US 8,266,005 B2 · Automated pricing system

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and system for a rapid and automated creation of a price schedule comprising steps and an implementation for providing a set of construction (or other) plans created with an architectural, civil, industrial or other software design tool, such as CAD, and optionally a palette of 2-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional architectural parametric symbols that correspond to respective construction plan elements, such as windows, doors, acrylic glass blocks and/or sky lights. At least one parametric symbol corresponding to a construction plan element is preferably inserted into the construction plans. A cost value for each of the inserted parametric symbols is preferably calculated corresponding to respective plan elements. A price schedule is then optionally created which includes the total cost for all of the inserted parametric symbols corresponding to respective plan elements.

An automated system for creating one or a plurality of prices for one or a plurality of construction plan elements of a construction project and optionally one or a plurality of corresponding price schedules comprising:

(a) one or a plurality of local or remote computers or consoles, or any combination thereof;
(b) one or a plurality of local or remote servers, or any combination thereof;
(c) an architectural, civil or industrial software design tool, wherein the software design tool provides on the computer, console or server a construction plan drawing having one or a plurality of construction plan elements;
(d) a local server system or remote server system that maintains one or a plurality of databases including pricing data or information, or both, for the one or a plurality of construction plan elements, wherein an Intranet connection exists between the local server system and the computer or console or an Internet connection exists between the remote server system and the computer or console, or both;
and
(e) an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the software design tool when executed on the computer, console or server or outside of the software design tool operating as a dynamic link library;
executable (.exe), ActiveX or Component Object Model object, or any combination thereof;
wherein the add-on computer software code optionally includes a palette, or uses an existing palette, that contains one or a plurality of parametric symbols that corresponds with one or a plurality of the construction plan elements, and that optionally may be selected by a user for insertion into the construction plan drawing;
and
wherein the add-on computer software code, when executed by the computer, console, server or dynamic link library, executable (.exe), ActiveX or COM object:
(i) optionally inserts one or a plurality of the construction plan elements, or parametric symbols that may optionally be selected by a user, into the construction plan drawing;
(ii) transmits via the Intranet connection, the Internet connection, or both, data, information or both corresponding to one or a plurality of the construction plan elements or parametric symbols from the computer, console, server or dynamic link library, executable (.exe), ActiveX or COM object to the local server system, the remote server system, or both, either directly or via an optional communication module;
(iii) receives via the Intranet connection, the Internet connection, or both, from the local server system, the remote server system, or both, for one or a plurality of the construction plan elements or parametric symbols, or both, one or a plurality of prices for a purchase of one or a plurality of construction plan elements or parametric symbols, or both, wherein the prices may be determined using price data, information or both that is present on, or accessed by, the local server system, the remote server system, or both, and, optionally, using a zip code, a geographical location, or a combination thereof, and correspond with the purchase of the one or a plurality of construction plan elements or parametric symbols, or both, and, optionally, when a zip code, geographical location, or a combination thereof, is employed, within an area or region within the zip code or geographical location, either directly or via an optional communication module;
and
(iv) optionally generates a price schedule from the prices, wherein the price schedule includes individual or combined costs for the one or plurality of construction plan elements or parametric symbols, or both, a total cost for all of the construction plan elements or parametric symbols, or any combination thereof, wherein the price schedule optionally can include one or a plurality of construction plan elements or parametric symbols, or both, and wherein the price schedule optionally can be used immediately or at a subsequent time or date, or both, on the computer, console, server, dynamic link library, executable (.exe), ActiveX or COM object to place an order to purchase one or a plurality of construction plan elements or parametric symbols that are present in the price schedule.

12 more elements

Automated pricing system

Life of this patent

Automated pricing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims270