Automated task management and evaluation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for electronically managing the assignment of tasks to be completed. Preferred embodiments incorporate a computer network to gather and disseminate information for the processes of embodiments of the present invention. Task information is gathered until a task is sufficiently defined to be assigned. At this point the task is assigned to a service provider who is requested to respond to the assignment. The response is monitored arid if unacceptable or not received the task will be transferred to another service provider until a satisfactory response is received. An estimate of the cost of task completion may then be requested and authorization to complete the task may be contingent upon an acceptable estimate. Once a service provider is authorized to complete a task, the provider's progress is monitored and reported to interested parties. Provider quality ratings may be incorporated into some embodiments. Reports, analyses and other data may be automatically generated by embodiments of the present invention. Applications of embodiments of the present invention may be particularly useful in claims processing in the insurance industry.

1 . A method for selectively assigning third party professional tasks to independent service providers and other third party service providers, the method comprising the steps of: 
 electronically receiving a request from a third party for performance of a building construction or maintenance task;    associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a first independent service provider based on: 
 (i) task type;  
 (ii) experience level of the first independent service provider to perform this type of task;  
 (iii) physical proximity of the first independent service provider relative to the job site;  
   automatically initiating telephone or e-mail contact with the first independent service provider to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;    if a response to the contact with the first independent service provider is not received within pre-established limits, performing at least one of the steps for: 
 automatically notifying a quality control agent of the first independent service provider that the response was not received within pre-established limits; and  
 automatically associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a second independent service provider and initiating contact with the second independent service provider to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;  
   receiving an estimate from the independent service provider for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task; and    selectively authorizing the performance of the building construction or maintenance task.    
   
   
       2 . A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for selectively assigning third party professional tasks to independent service providers and other third party service providers, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium for providing computer program code utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps of: 
 automatically associating a first independent service provider of an independent service provider database with a request received from a third party for performance of a building construction or maintenance task for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task, wherein the step for automatically associating is based on: 
 (i) task type;  
 (ii) experience level of the first independent service provider to perform this type of task;  
 (iii) a dependability or quality rating of the first independent service provider in performing building construction or maintenance tasks for third parties;  
 (iv) availability of the first independent service provider; and  
 (v) physical proximity of the first independent service provider relative to the job site;  
 
 automatically initiating contact with the first independent service provider to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task;  
 if a response to the contact with the first independent service provider is not received within pre-established limits, performing the steps for:  
 automatically associating the performance of the building construction or maintenance task with a second independent service provider; and  
 initiating contact with the second independent service provider to request the performance of the building construction or maintenance task by accessing a website to obtain specific information to accomplish the task;  
 formatting an estimate based on the specific information;  
 receiving an estimate for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task from the third party service provider; and  
 providing an authorization for the performance of the building construction or maintenance task.