
where for example, Host 1 would recognize when the caller spoke the numbers
5 1, 2 or 3 to make a selection. Input data is interactively gathered in this
manner from the caller and then used to conduct a real-time search of the
database of ~Iost 1 Searches of databases by specified criteria are well known.
Upon completion of the database search, the caller may be informed of the
number of matched properties so located and may receive a recorded property
10 description for each of the properties so located.
In one embodiment of the invention, the caller may optionally leave a
voice mail message which may be automatically addressed by Host 1 to the real
estate agent responsible for the particular property located. In adclition, a caller
15 may request to be connected directly to the agent responsible for the property,
in which case Host 1 dials the telephone number of the agent and connects the
caller. If such connection is not possible, Host 1 will ask the caller if the caller
would like to leave a voice mail message for that agent.
In another embodiment of the invention, a caller may request further
; information on selected properties to be sent by facsimile or by mail.
A real estate agent may also access Host 1 using an ordinary telephone
set 6. The real estate agent provides a password allowing the agent access to the
database to listen to voice mail messages addressed to the agent, and to add or
delete property listings or modify those currently listed on the database. ~ real
estate agent may also access Host 1 via a cellular telephone 7 from an
automobile. This is a very convenient and time saving feature for an agent.
- Host 1 provides verbal menus for the real estate agent to select the desired
activities. Similar to the method for locating real estate properties by a
purchaser as described above, a real estate agent may input responses to Host 1
through the use of the push-buttons on his telephone set. The real estate agent
may also send information on any of the agent's properties to Host 1 to be sent
to any caller requesting information on that property by facsimile.
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FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the procedure for members of the
public to access the database, select criteria and hear recorded information on
real estate properties or real estate agents matching the criteria located in the
database. Beginning at start 13, a caller dials the telephone number of Host 1.
Host 1 answers the telephone call and provides an verbal menu 14 to the caller
and prompts for a selection from the caller. After the caller inputs a first
selection as described previously, Host 1 may provide a sequential menus 13
and again each time prompts for a caller response. This process continues
until the caller has responded to all menus provided by Host 1. If there is no
response from a caller, Host 1 prompts for the caller to try again 15 and if there
is a positive response, provides the previous menu again to the caller. If the
caller does not respond to the try again prompt, then the caller may be
provided with help 16, consisting of an verbal message on how to use the
system after which, upon a positive response~ the caller is returned to the
beginning of menu 14. If the caller does not respond to help 16, then Host 1
hangs up 17 on the caller.
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When a caller has provided a prompt ~:o all menu 14 items, a real-time
search 18 is cond~lcted of the database to locate all real estate properties 19 that
match the criteria selected by the caller. If no properties are located then thecaller is so informed as shown at 21 and is returned to menu 14 to initiate a
new search. In cases where properties are located matching the criteria, pre-
recorded information 20 on each property is provided to the caller. The caller
; 25 has the ability to control the playing of the property recordings and at the end
of each one may indicate to play the next recording, review the previous
recording, request a copy of the property information by facsimile or request tobe connected directly to the agent responsible, request open house information,
request agent profile information or hang up and terminate the call. If the
caller does nothing, the property information recordings may be played one
after the other with a slight pause between each. At the end of the recordings
the caller may hang up 20 and terminate the search or may select to return to
menu 14 to initiate a new search using the same or different criteria.
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FIG. 3 is a detailed flow diagram shovving the procedure to follow for
real estate agents to access the database to listen to their voice mail messages,
update an agent's profile, update property information and recorded
advertisements for properties listed, and to send information on real estate
5 properties by facsimile to the Host. A real estate agent initiates the method at
start 50 by dialling the telephone number for Host 1. Host 1 answers the call
and prompts for the agent's password at step 51. The agent enters his ~mique
password and, if correct, Host 1 then presents a main menu 52 providing the
agent with four choices: 1) listening to messages; 2) accessing agent profile; 3)
10 accessing property listings; or 4) transmitting information to Host 1 by
facsimile.
If the agent selects listen to messages, the agent would for example press
number 1 on his telephone set. Host 1 verbally provides the agent with the
15 number of messages unread and a second menu 53 prompting for choices to 1)
listen to unread messages; 2) listen to read messages; 3) listen to discarded
messages; 8) return to the main menu; or 9) hang up. If the agent selec~s 1) or
2) to listen to unread or read messages, Host 1 plays the first message and thenprovides him with menu 54 to deal with that nnessage. He may at this stage 1)
20 save the message; 2) discard the message; 3) review the message again; 4) return
and hear the previous message; 5) play the ne~t message; 8) return to the main
menu; or 9) hang up. All messages may be ti~ne and date stamped. If the agent
selects next message, by for example pressing the number 5 on the agent's
telephone set, the next message is played again followed by menu 54. This
~5 process is continued until all messages have been played. If the agent selects
discarded messages from menu 53, the agent may be provided with the most
recent discarded message followed by message menu 55 allowing the agent to
deal with the discarded message and to listen to additional discarded messages.
Discarded messages may typically be maintained on the Host 1 for a certain
30 number of days, selectable by the user, after which time they will be
automatically erased.
Where the agent selects access agent profile from the main menu 52, he
is then presented with agent profile menu 56 allowing him to 0) enable or
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disable the agent profile completely; 1) indicate language spoken; 2) indicate the
geographic area by code that the agent works in; 3) indicate the property type for
which the agent is an expert; 4) indicate the agent's phone number; 5) allow theagent to record a profile message which may be used for advertising; 8) return
5 to the main menu; or 9) hang up. All of the agent's input is again
accomplished by use of the push-buttons on a telephone set, except for the
agent's profile message which is accomplished by the agent recording a
message.
If the agent selects 3) access property information from the main menu
52, the agent is presented with menu 57 prompting the agent for the number of
the agent's property listing for which access is desired. After the agent selects
the number for the property, Host 1 presents property information menu 58.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing in detailed the procedure for allowing
the public to practice the method of the invention by accessing the database
Host 1. The caller initiates the procedure by dialing the telephone number of
Host 1 at Start 70. Host 1 answers with the verbal main menu 71 which
prompts the caller to input the desired search ~o be performed, namely: 1) real
estate agents; 2) real estate properties; 3) open ho-lses; or 9) hang up.
I~ callers desire a search on available real estate properties, they may
indicate this by pressing number 2 on the push-buttons on the telephone set.
Host I then presents verbally menu 72 allowing callers to indicate whether
they desire a general real estate property search or a specific search for a
particular property. Again, callers may indicate their choice corresponding to
the number of the choice indicated in menu 72, for example, for a general
search they would press number 1 on the telephone set. :~
If a general real estate search was chosen, Host 1 would provide menu 73
re~uesting if the search is to be done in 1) the metropolitan or city area; or 2)
outside of the city. After receiving the caller's response, Host 1 would prompt,by menu 96, for the location within the city area or outside or the city,
depending upon what was previously selected by the caller. The location may
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be indicated by a caller by using a codPd area response such as C4 which may
represent a particular geographic area, for example, within a city. The real
estate industry often has a well established code system to identify particular
areas within a city. After receiving the caller's response, Host 1 would prompt
5 for the type of property by menu 94 in which they are interested, such as
residential, commercial, investment or industrial. Upon receiving the caller's
input, Host 1 would then prompt for the price range by menu 95 desired by the
caller. After receiving the caller's input, Host 1 would prompt for the languagetype by menu 74 preferred by the caller and thereafter all property informatioI~10 would be provided to the caller in that selected language. A real-time search of
the Host 1 database referenced at 75 would then take place to locate properties
that matched the criteria selected by the caller. When the search was complete,
the caller would be presented with recorded information on the first property
located followed by menu 76 allowing the caller to 1) listen to the next property
15 so located; 2) review of the information just heard; 3) leave a voice mail
message for the agent responsible for the property just reviewed; ~) receive a
copy of the information on the property just reviewed by facsimile; 5) access a
real estate agent search; 6) access open house ~,earch; 8) return to the main
menu; or 9) hang up.
IÇ callers select a specific property searc~ from menu 72, perhaps for a
property that has been located in their neighbourhood, they would enter the
house number for the house desired after being prompted by menu 78 and
then enter the first three letters of the street name after being prompted by
25 menu 79. Host 1 would then play a recorded message of the number and full
s-treet name and ask the callers if this was the desired property to which callers
could respond. If there were two possible properties, Host 1 would verbally
identify each until the caller indicated that t~at property was the correct one.Next, callers could enter their language preference when presented with menu
30 80 as discussed previously, and a real-time search would be conducted as
shown at reference 81 of Host 1 database for this specific property. If located,recorded information for this property would be played -for the caller. At this
stage the caller would be presented with menu 82 allowing the caller to re~uest
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certain items sirnilar to those described above under a general property search
menu 76.
If a caller selected open houses from the main menu 71, the caller would
5 be provided with menu 83 requesting the geographic location either 1) within
the city or 2) outside of the city. It will be appreciated that this menu may beeasily extended to cover specific geographic areas within a city such as
particular subdivisions. Upon entry of the selection, the caller would be
presented with menu 84 to request information regarding property type much
10 the same as described above with reference to menu 94. After callers enter
their input, they would be presented with menu item 85 indicating a price
range of properties in which they would be interested in a similar manner to
that described above with reference to menu 95. After callers enter their input,they would be asked by Host 1 for their language preference by menu 86 and
15 thereafter the recorded messages would be provided in the language of chosen.The next step would be a real-time search referenced at 87 conducted of Host 1
database for open houses that matched the selected criteria of the caller. Host 1
would provide menu 88 to the caller which is similar in operation to menu 76,
and would be operated in the same manner.
If the caller selected a 1) real estate i~gent search from the main menu 71,
the caller would be presented with menu 89, and asked to indicate the
geographic area for the desired real estate agent. After the caller's entry Host 1
would prompt with the property t,vpe menu 90 and after receivin~ the caller's ;~
25 input, Host 1 would present the language preference menu 91, after which the
information would be provided in the language as chosen by the caller. Menus
89, 90 and 91 are similar to and operate much the same as menus 94, 95 and 74,
respectively. A real-time search referenced at 92 of Host 1 database would then
be conducted and the caller would be provided with a recorded message
30 providing the agent profile of the first agent so located. Menu 93 would thenbe presented by the Host 1 providing a caller with choices similar to those as
provided in menu 76, except that no information by facsimile is provided and
rather than returning to real estate agents search, the caller could return to areal estate property listing search.
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While the present invention has been described with reference to
certain specific instances and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that these are merely illustrative and are in no way intended to limit
5 the scope of the invention. For example, the menus described are illustrative
: only and may be enlarged or re-ordered and new menus added. The true spirit
and scope of the invention should therefore be construed only by reference to
the appended claims.
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