Patent ID: 7457767
Filing Date: 2008-11-25
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. In a restaurant, a system comprising: a waiter's terminal for inputting orders of food items ordered by a plurality of patrons at a table; a first program code for computing a total amount owed by the plurality of patrons for the ordered food items; a payment unit physically located at the table; transmission circuitry for transmitting the total amount from the waiter's terminal to the payment unit; a display screen on the payment unit for displaying the total amount to the plurality of patrons; a credit card reader on the payment unit for receiving first credit card information from a first credit card swiped through the credit card reader by a first one of the plurality of patrons; a numeric input pad on the payment unit for receiving a first portion entered by the first one of the plurality of patrons, wherein the first portion represents an amount of money to be paid by the first one of the plurality of patrons by a debit to an account of the first credit card; a second program code for automatically calculating a balance owed on the total amount, wherein the balance owed equals the total amount minus the first portion; a third program code for automatically determining if the balance owed equals zero; a fourth program code for automatically displaying the balance owed on the display screen; the credit card reader receiving second credit card information from a second credit card swiped through the credit card reader by a second one of the plurality of patrons when the balance owed is greater than zero; the numeric input pad receiving a second portion entered by the second one of the plurality of patrons, wherein the second portion represents an amount of money to be paid by the second one of the plurality of patrons by a debit to an account of the second credit card; a fifth program code for automatically calculating a balance owed on the total amount, wherein the balance owed equals the total amount minus the first and second portions; a sixth program code for automatically determining if the balance owed equals zero; and a seventh program code for automatically displaying the balance owed on the display screen.