Methods and systems for developing a data repository for heterogeneous mls systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for developing a data repository containing property listing information automatically acquired from a plurality of multiple listing services (MLSs). The property listing information from various MLSs can be mapped to a common representation and stored in the data repository. The invention utilizes and transforms information from different source MLSs which may have a particular data schema that may or may not match a predetermined common schema for the data repository. The listing information is thus consolidated from MLSs even when their schema may be different from each another or the predetermined data repository schema. The data repository schema may be selected such that each of the fields that comprise the source MLS property listing information in its native schema (and all its elements including but not limited to, agent rosters, office rosters, and tax data) can be mapped from the source schema to the data repository schema (the destination). Accordingly, the data of the source property listing from various MLSs can be preserved. Possible mappings include one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one and others. For certain applications of the invention, mappings may be direct where the listing information data from an MLS is simply copied as is, or it can undergo a data transformation process that is based on a predetermined set of listing field mapping rules.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A real estate exchange system comprising:
 a data collection system configured to (1) collect native MLS listing information from a select number of MLS databases via a controller configured to instruct a real estate transaction specification (RETS) client to poll one or more RETS servers for the native MLS listing information, and (2) store the native MLS listing information in a memory in their native schema within a plurality of RETS servers operated or maintained by groups of one or more MLSs, wherein each of the MLS listing information includes a corresponding metadata;   a data transformation system configured to populate a consolidated data repository by transforming the native MLS listing information for each and every native MLS listing field in their native schema to the one or more consolidated MLS listing fields of the consolidated data repository, wherein the native MLS listing information for each and every native MLS listing field is transformed to a corresponding equivalent field of the consolidated data repository schema including MLS information from different native schemas, wherein the consolidated data repository schema is determined ahead of time by a group of one or more MLSs that form or contribute to the real estate exchange; and   a data distribution system configured to deliver consolidated MLS listing information to selected RETS client computers used by different users of the MLS databases who would otherwise only have access to their native MLS listing information in their native schema.   
     
     
         3 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 2  wherein the data transformation system is configured to transform the metadata associated with the MLS listing information with the native MLS listing information for each and every native MLS listing field. 
     
     
         4 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 3  wherein the controller is configured to instruct the RETS client to poll the one or more RETS server at selected time intervals. 
     
     
         5 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 2  wherein the MLS listing information includes objects, photos, or logos. 
     
     
         6 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 5  wherein the data transformation system is configured to process the objects, the photos or the logos. 
     
     
         7 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 6  wherein the data transformation system is configured to assign new identifiers to the consolidated MLS listing information. 
     
     
         8 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 7  wherein the data transformation system is configured to assign the new identifiers to the objects, the photos, or the logos. 
     
     
         9 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 6  wherein the data transformation system is configured to transform the objects, photos, or logos to a consolidated format in accordance with the consolidated data repository schema. 
     
     
         10 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 2  wherein the data transformation system is configured to said transformation in accordance with a specific code generated based on at least one of the following: the metadata associated with the native MLS listing information and the consolidated data repository schema. 
     
     
         11 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 10  wherein the specific code is algorithmic code that is automatically generated when a native MLS schema changes, when a combined schema changes, or when the mapping requirements change. 
     
     
         12 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 2  further comprising a data insertion system configured to insert additional data to the MLS listing information after the transformation of the native MLS listing information. 
     
     
         13 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 12  wherein the data insertion system is further configured to populate an operational data store that stores the consolidated MLS listing information in the same format as the MLS listing information in the consolidated data repository. 
     
     
         14 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 13  wherein the operational data store utilizes an ODS schema which is configured to generated more rapidly than the consolidated data repository schema. 
     
     
         15 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 14  wherein the consolidated data repository schema is configured to undergo further optimization than the ODS schema. 
     
     
         16 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 13  wherein the operational data store stores less information than the consolidated data repository. 
     
     
         17 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 13  wherein the consolidated data repository lags behind the operational data store and is partially isolated by the operational data store from changes. 
     
     
         18 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 2  wherein the data distribution system is configured to deliver the consolidated MLS listing information to the one or more RETS servers, which distribute the consolidated MLS listing information to one or more MLS clients. 
     
     
         19 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 17  wherein access to the relevant MLS listing information is controlled according to user and access control information. 
     
     
         20 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 2  wherein several source classes from the native MLS listing information are transformed into a single target class for the consolidated data repository schema. 
     
     
         21 . The real estate exchange system of  claim 2  wherein a single source class from the native MLS listing information are transformed into multiple target classes for the consolidated data repository schema.