Smoke generating cooking system and method

Abstract

Embodiments relate to using a customized smoking procedure to smoke food in an outdoor grill. In one scenario, an electronic controller of an outdoor grill receives input for initiating smoke generation according to a specified smoke generation pattern, including: adding a specified amount of combustible particles to a combustion zone within the outdoor grill such that the combustible particles begin combustion; measuring a current internal temperature of the outdoor grill; and if the current internal temperature is below a threshold value, adding a specified amount of additional combustible particles to the combustion zone sufficient to raise the temperature to another threshold value; allowing the internal temperature to cool to a temperature below the first threshold value; and when it is determined that the temperature of the outdoor grill has cooled below the first specified threshold value, adding additional combustible particles to the combustion zone sufficient to raise the temperature to at least a second threshold value.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese invention patent application with the application date of June 24, 2016, application number 201680021714.8, and invention name “Smoke Generating Cooking System and Method”. Background Art

[0002] Outdoor appliances have long been used to prepare food and perform other tasks. For example, outdoor appliances such as grills and smokers are often used to prepare meat, vegetables, fruits and other types of food. These grills and smokers are typically operated using manual controls integrated into the frame of the grill or smoker. For example, many of these outdoor appliances have an ignition button that generates a spark near the gas outlet on the burner when the ignition button is pressed. The spark ignites the gas and the burner begins to generate heat. A dial or handle that allows more or less gas to be introduced at the burner is usually used to control the heat.

[0003] In the case of a smoker, there may be a combustion zone or "firepot" into which combustible wood pellets are introduced. These combustible wood pellets may be introduced at a given rate according to a timer. By introducing the pellets at a specified rate, the smoker is able to maintain a specified temperature. For example, a user may desire to smoke a brisket at a specified temperature. While at the smoker, the user may select the specified temperature. Typically, outdoor appliances such as grills and smokers have some type of manual or electronic controls. The user may use these controls to specify which temperature the smoker is to maintain, and may also be able to set a timer to remind the user to turn the food over or remove it from the smoker.

[0004] However, the controls found on these outdoor appliances lack features and only cover basic functions. In fact, as mentioned, the user can use the ignition button to ignite the appliance and can specify a certain temperature to be maintained by the appliance. The user can also set a timer to remind them when the cooking of their food is completed. However, these controls do not allow modification or customization of the cooking / smoking cycle and generally do not allow the user to have the type and amount of control they desire to have over their outdoor appliances. In addition, conventional appliances often have limited or no control to enable the cooking appliance to change in response to certain triggers (such as cooking profiles based on taste, temperature, amount of smoke used when cooking, etc.).

[0005] Therefore, there are a number of problems in the art that can be solved. Summary of the invention

[0006] Embodiments described herein relate to smoking food in an outdoor grill using customized grilling and / or smoking programs. In particular, embodiments of the present invention enable users to achieve automatic control of outdoor cooking devices from a remote location, especially remote control of grilling and smoke generating devices for outdoor grilling. For example, embodiments of the present invention may enable users to assign specific cooking profiles (such as taste, temperature, or other profiles) to food items. The user can then remotely operate an outdoor cooking device (such as a grill and / or a barbecue smoker) so that the cooking device automatically and / or dynamically adjusts several different components of the cooking device in response to certain triggers (e.g., recipe steps) contained in the assigned cooking profile. Therefore, in at least some embodiments of the present invention, users can cook food items under a wide variety of circumstances (e.g., time, food and / or outdoor temperature, amount of smoke, desired taste) and still maintain an accurate end result.

[0007] For example, in one embodiment, an electronic controller of an outdoor grill (and / or smoker) receives input from a remote computer system indicating that the outdoor grill is to initiate smoke generation according to a cooking profile based on a specified smoke generation mode. The electronic controller of the outdoor grill performs the following operations according to the specified smoke generation mode: adding a specified amount of combustible particles to a combustion zone within the outdoor grill so that the combustible particles begin to burn; and measuring the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill.

[0008] When it is determined that the current internal temperature is below the first specified threshold value of the cooking profile, the electronic controller of the outdoor grill adds a specified amount of additional combustible pellets to the combustion zone sufficient to raise the temperature to a second specified threshold value. The electronic controller of the outdoor grill also allows the internal temperature of the outdoor grill to cool to a temperature below the first specified threshold value, and when it is determined that the temperature of the outdoor grill has cooled below the first specified threshold value, adjusts one or more components of the outdoor grill to compensate, such as by adding a second specified amount of additional combustible pellets to the combustion zone, adjusting an internal fan, etc., sufficient to raise the temperature to at least the second threshold value.

[0009] In another embodiment, the electronically controlled outdoor grill receives input from a remote computer system indicating that the outdoor grill is to initiate smoke generation according to a specified cooking profile having a customized smoke generation pattern, wherein the customized smoke generation pattern is created by a user. The electronically controlled outdoor grill analyzes the specified smoke generation pattern to determine, for example, how much wood pellets to add to the combustion zone through a hopper (or at what rate), when to add wood pellets to the combustion zone, and / or to determine one or more other factors (such as the operation of an internal fan or to operate the fan at a particular speed).

[0010] The electronically controlled outdoor grill then measures the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill and, upon determining the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill, initiates an appropriate set of actions, such as by initiating a customized smoking mode. As part of the customized smoking mode, a determined amount of wood pellets is added to the combustion zone through the hopper at a determined time, the determined amount of wood pellets being adjusted based on the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill.

[0011] This summary is provided to introduce a series of concepts in a simplified form, which are further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0012] Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description that follows, and some of the additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description, or may be learned by practice of the teachings herein. The features and advantages of the embodiments described herein may be realized and obtained by the instruments and combinations particularly noted in the appended claims. The features of the embodiments described herein will become more apparent from the following description and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] To further clarify the above features and other features of the embodiments described herein, a more specific description will be presented by reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be recognized that these drawings depict only examples of the embodiments described herein and are therefore not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments. These embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 A computer architecture is shown in which embodiments described herein may operate, including smoking food in an outdoor grill using a customized smoking program.

[0015] Figure 2 An embodiment is shown in which an electronically controlled appliance communicates with a cloud service and a mobile electronic device.

[0016] Figure 3 Embodiments are shown in which electronically controlled appliances communicate with cloud services and mobile electronic devices, and also communicate with analytics, social media, or other third-party systems.

[0017] Figure 4 An embodiment of a software application functional hierarchy is shown.

[0018] Figure 5 A flow chart of an example method for smoking food in an outdoor grill using a customized smoking program is shown.

[0019] Figure 6 An example embodiment of a customizable smoking mode for use with a grill or smoker is shown.

[0020] Figure 7 An example graph showing temperature changes over time during a supersmoke cycle is shown.

[0021] Fig. 8A and 8B An example embodiment of a display mounted on a grill is shown.

[0022] Fig. 9 A flow chart illustrating an alternative example method for smoking food in an outdoor grill using a customized smoking program. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Embodiments described herein relate to smoking food in an outdoor grill using customized grilling and / or smoking programs. In particular, embodiments of the present invention enable users to achieve automatic control of outdoor cooking devices from a remote location, especially remote control of grilling and smoke generating devices for outdoor grilling. For example, embodiments of the present invention may enable users to assign specific cooking profiles (such as taste, temperature, or other profiles) to food items. The user can then remotely operate an outdoor cooking device (such as a grill and / or a barbecue smoker) so that the cooking device automatically and / or dynamically adjusts several different components of the cooking device in response to certain triggers (e.g., recipe steps) contained in the assigned cooking profile. Therefore, in at least some embodiments of the present invention, users can cook food items under a wide variety of circumstances (e.g., time, food and / or outdoor temperature, amount of smoke, desired taste) and still maintain an accurate end result.

[0024] For example, in one embodiment, an electronic controller of an outdoor grill (and / or smoker) receives input from a remote computer system indicating that the outdoor grill is to initiate smoke generation according to a cooking profile based on a specified smoke generation mode. The electronic controller of the outdoor grill performs the following operations according to the specified smoke generation mode: adding a specified amount of combustible particles to a combustion zone within the outdoor grill so that the combustible particles begin to burn; and measuring the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill.

[0025] When it is determined that the current internal temperature is below the first specified threshold value of the cooking profile, the electronic controller of the outdoor grill adds a specified amount of additional combustible pellets to the combustion zone sufficient to raise the temperature to a second specified threshold value. The electronic controller of the outdoor grill also allows the internal temperature of the outdoor grill to cool to a temperature below the first specified threshold value, and when it is determined that the temperature of the outdoor grill has cooled below the first specified threshold value, adjusts one or more components of the outdoor grill to compensate, such as by adding a second specified amount of additional combustible pellets to the combustion zone, adjusting an internal fan, etc., sufficient to raise the temperature to at least the second threshold value.

[0026] In another embodiment, the electronically controlled outdoor grill receives input from a remote computer system indicating that the outdoor grill is to initiate smoke generation according to a specified cooking profile having a customized smoke generation pattern, wherein the customized smoke generation pattern is created by a user. The electronically controlled outdoor grill analyzes the specified smoke generation pattern to determine, for example, how much wood pellets to add to the combustion zone through a hopper (or at what rate), when to add wood pellets to the combustion zone, and / or to determine one or more other factors (such as the operation of an internal fan or to operate the fan at a particular speed).

[0027] The electronically controlled outdoor grill then measures the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill and, upon determining the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill, initiates an appropriate set of actions, such as by initiating a customized smoking mode. As part of the customized smoking mode, a determined amount of wood pellets is added to the combustion zone through the hopper at a determined time, the determined amount of wood pellets being adjusted based on the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill.

[0028] The following discussion relates to a number of methods and method actions that may be performed by one or more embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein. It should be noted that, although the method actions may be discussed in a certain order or shown in a flowchart as occurring in a particular order, a particular order is not necessarily required unless specifically noted or required because one action depends on another action being completed before performing the action.

[0029] The embodiments described herein can implement various types of computing systems. These computing systems are now increasingly taking a wide variety of forms. The computing system can be, for example, a mobile phone, an electronic appliance, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a remote control device, a wearable device, a desktop computer, a mainframe, etc. As used herein, the term "computing system" includes any device, system, or combination thereof that includes at least one processor and a physical and tangible computer-readable memory that can have computer executable instructions that can be executed by the processor. The computing system can be distributed on a network environment and can include multiple constituent computing systems.

[0030] A computing system typically includes at least one processing unit and memory. The memory may be physical system memory, which may be volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or some combination of the two. The term "memory" may also be used herein to refer to a non-volatile mass storage device, such as a physical storage medium or a physical storage device. If a computing system is distributed, then processing, memory, and / or storage capabilities may also be distributed.

[0031] As used herein, the term "executable module" or "executable component" may refer to a software object, routine, method, or similar computer-executable instructions that can be executed on a computing system. The various components, modules, engines, and services described herein may be implemented as objects or processes that execute on a computing system (e.g., as separate threads).

[0032] As used herein, a computing system may also include a communication channel that allows the computing system to communicate with other message processors via a wired or wireless network. Such a communication channel may include a hardware-based receiver, transmitter, or transceiver that is configured to receive data, send data, or perform both.

[0033] The embodiments described herein also include physical computer-readable media for carrying or storing computer-executable instructions and / or data structures.Such computer-readable media can be any available physical media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computing system.

[0034] Computer storage media are physical hardware storage media that store computer executable instructions and / or data structures. Physical hardware storage media include computer hardware such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, solid-state drive ("SSD"), flash memory, phase change memory ("PCM"), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other hardware storage device that can be used to store computer executable instructions or data structures that can be accessed and executed by a general or special computing system to implement the disclosed functions of the embodiments described herein. Data structures can include primitive types (e.g., character, double, floating point), composite types (e.g., arrays, records, unions, etc.), abstract data types (e.g., containers, lists, sets, stacks, trees, etc.), hashes, charts, or any other type of data structure.

[0035] As used herein, computer executable instructions include instructions and data that, when executed at one or more processors, cause a general purpose computing system, a special purpose computing system, or a special purpose processing device to perform a function or a group of functions. Computer executable instructions may be, for example, binary, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or even source code.

[0036] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the principles described herein can be implemented in a network computing environment with various types of computing system configurations, including: personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, handheld devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronic devices, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile phones, PDAs, tablet computers, pagers, routers, switches, etc. The embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented in a distributed system environment, where local and remote computing systems (which are linked through a network (through hardwired data links, wireless data links, or through a combination of hardwired data links and wireless data links)) all perform tasks. Thus, in a distributed system environment, a computing system can include multiple component computing systems. In a distributed system environment, program modules can be located in both local memory storage devices and remote memory storage devices.

[0037] Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the embodiments herein can be implemented in a cloud computing environment. A cloud computing environment can be distributed, although this is not required. When distributed, a cloud computing environment can be distributed internationally within an organization and / or have components owned by multiple organizations. In this description and in the claims below, "cloud computing" is defined as a model for implementing on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services). The definition of "cloud computing" is not limited to any of the other numerous advantages that can be obtained from such a model when properly deployed.

[0038] Further, the system architecture described herein may include multiple independent components, each of which contributes to the functionality of the system as a whole. This modularity allows increased flexibility in solving platform scalability issues, and for this reason, provides multiple advantages. System complexity and growth can be more easily managed through the use of smaller-scale parts with limited functional scope. Platform fault tolerance is enhanced through the use of these loosely coupled modules. Individual components can be incrementally increased as specified by business needs. Modular development also translates into reduced time to market new features. New features can be added or subtracted without affecting the core system.

[0039] Figure 1An environment 100 is shown in which at least one embodiment described herein may be employed. The environment 100 includes an outdoor grill 101. As used herein, the term "outdoor grill" means an outdoor cooking device, including a barbecue grill and / or a barbecue smoker. A barbecue smoker, in turn, refers to an outdoor cooking device configured to cook food at least in part through generated smoke, such as smoke generated by burning wood chips. Thus, the outdoor grill 101 shown or otherwise described herein may be any type of cooking appliance, including a conventional barbecue grill, smoker, or other device.

[0040] Generally, the outdoor grill 101 includes hardware and other modules for performing a variety of different functions. For example, the outdoor grill 101 includes an electronic controller 102. The electronic controller can be any type of microcontroller, microprocessor, or other processing unit capable of processing software code. The software code can be stored on a computer-readable medium including a memory 103 or other data storage 105. The data storage can be flash memory or other non-volatile memory. Thus, the outdoor grill 101 can have sufficient processing power and memory to be considered a computing system, or at least considered to have an attached computing system.

[0041] Figure 1 Also shown is that the outdoor grill 101 may include a communication module 104. The communication module 104 may be configured to communicate with other computing systems, such as a mobile device 120 used by a user 119, or a remote computer system 122. As understood herein, a "mobile device" (120) means any computing system (including but not limited to a smartphone, e.g., a computer system) that enables a user to provide remote input, selection, and other control of the outdoor grill 101 from a remote location. Figure 2-3 ). Communication between the mobile device and the outdoor grill 101 can occur over a network including a combination of wireless and wired connections. For example, the mobile device 120 can be connected to the network wirelessly, or can be connected to the network via a network cable (such as a cable using Ethernet), USB, or other suitable connection interface.

[0042] Thus, the mobile device 120 may include a mobile phone, a tablet-type device, or may include another form of remote control display (such as a digital remote control) that includes a tablet-style touch screen with web-enabled functionality having a graphical user interface displayed thereon. In one implementation, the mobile device 120 includes an LCD screen with one or more controls (e.g., touch screen controls or physical button controls) that are primarily used in indoor environments and in any situation away from the outdoor grill 101.

[0043] For example, the mobile device 120 may include a remote screen located or mounted on a kitchen table or approximately a kitchen table, but connected to the outdoor grill 101 via a network (Bluetooth, WIFI, or network cable) and / or connected to the remote computer system 122 via a network. Specifically, the communication module 104 may include any wired or wireless communication unit that can receive data from other computing systems and / or send data to other computing systems. The communication module 104 may be configured to interact with a database, a mobile computing device (such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer), an embedded computing system, or other types of computing systems.

[0044] In some cases, the mobile device 120 and / or the remote computer system 122 can be configured to provide input to the outdoor grill 101. For example, the mobile device 120 can provide input 121 to the outdoor grill 101, such as by providing a "cooking profile" for a food item. The input can specify a recipe to be used, which in turn can specify a custom smoking mode (or other temperature or flavor profile mode involving the operation of multiple components on the outdoor grill 101) to be used when preparing a certain portion of food. These recipes 106 and custom smoke generation modes can be stored in the data store 105 and accessed by the electronic controller 102.

[0045] The remote computer system 122 may also provide input 123 to the outdoor grill 101, which may again be recipes or customized grilling or smoking mode controls (including fan (on / off, speed or RPM) and / or hopper / auger adjustments), but may also be notifications or other data relevant to the grill owner. For example, as will be further explained below, the remote computer system 122 may provide the grill owner with remote diagnostic or analytical information that may be displayed on a display of the grill 101.

[0046] Figure 1Also shown is that the outdoor grill 101 includes a smoke generator 108. In at least one embodiment, the smoke generator 108 includes hardware including a hopper 110 for loading combustible pellets 109 into a combustion zone 111. In some embodiments, the outdoor grill 101 can be a smoker fueled by combustible pellets 109 (such as wood pellets or other suitable combustion precursors). The hopper 110 can supply fuel to the combustion zone 111 at a specified rate to maintain a specific internal temperature 113. The internal temperature can be measured by an internal thermometer 112 inside the grill 101. For example, a determination module 116 of the smoke generator 108 can determine that the current internal temperature 113 is too low, and can cause the hopper 110 to load more pellets / fuel 109 into the combustion zone 111, and / or adjust a fan or other component to help increase the temperature. Conversely, if the internal temperature is too high, the loading of pellets / fuel into the combustion zone 111 can be temporarily stopped until the temperature has cooled, and similarly the fan can be adjusted up / down or on / off to help cool.

[0047] In at least some embodiments, the user 119 may control the outdoor grill 101 via the mobile device 120. The mobile device 120 may be configured to run an application that allows the user 119 to control the functions of the outdoor grill 101. For example, using the software application, the user 119 may cause the outdoor grill 101 to ignite and begin a specified "cooking profile" assigned to a food item (such as a recipe that employs a particular smoking mode dedicated to a particular end result in the food item). For example, the user 119 may indicate the use of a particular cooking profile for a food item by selecting one of the recipes 106 or smoke generation modes 107 stored on the grill's data store 105, wherein the selected recipe 106 includes one or more flavor, smoke, temperature, or other cooking profile features for the particular food item.

[0048] Thus, in at least one embodiment, a "cooking profile" comprises a set of values ​​contained in one or more files associated with a food item (such as files contained in a downloadable recipe (from computer system 122)) that are intended to produce a specific end result in the food item. For example, a cooking profile for a particular type of beef may include a designation that the end product is "medium rare" or light pink in color internally, and / or may specify an internal temperature of the food item (such as 135°C). 。 F(57 。 C)). The cooking profile may alternatively indicate that the meat needs to be tender enough to be shredded, or to include a certain amount of smoke flavor in the meat.

[0049] Each of these end results may be driven in part by a downloaded recipe, or by manual input by a user at the grill 101 or via the mobile device 120. The recipe may include values ​​such as cooking time, the amount of smoke applied and when applied, internal grill temperature, and the like. In at least one implementation, a cooking profile may be used to adjust certain cooking steps that occur during a cooking cycle based on other variables to ensure an overall end result. Thus, generally speaking, a cooking profile may be understood as an overall characteristic of a food item based on the desired end result of a particular food item, while a "recipe" generally refers to the modifiable steps used to achieve the end result.

[0050] Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a grill system that enables a user to automatically control various aspects of the cooking process to achieve different performance levels. In particular, embodiments of the present invention enable a user to automatically or manually monitor and adjust grill temperature, change or start a timer, adjust smoking mode, set the grill to "keep warm," or adjust other states, or perform other controls specifically directed toward a particular taste or other desired end result.

[0051] Embodiments of the present invention allow a user to participate or not participate in the grilling process as desired, and to handle the grilling process from a remote location. In particular, embodiments of the present invention enable a user to have partial or full control over cooking a food item, and therefore partial or full control over the operation of multiple components of an outdoor grill, generally in accordance with multiple user preferences (regardless of the degree to which the user desires to be involved in controlling the operation or results), and whether the user is traveling or at home in the living room.

[0052] To achieve these and other features, Figure 2 It is shown that the outdoor grill 101 can receive instructions from a mobile computing system and / or a cloud computing system (or "cloud service") 201 and can be controlled by the mobile computing system and / or the cloud computing system. In particular, Figure 2 An embodiment is shown in which the grill / smoker 101 is controlled via a mobile device 120 (eg, the depicted smart phone 120 or other remote device configured with appropriate software as previously described). Figure 2 It is shown that the smart phone 120 can communicate with the cloud service 201, which in turn communicates with the grill / smoker 101. The cloud service 201 can provide data storage along with other features. For example, the data storage can store recipes for the grill / smoker 101 to smoke meats, vegetables, fruits, or other food items. Using the cloud service 201, a customer or user can control the functions of the grill / smoker 101 using their appropriately configured mobile device (e.g., phone 120, tablet computer, laptop computer, remote control, desktop computer, or other computer system).

[0053] Functionality may include monitoring by the grill / smoker 101, including monitoring of internal temperature, external ambient air temperature, probe temperature (e.g., from a probe that communicates wirelessly), and alarms that may be raised by the grill 101 or smoker. Other controls may include adjusting the temperature by adding more fuel (such as pellets), or allowing existing fuel to burn out in order to lower the temperature, turning the device on or off, or rotating certain components (including the operation or operable speed of fans). Cooking profile factors may also include controlling a timer or customizing a cooking cycle, or monitoring probe temperature alarms. More control of the grill 101 may be provided through the smart phone 120, and the amount and type of control may be updated over time to add new functionality.

[0054] When a control input is received at the smart phone 120 (or other electronic device), the control input is communicated to the cloud service 201 via wired or wireless data transmission. The control input is then communicated to the grill / smoker 101 either directly or via an access point (such as a WIFI router). In this manner, a user is able to control their grill / smoker 101 from essentially any location with internet access. In some cases, the user may even be able to remotely fire up the grill / smoker 101, while in other cases, such functionality may be disabled unless the user is within a specified range of the grill 101 (as determined by GPS or Bluetooth geo-fencing).

[0055] Figure 3 Shows something like Figure 2 In an environment of an outdoor grill / smoker 101, the cloud service 201 includes various device links of the grill / smoker 101, a remote computer system (e.g., a hosted service 304), and a mobile device 120 (e.g., a smartphone or other electronic computing device as depicted). In this case, the cloud service 201 can be configured (e.g., via the remote computing system 122) to handle one or more additional services 304, including, but not limited to: data analytics, third-party advertising, remote diagnostic services, e-commerce services, social media, customer service assistance, and other services. For example, usage data for an outdoor grill / smoker 101 can be uploaded to the cloud service 201 and stored in a connected global data store.

[0056] This usage data can be analyzed by an analysis engine in conjunction with data from other users (such as when the smoker was turned on, how long it was turned on, what temperature it reached, what the average internal temperature was, what the average external temperature was, what cooking / smoking recipes were used, what controls (e.g., fan and / or auger use, speed) were used and when, or other actionable usage data). Thus, usage data from many different users can be recorded and analyzed to identify broad types of usage. These analyses can then be used to refine and improve future smokers or grills, or can be used for other purposes, such as refining a cooking profile for a given food item, adjusting a recipe, providing notifications.

[0057] In one example, the cloud service 201 can track users' use of the grill / smoker 101 and can determine products or recipes that may be of interest to a given user based on similarities between the user's use of the grill 101 and the use of other users. The usage data can also be used to perform remote diagnostics on the grill / smoker 101. For example, the usage data can indicate that the temperature of the user's grill 101 exceeds the normal operating temperature (e.g., caused by an oil fire). Thus, certain parts may have failed or may fail due to the extreme high temperature. Other usage data can indicate different problems that may occur as a result of how the user uses their grill. The usage data can also be sent to social media for announcing the functional implementation of a recipe, or for announcing to party guests that a specified meat is being smoked and will be ready at a certain time. Many other social media implementations such as those provided by the cloud service 201 can also be used.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a method for using a software application such as Figure 1 106). The application may be run on a mobile device 120 (such as a phone, tablet computer, remote control, or wearable device), or may be run on a desktop computing system, or may be run through a web browser (such as previously described herein). It will be understood that the application workflow 400 is one example of an application workflow, and other embodiments and implementations are possible.

[0059] Figure 4Shown is an exemplary application workflow 400 that may include a home menu 401 that displays the status of the grill 101 (or other electronically controlled appliance) upon startup, the status of any probes in use, any timers or other grill 101 controls in use, and the status of any alarms. The first time setup may take the user to connect the grill 101 to an access point (such as a WIFI access point) and link a mobile device to the grill 101. The first time setup may also coach the user on how to use the grill 101 or at least some of its components. The home menu 401 may display any or all of the following: grill temperature, probe temperature, timer (if running), active alarms (e.g., low particle alarm or empty hopper alarm), current cooking cycle, current time until cooking is complete, start delay time, or other information.

[0060] The application may have many different tabs and menus, including one or more of the following: a control menu 402 that allows the user to control the target temperature of the grill, control the target probe temperature of the grill, set or restart a timer, set a start delay, remotely turn the grill 101 on or off, set an alarm, or perform other functions. A cooking cycle menu 403 may be provided that allows the user to select from different cooking cycles (i.e., preprogrammed cooking programs that control the temperature for a specified amount of time to cook or smoke a food item in a certain manner), save a cooking cycle, upload a cooking cycle to a cloud service (e.g., Figure 3 201), provide the user with a live indication of what is happening during a cooking cycle, implement a certain cooking cycle for a given food, browse and download recipes and / or cooking cycles, provide access to a food holding cycle (which holds food at a certain temperature for a specified time), or perform other functions.

[0061] The cooking cycle menu 403 may have one or more sub-menus, including a cooking cycle creation menu 409. The cooking cycle creation menu 409 may allow a user to create his or her own custom cooking cycle. The custom cooking cycle may specify a start and end at a given time, a certain temperature to be maintained and changed to throughout the cycle, various customizable triggers or conditions that may cause changes to the cooking cycle (such as shortening or extending the cooking time, or increasing or decreasing the internal grill 101 temperature for a given duration). The cooking cycle creation menu 409 may allow a user to push a customized cooking cycle to the grill 101 and have the grill begin implementing the cycle. The customized cooking cycle may also be saved directly on the grill 101 or in the cloud service 201.

[0062] Other menus provided on the application workflow may include a settings menu 404. The settings menu may allow the user to set up WIFI, Bluetooth, or communication means on the grill 101. The settings menu 404 may also allow access to and change configuration settings. The settings menu 404 may also provide guidance and other settings specific to the appliance (or application) that may be changed using the settings menu. A map menu or tab 405 may be provided that provides access to local retailers including pellet sellers or dealers, local butchers or vegetable farms for meat, local events including barbecues or tailgate parties, or the location of nearby grill 101 dealers. The map menu 405 may also provide other information specific to the appliance, such as a repair shop that specializes in repairing the appliance.

[0063] A social media menu 406 may be provided that allows users to upload photos, recipes, videos, or other media that other users may be interested in. The social media tabs may allow users to post images or status updates to social media sites, including location pins, updates from the grill 101 itself, or other information. Thus, the social media menu 406 allows users to share their grilling / smoking experiences with others.

[0064] The recipe menu 407 allows the user to browse recipes available online or through the cloud service 201. When browsing these recipes, the user can select an icon that can download one or more recipes to his phone or other mobile device. These recipes can be collected in a local or cloud-based library and shared via social media. Users can categorize recipes, add their own recipes, add pictures to other people's recipes, or interact with the recipe database in other ways. The store menu 408 allows users to purchase pellets, propane gas or other fuels, purchase sauces, barbecue seasoning (rub), grill accessories, grill parts or entire grills / smokers. The store can be expanded to allow the purchase of food items or other items that can be used in conjunction with the grill 101. The following will be respectively about Figure 5 and Fig. 9 Method 500 and method 900 are used to further explain the concepts described above.

[0065] In particular, Figure 5 and Fig. 9 Provided are flowcharts that illustrate or otherwise describe methods that can be implemented according to the subject matter disclosed above. For the purpose of simplicity of explanation, the method is illustrated and described as a series of blocks. However, it should be understood and appreciated that in all embodiments, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, because in some embodiments, some blocks may occur in an order different from the order depicted and described herein and / or occur simultaneously with other blocks. In addition, all of the illustrated blocks may not be required to implement the methods described hereafter for all embodiments.

[0066] For example, Figure 5 A flow chart of a method 500 for smoking food in an outdoor grill 101 using a customized smoking program is shown. Figure 1 The method 500 is described with reference to the components and data of the environment 100 .

[0067] Specifically, Figure 5 The method 500 is shown to include receiving input from a remote computer system indicating that the outdoor grill 101 is to initiate smoke generation according to a specified smoke generation mode (510). For example, Figure 1 It is shown that the outdoor grill 101 can receive input 123 from a remote computer system 122 indicating that the outdoor grill 101 is to initiate smoke generation according to one of the smoke generation modes 107. The smoke generation mode 107 can specify a timing and temperature program for smoking a portion of a food item.

[0068] For example, Figure 6 As shown, a customizable smoking mode 601 may include multiple elements. Initially, the mode may begin by performing a step 602 of igniting the combustion zone 111 of the grill / smoker 101. The ignition step 602 may occur while the user is at the grill 101 or when the user is in another location. Once the smoker is ignited, the smoke generator 108 will add fuel (such as using the hopper 110 to add combustible pellets 109) to raise the temperature 603 of the smoker 101 and maintain it for a specified amount of time. Maintaining the temperature may involve continuously adding pellets 109 to the combustion zone 111 at a specified rate, and may include other control adjustments consistent with the overall desired cooking profile, such as fan operation (on / off), fan speed (RPM). The rate may vary based on the determined external temperature 115. In fact, if the grill / smoker 101 is operated during the winter and the outdoor temperature is very cold (as determined by the outside thermometer 114), the smoke generator determination module 116 may determine that additional fuel / pellets need to be added in order to maintain the specified temperature.

[0069] The customizable smoking mode 601 may also specify a time 604 for cooling to occur. In the case of some meats, vegetables, or other foods, it may be desirable to allow the grill / smoker 101 to cool to a specified temperature within a certain amount of time, and then heat it back up again. Thus, the customizable smoking mode 601 may alternatively adjust between a heating period (603) and a cooling period (604), which may provide certain preset triggers that cause automatic adjustments to the auger / hopper operation, fan operation, etc. Once the cooking / smoking of the food item is completed, the grill 101 may be automatically set to a "keep warm" state 605 according to the cooking profile for the food item, wherein the specified temperature is maintained in the grill 101 until the user has removed their food, and thus causing corresponding adjustments to the auger, fan, etc.

[0070] Figure 5 Also shown is that method 500 includes performing the following operations according to a smoke generation mode (520) specified for the assigned cooking profile: adding a specified amount of combustible particles to a combustion zone of the outdoor grill 101 so that the combustible particles begin to burn (520A); measuring a current internal temperature of the outdoor grill 101 (520B); when it is determined that the current internal temperature is below a first specified threshold value 117, adding a specified amount of additional combustible particles to the combustion zone sufficient to raise the temperature to a second specified threshold value 118 (520C); allowing the internal temperature of the outdoor grill 101 to cool to a temperature below the first specified threshold value (520D), and when it is determined that the temperature of the outdoor grill 101 has cooled to below the first specified threshold value, adding a second specified amount of additional combustible particles to the combustion zone (and / or adjusting other controls, such as fan operation and / or speed) sufficient to raise the temperature to at least the second specified threshold value (520E).

[0071] exist Figure 7 One example of such a smoke generation cycle is shown in the graph of . In particular, graph 701 plots time on the X-axis and internal grill 101 temperature on the Y-axis. At the time of ignition, the internal grill 101 temperature is most likely the same as the ambient air temperature (if the grill 101 has not been used for the past several hours). Thus, in graph 701, the internal grill 101 temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. As shown in FIG. Figure 5 In step 520A, the combustible pellets 109 are added to the combustion zone 111 of the outdoor grill 101 through the hopper 110 (where the combustible pellets 109 begin to burn), thereby increasing the temperature. After a specified time (at which time no (or a small amount of) pellets are added to the combustion zone), the internal temperature is obtained again (520B). The determination module 116 determines that the internal temperature 113 is below the first specified threshold 702 (e.g., at time T1, the temperature may have fallen back to (or close to) the ambient air temperature).

[0072] As a result of the determination, various components of the grill 101 may be adjusted to increase the temperature. For example, the grill 101 may be instructed to add a specified amount of pellets to the combustion zone (and may also adjust the fan) sufficient to increase the temperature to a second specified threshold value (520C). The second threshold 703 may be a temperature much higher than the temperature initially reached (e.g., 400 degrees, compared to 200 degrees, as shown in FIG8 ). The second threshold 703 may represent a super smoke cycle, in which meat or other food is smoked at very high temperatures. High temperatures may produce a desired effect on the food, infusing more smoke flavor and improving the texture of the food. The internal temperature of the outdoor grill 101 may then be allowed to cool (by preventing the burning of additional pellets, and / or adjusting the internal fan or blower) to a temperature below the first specified threshold value 702 (520D).

[0073] After determining that the internal temperature of the outdoor grill 101 has cooled to below the first specified threshold value 702, the determination module 116 can adjust other controls (for particle flow, fan use, etc.) to increase the internal temperature. For example, the determination module 116 can determine that the combustion zone is to be supplied with additional particles (520E) sufficient to increase the internal temperature to at least the second specified threshold value 703. Therefore, in this way, high (super smoke) temperatures can be repeatedly reached throughout the smoking process. In some cases, the smoke generation mode 107 specifies which temperature to reach and when to reach the temperature along the timeline. The internal temperature can be allowed to rise or fall according to the smoke generation mode specified for a specific cooking profile for a given food item. Each recipe / cooking profile can have its own smoke generation mode, and therefore the user can simply select a recipe, send the selection to the grill 101, and have the grill 101 automatically execute the smoke mode associated with the recipe.

[0074] Therefore, in this way, Figure 1 The mobile device 120 of the outdoor grill 101 can cause its software application to provide input 121, which is used to indicate that the outdoor grill 101 will initiate smoke generation according to the specified smoke generation mode 107. The input 121 can be received via a wireless communication link established between the mobile electronic device 120 and the outdoor grill 101. The smoke generation mode 107 specified by the input enables smoke generation at multiple temperatures. In some cases, smoke generation occurs within the outdoor grill 101 when the internal temperature of the grill is 400 degrees or higher.

[0075] When the outdoor grill 101 receives a recipe 106 or a smoke generation pattern 107 as input from an external computer system, it may alternatively replace or supplement an existing recipe or smoke generation pattern. For example, if a recipe or smoke generation pattern is already stored in the data storage 105, the recipe or smoke generation pattern will not need to be replaced. If the recipe or smoke generation pattern is new, the new recipe or smoke generation pattern may be stored in addition to the existing recipe or smoke generation pattern. If the recipe or smoke generation pattern is a variation on an existing recipe or smoke generation pattern, or includes user customizations, the newly received version may supplement or replace the existing recipe or smoke generation pattern and may be uploaded back to the remote computer system 122 for later use.

[0076] Thus, a user may take an existing recipe or pattern and customize it, or a user may simply create their own user-customized smoke generation pattern 107. Such a user-customized smoke generation pattern may be generated using a software application on the mobile device 120. The mobile device (which is communicatively connected to the outdoor grill 101) may then send input to the grill 101 using wired or wireless communication means. In some cases, the user-customized smoke generation pattern may be derived from the existing smoke generation pattern, and may therefore supplement the existing smoke generation pattern. In this case, portions of both the existing smoke generation pattern and the user-customized smoke generation pattern are used when smoking food.

[0077] A digital thermometer or digital probe can be implemented to monitor a grilling process consistent with a cooking profile for a food item. In particular, a digital thermometer can track the internal temperature of the food while cooking the food. The digital thermometer can be configured to communicate with an outdoor grill 101 and / or a software application running on a mobile electronic device 120. In particular, when the smoke generation mode is running, the determination module 116 of the smoke generator 108 can take into account the readings from the digital probe. Therefore, if the readings from the digital probe are continuously low / high, the internal temperature of the grill 101 can be increased or decreased to compensate. Therefore, the smoke generation mode and other grilling variables can be automatically changed in the middle of the cycle based on the readings from the probe and in response to the metrics specified by the cooking profile for the food item. Additionally or alternatively, the smoke generation mode can be changed in the middle of the cycle according to the input 121 provided by the user 119, and the smoke generation mode is therefore customized relative to any program or recipe that is then in progress.

[0078] The outdoor grill 101 can be configured to display settings, controls, recipes, or other information visible to a user on an external display 125. The display 125 can be mounted in a pre-designed location on the grill 101. The computer-readable medium (e.g., data storage 105) of the grill 101, together with the electronic controller 102, can be configured to generate a user interface that displays outdoor grill 101 function values. These function values ​​can be shown with a specified level of prominence. In addition, the prominence level can be automatically changed over time.

[0079] For example, Fig. 8A As shown in FIG. 1 , the temperature information is displayed much more prominently than the timer. At one point in the smoking cycle, the temperature information may be much more useful to the grill user than the timer information and will be displayed as such in the display. On the other hand, at another point in the smoking cycle, the timer (e.g., Figure 8B 801) may be more useful.

[0080] Of course, other information may also be displayed on the display, and there may be multiple (e.g., three or more) levels of prominence. Thus, a user interface displayed in display 801 may display an outdoor grill 101 function value (e.g., temperature) in the display with a specified level of prominence, and the prominence may change during cooking in response to various factors (relative importance, user instructions, immediacy of input, or user adjustments required). In particular, transitions may occur when specified events occur. For example, once a certain temperature (e.g., 450 degrees) is reached, the time may be displayed with greater importance than the temperature, and thus the time may be shown as being more prominent (e.g., 450 degrees). Figure 8B ), while other function values ​​are reduced.

[0081] Fig. 9 A flow chart of a method 900 for smoking food in an outdoor grill 101 using a customized smoking program / cooking profile for a food item is shown. The method 900 will now be described with frequent reference to the components and data of the environment 100.

[0082] As mentioned above about Figure 1 As discussed, an electronically controlled outdoor grill 101 may be provided that includes a combustion zone 111, a hopper 110 configured to provide wood pellets 109 to the combustion zone, an electronic controller 102, and one or more computer-readable storage media 105 having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to perform a method for smoking one or more portions of a food item using a customized smoking program.

[0083] The method (900) includes receiving input 121 from a mobile device 120 or from a remote computer system 122 indicating that the outdoor grill 101 is to initiate smoke generation according to a specified, customized smoke generation pattern 107 created by a user (910). The electronic controller 102 analyzes the specified smoke generation pattern 107 to determine what controls need to be adjusted at the grill 101, such as how many wood pellets to add to the combustion zone 111 through the hopper 110 (920). The analysis also determines when to add the wood pellets 109 to the combustion zone 111. This can include designing a timeline for adding the pellets (either in large groups of pellets or in a steady stream of individual pellets).

[0084] Fig. 9 Also shown is that method 900 next includes measuring the current internal temperature of outdoor grill 101 using internal thermometer 112 (930), and upon determining the current internal temperature 113 of outdoor grill 101, initiating a customized smoking program (e.g., Figure 6 601) (940). Thus, a determined amount of wood pellets 109 is added to the combustion zone 111 through the hopper 110 at the determined time (or according to the determined timeline), and the determined amount of wood pellets 109 is adjusted according to the current internal temperature of the outdoor grill 101 (940). Other controls may also be adjusted at the outdoor grill 101, such as the operation and / or speed of fans, exhaust, etc.

[0085] For example, the customized smoking mode may be continuously adjusted based on the determined internal temperature 113. Additionally or alternatively, the customized smoking mode may be continuously adjusted during the customized smoking mode based on the current external ambient temperature 115. Thus, if the internal temperature is drastically affected by the external temperature, controls in the grill 101 may be adjusted so that more or less pellets may be added to the combustion zone 111 to manage the temperature, or to heat or cool it based on the customized smoking cycle.

[0086] In some cases, when a customized smoke generation pattern (e.g., 601) is received at the grill 101, the customized smoke generation pattern is automatically initiated upon receipt by the grill 101. This allows a user to initiate a smoke mode from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. The customized smoke generation pattern may be received at the grill 101 via a wireless network to which the grill 101 is communicatively connected. The customized smoke generation pattern may be stored in the data store 105, or may be only temporarily stored in the memory 103. The customized smoke generation pattern may replace or supplement any existing smoke mode that has been pre-programmed into the memory of the grill.

[0087] In some cases, the grill 101 may be pre-programmed to provide steady, consistent heat. This program may be overwritten by a user-customized program, such as a super smoke program. If the user implements such a super smoke program, the combustible pellets 109 may be released according to a determined timeline. The pellets may be supplied to the combustion zone 111, where they smolder, generating heat. Over time, the grill 101 temperature drops and the pellets burn (e.g., Figure 7 This causes a temperature spike (e.g. Figure 7 107 ), and then next, more particles may be introduced according to the customized smoke pattern 107 and the cycle continues. Thus, the user may select consistent performance, or may instead override or use a customized smoke pattern (such as a super smoke pattern).

[0088] Thus, the disclosed methods, systems, and computer program products enable a variety of user cooking controls via remote communications, particularly controls related to smoke-based cooking cycles. In at least one embodiment, the methods, systems, and devices described herein enable a user to cook food in an outdoor grill or smoker using a set of customizable steps directed to a specific end result, such as a specific flavor profile requiring a certain amount of smoke or other flavor control. The steps can be created by the user on a computer device, or can be downloaded from a remote location for operation at an outdoor grill, so that cooking and conditioning occurs completely automatically. In addition, electronically controlled outdoor appliances are provided, including grills and smokers that use customized cooking / smoking programs to smoke food.

[0089] It will therefore be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention enable outdoor cooking of one or more food items to be handled not only automatically from a local or remote location, but also or alternatively on a customized basis for a particular food item, recipe, cooking time, taste profile, or other result desired by a user. Along these lines, embodiments of the present invention allow for the creation and use of specific cooking profiles associated with specific food items, including various characteristics of the finished food item.

[0090] The cooking profile, in turn, includes a plurality of trigger amounts and modifiers that may be adjusted automatically or tuned by a controller at the grill / smoker despite a variety of different circumstances present during a cooking cycle or in a cooking environment. Specifically, the present inventive methods, systems, and apparatus enable a user to continuously monitor, control, and automatically (or manually, if desired) adjust various cooking components in response to a wide range of factors (which present themselves during a cooking cycle or are otherwise previously indicated by the user or by recipes downloaded by the user). Such varying factors include the internal and external temperature of the grill, the internal food temperature, the desired texture or internal firmness of the food item, the effect of any seasonings, sauces, or grilling seasonings applied to the food item, and the like. Thus, embodiments of the present invention enable a user to modify many operations at an outdoor grill, including auger operation and speed, fan operation and speed, smoke generation, temperature, and the like, all through one or more user-accessible controls on a mobile device.

[0091] In particular, after considering the specification and claims it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention provide numerous advantages and solutions over conventional systems.

[0092] The concepts and features described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their spirit or descriptive characteristics. The described embodiments should be considered illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the preceding description. All changes within the equivalent meaning and scope of the claims should be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling a wood pellet grill comprising a hopper, an auger, and a combustion zone, wherein: The hopper and the auger are configured to load combustible pellets into the combustion zone of the wood pellet grill, the method comprising: receiving directly from a cloud computing system one or more control inputs having instructions to initiate smoke generation according to a specified, customized smoke generation pattern created by a user, wherein the one or more control inputs represent a previous user selection initially made via a mobile device, wherein the specified, customized smoke generation pattern specifies at least a start time, a temperature profile including at least one intermediate periodic temperature change to be followed during the specified, customized smoke generation pattern, and one or more triggers that will adjust the specified, customized smoke generation pattern; analyzing the specified, customized smoke generation pattern to determine how much wood pellets need to be added from the hopper to the combustion zone and when the wood pellets need to be added from the hopper to the combustion zone to achieve the customized smoke generation pattern; determining a current internal temperature of the wood pellet grill; and Upon determining the current internal temperature of the wood pellet grill, the designated, customized smoke generation mode is initiated by: adjusting a determined amount of wood pellets to be added to the combustion zone based on the determined current internal temperature; causing the hopper to add the regulated amount of wood pellets to the combustion zone at the determined time; and The usage data is uploaded to the cloud computing system. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device includes a software application that implements the previous user selection.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: Receiving one or more control inputs directly from a cloud computing system includes receiving the control inputs via wireless communication between the cloud computing system and the wood pellet grill.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The specified, customized smoke generation mode includes instructions for generating smoke at three or more different temperatures within the temperature profile.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing smoke generation to occur within the wood pellet grill when an internal temperature of the wood pellet grill is 400 degrees or greater.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated, customized smoke generation mode replaces an existing currently implemented smoke generation mode.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The instructions for implementing the designated, customized smoke generation mode are generated using a software application on the mobile device communicatively connected to the wood pellet grill.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein: Initiating smoke generation according to a designated, customized smoke generation pattern includes supplementing a smoke generation pattern currently implemented by the wood pellet grill, wherein portions of both the smoke generation pattern currently implemented by the wood pellet grill and the designated, customized smoke generation pattern are used for smoke generation.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking the internal temperature of food within the wood pellet grill using a digital thermometer configured to communicate with the wood pellet grill and with a software application running on the mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: receiving a temperature reading from the digital thermometer; determining that the temperature reading is a trigger; as well as The designated, customized smoke generation pattern is adjusted mid-cycle based at least in part on the received temperature readings.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform steps comprising: receiving directly from a cloud computing system one or more control inputs having instructions to initiate smoke generation according to a specified, customized smoke generation pattern created by a user, wherein the one or more control inputs represent a previous user selection initially made via a mobile device, wherein the specified, customized smoke generation pattern specifies at least a start time, a temperature profile including at least one intermediate periodic temperature change to be followed during the specified, customized smoke generation pattern, and one or more triggers that will adjust the specified, customized smoke generation pattern; determining a current internal temperature of the wood pellet grill; Upon determining the current internal temperature of the wood pellet grill, initiating the designated, customized smoke generation mode by: adjusting a determined amount of wood pellets to be added to the combustion zone based on the determined current internal temperature; causing the hopper to add the regulated amount of wood pellets to the combustion zone at the determined time; as well as The usage data is uploaded to the cloud computing system.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to generate a user interface displaying a plurality of wood pellet grill function values.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein: The generated user interface displays the first wood pellet grill function value in the display with the specified significance level.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein: Upon occurrence of a designated event, the generated user interface displays a second wood pellet grill function value in the display having a higher significance level, and wherein the first wood pellet grill function value is displayed in the display having a reduced significance level.

15. A wood pellet grill comprising: Burning area; a hopper for providing wood pellets to the combustion zone; as well as Electronic controller, including: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the at least one processor cause the electronic controller to: receiving directly from a cloud computing system one or more control inputs having instructions to initiate smoke generation according to a specified, customized smoke generation pattern created by a user, wherein the one or more control inputs represent a previous user selection initially made via a mobile device, and wherein the specified, customized smoke generation pattern specifies at least a start time, a temperature profile including at least one intermediate periodic temperature change to be followed during the specified, customized smoke generation pattern, and one or more triggers that are to adjust the specified, customized smoke generation pattern; analyzing the specified, customized smoke generation pattern to determine how many wood pellets to add from the hopper to the combustion zone and when the wood pellets are added from the hopper to the combustion zone in order to achieve the customized smoke generation pattern; determining a current internal temperature of the wood pellet grill; upon determining the current internal temperature of the wood pellet grill, initiating the customized smoking program such that a determined amount of wood pellets is added to the combustion zone through the hopper at a determined time and is adjusted based on the current internal temperature of the wood pellet grill; and The usage data is uploaded to the cloud computing system.

16. The wood pellet grill of claim 15, further comprising continuously adjusting said customized smoke generation pattern during said designated, customized smoke generation pattern based on a determined current ambient temperature.

17. The wood pellet grill of claim 15, wherein the one or more control inputs are received via a wireless network to which the wood pellet grill is communicatively connected.

18. The wood pellet grill of claim 17, wherein the received, designated, customized smoke generation mode is automatically activated when received by the wood pellet grill.

19. The wood pellet grill of claim 15, wherein the designated, customized smoke generation mode replaces or supplements an existing smoking mode pre-programmed into the wood pellet grill.

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