Automated pricing system

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and system for a rapid and automated creation of a price schedule comprising steps and an implementation for providing a set of construction (or other) plans created with an architectural, civil, industrial or other software design tool, such as CAD, and optionally a palette of 2-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional architectural parametric symbols that correspond to respective construction plan elements, such as windows, doors, acrylic glass blocks and/or sky lights. At least one parametric symbol corresponding to a construction plan element is preferably inserted into the construction plans. A cost value for each of the inserted parametric symbols is preferably calculated corresponding to respective plan elements. A price schedule is then optionally created which includes the total cost for all of the inserted parametric symbols corresponding to respective plan elements.

1 - 278 . (canceled) 
     
     
         279 . A non-transitory computer readable medium usable by a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the medium comprising:
 an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within a software design tool on the computer,   wherein execution of the add-on computer software code by the processor causes the computer to generate a price schedule for a construction plan file created by the software design tool, the construction plan file including construction plan elements, by at least:   receiving, from a user, pricing data for one or more construction plan elements selected by the user; and   generating a price schedule based on the received pricing data for the one or more selected construction plan elements.   
     
     
         280 . The medium of  claim 279  wherein execution of the add-on computer software code further causes the computer to generate a price schedule for the construction plan file by at least:
 transmitting the received pricing data for the one or more selected construction plan elements to a database; and 
 updating the pricing data in the database for the one or more selected construction plan elements. 
 
     
     
         281 - 289 . (canceled) 
     
     
         290 . A non-transitory computer readable medium usable by a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the medium comprising:
 an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within a software design tool on the computer,   wherein execution of the add-on computer software code by the processor causes the computer to request construction material information for a construction plan file created by the software design tool, the construction plan file including one or more construction plan elements, by at least:   transmitting data corresponding to the one or more construction plan elements from the computer to a database storing information for construction materials; and   receiving from the database, construction material information corresponding to any of the one or more construction plan elements.   
     
     
         291 . The medium of  claim 290  wherein the construction material information comprises one or more owner's manuals. 
     
     
         292 . The medium of  claim 290  wherein the construction material information comprises warranty information. 
     
     
         293 . A non-transitory computer readable medium usable by a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the medium comprising:
 an add-on computer software code that runs on the computer,   wherein execution of the add-on computer software code by the processor causes the computer to generate a price schedule for a construction plan file, the construction plan file including one or more construction plan elements, by at least:   converting data corresponding to the one or more construction plan elements from a first format for a first software design tool to a second format for a second software design tool;   transmitting the converted data corresponding to the one or more construction plan elements from the computer to a database storing current pricing for construction materials;   receiving from the database pricing data for the one or more construction plan elements; and   generating the price schedule from the received pricing data.   
     
     
         294 - 296 . (canceled) 
     
     
         297 . A non-transitory computer readable medium usable by a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the medium comprising:
 an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within a software design tool on the computer,   wherein execution of the add-on computer software code by the processor causes the computer to generate a construction plan file including construction plan elements by at least:   updating parametric values of one or more parametric symbols entered into the construction plan file by a user using the software design tool; and   inserting one or more parametric symbols selected by the user into the construction plan file, wherein the parametric symbols correspond to one or more of the construction plan elements.   
     
     
         298 . The medium of  claim 297  wherein the parametric values include at least one of: a size specification of the one or more construction plan elements, a material specification of the one or more construction plan elements, or a standard product item number for the one or more construction plan elements. 
     
     
         299 . The medium of  claim 297  wherein execution of the add-on computer software code further generates the construction plan file by indicating whether the location of the parametric symbol meets a building code criterion. 
     
     
         300 . A non-transitory computer readable medium usable by a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the medium comprising:
 an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within a software design tool on the computer,   wherein execution of the add-on computer software code by the processor causes the computer to generate a construction plan file including construction plan elements by at least:   inserting a parametric symbol selected by a user into the construction plan file, wherein the parametric symbol corresponds to a construction plan element; and   automatically aligning the parametric symbol to an object within the construction plan file.   
     
     
         301 . The medium of  claim 300  wherein the object comprises a wall. 
     
     
         302 . The medium of  claim 300  wherein the automatically aligning step further includes aligning the parametric symbol to an orientation of the object within the construction plan file. 
     
     
         303 - 304 . (canceled)