EP2460120A1

EP2460120A1 - Processing data representing a property

Info

Publication number: EP2460120A1
Application number: EP10737364A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephen John Dempsey; Nicholas Russan Lightfoot
Original assignee: Modacity Ltd
Current assignee: Modacity Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-28
Filing date: 2010-07-22
Publication date: 2012-06-06
Also published as: GB0913125D0; WO2011012842A1

Abstract

A method of processing data representing a property is described. The method comprises creating a representation of the property comprising a visual representation (10) of one or more rooms of the property. The visual representation is used to create a database (12) comprising one or more room records. Each room record represents a room presented on the visual representation. The visual representation of the one or more rooms is a graphical user interface to the corresponding one or more room records of the database.

Description

PROCESSING DATA REPRESENTING A PROPERTY

Field

The present invention relates to processing data representing a property. In particular, the present invention relates to processing property data so that a property can be sold, for example on the internet.

Background

A known approach to representing a property for sale involves an estate agent visiting a property, perhaps making a note of various aspects of the property, perhaps taking one or more photographs the property, and returning to his office. At the office a computer-aided design software tool such as AutoCAD or a purpose made floor plan drawing applicaton such as Metropix is used to draw up feature-by-feature a floor plan of the property as a digital image. A brochure for the property is created using document editing software and photo editing software. Information in the brochure can include the street name, a brief summary of the type of property and its asking price, and a textual description of the rooms of the property. The brochure may also include the photographs of the property and the floor plan. Information in the brochure can also be made available in electronic form for access over the internet. As a particular example, one current approach for marketing residential properties involves the production of a printed brochure and the provision of text and photographs for standard 'static' web pages. In some cases floor plans are included as digital images.

However, the inventors have recognised that this approach to processing data representing a property lacks versatility, can be inaccurate, for example in the dimensions depicted on the floor plan, and requires the use of multiple software tools which can be expensive and potentially more complicated and time- consuming to use than is necessary.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved approach for processing data representing a property.

Summary

One aspect of the present invention provides a method of processing data representing a property. The method comprises creating a representation of the property comprising a visual representation (such as a floor plan) of one or more rooms of the property. The method further comprises using the visual representation to create a database comprising one or more room records. Each room record represents a room presented on the visual representation. The visual representation of the one or more rooms is a graphical user interface to the corresponding one or more room records of the database.

By using the visual representation to create the database comprising one or more room records, a user can create a visual representation such as a floor plan while database records are automatically created. Unlike known approaches in which the floor plan is just a drawing, by providing the visual representation as a graphical user interface to the corresponding records, data in the database can be accessed through the representation. Any amendments made to the visual representation, for example moving or resizing of rooms, can be automatically reflected in the records of the database. Furthermore, data such as a photograph of a room can be added to the database through the visual representation. No specialist knowledge of database programming is required. The visual representation and database can be created using a mobile computer on site at the property. By entering measured dimensions for major rooms (e.g. living room, kitchen, etc) and room features (e.g. openings, chimney breasts etc) into the database using the visual representation, the database and visual representation should accurately depict the rooms of the property. Any errors in the data, such as incorrectly entered room dimensions will be reflected in the visual representation and can be simply identified and rectified. Furthermore, automated techniques can be employed to generate a representation of minor rooms (unmeasured rooms or spaces such as halls or pantry cupboards). By using a database with room records, adjustments can be made to the visual representation by moving a room relative to another room or rooms with the database being automatically updated. Various warnings or alerts can be generated for the user concerning the consequential changes made by such adjustments.

Textual, graphical and visual data can be stored in a single place (the database), rather than as a collection of separate documents. The database can be created without the need for specialist skills and within suitable timescales.

Furthermore, the approach acknowledges the traditional approach of describing the overall dimensions and significant features of the major rooms of a property. The data can be used to derive a 2D or 3D representation of a property with a minimum of additional user input, automatically fitting minor rooms in and around the gaps between major rooms, verifying room dimensions and deriving useful data such as floor area and external wall and window areas. Whilst the input data can be the same as that of a conventional approach, the way in which the data is stored and processed is improved.

Accordingly, an enhanced and/or more versatile approach to processing data representing a property has been provided. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of processing data representing a property. The method comprises creating a database comprising a plurality of records. The plurality of records includes one or more room records. Each room record represents a room of the property. The method further comprises using the one or more room records to present a representation of the property comprising a visual representation of one or more rooms represented by the one or more room records. The visual representation of the one or more rooms is a graphical user interface to the corresponding one or more room records of the database.

By creating a database comprising a plurality of room records and using these to present a visual representation of the property, a visual representation such as a floor plan can be created using existing data. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that various benefits identified above apply.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a system comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is arranged to perform a method of processing data representing a property as described herein. Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted to cause a system to perform a method of processing data representing a property as described herein.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will be appreciated from the following description and the accompanying claims. Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to depict like parts. In the drawings:

Figure I schematically depicts a visual representation of rooms of a property and a database;

Figure 2 schematically depicts room records;

Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing one approach for initially setting up the database;

Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing another approach for initially setting up the database;

Figure 5 schematically depicts a room record;

Figure 6 shows the position of a room being moved on the visual representation;

Figure 7 shows a room positioned at a distance away from the another room;

Figure 8 shows the rooms shown in Figure 7 having been automatically aligned;

Figure 9 schematically depicts some room feature records;

Figure 10 schematically depicts a room record;

Figure 11 shows a newly created rectangular room;

Figure 12 schematically depicts a new room record;

Figure 13 shows a room with a projection being added;

Figure 14 shows the room of Figure 13 after the projection has been added; Figure 15 shows a new room which overlaps an existing room being added;

Figure 16 shows the rooms of Figure 16 after the new room has been added;

Figure 17 shows a new room being added around a space between existing rooms;

Figure 18 shows the rooms of Figure 17 after the new room has been added; Figure 19 shows a new room being added within an existing room;

Figure 20 shows the rooms of Figure 19 after the new room has been added Figure 21 shows a new room being added which overlaps two existing rooms; Figure 22 shows the rooms of Figure 21 after the new room has been added; and

Figure 23 shows internal and external walls of a visual representation of a property.

Detailed description of embodiments

Figure 1 schematically depicts a representation of a property comprising a visual representation 10 of one or more rooms (such as a floor plan) of the property. In the figure a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom are shown. Also schematically represented in the figure is a database 12. The database comprises one or more room records. Each room record represents a room presented on the visual representation. The visual representation of the one or more rooms is a graphical user interface to the corresponding one or more room records of the database.

The database can be considered to comprise an integrated collection of logically related records that are stored in a computer system.

For simplicity in Figure 1 and the other figures that show visual repesentations of the property, the doors but not the windows of the rooms are shown. Other kinds of visual representations can be used in embodiments, for example those with both doors and windows and optionally other features shown or those which present a "key plan" with no doors which can be used to select rooms of the property. In one embodiment the database is configured on a computer system comprising a processor, memory, and a display on which the visual representation is presented. In another embodiment the database and visual representation may be configured across a distributed system, for example across two separate computer systems on a network such as the internet.

Figure 2 schematically represents room records 14. In the figure four room records, each corresponding to one of the rooms depicted in Figure 1 are shown. That is, there are room records 16, 18, 20 and 22 for the living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom respectively. Each of these room records comprise data concerning the respective room. For example in an embodiment, a room record comprises the following data:

Name (text naming the room such as "Dining Room")

Description (text description of the room)

WidthDimension (a dimension defining width of room)

DepthDimension (a dimension defining depth of room)

Ceiling Height (a dimension)

Wall Faces (data identifying wall faces which define the internal outline of the room)

Room Features (window, door, chimney breast, bath, etc.)

Views (which are audio/visual representations of the room such as photos, video clips, audio clips 3D views, and plan views) The room record may comprise the full data or may reference the data for example as separate records or files. For example, in one embodiment the wall faces are stored in respective wall face records, each comprising the following data: Comer (coordinate of the start point of the wall face)

Previous Wall Face (reference to the previous wall face e.g. in an anticlockwise direction)

Next Wall Face (reference to the next wall face e.g. in a clockwise direction) Back-faces (optional references to wall faces in adjacent rooms to define a wall)

Wall Dimension (contains dimension and status concerning whether or not the dimension has been defined by a user or derived automatically)

Room Dimension (optional reference to either width or depth room dimensions)

In one example, the room features are separate records and the views are files which are referenced by the room record. Each record in the database typically has a record ID and a name.

There are two approaches for initially setting up the database and visual representation and these two approaches will be described with reference to the flow diagrams of Figures 3 and 4 respectively. Referring to Figure 3, an embodiment of a method of processing data representing a property is depicted. At step S2, a representation of the property comprising a visual representation of one or more rooms of the property is created, for example visual representation 10 shown in Figure 1. Then, at step S4, the visual representation is used to create the database. The database comprises one or more room records, each room record representing a room presented on the visual representation.

Referring to Figure 4, an embodiment of another method of processing data representing a property is depicted. At step S6, the database is created, for example from existing estate agent data. The database comprises one or more room records, each room record representing a room of the property. Then, at step S8, the one or more room records are used to present a representation of the property comprising a visual representation of one or more rooms represented by the one or more room records, for example visual representation 10 shown in Figure 1.

In an embodiment, the visual representation 10 is a graphical user interface to the records of the database. The visual representation can be considered as providing a view of the records of the database. Data in a record can be accessed by selecting the respective room on the visual representation, for example by using an input device such as a mouse or keyboard to move a cursor to select the room. Also, the graphical user interface can enable data of the corresponding one or more records of the database to be added or modified. For example, an input device can be used to associate (for example by dragging and dropping an icon) an image file of a still image of the room onto the room of the visual representation and the image file is added to the respective record in the database. As another example the dimension of a wall face of a room can be shown on the visual representation and a user can change the value of the dimension, and a corresponding modification or change is made to the data in the corresponding room record in the database.

The approaches of Figures 3 and 4 can be considered as alternative ways of initially setting up the database and visual representation - the first uses the visual representation to create the database records and can be used to create a database from a floor plan and the second can be used to create a floor plan from a database which can be created from existing estate agent data. It will be appreciated that irrespective of the approach used to initially set up the database and visual representation, the functionality provided by the visual representation as a graphical user interface to the database can be used to add to and modify the data in the database. In some embodiments a mixed approach may be used. That is, some data may be set up using the approach of Figure 3 and other data may be set up using the approach of Figure 4.

In an embodiment, a room record representing a room of the property is created by creating a visual representation of the room. The creation of the visual representation of the room is independent of the creation of a visual representation of other rooms of the property. That is, a floor plan and the respective records can be constructed one room (and therefore one room record) at a time.

Figure 5 illustrates a room record 16 which has associated data fields for specifying the position of the room on the visual representation. In one example the data comprises the coordinates of the position of the internal corners of the wall faces of the room Figure 6 shows the position of a room 24 being moved on the visual representation 10 from a position marked by dashed box 26 to the position of the room 24. If the position of a room is moved on the visual representation, data in the database specifying the position of the room such as the data in a corresponding room record (e.g. room record 16 of Figure 5) is updated.

In an embodiment, a tolerance value is defined for automatically aligning rooms. This tolerance value may be a distance and optionally an angle tolerance value. Figure 7 shows living room 24 having been positioned at a distance d away from the kitchen 28. If a room is positioned on the visual representation at a position within the tolerance value(s) from the other room, the room is automatically aligned with another room presented on the visual representation. For example, if the distance d of Figure 7 is within the defined tolerance value (e.g. it is the same or less than the tolerance value), the living room 24 and kitchen 28 will be aligned as shown in Figure 8.

In an embodiment a wall face of one room can be associated with the wall face of another room to define a wall. The wall can be specified as an internal wall or an external wall and this can be used when deciding which walls to reposition in response to a change made to a dimension of a wall face, for example. If a wall face of one room is aligned so that it is adjacent the wall face of another room, the two wall faces are associated with one another in the database to define a wall. For example, with reference to Figure 8, the wall face 25 of the living room 24 and the wall face 29 of the kitchen 28 that have been aligned can be associated with each other to define a wall, which in this example is an internal wall. In Figure 8, it can be seen that this wall 31 between the two wall faces 25 and 29 has a width. By processing the rooms independently using internal wall dimensions, and allowing rooms to be positioned in relation to one another to form walls, the approach allows the traditional measuring technique of internal wall dimensions to be used whilst still being ablet to represent the walls, which may have different thicknesses or contain voids for example.

In an embodiment the database comprises one or more room records, and each room record comprises one or more room feature records. A room feature record specifies a feature of or within a room. A room feature can be added to the visual representation of a room. If a room feature is added to the visual representation of a room, for example by selection from a list of room feature records with a cursor controlled by an input device, a corresponding room feature record is added to the respective room record. In one embodiment, the following room feature records are used:

Openings (such as a door, window, archway, etc.)

Wall Structure (such as a chimney breast, pier)

Wall Fixture (such as cupboards, shelving, panelling, coving, etc..)

Fitting (such as bath, we, kitchen unit, radiator, etc..)

Partition

Staircase (such as various types of staircase or ramp)

Ceiling Feature (such as sloping ceiling, bulkheads etc)

Floor Feature (such as raised or sunken floor areas)

Services (such as light fittings and electrical fittings)

Figure 9 shows for example room feature records - a door 30, a chimney breast 32, shelving 34 and a bath 36. Typically, each foom feature record comprises the name of the feature, its position, and optionally a description of the feature. Also, various rules may be associated with the room features. For example, Fittings are aligned to and positioned relative to a wall face. Wall Structures are aligned and positioned relative to a wall face, and also have dimensions associated with them. Openings are aligned and positioned relative to a wall (two wall faces) and cut holes in the wall. Wall Fixtures run along wall faces and wrap around corners.

In one embodiment, a Wall Structure record comprises the following data:

Wall Face (a reference to a wall face)

Position (distance along the wall face)

Width (the dimension of the feature parallel to the wall)

Depth (dimension of the feature at 90 degrees to the wall)

Top (height of the top of the feature )

Bottom (height of the bottom of the feature) Plus, optionally, Name, Description and/or View data may be included as already described with reference to a room record.

In one embodiment in which the database comprises one or more room records, and each room record comprises one or more feature records, one or more of text, a photograph, video and audio can be associated with a room or a feature.

If one or more of text data, a photograph data, video data and audio data is associated on the visual representation with a room or a feature, for example by dragging and dropping an icon using a cursor controlled by an input device adding the corresponding data or a reference to it to the respective room or feature record. For example, Figure 10 shows a JPEG file 38 stored in living room record 16.

In one embodiment a predetermined initial rectangular room shape for the visual representation of a room is provided which initially presents a newly created room on the visual representation as a rectangle. Figure 11 shows the creation of a new room 40 on the visual representation 10. As can be seen, the new room is rectangular. This approach enables new rooms to be constructed without having to draw the room line by line. This is an example of acknowledging the traditional approach of measuring and describing overall room dimensions. It also helps support the use of voice control commands to create new rooms for example by using a voice command such as "NEW

KITCHEN WIDTH 3.4 METRES DEPTH 4.2 METRES", whereas using voice commands to draw a new room with a line by line drawing approach would be significantly more complex.

In embodiments, various approaches can be used to create rooms and add data, for example selection from a list of rooms with a cursor controlled by an input device or, as mentioned above, voice control using predetermined voice commands such as "NEW LIVING ROOM", "SELECT FRONT, "3.5 METRES", "ADD WINDOW" and so on.

A corresponding initial room record for a new room is provided. The room record has associated data fields for specifying (e.g. using coordinates) the internal dimensions of the wall faces of the room. Figure 12 illustrates a new room record 42 in which the internal dimensions of the wall faces are stored as coordinates. In an embodiment the width dimension (e.g. 3.5m) and depth dimension (e.g. 3.0m) for the room are also stored in the room record in addition to the wall face dimensions which may change (see for example the description below).

In one embodiment, the room record has associated data fields for specifying the internal dimensions of further wall faces. A wall shape feature such as a projection can be added to a wall face of the visual representation of a room. Adding the wall shape feature adds one or more further predefined wall faces to the interior outline of the room. Accordingly, if a wall shape feature is added to a wall face of the visual representation of a room, data is stored in the data field or fields specifying the internal dimensions of the further wall face or faces. Figure 13 shows a new room with four wall faces 44, 46, 48 and 50. When a wall shape feature in the form of a projection is added to wall face 50, the interior outline of the room is changed by shortening wall face 50 and adding new wall faces 52, 54, 56 and 58 to form the shape of the projection and in wall face 58 the continuation of what was part of wall face 50.

Various approaches can be used to add wall shape features, for example selection from a list of predetermined wall shape features with a cursor controlled by an input device or voice control using predetermined voice commands. Predetermined wall shape features in one embodiment comprise: Recess

Projection

Comer Recess

Angled Recess

Angled Corner

In one embodiment the wall shape features are added as a predetermined proportion of the length of the wall face, for example as a default a projection can be centred on a wall face and be a third of its length.

In one embodiment, a tolerance value is defined for automatically adjusting the interior outline of a new room when the new room overlaps another room. If the new room overlaps another room presented on the visual representation by greater than the tolerance value, the interior outline of the new room is automatically adjusted on the visual representation. The adjusted interior outline of the new room has the overlapping portion of the two rooms removed from its interior outline. Data is stored in the data field or fields of the new room specifying the internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces. Figure 15 shows an example of a new room 62 which has been positioned, for example by creating the room in this position or moving it there, so that it overlaps existing room 60. Figure 16 shows the new room with its interior outline having been adjusted around the outline of existing room 60. The wall faces 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 and 74 which define the adjusted interior outline of new room 62 are shown in the figure. The automatic adjustment can be performed by taking the outline of each room and using a Boolean exclude algorithm to cut the interior outline of the new room, allowing for an internal wall thickness between the wall faces. As can be seen, internal walls have been generated between the two rooms and the opening and door of existing room 60 has been accommodated in wall face 64 of new room 62.

In one embodiment, a new room can be defined by a gap between existing rooms presented on. the visual representation. If the new room is created on the visual representation around a gap between existing rooms presented on the visual representation, the interior outline of the new room on the visual representation is automatically adjusted. The adjusted interior outline of the new room is within the rectangle defined for the new room but with the overlapping portions with the existing rooms removed from its interior outline. Data is stored in the data field or fields of the new room specifying the internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces. Figure 17 shows an example of a new room 80 which has been positioned around an L-shaped hallway between three existing rooms 60, 60' and 60". Figure 18 shows the new room 80 (shaded in the figure) with its interior outline having been adjusted around the outlines of the existing rooms. The automatic adjustment can be performed by taking the outline of each room and using a Boolean exclude algorithm to cut the interior outline of the new room, allowing for an internal wall thickness between the wall faces. As can be seen, internal walls have been generated between the new room and the existing rooms and the openings and doors of the existing rooms have been accommodated in the wall faces of the new room 80.

In one embodiment, a new room can be defined within the bounds of an existing room presented on the visual representation. If the new room is created on the visual representation within the bounds of an existing room, the new room is automatically fitted to the nearest comer of the existing room. The interior outline of the existing room is automatically adjusted on the visual representation. The adjusted interior outline of the existing room has the overlapping portions with the new room removed from its interior outline. Data is stored in the data field or fields of the existing room specifying the internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces. Figure 19 shows an example of a new room 84 which has been positioned inside existing room 60. Figure 20 shows the new room 84 after it has been fitted to the corner of room 60. As can be shown, the interior outline of room 60 has been adjusted. Once again, the automatic adjustment can be performed by taking the outline of each room and using a Boolean exclude algorithm to cut the interior outline of the new room, allowing for an internal wall thickness between the wall faces.

In one embodiment, a new room can be defined within the bounds of two or more existing rooms presented on the visual representation. If the new room is created on the visual representation within the bounds of two or more existing rooms, the new room is automatically aligned with any existing wall faces within a tolerance value. The interior outlines of the existing rooms are automatically adjusted on the visual representation. The adjusted interior outlines of the existing rooms have the overlapping portions with the new room removed from their respective interior outline. Data is stored in the data field or fields of the existing rooms specifying the internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces. Figure 21 shows an example of a new room 88 which has been defined within the bounds of two existing rooms 60 and 60'. Figure 22 shows the new room 88 after it has been automatically aligned with any existing wall faces of the existing rooms 60, 60' and after the interior outlines of the existing rooms have been automatically adjusted to accommodate the new room. Again, the automatic adjustment can be performed by taking the outline of each room and using a Boolean exclude algorithm to cut the interior outline of the new room, allowing for an internal wall thickness between the wall faces. In one embodiment, the internal dimensions of wall faces can be defined by a user. The internal dimensions of wall faces can also be automatically adjusted based on the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation. If there is a choice between adjusting a user-defined dimension and an automatically generated dimension, the automatically generated dimension is adjusted rather than the user-defined one.

In one embodiment, a wall face can belong to an internal wall or an external wall. The positions of wall faces can be automatically adjusted based on changes to the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation. If there is a choice between adjusting the position of a wall face belonging to an internal wall and the position of a wall face belonging to an external wall, adjusting the position of the wall face belonging to the external wall. Figure 23 shows a visual representation showing external walls 92, 92' and 92" and internal walls 94 and 94'. Some other internal walls are not labelled in the figure. An internal dimension x of the wall face of one room is labelled in the figure. This is an internal dimension of a wall face of external wall 92'. If a user were to change the value of x there would, in principle, be a choice of whether to move the position of walls 94, 94' or wall 92" (or both). However, in this embodiment the position of external wall 92" is moved and the positions of internal walls 94 and 94' are unchanged.

In one embodiment, internal dimensions of wall faces can be defined by a user. The internal dimensions of wall faces can be automatically adjusted based on the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation. If a user-defined dimension would be changed by an automatic adjustment based on the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation a warning is given to the user, for example as a visual effect and/or an audio effect. In one example, the visual effect is a pop-up window containing a warning message.

A system such as a computer system, for example a general-purpose computer system, can be configured or adapted to perform the described methods. In one embodiment the system comprises a processor, memory, and a display. Typically, these are connected to a central bus structure, the display being connected via a display adapter. The system can also comprise one or more input devices (such as a mouse and/or keyboard) and/or a communications adapter for connecting the computer to other computers or networks. These are also typically connected to the central bus structure, the input device being connected via an input device adapter. In one embodiment the database resides in the memory of the computer system. In operation the processor can execute computer-executable instructions held in the memory and the results of the processing are displayed to a user on the display. User inputs for controlling the operation of the computer may be received via input device(s). In one particular implementation the computer-executable instructions are written in C# using Microsoft .NET Framework software libraries. In this implementation the visual representation of the one or more rooms as a graphical user interface uses Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation and the room records and room feature records are serialized in XML format for storage in an XML database.

A computer readable medium (e.g. a carrier disk) having computer-executable instructions adapted to cause a system to perform the described methods may be provided. The described approach provides an integrated way of collecting the survey results which can be used to produce a property brochure such as an electronic brochure including the floor plan. Inaccuracies in data can be readily identified, as the visual representation is a view of the database data, rather than been separately drawn. Text data, photographic data, video data and audio data stored in the records of the database can be used to automatically create factual brochure creation. The database can be populated with pre-existing estate agent data to create a floor plan. Furthemore, non experts can use the room-by-room floor plan interface to create a database and market a property. The system can be used by home sellers or estate agents. Multiple brochures can be created, for example with different degrees of detail or format, or for different prospective purchasers. It is possible to capture photographs, text data, video data and audio data directly into the database at the time or the survey using a laptop computer. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that, an enhanced and more versatile approach than currently used to process data representing a property has been provided.

Embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example only. It will be appreciated that variations of the described embodiments may be made which are still within the scope of the invention.

For example the data in the database can be used to derive a 3D representation of a property with a minimum of additional user input in other embodiments, and useful data such as floor area and external wall and window areas can be derived.

Claims

1. A method of processing data representing a property, comprising:

creating a representation of the property comprising a visual representation of one or more rooms of the property;

using the visual representation to create a database comprising one or more room records, each room record representing a room presented on the visual representation, wherein the visual representation of the one or more rooms is a graphical user interface to the corresponding one or more room records of the database.

2. A method of processing data representing a property, comprising:

creating a database comprising one or more room records, each room record representing a room of the property; and

using the one or more room records to present a representation of the property comprising a visual representation of one or more rooms represented by the one or more room records, wherein the visual representation of the one or more rooms is a graphical user interface to the corresponding one or more room records of the database.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the graphical user interface enables data of the corresponding one or more records of the database to be added or modified.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising:

creating a room record representing a room of the property by creating a visual representation of the room, wherein the creation of the visual representation of the room is independent of the creation of a visual representation of other rooms of the property.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein each room record has associated data fields for specifying the position of the room on the visual representation, and wherein the position of a room can be moved on the visual representation, the method further comprising:

if the position of a room is moved on the visual representation, updating in the database the data specifying the position of the room.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a tolerance value is defined for automatically aligning rooms, the method further comprising if a room is positioned on the visual representation at a position within the tolerance value from the other room, automatically aligning the room with another room presented on the visual representation.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a wall face of one room can be associated with the wall face of another room, the method further comprising: if a wall face of one room is aligned so that it is adjacent the wall face of another room, associating in the database the two wall faces with one another to define a wall.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the database comprises one or more room records, each room record comprising one or more room feature records, wherein a room feature record specifies a room feature of or within a room, and wherein a room feature can be added to the visual representation of a room, the method comprising:

if a room feature is added to the visual representation of a room, adding a corresponding room feature record to the respective room record.

9. A method according to any preceding claim,

wherein the database comprises one or more room records, each room record comprising one or more room feature records, wherein a room feature record specifies a room feature of or within a room, and wherein, one or more of text, a photograph, video and audio can be associated with a room or a room feature, the method further comprising:

if one or more of text data, a photograph data, video data and audio data is associated on the visual representation with a room or a room feature, adding the corresponding data or a reference to it to the respective room or room feature record.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising providing an initial rectangular room shape for the visual representation of a room which initially presents a newly created room on the visual representation as a rectangle, and providing a corresponding initial room record having associated data fields for specifying the internal dimensions of the wall faces of the room.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the room record has associated data fields for specifying the internal dimensions of further wall faces, wherein a wall shape feature can be added to a wall face of the visual representation of a room, and wherein adding the wall shape feature adds one or more further predefined wall faces to the interior outline of the room, the method further comprising:

if a wall shape feature is added to a wall face of the visual representation of a room, storing data in the data field or fields specifying the internal dimensions of the further wall face or faces.

12. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a tolerance value is defined for automatically adjusting the interior outline of a new room when the new room overlaps another room, the method further comprising

if the new room overlaps another room presented on the visual , 5 representation by greater than the tolerance value:

automatically adjusting on the visual representation the interior outline of the new room, wherein the adjusted interior outline of the new room has the overlapping portion of the two rooms removed from its interior outline; and storing data in the data field or fields of the new room specifying the 10 internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces.

13. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a new room can be defined by a gap between existing rooms presented on the visual representation, the method further comprising:

15 if the new room is created on the visual representation around a gap between existing rooms presented on the visual representation:

automatically adjusting on the visual representation the interior outline of a new room, wherein the adjusted interior outline of the new room is within the rectangle defined for the new room but with the overlapping portions with 20 the existing rooms removed from its interior outline; and

storing data in the data field or fields of the new room specifying the internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces.

14. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a new room can 25 be defined within the bounds of an existing room presented on the visual representation, the method further comprising:

if the new room is created on the visual representation within the bounds of an existing room: automatically fitting the new room to the nearest corner of the existing room;

automatically adjusting on the visual representation the interior outline of the existing room, wherein the adjusted interior outline of the existing room has the overlapping portions with the new room removed from its interior, outline; and

storing data in the data field or fields of the existing room specifying the internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces.

15. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a new room can be defined within the bounds of two or more existing rooms presented on the visual representation, the method further comprising:

if the new room is created on the visual representation within the bounds of two or more existing rooms:

automatically aligning the new room with any existing wall faces within a tolerance value;

automatically adjusting on the visual representation the interior outline of the existing rooms, wherein the adjusted interior outline of the existing rooms has the overlapping portions with the new room removed from its interior outline; and

storing data in the data field or fields of the existing rooms specifying the internal dimensions of the corresponding further wall face or faces.

16. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein internal dimensions of wall faces can be defined by a user, and wherein internal dimensions of wall faces can be automatically adjusted based on the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation, the method comprising: if there is a choice between adjusting a user-defined dimension and an automatically generated dimension, adjusting the automatically generated dimension rather than the user-defined one.

17. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a wall face can belong to an internal wall or an external wall and wherein the positions of wall faces can be automatically adjusted based on changes to the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation, the method comprising: if there is a choice between adjusting the position of a wall face belonging to an internal wall and the position of a wall face belonging to an external wall, adjusting the position of the wall face belonging to the external wall.

18. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein internal dimensions of wall faces can be defined by a user, and wherein internal dimensions of wall faces can be automatically adjusted based on the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation, the method comprising:

warning the user if a user-defined dimension would be changed by an automatic adjustment based on the dimensions of other wall faces presented on the visual representation.

19. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein user commands are given by voice control.

20. A system comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is arranged to perform the method of any preceding claim.

21. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted to cause a system to perform a method of any preceding claim.