Systems and methods for providing controls for aggregated weather-based work

• US 8,554,595 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbiot Business Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbiot Business Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Raymond P. Jr., Gonzales, Gregory G., Edwards, Michael L., Haymore, Douglas S. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Jasmin, Lynda
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER III, GEORGE H
• Application Number:
  US13/187,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.11
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

Systems, methods, non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer program instructions for causing a computer device to implement methods, and the like utilize weather information from one or a variety of locations to estimate costs for providing weather-dependent work, and to provide financial controls for weather-dependent work allegedly performed. One method includes utilizing historical weather information relating to performance of weather-dependent work at a work location to generate an estimate of an anticipated frequency with which weather-dependent work will be necessary, utilizing information to estimate an anticipated cost per incident for performing weather-dependent work at the selected work location, and using such information at a plurality of locations to generate an aggregate bid for performing weather-dependent work at the locations. Weather information is also used to audit weather-dependent work allegedly performed at the work locations to provide financial controls to the aggregated weather-dependent work in compliance with law and regulation.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program instructions for causing a computer device to implement a method for providing controls related to weather-dependent work at a first location, the method comprising:

locating a first weather information source providing weather information relating to a second location, the second location being estimated to have weather similar to weather occurring at the first location;

determining a correlation between the weather information relating to the second location and a need for weather-dependent work at the first location by comparing weather history data relating to the second location from the first weather information source to work history data for weather-dependent work at the first location;

monitoring the first weather information source for current weather information related to possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;

recording possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;

determining whether an invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location has been received corresponding to all recorded possible weather-related events;

notifying a service provider of weather-dependent work at the first location when no invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location has been received corresponding to any possible weather-related event suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location; and

auditing the invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location when the invoice is received.

2. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, further comprising notifying a service provider of a potential need to perform weather-dependent work at a time proximate to a detected weather event.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 2, wherein the service provider is notified of a potential need to perform weather-dependent work only when the service provider has not checked in within a certain time frame after detection of the detected weather event.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program instructions for causing a computer device to implement a method for providing controls related to weather-dependent work at a first location, the method comprising:

locating a first weather information source providing weather information relating to a second location, the second location being estimated to have weather similar to weather occurring at the first location;

determining a correlation between the weather information relating to the second location and a need for weather-dependent work at the first location by comparing weather history data relating to the second location from the first weather information source to work history data for weather-dependent work at the first location;

monitoring the first weather information source for current weather information related to possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;

recording possible weather-related events suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location;

determining whether an invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location has been received by an aggregate service provider corresponding to all recorded possible weather-related events;

notifying a localized service provider of a weather-related event suggesting a need for weather-dependent work at the first location when any invoice for weather-dependent work at the first location does not include an entry for weather-dependent work corresponding to the weather-related event suggesting the need for weather-dependent work at the first location.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 4, further comprising notifying a local service provider of a potential need to perform weather-dependent work at a time proximate to a detected weather event.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the local service provider is notified of a potential need to perform weather-dependent work only when the local service provider has not checked in within a certain time frame after detection of the detected weather event.