Patent ID: 6856247

Claim:
A method of monitoring food information in a food service facility, the method comprising the steps of: providing a central collection apparatus; providing a plurality of remote sensor units, each remote sensor unit including a temperature sensor and a computer memory device; installing and initializing each remote sensor unit at a food receptacle; and after completing the installing and initializing step, operating each remote sensor unit without further user intervention, wherein the step of operating each remote sensor unit includes, at each remote sensor unit: periodically detecting, via the temperature sensor of the remote sensor unit, food temperature data, storing the detected data in the computer memory device of the remote sensor unit, periodically determining whether wireless communication is enabled between the remote sensor unit and the central collection apparatus, and if wireless communication is enabled between the remote sensor unit and the central collection apparatus, transmitting the data stored in the computer memory device from the remote sensor unit to the central collection apparatus via a wireless communication interface.