Pay, tip, surf and spend via TableTop

You've probably had the same experience as Shawn Gentry. Sitting at a table in a restaurant, digesting your meal and ready to leave, the only problem is, there's no waiter or waitress in sight to bring the bill. You probably just sat, getting indigestion, until your perky server eventually arrived.

Gentry left and started a company to solve the problem.

He's the president of TableTop Media LLC in Dallas, which makes a device destined to be found at a restaurant table near you someday. Currently being tested in the field, the as-yet-to-be-named device (what do you think of The Virtual Server?) is designed to take credit, debit and other electronic payment methods right at your table.

Gentry claims that in its initial testing the device is receiving thumbs up from both servers (who can turn more tables and improve their tips because the software's built-in gratuity suggestions start at 15% and go up) and patrons (who can leave when they're ready as well as watch movie trailers and buy tickets to the films on the device during their meal).

Ultimately, the unit will be exploited by advertisers who want to reach restaurant-goers, who Gentry identifies as "a captive market during the dining experience."

The ruggedized system can run on its internal batteries for 18-20 hours, Gentry claims. If a restaurant wants to let customers surf the Web, the device is fully capable of doing so.

It encrypts all credit card information. Gentry forecasts that by summer TableTop will be approved by banks to handle PIN numbers for debit card users.

If your company runs a chain of eateries with at least 50 tables in each locale, Gentry wants your business. And, should you give it to him, you don't even have to leave me a tip for serving up this info.