Implementation of payroll smart contract on a distributed ledger

1. A method comprising:

improving security and accessibility of data relating to payment of wages by:

storing a first smart contract on a blockchain maintained in a computer network, wherein:

the first smart contract contains a first clause in an event of authorized changes to the first smart contract; and

the first smart contract contains a second clause to pay first wages to an employee upon occurrence of a trigger event, the second clause different than the first clause;

storing a modification to the first smart contract as a second smart contract on the blockchain prior to executing instructions to pay the first wages, the second smart contract containing a third clause to pay second wages to the employee, wherein the second smart contract is different than the first smart contract; and

responsive to receiving the trigger event:

executing the first smart contract, wherein the first clause is executed prior to the second clause; and

after executing the first clause, executing the second smart contract, whereby the second wages are paid to the employee;

wherein:

the blockchain is maintained on non-transitory, computer-readable storage media comprising a distributed ledger implemented by the computer network;

the first smart contract and the second smart contract are recorded on the blockchain such that the first smart contract and the second smart contract cannot be modified;

the second wages comprise updated wages; and

payroll security is improved by paying the updated wages using the blockchain,

wherein the first clause is a redirection clause.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to storing the first smart contract on the blockchain, assigning a unique identifier to the employee; and

storing the unique identifier on the blockchain.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the unique identifier comprises a hash of a combination of two or more of a social security number of the employee, a name of the employee, a birth date of the employee, a code provided by a third party vendor, and a code provided by the employee.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein both the first smart contract and the second smart contract includes a function at a beginning of corresponding instructions in the first smart contract and the second smart contract to check for an updated version stored later in the blockchain.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the redirection clause includes calling a sublevel smart contract from a third party.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the third party comprises a government agency; and

the sublevel smart contract further includes instructions to withhold taxes payable to the government agency from the updated wages.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the third party comprises a court; and

the sublevel smart contract further includes instructions to withhold a court-ordered payment payable to an entity from the updated wages.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the court-ordered payment is for one of child support, a chapter 13 bankruptcy payment, and a payment on a judgement.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the first smart contract and the second smart contract comprise expiration clauses that prevent the first smart contract and the second smart contract from being repeatedly executed on the blockchain; and

the blockchain preventing alteration of the first smart contract and the second smart contract ensures security for the expiration clauses.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to storing the first smart contract on the blockchain, assigning a first unique identifier to the employee;

storing the first unique identifier on the blockchain;

assigning and storing a second unique identifier to the employee based on a third smart contract, wherein the third smart contract is from a third party unrelated to a party paying the updated wages;

storing the third smart contract, wherein the third smart contract is for paying second wages from a second job of the employee upon receiving a second trigger; and

independently executing both the second smart contract and the third smart contract upon an occurrence of a first trigger and the second trigger, respectively.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

writing the second smart contract such that a third party can only read selected portions of the second smart contract from the blockchain.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a code to a third party, wherein the code serves as a trigger for the second smart contract to allow only selected portions of the second smart contract on the blockchain to be displayed.

13. A computer comprising:

a processor configured to:

store a first smart contract on a blockchain maintained in a computer network, wherein:

the first smart contract contains a first clause in an event of authorized changes to the first smart contract;

the first clause is a redirection clause; and

the first smart contract contains a second clause to pay first wages to an employee upon receipt of a trigger event;

store a modification of the first smart contract as a second smart contract on the blockchain prior to executing instructions to pay the first wages, the second smart contract containing a third clause to pay second wages to the employee;

receive the trigger event;

execute program code for thereafter executing the first smart contract, including executing the redirection clause prior to executing the second clause; and

execute the second smart contract and direct that the second wages be paid, whereby computer security is increased by providing for payment of updated wages via the blockchain in which the first smart contract and the second smart contract are recorded, such that the first smart contract and the second smart contract cannot be retroactively altered.

14. The computer of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

store the first smart contract on the blockchain;

assign a unique identifier to the employee; and

store a unique identifier on the blockchain.

15. The computer of claim 14 , wherein the unique identifier comprises a hash of a combination of two or more of a social security number of the employee, a name of the employee, a birth date of the employee, a code provided by a third party vendor, and a code provided by the employee.

16. The computer of claim 13 , wherein both the first smart contract and the second smart contract includes a function at a beginning of corresponding instructions in the first smart contract and the second smart contract to check for an updated version stored later in the blockchain.

17. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory, computer-readable medium including instructions for improving security and accessibility of data stored in a distributed ledger comprising a blockchain, wherein portions of the blockchain are maintained on non-transitory, computer-readable storage media in a computer network, the instructions comprising:

first program code for storing a first smart contract on the blockchain, wherein:

the blockchain prevents alteration of the first smart contract;

the first smart contract contains a redirection clause in an event of authorized changes to the first smart contract; and

the first smart contract contains a second clause to pay first wages to an employee upon receipt of a trigger event;

second program code for storing a second smart contract on the blockchain, the second smart contract comprising a modification to the first smart contract, wherein:

the second smart contract is stored on the blockchain prior to executing instructions to pay the first wages;

the second smart contract contains a clause to pay second wages to the employee; and

the blockchain prevents alteration of the second smart contract;

third program code for, responsive to receiving the trigger event, executing the first smart contract, including executing the redirection clause prior to executing the second clause; and

fourth program code for executing the second smart contract and directing that the second wages be paid, whereby computer security is increased by providing for payment of updated wages via the blockchain in which the first smart contract and the second smart contract are recorded.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise:

fifth program code for, prior to storing the first smart contract on the blockchain, assigning a unique identifier to the employee; and

sixth program code for storing the unique identifier on the blockchain.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the unique identifier comprises a hash of a combination of two or more of a social security number of the employee, a name of the employee, a birth date of the employee, a code provided by a third party vendor, and a code provided by the employee.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein both the first smart contract and the second smart contract include a function at a beginning of corresponding instructions in the first smart contract and the second smart contract to check for an updated version stored later in the blockchain.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the redirection clause calls a sublevel smart contract from a third party that includes instructions to withhold from the updated wages.