Customer check retrieval

1. A method comprising:

generating, by a mobile device, a list of items that have been ordered on all open checks at an establishment in response to submitting a request for the open checks that includes a name and address of the establishment where the mobile device is located, and wherein each item includes a frequency with which that item appears on the open checks;

receiving from a customer operating the mobile device a selection of an item from the list as an indication that the customer is attempting to identify a check associated with a customer open order for the customer at the establishment, and wherein the item selected is included on the check associated with the customer; and

identifying the check associated with the customer based at least in part on the selected item and based on a location of the mobile device resolved by the mobile device and the name and address of the establishment and providing the check to the mobile device for review and action by the customer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the check further comprises:

determining that the selected item is insufficient to identify the check;

receiving from the customer a selection of an additional item from the list, wherein the additional item is included on the check associated with the customer; and

identifying the check associated with the customer based at least in part on the selected additional item.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

modifying the list based at least in part on the selected item, prior to receiving from the customer the selection of the additional item.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of items comprises at least one item unique to a single open check.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

excluding from the list any items included on each of the open checks.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of items comprises at least one item not included on any of the open checks.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the check is identified prior to the customer selecting every item on the check.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the list of items further comprises:

selecting the items appearing most frequently on the open checks.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the check associated with the customer is identical to another open check; and

generating an alert that the checks are identical.

10. A method comprising:

determining, by a mobile device, a list of items contained on all open checks at an establishment in response to submitting a request for the open checks that includes a name and address of the establishment where the mobile device is located, wherein each item includes a frequency with which that item appears on the open checks;

selecting a subset of the items for presentation to a customer;

receiving from the customer operating the mobile device a selection from the subset of an item that the customer ordered as an indication that the customer is attempting to identify a check associated with a customer open order for the customer at the establishment; and

retrieving the check associated with the customer based at least in part on the item selected by the customer and based on a location of the mobile device resolved by the mobile device and providing the check to the mobile device for review and action by the customer.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting a subset further comprises ignoring items that are included on each of the plurality of open checks.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein retrieving the check further comprises:

determining that the selection is insufficient to identify the check;

receiving from the customer a selection of an additional item from the subset, wherein the additional item is included on the check associated with the customer; and

retrieving the check based at least in part on the selected additional item.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

modifying the subset based at least in part on the selection of the item, prior to receiving from the customer the selection of the additional item.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the retrieved check is identified prior to the customer selecting every item the customer ordered.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the list of items comprises at least one item unique to a single open check.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein generating the list of items further comprises:

selecting the most expensive items appearing on the open checks.

17. A system comprising:

a database for storing all open checks at an establishment;

a device for finding a check associated with a customer from the open checks;

wherein the device is configured to:

analyze items included on the open checks and determine representative items for facilitating the search for a particular check based at least in part on a request from the customer for all the open checks that includes a name and address of the establishment and each item includes a frequency with which that item appears on the open checks;

receive input from the customer identifying a representative item included on the check of the customer, the input received as a search request for the customer to locate the check of the customer; and

retrieve the check associated with the customer from the database using the input from the customer and based on a location of a mobile device operated by a customer communicated with the input and provide the check to the mobile device of the customer for customer review and action with respect to the check.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein in order to retrieve the check, the device is further configured to:

determine that the input is insufficient to identify the check;

receive from the customer input identifying an additional item from the subset, wherein the additional item is included on the check of the customer; and

retrieve the check based at least in part on the selected additional item.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein in order to determine representative items, the device is further configured to:

exclude from the list any items included on each of the open checks.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the device is further configured to:

determine that the check associated with the customer is identical to another open check; and

generate an alert that the checks are identical.