Mobile serving cart and system incorporating same

A catering system comprising:

• a food and beverage cart comprising:
• a removable module comprising a processor and a memory communicatively linked to the processor, the memory having stored therein information regarding the cart, and
• a docking port communicatively linked to the removable module;
• a docking station coupled to the docking port, the docking station receiving the information from the memory via the docking port;
• a computer located remotely from the docking station;
• a computer network, the docking station and the computer being communicatively linked to the network, the docking station transmitting the information to the computer via the computer network.

A method for managing a cart to be used in catering to customers, the method comprising:

• transporting the cart to a plurality of locations, including a place at which the customers are located;
• storing, in a computer-readable memory of the cart, information regarding tasks performed at one or more of the plurality of locations;
• retrieving the information from the memory at a docking station at one or more of the plurality of locations;
• and
• transmitting the information to a remotely-located computer.

A system for serving food comprising:

• a mobile cart having a cold service mode and a hot service mode, the cart comprising:
• a data port;
• a power port;
• a compartment that stores food;
• a receptacle linked to the data port and the power port;
• a first removable module including a cooling unit, a processor and a memory communicatively linked to the processor, wherein when the cart is in the cold service mode, the first removable module is disposed in the receptacle and is communicatively linked to the data port and electrically linked to the power port so that data is sent and received by the processor via the data port and electricity is received by the processor via the power port, and the cooling unit cools the receptacle;
• a second removable module including a heating unit, a processor and a memory communicatively linked to the processor, wherein when the cart is in a hot service mode, the second removable-module is disposed in the receptacle, the second removable module is communicatively linked to the data port and electrically linked to the power port so that data is sent and received by the processor via the data port and electricity is received by the processor via the power port, and heating unit heats the receptacle;
• a docking station external to the cart, the docking station including a power source and a data connection that link to the power port and data port of the cart when the cart is docked at the docking station;
• a computer network, the docking station being communicatively linked to the computer network;
• and
• a remote computer communicatively linked to the computer network, wherein information from the memory of the first or second removable module is transmitted via the docking station and the computer network to the remote computer, the information comprising the identity of the cart.