Automated task management and evaluation

• US 6,810,383 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xactware Solutions, Inc. (Verisk Analytics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Xactware
• Inventors: Loveland, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, AKIBA KANELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/544,191
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 705/9, 705/7, 705/8, 705/11
• US Class Current: 705/7.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for electronically managing the assignment of tasks to be completed. Preferred embodiments incorporate a computer network to gather and disseminate information for the processes of embodiments of the present invention. Task information is gathered until a task is sufficiently defined to be assigned. At this point the task is assigned to a service provider who is requested to respond to the assignment. The response is monitored and if unacceptable or not received the task will be transferred to another service provider until a satisfactory response is received. An estimate of the cost of task completion may then be requested and authorization to complete the task may be contingent upon an acceptable estimate. Once a service provider is authorized to complete a task, the provider'"'"'s progress is monitored and reported to interested parties. Provider quality ratings may be incorporated into some embodiments. Reports, analyses and other data may be automatically generated by embodiments of the present invention. Applications of embodiments of the present invention may be particularly useful in claims processing in the insurance industry.

Claims

1. A method for selectively assigning third party professional tasks to independent contractors and other third party service providers, the method comprising steps for:

electronically receiving a request from a third party for performance of a building construction or maintenance task;

automatically associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a first independent contractor based on;

(i) task type;

(ii) experience level of the first independent contractor to perform this type of task;

(iii) a dependability or quality rating of the first independent contractor in performing building construction or maintenance tasks for third parties;

(iv) availability of the first independent contractor; and

(v) physical proximity of the first independent contractor relative to the job site;

automatically initiating contact with the first independent contractor to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;

if a response to the contact with the first independent contractor is not received within pre-established limits, performing at least one of the steps for;

automatically notifying a quality control agent of the first independent contractor that the response was not received within pre-established limits; and

automatically associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a second independent contractor and initiating contact with the second independent contractor to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;

receiving an estimate for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task; and

selectively authorizing the performance of the building construction or maintenance task.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step for monitoring the performance of the building construction or maintenance task.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step for monitoring the performance of the building construction or maintenance task comprises steps for:

tracking events toward a completion of the construction or maintenance task; and

reporting progress toward the completion of the construction or maintenance task.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the step for reporting progress toward the completion of the construction or maintenance task includes a step for generating a graphical report.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the estimate is received from one of (i) the first independent contractor and (ii) the second independent contractor.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step for evaluating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step for requesting approval of the estimate received.

8. A computer-based method for using a computer system to selectively assign third party professional tasks to independent contractors and other third party service providers, the method comprising steps for:

receiving a request across a network at a first computer system, wherein the request is from a third party for performance of a building construction or maintenance task;

automatically associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a first independent contractor of a database that includes a listing of a plurality of independent contractors, wherein the step for automatically associating is based on;

(i) task type;

(ii) experience level of the first independent contractor to perform this type of task;

(iii) a dependability or quality rating of the first independent contractor in performing building construction or maintenance tasks for third parties;

(iv) availability of the first independent contractor; and

(v) physical proximity of the first independent contractor relative to the job site;

automatically initiating contact across a network with the first independent contractor to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;

if a response to the contact with the first independent contractor is not received within pre-established limits, performing at least one of the steps for;

automatically associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a second independent contractor of the database; and

initiating contact with the second independent contractor to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;

receiving at the first computer system an estimate for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task; and

selectively providing an electronic authorization to perform the building construction or maintenance task.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising a step for monitoring performance of the building construction or maintenance task.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising a step for allocating a quality rating related to at least one of:

(i) the first independent contractor; and

(ii) the second independent contractor.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising a step for maintaining a change order summary corresponding to the building construction or maintenance task.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising a step for providing a customized report related to the building construction or maintenance task.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein if the response to the contact with the first independent contractor is not received within pre-established limits, further performing a step for automatically notifying a quality control agent of the first independent contractor that the response was not received within pre-established limits.

14. A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for selectively assigning third party professional tasks to independent contractors and other third party service providers, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for;

automatically associating a first independent contractor of an independent contractor database with a request received from a third party for performance of a building construction or maintenance task for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task, wherein the step for automatically associating is based on;

(i) task type;

(ii) experience level of the first independent contractor to perform this type of task;

(iii) a dependability or quality rating of the first independent contractor in performing building construction or maintenance tasks for third parties;

(iv) availability of the first independent contractor; and

(v) physical proximity of the first independent contractor relative to the job site;

automatically initiating contact with the first independent contractor to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;

if a response to the contact with the first independent contractor is not received within pre-established limits, performing the steps for;

automatically associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a second independent contractor; and

initiating contact with the second independent contractor to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;

receiving an estimate for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task; and

providing an authorization for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the executable code further implements at least one of the steps for:

requesting approval of the estimate;

monitoring the selected service provider'"'"'s performance during execution of the project;

allocating a quality rating related to at least one of (i) the first independent contractor and (ii) the second independent contractor;

maintaining a change order summary related to the building construction or maintenance task; and

providing a customized report related to the building construction or maintenance task.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer program code means is further comprised of executable code for implementing a step for if a response to the contact with the first independent contractor is not received within pre-established limits, automatically notifying a quality control agent of the first independent contractor that the response was not received within pre-established limits.