Construction payment management system and method with actionable notification features

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.

1 . A method of managing a construction payment process, the method comprising the acts of: 
 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.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in response to the at least one participant selecting the action item, displaying at least one electronic form to the at least one participant for receiving input from the at least one participant.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the action item includes a link selectable by a participant to access an electronic form for receiving input from the participant.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the link includes an address of a resource available over at least one computer network.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the address includes a uniform resource locator.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic notification is made available in approximately real-time.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of making the electronic notification available to at least one participant includes displaying a screen notice that is viewable by the at least one participant.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of making the notification available to at least one participant includes electronically transmitting the electronic notification to the at least one participant by sending at least one of an email message and a text message.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the electronic notification is electronically transmitted in approximately real-time.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the electronic notification is electronically transmitted at a predetermined time.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the electronic notification is electronically transmitted based on notification preferences of the at least one participant.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising the act of accessing registration information associated with the at least one participant and using the registration information to make the electronic notification available to the at least one participant.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating a project created notification in response to a participant creating a new project.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating an accept project notification in response to a participant adding a participant to a project.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating a draw notification in response to a participant selecting a participant to be included in a draw.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating an enter invoice notification in response to a participant initiating a draw.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating a sign invoice notification in response to a participant approving an invoice.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating a make funds available notification in response to a participant signing an invoice.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating a sign lien wavier notification in response to a participant authorizing a draw.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating an all lien waivers signed notification in response to at least one participant signing a lien waiver.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of generating an electronic notification includes generating an authorize change request notification in response to a participant issuing a change request.  
   
   
       22 . A construction payment management system comprising: 
 an application server that stores a notifications manager, the notifications manager 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, the notifications manager making the electronic notification available to at least one participant in a construction project.    
   
   
       23 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the application server, in response to the at least one participant selecting the action item, displays at least one electronic form to the at least one participant for receiving input from the at least one participant.  
   
   
       24 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the action item includes a link selectable by a participant to access an electronic form for receiving input from the participant.  
   
   
       25 . The construction payment management system of  claim 24  wherein the link includes an address of a resource available over at least one computer network.  
   
   
       26 . The construction payment management system of  claim 25  wherein the address includes a uniform resource locator.  
   
   
       27 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the notifications manager makes the electronic notification available in approximately real-time.  
   
   
       28 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the notifications manager makes the electronic notification available to the at least one participant by displaying a screen notice that is viewable by the at least one participant.  
   
   
       29 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the notifications manager makes the electronic notification available to the at least one participant by electronically transmitting the electronic notification to the at least one participant by sending at least one of an email message and a text message.  
   
   
       30 . The construction payment management system of  claim 29  wherein the notifications manager electronically transmits the electronic notification to the at least one participant in approximately real-time.  
   
   
       31 . The construction payment management system of  claim 29  wherein the notifications manager electronically transmits the electronic notification to the at least one participant at a predetermined time.  
   
   
       32 . The construction payment management system of  claim 29  wherein the notifications manager electronically transmits the electronic notification to the at least one participant based on notification preferences of the at least one participant.  
   
   
       33 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the notifications manager accesses registration information associated with the at least one participant and uses the registration information to make the electronic notification available to the at least one participant.  
   
   
       34 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes a project created notification and the event includes a participant creating a new project.  
   
   
       35 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes an accept project notification and the event includes a participant adding a participant to a project.  
   
   
       36 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes a draw notification and the event includes a participant selecting a participant to be included in a draw.  
   
   
       37 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes an enter invoice notification and the event includes a participant initiating a draw.  
   
   
       38 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes a sign invoice notification and the event includes a participant approving an invoice.  
   
   
       39 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes a make funds available notification and the event includes a participant signing an invoice.  
   
   
       40 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes a sign lien wavier notification and the event includes a participant authorizing a draw.  
   
   
       41 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes an all lien waivers signed notification and the event includes at least one participant signing a lien waiver.  
   
   
       42 . The construction payment management system of  claim 22  wherein the electronic notification includes an authorize change request notification and the event includes a participant issuing a change request.