Method and apparatus for monitoring status of tables in a restaurant

A table status system for displaying present status of each of a plurality of tables in a restaurant, each table being capable of having a status of being vacant, being occupied by patrons of the restaurant, or being bussed, the tables being organized in at least first and second groups, said table status system comprising in combination:

• a. a host station, said host station including
• i. first table status indicator means for indicating the present status of each of the plurality of tables, said first table status indicator means including a plurality of visual indicator means, each corresponding to a respective table, for visually indicating the present status of that table,
• ii. first information entry means for receiving first information from a first operator, said first information indicating that a first table in the first group is occupied or vacant;
• b. at least one substation, said substation including
• i. second table status indicator means for indicating the present status of each of the tables in the first group, said second table status indicator means including a plurality of visual indicator means, each corresponding to a respective table of the first group, for visually indicating the present status of that table,
• ii. second information entry means for receiving second information from a second operator, said second information indicating that said first table is being bussed;
• c. memory means for storing table status information representing the present status of each of the tables, said memory means including a plurality of adressable locations, each of said addressable locations corresponding to a respective one of said tables, each of said addressable locations storing information representing the status of the table corresponding to that addressable location;
• d. processor means coupled to said host station, said first information entry means, said substation, and said second information entry means for receiving said first information from said first information entry means, receiving said second information from said second information entry means, writing said first and second information into said memory means, fetching said first and second information from said memory means, and effecting transmitting of said fetched first and second information to said host station and said substation;
• e. data bus means coupled to said processor means, said host station and said substation for bidirectionally conducting said first information in serial form between said processor means and said host station and bidirectionally conducting said second information between said processor means and said substation;
• f. first formatting means coupled between said data bus means and said first information entry means for converting said first information into a first serial format and then transmitting said first information in said first serial format along said data bus means;
• g. second formatting means coupled between said data bus means and said second information entry means for converting said second information into a second serial format and then transmitting said second information in said second serial format along said data bus means;
• h. first control means coupled between said first table status indicator means and said data bus means for receiving first information fetched from said memory means, producing a first control signal in response to said first information fetched from said memory means and causing the visual indicator means of said first table status means corresponding to said first table to indicate whether said first table is occupied or vacant;
• and
• i. second control means coupled between said second table status indicator means and said data bus means for receiving said first information fetched from said memory means, producing a second control signal in response to said first information fetched from said memory means and causing the visual indicator means of said second table status indicator means corresponding to said first table to indicate whether said first table is occupied or vacant.