Construction permit processing system and method

• US 10,540,401 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2019
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iSqFt, Inc. (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iSqFt, Inc. (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eveland, Christopher K., Caven, III, John W., Menzel, Robert B., Lehman, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Torgrimson, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US16/268,905
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90335 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction

Abstract

A system comprises a data storage system, data analysis logic, and user interface logic. The data analysis logic is configured to analyze the documents and to identify documents that satisfy search criteria received from a user. The user interface logic is configured to generate a user interface. The user interface logic is also configured to generate a plurality of charts for display to the user. The user can interact with the charts to specify modified search criteria. The user interface logic is configured to receive modified search criteria from the user via one of the charts and update the remaining charts to reflect the modified search criteria.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, by a permit storage and search system, permit documents in a data storage system, each of the permits relating to a construction job at an address;

receiving, by the permit storage and search system, a user specified search query comprising a first search criteria entered electronically by the user as input signals via a graphical user interface;

analyzing, by the permit storage and search system, the permit documents to determine a first number of permits that satisfy the first search criteria; and

responsive to the user specified search query, generating output signals, by the permit storage and search system, in the form of a display reflecting data regarding the first number of permits that satisfy the first search criteria, the display includes a plurality of charts presenting information related to the first number of permits, wherein each chart of the plurality of charts is user interactive such that the search query can be updated through user specified interaction with a given chart of the plurality of charts, wherein the plurality of charts includes a permit type chart that displays the type of permit satisfying the first search criteria and a permit use chart that displays the applied for use of the permit satisfying the first search criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display further includes a permit listing that presents a sortable view of each of the first number of permits, wherein each of the first number of permits is listed by an associated address.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the permit listing is user interactive such that the user can select a given permit of the first number of permits by selecting the associated address, the method further comprising:

receiving a user selection of an identified permit from the user via the permit listing; and

presenting a detailed permit window on the display, the detailed permit window indicating at least a permit number and the associated address.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the associated address is presented as a user-interactive element that directs the user to a map of the associated address.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the permit listing is sortable by an attribute associated with the first number of permits, wherein the user can select the attribute from a listing of attributes, the listing of attributes including at least bid date and cost.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of charts includes a related words field that provides a listing of words or phrases that are related to the search query, wherein the related words field is user-interactive such that the user can select one of the words or phrases of the listing of words or phrases to filter the search query based on the selected word or phrase.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of charts includes a permits age timeline that displays the age of the permits returned in the search, wherein the permits age timeline is user-interactive such that the user can filter the first number of permits based on a user-selected date range.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the user selected date range from the user via the permits age timeline; and

updating the plurality of charts based on the user-selected date range.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of charts includes a cost chart that displays a first cost range and a first associated number of permits of the first number of permits having costs within the first cost range, and wherein the cost chart displays a second cost range and a second associated number of permits of the first number of permits having costs within the second cost range.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the search query further comprises a second search criteria from the user, and wherein the method further comprises analyzing the permit documents to determine a second number of permits that satisfy the second search criteria.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of charts compare the first number of permits that satisfy the first search criteria to the second number of permits that satisfy the second search criteria.

12. A permit search and storage system comprising:

a permit database storing a plurality of permit documents relating to different construction jobs at different addresses;

memory; and

a processor configured to;

receive a user specified search query comprising a first search criteria entered electronically by the user as input signals via a graphical user interface;

analyze the permit documents to determine a first number of permits that satisfy the first search criteria; and

responsive to the search query, generate output signals in the form of a display reflecting data regarding the first number of permits that satisfy the first search criteria, the display includes a plurality of charts presenting information related to the first number of permits, wherein each chart of the plurality of charts is user interactive such that the search query can be updated through user specified interaction with a given chart of the plurality of charts, wherein the plurality of charts includes a permit type chart that displays the type of permit satisfying the first search criteria and a permit use chart that displays the applied for use of the permit satisfying the first search criteria.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the display further includes a permit listing that presents a sortable view of each of the first number of permits, wherein each of the first number of permits is listed by an associated address.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the permit listing is user interactive such that the user can select a given permit of the first number of permits by selecting the associated address, wherein the processor is are further comprising:

receive a user selection of an identified permit from the user via the permit listing; and

present a detailed permit window on the display, the detailed permit window indicating at least a permit number and the associated address.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the associated address is presented as a user-interactive element that directs the user to a map of the associated address.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the permit listing is sortable by an attribute associated with the first number of permits, wherein the user can select the attribute from a listing of attributes, the listing of attributes including at least bid date and cost.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of charts includes a related words field that provides a listing of words or phrases that are related to the search query, wherein the related words field is user-interactive such that the user can select one of the words or phrases of the listing of words or phrases to filter the search query based on the selected word or phrase.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of charts includes a permits age timeline that displays the age of the permits returned in the search, wherein the permits age timeline is user-interactive such that the user can filter the first number of permits based on a user-selected date range.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive the user selected date range from the user via the permits age timeline; and

update the plurality of charts based on the user-selected date range.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of charts includes a cost chart that displays a first cost range and a first associated number of permits of the first number of permits having costs within the first cost range, and wherein the cost chart displays a second cost range and a second associated number of permits of the first number of permits having costs within the second cost range.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the search query further comprises a second search criteria from the user, and wherein the data analysis logic is further configured to analyze the permit documents to determine a second number of permits that satisfy the second search criteria.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of charts compare the first number of permits that satisfy the first search criteria to the second number of permits that satisfy the second search criteria.