Systems, methods, and software for generating, customizing, and automatedly e-mailing a request for quotation for fabricating a computer-modeled structure from within a CAD program
AssigneeDesprez, LLC
InventorsJames L. Jacobs, II, Steven M. Lynch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, software made in accordance with the present invention generates a request for quote (RFQ) based on user-provided information, presents a user interface allowing a user to customize the RFQ, generates an e-mail including the RFQ, and sends the e-mail to one or more suppliers. Various corresponding and related systems, methods, and software are described.
Claims17
A method of assisting a user in generating a request for quotation (RFQ) for fabrication of a structure represented in a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model from within a 3D CAD program, the method being executed in an RFQ e-mail system and comprising:
- receiving, via the 3D CAD program and from a supplier database, information identifying one or more suppliers and information identifying a respective e-mail address associated with each of the one or more suppliers;
- receiving, via a 3D CAD graphical user interface (GUI) displaying a 3D model of a structure, a selection from a user of an initiate-RFQ control as an interaction with the 3D CAD GUI;
- in response to the selection, displaying to the user an RFQ-e-mail graphical user interface (GUI) and retrieving a design document associated with the 3D model of the structure, wherein the RFQ-e-mail GUI presents the user with a set of RFQ options, information from the design document, and a selectable list of the one or more suppliers;
- receiving via the RFQ-e-mail GUI one or more selections of RFQ options within the set as interactions with the RFQ-e-mail GUI and one or more selections of suppliers from the selectable list as interactions with the RFQ e-mail GUI;
- and
- generating, via the 3D CAD program, an RFQ e-mail as a function of the one or more user selections of RFQ options and the one or more selections of suppliers, wherein the RFQ e-mail is automatedly addressed to two or more respective email addresses each associated with a selected supplier.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more computer programs for execution by one or more processors, the one or more computer programs comprising instructions for:
- receiving, via a three-dimensional (3D) computer-assisted design (CAD) program and from a supplier database, information identifying one or more suppliers and information identifying a respective e-mail address associated with each of the one or more suppliers;
- receiving a selection of an initiate-request for quotation (RFQ) control as an interaction with a 3D CAD graphical user interface (GUI) displaying a 3D model of a structure:
- in response to the selection, displaying to a user an RFQ-e-mail graphical user interface (GUI) and retrieving a design document associated with the 3D model of the structure, wherein the RFD-e-mail GUI presents the user with a set of RFQ options, information from the design document and a selectable list of the one or more suppliers;
- receiving via the RFQ-e-mail GUI one or more selections of RFQ options within the set as interactions with the RFQ-e-mail GUI and one or more selections of suppliers from the selectable list as interactions with the RFQ e-mail GUI;
- and
- generating an RFQ e-mail as a function of the one or more user selections of RFQ options and the one or more selections of suppliers, wherein the RFQ e-mail is generated from within the 3D CAD program and automatedly addressed to two or more respective e-mail addresses each associated with a selected supplier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.