# How Mobile Devices Use Tags to Close Restaurant Checks > A system for restaurant servers to open and close customer tabs by tapping a mobile device against a physical tag at a table. - **Patent:** US 10559047 - **Original title:** Systems and methods for facilitating closing of a check - **Owner:** NCR Corp - **Granted:** 2020 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 1 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, ecommerce ## What it does This patent describes a method where a server uses a portable device to interact with a physical tag, such as an NFC chip or QR code, located at a customer's table. By performing an action like tapping or scanning the tag, the server's device receives a unique location identifier that links a digital check to that specific table. To close the check, the server performs the same action again; the system recognizes the location, closes the tab, and transmits the final bill to a payment-processing device. This automates the process of tracking which check belongs to which table without manual input. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover systems that rely on manual table number entry instead of a physical tag. - Does not cover payment processing that happens directly on the server's device without transmitting to a second device. - Does not cover location tracking via GPS or beacon triangulation that does not involve a specific physical tag at the location. ## The clever bit The system uses the same physical tag as a 'state machine' trigger—the first tap opens the check, and the second tap closes it, using the tag's unique ID as the persistent key to bridge the two actions. ## Real-world examples 1. NFC-enabled tabletop ordering systems 2. Server handheld POS terminals 3. QR-code based restaurant check management ## Why it matters This technology streamlines service in high-volume hospitality environments by reducing the time servers spend manually searching for and closing checks in a POS system. It minimizes errors caused by manual entry and speeds up table turnover, which is a primary operational goal for restaurant management software providers like NCR. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Mobile Devices Use Tags to Close Restaurant Checks cover? A system for restaurant servers to open and close customer tabs by tapping a mobile device against a physical tag at a table. ### Who owns patent US 10559047? NCR Corp owns this patent, granted in 2020. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on July 13, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10559047 cited by? This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology streamlines service in high-volume hospitality environments by reducing the time servers spend manually searching for and closing checks in a POS system. It minimizes errors caused by manual entry and speeds up table turnover, which is a primary operational goal for restaurant management software providers like NCR. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover systems that rely on manual table number entry instead of a physical tag. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10559047/systems-and-methods-for-facilitating-closing-of-a-check **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10559047 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Square Uses Your Phone's Location to Verify Credit Card Payments](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10198731/shopify-e-commerce-platform) — A system that uses GPS data from a customer's smartphone to confirm they are physically present at a store during a credit card transaction to reduce fraud. - [Tracking Shoppers and Store Items for Better Recommendations](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11900293/merchant-action-recommendation-system) — This patent describes a system that tracks the location of physical customers, virtual customers, and store items using beacons to generate a combined visual report and recommend actions for merchants. - [How Mobile Phones Can Securely Authorize Payments Using Random ID Codes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7577616/method-and-apparatus-of-secure-authentication-and-electronic-payment-through-mobile-communication-tool) — A 2006 system that uses a mobile phone to receive and relay a unique, temporary ID code to a store terminal to verify and authorize a payment transaction. - [How Digital Receipts Turn One-Time Payments Into Ongoing Customer Relationships](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10217092/shopify-shipping) — A system that transforms static digital receipts into dynamic, time-sensitive portals for rewards, feedback, and tipping after a purchase is complete. - [How Phones Sense Your Finger Hovering Without Touching the Screen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7653883/multi-touch-trackpad-gestures) — This patent describes a system for electronic devices, like phones, to detect a finger hovering just above the screen, display a specific interactive element below it, and then let you control that element with gestures without ever making contact.