Patent ID: 7966266

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for producing a cost estimate, comprising: selecting, by a processor of a cost estimation system, at least one cost object included in the cost estimate; the cost object requiring evaluation of a first function to be performed by the cost estimation system; the selected cost object being described by corresponding cost object metadata; the cost object metadata describing a mapping between the first function and a second function in a costing platform; and the mapping indicating a matching of local and remote fieldnames that describe a logical storage location of the cost object within the cost estimation system and the costing platform, respectively; determining, by the processor of the cost estimation system, based on the cost object metadata, whether the selected cost object requires evaluation using the second function in the costing platform; When determining that the cost object requires evaluation using the second function, providing, the cost object to the costing platform as part of an evaluation request; receiving, from the costing platform in response to the evaluation request, cost data for the cost object from the costing platform, the cost data being calculated by the costing platform based on the second function determined in accordance with the matching fieldnames; and calculating, by the processor in the cost estimation system, the cost estimate using the cost data and the first function and producing the cost estimate via a user interface.