Patent ID: 8082185

Claim:
A quotation system that provides flexible control of a custom quotation by making a modification to a technique used to perform a quotation calculation, the modification being made according to calculation data supplied by a user, the modification not requiring alteration of software code of the quotation system, and not requiring selection of a pre-modified technique used to perform a quotation calculation, the quotation system comprising: non-transitory computer-readable media containing software that is able to direct the actions of a computer so as to cause the computer to: accept the calculation data from a user of the system; store the calculation data in a relational database; using the calculation data, modify the technique used to perform the quotation calculation; accept quotation data from a user of the system; store the quotation data in the relational database; perform the quotation calculation on the quotation data using the modified technique, so as to provide a result of the quotation calculation; apply the result of the quotation calculation so as to determine a quotation; and provide the quotation to a user of the system; wherein the quotation system is configured for use by various departments; wherein the software is further able to direct the actions of the computer so as to present a plurality of customized interfaces corresponding to the various departments, each customized interface being in communication with the relational database and configured to provide tailored access, in accordance with work flows, to the relational database according to anticipated use by the corresponding department.