Method and apparatus for searching and tracking construction projects in a document information database
First Claim
1. A system for searching for and tracking construction projects comprising:
- a mass data storage having a project information database of project information related to each of a plurality of construction projects, the project information containing a plurality of key words associated with at least one of a type of work to be done and a type of building material to be used;
a document information database having construction document information in the form of at least one of a project description, blueprint plans, specifications, addenda, bid forms, contracts and miscellaneous information related to the construction projects in the project information database;
a member terminal including;
a computer connected to said mass data storage;
an input device connected to said computer that allows a user of the system to access the project information database and said document information database;
a display connected to said computer;
said input device permitting a user to mark at least one of the construction projects for tracking by selecting at least one key word contained in related project information stored in said mass data storage and upon subsequently accessing said mass data storage, said computer automatically displays on said display each of the marked construction projects for which the related project information changed since the last time said mass data storage was accessed by the user; and
wherein said computer responds to a user input at said input and displays on said display the construction document information related to each of the marked construction projects and the user can manipulate the displayed construction document information without altering the construction document information from said database.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for searching for and tracking construction projects includes a mass data storage device (12, 19, 26, 44) for storing as databases project information and document information related to construction projects. A member terminal (10) includes a computer (12) connected to an input device (16, 18, 20) and a display device (14). A user enters the databases using the input device (16, 18, 20) to mark at least one construction project identification for tracking based upon selection of at least one key word contained in the project information stored in the databases. The databases are periodically updated to reflect changes in the stored information and subsequent access to the databases causes the computer (12) to automatically display on the display device (14) each marked construction project for which the related information changed since the last time the user entered the databases. The databases can be stored on hard disk, CD-ROM or a remote server (40) for communicating via a telephone line (30) with the member terminal (10).
233 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for searching for and tracking construction projects comprising:
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a mass data storage having a project information database of project information related to each of a plurality of construction projects, the project information containing a plurality of key words associated with at least one of a type of work to be done and a type of building material to be used; a document information database having construction document information in the form of at least one of a project description, blueprint plans, specifications, addenda, bid forms, contracts and miscellaneous information related to the construction projects in the project information database; a member terminal including; a computer connected to said mass data storage; an input device connected to said computer that allows a user of the system to access the project information database and said document information database; a display connected to said computer; said input device permitting a user to mark at least one of the construction projects for tracking by selecting at least one key word contained in related project information stored in said mass data storage and upon subsequently accessing said mass data storage, said computer automatically displays on said display each of the marked construction projects for which the related project information changed since the last time said mass data storage was accessed by the user; and wherein said computer responds to a user input at said input and displays on said display the construction document information related to each of the marked construction projects and the user can manipulate the displayed construction document information without altering the construction document information from said database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21)
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9. A method of searching for and tracking construction projects and manipulating information regarding the projects including the steps of:
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(A) storing a project information database of project information related to a plurality of construction projects, the project information containing a plurality of key words associated with at least one of a type of work to be done and a type of building material to be used and a plurality of construction documents associated with each project; (B) selecting at least one of the key words as a search parameter; (C) accessing the project information database, searching the project information in the project information database for the key word, and displaying an identification of each construction project having related information containing the key word; (D) selectively displaying at least one of the construction documents of at least a selected one of the projects from step (C); (E) manipulating the displayed document to generate additional document information without altering the displayed document; (F) marking at least one construction project from step (C) for tracking; (G) updating the project information stored in the project information database periodically to reflect changes in the project information; and (H) accessing the project information database after step (G) is performed and automatically displaying each marked construction project for which the related project information changed since the last time the project information database was accessed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification