Abstract:
A payroll system includes at least one interface station having a processor, an input device, a printer, paper such as blank check stock, and a display. The payroll system includes a company payroll computer system remote from the kiosk that includes payroll compensation and benefit data. The company computer and kiosk are communicatively connected with a network information system. The kiosk input device may be a keyboard, scanner, barcode reader, fingerprint reader, or other suitable devices and are used for employee authentication, updating benefit data, or even receipt reimbursement. The kiosk may also be connected to a banking computer or network for making bank transactions such as directing funds from one&#39;s payroll to a checking account or retirement account.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates generally to payroll systems and, more particularly, to a computer implemented payroll system that enables employees to access their payroll data, to receive their payroll checks at a remote computer kiosk, and to selectively control related personal banking activities related to payroll. 
         [0002]    Payroll departments in many instances become overloaded by the tasks of calculating and processing paychecks, government mandated reports, updating employee benefit information, processing vacation accruals, sick time, garnishments, expense reports, etc. A typical payroll department at a medium or large sized company is not only tasked with calculating payroll, printing paychecks, and coordinating benefits, but also with delivering the paychecks personally or by mail. In some cases, employees—potentially thousands of them—must report to a payroll office to pick up their paycheck. Distribution of paychecks and related services to employees is often a source of frustration to employees. 
         [0003]    Various devices and systems for efficient payroll processing have been proposed in the art. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices and systems do not provide comprehensive access to employee payroll and benefit data from a remote payroll kiosk, including the printing of paychecks, controlling bank transactions, and reducing overall payroll department costs. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a payroll system that prints paychecks on actual check stock at a remote interface station, provides adequate data security to employee data, and provides transactional access to an employee&#39;s bank records. Further, it would be desirable to have an electronic payroll system that substantially reduces the cost of administering a payroll and benefit program. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A payroll system according to the present invention includes a remote kiosk, also referred to herein as an interface station, that will reduce or eliminate much of the overload and inefficiency experienced by both payroll departments and employees. Of course, multiple kiosks may be arranged side by side on company property or dispersed about a metropolitan area for maximum convenience to employees, similar to the dispersion of automatic teller machines (ATM&#39;s). The kiosk includes at least one input device such as a keyboard, touch screen, or scanner. The station also includes a printer and paper such as blank check stock so that actual paychecks may be printed rather than just a record of the transaction, as is the case of existing systems. A processor is in communication with the input device or devices and manages communications with remote computers through appropriate electronic information networks. More particularly, the interface station may be in communication with a company computer so that payroll and benefit data may be accessed or updated. Additionally, the station may be simultaneously interconnected with a banking network to manage financial transactions as desired by a user. 
         [0006]    Each kiosk includes several types of security features. A camera is positioned on the kiosk for recording physical activities adjacent thereto. A security camera is useful both to enhance personal security and also to deter criminal activity such as theft. The station also provides for data security by requiring a pin number, security code, barcode reader to read an employee&#39;s identification code, or fingerprint reader. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide an electronic payroll system that simplifies the workload on a payroll department by providing electronic access to employees through one or more remote electronic payroll kiosks. 
         [0008]    Another object of this invention is to provide an electronic payroll system, as aforesaid, that prints actual paychecks on demand at a remote kiosk upon authentication that a user is an authorized employee. 
         [0009]    Still another object of this invention is to provide an electronic payroll system, as aforesaid, which enables an authorized employee to access a company payroll computer through a remote kiosk. 
         [0010]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide an electronic payroll system, as aforesaid, in which a remote payroll kiosk is electronically connected to a national banking information network. 
         [0011]    A further object of this invention is to provide an electronic payroll system, as aforesaid, in which an authorized employee may access employee benefit data from a company computer using the remote kiosk. 
         [0012]    A still further object of this invention is to provide an electronic payroll system, as aforesaid, in which an employee may conduct financial transactions in conjunction with accessed payroll information. 
         [0013]    A particular object of this invention is to provide an electronic payroll system which saves time and money related to processing, printing, distributing, or mailing paychecks and human resource information. 
         [0014]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic payroll system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the payroll system as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2   b  is a sectional view of the payroll system taken along line  2   b - 2   b  of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the components of the payroll system; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the logic of the processor of the payroll system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    A payroll system  100  according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a payroll system  100  according to the current invention includes an interface station  110  and a remote computer  120 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 2   b , the interface station  110  (also referred to as a kiosk  110  or a check printing machine  110 ) may include a housing  112 , an input device  113 , a display  114 , a printer  115 , a camera  116 , and a lockable access door  117 . The printer  115  is preferably encased in the housing  112 . A processor  118  may also be included inside the housing  112 , and paper  119  may be inside the housing  112  so that the printer  115  may print indicia on the paper  119 . The processor  118 , the printer  115 , and the paper  119  may be selectively accessed through the lockable access door  117  such as for maintenance and re-supply purposes. The processor  118  is in communication with the input device  113 , the printer  115 , and the display  114  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and the processor  118  preferably includes software for communicating between the interface station  110  and the remote computer  120  and for using data from the input device  113  and the remote computer  120  to control the printer  115 , as will be described in more detail below. 
         [0022]    The paper  119  may include blank check stock, and the indicia may include check data. This allows the printer  115  to print actual paychecks or reimbursement checks on the spot without the need to stock form checks. As such, it is inexpensive to change check formats (such as to update company name or address information,) and there is less incentive for someone to break into the housing  112  and steal the paper  119 . The paper  119  may also include multipurpose paper, and the indicia may include account data. This enables the printer  115  to print information related to a user&#39;s account, such as check stubs, income tax information, benefit information, etc. 
         [0023]    The input device  113  may be a keypad  113   a , a touch screen  113   b , a scanner  113   c , or another input device, and multiple input devices  113  may be used. A scanner  113   c  enables a user to input receipts for reimbursement purposes. Card readers (i.e., a barcode reader or a magnetic strip reader) are also suitable input devices  113 , among others. A fingerprint reader is also contemplated for authenticating a user who is attempting to access the system. 
         [0024]    The remote computer  120  is preferably remote from the interface station  110 , and an electronic network may connect the interface station processor  118  and the remote computer  120 . The remote computer  120  may be a company payroll computer system  120   a , a bank computer system  120   b , and/or another financial computer system, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The electronic information network may be a wide area network  121  (i.e., the internet), or another network, and at least a part of the electronic information network may be wireless to facilitate installation of the interface stations  110  without having to install networking cables or for other convenience reasons. Wireless communications such as satellite transmissions (not shown) would also enable the remote paycheck delivery system of the present invention to be used aboard naval vessels and the like. The processor  118  may include programming for communicating between the kiosks  110 , the company payroll computer system  120   a , and the bank computer system  120   b , and programming for using data obtained from the input devices  113 , the company payroll computer system  120   a , and the bank computer system  120   b  to control the printer  115 . 
         [0025]    It should be clearly understood that the payroll system  100  may include multiple kiosks  110  as well as multiple remote computers  120  (i.e., multiple bank computer systems  120   b  and multiple company payroll computer systems  120   a ). In fact, multiple kiosks may be positioned on company property, such as in a cafeteria, in various break rooms, or in another predetermined location so that employees may obtain their paychecks or conduct other transactions at their convenience during the work day. Or, the multiple kiosks may be arranged remotely from company property such as a network of stations situated about a metropolitan area. It should also be understood that a company payroll computer system  120   a  may also include information not related to payroll, such as company benefit information. 
         [0026]    Further, it should be appreciated that the payroll system  100  may be utilized by several different companies. Each “subscribing” company would have its own payroll computer system  120   a  in communication with the kiosk processor  118  for directing the printer  115  to print appropriate paychecks, reimbursements, etc. This is especially feasible in that the kiosk  110  prints the checks on demand rather than utilizing pre-printed stock. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary method of using the payroll system  100 . At a first step S 1 , a user may approach the interface station  110  and identify and authenticate himself through an input device  113 . He may input a code into a key pad  113   a  or a touch screen  113   b  (e.g. a pin number), swipe a card having a magnetic strip, use an electronic key fob, scan a card having a barcode, have a biometric reading taken (i.e., fingerprints, eye scans, etc.), etc. If the processor  118  accepts the data from the input device  113  and authenticates the user, the process continues to step S 2 . If not, the process returns to the beginning. 
         [0028]    At step S 2 , the processor  118  may inquire as to whether the user wishes to print a paycheck or reimbursement check through displaying a question on the display  114 , audibly asking such a question by using a speaker in communication with the processor  118 , or through other methods. If the user responds affirmatively through the input device  113 , the process continues to step S 3 ; if the user responds negatively through the input device  113 , the process proceeds to step S 5 . 
         [0029]    At step S 3 , the processor  118  may calculate the user&#39;s check (preferably by contacting the company payroll computer system  120   a ), and the process proceeds to step S 4 . At step S 4 , the processor  118  instructs the printer  115  to print an appropriate check in accordance with the calculations performed at step S 3 , which is then provided to the user. It is understood that the processor  118 , in cooperation with the payroll computer system  120   a  may refuse to print a paycheck until a predetermined date and time or, to calculate and print a partial paycheck in the case where an employee is requesting a paycheck prior to the end of a pay period. 
         [0030]    At step S 5 , the processor  118  may inquire as to whether the user wishes to access account information through displaying a question on the display  114  or through other methods. If the user responds affirmatively through the input device  113 , the processor  118  may connect to the company payroll computer system  120   a  as shown at step S 6 . If the user responds negatively through the input device  113 , the processor  118  proceeds to step S 7 . At step S 6 , the user may print account data on the paper  119  using the printer  115 . The processor  118  may access the company payroll computer system  120   a  through the programming and networking as described above. It is understood that any transactions such as printing a payroll check, updating information, etc. is recorded by the payroll computer  120   a  so that a duplicate (second) payroll check could not be generated again in another transaction. 
         [0031]    At step S 7 , the processor  118  may inquire as to whether the user wishes to make a bank transaction through displaying a question on the display  114  or through other methods. If the user responds affirmatively through the input device  113 , the processor  118  may connect to the bank computer system  120   b  as shown at step S 8 . If the user responds negatively through the input device  113 , the processor  118  proceeds to step S 9 . The processor  118  may access the bank computer system  120   b  through the programming and networking as described above. 
         [0032]    At step S 9 , the processor may inquire as to whether the user has a question or problem pertaining to the payroll system  100  through displaying a question on the display  114  or through other methods. If the user responds affirmatively through the input device  113 , the user may then be allowed to describe the problem or question at step S 10 . If the user responds negatively through the input device  113 , the process returns to step S 1 . 
         [0033]    At step S 10 , the user may select a standard question or problem from a list using the input device  113 , or the user may compose a specific question or problem using the input device  113 . The process then proceeds to step S 11 . 
         [0034]    At step S 11 , the processor connects to the company payroll computer system  120   a  and provides the question or problem to an automated response program or to a technician/clerk who may provide an answer or remedy the problem, preferably in real time through communications with the user at the kiosk  110  via the information network. 
         [0035]    The process returns to step S 1  from steps S 4 , S 6 , S 8 , and S 11 . 
         [0036]    Also, the camera  116  may record activities adjacent the housing  112  for safety reasons, error verification, monitoring, etc. Images may then be stored locally or transferred through the information network to a remote location for storage and/or viewing. Sound may also be captured by the camera  116  and treated similarly to the corresponding images. 
         [0037]    The scanner  113   c  may be used to transmit copies of receipts to the company payroll computer system  120   a  for reimbursement or for other tasks, and the scanner  113   c  may be incorporated into or separate from the printer  115 . 
         [0038]    It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.