GB2409070A

GB2409070A - Hand-held building data recording and processing device

Info

Publication number: GB2409070A
Application number: GB0401852A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Thomas Wright
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-09
Filing date: 2004-01-28
Publication date: 2005-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-28
Also published as: GB0328508D0; GB0401852D0; GB2409070B; GB2409070C

Abstract

A handheld data processing device (10; 24) for use in the preparation of a sales brochure for a property, the device comprising: means (12; 38) for measuring distances, means (14; 40) for capturing one or more images, means (20; 30) for inputting information pertaining to said property, control means (16; 28) operable to control the measuring means, image capture means and input means, find means (18; 32) for recording measured distances, captured images and inputted information. In one embodiment each of said components are provided as integral components of said device (10). In another embodiment at least said measuring means (38) and image capture means (40) are provided in a first component (28) of the device (24); said information input means (30), control means (28) and recording means (32) are provided in a second component (26) of the device (24); and said first and second components include interface means (34, 36) operable to permit one to interface with the other.

Description

DATA PROCESSING DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a data processing device, in particular to a handheld data processing device.

One particular embodiment of the invention relates to a handheld data processing device that is configured to assist an estate agent with the preparation of sales brochures in respect of a property or properties offered for sale by that agent, or the firm employing that agent.

Background to the Invention

In the course of the sale of a property, it is usual for the owner of that property to contact an estate agent, or fimm of estate agents, who will handle the promotion of the property to prospective buyers in exchange for a fee on completion of the sale.

To promote a given property that is offered for sale, it commonplace for estate agents to prepare sales brochures which include, inter alla, information such as the layout or floor-plan of the property, photographs depicting the various rooms in the property, information concerning the size of the rooms in the property, as well as information concerning the fixtures and fittings offered for sale with the property or particularly desirable features of the property.

To prepare the sales brochure for a given property, it is necessary for the agent to visit the property and note the particular details for that property.

To aid the agent in what can be a relatively time consuming task particularly for large properties - it is normal for the agent to be equipped with an automatic distance measuring device (such as a laser distance measuring device for example), a voice recording device (such as a Dictaphone for example), a camera (preferably a digital camera), and a portable data recording device (such as a so-called personal digital assistant or PDA). In use the agent goes from room to room taking measurements with the laser measurer and photographs with the camera, whilst dictating notes and entering measurements into the PDA.

Once the agent has collected data for each room in the property, they then must return to their office to download the data stored in these devices to - 5 a computing device, such as a personal computer for example, which is equipped with a software package that facilitates the preparation of particulars.

As will be appreciated, it is necessarily a relatively difficult and time consuming task to record all of the various aspects of a given property with the aforementioned devices, and then download all that data into a computer which is equipped with suitable software for converting the raw data into a brochure for the property.

Preparation of brochures, whilst being an important part of the sales process, is essentially dead time for the agent as it is time in which he is prevented from marketing the property to prospective purchasers. Given that the agent only actually makes any money once the property concerned has been sold, it would be desirable to minimise the amount of time required to prepare these brochures and thereby provide the agent with more time to actually market the property to prospective purchasers.

The present invention has been conceived with the aim of alleviating the aforementioned problems, and in particular with the aim of facilitating the preparation of sales brochures by estate agents.

Statement of Invention

In pursuit of this aim, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides a handheld data processing device for use in the preparation of a sales brochure for a property, the device comprising: means for measuring distances, means for capturing one or more images, means for recording information pertaining to said property, and control means operable to control the measuring means, image capture means and recording means.

In a highly preferred embodiment the control means comprises a processor that is operable to generate, from said measured distances, room sizes for each room measured in said property. The processor may also be able to generate a floor plan from said room measurements.

In any event, it is preferred that the control means is configured to associate, for any given room of said property, measured distances, a captured image or images, and recorded information if any.

In a highly preferred embodiment, the information recording means includes means operable to provide a touch-sensitive display, a user of said device being capable of selecting by touch appropriate features from a list or menu of features displayed on said display. The information recording means may also or alternatively comprise audio recording means.

Further details of the preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims, and elsewhere in this application.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a schematic illustration of the components of a handheld data processing device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the components of a handheld data processing device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of the manner in which the device, in this instance of the second embodiment, may be coupled to means for printing a brochure; Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a device in accordance with the aforementioned second embodiment; and Fig. 5 is a schematic rear view of a device in accordance with the aforementioned second embodiment.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Fig. I is a schematic illustration of the components of a handheld data processing device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

As shown, the device 10 comprises distance measuring means 12, (such as a laser distance measurer for example) image capture means 14 (such as a digital camera), and a control means 16 (such as a processor). Also included is a recording means 18, and information input means 20.

The information input means, in the preferred embodiment, includes a touch sensitive screen by means of which options may be presented to the user for selection by touching the screen. As an illustrative example, the options may include lists of typical features that one might find in any given room of a house. Those features could include, for example, under a heading 'windows' an option permitting the user to enter the number of windows as well as information concerning whether those windows are original or replacement, or for example whether they are single or double-glazed.

Similar options may be provided for the other features that one would normally expect to find in any given room of a house.

The recording means may simply comprise a digital data recorder such as a RAM, and optionally may include a microphone and audio recording device to permit the user to dictate into the device 10 whilst surveying the property.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device lO also includes an interface 22 so that data recorded in the recording means may, for example on return to the office, be downloaded from the device 10 to a computer for further processing.

In this embodiment of the invention, the various components of the device are provided as an integral unit which is programmed with the various software elements required to implement the above described functionality.

In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2, the device 24 comprises a conventional PDA (appropriately programmed to implement the abovementioned functionality) and a portable cradle 28 in which the PDA 26 can be located when the user needs to use the device 24 to survey a property for the preparation of a brochure. The advantage of this arrangement is, of course, that a user who already has a PDA 26 need not purchase an entire device in order to be able to enjoy the benefits of the present invention.

Rather, that user need only purchase the portable cradle and appropriate software for execution on the PDA to enjoy the benefits of this invention.

As shown in Fig. 2, the PDA 26 includes control means 29 (such as a processor), information input means 30 (such as the above described touch - 5 sensitive screen) as well as recording means 32. The PDA 26 is provided with an interface 34 for coupling with a complementary interface 36 of the hand holdable cradle 28. As shown, the cradle 28 comprises a distance measuring means 38 (such as the aforementioned laser distance measuring device) as well as an image capture means 40 (such as a digital camera).

As well as an interface 34 for connection with the corresponding interface 36 of the cradle 28, the PDA 26 is also preferably provided with a second interface 42 to pemmit the PDA 26 to be coupled to an external computer system for preparation of the brochure. In a highly preferred arrangement, the first and second interfaces 34 and 42, are implemented as a single input/output interface.

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically the means by which the PDA 26 of the device 24 depicted in Fig. 2 may be coupled to an external computer system for printing of a brochure.

As shown, the computer system 44 includes a personal computer 46 (or equivalent computing device) that is coupled to a printer 48 and to a docking station 50. The PDA 26 of the device 24 depicted in Fig. 2 can be decoupled from the hand holdable cradle 28 once a given survey has been completed, and docked with the docking station 50 that is coupled to the computer 46. Data recorded in the recording means 32 of the PDA 26 can then be downloaded via the cradle 50 to the computer 46, and after appropriate processing can be printed as a brochure by means of the printer 48.

Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a device 24 in accordance with the aforementioned second embodiment.

As shown, the device includes a PDA 26 which is shown as being received in and coupled with a hand holdable cradle 28. The PDA includes a touch sensitive screen 52 and keys 54 which together provide the aforementioned information input means 30.

The cradle 28, as described above, includes means to implement the aforementioned distance measuring means 38 and image capture means 40.

- 5 As shown in Fig. 4, the front face of the cradle 28 includes an optical emitter/detector 56 that is operable to emit pulsed laser radiation, and receive that radiation for calculation of a distance. Such laser distance measuring devices are well known in the art and hence further details thereof will not be included herein.

Fig. 5 is a schematic rear view of the device 24 depicted in Fig. 2 with the PDA 26 received in and coupled with the hand holdable cradle 28. As shown in Fig. 5, the rear of the cradle 28 includes an optical lens assembly 58 which together with the known circuitry of a digital image capture device implements the aforementioned image capture means 40 of Fig. 2.

In a highly preferred arrangement, the rear face of the cradle 28 includes a battery compartment 60 which can be opened by a user to enable that user to insert batteries for powering the aforementioned laser distance measuring means and image capture means. Of course, whilst it is perfectly possible for the laser measuring means and image capture means to be powered by the power supply of the PDA 26, the inclusion of a discrete power supply for these two components is advantageous in that operation of the distance measuring means and image capture means does not unduly drain the power supply of the PDA 26.

As will be apparent from a consideration of the above, an estate agent provided with a device as described herein will quickly and easily be able to assimillate the necessary information required to prepare a sales brochure for a property to be sold. A further advantage of the embodiments described herein is that the user is relieved from continuously having to monitor, and where necessary recharge, the power supplies of a number of discrete devices.

Rather, the user now need only concern himself with ensuring that one or at most two components are properly powered. This relieves the user of one of the foremost problems associated with using a multiplicity of different

devices as taught in the prior art.

In a third embodiment of the invention (comprising a simplification of the aforementioned first and second embodiments of the invention) which is not depicted in the drawings, the teachings of the invention may be embodied in a hand held data processing device for use in the preparation of a sales brochure for a property, the device comprising: means for measuring distances; means for capturing one or more images; control means operable to control the measuring means and image capture means, and means for recording measured distances and captured images.

In this embodiment it is envisaged that the data processing device may include a ruggedised outer housing (for example a rubber outer housing) in which the components of the device are located.

The device itself includes a digital camera (for capturing images of rooms in a property), a distance measuring device (as aforementioned), a controller which is operable to control the digital camera and measuring device, and a digital data recording device controllable by the controller for recording measurements and captured images.

This embodiment is less sophisticated than previous embodiments, but still provides advantages over the prior art. Specifically, this embodiment of the invention frees the user from having to carry a camera, a laser measuring device (for example), and a means (such as a pad and pencil or a PDA) for noting measurements taken. Furthermore, with the device of this embodiment the user need only be concerned about ensuring that a single piece of equipment is properly powered, rather than having to worry about whether the battery levels in their camera, laser measurer and PDA are sufficient for the job in hand.

It will therefore be apparent from the above that the teachings of the present invention provide an effective means to avoid the problems affecting

the prior art.

It will also be understood, that modifications may be made to the embodiments herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. A final point to note is that whilst particular combinations of features herein described have been specifically enumerated in the accompanying claims, the scope of the invention is not so limited and instead extends to any combination or permutation of features herein described.

Claims

1. A handheld data processing device for use in the preparation of a sales brochure for a property, the device comprising: means for measuring - 5 distances, means for capturing one or more images, means for inputting information pertaining to said property, control means operable to control the measuring means, image capture means and input means, and means for recording measured distances, captured images and inputted information.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a processor that is operable to generate, from said measured distances, room sizes for each room measured in said property.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein said processor is operable to generate a floor plan from said room measurements.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means is configured to associate, for any given room of said property, measured distances, a captured image or images, and inputted information if any.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the information inputting means includes means operable to provide a touch-sensitive display, a user of said device being capable of selecting by touch appropriate features from a list or menu of features displayed on said display.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said information input means comprises a microphone.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said components are provided as integral components of said device.

8. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein: at least said measuring means and image capture means are provided in a first component of the device; said information input means, control means and recording means are provided in a second component of the device; and said first and second components include interface means operable to permit one to interface with the other.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein said second component comprises a portable digital assistant (PDA), and said first component comprises a hand-holdable cradle that the PDA can be plugged into.

10. A handheld data processing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A hand held data processing device for use in the preparation of a sales brochure for a property, the device comprising: means for measuring distances; means for capturing one or more images; control means operable to control the measuring means and image capture means, and means for recording measured distances and captured images.

12. A handheld data processing device according to Claim 11, comprising a ruggedised housing.