Computer-implemented method and system for producing a proposal for a construction project

• US 6,446,053 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Elliott
• Original Assignee: Michael Elliott
• Inventors: Elliott, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/370,114
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 705/1, 705/400, 707/10, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• 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

A computerized system includes a central site with various databases and a user site connected for electronic communication over a networked communication system such as the Internet. The user site includes a computer having stored in memory an application that enables a user to develop a construction proposal including a detailed graphical model and a detailed cost estimate model, have the proposal submitted electronically over a networked communication system to a construction professional for a bid, and receive a response on the proposal from the construction professional over the networked communications system. The user accomplishes all of these tasks from a single computer environment. The application educates the user as it guides the user through a series of construction phases and steps, prompting the user to input critical information and make appropriate selections throughout the series of phases and steps.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for creating a construction proposal, said proposal comprising a graphical model of a proposed construction project and cost estimate model for the proposed construction project, and electronically submitting the proposal to a construction professional for bidding, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first database having stored therein a plurality of product descriptions from a plurality of subscribing suppliers, each product description comprising a digital image and a cost-per-unit data for a particular product;

(b) providing a second database having stored therein contact information for each of a plurality of subscribing construction professionals;

(c) creating an initial graphical model and storing it in a first memory;

(d) creating an initial cost estimate model and storing it in a second memory;

(e) prompting the user to create the construction proposal in a plurality of construction phases, each construction phase comprising a plurality of construction steps;

(f) accessing product descriptions from the first database associated with a particular one of the construction steps for user selection;

(g) updating the graphical model by incorporating the digital image of a selected product description into an existing graphical model created in a previous construction step, and storing the updated graphical model in the first memory;

(h) updating the cost estimate model by calculating a cost of the selected product from the corresponding cost-per-unit data, incorporating the cost into an existing cost estimate model created in a previous construction step, and storing the updated cost estimate model in the second memory;

(i) displaying a completed construction proposal on a display device;

(j) accessing the second database and displaying the contact information of at least one construction professional; and

(k) electronically transmitting said completed construction proposal to at least one user selected construction professional.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the step of electronically receiving and displaying a bid from the at least one user selected construction professional.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of

providing a third database comprising a labor cost-per-unit data for each of a plurality of types of construction professionals;

selecting a type of construction professional associated with a particular construction step;

accessing the third database and retrieving a labor cost-per-unit data corresponding to the selected type of construction professional;

calculating a labor cost from said labor cost-per-unit data for the particular construction step;

incorporating said labor cost into an existing cost estimate model created in a previous construction step; and

storing the updated cost estimate model in the second memory.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3 wherein the type of construction professional is selected based on locality and specialty.

5. A computer implemented method for creating a construction proposal, said proposal comprising a graphical model of a proposed construction project and cost estimate model for the proposed construction project, and electronically submitting the proposal to a construction professional for bidding, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first database having stored therein a plurality of product descriptions from a plurality of subscribing suppliers, each product description comprising a digital image and a cost-per-unit data for a particular product;

(b) providing a second database having stored therein specialty data for each of a plurality of subscribing construction professionals;

at a user site,

(c) creating an initial graphical model and storing it in a first memory;

(d) creating an initial cost estimate model and storing it in a second memory;

(e) prompting the user to create the construction model in a plurality of construction phases, each construction phase comprising a plurality of construction steps;

(f) accessing product descriptions from the first database corresponding to a particular one of the construction steps for user selection;

(g) updating the graphical model by incorporating the digital image of a selected product description into an existing graphical model created in a previous construction step and storing the updated graphical model in the first memory;

(h) updating the cost estimate model by calculating a cost of the selected product from the corresponding cost-per-unit data, incorporating the cost into an existing cost estimate model created in a previous construction step, and storing the updated cost estimate model in the second memory;

(i) displaying a completed construction model on a display device;

(j) prompting the user to submit the completed construction proposal;

at a central processing site,

(k) receiving the proposal from the user site;

(l) accessing the second database and selecting at least one available construction professional based on a require specialty for the construction project;

(m) electronically transmitting said completed construction model to the at least one selected construction professional;

(n) electronically receiving a bid from said at least one selected construction professional; and

(o) electronically transmitting said bid to the user.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein the second database further comprises location data for each of the plurality of subscribing construction professionals, and further comprising the steps of:

at the user site,

prompting the user to select a desired location; and

selecting the at least one construction professional based on the desired location.

7. A computerized system for a user to create a construction proposal package comprising a graphical model of a construction project and a cost estimate model of a construction project and submit said proposal electronically to a construction professional for bidding, the system comprising:

a central site comprising

a first database,

means for receiving a plurality of product descriptions from a plurality of subscribing suppliers, each product description comprising a digital image and a cost-per-unit data for a particular product and storing said plurality of product descriptions in the first database,

a second database comprising contact data for each of a plurality of subscribing construction professionals,

means for communicating electronically with a remote computer system; and

a user site comprising a computer system comprising

a display device,

a first memory,

a second memory,

a third memory having stored thereon microprocessor control instructions,

a modem, and

a microprocessor electronically coupled to the display device, the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the modem and controlled by the control instructions to provide

means for prompting the user to create the construction model in a plurality of construction phases, each construction phase comprising a plurality of construction steps,

means for creating an initial graphical model and storing said initial graphical model in the first memory,

means for creating an initial cost estimate model and storing said initial cost estimate model in the second memory,

means for accessing product descriptions from the first database corresponding to a particular one of the construction steps for user selection,

means for updating the graphical model by incorporating the digital image of a selected product description into an existing graphical model created in a previous construction step and storing the updated graphical model in the first memory,

means for updating the cost estimate model by calculating a cost of the selected product description from the corresponding cost-per-unit data, incorporating the cost into an existing cost estimate model created in a previous construction step, and storing the updated cost estimate model in the second memory,

means for displaying a completed construction proposal package comprising the updated graphical model in the first memory and the updated cost estimate model in the second database,

means for accessing the second database and displaying the contact information of at least one construction professional, and

means for electronically transmitting said completed proposal package to at least one user selected construction professional.

8. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein the computer system at the user site further comprises means for electronically receiving and displaying a bid from the at least one user selected construction professional.

9. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein at the central site,

the second database further comprises locality data for each of the plurality of subscribing construction professionals, and

wherein, at the user site,

the computer system further comprises means for prompting the user to select a desired location,

the means for accessing the second database further comprises means for the selecting at least one construction professional in the desired location, and

the at least one construction professional displayed is located in the desired location.

10. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein, at the central site,

the second database further comprises specialty data for each of the plurality of subscribing construction professionals, and

wherein, at the user site,

the computer system further comprises means for prompting the user to select a desired specialty,

the means for accessing the second database further comprises means for the selecting at least one construction professional having the desired specialty, and

the at least one construction professional displayed has the desired specialty.

11. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein the central database site further comprises a third database comprising a labor cost-per-unit for each of a plurality of localities, and

wherein, at the user site, the computer system further comprises

means for prompting the user to select a desired locality,

means for accessing the third database and retrieving a labor-per-unit cost corresponding to the desired locality, and

means for calculating a labor cost for a particular construction step, incorporating the labor cost into an existing cost estimate model created in a previous construction step, and storing the updated cost estimate model in the second memory.

12. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein the central database site further comprises a third database comprising a construction permit cost for each of a plurality of locations, and

wherein, at the user site, the computer system further comprises

means for prompting the user to select a desired location,

means for accessing the third database and retrieving a permit cost corresponding to the desired location, and

means for incorporating the permit cost into an existing cost estimate model created in a previous construction step, and storing the updated cost estimate model in the second memory.

13. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein the computer system at the user site further comprises means for prompting the user to select an initial graphical model from a plurality of templates.

14. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein the computer system at the user site further comprises means for receiving and storing a user input initial graphical model.

15. The computerized system of claim 7 wherein the contact data comprises an electronic address in a networked computer system.

16. The computerized system of claim 15 wherein the contact data further comprises a telephone number.