System and method for managing construction projects

• US 20040117361A1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Therma Corporation, Inc
• Original Assignee: Joseph P. Parisi and Nicki Parisi Revocable living Trust
• Inventors: Hohn, John T., Greer, Gary L., Flores, Margaret L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,409,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2228 Indexing structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/483 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for managing construction projects includes a database, a component interface, a state interface, and a database interface. The component interface is operative to receive component identifiers identifying components of a construction project. The state interface is operative to receive state indicators, each state indicator indicating a particular state (e.g., ordered, in transit, installed, inspected, etc.) associated with one of the components. The database interface is operative to store the component identifiers and the associated state indicators in the database. A method of managing construction projects is also described. The method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of component identifiers from a user, associating an initial predefined state with each received identifier, storing the component identifiers and the associated initial states in a database, updating the states associated with the component identifiers in the data base, and retrieving the updated states from the database to determine the status of the construction project. Novel data structures, application program interfaces, and graphical user interfaces are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for managing a construction project, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of identifiers from a user, each of said identifiers identifying a respective component of said construction project;

associating an initial one of a plurality of predefined states with each of said identifiers, said predefined states indicating the construction status of the component identified by the associated identifier;

writing records to a database, said records including said identifiers and said associated initial states;

updating the states associated with said identifiers by writing records to said database associating different ones of said predefined states with said identifiers; and

retrieving the updated states from said database to determine the status of said construction project.

2. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing a model file including graphical representations of said components; and

displaying each component based on said retrieved updated state corresponding to the respective component.

3. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 2, wherein said step of displaying said components includes:

receiving a selection of one of said predefined states; and

displaying only those components associated with the selected state.

4. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 2, wherein said step of displaying said components includes assigning a color to each state of said plurality of states.

5. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of said identifiers;

receiving a hyperlink to a file; and

writing a record to said database associating said selected identifier with said hyperlink.

6. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of said components in said model;

querying said database for hyperlinks associated with said identifier identifying said selected component; and

displaying any hyperlinks returned by the database.

7. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 1, wherein said step of updating said states associated with said identifiers depends on changes in the construction status of said components identified by said identifiers.

8. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 7, wherein said step of updating said states includes:

retrieving said identifiers from said database;

retrieving said predefined states from said database;

presenting said identifiers and said predefined states to a user;

receiving a selection of one of said identifiers to be updated from said list of identifiers from said user;

receiving a selection of a state from said list of predefined states from said user; and

writing a record to said database associating said selected identifier with said selected state.

9. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 8, wherein said step of retrieving said identifiers includes loading said identifiers into a hand-held device.

10. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 9, wherein said step of retrieving said predefined states includes loading said predefined states into a hand-held device.

11. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 10, wherein said identifiers and said predefined states are loaded into said hand-held device from said database via a portable computer.

12. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 1, further comprising writing records of hours worked on said construction project into said database.

13. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 12, wherein said step of writing records of hours worked into said database includes:

retrieving said identifiers from said database;

presenting said identifiers to a user;

receiving a selection of one of said identifiers from said user;

receiving a value indicative of a number of hours worked on a component identified by said selected identifier; and

writing a record to said database associating the number of hours worked with the selected identifier.

14. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 13, further comprising:

retrieving a plurality of workers from said database;

presenting said plurality of workers to said user;

receiving a selection of one of said workers who performed said number of hours of work on said component from said user; and

including a value identifying said selected worker in said record associating said number of hours worked with said selected identifier.

15. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 13, further comprising:

retrieving a plurality of activities from said database;

presenting said plurality of activities to a user;

receiving a selection of one of said activities that has been performed on said component identified by said selected identifier from said user; and

including a value identifying said selected activity in said record associating said number of hours worked with said selected identifier.

16. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 13, further comprising retrieving a plurality of component descriptions from said database, each component description corresponding to one of said identifiers.

17. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 13, wherein said steps of selecting one of said identifiers and entering said number of hours worked is performed on a hand-held device.

18. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 17, wherein data is transferred between said database and said hand-held device via a portable computer.

19. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving a plurality of identifiers from a user includes:

receiving a drawing file corresponding to said construction project;

receiving definitions of groups of objects within said drawing file from said user, said groups of objects corresponding to said components of said construction project; and

assigning one of said identifiers to each of said groups of objects.

20. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 19, wherein said step of receiving a plurality of identifiers from said user:

generating a model file from said drawing file, said model file including graphical representations of said components; and

associating each graphical representation with the one of said identifiers identifying the component represented by the particular graphical representation.

21. A method for managing a construction project according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a separate drawing file for each defined group of objects in said drawing file; and

writing a record to said database associating each of said separate drawing files with one of said identifiers.

22. A computer-readable-medium having code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 1.

23. A system for managing construction projects, said system comprising:

a database;

a component interface operative to receive component identifiers identifying components of a construction project;

a state interface operative to receive state indicators, each state indicator indicating a particular construction state associated with one of said components of said construction project; and

a database interface operative to store said component identifiers and associated state indicators in said database.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said component interface and said state interface are embodied in a form, said form having a first field for receiving one of said component identifiers, and a second field for receiving one of said predefined states.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein said component interface and said state interface are embodied in a table wherein said component identifiers and said predefined states can be entered.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein said database interface is further operative to associate a default one of said state indicators with one of said component identifiers if one of said state indicators is not received with said one of said component identifiers.

27. A system according to claim 23, wherein said database interface is further operative to store one of said component identifiers previously associated with a first one of said state indicators in said database with a different one of said state indicators, thereby updating the construction status of the component identified by said one of said component identifiers.

28. A system according to claim 27, further comprising:

a component state query interface operative to receive component state queries including said component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide state indicators associated with said received component identifiers.

29. A system according to claim 28, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said component state queries to said component state query interface, and to receive said state indicators from said database; and

a display operative to display graphical representations of said components based on said received state indicators.

30. A system according to claim 27, further comprising:

a component state query interface operative to receive a component state query; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide each unique component identifier and a state indicator associated with each said unique component identifier.

31. A system according to claim 30, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said component state queries to said component state query interface, and to receive said state indicators from said database; and

a display operative to display graphical representations of said components based on said received state indicators.

32. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a link interface operative to receive links to files; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said links and associated component identifiers in said database.

33. A system according to claim 32, further comprising:

a link query interface operative to receive link queries including said component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide links associated with said received component identifiers.

34. A system according to claim 33, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said link queries to said link query interface, and to receive said links from said database; and

a display operative to display graphical representations of said components, and to display said links associated with said component identifiers.

35. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a time interface operative to receive time values corresponding to amounts of time worked on said components; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said time values and associated component identifiers in said database.

36. A system according to claim 35, further comprising a remote data entry device, said remote data entry device including:

a user input device operative to receive time values from a user; and

an application program interface operative to provide said time values and associated component identifiers to said time interface.

37. A system according to claim 35, further comprising:

a time query interface operative to receive time queries including said component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide time values associated with said received component identifier.

38. A system according to claim 37, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said time queries to said time query interface, and to receive said time values from said database; and

a display operative to display graphical representations of said components, and to display said time values associated with said component identifiers.

39. A system according to claim 35, further comprising:

a worker interface operative to receive worker identifiers identifying workers; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said worker identifiers, associated time values, and associated component identifiers in said database.

40. A system according to claim 39, further comprising a remote data entry device, said remote data entry device including:

a user input device operative to receive time values and associated worker identifiers from a user; and

an application program interface operative to provide said time values to said time interface, said associated worker identifiers to said worker interface, and said associated component identifiers to said component interface.

41. A system according to claim 39, further comprising:

a worker query interface operative to receive worker queries; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide lists of said worker identifiers.

42. A system according to claim 41, further comprising a remote data entry device, said remote data entry device including:

an application program interface operative to provide said worker queries to said worker query interface and to receive said lists of said worker identifiers from said database; and

a user input device operative to present said lists of worker identifiers to a user, to receive selections of worker identifiers from said lists by said user, and to receive time values associated with said selected worker identifiers from said user; and

wherein

said application program interface is further operative to provide said time values to said time interface, to provide said selected worker identifiers to said worker interface, and said associated component identifiers to said component interface.

43. A system according to claim 30, further comprising:

a time query interface operative to receive time queries including said component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide time values and worker identifiers associated with said received component identifier.

44. A system according to claim 35, further comprising:

a date interface operative to receive date values identifying dates that work is performed on said components; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said date values, associated time values, and associated component identifiers in said database.

45. A system according to claim 44, further comprising:

a time query interface operative to receive time queries including said component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide time values and date values associated with said received component identifier.

46. A system according to claim 45, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said time queries to said time query interface, and to receive said time values and said date values from said database;

a display operative to display graphical representations of said components, and to display said time values associated with said component identifiers; and

a user input device operative to receive user selections of said displayed components, said component identifiers included in said time queries corresponding to said user selections of said displayed components.

47. A system according to claim 35, further comprising:

an activity interface operative to receive activity identifiers identifying activities performed on said components; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said activity identifiers, associated time values, and associated component identifiers in said database.

48. A system according to claim 47, further comprising:

a time query interface operative to receive time queries including said component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide time values and activity identifiers associated with said received component identifier.

49. A system according to claim 48, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said time queries to said time query interface, and to receive said time values and said activity identifiers from said database;

a display operative to display graphical representations of said components, and to display said time values associated with said component identifiers; and

a user input device operative to receive user selections of said displayed components, said component identifiers included in said time queries corresponding to said user selections of said displayed components.

50. A system according to claim 47, further comprising:

an activity query interface operative to receive activity queries; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide lists of said activity identifiers.

51. A system according to claim 50, further comprising a remote data entry device, said remote data entry device including:

an application program interface operative to provide said activity queries to said activity query interface and to receive said lists of said activity identifiers from said database; and

a user input device operative to present said lists of activity identifiers to a user, to receive selections of activity identifiers from said lists by said user, and to receive time values associated with said selected activity identifiers from said user; and

wherein

said application program interface is further operative to provide said time values to said time interface, to provide said selected activity identifiers to said activity interface, and said associated component identifiers to said component interface.

52. A system according to claim 47, further comprising a remote data entry device, said remote data entry device including:

a user input device operative to receive time values and associated activity identifiers from a user; and

an application program interface operative to provide said time values to said time interface, said associated activity identifiers to said activity interface, and said associated component identifiers to said component interface.

53. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a site interface operative to receive site identifiers identifying sites where said construction projects are located;

a job interface operative to receive job identifiers identifying jobs to be carried out at said sites; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said job identifiers and associated site identifiers in said database.

54. A system according to claim 53, further comprising:

a site query interface operative to receive site queries; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide said site identifiers stored therein.

55. A system according to claim 53, further comprising:

a job query interface operative to receive job queries including site identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide job identifiers associated with said received site identifiers.

56. A system according to claim 55, further comprising:

a site query interface operative to receive site queries; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide said site identifiers stored therein.

57. A system according to claim 56, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said site queries to said site query interface, and to receive said site identifiers from said database;

a display operative to display said site identifiers; and

a user input device operative to receive user selections of said displayed site identifiers; and

wherein;

said application program interface is further operative to provide said job queries including said selected site identifiers to said job query interface, and to receive job identifiers associated with said selected site identifiers from said database; and

said display is further operative to display said received job identifiers.

58. A system according to claim 56, further comprising a remote data entry device, said remote data entry device including:

an application program interface operative to provide said site queries to said site query interface, and to receive said site identifiers from said database; and

a user input device operative to present said site identifiers to a user and to receive selections of said site identifiers from said user; and

wherein

said application program interface is further operative to provide said job queries including said selected site identifiers to said job query interface, and to receive job identifiers associated with said selected site identifiers from said database.

59. A system according to claim 56, further comprising:

a component query interface operative to receive component queries including job identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide said component identifiers associated with said job identifiers included in said component queries.

60. A system according to claim 59, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

an application program interface operative to provide said site queries to said site query interface, and to receive said site identifiers from said database;

a display operative to display said site identifiers; and

a user input device operative to receive user selections of said displayed site identifiers; and

wherein;

said application program interface is further operative to provide said job queries including said selected site identifiers to said job query interface, and to receive job identifiers associated with said selected site identifiers from said database;

said display is further operative to display said received job identifiers;

said user input device is further operative to receive user selections of said displayed job identifiers;

said application program interface is further operative to provide said component queries including said selected job identifiers to said component query interface, and to receive component identifiers associated with said selected job identifiers from said database; and

said display is further operative to display graphical representations of components identified by said received component identifiers.

61. A system according to claim 59, further comprising a remote data entry device, said remote data entry device including:

an application program interface operative to provide said site queries to said site query interface, and to receive said site identifiers from said database; and

a user input device operative to present said received site identifiers to a user, and to receive selections of said site identifiers from said user; and

wherein

said application program interface is further operative to provide said job queries including said selected site identifiers to said job query interface, and to receive job identifiers associated with said selected site identifiers from said database;

said user input device is further operative to present said received job identifiers to a user, and to receive selections of said job identifiers from said user;

said application program interface is further operative to provide said component queries including said selected job identifiers to said component query interface, and to receive component identifiers associated with said selected job identifiers from said database; and

said user input device is further operative to present said component identifiers associated with said selected job identifiers to said user.

62. A system according to claim 53, further comprising:

a component query interface operative to receive component queries including job identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide component identifiers associated with said received job identifiers.

63. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a drawing object interface operative to receive drawing object identifiers identifying objects depicted in graphical representations of said components; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said drawing object identifiers and associated component identifiers in said database.

64. A system according to claim 63, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

a display operative to display said drawing files; and

an application program interface operative to provide said drawing object identifiers and said associated component identifiers to said drawing object interface.

65. A system according to claim 63, further comprising:

a drawing object query interface operative to receive drawing object queries including component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide drawing object identifiers associated with said received component identifiers.

66. A system according to claim 65, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

a display operative to display said drawing files depicting said components;

a user input device operative to receive user selections of said depicted components; and

an application program interface operative to provide said drawing object queries including component identifiers identifying said selected components to said drawing object interface, and to receive said drawing object identifiers associated with said selected components; and

wherein

said display is further operative to display said received drawing object identifiers.

67. A system according to claim 63, further comprising:

a drawing object link interface operative to receive links to files; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said links and associated drawing object identifiers in said database.

68. A system according to claim 67, further comprising:

a drawing object link query interface operative to receive drawing object link queries including drawing object identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide links associated with said received drawing object identifiers.

69. A system according to claim 68, further comprising a viewer, said viewer including:

a display operative to display said drawing files depicting said objects in said components;

a user input device operative to receive user selections of said depicted objects; and

an application program interface operative to provide said drawing object link queries including drawing object identifiers identifying said selected objects to said drawing object link interface, and to receive said drawing object link identifiers associated with said selected objects; and

wherein

said display is further operative to display said received drawing object link identifiers.

70. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a component property interface operative to receive properties to be associated with said construction states; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store properties and associated state indicators in said database.

71. A system according to claim 70, further comprising:

a state property query interface operative to receive state queries; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide said state indicators and associated properties.

72. A system according to claim 71, wherein said properties include display colors to be associated with said construction states.

73. A system according to claim 71, wherein said properties include descriptions of said construction states.

74. A system according to claim 70, further comprising:

a state property query interface operative to receive state queries and state indicators; and

wherein

said database interface is operative to search said database, and to provide properties associated with said received state indicators.

75. A system according to claim 74, wherein said properties include display colors to be associated with said construction states.

76. A system according to claim 74, wherein said properties include descriptions of said construction states.

77. A system according to claim 70, wherein said properties include display colors to be associated with said construction states.

78. A system according to claim 70, wherein said properties include descriptions of said construction states.

79. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a worker interface operative to receive worker identifiers identifying workers to perform work on at least one of said construction projects; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said worker identifiers in said database.

80. A system according to claim 79, further comprising:

a worker query interface operative to receive worker queries; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to search said database, and to provide said worker identifiers stored therein.

81. A system according to claim 80, further comprising:

a site interface operative to receive site identifiers identifying sites where said construction projects are located; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said site identifiers and associated worker identifiers in said database.

82. A system according to claim 81, further comprising:

a worker query interface operative to receive worker queries including site identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to search said database, and to provide said worker identifiers associated with said received site identifiers.

83. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a date interface operative to receive state date values identifying dates when said component identifiers are associated with said state indicators; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to store said state date values, associated component identifiers, and associated state indicators in said database.

84. A system according to claim 83, further comprising:

a state query interface operative to receive state queries including component identifiers; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to search said database and to provide state indicators most recently associated with said received component identifiers.

85. A system according to claim 83, further comprising:

a state query interface operative to receive state queries including component identifiers and date values; and

wherein

said database interface is further operative to search said database and to provide state indicators associated with said received component identifiers and associated with date values most recent with respect to said received date values.

86. A system according to claim 23, further comprising an extractor operative to extract said component identifiers from a drawing file, and to provide said component identifiers to said component interface.

87. A computer-readable medium having stored therein a data structure comprising:

a first field containing data representing a component of a construction project; and

a second field containing data representing a number of hours of labor expended on said component of said construction project.

88. A computer readable-medium according to claim 87, wherein said data structure further comprises a third field containing data representing a particular construction state of said component.

89. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a selection device, a method for displaying data and receiving user selections, the method comprising:

displaying a set of component identifiers on said display, said component identifiers identifying components of a construction project;

receiving a signal indicative of said selection device pointing at one of said component identifiers;

displaying a set of state indicators on said display, said state indicators indicating various construction states;

receiving a signal indicative of said selection device pointing at one of said state indicators; and

writing a record to a database associating said one of said component identifiers with said one of said state indicators.