Systems and methods for tracking component-related information associated with buildings
First Claim
1. A computer-based communications system for allowing manufacturers of building components to identify and communicate with users associated with the building components, the communications system comprising:
- a product identifier code associated with a building component and affixed in a readable form to the building component or to the building component'"'"'s packaging;
a tag affixed to a real property unit at which the building component is or will be installed, wherein the tag includes a unit identifier code that uniquely identifies the real property unit; and
a computing system, electronically accessible to a manufacturer of the building component, wherein the computing system is configured to;
receive an electronic notification that the building component associated with the product identifier code is or will be installed at the real property unit associated with the unit identifier code;
electronically identify the manufacturer associated with the building component based on the product identifier code;
transmit an electronic notification of the installation at the real property unit to the manufacturer; and
provide the manufacturer with contact information that allows the manufacturer to transmit information to a user associated with the real property unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is described for collecting, maintaining, and using information about construction, maintenance, and use features of buildings and their components. One or more building identifier tags affixed to a building during construction include a unique building identifier for the building and access information allowing a user to access a computer-implemented repository of information about the building. The repository may comprise information about components in the building, which may be identified in the repository by product identifiers, as well as information about component manufacturers, warranties, installation and maintenance instructions, information about workers associated with construction of the building, and quality checkpoints useful for checking and documenting the quality of construction for the building. The repository may also facilitate registration of warranties, transmission of safety and recall information associated with building components, targeted marketing of offers to residents of the building, as well as other communications amongst parties associated with the building.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer-based communications system for allowing manufacturers of building components to identify and communicate with users associated with the building components, the communications system comprising:
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a product identifier code associated with a building component and affixed in a readable form to the building component or to the building component'"'"'s packaging;
a tag affixed to a real property unit at which the building component is or will be installed, wherein the tag includes a unit identifier code that uniquely identifies the real property unit; and
a computing system, electronically accessible to a manufacturer of the building component, wherein the computing system is configured to;
receive an electronic notification that the building component associated with the product identifier code is or will be installed at the real property unit associated with the unit identifier code;
electronically identify the manufacturer associated with the building component based on the product identifier code;
transmit an electronic notification of the installation at the real property unit to the manufacturer; and
provide the manufacturer with contact information that allows the manufacturer to transmit information to a user associated with the real property unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for collecting and maintaining information about components in a real property unit, the system comprising:
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a unit identifier tag that comprises a unit identifier code and that is affixed to a real property unit for uniquely identifying the real property unit;
a product identifier code for identifying a component in the real property unit, wherein the product identifier code is affixed to the component or to packaging associated with the component;
an input device for electronically obtaining the unit identifier from the unit identifier tag and the product identifier; and
a software component configured to receive the unit identifier code and the product identifier code from the input device and to store the unit identifier code and the product identifier code in a record associated with the real property unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-implemented method for electronically registering a warranty for a building component used in the construction of a real property unit, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving, at a computing system, information from an electronic device used during construction of a real property unit, wherein the information includes at least a unique unit identifier for the real property unit and a product identifier for a building component used in the construction of the real property unit;
using the product identifier to identify a manufacturer of the building component;
establishing a computer-implemented contact with the identified manufacturer and providing information about the building component and about the real property unit in order to register a warranty for the building component;
receiving a confirmation of the component'"'"'s warranty registration; and
storing a record of the warranty registration in the computing system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-implemented method for electronically providing current installation instructions for a building component used in the construction of a real property unit, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving, at a computing system, information from an electronic device used during construction of a real property unit, wherein the information includes at least a unique unit identifier for the real property unit and a product identifier for a building component used in the construction of the real property unit;
using the product identifier to identify a manufacturer who manufactured the building component; and
establishing a computer-implemented communication with the identified manufacturer and providing information about the building component and about the real property unit in order to receive installation instructions for the building component. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification