Patents Assigned to Textura Corporation
  • Patent number: 9460441
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a construction payment process. One construction of the system includes a computer readable memory and a software enabled user interface. A process is configured to display to a payee via the user interface an electronic notification of a pending payment and a request for an electronically signed document such as a lien waiver. The processor of this construction is further configured to receive the electronically signed document, store it to a computer readable memory, and initiate payment. In some constructions, the processor is further configured to display the electronically signed document to the payer only after payment has been initiated. In some constructions, the processor is further configured to verify that requirements are fulfilled before initiating payment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard Niden
  • Patent number: 9355417
    Abstract: Systems and method for managing a construction payment process. When instructions are executed by a processor, an application server determines a date on which a draw is to occur for a construction project and generates a notification. The notification includes an indication of the date on which the draw will occur and an invitation to initiate a request for payment to be included in the draw. The application server then determines a plurality of participants associated with the construction project to be included in the draw and transmits the notification to the determined plurality of participants. The application server initiates the draw on the determined date and at least one participant of the determined plurality of participants receives a payment in the draw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden
  • Patent number: 9336542
    Abstract: Systems and method for managing a construction payment process. An input is received from a first participant and one of a plurality of stored notification workflows is accessed from a memory based on the information received from the first participant. Each stored notification workflow defines a sequence of automatic electronic notifications that are transmitted from the application server to one or more participants in the construction project in response to one or more predetermined events. Based on the accessed notification workflow, a second participant is identified and a first notification is automatically transmitted to the second participant. A response to the first notification is received from the second participant through an electronic form. The content of the response is automatically processed and a second notification is transmitted to a third participant based on the accessed notification workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden, Richard P. Pedersen, Jr., Matthew R. Bagley
  • Patent number: 8719124
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing payments in a hierarchical construction project. The system selectively operates in a specified billing mode for a first invoice and for a second invoice that is related to the first invoice. The system receives invoice details from a participant associated with the payee of the invoice when not operating in the specified billing mode and receives the invoice details from a participant not associated with the payee when operating in the specified billing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, John W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8489501
    Abstract: A system and method for evaluating risks associated with a project based on project data from several projects. A project management server manages multiple, unrelated projects for a plurality of participants. The system manages each project by receiving and processing data associated with each project. Risks for a project are evaluated by aggregating project data from multiple projects. Risk assessment data for a particular project, based on the aggregated project data, is displayed to a participant of the project while access to the project data is limited to only projects with which the participant is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, William H. Eichhorn, Charles C. Cherry
  • Patent number: 8306883
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing payments. One construction of the system includes a software enabled user interface accessible by a first party and a second party, at least one computer readable memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to selectively operate in a specified billing mode in response to an input received from the first party. The processor is configured to receiving invoice details from the first party when operating in the specified billing mode and from the second party when not operating in the specified billing mode. The processor is further configured to generate an invoice based on the invoice details, display the invoice to the first party and the second party, and request an approval or a rejection of the invoice from the first party or the second party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, John W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8296199
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a construction payment process wherein a higher degree of functionality is provided to primary users and only a limited subset of functionality is provided to sub-tier contractors. One construction of the system is configured to receive an electronically signed document and a request for payment from the sub-tier contractor. The request for payment is presented to a first primary user who is a contractual parent of the sub-tier contractor. When approval of the request for payment is received, a payment is initiated from a project payor to the sub-tier contractor. In some embodiments, the project payor is a contractual grandparent of the sub-tier contractor and a contractual parent of the first primary user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, William H. Eichhorn, Jeffrey K. Wagner, John W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8244606
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process including establishing electronic communication between a payee device and a construction project management server and transmitting a lien waiver document to the payee through the payee device with a request for a signature. A signed lien waiver document is received from the payee and stored to a computer -readable memory. The payor is temporarily prevented from accessing the signed lien waiver document. A payment is transmitted to the payee from the payor after receiving the signed lien waiver document, but before transmitting the signed lien waiver document to the payor. Only after the payment has been transmitted is the signed lien waiver document transmitted to the payor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden, Charles C. Cherry, Michael Trisko
  • Patent number: 8180707
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include automatically generating an electronic notification in response to an event, the electronic notification including an action item selectable by a participant to perform an action in response to the event, and making the electronic notification available to at least one participant in a construction project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden
  • Patent number: 8165935
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of reconciling a primary budget for a construction project. One embodiment of the invention includes generating a primary budget for the construction project and assigning a first primary budget line item from the primary budget to a participant. A secondary budget is then generated for the primary budget line item. Before administering a draw that includes a payment to the participant, the computer-implemented method ensures that the total sum of the budget amounts in the secondary budget is consistent with the budget amount for the primary budget line item. In some embodiments, the secondary budget is consistent when the total sum of the budget amounts is less than the primary budget line item. In some embodiments, the secondary budget is consistent when the total sum of the budget amounts is equal to the primary budget line item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden
  • Patent number: 8099362
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of reconciling a primary budget for a construction project. One embodiment of the invention includes generating a primary budget for the construction project and assigning a first primary budget line item from the primary budget to a participant. A secondary budget is then generated for the primary budget line item. Invoice amounts corresponding to secondary budget line items are stored. Before administering a draw that includes a new payment to the second participant, the system ensures that the total sum of a current invoiced amount and all previously invoiced amounts corresponding to secondary budget line items is less than or equal to the budget amount of the primary budget line item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden
  • Patent number: 7983972
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One graphical user interface embodying the invention can include a project schedule progress bar and a funds disbursed progress bar. The project schedule progress bar indicates progress with respect to calendar dates of a construction project, and the funds disbursed progress bar indicates progress with respect to a budget dollar amount of a construction project. Another graphical user embodying the invention can include an organization form, a project form, a budget form, a draw initiated notification, an enter request for payment form, a sign lien waiver notification, and a payment disbursed notification for notifying the plurality of participants that a payment has been disbursed for the pending draw to each of the plurality of participants based on the payment information received from each of the plurality of participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden
  • Patent number: 7925584
    Abstract: A system and method of managing a construction payment process involving a plurality of participants associated with the construction project and at least one document to be transferred between at least two participants of the plurality participants during the course of the construction project. One method can include assigning at least one enforcement action to the at least one document wherein the enforcement action is automatically effected if the document is not transferred between the at least two participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn
  • Patent number: 7899739
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. According to one method, a construction project management server receives draw initiation information from a device including a selection of a date on which a draw will be executed and a selection of one or more participants to receive a notification of the draw. The server accesses previously stored notification preference information stored on a computer readable memory that corresponds to one or more of the selected participants and transmits a notification to each of the selected one or more participants based upon the notification preference information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden
  • Patent number: 7882004
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include creating an electronically-executed first request for payment on behalf of a first participant in a construction project, transmitting the first request for payment to a second participant in the construction project, creating an electronically-executed second request for payment based on the first request for payment, transmitting the second request for payment to a payment source in the construction project, directing transmitting a payment to the second participant from the payment source, and directly transmitting a payment to the first participant from the payment source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden, Richard P. Pedersen, Jr., Matthew R. Bagley
  • Patent number: 7877321
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include evaluating financial risk associated with a construction project by electronically aggregating construction project data associated with participants in a construction project, the data aggregated from a software application that manages payment workflows for the construction project; establishing financial metrics based on the project data; and evaluating at least one of either the metrics or the project data to determine financial risk associated with the project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, William H. Eichhorn, Charles C. Cherry
  • Patent number: 7877302
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include generating a budget for a construction project, receiving an invoice amount from at least one participant in the construction project, generating at least one of an automated invoice and an automated sworn statement based on the invoice amount and the budget, generating at least one automated lien waiver based on at least one of the automated invoice and the automated sworn statement, and electronically executing at least one of the automated invoice, the automated sworn statement, and the at least one automated lien waiver to create at least one of a legally-binding invoice, a legally-binding sworn statement, and a legally-binding lien waiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden, Charles C. Cherry, Michael Trisko
  • Patent number: 7818250
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include storing a plurality of workflows to control automatic electronic notification sequences of the construction payment process, electronically receiving information related to a construction project from a first participant, automatically electronically transmitting a first notification to a second participant in the construction project based on the information received from the first participant, electronically requesting a response from the second participant related to the first notification, electronically receiving a response from the second participant related to the first notification, automatically validating the response, and automatically electronically transmitting a second notification to a third participant included in the construction project based on the response received from the second participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden, Richard P. Pedersen, Jr., Matthew R. Bagley
  • Patent number: 7797210
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One graphical user interface embodying the invention can include a project schedule progress bar and a funds disbursed progress bar. The project schedule progress bar indicates progress with respect to calendar dates of a construction project, and the funds disbursed progress bar indicates progress with respect to a budget dollar amount of a construction project. Another graphical user embodying the invention can include an organization form, a project form, a budget form, a draw initiated notification, an enter request for payment form, a sign lien waiver notification, and a payment disbursed notification for notifying the plurality of participants that a payment has been disbursed for the pending draw to each of the plurality of participants based on the payment information received from each of the plurality of participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Eichhorn, Matthew R. Bagley
  • Patent number: 7734546
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include creating an electronically-executed first request for payment on behalf of a first participant in a construction project, transmitting the first request for payment to a second participant in the construction project, creating an electronically-executed second request for payment based on the first request for payment, transmitting the second request for payment to a payment source in the construction project, directing transmitting a payment to the second participant from the payment source, and directly transmitting a payment to the first participant from the payment source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Textura Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Allin, Charles C. Cherry, William H. Eichhorn, Howard L. Niden, Richard P. Pedersen, Jr., Matthew R. Bagley