Business asset management system

Abstract

A system for defining and managing an asset which includes a data store for item specification data provided on a host computer coupled to a network. The system includes a data input toolset, a data modification toolset including project management tools; and a teamwork toolset. The data modification toolset may comprise at least one item procurement system, a cost management system, a project management system, and an information collection system. Each system includes a database interface allowing the system to retrieve, use and modify data subject to permissions granted by project manager.

Description

[0001] This application relates to application Ser. No. 09 / 557,641 (attorney docket TRIRG-08330US0) filed on Apr. 25, 2000, entitled "Agent Based Purchasing System" and naming Thomas A. Wucherer as inventor, the application being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.[0002] This application relates to application Ser. No. 09 / 519,935 (attorney docket TRIRG-08331US0) filed on Mar. 7, 2000, entitled "Integrated Business System for the Design, Execution and Management of Projects" and naming Cherisse M. Nicastro, Thomas A. Wucherer, Todd Nisbet and Anthony A. Marnell II as inventors, the application being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application relates to U.S. Pat. No. ______ (attorney docket TRIRG-08851US00) filed on Oct. 30, 2001, entitled "Intelligent Object Builder" and naming Thomas A. Wucherer, Cherisse M. Nicastro, Anthony A. Marnell II and Anthony A. Marnell III as inventors, the application being incorporated herein by reference in its enti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0075] The system described herein presents a complete design--build--management solution to the tasks involved in overseeing and managing construction, manufacturing, and maintaining assets such as buildings, ships, airplanes and the like. In one aspect, the system an enterprise system, Application Service Providers (ASP) platform, and open architecture system which provides application toolsets that allow multiple participants in projects, automation of bidding and estimating processes, accuracy and efficiency in purchasing, integration with existing applications, and simple but secure access over the Internet or a private network. The system captures and manages information throughout the design, build, and manage phases of the resulting asset.

[0546] The system of the present invention provides a unique, comprehensive project management system. In one embodiment, the system includes an enterprise system, Application Service Providers (ASP) platform, and open architecture provides business-efficient toolsets that: allows multiple companies worldwide to participate in projects, automates and streamlines bidding and estimating processes, increases the accuracy and efficiency of purchasing, facilitates integration with existing applications, provides simple but secure access over the Internet, and eliminates duplicate data entries. The system captures and manages information throughout the design, build, and manage phases of the resulting asset. In a further unique feature of the invention, all data is available in real-time and precise information throughout a project's lifecycle. Even after an asset has been built, an owner or property manager can access the system to derive specific information within a few seconds. This system can be applied to any number of design and build industries, including: Civil and Electrical Infrastructure; Telecom; Commercial, Residential, and Government Buildings; Manufacturing; Aerospace and Nautical applications; and Automobile, Railways, and Public Transportation projects.

Problems solved by technology

While these existing architecture, engineering and construction software systems aid individual project team members, communication between the various team members remains as inefficient as in the past.

For example, the project owner, upon receipt of a specification for one of the restaurant chairs, may desire the chair color to be different than originally specified or determine that the chair as originally specified is too expensive.

The structural engineer, upon receipt of the specification for the backup power generator, may notice that his platform may not support the weight of the backup generator specified by the electrical engineer.

Coordinating communication of information regarding items in a construction project becomes more complex as the scale of the project increases.

Collaboration and the exchange of information, including drawings and item specifications, between design and build participants also increase the complexity of each project.

However, as more fully exemplified above, collaboration and information exchange between participants, is typically a paper-based and chaotic process.

Furthermore, it is difficult to determine the history of an item based upon the papers residing at different project participants.

Managing change throughout the life cycle is also difficult in a paper-based or disparate application-based process.

Storing text in this fashion saves the time and trouble of typing the information repeatedly and reduces the possibility of errors.

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