Patent Application
20180314681
The process of providing a bid for a construction project can be a complex process. As part of that process, a bidder may need to not only to determine the overall cost of the construction project, but also gather information regarding the materials to be used in the construction project to provide to their customer. This information can include various types of descriptive documents (or “artifacts”), including marketing sell sheets, installation instructions, test reports, warranty, and other technical references.
Because this information can include many independent descriptive documents, gathering these materials can be arduous. Even when the descriptive documents are available from a single document database (e.g., maintained by a distributor or manufacturer), the bidder often must still locate, transfer, and store those descriptive documents as independent files or a compressed folder, then provide the descriptive documents to the customer in a presentable manner. But these descriptive documents are rarely obtained in order, and everything is stored at a single level (without any hierarchy). Moreover, the various descriptive documents may have wildly different appearance, branding, and legal information based solely on the time they were generated, thereby making the materials seem disorganized.
Techniques provided herein enable a user (e.g., a construction project bidder) to quickly and easily create a composite document for a construction project bid via a graphical user interface, where the composite document includes the various descriptive documents relating to the construction project. The graphical user interface can pre-populate a hierarchical list of descriptive documents, which the user can manipulate as desired by, for example, changing the order, adding/removing documents, altering hierarchies of documents, etc. Techniques further include creating the composite document for the construction project, based on the list, and providing it to the user.
An example method of enabling creation of documentation relating to a construction project, according to the disclosure, includes providing, in a graphical user interface, a list of documents having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of document entries. The list of documents provides, for each document entry in the plurality of document entries an identity of a respective document, and an indication of a hierarchy attributed to the respective document. The method further includes enabling a user to manipulate the list of documents via the graphical user interface, subsequent to enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents, receiving a request to create a composite document, and in response to receiving the request, creating the composite document. The composite document comprises documents corresponding to the plurality of document entries of the list of documents, and an order and hierarchy of the plurality of document entries of the list of documents provided in the graphical user interface corresponds to an order and hierarchy of respective documents in the composite document.
In some embodiments, the method can include one or more of the following features. The method can further comprise providing the composite document to the user. Enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents can comprise enabling the user to, for at least one document entry of the plurality of document entries, alter the hierarchy attributed to the respective document. Enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents can comprise enabling the user to alter the order of the plurality of document entries of the list of documents, thereby altering the order of the respective documents in the composite document. The method can further comprise obtaining information regarding the construction project and initially populating the list of documents based on the obtained information regarding the construction project. Creating the composite document can comprise creating a table of contents of the composite document, the table of contents showing the hierarchy attributed to each document in the composite document. The method can further comprise enabling the user to, via the graphical user interface search for an additional document and add an additional document entry, corresponding to the additional document, to the list of documents. Enabling the user to search for the additional document comprises accessing a database of available documents. The method can further comprise enabling the user to, via the graphical user interface, upload a document to include in the composite document. Creating the composite document can further comprise including, on at least one page of the composite document, an original page of a document in the composite document and at least one additional feature. The at least one additional feature can comprise a page number of the composite document.
An example server, according to the disclosure, comprises a communication interface, a memory, and a processing unit communicatively coupled with the memory and the communication interface. The processor is configured to cause a graphical user interface to provide a list of documents having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of document entries, where the list of documents provides, for each document entry in the plurality of document entries an identity of a respective document, and an indication of a hierarchy attributed to the respective document. The processor is also configured to enable a user to manipulate the list of documents via the graphical user interface, and subsequent to enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents, receiving a request to create a composite document. The processor is further configured to, in response to receiving the request, create the composite document, where the composite document comprises documents corresponding to the plurality of document entries of the list of documents, and an order and hierarchy of the plurality of document entries of the list of documents provided in the graphical user interface corresponds to an order and hierarchy of respective documents in the composite document.
The server can include one or more of the following features. The processing unit may be further configured to provide the composite document to the user via the communication interface. The processing unit may be configured enable the user to manipulate the list of documents by enabling the user to, for at least one document entry of the plurality of document entries, alter the hierarchy attributed to the respective document. The processing unit may be configured to enable the user to manipulate the list of documents by enabling the user to alter the order of the plurality of document entries of the list of documents, thereby altering the order of the respective documents in the composite document. The processing unit may be further configured to obtain information regarding the construction project and initially populate the list of documents based on the obtained information regarding the construction project. The processing unit may be further configured to enable the user to, via the graphical user interface search for an additional document and add an additional document entry, corresponding to the additional document, to the list of documents.
An example non-transitory computer-readable medium, according to the disclosure, has instructions embedded thereon for enabling creation of documentation relating to a construction project. The instructions include computer code for providing, in a graphical user interface, a list of documents having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of document entries, where the list of documents provides, for each document entry in the plurality of document entries an identity of a respective document, and an indication of a hierarchy attributed to the respective document. The instructions further include computer code for enabling a user to manipulate the list of documents via the graphical user interface and, subsequent to enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents, receiving a request to create a composite document. The instructions include computer code for, in response to receiving the request, creating the composite document, where the composite document comprises documents corresponding to the plurality of document entries of the list of documents, and an order and hierarchy of the plurality of document entries of the list of documents provided in the graphical user interface corresponds to an order and hierarchy of respective documents in the composite document.
The non-transitory computer-readable medium can include one or more of the following features. The instructions may further include computer code for providing the composite document to the user. The computer code for enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents may comprise computer code for enabling the user to, for at least one document entry of the plurality of document entries, alter the hierarchy attributed to the respective document.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive aspects are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.
Several illustrative embodiments will now be described with respect to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The ensuing description provides embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an embodiment. It is understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
It can be noted that, as referred to herein, the terms “document,” “documentation,” and variations thereof can include electronic (soft copy) documents, physical (hard copy) documents and/or other electronic and/or physical materials.
Lines in the figure represent data communication links between the various components of the document creation system 100. Communication may be carried out in any of a variety of ways, depending on desired functionality, the indication technology utilized, and/or other factors. The network 140 may comprise one or more data communication networks including public and/or private networks, including the Internet. Data may be communicated via wired and/or wireless communication technology, in accordance with applicable protocols and/or standards.
As previously discussed, a user may desire to provide a bid for a construction project to a customer. As part of this process, the user (also referred to herein as “the bidder”) may contact the materials provider 150 of materials used in the construction project to determine the cost of the materials and/or to gather descriptive documents, or “artifacts,” regarding the materials to pass along to the user's customer (e.g., the entity for whom the user is providing the bid). The user may do so, for example, via the user device 110. Although illustrated as a mobile phone, the user device 110 may comprise any of a variety of devices, including a mobile device, tablet, laptop, personal computer, or the like.
According to techniques provided herein, the materials provider 150 may provide a server 120 and database 130 with which the user may create a composite document for the project bid containing all of the descriptive documents in an orderly and professional format. For example, using an application executed on the user device 110 and/or a web browser, the user device 110 can access the server 120, to provide the user with a graphical user interface (shown on a display of the user device 110) with which the user may interact to create the composite document (e.g., via a web portal). This graphical user interface can enable the user to select descriptive documents to include in the composite document and alter their order and/or hierarchy so that the composite document provides the descriptive documents contained therein in a logical format. These descriptive documents may be stored in the database 130. Once the formatting (e.g., content, order, and/or hierarchy) of the descriptive documents is completed, the user can then cause the server 120 to create the composite document by extracting the corresponding descriptive documents from the database 130 and compiling the composite document accordingly.
The composite document may then be provided to the user in any of a variety of ways, depending on desired functionality. For example, the composite document may be downloaded to the user device 110 automatically via an application executed by the user device 110. Additionally or alternatively, the composite document may be stored at the server 120 or other location accessible via the network 140, and a uniform resource locator (URL) may be provided to the user device 110. The composite document and/or corresponding URL may additionally or alternatively be sent to the user via other means, such as by email.
In some embodiments, the graphical user interface illustrated in
The screen 200 may be related to a new or existing construction project created by the user (as illustrated in the “Project” folder at the top of the screen 200). Here, the user may have already submitted a request to the materials provider 150 for a quote for the materials related to the construction project, and the details of that quote are made accessible via this screen 200 of the graphical user interface. (The request for the quote may have been made via another screen of the graphical user interface, telephone, email, etc.) The page description 210 can provide a description of the functionality of this particular screen in the graphical user interface.
The screen 200 also provides a summary of the quote information provided by the materials provider 150. Among other things, the screen 200 includes a document link 220, which, if selected, can retrieve the detailed quote document. Quote details 230 are also provided, including reference number, the name of a Customer Service Representative (CSR) (e.g., a representative of the materials provider 150 providing the quote), and pricing summary. The product listing 240 can include a listing of the products related to the construction project bid, which may have been selected by the user.
In this embodiment, the user may proceed by selecting one of the interactive buttons 250, 260, 270 near the bottom of the screen 200. The Place Order button 260 allows the user to purchase the products included in the quote (shown in the product listing 240). The Request Revised Quote button 270 allows the user to alter the types and/or quantity of products used for the quote, and the Create Bid Submittal button 250 allows the user to precede to the bid submittal package creation screen illustrated in
The Bid Submittal Package pane 320 includes an upload file portion 335 and an organize files portion 340. In the organize files portion 340, the document list 345 is provided, having entries corresponding to documents to be included in the consolidated document. The document list 345 is shown in a hierarchical manner, illustrating how descriptive documents may be grouped into different hierarchies.
The graphical user interface allows the user to customize the consolidated document to be created by manipulating the document list 345. For example, a user may be able to edit the names of the descriptive documents and/or titles of the different hierarchies by selecting the “pencil” icon next to the name and/or title. The user may also be able to rearrange the descriptive documents in different order, and/or hierarchies or groupings. (This can be achieved, for example, using a mouse to drag and drop the entry in the document list 345 corresponding to the descriptive document into a desired place within the document list 345.) Descriptive documents and/or hierarchies may be removed from the list by, for example, selecting the “X” in the upper-right-hand corner of the entry in the document list 345 corresponding to the descriptive document and/or hierarchies.
Adding descriptive documents to the document list 345 can be done in any of several ways. According to some embodiments, the document list 345 may be pre-populated with documents regarding the products related to the construction project bid (e.g., the products in the product list 240 of
As previously noted, the user can add the desired document 365 to the document list 345 in any of a variety of ways, depending on desired functionality. In this example, the user may drag and drop the desired document 365 into the document list 345, or simply select the arrow icon at the right-hand side of the desired document 365. Once added to the document list 345, the resulting entry 370 can then be placed in a desired order and/or hierarchical level within the document list 345.
Once the order and hierarchy of the entries in the document list 345 correspond to the order and hierarchy desired in the composite document, the user can cause the document creation system 100 to create the corresponding composite document by providing a input. (In the illustrated embodiment, a Create Document button is visible when the user scrolls down on the bid submittal package creation screen 300.) In response, the server 120 can obtain documents corresponding to the documents in the document list 345 from the database 130 and create the composite document.
The contents of the title page 410 can vary, depending on desired functionality. In some embodiments, for example, the consolidated document may include the personalized logo 430 of the user (e.g., the contractor providing the construction project bid). (This personalized logo 430 may be uploaded by the user in a previous screen of the graphical user interface, for example.) In some embodiments, the title page 410 may further include a title of the consolidated document 435 and/or branding of the graphical user interface used to create the consolidated document. Additionally or alternatively, the title page 410 may include branding 440 of the materials provider. Other embodiments may include additional or alternative features on the title page 410.
As can be seen, the table of contents page 450 may show the hierarchy of the various descriptive documents contained in the consolidated document. As indicated previously, the hierarchy of the descriptive documents in the consolidated document can reflect the hierarchy determined by the document list 345 in
It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments may include additional and/or alternative features on the document page. In some embodiments, for example, the page frame 465 may have a different shape and/or may be situated at different locations relative to the inner page 460. Some embodiments may replace the page frame 465 with one or more alternative features to indicate page number 475 and/or other attributes of the consolidated document. In some embodiments, these attributes may be overlaid onto the inner page 460 and/or may replace features on the inner page 460.
The functionality at block 510 includes providing, in a graphical user interface, a list of documents having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of document entries. The list of documents provides, for each document entry in the plurality of document entries: that an identity of a respective document, and an indication of the hierarchical level attributed to the respective document. As indicated in the embodiments above, the list of documents may be shown in the graphical user interface as text and/or other graphical representations. In
It as described in the embodiments above, the graphical user interface may be generated by a server (e.g., server 120 in
At block 520, the functionality includes enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents via the graphical user interface. As previously explained, such manipulation can include adding document entries to the list, removing document entries from the list, changing the order and/or hierarchy of the document entries, changing document entry names, and the like. Changing the hierarchical level of a document may be in response to any of a variety of actions by any user. For example, the user may drag/drop the document entry under/into an existing category or subcategory, create a new category or subcategory that includes the document entry or into which the user inserts the documentary, remove or delete a category or sub category of which the document entry is a part, and the like. The user may alter the order of document entries in the document list in a similar manner, rearranging the order of the document entries as the user sees fit. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface may further enable the user to search for an additional document (e.g., from a document library stored by a database 130) and add an additional document entry, corresponding to the additional document, to the list of documents. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface may allow the user to upload a document to include in the composite document. (The document entry for the uploaded document may be included in the list of documents and manipulated by the user.)
Means for performing the functionality at block 520 can include, for example, the communications subsystem 630, bus 605, working memory 635, operating system 640, application(s) 645, output device(s) 620, processing unit(s) 610, and/or other components of a computer system 600, as shown in
At block 530, the functionality includes, subsequent to enabling the user to manipulate the list of documents, receiving a request to create a composite document. The request to create the composite document may be made by the user, for example, by pressing a button or performing another triggering event on the graphical user interface.
Means for performing the functionality at block 530 can include, for example, the communications subsystem 630, bus 605, working memory 635, operating system 640, application(s) 645, output device(s) 620, processing unit(s) 610, and/or other components of a computer system 600, as shown in
At block 540, the functionality includes, in response to receiving the request, creating the composite document. The composite document comprises documents corresponding to the plurality of document entries of the list of documents, and an order and hierarchy of the plurality of document entries of the list of documents provided in the graphical user interface corresponds to an order and hierarchy of their respective documents in the composite document. In other words, the user to manipulate the list of documents so that they appear in a corresponding fashion within the composite document. The order and hierarchy of the document in trees and the document list can result in a corresponding order and hierarchy of documents in the composite document.
As reflected in the embodiments described herein, the composite document may include both of the original content of the documents contained therein, and additional content. The additional content can include a title page and/or a table of contents. Furthermore, the composite document may include at least one page having an original page of a descriptive document, along with additional content. As shown in
Means for performing the functionality at block 540 can include, for example, the communications subsystem 630, bus 605, working memory 635, operating system 640, application(s) 645, output device(s) 620, processing unit(s) 610, and/or other components of a computer system 600, as shown in
It should be noted that
The computer system 600 is shown comprising hardware elements that can be electrically coupled via a bus 605 (or may otherwise be in communication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include processing unit(s) 610, which may comprise without limitation one or more general-purpose processors, one or more special-purpose processors (such as digital signal processing chips, graphics acceleration processors, and/or the like), and/or other processing structure, which can be configured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. The computer system 600 also may comprise one or more input devices 615, which may comprise without limitation a mouse, touchscreen, keyboard, camera, keypad, microphone, button, switch, and/or the like; and one or more output devices 620, which may comprise without limitation a display device, printer, speaker, and/or the like.
The computer system 600 may further include (and/or be in communication with) one or more non-transitory storage devices 625, which can comprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage, and/or may comprise, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an optical storage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a random access memory (“RAM”), and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can be programmable, flash-updateable, and/or the like. Such storage devices may be configured to implement any appropriate data stores, including without limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/or the like. Such data stores may include database(s) and/or other data structures used store and administer messages and/or other information to be sent to one or more devices via hubs, as described herein.
The computer system 600 might also include a communications subsystem 630, which may comprise wireless communication technologies (e.g., radio frequency (RF), infrared, etc.) and/or wired technologies (such as Ethernet, coaxial communications, universal serial bus (USB), and the like). As such, the communications subsystem 630 may comprise a modem, a network card (wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and/or a chipset, and/or the like, which may enable the computer system 600 to communicate on any or all of the communication networks described herein to any device on the respective network, including the UE, other computer systems, and/or any other electronic devices described herein. Hence, the communications subsystem 630 may be used to receive and send data as described in the embodiments herein.
In many embodiments, the computer system 600 will further comprise a working memory 635, which may comprise a RAM or ROM device, as described above. Software elements, shown as being located within the working memory 635, may comprise an operating system 640, device drivers, executable libraries, and/or other code, such as one or more applications 645, which may comprise computer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or may be designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided by other embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one or more procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussed above might be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by a computer (and/or a processing unit within a computer); in an aspect, then, such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt a general purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or more operations in accordance with the described methods.
A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as the storage device(s) 625 described above. In some cases, the storage medium might be incorporated within a computer system, such as computer system 600. In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separate from a computer system (e.g., a removable medium, such as an optical disc), and/or provided in an installation package, such that the storage medium can be used to program, configure, and/or adapt a general purpose computer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructions might take the form of executable code, which is executable by the computer system 600 and/or might take the form of source and/or installable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation on the computer system 600 (e.g., using any of a variety of generally available compilers, installation programs, compression/decompression utilities, etc.), then takes the form of executable code.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantial variations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. For example, customized hardware might also be used, and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to other computing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.
With reference to the appended figures, components that may comprise memory may comprise non-transitory machine-readable media. The term “machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” as used herein, refer to any storage medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In embodiments provided hereinabove, various machine-readable media might be involved in providing instructions/code to processing units and/or other device(s) for execution. Additionally or alternatively, the machine-readable media might be used to store and/or carry such instructions/code. In many implementations, a computer-readable medium is a physical and/or tangible storage medium.
The methods, systems, and devices discussed herein are examples. Various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. The various components of the figures provided herein can be embodied in hardware and/or software. Also, technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples that do not limit the scope of the disclosure to those specific examples.
Reference throughout this specification to “one example”, “an example”, “certain examples”, or “exemplary implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the feature and/or example may be included in at least one feature and/or example of claimed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one example”, “an example”, “in certain examples” or “in certain implementations” or other like phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same feature, example, and/or limitation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more examples and/or features.
Some portions of the detailed description included herein are presented in terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of operations on binary digital signals stored within a memory of a specific apparatus or special purpose computing device or platform. In the context of this particular specification, the term specific apparatus or the like includes a general purpose computer once it is programmed to perform particular operations pursuant to instructions from program software. Algorithmic descriptions or symbolic representations are examples of techniques used by those of ordinary skill in the signal processing or related arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, is considered to be a self-consistent sequence of operations or similar signal processing leading to a desired result. In this context, operations or processing involve physical manipulation of physical quantities. Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities may take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signals as bits, data, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, numerals, or the like. It should be understood, however, that all of these or similar terms are to be associated with appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the discussion herein, it is appreciated that throughout this specification discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining” or the like refer to actions or processes of a specific apparatus, such as a special purpose computer, special purpose computing apparatus or a similar special purpose electronic computing device. In the context of this specification, therefore, a special purpose computer or a similar special purpose electronic computing device is capable of manipulating or transforming signals, typically represented as physical electronic or magnetic quantities within memories, registers, or other information storage devices, transmission devices, or display devices of the special purpose computer or similar special purpose electronic computing device.
In the preceding detailed description, numerous specific details have been set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods and apparatuses that would be known by one of ordinary skill have not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter.
The terms, “and”, “or”, and “and/or” as used herein may include a variety of meanings that also are expected to depend at least in part upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular or may be used to describe a plurality or some other combination of features, structures or characteristics. Though, it should be noted that this is merely an illustrative example and claimed subject matter is not limited to this example.
While there has been illustrated and described what are presently considered to be example features, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subject matter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter without departing from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular examples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter may also include all aspects falling within the scope of appended claims, and equivalents thereof.
