Computer aided coordinate digitizing system

Claim 1

A computer aided coordinate digitizing system for use in making construction estimates, comprising: a digitizing device for determining a series of X-Y coordinate positions on a flat surface, comprising pointer means for placing at selected positions on the flat surface and sensor means for detecting the position of said pointer means and generating a series of X-Y coordinate data positions relative to selected positions on construction drawings placed on the flat surface corresponding to positioning of said pointer means at the selected positions; a computer associated with said digitizing device and linking means for allowing said computer to receive said coordinate signals, said computer having memory means for storing program instructions and said coordinate signals, said program instructions including means for using said X-Y coordinate data positions to calculate a series of desired parameters relative to a structure represented on said construction drawings for generating an estimate of the cost of construction of the structure; and user operated control means for operating said system, comprising voice activated control means for recognizing voice word commands entered by a user and generating one or more computer control signals in response to each voice entered command.

Claim 9

A method of generating an estimate of the cost of construction of a building represented by a plan comprising a series of construction drawings, comprising the steps of: placing a series of construction drawings representing a building plan sequentially on a flat surface. positioning a pointer device at a series of selected positions on each drawing; monitoring the pointer device with a sensing device linked to a computer; controlling the sensing device to generate a series of X-Y coordinate signals corresponding to the positioning of the pointer device on the drawing; providing the generated series of X-Y coordinate signals as data input to the computer; and controlling the computer by means of a voice recognition device to respond to entry of at least one vocal command into the device to utilize the data input from the sensor device and program instructions stored in the memory of the computer to calculate a series of desired parameters and to generate from the calculated parameters an estimate of the cost of construction of a building represented by the construction drawings.

Claim 10

A method of generating an estimate of the cost of construction of a building represented by a plan comprising a series of construction drawings, comprising the steps of: placing a series of construction drawings representing a building plan sequentially on a flat surface. positioning a pointer device at a series of selected positions on each drawing; monitoring the pointer device with a sensing device linked to a computer; controlling the sensing device to generate a series of X-Y coordinate signals corresponding to the positioning of the pointer device on the drawing; providing the generated series of X-Y coordinate signals as data input to the computer; and controlling the computer by means of a voice recognition device to respond to entry of at least one vocal command into the device to utilize the data input from the sensor device and program instructions stored in the memory of the computer to calculate a series of desired parameters and to generate from the calculated parameters an estimate of the cost of construction of a building represented by the construction drawings.