Systems, apparatus, and method re escrow data and documentation

• US 8,204,807 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Settleware Secure Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Settleware Secure Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Triola, C. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Akintola, Olabode
• Application Number:
  US11/437,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

The apparatus and method implements, manages, and tracks on-line digital transactions via an escrow, including opening, servicing, real-time or near-real time status of the broker, title company, lender, vendor, buyer and seller, and closing of an escrow via a medium such as the internet. Multiple access methods are employed. The present invention provides computerization and internet type process implementation for escrow processes including, but not limited to, digital transaction coordination, digital status coordinators, seamless escrow transactions, on-line digital signatures, video signature authentication, digital certificate authentication, signature authentication, satellite and other wireless transmission of escrow transactions, voice digital instruction, the merging of voice with digital data transactions, set-top/WebTV digital escrow transmission, global digital escrow networking, and the like. The system includes appropriate data, application, and servers along with supporting LAN or WAN-based application to perform escrow services.

Claims

1. An apparatus including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor for an escrow transaction of real or personal property, the apparatus comprising:

system components associated with a computer based automation system, said system components causing the processor to provide escrow processes via online communications, comprising;

(1) receiving electronically signed documents related to the opening of an escrow, (2) sending digital instructions to at least one party involved in the transaction related to the opening of the escrow, (3) implementing identity authentication and electronic or digital signatures for documents requiring signature by at least one of the parties, and (4) providing for a variety of levels of security for access to documents,

managing, by verifying said documents,

digitally tracking and coordinating and permitting access to an ongoing status of the escrow transaction, and

closing of said escrow transaction for real or personal property, including at least one of electronically transferring, registering, and recording of said documents, and receiving or sending online confirmation of a close of the escrow transaction and of delivery of final loan agreements, and releasing transaction funds.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

said components including computer program modules distributed among parties to said escrow transaction, said parties including at least one of principals, agents, service providers, governmental entities, quasi-governmental entities, and vendors, and

said computer program modules providing associated data entry and access to said documents.

3. A system for real estate escrow transaction data and electronic document processing and transmitting over an Internet, comprising:

at least one first unit coupled to the Internet, said first unit associated with at least one escrow or real estate office and having a first computer program code unit for implementing real estate escrow transactions, a second computer program code unit for managing the real estate escrow transactions, and a third computer program code unit for closing said real estate escrow transactions,

wherein the implementing of the escrow includes electronically or digitally signing or receiving of any electronically or digitally executed escrow-related contracts, agreements, or instructions,

wherein the managing of the escrow includes verifying said escrow-related contracts, agreements, or instructions, or transferring of funds or other compensation, and

wherein the closing of the escrow includes receiving or sending online confirmation of a close of escrow, delivery of final loan agreements, or releasing transaction funds;

at least one second unit coupled to the Internet, said second unit associated with at least one of the buy-sell principals and agents thereof and having a second computer program code unit for coupling to said first computer program code unit; and

at least one third unit coupled to the Internet, said third unit associated with at least one service provider, vendor, governmental entity, or quasi-governmental entity and having a third computer program code unit for coupling to said first computer program code unit and said second computer program code unit,

wherein the escrow-related contracts, agreements, or instructions are accessible via the Internet by said first unit and said second unit and said third unit, and wherein starting escrow is triggered by parties electronically or digitally executing the escrow-related contracts, agreements, or instructions to open the escrow.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3, comprising:

first computer program modules distributed among said first unit, said second unit, and said third unit, said first computer program modules providing predetermined associated data entry and access for at least one of principals, agents, service providers, vendors, governmental entities, and quasi-governmental entities.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4, comprising:

each of said first computer program code unit and said second computer program code unit and said third computer program code unit having second computer program modules including means for providing for a variety of levels of security for access to said escrow-related contracts, agreements, or instructions.

6. A method implemented on a computer having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, to perform operations to enable an escrow process for real or personal property using on-line communications systems, the method comprising:

establishing using the processor an on-line escrow account for any party;

controlling on-line transactional account management services for said any party with respect to the on-line escrow account, said services including providing any data and documents associated with implementing the on-line escrow account via the on-line communications systems,

wherein said implementing includes at least one of (1) receiving or sending at least one escrow document to be signed electronically or digitally related to an escrow, (2) sending digital instructions to a first party involved in the transaction related to the escrow to electronically or digitally sign at least one escrow document, (3) implementing identity authentication on the at least one escrow document to be electronically or digitally signed, (4) electronically or digitally signing the at least one escrow document, and (5) providing for a variety of levels of security for access to at least one escrow document that is to be electronically or digitally signed, and

managing by receiving online the at least one electronically or digitally signed document, and closing by verifying online that the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document has been signed, submitting the at least one electronically or digitally signed document to a second party involved in the escrow process, and receiving or sending online confirmation of a close of escrow including that the at least one escrow document has been electronically or digitally signed.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, comprising:

said services including party identification and security access measures for each of said parties, including on-line access using digital party identification authentications for access to data and documents associated with said account and for digital signatures or electronic signatures of said documents.

8. An apparatus including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor for performing operations to enable an escrow process for personal or real property, comprising:

associated with a telecommunications system, system components for causing said processor to

provide escrow processes including at least one of (1) sending documents or instructions for said escrow transaction to third party agents or principals for electronic or digital signature or that have been electronically or digitally signed, and (2) receiving documents or instructions for said escrow transaction from third party agents or principals for electronic or digital signature or that have been electronically or digitally signed, and

perform managing and closing,

wherein the managing includes receiving online the at least one electronically or digitally signed document,

wherein the closing is by verifying online that the at least one electronically or digitally signed document has been signed, submitting the at least one electronically or digitally signed document to a party involved in the escrow process, receiving or sending online confirmation of a close of escrow and of delivery of final loan documents, and releasing transaction funds.

9. An apparatus including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor to perform operations to enable an escrow process for personal or real property, comprising:

associated with a telecommunications system, system components for causing said processor to

provide processes relating to an escrow transaction, said escrow processes including at least one of (1) sending any escrow-related document, contract, agreement, or instruction to a party or principal to be electronically or digitally signed, (2) enabling a party or principal to electronically or digitally sign any escrow-related document, contract, agreement, or instruction, and (3) receiving any electronically or digitally signed escrow-related document, contract, agreement, or instruction, and

perform managing and closing,

wherein the managing includes receiving online the at least one electronically or digitally signed document,

wherein the closing is by verifying online that the at least one electronically/digitally signed document has been signed, submitting the at least one electronically/digitally signed document to a party involved in the escrow process, receiving or sending online confirmation of a close of escrow and of delivery of final loan documents, and releasing transaction funds, and

wherein said system components include at least one digital computerization and internet type process implementation program module for authenticating an electronic or digital signature and/or identity of a principal or party.

10. A computer program product, stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed on one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations to enable an escrow process for personal or real property, the operations comprising:

via online communications at least one of (1) receiving or sending at least one escrow document to be signed electronically or digitally related to the escrow process, (2) sending digital instructions to a first party involved in the escrow process to electronically or digitally sign at least one escrow document, (3) implementing identity authentication on at least one escrow document to be electronically or digitally signed, (4) electronically or digitally signing at least one escrow document, and (5) providing for a variety of levels of security for access to at least one escrow document that is to be electronically or digitally signed;

tracking online a status of the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document;

managing by receiving online the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document; and

closing by at least one of verifying online that the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document has been signed, submitting the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document to a second party involved in the escrow process, and receiving or sending online confirmation of a close of the escrow process including that the at least one escrow document has been electronically or digitally signed.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein online communications comprise one of a dial-up, leased, satellite, and wireless network.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the first or second party comprises one of a principal, agent, real estate agent or broker, mortgage agent or broker, notary, service provider, title or abstract company or representative, closing or settlement agent, secondary investor, loan servicer, attorney, banker, lending institution, insurance company, government entity, quasi-governmental entity, vendor, and homeowners association.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the at least one escrow document comprises one of a grant deed, certificate of ownership, title insurance policy, loan document, loan application, homeowner'"'"'s association document, zoning disclosure report, home warranty policy, pest inspection, property inspection, natural hazard disclosure, geological report, lead-based paint inspection, settlement or closing statement, promissory note, amendment, title report, loan payoff forms, loan information request, statement of information, trust certification, deed of trust, city report, instructions, seller proceeds information, preliminary change of ownership, preliminary approval, insurance information form, lender amendment forms, buyer ownership form, instructions regarding release of funds, government form, and a quasi-government form.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the tracking further comprises displaying the online status of the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document.

15. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising providing a language translation for the at least one escrow document.

16. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising providing data security to the at least one escrow document.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising providing digital identity authentication for the first or second party.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the digital instructions comprise voice-based digital instructions.

19. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the least one escrow document is associated with a transaction number.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising providing digital identity authentication including at least one of on-line digital signature, electronic signature, biometrics, wireless identity authentication, audio or visual recording, video fingerprint, thumb-print, retinal scan, video signature authentication, voice authentication, digital certificate authentication, and digital signature document execution.

21. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the closing further comprises at least one of electronically transferring, registering, and recording of electronic or digital documents.

22. A system for processing an escrow, comprising:

a server coupled to a network including a memory and a processor configured to;

via online communications at least one of (1) receive or send at least one escrow document to be signed electronically or digitally related to the escrow process, (2) send digital instructions to a first party involved in the escrow process to electronically or digitally sign at least one escrow document, (3) implement identity authentication on at least one escrow document to be electronically or digitally signed, (4) electronically or digitally sign at least one escrow document, and (5) provide for a variety of levels of security for access to at least one escrow document that is to be electronically or digitally signed;

track online a status of the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document;

manage by receiving online the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document; and

close by at least one of verifying online that the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document has been signed, submit the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document to a second party involved in the escrow, and receive or send online confirmation of a close of the escrow including that the at least one escrow document has been electronically or digitally signed.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the network is one of a dial-up, leased, satellite, or wireless network.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the network comprises at least one of an extranet and Internet.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the first or second party comprises one of a principal, agent, real estate agent or broker, mortgage agent or broker, notary, service provider, title or abstract company or representative, closing or settlement agent, secondary investor, loan servicer, attorney, banker, lending institution, insurance company, government entity, quasi-governmental entity, vendor, and homeowners association.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one escrow document comprises one of a grant deed, certificate of ownership, title insurance policy, loan document, loan application, homeowner'"'"'s association document, zoning disclosure report, home warranty policy, pest inspection, property inspection, natural hazard disclosure, geological report, lead-based paint inspection, settlement or closing statement, promissory note, amendment, title report, loan payoff forms, loan information request, statement of information, trust certification, deed of trust, city report, instructions, seller proceeds information, preliminary change of ownership, preliminary approval, insurance information form, lender amendment forms, buyer ownership form, instructions regarding release of funds, government form, and a quasi-government form.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to display the online status of the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to provide a language translation for the at least one escrow document.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to provide data security to the at least one escrow document.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to provide digital identity authentication for the first or second party.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the digital instructions comprise voice-based digital instructions.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the least one escrow document is associated with a transaction number.

33. The system of claim 30, further comprising providing digital identity authentication including at least one of on-line digital signature, electronic signature, biometrics, wireless identity authentication, audio or visual recording, video fingerprint, thumb-print, retinal scan, video signature authentication, voice authentication, digital certificate authentication, and digital signature document execution.

34. The system of claim 22, wherein the closing further comprises at least one of electronically transferring, registering, and recording of electronic or digital documents.

35. A method for conducting an escrow, comprising

at a first computer coupled to an online network, at least one of (1) receiving or sending at least one escrow document to be signed electronically or digitally related to the escrow process, (2) sending digital instructions to a first party involved in the escrow process to electronically or digitally sign at least one escrow document, (3) implementing identity authentication on at least one escrow document to be electronically or digitally signed, (4) electronically or digitally signing at least one escrow document, and (5) providing for a variety of levels of security for access to at least one escrow document that is to be electronically or digitally signed;

tracking online a status of the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document;

managing by receiving online the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document; and

closing by at least one of verifying online that the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document has been signed, submitting the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document to a second party involved in the escrow process, and receiving or sending online confirmation of a close of the escrow process including that the at least one escrow document has been electronically or digitally signed.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the network is one of a dial-up, leased, satellite, and wireless network.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the network comprises at least one of an extranet and Internet.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the first or second party comprises one of a principal, agent, real estate agent or broker, mortgage agent or broker, notary, service provider, title or abstract company or representative, closing or settlement agent, secondary investor, loan servicer, attorney, banker, lending institution, insurance company, government entity, quasi-governmental entity, vendor, and homeowners association.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one escrow document comprises one of a grant deed, certificate of ownership, title insurance policy, loan document, loan application, homeowner'"'"'s association document, zoning disclosure report, home warranty policy, pest inspection, property inspection, natural hazard disclosure, geological report, lead-based paint inspection, settlement or closing statement, promissory note, amendment, title report, loan payoff forms, loan information request, statement of information, trust certification, deed of trust, city report, instructions, seller proceeds information, preliminary change of ownership, preliminary approval, insurance information form, lender amendment forms, buyer ownership form, instructions regarding release of funds, government form, and a quasi-government form.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the tracking further comprises displaying the online status of the electronically or digitally signed at least one escrow document.

41. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing a language translation for the at least one escrow document.

42. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing data security to the at least one escrow document.

43. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing digital identity authentication for the first or second party.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the digital instructions comprise voice-based digital instructions.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the least one escrow document is associated with a transaction number.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising providing digital identity authentication including at least one of on-line digital signature, electronic signature, biometrics, wireless identity authentication, audio or visual recording, video fingerprint, thumb-print, retinal scan, video signature authentication, voice authentication, digital certificate authentication, and digital signature document execution.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein the online communications comprise at least one of an extranet and Internet.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein the closing further comprises at least one of electronically transferring, registering, and recording of electronic or digital documents.