Patent ID: 7652558

Claim:
A restaurant management system comprising: a plurality of electronic tip trays; and a base unit in wireless communication with the electronic tip trays; wherein each of the tip trays includes: a rechargeable battery; electronic means for obtaining and storing customer responses regarding a level of customer satisfaction; input means for receiving customer payment information; and a data transceiver for wirelessly transmitting the responses and the customer payment information to the base unit; and wherein the base unit includes: a battery recharger for recharging the rechargeable battery in each tip tray when the plurality of tip trays are stacked on the base unit; and a data transceiver for wirelessly receiving the responses and the customer payment information from the tip trays; and a connection from the base unit to an external financial authorization network for sending the customer payment information to the external financial authorization network and receiving authorizations from the external financial authorization network.