Patent ID: 7945477

Claim:
A method of providing patron service at a venue, comprising: providing, to each of a plurality of patrons, a wireless portable patron unit in communication with one or more central computer systems, the patron unit including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including: enabling entry, using the interactive display, of a plurality of patron information, including: a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the venue; providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of venue functions, including: authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to one or more portable wireless staff units; selectably receiving and displaying on the interactive display information from the one or more central computer systems, including: a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron, and venue information; and providing, to each of a plurality of staff members, a wireless portable staff unit in communication with the one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable staff units including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including: selectably receiving and displaying information on the interactive display from the one or more central computer systems, including: information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved from the patron database; enabling entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including: staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; and providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information.