SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ENHANCING TIP MANAGEMENT

Abstract

A system and method of enhancing ‘tip’ or ‘gratuity’ management, herein referred to as a ‘Daily Tip Payment System’ (DTPS) is disclosed. One example embodiment is comprised of a software application (app), a data processor executing the app, and a cloud network. The software connects with an employer's existing point of sale (POS) platform used in retail settings (such as restaurants, etc.) and allows tips from cashless transactions to be seamlessly deposited directly into an service provider's bank account, prepaid debit card, or mobile payment app after each shift for a small fee. An object of the example embodiments of the invention is to streamline tip coordination and allocation for the employer and allow the service provider to receive tips more frequently and more conveniently.

Claims

1. A daily tip payment system, the system comprising: a data processor; and a daily tip payment application, executable by the data processor, the daily tip payment application being configured to: register, by use of the data processor and an employee access portal, a service provider for whom daily tips are to be managed and paid; enable the registered service provider to configure a tip subscription, a tip request, and a tip calendar; interface, by use of the data processor, with an employer access portal to receive tip management configuration parameters, to obtain fund transfer approvals, and to provide notifications to an employer; interface, by use of the data processor, with a point-of-sale (POS) system to receive tip and cash out information from the POS, the tip and cash out information including customer credit card tip information or customer mobile pay information; and initiate an electronic fund transfer transaction to automatically transfer tip funds from a financial institution of the employer to a financial account of the service provider, the transaction corresponding to the tip subscription, tip request, and tip calendar configured by the registered service provider, the transaction having been approved by the employer.

2. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 wherein the tip subscription includes: demographics, account profile, website login information, and tip deposit preferences.

3. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 wherein the tip request includes: tip viewing preferences, tip payout amounts, and tip collection times and dates.

4. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 wherein the tip calendar includes: tip dispersal dates and tip dispersal times by day, week, and month.

5. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 wherein the employer access portal enables an employer to assign tip viewing rights to service providers, approve or disapprove service provider tip payouts, and approve or disapprove tip tax withholding settings.

6. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 wherein the notifications to the employer include private viewing of service provider tip profiles, tips broken down by service provider in real time, and payout activity in real time.

7. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 wherein the notifications to the employer include cash shortage forecasting alerts.

8. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 wherein the notifications to the employer are performed using SMS, text, or email.

9. The daily tip payment system of claim 1 being further configured to use an electronic fund transfer transaction to deposit tips received via the POS directly to the financial institution of the employer.

10. A method comprising: registering, by use of a data processor and an employee access portal, a service provider for whom daily tips are to be managed and paid; enabling the registered service provider to configure a tip subscription, a tip request, and a tip calendar; interfacing, by use of the data processor, with an employer access portal to receive tip management configuration parameters, to obtain fund transfer approvals, and to provide notifications to an employer; interfacing, by use of the data processor, with a point-of-sale (POS) system to receive tip and cash out information from the POS, the tip and cash out information including customer credit card tip information or customer mobile pay information; and initiating an electronic fund transfer transaction to automatically transfer tip funds from a financial institution of the employer to a financial account of the service provider, the transaction corresponding to the tip subscription, tip request, and tip calendar configured by the registered service provider, the transaction having been approved by the employer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the tip subscription includes: demographics, account profile, website login information, and tip deposit preferences.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the tip request includes: tip viewing preferences, tip payout amounts, and tip collection times and dates.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the tip calendar includes: tip dispersal dates and tip dispersal times by day, week, and month.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the employer access portal enables an employer to assign tip viewing rights to service providers, approve or disapprove service provider tip payouts, and approve or disapprove tip tax withholding settings.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the notifications to the employer include private viewing of service provider tip profiles, tips broken down by service provider in real time, and payout activity in real time.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the notifications to the employer include cash shortage forecasting alerts.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the notifications to the employer are performed using SMS, text, or email.

18. The method of claim 10 including using an electronic fund transfer transaction to deposit tips received via the POS directly to the financial institution of the employer.

19. A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to: register, by use of the data processor and an employee access portal, a service provider for whom daily tips are to be managed and paid; enable the registered service provider to configure a tip subscription, a tip request, and a tip calendar; interface, by use of the data processor, with an employer access portal to receive tip management configuration parameters, to obtain fund transfer approvals, and to provide notifications to an employer; interface, by use of the data processor, with a point-of-sale (POS) system to receive tip and cash out information from the POS, the tip and cash out information including customer credit card tip information or customer mobile pay information; and initiate an electronic fund transfer transaction to automatically transfer tip funds from a financial institution of the employer to a financial account of the service provider, the transaction corresponding to the tip subscription, tip request, and tip calendar configured by the registered service provider, the transaction having been approved by the employer.

20. The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium of claim 19 being further configured to use an electronic fund transfer transaction to deposit tips received via the POS directly to the financial institution of the employer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the example embodiments of the invention in use.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the process operations of the example embodiments of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment represented as a Daily Tip Payment System (DTPS) in data communication with a POS and employer and employee access portals.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the DTPS in data communication with a POS for receipt of tip information from the POS.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the DTPS in data communication with a POS and providing data support for the employer and employees (or other service providers).

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the employee access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS.

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the employer access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a processing flow diagram that illustrates example embodiments of methods as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

[0031] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation. Conventional components of the example embodiments of the invention are elements that are well-known in the prior art and will not be discussed in detail for this disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows perspective views of example embodiments of the invention in use with service provider 3, for example, receiving tips from customer 5 and employer 4 observing tip activity on smartphone 2 running the software application (app) of an example embodiment 1 thereon. In the example embodiment, the software application (app) 1 in combination with a data processor executing the app can be denoted as the ‘Daily Tip Payment System’ (DTPS). An example embodiment of the invention can include, but is not limited to, a software application, a data processor executing the app, a cloud network, and a website.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the process operations of an example embodiment of the invention. A service provider having access to the DTPS software app of an example embodiments can perform a variety of functions or engage a variety of features, such as but not limited to: subscriptions 6 (e.g., entering demographics, account profile, website login information, tip deposit preferences, etc.); tip requests 7 (e.g., tip viewing, tip payout amounts, requesting tip collection times and dates etc.); and tip calendar 8 (e.g., viewing tip dispersal dates and times by day, week, month, etc.). The service provider may have access to the DTPS software app of an example embodiments by use of a range of computing devices 12, such as but not limited to, desktop computers 9, tablets 10, and smartphones 11, and the like. The employer having access to the DTPS software app of an example embodiments can perform a variety of functions or engage a variety of features, including a plurality of tip management operations, such as: configuration management 20 (e.g., assigning tip viewing rights to service providers, approving service provider tip payouts, linkages with existing point of sale (POS) software, approving tip tax withholding settings, etc.); setting up a tip payment calendar among service providers 21 (e.g., approving tip payout dispersion methods, dates and times etc.); reporting or notifications 22 (e.g., private viewing of service provider tip profiles, tips broken down by service provider in real time, and payout activity in real time, etc.). The service provider operations and employer functions can be serviced by a cloud network 16 having computer or software-implemented routines executing thereon, such routines including: administrative functions 13 (e.g., service provider and employer demographics and accounts, website backend management, existing POS linkages, employer subscription options, etc.); tip management configurations 14 (e.g., payout options, payout approvals, payout monitoring, tip monitoring settings, linkages with popular financial apps, etc.); tip calendar organization 15 (e.g., tip payout scheduling, tip schedule access rights, schedule editing rights, etc.); archives 17 (e.g., encrypted historical tip data available by service provider, customer, date and time etc.); notifications 18 (e.g., tip notifications via SMS, text, email etc., cash shortage forecasting alerts, etc.); and reporting 19 (e.g., year-end summary of tip activity listed by service provider, date, time etc., tip comparisons for performance evaluations etc.).

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 3, a system structure diagram illustrates an example embodiment represented as a Daily Tip Payment System (DTPS), executable by a data processor and in data communication with a POS and employer and employee access portals. In the example embodiment, the DTPS can be implemented as a data processing system and/or a software system implementing the features as disclosed herein. The DTPS can interface with a conventional POS system to receive tip and cash out information from the POS. The DTPS can also interface with employer and employee access portals (e.g., a mobile phone, website, or the like) to receive configuration parameters and to provide notifications to the employer or employee.

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the DTPS in data communication with a POS for receipt of tip information from the POS. In the example embodiment, the DTPS can support receipt of customer credit card tip information or customer mobile pay information via the POS. Additionally, the tip information can be conveyed to the DTPS and to an employee (e.g., via the employee access portal) as tips earned by the employee. The employee, or other service provider, can use the DTPS (e.g., via the employee access portal) to specify an amount of the received tips to be cashed out to the employee. This information can be conveyed from the DTPS to the POS as tips paid to the employee.

[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the DTPS in data communication with a POS and providing data support for the employer and employees (or other service providers). In the example embodiment, the employer (e.g., via the employer access portal) can access the DTPS and cause or initiate a financial transaction to occur between the DTPS and a financial institution of the employer (e.g., the employer's account at a bank). In this manner, the employer can use an electronic fund transfer transaction, for example, to deposit tips received via the POS directly to the financial institution of the employer. As a result, the employer does not need to carry cash tips to the employer's bank for deposit. Moreover, when an employee wishes to cash out some or all of their received tips, the DTPS can cause a financial transaction to occur between the DTPS and a financial institution of the employer to directly transfer (e.g., via an electronic fund transfer) the employee's requested tip amount from the employer's financial institution to a financial receptacle of the employee. The employee's financial receptacle can be a bank account of the employee, the employee's debit card, the employee's mobile pay account, or other financial receptacle of the employee. The DTPS can handle the authentication and validation of the financial transactions.

[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the employee access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS. As shown, the employee, or other service provider, can use the employee access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS to access a dashboard or debit view. The dashboard enables the employee to configure or select a method of payment used by the DTPS to transfer a requested amount of the employee's tips to a financial receptacle of the employee. The employee can also configure or select an option to cause the DTPS to automatically withhold any taxes due on the tips paid out to the employee. As also shown in FIG. 6, the debit view presented to the employee by the employee access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS enables the employee to specify an amount of their tip allocation to be paid out and debited to their tip allocation. The specified tip amount can be transferred by the DTPS to a financial receptacle of the employee as described above. The debit view presented to the employee by the employee access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS can also prompt the employee to confirm the amount to be debited.

[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates a system structure diagram showing an example embodiment of the employer access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS. As shown, the employer can use the employer access portal or user interface provided by the DTPS to access a dashboard. The dashboard enables the employer to configure or select how the transaction fees related to the financial transactions are to be paid. The employer can also configure or select an option to cause the DTPS to automatically withhold any taxes due on the tips paid out to the employee.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 8, a processing flow diagram illustrates an example embodiment of a method implemented by the example embodiments as described herein. The method 2000 of an example embodiment can be configured to: register, by use of a data processor and an employee access portal, a service provider for whom daily tips are to be managed and paid (processing block 2010); enable the registered service provider to configure a tip subscription, a tip request, and a tip calendar (processing block 2020); interface, by use of the data processor, with an employer access portal to receive tip management configuration parameters, to obtain fund transfer approvals, and to provide notifications to an employer (processing block 2030); interface, by use of the data processor, with a point-of-sale (POS) system to receive tip and cash out information from the POS, the tip and cash out information including customer credit card tip information or customer mobile pay information (processing block 2040); and initiating an electronic fund transfer transaction to automatically transfer tip funds from a financial institution of the employer to a financial account of the service provider, the transaction corresponding to the tip subscription, tip request, and tip calendar configured by the registered service provider, the transaction having been approved by the employer (processing block 2050).

[0040] Those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein will recognize that mobile applications are written in several languages include, by way of non-limiting examples, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java, Javascript, Pascal, Object Pascal, Python, Ruby, VB.NET, WML, and XHL/HL with or without CSS, or combinations thereof. The app in example embodiments of the invention 1 is also compatible with a plurality of operating systems such as, but not limited to: Windows™, Apple™, and Android™, and compatible with a multitude of hardware platforms such as, but not limited to: personal desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones and the like. Suitable mobile application development environments are available from several sources. Commercially available development environments include, by way of non-limiting examples, Airplay SDK™, alcheMo™, Appcelerator™, Celsius™, Bedrock™, Flash Lite™, .NET Compact Framework, Rhomobile™, and WorkLight™ Mobile Platform. Other development environments are available without cost including, by way of non-limiting examples, Lazarus™, MobiFlex™, MoSync™, and Phonegap™. Also, mobile device manufacturers distribute software developer kits including, by way of non-limiting examples, iPhone™ and iPad™ (iOS) SDK, Android™ SDK, BlackBerry™ SDK, BREW™ SDK, Palm™ OS SDK, Symbian™ SDK, webOS™ SDK, and Windows™ Mobile SDK. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that several commercial forums are available for distribution of mobile applications including, by way of non-limiting examples, Apple™ App Store, Google™ Play, Chrome™ Web Store, BlackBerry™ App World, App Store for Palm™ devices, App Catalog for webOS™, Windows™ Marketplace for Mobile, Ovi™ Store for Nokia™ devices, Samsung™ Apps, and Nintendo™ DSi Shop.

[0041] In some embodiments, a computer program includes a standalone application, which is a program that is run as an independent computer process, not an add-on to an existing process, e.g., not a plug-in. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that standalone applications are often compiled. A compiler is a computer program(s) that transforms source code written in a programming language into binary object code such as assembly language or machine code. Suitable compiled programming languages include, by way of non-limiting examples, C, C++, Objective-C, COBOL, Delphi, Eiffel, Java™, Lisp, Python™, Visual Basic, and VB .NET, or combinations thereof. Compilation is often performed, at least in part, to create an executable program. In some embodiments, a computer program includes one or more executable complied applications. In some embodiments, the computer program includes a web browser plug-in (e.g., extension, etc.). In computing, a plug-in is one or more software components that add specific functionality to a larger software application. Makers of software applications support plug-ins to enable third-party developers to create abilities which extend an application, to support easily adding new features, and to reduce the size of an application. When supported, plug-ins enable customizing the functionality of a software application. For example, plug-ins are commonly used in web browsers to play video, generate interactivity, scan for viruses, and display particular file types. Those of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with several web browser plug-ins including, Adobe™ Flash Player, Microsoft™ Silverlight, and Apple™ QuickTime.

[0042] In view of the disclosure provided herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that several plug-in frameworks are available that enable development of plug-ins in various programming languages, including, by way of non-limiting examples, C++, Delphi, Java™, PHP, Python, and VB .NET, or combinations thereof. Web browsers (also called Internet browsers) are software applications, designed for use with network-connected digital processing devices, for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. Suitable web browsers include, by way of non-limiting examples, Microsoft™ Internet Explorer, Mozilla™ Firefox, Google™ Chrome, Apple™ Safari, Opera™ Software Opera, and KDE Konqueror™. In some embodiments, the web browser is a mobile web browser. Mobile web browsers (also called micro-browsers, mini-browsers, and wireless browsers) are designed for use on mobile digital processing devices including, by way of non-limiting examples, handheld computers, tablet computers, netbook computers, subnotebook computers, smartphones, music players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and handheld video game systems. Suitable mobile web browsers include, by way of non-limiting examples, Google™ Android browser, RIM BlackBerry™ Browser, Apple™ Safari, Palm™ Blazer, Palm™ WebOS Browser, Mozilla™ Firefox for mobile, Microsoft™ Internet Explorer Mobile, Amazon™ Kindle Basic Web, Nokia™ Browser, Opera™ Software Opera Mobile, and Sony™ PSP™ browser.

[0043] In some embodiments, the platforms, systems, media, and methods disclosed herein include software, server, and/or database modules, or use of the same. In view of the disclosure provided herein, software modules are created by techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art using machines, software, and languages known to the art. The software modules disclosed herein are implemented in a multitude of ways. In various embodiments, a software module comprises a file, a section of code, a programming object, a programming structure, or combinations thereof In further various embodiments, a software module comprises a plurality of files, a plurality of sections of code, a plurality of programming objects, a plurality of programming structures, or combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the one or more software modules comprise, by way of non-limiting examples, a web application, a mobile application, and a standalone application. In some embodiments, software modules are in one computer program or application. In other embodiments, software modules are in more than one computer program or application. In some embodiments, software modules are hosted on one machine. In other embodiments, software modules are hosted on more than one machine. In further embodiments, software modules are hosted on cloud computing platforms. In some embodiments, software modules are hosted on one or more machines in one location. In other embodiments, software modules are hosted on one or more machines in more than one location.

[0044] It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the systems and methods are shown in their most simple form, various components and aspects of the systems and methods may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein. As such those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure and will understand that the disclosure herein is merely meant to portray examples of embodiments within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the example embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the example embodiments of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the example embodiments of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.