Patent US6038547A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6038547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Construction tracking and payment method and system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-01-07
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Granted: 2000-03-14
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Expires: 2018-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based tracking system and method for coordinating work done on a project and payment therefor. After a project has been partitioned by an architect, jobs are specified in terms of to which region or subregion each entry corresponds. The (sub)contractors submit monthly Application and Certificate for Payment requests which are organized by the system to enable all the work in a particular region to be consolidated listed on a reviewer's card for ease of verification. Updates to the requests are made and authorized forms are generated to enable payment of the requests, thereby saving time and effort to perform manual correlation of subcontractor requests with a given area in a project. Requests also need not be monthly and may be made at any period, potentially varying. Other possible periods are quarterly, twice a month, or once every two months.
Inventors
- 👤 Robin L. Casto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/102; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A computer-implemented system for controlling a central processor, the computer-implemented system comprising: a first computer code mechanism for receiving information from at least two (sub)contractors in a (level-by-level, region-by-region) format specific to a construction job specified by an architect, wherein regions are subdivisions of levels; a second computer code mechanism for consolidating the information from the at least two (sub)contractors using the (level-by-level, region-by-region) format; and a third computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information using the (level-by-level region-by-region), format.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer-implemented system for controlling a central processor, the computer-implemented system comprising: a first computer code mechanism for receiving information from at least two (sub)contractors in a (level-by-level, region-by-region) format specific to a construction job specified by an architect, wherein regions are subdivisions of levels; a second computer code mechanism for consolidating the information from the at least two (sub)contractors using the (level-by-level, region-by-region) format; and a third computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information using the (level-by-level region-by-region), format.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a floppy disk drive, wherein the first computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for reading periodic updates from a floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communications adapter, wherein the first computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for reading periodic updates from the communications adapter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for reading periodic updates from a database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for reading periodic updates from a file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fourth computer code mechanism for partitioning the construction job into plural regions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a fourth computer code mechanism for receiving periodic updates; and a fifth computer code mechanism for modifying the periodic updates based on a review of a corresponding region by a reviewer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fourth computer code device configured to consolidate the information consolidated by the second computer code device into information in (section-by-section, level-by-level, region-by-region) format, wherein the third computer code device includes a fifth computer code device configured to print out the information in the (section-by-section, level-by-level, region-by-region) format.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information to a screen of a handheld computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a GPS receiver; and a fifth computer code device configured to receive information from the GPS receiver and determine in which region the handheld computer is located, wherein the fourth computer code device prints to the screen the consolidated information corresponding to the region in which the handheld computer is located.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information to a screen of a portable computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a GPS receiver; and a fifth computer code device configured to receive information from the GPS receiver and determine in which region the portable computer is located, wherein the fourth computer code device prints to the screen the consolidated information corresponding to the region in which the portable computer is located.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer storage medium and plural computer program code mechanisms embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to track progress on a construction project, the plural computer program code mechanisms comprising: a first computer code mechanism for receiving information from at least two (sub)contractors in a (level-by-level, region-by-region) format specific to a construction job specified by an architect, wherein regions are subdivisions of levels; a second computer code mechanism for consolidating the information from the at least two (sub)contractors using the (level-by-level, region-by-region) format; and a third computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information using the (level-by-level, region-by-region) format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer storage medium and plural computer program code mechanisms embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to track progress on a construction project, the plural computer program code mechanisms comprising: a first computer code mechanism for receiving information from at least two (sub)contractors in a (level-by-level, region-by-region) format specific to a construction job specified by an architect, wherein regions are subdivisions of levels; a second computer code mechanism for consolidating the information from the at least two (sub)contractors using the (level-by-level, region-by-region) format; and a third computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information using the (level-by-level, region-by-region) format.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a fourth computer code device configured to consolidate the information consolidated by the second computer code device into information in (section-by-section, level-by-level, region-by-region) format, wherein the third computer code device includes a fifth computer code device configured to print out the information in the (section-by-section, level-by-level, region-by-region) format.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer program product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for receiving periodic updates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the third computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information to a screen of a handheld computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the third computer code mechanism comprises a fourth computer code mechanism for printing the consolidated information to a screen of a portable computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |