System and method for managing restaurant customer data elements

Abstract

This invention is a system and method for managing restaurant customer data elements.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at least one menu item selection from a restaurant system via a mobile device;   uploading at least one data element list comprising the at least one menu item selection to the mobile device;   receiving payment data for the at least one data element list via the mobile device; and   updating a customer profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is one or more of a mobile phone and a wireless handheld computer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a list of menu item selections is sent to the mobile phone via the restaurant system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing the mobile device on a waiting list for a table. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising notifying the mobile device that the table is ready. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one entertainment item selection via the mobile device; and
 uploading the at least one data element list comprising the at least one entertainment item selection to the mobile device;   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of payment data for the at least one data element list is split between at least two separate payment data, in at least one of a following manner:
 evenly; and   by separate menu item selections.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising capturing a digital signature associated with the at least one payment data, via the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a survey via the mobile device;   collecting at least one data element via the mobile device; and   storing the at least one data element in a database.   
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor;   memory communicably coupled to the processor;   wherein the memory includes instructions that when read by the processor cause the processor to:   receive at least one menu item selection from a restaurant system via a mobile device;   upload at least one data element list comprising the at least one menu item selection to the mobile device;   receive payment data for the at least one data element list via the mobile device; and   update a customer profile.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to send a list of menu item selections to the mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to receive payment data for a gratuity associated with the at least one data element list from the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to split the at least one data element list between at least two separate payment data, in at least one of a following manner:
 evenly; and   by separate menu item selections.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to capture a digital signature associated with the at least one payment data, via the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a first payment data associated with at least one first menu item selection of a data element list from a restaurant system;   identifying a second payment data associated with at least one second menu item selection of the data element list;   splitting the data element list into a first data element list related to the at least one first menu item selection and a second data element list related to the at least one second menu item; and   receiving the first payment data for the first data element list via a mobile device; and   receiving the second payment data for the second data element list via at least one of the mobile device and a second mobile device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the mobile device and the second mobile device are associated with the restaurant system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the mobile device and the second mobile device are not associated with the restaurant system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a digital signature is captured for the first payment data and the second payment data, via the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  comprising running, by the mobile device, at least one of:
 a graphical user interface software; 
 a digital signature capture software; and 
 a payment processing software.