IP Library › Granted Patent US 12694441
Granted Patent B2
US 12694441 · App. 17/874,706 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

System for generating a request for pricing and a method for its use

Inventors: James L. Jacobs (Amherst, NH); John E. Cronin (Bonita Springs, FL); Christopher M. Huffines (Williston, VT); Steven M. Lynch (Hudson, NH)
Assignee: Desprez, LLC
G06Q30/0643G06Q30/0201
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12694441
App. No.
17/874,706
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, software made in accordance with the present invention displays a marketplace interface, which displays at least a portion of a CAD model and a set of marketplace tool selectors to a user such that the user can manipulate the tool selectors to interact with an electronic marketplace. The marketplace interface may include a spectrum interface designed and configured to allow the user to selectively augment the marketplace interface with additional functionality. Various corresponding and related systems, methods, and software are described.

Claims (51)

1 . A system for generating a request for pricing, the system comprising:

a computing device configured to:

receive a computer-aided design (CAD) file from a user, wherein the CAD file is representative of a structure to be fabricated;

utilize a spectrum viewer to determine user profile permissions associated with one or more viewer tools in a form of one or more executable files stored on a viewer tools database and retrieving the one or more viewer tools;

receive capability data regarding a plurality of suppliers;

automatically identifying at least one supplier of the plurality of suppliers using the capability data;

filter the plurality of suppliers as function of the capability data, wherein filtering the plurality of suppliers comprises identifying at least one identified supplier;

receive, from the filtered plurality of suppliers, a price to fabricate the structure represented in the CAD file uploaded by the user;

generate a request for pricing as a function of the CAD file, one or more design specifications, a part quantity, and at least a shipping location, wherein generating the request for pricing comprises:

extracting a material type and a geometry of the one or more design specifications derived from the CAD file;

embedding the extracted material type and the geometry into the request for pricing as machine-readable design specifications stored in a designer database; and

utilizing a user-modifiable spectrum interface, wherein a set of user-modifiable functionalities correspond to a manipulation of the CAD file that is a subject of the request for pricing and the at least one identified suppliers, and wherein the request for pricing is accessible within an electronic marketplace; and

display the request for pricing within the electronic marketplace using a Graphical User Interface (“GUI”), wherein the GUI is additionally configured to display an option allowing the user to execute a purchase of the structure to be fabricated from the identified supplier as a function the request for pricing, and wherein the GUI is configured to interact with the electronic marketplace by:

receiving from a user the request for pricing, wherein the request for pricing further comprises the CAD file in communication with the electronic marketplace, and wherein the communication further comprises at least a data link between the CAD file and the designer database;

uploading the data link into the electronic marketplace from the designer database;

generating a supplier output data link as a function of the electronic marketplace and the CAD file wherein the supplier output data link is configured to transmit the capability data to the electronic marketplace; and

wherein the GUI includes the one or more viewer tools retrieved from the viewer tools database allowing the user to rotate, pan, zoom, and take screenshots of the CAD file, and wherein an availability of the one or more viewer tools is a function of an amount of business that the user transacts.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the request for pricing comprises a price estimate request.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the capability data includes manufacturing capabilities of the at least a supplier.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to communicate, to the user, a price to fabricate as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to communicate the capability data to the user as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to communicate the request for pricing to the user as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to generate a price to fabricate the structure to be fabricated as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to receive a price to fabricate the structure represented by the CAD file in response to the request for pricing.

9 . A method for generating a request for pricing, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, via a computing device, a computer-aided design (CAD) file from a user, wherein a CAD file is representative of a structure to be fabricated;

utilizing, by the computing device, a spectrum viewer to determine a-user profile permissions associated with one or more viewer tools in a form of one or more executable files stored on a viewer tools database and retrieving the one or more viewer tools;

receiving, by the computing device, a capability data regarding a plurality of suppliers;

automatically identifying, using the computing device, at least one supplier of the plurality of suppliers using the capability data;

filtering, via the computing device, the plurality of suppliers as function of the capability data, wherein filtering the plurality of suppliers comprises identifying at least one identified supplier;

receive, from the filtered plurality of suppliers, a price to fabricate the structure represented in the CAD file uploaded by the user;

generating, via the computing device, a request for pricing as a function of the CAD file, one or more design specifications, a part quantity, and at least a shipping location, wherein generating the request for pricing comprises:

extracting a material type and a geometry of the one or more design specifications derived from the CAD file;

embedding the extracted material type and the geometry into the request for pricing as machine-readable design specifications stored in a designer database; and

utilizing a user-modifiable spectrum interface, wherein a set of user-modifiable functionalities correspond to a manipulation of the CAD file that is a subject of the request for pricing and the at least one identified suppliers, and wherein the request for pricing is accessible within an electronic marketplace; and

displaying, using a Graphical User Interface (“GUI”), the request for pricing within the electronic marketplace, wherein the GUI is additionally configured to display an option allowing the user to execute a purchase of the structure to be fabricated from the identified supplier as a function the request for pricing, and wherein the GUI is configured to interact with the electronic marketplace by:

receiving from a user the request for pricing, wherein the request for pricing further comprises the CAD file in communication with the electronic marketplace, and wherein the communication further comprises at least a data link between the CAD file and the designer database;

uploading the data link into the electronic marketplace from the designer database;

generating a supplier output data link as a function of the electronic marketplace and the CAD file, wherein the supplier output data link is configured to transmit the capability data to the electronic marketplace; and

wherein the GUI includes the one or more viewer tools retrieved from the viewer tools database allowing the user to rotate, pan, zoom, and take screenshots of the CAD file, and wherein an availability of the one or more viewer tools is a function of an amount of business that the user transacts.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the request for pricing comprises a price estimate request.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the capability data comprises manufacturing capabilities of the at least a supplier.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to communicate a price to fabricate with the user as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the computing device is further configured to communicate the capability data with the user as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the computing device is further configured to communicate the request for pricing to the user as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the computing device is further configured to generate the price to fabricate the structure to be fabricated as a function of filtering the plurality of suppliers.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a price to fabricate the structure represented by the CAD file is received in response to the generated request for pricing.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the request for pricing is displayed to the user.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the request for pricing is displayed to a supplier.

19 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the request for pricing is displayed to the user.

20 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the request for pricing is displayed to a supplier.