# How Square Prepares Digital Tabs for Customers Before They Arrive

> A system that lets merchants create a digital customer tab before a guest arrives, using reservation data to pre-load preferences and payment info for a faster checkout.

- **Patent:** US 10157378
- **Original title:** Anticipatory creation of point-of-sale data structures
- **Owner:** Square Inc
- **Granted:** 2018
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 3
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, ecommerce

## What it does

This patent describes a way for point-of-sale (POS) systems to start a transaction record before a customer even walks through the door. When a customer makes a reservation or joins a waitlist, the system creates a data structure—essentially a digital tab—that stores the customer's ID and arrival time. When the system detects the customer has arrived, it automatically displays this pre-populated tab on the merchant's screen. This allows staff to instantly see the customer's preferences or pre-saved payment information, making the actual ordering and payment process much faster.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover general reservation systems that only track time and headcount without linking to a POS transaction data structure.
- Does not cover automated payment processing that occurs without a merchant-side POS device display.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on proximity beacons without a prior reservation or waitlist request.

## The clever bit

The innovation is treating a future reservation not just as a calendar entry, but as the 'start' of a transaction data structure that can be enriched with payment and preference data before the customer is physically present.

## Real-world examples

1. Square for Restaurants POS
2. Modern digital waitlist apps
3. Pre-paid reservation systems in high-end dining

## Why it matters

This technology bridges the gap between booking software and payment hardware. By turning a reservation into an active, pre-loaded digital tab, merchants can reduce friction at the point of sale. It is a key component of the modern 'frictionless' retail experience where the payment happens in the background.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Square Prepares Digital Tabs for Customers Before They Arrive cover?

A system that lets merchants create a digital customer tab before a guest arrives, using reservation data to pre-load preferences and payment info for a faster checkout.

### Who owns patent US 10157378?

Square Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on December 18, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 10157378 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This technology bridges the gap between booking software and payment hardware. By turning a reservation into an active, pre-loaded digital tab, merchants can reduce friction at the point of sale. It is a key component of the modern 'frictionless' retail experience where the payment happens in the background.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover general reservation systems that only track time and headcount without linking to a POS transaction data structure.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10157378/stripe-connect

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10157378

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._