Rice cooker and rice cooking system

Abstract

To provide a rice cooker capable of suggesting to a user a rice cooking course according to a taste or a rice cooking course suitable for a rice cooking time without depending on experience and actual results, and a rice cooking system.SOLUTION: In a rice cooker, a first screen WS1 and a second screen WS2 are displayed. In the first screen WS1, a plurality of first options 51 of classifying rice cooking courses can be displayed. In the second screen WS2, at least one rice cooking course satisfying an extraction condition being a combination of items selected from each of the first options 51 can be displayed as a second option 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice cooker and a rice cooking system. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known method of operating a rice cooker that can change settings to reflect the user's impressions of the rice cooked by the rice cooker. This method accepts setting information when the rice cooker cooks rice based on the user's selection, displays a questionnaire about the cooked rice on the screen, changes the setting information based on the answers to the questionnaire, and sends the changed setting information to the rice cooker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-129934 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The conventional method of operating a rice cooker involves reflecting the answers to a questionnaire about the rice cooked this time in the settings for the next cooking time.

[0005] However, the type of rice, cooking time, hardness, and cooking method for the next cooking will not necessarily be the same as the current cooking. Note that the type of rice mentioned here includes different brands and rice with different degrees of polishing, such as brown rice, polished rice, and white rice.

[0006] Recently, rice cookers can cook rice using a variety of cooking courses that can be selected from more than 1,000 to 2,000 courses. These courses have different cooking conditions, for example, regarding the type of rice, cooking method, hardness of the cooked rice, and cooking time. In other words, each cooking course has different cooking conditions that can be suitably applied depending on the preferences of the rice cooker user, the type of rice, and the cooking time.

[0007] For this reason, it has not been easy for rice cooker users to accurately find a cooking course that suits their preferences without relying on experience or track record, or to accurately find a cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker and a rice cooking system that can suggest to a user a rice cooking course that suits the user's preferences and a rice cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time without relying on experience or track record. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory unit that stores a plurality of rice cooking courses, each of which has set conditions for cooking rice into cooked rice, a display unit that displays a first screen capable of displaying a plurality of first options that separate each of the rice cooking courses, and a second screen capable of displaying as a second option at least one of the rice cooking courses that satisfies an extraction condition, which is a combination of items selected from each of the first options, and a setting unit that sets the rice cooking course selected from the second option for rice cooking operation.

[0010] In addition, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a rice cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a rice cooker capable of transmitting information outside the apparatus, and an information terminal capable of receiving the information transmitted by the rice cooker, the information terminal comprising a memory unit which stores a plurality of rice cooking courses, each of which is set with conditions under which the rice cooker will cook rice into cooked rice, a display unit which displays a first screen capable of displaying a plurality of first options which separate the rice cooking courses, and a second screen capable of displaying at least one of the rice cooking courses which satisfies an extraction condition which is a combination of items selected from each of the first options as a second option, and a setting unit which sets the rice cooking course selected from the second option to the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker.

[0011] Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a rice cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a rice cooker capable of transmitting information to an outside source, and an information terminal capable of receiving the information transmitted by the rice cooker, the information terminal comprising: a memory unit which stores a plurality of rice cooking courses, each of which has set conditions for the rice cooker to cook rice into cooked rice; a voice input unit which is capable of voice input of a plurality of first options which define each of the rice cooking courses, and which is capable of voice input of at least one of the rice cooking courses which satisfies an extraction condition which is a combination of items selected from each of the first options as a second option; and a setting unit which sets the rice cooking course received by the voice input unit to the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a heating and cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of an example of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first screen displayed on a display unit of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present [Figure 6] 1 is a table showing a first example of options for dividing multiple rice cooking menus of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 13 is a table showing a second example of options for dividing multiple rice cooking menus of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 13 is a table showing a third example of options for dividing multiple rice cooking menus of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 13 is a table showing a fourth example of options for dividing multiple rice cooking menus of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a first part of a table showing an example of a database of rice cooking menus for a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 2 is a second part of a table showing an example of a database of rice cooking menus for a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] The third part of a table showing an example of a database of rice cooking menus of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] The fourth part of a table showing an example of a database of rice cooking menus of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 1 is a table showing a first example of an extraction result of rice cooking menus for a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 13 is a table showing a second example of the extraction results of rice cooking menus for the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, a cooking system according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 15. Note that in the various drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a heating and cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 1, a rice cooking system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a rice cooker 2 that cooks rice and water to cook rice, and at least one information terminal 3 that is used to operate the rice cooker 2. Communication between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 may be direct connection by short-range wireless communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth, or may be direct connection via a home wireless local area network (wireless LAN).

[0016] The rice cooking system 1 may also include a rice cooker 2, an information terminal 3, a server 5 that establishes communication between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3, and a storage device 6 that stores information for establishing communication between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3.

[0017] The rice cooker 2, the information terminal 3, the server 5, and the storage device 6 are each communicatively connected to the network NW via an electric communication network 11. The network NW may utilize, for example, the Internet, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), or other communication lines such as public lines or dedicated lines, depending on the situation.

[0018] The electric communication network 11 includes an external communication network 12 , an in-house communication network 13 , and a relay 15 that relays information between the external communication network 12 and the in-house communication network 13 .

[0019] The external communication network 12 includes a network NW. The repeater 15, the server 5, and the information terminal 3 are connected to the network NW via a public telephone network, a mobile phone network, etc. The rice cooking system 1 provides the user with a simple communication environment between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 by using the Internet as an intermediary.

[0020] The local area communication network 13 is a wireless or wired electric communication network, a so-called intranet, that includes a repeater 15. The rice cooker 2 is connected to the local area communication network 13 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0021] The rice cooker 2 communicates bidirectionally with the server 5 via a repeater 15 (eg, a wireless router and modem) installed in the user's residence.

[0022] The server 5 manages the rice cooker 2. For example, the server 5 manages information related to the rice cooker 2, including the device registration of the rice cooker 2, the operating status of the rice cooker 2, and the state of the rice cooker 2. The server 5 is, for example, a cloud server, and is composed of one or more server devices. The server 5 also establishes a communication line capable of bidirectionally communicating information between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 via the network NW. The server 5 may include an information processing unit that performs edge computing or fog computing, such as an information processing unit included in a router in the network NW. The server 5 is not limited to a cloud server, and may be a computer in the user's residence, or may be a home router such as a wireless router.

[0023] For ease of explanation, "information relating to rice cooker 2, including the device registration of rice cooker 2, the operating status of rice cooker 2, and the state of rice cooker 2" will be referred to as "rice cooker information" below.

[0024] The server 5 communicates with a large number of rice cookers 2 via the network NW and assigns an identifier to each rice cooker 2. The rice cooking system 1 establishes two-way communication between the information terminal 3 and the rice cooker 2 using the identifier provided by the server 5.

[0025] The information terminal 3 is a terminal device used by a user of the rice cooking system 1 to check the status of the rice cooker 2 and to operate the rice cooker 2. The information terminal 3 is, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device. The information terminal 3 is not limited to a mobile terminal device, and may be a terminal device that is permanently installed in a residence and is not suitable for carrying, such as a personal computer or a smart speaker. The information terminal 3 directly communicates bidirectionally with the rice cooker 2 via short-range wireless communication or via a repeater 15. The information terminal 3 can also communicate bidirectionally with the server 5 via a public wireless line or a mobile phone line, or via the repeater 15.

[0026] An information terminal 3 such as a smartphone or tablet terminal device acquires rice cooker information with or without the server 5 and outputs the status of the rice cooker 2 on the screen of the information terminal 3. In addition, the information terminal 3 such as a smartphone or tablet terminal device causes the linked rice cooker 2 to execute processing according to the user's operation. When the smart speaker detects that the speaker has uttered a specific word, it uses this as a trigger to identify the speaker's subsequent questions and requests using natural language processing, converts a reaction or response according to the identified content into voice and outputs it, or causes the linked rice cooker 2 to execute processing according to the identified content. A similar natural language processing function may be installed in a portable information terminal 3 such as a smartphone, or may be installed in the rice cooker 2.

[0027] The rice cooking system 1 provides rice cooker information transmitted from the rice cooker 2 to the outside in a state in which it can be received by the information terminal 3. The rice cooking system 1 may also provide commands transmitted from the information terminal 3 to the outside in a state in which it can be received by the rice cooker 2 in the residence. In other words, the rice cooking system 1 provides an environment in which the rice cooker 2 in the residence can be operated from the information terminal 3 while away from home. A user of the rice cooking system 1 can check the current status of the rice cooker 2, for example, while away from home.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment comprises a rectangular main body 22 having a pot accommodating section that is open upward, a pot to be accommodated in the pot accommodating section, a lid body 23 that covers the top surface of the main body 22 and closes the pot accommodating section so that it can be opened and closed, a hinge section 25 that supports the lid body 23 on the main body 22 so that it can be opened and closed, a lid opening operation section 26 that, when operated, unlocks the connection between the lid body 23 that closes the pot accommodating section and the main body 22, a steam vent 27 that releases steam generated in the pot to the outside of the main body 22, a display section 28 as an output device, an operation section 29 as an input device, a communication section 31 that can send and receive various information including rice cooker information, and a rice cooking control section 32 that controls the rice cooking operation of cooking rice and water put into the pot to cook the rice.

[0030] The main body 22 is substantially rectangular in shape. The main body 22 has six sides, namely, a front side, a rear side, a left side side, a right side side, a top side, and a bottom side. The top side of the main body 22 has an opening.

[0031] Lid body 23 covers and conceals main body 22 in a plan view of rice cooker 2. Lid body 23 has a rectangular shape that is shorter (thinner in the vertical direction) than main body 22. Lid body 23 has six sides, including a front, a back, a left side, a right side, a top, and a bottom. The top surface of lid body 23 is substantially flat.

[0032] Hinge portion 25 connects main body 22 and lid body 23 in an openable and closable manner. Hinge portion 25 connects the upper part of the back of main body 22 to the bottom part of the back of lid body 23. Hinge portion 25 also includes a torsion spring that stores spring force in the direction of opening lid body 23.

[0033] The lid-opening operation part 26 is disposed in the front half of the top surface of the lid body 23. Pressing the lid-opening operation part 26 releases the lock between the main body 22 and the lid body 23. When the engagement between the main body 22 and the lid body 23 is released, the lid body 23 rotates about the axis of the hinge part 25 due to the spring force stored in the torsion spring of the hinge part 25 and opens.

[0034] The steam vent 27 is provided in the rear half of the upper surface of the lid 23. The steam vent 27 exhausts steam generated from the food to be cooked inside the rice cooker 2 to the outside of the rice cooker 2.

[0035] The display unit 28 is a display that displays various information related to the rice cooker 2.

[0036] The operation unit 29 is disposed above the display unit 28. The operation unit 29 accepts operations such as starting cooking, setting a reservation time for cooking, and selecting a cooking course. Directly below the operation unit 29 is a control circuit board that controls operations and displays.

[0037] The operation unit 29 is, for example, a touch sensor including a plurality of key elements. Each key element includes, for example, a transparent electrode portion using a conductive polymer, a contact portion connected to a control circuit board, and a pattern wiring connecting the transparent electrode portion and the contact portion. By pressing, touching, or bringing a fingertip close to any point on the display unit 28, the key element located directly above that point is operated.

[0038] The operation unit 29 may be provided on the side of the display unit 28 in the form of a switch using a physical button.

[0039] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a memory unit 33 that stores a plurality of cooking courses, each of which has cooking conditions set for cooking rice into cooked rice. The cooking conditions are, for example, the type of rice, the cooking method for cooking the rice into cooked rice, the hardness of the cooked rice, and the cooking time for cooking the rice into cooked rice. Each cooking course includes at least two of these cooking conditions. A user of the rice cooker 2 can select cooking conditions such as the type of rice, the cooking method, the hardness, and the cooking time using the operation unit 29.

[0040] Then, based on the rice cooking course set by operating the operation unit 29, the rice cooker 2 executes standby for rice cooking, heating of rice and water, keeping the rice warm, and standby for scheduled rice cooking.

[0041] The states of the rice cooker 2 include, for example, "standby", in which it is waiting without performing any process, "adding soaking" in which the rice is soaked in extra water, "cooking" in which the rice and water are cooked to make rice, "keeping warm", in which the temperature of the rice is maintained, and "reserving", in which it is waiting until cooking begins at a specified set time. Any of the states being executed by the rice cooker 2, namely "standby", "adding soaking", "cooking", "keeping warm", and "reserving", is the current state of the rice cooker 2.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a front view of an example of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] 3, an example of an information terminal 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a smartphone. The information terminal 3 includes, for example, a display unit 41 as an output device, an input device 42 that accepts user input, a communication unit 43 that can transmit and receive various information including rice cooker information, and a display control unit 45 that controls the display content of the display unit 41.

[0044] The display unit 41 is a display capable of displaying various types of information.

[0045] The input device 42 is, for example, a touch panel provided over the display unit 41. The input device 42 may also be a voice input unit 46 that accepts voice input.

[0046] The communication unit 43 is capable of communicating with the rice cooker 2 via short-range wireless communication. The communication unit 43 is connected to the network NW directly or via a repeater 15. The communication unit 43 may be capable of communicating with the rice cooker 2 and the server 5 via the network NW.

[0047] The display control unit 45 causes the display unit 41 to display a plurality of elements, such as a background and character strings, based on, for example, various information received by the communication unit 43. The display control unit 45 may also generate an image in which the elements received by the communication unit 43 are arranged, and cause the image to be displayed on the display unit 41. For ease of explanation, "a plurality of elements, such as a background and character strings, which the display control unit 45 causes the display unit 41 to display based on various information received by the communication unit 43" will be referred to as "display elements" hereinafter.

[0048] By executing the installed program P, the information terminal 3 realizes the display function of the display unit 41, the input function of the input device 42, the communication function of the communication unit 43, and the display control function of the display control unit 45. Hereinafter, the program P for causing the information terminal 3 to realize the functions described in Fig. 4 to Fig. 15 will be referred to as a "management application AS."

[0049] The storage device 6 stores various types of information. The server 5 can refer to the information stored in the storage device 6. That is, the server 5 can receive the desired information as a response by sending a specific request to the storage device 6. The information stored in the storage device 6 includes, for example, rice cooker information, heating steps, etc.

[0050] Incidentally, the types of rice include, for example, more than 60 types of rice brands and rice with different degrees of polishing, such as brown rice, polished rice, and white rice. The number of rice cooking courses is the number obtained by multiplying the number of selectable settings, such as the number of cooking method settings, the number of selectable hardness settings, and the number of selectable cooking time settings, by the number of rice types. The total number of rice cooking courses may exceed 2,000. In other words, the memory unit 33 of the rice cooker 2 may store a large number of rice cooking courses exceeding 2,000, and the rice cooker 2 cooks rice using a rice cooking course that is selectively selected from the large number of rice cooking courses.

[0051] It is not easy for a user of rice cooker 2 to accurately find a cooking course that suits their preferences from among so many cooking courses without relying on experience or track record, or to accurately find a cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time from among so many cooking courses.

[0052] Therefore, the information terminal 3 has a display unit 41 that displays a first screen WS1 capable of displaying a plurality of first options 51 that separate each rice cooking course, and a second screen WS2 that can display as a second option 52 at least one rice cooking course that satisfies an extraction condition that is a combination of items selected from each of the first options 51. The display control unit 45 functions as a setting unit that sets the rice cooking course selected from the second option 52 to the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker 2.

[0053] It is preferable that the information terminal 3 stores information relating to the multiple rice cooking courses stored in the memory unit 33 of the rice cooker 2, a so-called database, in the storage device 6 so that at least one rice cooking course that satisfies the extraction conditions can be extracted from the multiple rice cooking courses.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first screen displayed on the display unit of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] 4, the information terminal 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a display function for displaying a first screen WS1 including a plurality of display elements 61 on the display unit 41. Each display element 61 represents a first option 51 which divides each rice cooking course.

[0056] The multiple display elements 61 include, for example, from the top of the first screen WS1, a first title string 71 displaying "Rice" as a string, a rice type option 72 displaying options for rice types in the form of a selection menu (drop-down list, pull-down menu), a second title string 73 displaying "Time" as a string, a cooking time option 74 displaying options for the cooking time for cooking the rice into cooked rice in the form of a slider bar, a third title string 75 displaying "Hardenness" as a string, a hardness option 76 displaying options for the hardness of the cooked rice in the form of a slider bar, a fourth title string 77 displaying "Cooking method" as a string, and a cooking method option 78 displaying options for the cooking method for cooking the rice into cooked rice in the form of a selection menu.

[0057] Each of the rice type option 72, the cooking time option 74, the hardness option 76, and the cooking method option 78 is a first option 51. A combination of items selected from each of the options 72, 74, 76, and 78 is an extraction condition for extracting at least one rice cooking menu from the multiple rice cooking menus.

[0058] The rice type option 72 has "no specification" as the initial value, and a selection menu is expanded by operating the "∨" icon. The expanded selection menu displays options related to rice types such as "white rice (random brand)", "wash-free rice (random brand)", "brown rice", "mixed grain rice", and "barley rice", as well as options related to various brands such as Akitakomachi, Koshihikari, and Yumepirika in a list format.

[0059] The cooking time options 74 are displayed so that, for example, a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes can be selected by moving the slider 74a along the slider bar. The cooking time options 74 are displayed as discrete values ​​in 10-minute increments, for example. The cooking time options 74 may be continuous values ​​in 1-minute increments or discrete values ​​in 5-minute increments.

[0060] The hardness options 76 are displayed so that the hardness of the cooked rice can be selected from the hardest to the softest by moving the slider 76a along the slider bar. The options include at least the two values ​​of "hard" and "soft", and may have five options with intermediate values ​​of "chewy", "recommended", and "crisp".

[0061] The cooking method option 78 has "No designation" as the initial value, and a selection menu is expanded by operating the "∨" icon. The expanded selection menu displays a list of options related to various cooking methods, such as "Kamado Master", "Sweet Cooking", "Quick Cooking", "Quick Cooking", and "Target Cooking".

[0062] It is preferable that the options 74, 76 displayed on the slider bar are selectable at equal intervals between the minimum and maximum values ​​so as to provide the user with intuitive operability. Furthermore, the number of positions on the slider bar where each of the sliders 74a, 76a can be placed may be the same as the number of items in each of the options 74, 76, or may be greater than the number of items in each of the options 74, 76. When the number of positions where the sliders 74a, 76a can be placed is greater than the number of items in the options 74, 76, the sliders 74a, 76a are considered to be equivalent to selecting the median value of adjacent items or the logical OR of adjacent items.

[0063] The multiple display elements 61 also include a confirmation button 79 that is located at the right end of the lower edge of the first screen WS1 and displays the character string "SEARCH." The confirmation button 79 confirms the extraction conditions, which are a combination of items selected from the options 72, 74, 76, and 78. When the extraction conditions are confirmed, the display control unit 45 extracts at least one rice cooking course that satisfies the extraction conditions from the multiple rice cooking courses stored in the storage device 6, and transitions the display on the display unit 41 from the first screen WS1 to the second screen WS2.

[0064] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] 5, the information terminal 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a display function for displaying a second screen WS2 including a plurality of display elements 81 on the display unit 41. At least one display element 81 represents, as a second option 52, at least one rice cooking course that satisfies an extraction condition that is a combination of items selected from the first option 51.

[0066] For example, if the item selected from rice type options 72 is "random brand," the item selected from cooking time options 74 is "30 minutes," the item selected from hardness options 76 is "recommended," and the item selected from cooking method options 78 is "target cooking," the extracted cooking course is identified as "random brand, target cooking 30 minutes, recommended," display element 81 is displayed as a button with text such as "random brand, target cooking, recommended, 30 minutes."

[0067] As shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 5, if there are multiple second options 52 resulting from the extraction and they cannot all fit on the second screen WS2, it is preferable that the second screen WS2 appropriately displays a scroll bar on the right end to limit the number of second options 52 displayed on the screen at one time and ensure the visibility of each second option 52.

[0068] The display elements 81 include, for example, a fifth title string 91 that displays "Your Rice Cooking Menu" in a string on the upper edge of the second screen WS2, and a back button 92 that is disposed on the right end of the lower edge of the second screen WS2 and displays the string "Back". The back button 92 transitions the display on the display unit 41 from the second screen WS2 to the first screen WS1 if the second option 52 has not yet been selected.

[0069] Next, a specific example of the operation for extracting rice cooking menus will be described.

[0070] 6 to 9 are tables showing first to fourth examples of options for dividing a plurality of rice cooking menus of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 6, the rice type options 72 include six items: "No designation", "Random brand", "Brand A", "Brand B", "Brand C", and "Brown rice". "No designation" is essentially the same as all designations and all selections.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 7, the rice cooking time options 74 include 12 options ranging from the shortest "20 minutes" to the longest "75 minutes" in 5-minute increments.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 8, the hardness options 76 include five items: "soft," "chewy," "recommended," "crisp," and "hard."

[0074] As shown in FIG. 9, the cooking method options 78 include six items: “No designation,” “Kamado Master,” “Sweet cooking,” “Quick cooking,” “Quick cooking,” and “Target cooking.” “No designation” is essentially the same as all designations and all selections.

[0075] Figures 10 to 13 are tables showing an example of a database of rice cooking menus for a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Originally, Figures 10 to 13 should be written as one table, but due to restrictions on the application format, they are divided into four tables, such as Part 1 to Part 4, for each rice type option 72. Also, although Figures 10 to 13 have a total of 121 records, for the sake of ease of reading, fields that hold the same data for some columns are listed together.

[0076] 10 to 13, the total number of the multiple rice cooking menus is 121 menus, which is less than 1500 menus obtained by multiplying the number of items in the multiple options 72, 74, 76, and 78. This is because, for cooking methods such as "quickly delicious" and "quick cooking," it is preferable to limit the hardness option 76 to "recommended," it is preferable to narrow the selection range of the cooking time option 74 depending on the cooking method, it is preferable to narrow the selection range of the cooking time option 74 and the hardness option 76 that allow "target cooking" depending on the brand, and there are no options for the cooking method, hardness, or cooking time, such as for the type of rice "brown rice."

[0077] For the column names (field names) in Figures 10 to 13, the "number" is a serial number that identifies each record. The rice type option 72 corresponds to a table normalized from the column name "Rice" in Figures 10 to 13. The cooking method option 78 corresponds to a table normalized from the column name "Cooking method" in Figures 10 to 13. The hardness option 76 corresponds to a table normalized from the column name "Hardness" in Figures 10 to 13. The cooking time option 74 corresponds to a table normalized from the column name "Time" in Figures 10 to 13. Additionally, the "-" in Figures 10 to 13 means that there is no data.

[0078] FIG. 14 is a table showing a first example of an extraction result of rice cooking menus for the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 14 shows an example of the extraction result of rice cooking menu when "No specification" is selected for rice type option 72, "35 minutes" for cooking time option 74 (i.e., between "30 minutes" and "40 minutes"), "hard" and "recommended" for hardness option 76, and "No specification" is selected for cooking method option 78. 23 of the 121 rice cooking menus are extracted. These extraction conditions are selected on the first screen WS1 and confirmed with the decision button 79.

[0080] The rice cooking time option 74 is the selected item, in this case "35 minutes," plus options within ±5 minutes of the selected item, in this case "30 minutes," "35 minutes," and "40 minutes," specified by a logical sum (AND condition). The option between "hard" and "recommended" in the hardness option 76 is equivalent to specifying "hard" and "recommended" by a logical sum (AND condition). Expanding the items selected in these options 74 and 76 contributes to broadening the range of rice cooking menu choices by presenting a wide range of options for rice cooking menus that are likely to match the user's preferences, that is, the second option 52, while limiting the number of options to a certain extent.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 14, when the extraction conditions are confirmed, the rice cooking system 1 according to this embodiment displays a list of the second options 52 for the 23 rice cooking menus extracted as display elements 81 on the second screen WS2.

[0082] FIG. 15 is a table showing a second example of the extraction result of the rice cooking menu of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] FIG. 15 is an example of the extraction result of a rice cooking menu when "Brand A" is selected for the rice type option 72, "35 minutes" for the cooking time option 74 (i.e., between "30 minutes" and "40 minutes"), "hard" and "recommended" for the hardness option 76, and "not specified" for the cooking method option 78. In other words, the second example of the extraction result is the result of extraction using extraction conditions that add the item "Brand A" of the rice type option 72 to the extraction conditions of the first example. Six of the 121 rice cooking menus are extracted. The extraction conditions of the second example are selected on the first screen WS1 and confirmed with the decision button 79.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 15, when the extraction conditions are confirmed, the rice cooking system 1 according to this embodiment displays the six rice cooking menus extracted as a list of second options 52 as display elements 81 on the second screen WS2.

[0085] As described above, the rice cooking system 1 according to this embodiment narrows down the huge number of rice cooking menus to the extraction conditions selected on the first screen WS1, and displays two or more rice cooking menus narrowed down by the extraction conditions on the second screen WS2 and presents them to the user. In other words, the second screen WS2 displays at least one rice cooking course that is suitable for the extraction conditions from among multiple rice cooking courses.

[0086] With at least one rice cooking menu displayed on the second screen WS2, a user of the rice cooking system 1 can accurately and easily find a rice cooking course that suits his / her preference without relying on experience or track record, and can accurately and easily find a rice cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time.

[0087] The rice cooking system 1 according to this embodiment may display at least one rice cooking menu narrowed down by the extraction conditions on the second screen WS2 and present it to the user. For example, when "Brand A" is selected for the rice type option 72, "35 minutes" for the cooking time option 74, "recommended" for the hardness option 76, and "not specified" for the cooking method option 78, two rice cooking menus are extracted, and the two rice cooking menus have a difference in the cooking method, "quickly delicious" and "target cooking". In this case, the rice cooking time option 74 and hardness option 76 are not the logical sum of multiple items as in the first and second examples of the extraction results, but the selected items themselves are included in the extraction conditions.

[0088] In such a case, the rice cooking system 1 may narrow down the rice cooking courses displayed on the second screen WS2 to one, for example, "target cooking". Furthermore, even if there are several to a dozen rice cooking menus to be extracted, the rice cooking system 1 may narrow down the rice cooking courses displayed on the second screen WS2 to one. The condition for narrowing down the multiple menus that satisfy the extraction conditions to a single rice cooking menu may be, for example, the record with the smallest serial number, or other methods. In this way, the user of the rice cooking system 1 can accurately select a rice cooking course that suits his / her taste without hesitation and without relying on experience or track record, and can accurately select a rice cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time without hesitation.

[0089] Furthermore, when a certain first option 51 item is selected, it is preferable that the first screen WS1 narrows down and displays other first option 51 items to the extent that there are rice cooking courses that match the extraction conditions.

[0090] For example, when "Brown Rice" is selected as the rice type option 72, there are no cooking time option 74 corresponding to the column name "Time" in FIG. 13, no hardness option 76 corresponding to the column name "Hardness" in FIG. 13, and no cooking method option 78 corresponding to the column name "Cooking Method" in FIG. 13. Therefore, the first screen WS1 narrows down the items that can be selected by hiding the cooking time option 74, the hardness option 76, and the cooking method option 78, or by making them temporarily inoperable or in a state where they cannot be selected, that is, grayed out. Also, for example, when "Brand A" is selected as the rice type option 72 and "35 minutes" is selected as the cooking time option 74, the cooking method option 78 is narrowed down to "Target cooking" and "Quickly delicious," which are options that can be selected, and the hardness option 76 is narrowed down to "Recommended," "Soft," and "Crunchy," which are options that can be selected, and displayed. In such a rice cooking system 1, the selection conditions are confirmed by operating the decision button 79 on the first screen WS1 each time, and the selectable items of the multiple first options 51 are narrowed down before transitioning to the second screen WS2. In this way, the rice cooking system 1 makes it possible for the user to extremely easily search for a rice cooking course that suits the user's preferences and the rice cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time without relying on experience or track record, without causing the user the hassle of switching between the multiple screens WS1 and WS2.

[0091] As described above, the rice cooking system 1 displays a first screen WS1 having a first option 51 on the display unit 41 of the information terminal 3, and displays a second screen WS2 having a second option 52 on the display unit 41 of the information terminal 3, thereby allowing the user to be suggested a rice cooking course that suits the preferences and the cooking time without relying on experience or track record.

[0092] Furthermore, by displaying a first screen WS1 having a first option 51 and a second screen WS2 having a second option 52 on the display unit 28, the rice cooker 2 can directly suggest to the user a rice cooking course that suits the user's preferences and the rice cooking time without relying on experience or track record, without going through the information terminal 3. In this case, the rice cooking control unit 32 functions as a setting unit that sets the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker 2 to the rice cooking course selected from the second option 52.

[0093] Furthermore, in the case of an information terminal 3 that does not generally have a display unit 41, such as a smart speaker, the rice cooking system 1 simply accepts at least one of the multiple first options 51 that can be displayed on the first screen WS1 by voice using the voice input unit 46, and also accepts at least one item of the first option 51 that is missing the extraction conditions through dialogue.

[0094] For example, when the information terminal 3 detects that the user as a speaker has uttered a specific word, it uses this as a trigger to identify the user's subsequent request by natural language processing. Specifically, when the user makes a request to the information terminal 3 saying, "Please suggest a rice cooking menu for the rice cooker," the information terminal 3 first asks the user, "Please tell me the type of rice." The user then responds to the information terminal 3 with a selectable item from the rice type option 72, that is, the type of rice, for example, "brand A." By doing so, the rice type option 72 is selected as "brand A." At this time, the user may ask the information terminal 3 about an item selectable from the rice type option 72. The information terminal 3 then lists the selectable items, such as "The rice options are no specification, brand random, brand A, brand B, brand C, and brown rice." The user then uses the same procedure to input the cooking method, hardness, and time into the information terminal 3 in a dialogue format as necessary, to determine the extraction conditions for the rice cooking menu. The information terminal 3 then directly suggests to the user a cooking course that suits the user's preferences and cooking time without relying on experience or track record, such as "The rice cooking menu options are XX."

[0095] It is preferable that the order of voice input when identifying extraction conditions can be appropriately changed by a dialogue between the user and the information terminal 3. For example, when the information terminal 3 asks the user, "Please tell me the type of rice," the user can reply, "I want to decide the cooking time first," and the order of voice input can be changed.

[0096] The rice cooker 2 may also have a voice input unit 46 and a speaker, and like a smart speaker, may have a built-in function in the rice cooking control unit 32 that, when it detects that a speaker has uttered a specific word, identifies the speaker's subsequent questions and requests using natural language processing, converts a reaction or response according to the identified content into voice and outputs it, or executes processing according to the identified content. In that case, the rice cooking control unit 32 functions as a setting unit that sets the rice cooking course selected from the second option 52 to the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker 2.

[0097] The rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 according to this embodiment configured as described above display a first screen WS1 capable of displaying multiple first options 51 that separate each rice cooking course, and a second screen WS2 capable of displaying as a second option 52 at least one rice cooking course that satisfies an extraction condition that is a combination of items selected from each of the first options 51, and set the rice cooking course selected from the second screen WS2 for the rice cooking operation. Therefore, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 can suggest to the user a rice cooking course that suits their preferences and a rice cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time without relying on experience or track record.

[0098] Furthermore, the rice cooking system 1 and the rice cooker 2 according to this embodiment may display at least one rice cooking course suitable for the extraction conditions from among a plurality of rice cooking courses on the second screen WS2. In this way, the rice cooking system 1 and the rice cooker 2 can suggest to the user a rice cooking course that can be selected without hesitation.

[0099] Furthermore, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 according to this embodiment may display two or more rice cooking courses that satisfy the extraction conditions from a plurality of rice cooking courses on the second screen WS2. In this way, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 can suggest to the user a wide range of rice cooking menu choices by presenting a wide range of second options 52 of rice cooking menus that are likely to match the user's preferences while limiting the number to a certain degree.

[0100] Furthermore, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 according to this embodiment display on the first screen WS1 a plurality of first options 51 including at least two of rice type option 72, rice cooking time option 74, hardness option 76, and cooking method option 78. Therefore, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 can present the user with an interface that enables the user to easily narrow down a number of rice cooking menus to a rice cooking course that suits their preferences or a rice cooking course suitable for the cooking time without relying on experience or track record.

[0101] Furthermore, the rice cooking system 1 and the rice cooker 2 according to this embodiment are provided with a decision button 79 for deciding the extraction conditions. Therefore, the rice cooking system 1 and the rice cooker 2 can explicitly present to the user the decision of the extraction conditions on the first screen WS1 and the proposal of the rice cooking course on the second screen WS2.

[0102] Furthermore, when a certain first option 51 item is selected, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 according to this embodiment narrow down the other first option 51 items to the extent that there are rice cooking courses that match the extraction conditions and display the first screen WS1. Therefore, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 can suitably present the search range for a rice cooking course that suits the user's preferences and a rice cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time without relying on experience or track record, without causing the user the hassle of switching between multiple screens WS1 and WS2.

[0103] Furthermore, the rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 according to this embodiment may include a voice input unit 46 that accepts by voice at least one of a plurality of first options 51 that can be displayed on the first screen WS1, and that accepts by dialogue at least one item of the first option 51 that is missing in the extraction conditions. Such a rice cooking system 1 and rice cooker 2 can present rice cooking courses that suit the preferences and rice cooking times without relying on experience or track record through natural dialogue with the user from either the rice cooker 2, a portable information terminal 3 such as a smartphone, or a stationary information terminal 3 such as a smart speaker.

[0104] Therefore, the rice cooking system 1 according to the present invention can suggest to the user a rice cooking course that suits the user's preferences and a rice cooking course that is suitable for the cooking time, without relying on experience or track record.

[0105] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1...rice cooking system, 2...rice cooker, 3...information terminal, 5...server, 6...storage device, 11...telecommunication network, 12...external communication network, 13...in-house communication network, 15...relay device, 22...main body, 23...lid body, 25...hinge section, 26...lid opening operation section, 27...steam vent, 28...display section, 29...operation section, 31...communication section, 32...rice cooking control section, 33...storage section, 41...display section, 42...input device, 43...communication section, 45...display control section, 4 6...voice input section, 51...first option, 52...second option, 61...display element, 71...first title string, 72...rice type option, 73...second title string, 74...cooking time option, 74a...slider, 75...third title string, 76...hardness option, 76a...slider, 77...fourth title string, 78...cooking method option, 79...decision button, 81...display element, 91...fifth title string, 92...back button.

Claims

1. A memory unit that stores a plurality of rice cooking courses, each of which has a set of conditions for cooking rice into cooked rice; A display unit that displays a first screen capable of displaying a plurality of first options that divide the rice cooking courses, and a second screen capable of displaying at least one of the rice cooking courses that satisfies an extraction condition that is a combination of items selected from each of the first options as a second option; and a setting unit that sets the rice cooking course selected from the second option to a rice cooking operation.

2. The rice cooker according to claim 1 , wherein the second screen displays at least one of the plurality of rice cooking courses that is suitable for the extraction conditions.

3. The rice cooker according to claim 1 , wherein the second screen displays two or more of the plurality of rice cooking courses that satisfy the extraction condition.

4. 2. The rice cooker of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first options include at least two of an option for the type of rice, an option for a cooking method for cooking the rice into the cooked rice, an option for a hardness of the cooked rice, and an option for a time for cooking the rice into the cooked rice.

5. The rice cooker according to claim 1 , further comprising a decision button for deciding the extraction conditions.

6. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein when a certain item of the first option is selected, the first screen displays other items of the first option narrowed down to a range in which there are rice cooking courses that match the extraction conditions.

7. The rice cooker according to claim 1, further comprising a voice input unit that receives at least one of the plurality of first options that can be displayed on the first screen by voice and receives at least one item of the first option that is missing from the extraction conditions by dialogue.

8. A rice cooker that can transmit information outside the aircraft, an information terminal capable of receiving the information transmitted by the rice cooker; The information terminal includes: A memory unit that stores a plurality of rice cooking courses, each of which is set with conditions for the rice cooker to cook rice into cooked rice; A display unit that displays a first screen capable of displaying a plurality of first options that divide the rice cooking courses, and a second screen capable of displaying at least one of the rice cooking courses that satisfies an extraction condition that is a combination of items selected from each of the first options as a second option; A rice cooking system comprising: a setting unit that sets the rice cooking course selected from the second option to the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker.

9. A rice cooker that can transmit information outside the aircraft, an information terminal capable of receiving the information transmitted by the rice cooker; The information terminal includes: A memory unit that stores a plurality of rice cooking courses, each of which is set with conditions for the rice cooker to cook rice into cooked rice; a voice input unit capable of voice inputting a plurality of first options for dividing each of the rice cooking courses, and voice inputting at least one of the rice cooking courses that satisfies an extraction condition that is a combination of items selected from each of the first options as a second option; A rice cooking system comprising: a setting unit that sets the rice cooking course accepted by the voice input unit to the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker.

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