US 20110173060A1
`
`as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2011/0173060 Al
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jul. 14, 2011
`Gallagher
`
`
`(54)
`
`GUEST CHECK PRESENTER HAVING A
`WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`(52) US. Ch. eee ereceeees 705/14.27; 705/15
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Kevin N. Gallagher, Greenwich,
`CT (US)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`12/987,547
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 10, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 61/293,461, filed on Jan.
`8, 2010.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`G06Q 50/00
`G060 30/00
`G06 20/00
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`A guest check presenter for a food establishment1s provided.
`The guest check presenter includes a holder for holding a
`guest check information and a wireless communication
`device attached to the holder and adapted to communicate
`with a wireless mobile device of the guest. The wireless
`communication device contains a guest check identifier that
`identifies the guest check. The guest check identifier is
`adapted to be retrieved by the wireless mobile device of the
`guest for use in providing various useful mobile services that
`are associated with the food establishment or the food con-
`sumed by the guest. Thus, the check presenter is used as a
`platform for providing such mobile services as mobile pay-
`mentof the guest check and loyalty coupons.
`
`50
`
`66
`
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`~RESTAURANTMANAGEMENT
`NUTRITION
`SYSTEM
`
`SYSTEM
` PAYMENT
`
` RESTAURANT
`
`PROCESSING
`SYSTEM
`
`INTERFACE
`
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`RESTAURANT
`POS
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`SAMSUNG 1016
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`SAMSUNG 1016
`
`1
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`FIG. 1B
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`eater eT TT aes ee 1
`RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
`
`sn
`SE
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`
`
`PAYMENT
`
`
`PROCESSING
`
`RESTAURANT
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`INTERFACE
`SYSTEM
`
` RESTAURANT
`
`POS
`SYSTEM
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`
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`FIG. 2
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`3
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`12.
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`PROGRAM STORAGE
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` DATA STORAGE 24
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`0
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`MEMORY
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`FIG. 3
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`4
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`RESTAURANT POS MODULE WRITES FACILITATING
`INFORMATION TO GUEST CHECK PRESENTER
`
`WAITER BRINGS PROGRAMMED GUEST CHECK
`PRESENTER TO GUEST
`
`GUEST BRINGS MOBILE DEVICE NEAR
`THE GUEST CHECK PRESENTER
`
`MOBILE DEVICE READS STORED
`INFORMATION FROM THE GUEST
`
`MOBILES DEVICE RECEIVES GUEST CHECKDETAILS
`FROM RESTAURANT INTERFACE SYSTEM
`
`GUESTREVIEWSBILL AND ADDS GRATUITY
`
`MOBILE DEVICE RETRIEVES FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT
`NFORMATION FROM MOBILE DEVICE
`
`MOBILE DEVICE TRANSMITS PAYMENT INFORMATION TO
`RESTAURANTINTERFACE SYSTEM
`
`RESTAURANT INTERFACE SYSTEM RELAYS
`INFORMATION TO PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM
`
`PAYMENT APPROVAL MESSAGE TRANSMITTED TO
`MOBILE DEVICE AND TO RESTAURANT POS SYSTEM
`
`FIG. 4
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`5
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`Patent Application Publication
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`FIG. 5
`
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`MOBILE DEVICE TRANSMITS FINANCIAL
`INSTRUMENT INFORMATION AND TOTAL AMOUNT
`TO GUEST CHECK PRESENTER
`
`
`
`150
`
`
`
` 152 154
`
`WAITER PROCESSES PAYMENT USING THE
`RESTAURANT POS SYSTEM
`
`
`
`RESTAURANT POS SYSTEM PROCESSES PAYMENT
`OF THE GUEST CHECK
`
`
`156
`
`PAYMENT APPROVAL MESSAGE TRANSMITTED TO
`MOBILE DEVICE AND TO RESTAURANT POS SYSTEM
`
`FIG. 6
`
`MOBILE DEVICE TRANSMITS FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT
`INFORMATION AND TOTAL AMOUNT TO
`RESTAURANT POS SYSTEM
`
`~
`
`
`
`
`
`RESTAURANT POS SYSTEM TRANSMITS PAYMENT
`AUTHORIZATION INFORMATION TO RESTAURANT.
`
`
`INTERFACE SYSTEM
`
`
`
`PAYMENT APPROVAL MESSAGE TRANSMITTED TO
`- MOBILE DEVICE AND TO RESTAURANT POS SYSTEM
`
`
`200
`
`202
`
`204
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`6
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`MOBILE DEVICE RECEIVES NUTRITIONAL / CALORIC
`INFORMATION DETAILS FROM NUTRITION SYSTEM
`
`210
`
`MOBILE DEVICE RETRIEVES DIETARY APP
`FROM MOBILE DEVICE
`
`212
`
`
`
` 214
`
`DIETARY APP ON MOBILE DEVICE DECONSTRUCTS,
`
`GROUP AND MATCHES NUTRITIONAL / CALORIC DATA TO
`
`
`FOOD CONSUMED BY PORTION BY EACH GUEST AT
`
`MULTI GUEST TABLE
`
`
`
`
`
`MOBILE DEVICE ACTIVATES AN NFC PEER TO PEER LINK
`WITH OTHER MOBILE DEVICES AT THE TABLE AND
`PASSES APPROPRIATE NUTRITIONAL / CALORIC
`DATA TO EACH GUEST
`
`216
`
`FIG. 8
`
`
`
`RESTAURANTINTERFACE SYSTEM LINKS TO GUEST
`PREFERENCE DATABASE
`
`250
`
`252
`
`
`LOYALTY COUPON TRANSMITTED TO MOBILE DEVICE
`
`204
`
`
` MOBILE DEVICE ORGANIZES AND STORES LOYALTY
`COUPON FOR FUTURE REDEMPTION DURING
`
`NEXT VISIT TO RESTAURANT
`
`
`FIG. 9
`
`|
`
`RESTAURANT INTERFACE SYSTEM LINKS
`TO ADVERTISING SYSTEM
`
`292
`294
`
`LOCAL ADVERTISING TRANSMITTED TO MOBILE DEVICE
`
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`US 2011/0173060 Al
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`Jul. 14, 2011
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`GUEST CHECK PRESENTER HAVING A
`WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
`Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
`61/293,461, filed Jan. 8, 2010, which is incorporated herein
`by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to a guest check pre-
`senter having a wireless communication device for use in
`food establishments. More particularly, the present invention
`relates to a guest check presenter having a wireless commu-
`nication device which is adapted to communicate with a
`guest’s wireless mobile device to provide various mobile
`services associated with the food establishment or the food
`
`consumed bythe guest.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is well known that food establishments such as
`[0003]
`restaurants, bars, diners, coffee shops and the like present a
`guest check at the end ofa mealin a foldable billfold or check
`presenter that encloses the guest check and includes pockets
`for receiving the payment. Such check presenters are favored
`becausethey are discrete, and can also serve as a notice to the
`customerthatthe server will collect the paymentatthetable.
`This behavior is common and despite past and future
`advancesin technology, restaurant customers will continue to
`expect and favorthe familiar actions involving the delivery of
`the check presenter at the end of a meal.
`[0004] Check presenters are traditionally comprised of
`leatherorplastic cover that enclosesa stiff side, such as might
`be constructed of cardboardorthe like. The covers form two
`
`complimentary halves that are connected at a spine and fold
`together in a book-like arrangement. A pocket that is shaped
`and sized to receive a portion of a standard size financial
`instrumentsuch as a credit card is often provided that permits
`the credit card to ride inside safely withoutfalling outside of
`the check presenter. Sleeves or pockets may also be included
`to enclose the guest check and retain currency should this
`traditional form of paymentbe selected.
`[0005] However, such a conventional check presenter is
`used only for receiving payment from the guest and is not
`capable of offering various mobile services associated with
`the food establishment or the meal consumed by the guest
`through a wireless mobile device of the guest. Mobile ser-
`vices are services that are offered through a wireless mobile
`device carried by the guest. Such services may include mobile
`payment, targeted advertising, loyalty couponsand nutrition
`information on the meal, alerting a valet parking attendant for
`retrieving the guest’s car and alerting a coat check attendant,
`to list a few examples. These mobile services are very conve-
`nient and usefulto the guest.
`[0006] Take, for example, the mobile paymentservice. For
`paymentby credit card or by cash requiring change, a con-
`ventional check presenter requires the guest to wait for the
`waiter to pick up the check presenter. While the guest may be
`in a hurry to leave, the waiter may be busy serving other
`guests especially at busy times of the day. Moreover, once the
`waiter picks up the check presenter, it would have to be
`brought to the restaurant’s cash register to process the pay-
`
`ment. Thereafter, the card or change, whichever may be the
`case, would have to be returned to the guest, which further
`adds considerable time to pay for the meal.
`[0007] Therefore,
`it would be desirable to provide an
`improved guest check presenter which can be usedasa plat-
`form to offer various useful and value added mobile services,
`such as the mobile paymentservice and advertising, which
`are associated with the food establishment or the meal con-
`sumedby the guest through the wireless mobile device of the
`guest.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a
`guest check presenter for a food establishment is provided.
`The guest check presenter includes a holder for holding a
`guest check and a wireless communication device attached to
`the holder and adapted to communicate with a wireless
`mobile device of the guest. The wireless communication
`device contains a guest check identifier that identifies the
`guest check. The guest check identifier is adapted to be
`retrieved by the wireless mobile device of the guest for use in
`facilitating various mobile services associated with the food
`establishment or the food consumedbythe guest.
`[0009] According to another aspect of the present inven-
`tion, a guest check presenter for a food establishment for
`facilitating payment of the guest check through the guest’s
`mobile device is provided. The guest check presenter includes
`a holder for holding a guest check information and a wireless
`communication device attached to the holder and adapted to
`communicate with a wireless mobile device of the guest. The
`wireless communication device attached to the holder stores
`
`paymentfacilitating information for facilitating a payment
`for the guest check by the wireless mobile device ofthe guest.
`[0010] Advantageously, the present guest check presenter
`provides a convenient and powerful way to interface with the
`guest’s mobile device to provide various mobile services that
`are associated with the food establishment or the meal con-
`sumed without the need for the guest to leave the table and
`without the need to wait for the waiter to pick up the guest
`check presenter.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a guest check presenter
`[0011]
`having a wireless communication device.
`[0012]
`FIG.2 illustrates an exemplary system for using the
`present guest check presenter as a platform for offering vari-
`ous mobile services that are associated with the food estab-
`lishment or the meal consumedby the guest.
`[0013]
`FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a computer
`that can be used by any device or system shownin FIG.2.
`[0014]
`FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram of interactions
`among the various computers and wireless devices to pay for
`the guest check with the wireless mobile device of the guest.
`[0015]
`FIG. 5is an alternate process flow diagram ofinter-
`actions among the various computers and wireless devices to
`pay for the guest check with the wireless mobile device ofthe
`guest.
`FIG.6 is another alternate process flow diagram of
`[0016]
`interactions among the various computers and wireless
`devices to pay for the guest check with the wireless mobile
`device of the guest.
`
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`FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of interactions
`[0017]
`among the various computers and wireless devices to collect
`and deliver nutritional/caloric information for the meal just
`consumed bythe guest.
`[0018]
`FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram of interactions
`among the various computers and wireless devices to collect
`and deliver loyalty coupon informationto the wireless mobile
`device of the guest.
`[0019]
`FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram of interactions
`among the various computers and wireless devices to collect
`and deliver local advertising information to the wireless
`mobile device of the guest.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`For purposes of this application, the terms “code”,
`[0020]
`“program”, “application”, “software code”, “software mod-
`ule”, “module” and “software program” are used inter-
`changeably to mean software instructionsthat are executable
`by a processor. Also, the phrase “food establishment” means
`any establishmentthat serves any substance that can be eaten
`or drunk such as restaurants, diners, bars, coffee shops or the
`like.
`
`[0021] Briefly, a guest check presenterofthe present inven-
`tion contains a wireless communication device such as an RF
`ID tag or an NFCtag that holds information such as a guest
`check identifier for uniquely identifying the guest check. The
`check presenter is used as a platform to deliver new mobile
`services to a guest through the guest’s mobile device such as
`a smart phone. The guest check presenter is traditionally
`recognized as a familiar vessel for delivering a paper guest
`check to the table at the conclusion of a meal and this cus-
`tomary behavior will continue. However, the guest check
`presenterofthe present invention not only functions to hold a
`paper check to work as a traditional check presenter but also
`functions to interface with the guest’s mobile device to offer
`arange ofnew mobile services including mobile payment and
`delivering an electronic guest check, loyalty coupons, nutri-
`tional/caloric information, and local advertising to name just
`a few.
`
`wireless payment services capability contained within the
`check presenter 2 and as to the proper location of the touch
`point. Although the wireless communication device 44 is
`shownas being disposed underthe logo 46, it can be disposed
`anywhere in or on the check presenter 2.
`[0026] A transparent window 48 is provided in the top
`cover such that whenthe top cover is folded together with the
`bottom cover42, the logo 46 can be seen through the window,
`highlighting and differentiating the new “touch here with
`phone”capability contained within. Preferably, the window
`includes a magnifier (e.g., magnifying lens) which can be
`used by the guest to enlarge the physical guest check (not
`shown) which containsall of the line item details of the meal
`and the total amount due. The window also enlarges the logo
`46 when the guest check is removed, which mayalert the
`guest that the check can be paid by the guest’s wireless mobile
`device.
`
`FIG.2 illustrates an exemplary system for using the
`[0027]
`present guest check presenter as a platform for offering vari-
`ous mobile services that are associated with the food estab-
`lishment or the meal consumed by the guest. A restaurant
`POSsystem 52 (typically located at the location of the food
`esstablishment), restaurant interface system 56 and payment
`processing system 58 are connected to a public communica-
`tion network 60 such as the Internet. The restaurant POS
`system 52 runsa restaurant management module which man-
`ages orders for a plurality of tables in the restaurant and also
`manages payments for guest checks. The restaurant POS
`system 52 includes a POS(point of sale) device 54 for receiv-
`ing paymentinformation from a credit or debit card. The POS
`device 54 includes a contactless reader/writer that can com-
`municate with the wireless communication device 44 to write
`to and read from the wireless communication device as will
`
`be explainedin detail later herein.
`[0028] The restaurant interface system 56 runsa restaurant
`interface module which is adapted to facilitate payments of
`guest checks which are initiated by the restaurant POS system
`52 or bya wireless mobile device 62 ofthe guest. The wireless
`mobile device 62 is typically a smart phone device whichis
`capable of accessing the public computer network 60 to com-
`[0022] As shownin FIGS. 1A and 1B, a check presenter 2
`municate with systemsthat are also connectedto the network.
`includesa holder having a top cover 40 andabottom cover 42
`The wireless mobile device 62 can be any mobile device that
`which can be folded together. A wireless communication
`can be carried by the guest such as a PDA (personal digital
`device 44is attached to and placedinside the bottom cover 42.
`assistant), cellular telephone device, portable computer, tab-
`The wireless communication device 44 can be any device
`let device or the like so long as it can communicate with the
`such as a NFC (Near Field Communication) tag, RF ID (Ra-
`network 60 and the wireless communication device 44.
`dio Frequency Identification) tag, blue tooth chip orthe like
`that can wirelessly communicate with a wireless mobile
`device of a guest.
`[0023]
`In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an NFC tag/
`chip technology is used. The NFC tag operates in the 13.56
`MHz frequency range, over only short distances of a few
`centimeters. NFC is already compatible with hundreds of
`millions of contactless cards and readers and is therefore a
`safe and inclusive choice.
`
`In one embodiment, the restaurant POS system 52
`[0029]
`and restaurant interface system 56 comprise a single system
`(restaurant management system 50) managed bya single
`entity. In another embodiment, the restaurant interface sys-
`tem 50 is a separate system adaptedto interface with a plu-
`rality of restaurant POS systems 52 to manage guest check
`payments by wireless mobile devices 62 for a plurality of
`different restaurantentities. For example, the restaurantinter-
`face system 50 can interface with multiple restaurantentities
`such as Applebee’s restaurant entity of Lenexa, Kans. and
`Sizzler restaurant entity of Culver City, Calif. to provide
`mobile paymentservices for multiple entities.
`[0030] The payment processing system 58 such as that of
`First Data Corporation processesall forms of payments for a
`plurality ofmerchants includinga plurality ofrestaurants. For
`example, when the paymentprocessing system 58 receives a
`credit card paymentauthorization request from the restaurant
`interface system 56, it routes the request to the merchant’s
`
`[0024] The physical dimensions of the NFCtagitself will
`vary by supplier and in FIG.1, it is placed inside the check
`presenter 2 and underthe skin of the bottom cover 42 to make
`it invisible. Tags of this type are generally small enoughtofit
`within the back cover ofthe check presenter andstill offer the
`guests an adequate target touch point.
`[0025] A logo/marking 46 indicating a wireless payment
`capability such as the NFC logo, a registered trademark of
`NFC Forum,Inc., is printed on top of the bottom cover 42.
`The logo servesto alert the guests as to the existence of the
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`acquiring bank which then forwards the request to the appro-
`priate interchange system such as VISA™which then routes
`the request to the issuing bank ofthe credit card. The process
`is reversed for a payment authorization. The authorization
`message from the issuing bank is routed to the interchange
`system andthento the acquirer whichroutesit to the payment
`processing system 58.
`[0031] FIG.3 illustrates an exemplary computer 12 that can
`be used in any of the computers, servers, databases and wire-
`less devices that are shown in the drawings. For example, the
`computer 12 can be used in the restaurant POS system 52,
`restaurant interface system 56, ad system 66,nutrition system
`64, wireless communication device 44, wireless mobile
`device 62 and the payment processing system 58. The com-
`puter 12 includes a multitasking, real-time software technol-
`ogy such as the Windowsoperating system from Microsoft
`Corporation that can concurrently run multiple applications/
`modules. The computer 12 is connected to the communica-
`tion link 6 through an I/O interface 22, which receives infor-
`mation from and sends information over the communication
`
`link 6 to other computers in the network 60. The computer 12
`includes memory storage 24, processor (CPU) 26, program
`storage 28, and data storage 30, all commonly connected to
`each other through a bus 32.
`[0032] The program storage 28 stores, among others, vari-
`ous software modules such as module 34. For example, the
`module can be a restaurant management module for the res-
`taurant POS system 52, a restaurant interface module for the
`restaurant interface system 56 and a restaurant application
`module for the wireless mobile device 62. The various mod-
`
`ules in the program storage 28 and data from the data storage
`30 are transferred to the memory 24 as needed and are
`executed by the CPU 26.
`[0033] The computer 12 can be any computer such as a
`personal computer, minicomputer, workstation or main-
`frame, or a combination thereof. While the computer 12 is
`shown,for illustration purposes, as a single computer unit,it
`may comprise a group/farm of computers which can be scaled
`depending on the processing load and databasesize.
`[0034]
`FIG.4 illustrates amobile paymentservice as one of
`the mobile services that can be offered through the use of the
`wireless communication device 44 in the check presenter 2.
`Specifically, FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram ofinteractions
`among the various computers and wireless devices to pay for
`the guest check with the wireless mobile device of the guest.
`Upon instruction by the waiter, the restaurant management
`module running in the restaurant POS system 52 displays the
`guest check for the correct table where the guestis sitting. In
`step 100, when the waiter brings a check presenter near the
`wireless reader/writer 54, the restaurant management module
`writes
`several payment
`facilitating information to the
`memory ofthe wireless communication device 44 attached to
`the check presenter 2 through the wireless reader/writer 54. In
`one embodiment,
`the payment
`facilitating information
`includesthe following information: 1) restaurant identifier, 2)
`unique identifier of the wireless communication device 44, if
`not presentalready, 3) identifier of the table where the guest
`is sitting, 4) identifier of the guest check, 5) location infor-
`mation ofthe restaurant interface system 56 such as the URL
`(Uniform Resource Locator) and 6) identifier of a restaurant
`application which is to be run by the wireless mobile device
`62 of the guest when the device is brought near the wireless
`communication device 44.
`
`[0035] At the sametime, the restaurant management mod-
`ule also reads the unique identifier of the wireless communi-
`cation device 44 to associate the particular table and guest
`checkto the wireless communication device. Itis important to
`note that while at least six data items are written to the
`memory of the wireless communication device 44,
`the
`present
`invention can work with less information. For
`example, the payment facilitating information can simply
`include only a guest check identifier that can uniquely iden-
`tify the guest check. The guest check identifier can be a
`numberthat uniquely identifies the guest check or the unique
`identifier of the wireless communication device 44 since that
`identifier has been associated with the guest check by the
`restaurant POS system 52 at step 100. The paymentfacilitat-
`ing information can includea single identifier that can asso-
`ciate the wireless communication device 44 to the table or the
`
`guest check.
`[0036]
`Instep 102 the waiter brings the programmedguest
`check presenter 2 to the guest. The guest check presenter 2
`typically includes guest check information such as a physical
`printout of the check becauseat this point the waiter has no
`way of knowing how the guest intends to complete thetrans-
`action. Even the customers/guests themselves may wait to see
`the amountof the check before deciding to pay cash, debit or
`credit. The benefit of the present inventionis thatall custom-
`ers are given their most suitable choice without breaking any
`accepted norms and without interrupting the routine work-
`flow of the busy waitstaff.
`[0037]
`Instep 104, the guest recognizes the logo 46, high-
`lighted by the magnifying window48, as indicating a wireless
`paymentcapability and brings his wireless mobile device 62
`near the logo. In step 106, the wireless mobile device 62
`establishes communication with the wireless communication
`
`device 44 and reads the stored paymentfacilitating informa-
`tion.
`
`[0038] Based on the restaurant application identifier, the
`wireless mobile device 62 attemptsto locate the application in
`its data storage. If it does notfind the application, the wireless
`mobile device 62 will attempt to download it through the
`restaurant interface system 56 using the URL provided by the
`wireless communication device 44. If the wireless mobile
`
`device 62 does locate the application within the deviceitself,
`it will load and execute the program. Thus, any subsequent
`steps done by the wireless mobile device 62 are under the
`control of the restaurant application.
`[0039]
`Instep 108, the restaurant application running in the
`wireless mobile device 62 establishes communication with
`the restaurant interface system 56 using the provided URL
`and the wireless mobile device receives line item details ofthe
`guest check from the restaurant interface system 56 through
`the network 60. The restaurant interface system 56 knows
`which guest check information to send to the wireless mobile
`device 62 because it has received the unique identifier of the
`wireless communication device 44 from the wireless mobile
`device 62 andthat identifier had already been associated with
`the guest check in the restaurant POS system 52 from step
`100.
`
`[0040] Alternatively, the line item details ofthe guest check
`can be programmed into the data storage of the wireless
`communication device 44 in step 100 in which case such data
`will be read by the wireless mobile device 62 in step 106.
`[0041]
`Instep 110, the guest reviews the guest check infor-
`mationeither on the wireless mobile device 62 or the physical
`check and adds any gratuity to the total. In step 112, upon
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`selection of a financial instrumentto use for payment by the
`guest, the wireless mobile device 62 retrieves the selected
`financial instrument information from a secure memory area
`of the mobile device. The financial instrument information
`can include an account number, nameof the account holder,
`expiration date and CVV (card verification value) and the
`like.
`
`Instep 114, upon approvalby the guest, the wireless
`[0042]
`mobile device 62 transmits the paymentfacilitating informa-
`tion, the retrieved financial instrument information and the
`total amountincludingthe gratuity to the restaurant interface
`system 56 for processing the payment. In step 116, the res-
`taurant interface system 56 relays the received information to
`the paymentprocessing system 58 for paymentauthorization.
`The payment processing system 58 processes the payment
`authorization in a known manner and returns an approval
`messageto the restaurantinterface system 56. In step 118, the
`payment processing system 58 transmits the received
`approval messageto the wireless mobile device 62 as receipt
`and to the restaurant POS system 52to indicate to the restau-
`rant managementsoftware that the guest check has beenpaid.
`[0043] Alternatively, the wireless mobile device 62 can
`transmit the payment facilitating information, the retrieved
`financialinstrument information and the total amountdirectly
`to the paymentprocessing system 58 for processing the pay-
`ment.
`
`Still in another alternative embodiment, the wireless
`[0049]
`communication device 44 is capable of communicating
`directly with the restaurant POS system 52 so that the pay-
`mentcan be processed without involving the waiter again. For
`example,
`the wireless communication device 44 can be
`equipped with a blue tooth type circuit or a WiFi (Wireless
`Fidelity) Internet device so that the financial instrument infor-
`mation and the total amountstored in the wireless communi-
`cation device 44 can be transmitted directly to the restaurant
`POSsystem 52 for further processing.
`[0050]
`Instep 156, once the paymenthas been approved by
`the paymentprocessing system 58, the restaurant POS system
`52 transmits the approval message to the wireless mobile
`device 62 as receipt.
`[0051]
`FIG.6 is another alternate process flow diagram of
`interactions among the various computers and wireless
`devices to pay for the guest check with the wireless mobile
`device of the guest. Steps 100-112 are the same as FIG. 4 and
`are not shown.Unlike FIG.4, however, in FIG.6 the wireless
`mobile device 62 communicates with the restaurant POS
`system 52 to pay for the guest check. Oncethe restaurant POS
`system 52 receives the financial instrument information and
`the total amount, it can process the paymentin a conventional
`manner, for example, as if a credit card was swiped through
`the POS device 54.
`
`[0052] After steps 100-112 have been performed, the res-
`taurant application running in the mobile device 62 transmits
`the retrieved financial instrument information and the total
`
`amount including the gratuity to the restaurant POS system
`56 for processing the payment(step 200). In one implemen-
`tation, the address/URL ofthe restaurant POS system 56 is
`included as part of the paymentfacilitating information so
`that the wireless mobile device 62 knows how to access the
`
`[0044] Ascan be appreciated, the present invention asillus-
`trated in FIG. 4 above offers a very convenient and efficient
`way for the guest to pay for the guest check without ever
`having to leave the table and without having to wait for the
`waiter to pick up the guest check presenter and process the
`payment.
`[0045] Another benefit for the guest is that paymentusing a
`POSsystem. In step 202, the restaurant POS system 52 trans-
`mobile device is much more secure than payment using a
`mits payment authorization information either directly to the
`credit card since no physical card hasto leavethe table. Since
`payment processing system 58 orto the restaurant interface
`the actual work of processing the paymenthas been offloaded
`system 56 which relays the information to the payment pro-
`to the guest, the food establishment also benefits since the
`cessing system 58.
`waiter’s time is freed up to perform othertasks.
`[0053]
`Instep 204, once the paymenthas been approved by
`
`[0046] FIG.5is an alternate process flow diagram ofinter-
`the paymentprocessing system 58, the restaurant POS system
`actions among the various computers and wireless devices to
`52 transmits the approval message to the wireless mobile
`pay for the guest check with the wireless mobile device of the
`device 62 as receipt.
`guest. Steps 100-112 are the same as FIG. 4 and are not
`shown. Unlike FIG.4, however, in FIG. 5 the wireless mobile
`[0054]
`FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of interactions
`device 62 transmits the financial instrument information to
`among the various computers and wireless devices to collect
`and deliverthe nutritional and caloric data from the mealjust
`consumedto the wireless mobile device 62 ofthe guest. Prior
`to step 210, steps 100-106 of FIG. 4 are performed. Steps
`108-118 can also be performedifthe guest chooses to pay for
`the guest check using the mobile device 62.
`[0055]
`In FIG. 7, the wireless mobile device 62 receives
`nutritional and caloric information details from the nutrition
`
`the wireless communication device 44 of the check presenter
`2 to pay for the guest check.
`[0047] After steps 100-112 have been performed,the res-
`taurant application running in the mobile device 62 transmits
`the retrieved financial instrument information and the total
`
`amountincluding the gratuity to the restaurant interface sys-
`tem 56 for processing the payment(step 150). To prevent an
`inadvertent payment,
`the information is transmitted only
`whenthe guest brings the mobile device near the guest check
`presenter such as would bethe case if the wireless commu-
`nication device 44 is an NFCtag device.
`[0048]
`In step 152, the waiter picks up the guest check
`presenter and bringsit near the wireless reader/writer 54 to
`load the guest’s financial information and total amount from
`the wireless communication device 44 to the restaurant POS
`system 52. In step 154, the restaurant POS system 52 trans-
`mits payment authorization information either directly to the
`paymentprocessing system 58 or to the restaurant interface
`system 56 which relays the information to the payment pro-
`cessing system 58.
`
`system 64 in step 200. The system 64 can identify the meal
`consumed by the guest through receipt of the guest check
`identifier from either the restaurant managementsystem 50 or
`the mobile device 62. The system 64 then retrieves the nutri-
`tion information from the nutrition database (not shown).
`[0056]
`Instep 212, the mobile device 62 retrieves a dietary
`application from the nutrition system 64 to be executed in the
`mobile device. The dietary application can be a separate
`application which is downloaded or a part of the mobile
`application as discussed in FIG.5. In step 214 the nutritional
`and caloric data is displayed according to the portion of the
`mealjust consumed. The guest using the dietary application
`running the mobile device 62 is able to freely drag and drop
`
`11
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`11
`
`

`

`US 2011/0173060 Al
`
`Jul. 14, 2011
`
`