System for automating and improving home design and construction

• US 7,006,977 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2000
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cory Attra, Marc Pritchard
• Original Assignee: Cory Attra, Marc Pritchard
• Inventors: Pritchard, Marc, Attra, Cory
• Primary Examiner(s): Vig, Naresh
• Application Number:
  US09/497,554
• Time in Patent Office: 2,217 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

A system for providing construction services is provided. The system includes a system computer having query routine software and calculation routine software executing thereon. Query routine software generates queries pertinent to the design of a home and transmits the queries through an internet communication link to a user computer. A user operating the user computer then views the queries, composes responses to the queries, and transmits the responses to the system computer through the internet communication link. Calculation routine software uses the query responses to calculate a home plan, perform work package calculations to generate a breakdown based on the home plan, and generate various other pertinent documents, such as a bankable estimate and an offer to build. These documents are transmitted back to the user computer through the internet communication link.

Claims

1. A system for providing construction services comprising:

a computer;

software executing on said computer for creating a construction plan, the construction plan having a plurality of construction steps and an indication of construction progress, whether each of the steps is ready to occur being dependent on construction progress;

a construction plan database having the created construction plan stored thereon;

software executing on said computer for periodically examining the construction plan stored on said database, for determining if at least one of the construction steps is ready to occur based upon the indication of construction progress, and for creating and transmitting a notification to goods and services providers if at least one of the construction steps is ready to occur; and

software executing on said computer for receiving indications from goods and services providers of changes in the construction progress and for updating the construction plan stored on said database based upon the received indications of changes in construction progress.

2. The system for providing construction services of claim 1 further comprising a website for retrieving and displaying the home plan stored on said database, said website accessible by a user, thereby allowing the user to view the home plan and the construction progress.

3. The system for providing construction services of claim 2 wherein the construction steps take place at a construction site and further comprising a video input device located at the construction site, said video input device transmitting images of the construction site to said website.