03-11-2014, 10:30 AM
Abstracts: The field of the invention relates to management systems including a hub, a set of clients, and a point of sale system, the management system operable to be controlled by management tool software. There is provided a management system, comprising a hub, a set of clients, and a point of sale system, the management system operable to be controlled by management tool software wherein the management tool software provides a user interface. The management system may be used as a table management system in restaurants. Each table in a restaurant has a switch coupled to a wireless transmitter. When the switch is activated, the transmitter broadcasts a vacant table signal. The vacant table signal is received by a receiver that is coupled to a computer system. The computer responds to a vacant table signal by identifying a particular table as being vacant, and therefore ready for seating of a party. The computer is programmed to represent each table in the restaurant with an icon. The computer may be programmed to present a table as being in one of three states: (1) vacant; (2) occupied; and (3) anticipated to be vacant soon. When a party is seated at a particular table, this fact is entered into the computer, and the computer presents the table as occupied. The table is regarded as occupied until one of two events occurs. An automated food dispensing and billing system has an array of food enclosures, each for dispensing food to a customer. In response to the detection of a signal from a customer authorization device, the enclosure may be accessed to retrieve the food item therein. A billing subsystem automatically charges an account associated with the customer authorization device.