US 8,554,595 B2 · Systems and methods for providing controls for aggregated weather-based work

Abstract

Systems, methods, non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer program instructions for causing a computer device to implement methods, and the like utilize weather information from one or a variety of locations to estimate costs for providing weather-dependent work, and to provide financial controls for weather-dependent work allegedly performed. One method includes utilizing historical weather information relating to performance of weather-dependent work at a work location to generate an estimate of an anticipated frequency with which weather-dependent work will be necessary, utilizing information to estimate an anticipated cost per incident for performing weather-dependent work at the selected work location, and using such information at a plurality of locations to generate an aggregate bid for performing weather-dependent work at the locations. Weather information is also used to audit weather-dependent work allegedly performed at the work locations to provide financial controls to the aggregated weather-dependent work in compliance with law and regulation.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program instructions for causing a computer device to implement a method for providing controls related to weather-dependent work at a first location, the method comprising:

locating a first weather information source providing weather information relating to a second location, the second location being estimated to have weather similar to weather occurring at the first location;
determining a correlation between the weather information relating to the second location and a need for weather-dependent work at the first location by comparing weather history data relating to the second location from the first weather information source to work history data for weather-dependent work at the first location;
monitoring the first weather information source for current weather information related to possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;
recording possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;
determining whether an invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location has been received corresponding to all recorded possible weather-related events;
notifying a service provider of weather-dependent work at the first location when no invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location has been received corresponding to any possible weather-related event suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;
and
auditing the invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location when the invoice is received.

5 more elements

locating a first weather information source providing weather information relating to a second location, the second location being estimated to have weather similar to weather occurring at the first location;
determining a correlation between the weather information relating to the second location and a need for weather-dependent work at the first location by comparing weather history data relating to the second location from the first weather information source to work history data for weather-dependent work at the first location;
monitoring the first weather information source for current weather information related to possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;
recording possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;
determining whether an invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location has been received by an aggregate service provider corresponding to all recorded possible weather-related events;
notifying a localized service provider of a weather-related event suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location when any invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location does not include an entry for weather-dependent work corresponding to the weather-related event suggesting the need for weather-dependent work at the first location.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for providing controls for aggregated weather-based work

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Systems and methods for providing controls for aggregated weather-based work

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6