Process and a system for listing information relating to a construction project over a computer network

• US 6,393,410 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick Thompson
• Original Assignee: Frederick Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Linh
• Application Number:
  US09/570,087
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-10, 707/100-104, 707/200-206, 707/500-542, 707/104, 705/1-45, 705/80, 705/400-412
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for estimating a construction project over a computer network. The first step in the process starts when an architect or contractor enters information relating to at least one construction project into an online database. This online database is stored on a server creating a series of quantities for each of the at least one construction projects. Next, a system host presents a series of quantities for each of the at least one construction projects. Next, users such as contractors, subcontractors or construction managers can purchase and download these quantities and a construction report. These quantities are presented in a unique electronic spreadsheet template. Once the users have this template with the quantities included, they can bid on each construction project either online or through any other communication means.

Claims

1. A system for presenting a plurality of quantities relating to a construction project over a computer network having a server comprising:

a) at least one database comprising a series of tables listing information relating to a construction project;

b) at least one data storage device for storing said at least one database;

c) at least one processor for sorting said construction projects based upon their geographic location;

d) a series of web pages for displaying information relating to the construction project over the computer network; and

e) at least one digitizer to digitize at least one shop drawing and take off a plurality of quantities from said at least one shop drawing wherein said quantities are sorted and stored in said at least one database.

2. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a central office location for receiving information relating to the construction projects and entering said information into said server.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one database comprises a plurality of tables of information relating to the construction project wherein said information is stored in and presented in a spreadsheet format.

4. A process for estimating a construction project over a computer network comprising the steps of:

a) entering information relating to a at least one construction project into an online database stored on a server;

b) digitizing at least one shop drawing relating to said at least one construction project by creating a set of digitized points and then storing said points into said online database;

b) creating a plurality of quantities for each of said at least one construction project based upon said digitized shop drawing;

c) presenting said plurality of quantities for each of said at least one construction project; and

d) allowing users to download a construction report with said plurality of quantities for subsequent bidding.

5. The process as in claim 4, further comprising the step of presenting a series of bids over the computer network based upon said plurality of quantities.

6. The process as in claim 4, wherein said step of entering information includes entering a date, a location, and a description of said series of construction projects.

7. The process as in claim 6, further comprising the step of sorting said at least one construction project based upon said location of said at least one construction project and presenting said at least one construction project over the computer network.

8. The process as in claim 4, wherein said set of creating a plurality of quantities includes creating a plurality of quantities for each of a plurality of components for each of said at least one construction project.

9. The process as in claim 8, further comprising the step of categorizing said plurality of quantities into a series of subheadings.

10. The process as in claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying over the computer network each of said plurality of quantities under said series of subheadings.

11. The process as in claim 4, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of quantities in said subheadings includes displaying said plurality of quantities under at least one of the following subheadings:

general conditions, site work, concrete, masonry, metals, wood a plastics, thermal and moisture protection, doors and windows, finishes, specialties, equipment, furnishings, special construction, conveying systems, mechanical and electrical.

12. The process as in claim 4, further comprising the step of updating said information entered for said at least one construction project.

13. The process as in claim 4, further comprising the step of presenting a cost update to a purchaser so that the purchaser knows an estimate rate on each project.

14. The process as in claim 4, further comprising the steps of presenting at least one shop drawing and at least one project schedule associated with said at least one construction project over the computer network.

15. An article of manufacture comprising:

a) a computer usable medium having a machine readable program code means for entering information relating to a series of construction projects into an online database stored on a server;

b) a machine readable program code means for reading in a series of digitized points based upon at least one shop drawing to create a digitized shop drawing;

b) a machine readable program code means for creating a plurality of quantities for each of said at least one construction projects wherein said plurality of quantities are taken from said at least one shop drawing;

c) a machine readable program code means for presenting said series of quantities for each of said series of construction projects; and

d) a machine readable program code means for allowing users to download said construction report with said plurality of quantities for subsequent bidding.