Multi-function customer satisfaction survey device

1. 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.

2. The restaurant management system of claim 1 , wherein the base unit is adapted to transmit a command to each tip tray to download the responses at a predefined time.

3. The restaurant management system of claim 1 , further comprising a server connected to the base unit, wherein the tip trays also obtain and report customer contact information, and the base unit sends the customer contact information to the server for generation of customer correspondence.

4. The restaurant management system of claim 3 , wherein the server is located remotely from the restaurant and is connected to the base unit through an Internet connection.

5. The restaurant management system of claim 4 , wherein the customer contact information includes an e-mail address, and the server generates and sends e-mails to the customer regarding restaurant discount offers.

6. The restaurant management system of claim 1 wherein each of the tip trays also includes a circuit for generating audible voice information for communicating with the customer.

7. The restaurant management system of claim 1 , wherein each tip tray also includes a paging transmitter for transmitting a page to a manager if a customer enters a particularly adverse or particularly positive response.

8. The restaurant management system of claim 7 , further comprising a connection from the base unit to a paint-of-sale (POS) system, said POS system having a database for associating a tip tray number with a food-server, a tad-order number, and food items included in the associated food-order, wherein the database is adapted to match particularly adverse or particularly positive responses with associated food 4 ervers and food-orders.

9. The restaurant management system of claim 1 , wherein the base unit data transceiver is adapted to wirelessly transmit survey questions to each of the tip trays.

10. The restaurant management system of claim 1 , further comprising an analysis function in communication with the base unit for analyzing customer responses and creating management information as a result of the analysis.

11. The restaurant management system of claim 1 , further comprising means for posting the customer responses and management information on a website.

12. A restaurant management system comprising:

a plurality of electronic customer information devices;

a base unit in wireless communication with the customer information devices;

a correspondence server connected to the base unit; and

a point-of-sale (POS) system connected to the base unit;

wherein each of the customer information devices includes:

a rechargeable battery;

electronic means for obtaining and staring customer responses to a customer satisfaction survey, customer contact information, and customer payment information; and

a data transceiver for wirelessly transmitting the responses, the contact information, and the payment information to the base unit; and

wherein the base unit includes:

a battery recharger for recharging the rechargeable battery in each customer information device when the plurality of customer information devices are stacked on the base unit;

a data transceiver for wirelessly transmitting survey questions to each of the customer information devices, and for receiving the responses, the contact information, and the payment information from the customer information devices;

a connection from the base unit to the correspondence server for sending the customer contact information to the correspondence server;

a connection from the base unit to an external financial authorization network for sending the customer payment information to the authorization network and for receiving payment authorizations from the authorization network; and

a connection from the base unit to the POS system, said POS system having a database for associating a tip tray number with a food-server, a food-order number, and food items included in the associated food-order, wherein the database is adapted to match particularly adverse or particularly positive responses with associated food-servers and food-orders.

13. The restaurant management system of claim 12 , further comprising an analysis function in communication with the base unit for analyzing customer responses and creating management information as a result of the analysis.

14. The restaurant management system of claim 12 , further comprising means for posting the customer responses and management information on a website accessible by selected managers.