Abstract: A method of specifying a boundary for an area is provided, which includes receiving a first input from a first user regarding a first configuration of a boundary of an area. The first input may serve to establish an area of arbitrary and possibly irregular configuration, such as an area that is apolitical or otherwise legally undetermined. A second input may be received from a second user regarding a second boundary configuration. The second input may serve to modify the boundary of an area established by the first input. A particular configuration of the boundary based at least partially on the first and second inputs can then be determined. For example, the particular configuration of the boundary may be determined, in part, by spatially averaging the first and second configurations. In some embodiments, demographic data for an area defined by the particular configuration of the boundary may be compiled.

Abstract: A method of specifying a boundary for an area is provided, which includes receiving a first input from a first user regarding a first configuration of a boundary of an area. The first input may serve to establish an area of arbitrary and possibly irregular configuration, such as an area that is apolitical or otherwise legally undetermined. A second input may be received from a second user regarding a second boundary configuration. The second input may serve to modify the boundary of an area established by the first input. A particular configuration of the boundary based at least partially on the first and second inputs can then be determined. For example, the particular configuration of the boundary may be determined, in part, by spatially averaging the first and second configurations. In some embodiments, demographic data for an area defined by the particular configuration of the boundary may be compiled.

Abstract: A method of specifying a boundary for an area is provided, which includes receiving a first input from a first user regarding a first configuration of a boundary of an area. The first input may serve to establish an area of arbitrary and possibly irregular configuration, such as an area that is apolitical or otherwise legally undetermined. A second input may be received from a second user regarding a second boundary configuration. The second input may serve to modify the boundary of an area established by the first input. A particular configuration of the boundary based at least partially on the first and second inputs can then be determined. For example, the particular configuration of the boundary may be determined, in part, by spatially averaging the first and second configurations. In some embodiments, demographic data for an area defined by the particular configuration of the boundary may be compiled.

Abstract: A method of specifying a boundary for an area is provided, which includes receiving a first input from a first user regarding a first configuration of a boundary of an area. The first input may serve to establish an area of arbitrary and possibly irregular configuration, such as an area that is apolitical or otherwise legally undetermined. A second input may be received from a second user regarding a second boundary configuration. The second input may serve to modify the boundary of an area established by the first input. A particular configuration of the boundary based at least partially on the first and second inputs can then be determined. For example, the particular configuration of the boundary may be determined, in part, by spatially averaging the first and second configurations. In some embodiments, demographic data for an area defined by the particular configuration of the boundary may be compiled.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-tiered cascading crawling system for finding on a network information related to one or more predetermined topics or subtopics of interest. In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a system that operates in multiple “tiers,” where at least some of the output of one tier is used to comprise the input of the next tier. Each tier generally analyzes collections of documents on the network using successively more restrictive criteria about the subject matter of each collection and/or about which collections may be related to the one or more topics or subtopics. In general, only the final tier performs an exhaustive crawl of all of the documents of the collections that are identified by the system as being relevant to the topic or subtopic of interest.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for providing a real estate lockbox. The real estate lockbox manages access over a network to real estate data by restricting access to certain real estate data while providing free access to other real estate data. Access to the restricted, private real estate data may be gained by receiving a real estate lockbox key. As a result, the real estate lockbox serves a similar function as a physical real estate lockbox, but in an online environment—allowing casual access to public real estate data, but requiring more secured access to private real estate data. In one embodiment, the present invention also provides real estate search toolbar in the form of an API to facilitate searching for real estate over a network.