Application program for cooking appliance

Abstract

To provide an application program for a cooking appliance capable of strongly urging a user to update firmware of a wireless communication unit of a cooking appliance.SOLUTION: In an application for a mobile terminal, a wireless communication unit of a cooking appliance is configured to perform an update when update data is received from the mobile terminal and to send an update completion notification to the mobile terminal; and causes the mobile terminal to perform a process of acquiring update data from a management device and sending the update data to the cooking appliance when an input operation for an update execution command is performed, a first process of displaying first data when a first input operation is performed, a second process of sending second data from the mobile terminal to the cooking appliance when a second input operation is performed, and a third process of acquiring third data from the cooking appliance and displaying it when a third input operation is performed; and when an update completion notification is not received after acquiring the update data, prohibits at least one of the second and third processes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application program for a cooking appliance that is installed on a mobile terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are cooking appliances such as stoves that are configured to be capable of wireless communication with mobile terminals such as smartphones. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cooking appliance that is configured to be capable of communication with a mobile terminal such as a smartphone via Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0003] In such a system in which the user's mobile terminal and the cooking appliance can communicate with each other via short-distance wireless communication, a dedicated application program is installed on the mobile terminal. This application program has, for example, a recipe browsing function, a recipe transfer function, and a cooking appliance status display function. The recipe browsing function allows the mobile terminal to download and display a plurality of cooking recipes from a predetermined server connected to an external communication network such as the Internet. Furthermore, the recipe transfer function allows the mobile terminal to transmit to the cooking appliance operation setting data for a recipe selected by a user from among a plurality of cooking recipes. The cooking appliance is configured to perform a combustion operation based on the received operation setting data when an ignition operation is performed. Furthermore, the mobile terminal can obtain and display data indicating the operation status of the cooking appliance from the cooking appliance using the cooking appliance status display function. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7008002 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned system, the cooking appliance has a built-in wireless communication unit in which firmware for short-distance wireless communication with the mobile terminal is installed. In such a wireless communication unit, firmware is updated from time to time, for example, to improve security vulnerabilities. If the firmware is not updated, security is vulnerable and there is a risk of inconvenience caused by malicious third parties. For example, when operation setting data of the cooking appliance related to a selected recipe is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the cooking appliance, if the operation setting data is tampered with, there is a risk that the cooking appliance will perform an unintended operation and will not be able to cook properly. Usually, the mobile terminal notifies the user that new firmware is available, but it is up to the user to decide whether to update the firmware or not.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an application program for a cooking appliance that can strongly urge a user to update firmware when update data for the firmware of the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance is present. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides an application program for a cooking appliance, which is installed on a mobile terminal that has an operation display capable of displaying data as input operations are performed, is capable of communicating with a management device via an external communication network, and is capable of communicating with a wireless communication unit that is provided in the cooking appliance and has firmware for performing short-range wireless communication built in, wherein the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance is configured to update the firmware when it receives update data for the firmware from the mobile terminal, and to transmit an update completion notification to the mobile terminal when the update is completed, and the mobile terminal is configured to, when the application program for the cooking appliance is started, inquire of the management device as to whether or not update data for the firmware of the wireless communication unit is available, and acquire the update data from the management device if the update data is available in the management device, and to notify a user of the update of the firmware when and at a predetermined timing after the update data is acquired. the operation display device performs a process of displaying an update execution screen on the operation display device, which prompts the user to execute an update and allows the user to input an instruction to execute the update; a process of transmitting update data for the firmware to the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance when the input operation for the update execution instruction is performed on the update execution screen; a first process of acquiring first data from the management device and displaying the first data on the operation display device when a first input operation is performed on the operation display device; a second process of transmitting second data from the mobile terminal to the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance when a second input operation is performed on the operation display device; and a third process of acquiring third data from the cooking appliance through the wireless communication unit and displaying the third data on the operation display device when a third input operation is performed on the operation display device, and at least one of the second process and the third process is prohibited if the update completion notification is not received from the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance after the update data is acquired from the management device.

[0008] According to this configuration, if the mobile terminal does not receive an update completion notification from the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance (i.e., the firmware update is not complete) after acquiring firmware update data for the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance from the management device, at least one of the second process and the third process is prohibited, which makes the user feel inconvenienced and strongly urges the user to update the firmware. As a result, it is possible to prevent the continued use of firmware in a state where security is vulnerable. In addition, since the second process and the third process are executed by communication between the mobile terminal and the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance, it is possible to reduce the use of firmware in a state where security is vulnerable by prohibiting at least one of the second process and the third process when the firmware update is not complete after the mobile terminal acquires firmware update data for the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance.

[0009] The first process may be a process of obtaining the first data consisting of data on the multiple recipes from the management device and displaying the multiple recipes on the operation display device when the first input operation is performed to display multiple recipes on the operation display device; the second process may be a process of transmitting the second data consisting of operation setting data that sets the operation of the cooking appliance to cook based on the selected one recipe to the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance when the second input operation is performed to select one recipe from the multiple recipes displayed on the operation display device and transmit it to the cooking appliance; and the third process may be a process of obtaining the third data consisting of data indicating the operating status of the cooking appliance from the cooking appliance via the wireless communication unit and displaying it on the operation display device when the third input operation is performed to display the operating status of the cooking appliance on the operation display device. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The present invention has the configuration described above and has the effect of providing an application program for a cooking appliance that can strongly urge a user to update firmware when firmware update data for the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance is present. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outline of the exterior of an example of a kitchen system according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a communication system according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure for updating firmware of a BLE communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication of a cooking appliance in the communication system of this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an outline of the operation of the mobile terminal according to the cooking appliance application program. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a firmware update execution screen displayed on the mobile terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a recipe viewing screen displayed on a mobile terminal. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the firmware update execution screen displayed on the mobile terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and duplicated descriptions thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0013] (Embodiment) Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the appearance of a kitchen system to which a communication system according to the present embodiment is applied, and Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the communication system according to the present embodiment.

[0014] The kitchen system KS shown in Fig. 1 includes a cooking appliance 1 and a range hood 2. The cooking appliance 1 and the range hood 2 are installed indoors, i.e., in a kitchen or the like in a building 100 (Fig. 2). Here, the range hood 2 is installed above the cooking appliance 1.

[0015] The cooking appliance 1 is, for example, a battery-powered gas stove powered by dry batteries. In the cooking appliance 1, for example, two sets of burners 12a, 12b are arranged protruding from a top plate 17 as a heating section for heating a pan or the like. On the right side of the front of the cooking appliance 1, operation sections 11a, 11b are provided corresponding to the burners 12a, 12b, allowing the user to perform operations such as igniting, extinguishing, and adjusting the heat of the burners 12. In addition, a grill section 18 for cooking fish or the like is provided below the center of the top plate 17. On the left side of the front of the cooking appliance 1, an operation section 11c is provided for the user to perform operations such as igniting, extinguishing, and adjusting the heat of the burner 12c (FIG. 2) of the grill section 18. In addition, the control section 10 and the BLE communication section 13 shown in FIG. 2 are stored below the top plate 17.

[0016] When a user operates the operation unit 11, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is input to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 is configured to control the BLE communication unit 13 and to control combustion operations such as ignition, extinguishing, and adjustment of flame power for the burners 12 (12a, 12b, 12c) corresponding to the operation units 11 based on operation signals from the operation units 11 (11a, 11b, 11c). The control unit 10 is configured, for example, with a controller such as a microcontroller having a CPU and memory, and the CPU executes a program stored in the memory to perform operations (processing).

[0017] The range hood 2 uses a 100V commercial AC power supply as a power source. The range hood 2 has an electric fan 22 (FIG. 2) for ventilation, such as a sirocco fan, built in above the rectifying vane 29, and is configured such that, by driving the electric fan 22, indoor air is sucked in through a gap between the periphery of the rectifying vane 29 and the frame 30 and is exhausted to the outdoors through a duct (not shown). An operation unit 21 consisting of a plurality of switches is disposed in the front portion of the frame 30. The control unit 20, BLE communication unit 23, wireless LAN communication unit 24, etc. shown in FIG. 2 are housed inside the frame 30.

[0018] When a user operates the operation unit 21, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is input to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 controls the BLE communication unit 23 and the wireless LAN communication unit 24, and also controls the operation of the electric fan 22 based on the operation signal from the operation unit 21. For example, the control unit 20 is configured to start and stop the operation of the electric fan 22 and adjust the air volume based on the operation signal from the operation unit 21 when a switch on the operation unit 21 is operated. The control unit 20 is configured, for example, with a controller such as a microcontroller having a CPU and memory, and performs operations (processing) by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory.

[0019] The BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 and the BLE communication unit 23 of the range hood 2 are wireless communication units that perform short-distance wireless communication in accordance with a predetermined short-distance wireless communication method, for example, the BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) standard, and include a communication module in which firmware for BLE communication is built in. The BLE communication unit 13 and the BLE communication unit 23 are paired in advance and can perform the predetermined short-distance wireless communication.

[0020] Furthermore, the wireless LAN communication unit 24 of the range hood 2 is capable of wireless communication via wireless LAN with the wireless LAN router 3. The range hood 2 can communicate with the first server 5a via the wireless LAN router 3 and an external communication network 4 such as the Internet using the wireless LAN communication unit 24. The wireless LAN router 3 is connected to the external communication network 4 such as the Internet, is owned by the user of the kitchen system KS, and is installed in the same house (building 100) in which the range hood 2 and cooking appliance 1 are installed.

[0021] The cooking appliance 1 is battery-powered and therefore includes a low-power BLE communication unit 13, but does not include a wireless LAN communication unit.

[0022] In this kitchen system KS, the control unit 10 of the cooking appliance 1, for example, periodically transmits operation status data indicating the operation status of the cooking appliance 1 from the BLE communication unit 13 to the BLE communication unit 23 of the range hood 2. The operation status data of the cooking appliance 1 is, for example, data indicating the combustion state of each burner 12, etc.

[0023] The control unit 20 of the range hood 2 transmits the operation status data of the cooking appliance 1 received via the BLE communication unit 23 from the wireless LAN communication unit 24 to the first server 5a via the wireless LAN router 3 and the external communication network 4. Furthermore, for example, when a change occurs in the operation status of the range hood 2 (the operation status of the electric fan 22), the control unit 20 of the range hood 2 transmits operation status data indicating the changed operation status from the wireless LAN communication unit 24 to the first server 5a via the wireless LAN router 3 and the external communication network 4 at a predetermined timing.

[0024] The first server 5a receives and stores the operation status data of the cooking appliance 1 transmitted from the wireless LAN communication unit 24 of the range hood 2, and also receives and stores the operation status data of the range hood 2. Here, the first server 5a stores the received operation status data of the cooking appliance 1 and the operation status data of the range hood 2 as, for example, user individual information stored for each user of the kitchen system. The user individual information is stored in association with, for example, the identification information (SSID, etc.) of the user's wireless LAN router 3, the user account of the mobile terminal 7, the operation status data of the cooking appliance 1, and the operation status data of the range hood 2. Note that, when the range hood 2 is not installed as described later, the user individual information does not include the identification information of the wireless LAN router 3 and the operation status data of the range hood 2. The operation status data of the cooking appliance 1 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 7 to the first server 5a when the mobile terminal 7 communicates with the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 to acquire the operation status data of the cooking appliance 1. In addition, the first server 5a stores information on a plurality of recipes that can be cooked by the cooking appliance 1.

[0025] The communication system in this embodiment includes a kitchen system KS and a management device 5, and uses a mobile terminal 7. The management device 5 includes a first server 5a and a second server 5b. The second server 5b includes a memory unit 5m that stores update data for firmware to be incorporated into the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1. Update data (latest firmware data) is stored in the memory unit 5m by an administrator's operation. In this embodiment, the update data is the latest firmware data itself, but may be difference data between the latest firmware and the firmware before the update.

[0026] The mobile terminal 7 is a mobile communication terminal such as a smartphone or tablet owned by a user of the kitchen system KS. The mobile terminal 7 includes a long-distance communication unit 71, a BLE communication unit 72, an operation display unit 73 configured with a touch panel display serving as both an operation unit and a display unit, an audio output unit 74 having a speaker, and a control unit 70 that controls the entire mobile terminal 7 including these units 71 to 74.

[0027] The long-distance communication unit 71 of the mobile terminal 7 has a wireless LAN communication function for communicating with devices connected to the external communication network 4 via the wireless LAN router 3, and a mobile data communication function for communicating with devices connected to the external communication network 4 via a mobile phone line, and can automatically switch between these functions to communicate with devices connected to the external communication network 4. For example, when the owner (user) of the mobile terminal 7 is in the building 100 and the mobile terminal 7 is within the communication range of the wireless LAN router 3, the mobile terminal 7 can communicate with the management device 5 (the first and second servers 5a and 5b) via the wireless LAN router 3 and the external communication network 4 by using the wireless LAN communication function. On the other hand, when the owner of the mobile terminal 7 is out and the mobile terminal 7 is outside the communication range of the wireless LAN router 3, the mobile terminal 7 can communicate with the management device 5 by using the mobile data communication function by using the mobile phone line and the external communication network 4.

[0028] The BLE communication unit 72 of the mobile terminal 7 is a wireless communication unit that performs short-distance wireless communication in accordance with a predetermined short-distance wireless communication method, for example, the BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) standard, similar to the above-mentioned BLE communication units 13 and 23. The BLE communication unit 72 of the mobile terminal 7 is paired in advance with the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1, but is not paired with the BLE communication unit 23 of the range hood 2.

[0029] In addition, an application program (hereinafter referred to as the "dedicated app") dedicated to the kitchen system KS is installed on the mobile terminal 7, and the user can operate the mobile terminal 7 whether inside or outside the home to launch the dedicated app, and remotely control the range hood 2 via the external communication network 4 and the first server 5a, etc., as well as check the operating status data of the range hood 2 stored in the first server 5a.

[0030] Furthermore, when the user is at home, the user operates the mobile terminal 7 to start up a dedicated application and performs a recipe viewing operation, and the data of a plurality of recipes stored in the first server 5a is acquired from the first server 5a and displayed on the screen of the operation display 73, and the user can view the recipe. This recipe viewing can be performed even when the user is outside the home. Furthermore, when the user is at home, the user views the above recipes, selects a desired recipe, and performs a recipe transfer operation. Operation setting data for setting the operation of the cooking appliance 1, such as the heat level of the burner 12 of the cooking appliance 1 and the cooking time according to the recipe, is transmitted from the BLE communication unit 72 of the mobile terminal 7 to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1. After this, the user refers to the recipe and sets ingredients, a pot, etc., and then operates the operation unit 11 of the cooking appliance 1 to ignite the burner 12. The control unit 10 adjusts the heat level of the burner 12 based on the above operation setting data, and extinguishes the burner 12 after the cooking time has elapsed. In this way, cooking is performed automatically after the user performs the ignition operation. Furthermore, when the user is at home and starts up a dedicated app on the mobile terminal 7 and performs an operation to display the operating status of the cooking appliance 1, operating status data indicating the current operating status of the cooking appliance 1 (such as the combustion status of each burner) is transmitted from the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 to the BLE communication unit 72 of the mobile terminal 7 and displayed on the screen of the operation display 73, allowing the user to check the current operating status of the cooking appliance 1. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 7 transmits the operating status data of the cooking appliance 1 acquired here to the first server 5a.

[0031] In addition, when the user is outside the home, the user can launch a dedicated application on the mobile terminal 7 and perform an operation to display the operation status of the cooking appliance 1, thereby obtaining and checking the operation status data of the cooking appliance 1 that has been transmitted via the range hood 2 and stored in the first server 5a.

[0032] 1 and 2, the range hood 2 that wirelessly communicates with the cooking appliance 1 is illustrated in the kitchen system KS, but in this embodiment, the range hood 2 does not have to be installed. Furthermore, the wireless LAN router 3 does not have to be installed. The following describes a case where the range hood 2 is not installed. Therefore, the following description assumes that the dedicated app installed in the mobile terminal 7 is an application program for cooking appliances excluding functions related to the range hood 2.

[0033] Next, a description will be given of updating the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1. Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure for updating the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13, which is a wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication of the cooking appliance 1 in the communication system of this embodiment. Hereinafter, "firmware" may be abbreviated as "FW".

[0034] Here, it is assumed that the user is in the house (inside the building 100). When the mobile terminal 7 communicates with the first and second servers 5a and 5b, the communication is performed from the long-distance communication unit 71 via the external communication network 4. When the mobile terminal 7 communicates with the cooking appliance 1, the communication is performed between the BLE communication unit 72 and the BLE communication unit 13. The control unit 70 of the mobile terminal 7 includes a calculation unit such as a CPU and a storage unit, and programs (such as an OS and a dedicated app) and data required for the operation of the mobile terminal 7 are stored in the storage unit, and the operation of the mobile terminal 7 is realized by the CPU executing the programs. It is also assumed here that all information stored during the operation of the mobile terminal 7 is stored in the storage unit.

[0035] In step S1, the user operates the mobile terminal 7 to start the dedicated app. Subsequent operations of the mobile terminal 7 are realized by the functions of the dedicated app. When the dedicated app is started, the mobile terminal 7 transmits a request for FW-related information from the BLE communication unit 72 to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 (step S2). In response to this, the cooking appliance 1 transmits the FW-related information from the BLE communication unit 13 to the mobile terminal 7 (step S3). Here, the FW-related information consists of identification information of the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 (e.g., a BD (Bluetooth Device) address) and firmware identification information that is information for identifying the firmware built into the BLE communication unit 13 (e.g., the creation date of the firmware). The firmware data includes the firmware identification information.

[0036] When the mobile terminal 7 receives the FW-related information from the cooking appliance 1, it transmits the FW-related information from the long-distance communication unit 71 to the first server 5a (step S4), and further transmits an inquiry request to the second server 5b together with the FW-related information to inquire as to whether or not there is data for updating the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13 (whether or not the latest firmware is available) (step S5).

[0037] The second server 5b, upon receiving the inquiry request, judges whether or not the update data for the firmware related to the BLE communication unit 13 is stored based on the received FW related information (the identification information and firmware specification information of the BLE communication unit 13). This judgment can be performed by comparing the firmware specification information (for example, the creation date of the firmware) included in the FW related information with the firmware specification information of the update data stored in the storage unit 5m. For example, if the creation date of the firmware of the update data stored in the storage unit 5m is later than the creation date of the firmware, which is the firmware specification information included in the FW related information, it is judged that the update data is stored, and otherwise it is judged that the update data is not stored. Then, if it is judged that the update data is not stored, the second server 5b transmits to the mobile terminal 7 a message that the update data is not stored. On the other hand, if it is judged that the update data is stored, the second server 5b transmits to the mobile terminal 7 a message that the update data is present and the update data stored in the storage unit 5m (step S6).

[0038] When the mobile terminal 7 receives the update data and the notification that there is update data, the mobile terminal 7 temporarily stores the update data and displays a firmware update execution screen on the operation display 73 (step S7). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the firmware update execution screen displayed on the mobile terminal 7. On this update execution screen, a message urging the update, "New firmware is available. Please execute the update," and an "Execute" operation button B1 and a "Later" operation button B2 are displayed. If the user taps the "Later" operation button B2, the firmware update is not executed. If the user taps the "Execute" operation button B1, a firmware update execution instruction is input to the control unit 70 (step S8), and the mobile terminal 7 transmits a FW update request from the BLE communication unit 72 to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 (step S9).

[0039] When the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 receives the FW update request, the BLE communication unit 13 transitions from the normal mode to the FW update mode (step S10). After transitioning to the FW update mode, the BLE communication unit 13 transmits update standby information, which is information indicating that the FW update mode is being used, to the BLE communication unit 72 of the mobile terminal 7 (step S11).

[0040] When the mobile terminal 7 receives the update standby information, the mobile terminal 7 transmits the temporarily stored update data from the BLE communication unit 72 to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 (step S12).

[0041] When the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 receives the update data from the BLE communication unit 72, the BLE communication unit 13 updates the firmware built into the BLE communication unit 13 (step S13). That is, the firmware is rewritten with the update data (the latest firmware).

[0042] When the update of the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13 is completed, the cooking appliance 1 transmits an update completion notification from the BLE communication unit 13 to the BLE communication unit 72 of the mobile terminal 7 (step S14).

[0043] When the mobile terminal 7 receives the update completion notification via the BLE communication unit 72, it displays a message on the screen of the operation display unit 73 indicating that the firmware update has been completed (step S15), and transmits the update completion notification from the long-distance communication unit 71 to the first server 5a (step S16).

[0044] In this example, the first server 5a is used as a main management server, and the FW-related information in step S4 and the update completion notification in step S16 are sent to the first server 5a, but this is not limited to the above, and steps S4 and S16 do not have to be performed.

[0045] Next, other operations of the mobile terminal 7 using a dedicated application (application program for cooking appliances) will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of an outline of operations of the mobile terminal 7 using a dedicated application.

[0046] When the user operates the mobile terminal 7 to start the dedicated app, as described above, the mobile terminal 7 transmits an inquiry request to the second server 5b to inquire whether there is update data for the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13 (whether the latest firmware is available), and if there is update data in the second server 5b, it acquires the update data transmitted from the second server 5b in step S6 of Fig. 3. Although some of the explanation has been omitted here, the details from the start of the dedicated app to the acquisition of the update data are as described in the explanation of Fig. 3.

[0047] When the mobile terminal 7 acquires the update data (Yes in step S21), the mobile terminal 7 displays a firmware update execution screen on the operation display 73 (step S22). This step S22 corresponds to step S7 in FIG.

[0048] In step S22, an update execution screen such as that shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. In this update execution screen, a message prompting the user to update the firmware, and an "Execute" operation button B1 and a "Later" operation button B2 that can be used to input an instruction to execute the update are displayed. If the user taps the "Later" operation button B2, the instruction to execute the update is not input (No in step S23). If the user taps the "Execute" operation button B1, an instruction to execute the update is input to the control unit 70 (Yes in step S23). Then, as described in the process of steps S9 to S14 in FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 7 transmits firmware update data for the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 to the BLE communication unit 13, the BLE communication unit 13 receives the update data and updates the firmware, and when the update is completed, transmits an update completion notification to the mobile terminal 7.

[0049] After receiving an update completion notification from the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 (Yes in step S24), the mobile terminal 7 executes a first process when a first input operation is performed by the user (steps S25, S26), executes a second process when a second input operation is performed (steps S27, S28), and executes a third process when a third input operation is performed (steps S29, S30).

[0050] Here, the first input operation is an operation performed by the user on the operation display device 73 to execute a first process, and the first process is a process of acquiring first data from the first server 5a and displaying the acquired first data on the operation display device 73. Needless to say, the first data is different from the data for updating the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13 acquired from the second server 5b.

[0051] The first process is, for example, a process of acquiring data (first data) of the multiple recipes from the first server 5a and displaying the multiple recipes on the operation display 73 when a recipe viewing operation (first input operation) for displaying multiple recipes on the operation display 73 is performed. In this case, for example, a tab for viewing the recipe is displayed on the display screen of the operation display 73, and the recipe viewing operation is performed by tapping this tab, and a recipe viewing screen is displayed on the operation display 73. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the recipe viewing screen. The recipes are displayed in the recipe display area R1, but the recipes are not shown here. The user can scroll the screen of the recipe display area R1 to view multiple recipes.

[0052] In addition, the second input operation is an operation that the user performs on the operation display device 73 to execute the second process, and the second process is a process of transmitting second data from the mobile terminal 7 to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1.

[0053] The second process is, for example, when the recipe viewing operation described above is performed and a recipe viewing screen is displayed on the operation display 73, and a recipe transfer operation (second input operation) is performed to select one recipe from the multiple recipes displayed on the operation display 73 and transmit it to the cooking appliance 1, the operation setting data (second data) of the cooking appliance 1 corresponding to the selected recipe, i.e., the operation setting data for setting the operation of the cooking appliance 1 for cooking based on the selected recipe, is transmitted to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1. In this case, the recipe transfer operation is performed by, for example, the user scrolling the recipe viewing screen in FIG. 6 to display one recipe in the recipe display area R1 and tapping the recipe transfer operation button B3. As a result, one recipe displayed in the recipe display area R1 is selected, and the operation setting data of the cooking appliance 1 corresponding to the recipe is transmitted from the BLE communication unit 72 to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1. Here, the operation setting data of the cooking appliance 1 corresponding to the recipe may be obtained from the first server 5a when a recipe transfer operation is performed and then transmitted to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1, or the operation setting data corresponding to each recipe may be obtained from the first server 5a along with multiple recipes when a recipe viewing operation is performed, and the operation setting data corresponding to the selected recipe may be transmitted to the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 when a recipe transfer operation is performed.

[0054] In addition, the third input operation is an operation that the user performs on the operation display device 73 to execute the third process, and the third process is a process of acquiring third data from the cooking appliance 1 through the BLE communication unit 13 and displaying the acquired third data on the operation display device 73.

[0055] The third process is a process of obtaining operating status data (third data) indicating the current operating status of the cooking appliance 1 (such as the combustion status of each burner) from the cooking appliance 1 via the BLE communication unit 13 and displaying it on the operation display 73, for example, when an operating status display operation (third input operation) is performed to display the operating status of the cooking appliance 1 on the operation display 73.

[0056] If an instruction to execute the update was not input in step S23 above (No in step S23), or if an instruction to execute the update was input in step S23 but an update completion notification was not received in step S24 (No in step S24), proceed to steps S31 to S34. Here, if an instruction to execute the update is not input, the firmware update is not executed and the update completion notification is not received, so it can be said that if the update completion notification is not received, the process proceeds to steps S31 to S34.

[0057] In steps S31 to S34, when a first input operation is performed by the user, a first process is executed (steps S31, S32). Also, a second input operation is made unexecutable (step S33). For example, if the first input operation performed in step S31 is a recipe viewing operation, the recipe transfer operation button B3 is made invisible or inactive (dark) on the recipe viewing screen of Fig. 6 displayed by the first process, thereby making it unexecutable the recipe transfer operation (second input operation).

[0058] Further, even if the third input operation is performed, the third process is not executed (steps S34 and S22). For example, a tab for performing the third input operation is displayed on the screen of the operation display 73, and even if the operation of tapping this tab (third input operation) is performed, the operation is invalidated, and the process returns to step S22 to display the update execution screen. The update execution screen in this case is shown in FIG. 7. The update execution screen in FIG. 7 displays a message prompting the update, "Please complete the firmware update," and an operation button B4 for "execute update" and an operation button B5 for "back." Here, if the user taps the operation button B5 for "back," the firmware update is not executed. If the user taps the operation button B4 for "execute update," the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 can be updated in the same way as when the operation button B1 for "execute" in FIG. 5 is tapped. Note that, here, the update execution screen in FIG. 7, which is slightly different from that in FIG. 5, is displayed, but the same update execution screen as that in FIG. 5 may be displayed. In any case, FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 are merely examples of update execution screens.

[0059] Also, a tab for performing the third input operation may be hidden or disabled on the screen of the operation display unit 73, making it impossible to execute the third input operation like the above-mentioned second input operation.

[0060] Also, instead of step S33, the second process may not be executed even if the second input operation is performed. For example, in the recipe viewing screen of Fig. 6, even if the recipe transfer operation button B3 is enabled and an operation (second input operation) of tapping the recipe transfer operation button B3 is performed, the operation may be invalidated, and the process may return to step S22 to display the update execution screen.

[0061] As described above, if the mobile terminal 7 obtains firmware update data for the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 from the second server 5b and then does not receive an update completion notification from the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1, even if the second input operation and the third input operation are performed, the operation is invalidated (the operation is rendered ineffective), or the second input operation and the third input operation are made unexecutable, thereby prohibiting the second process and the third process.

[0062] The dedicated application may also cause the mobile terminal 7 to perform a process other than the above. For example, the dedicated application may cause the mobile terminal 7 to perform a fourth process described below. The fourth process is a process in which the operation display device 73 displays fourth data stored in the mobile terminal 7 (control unit 70) when a fourth input operation is performed on the operation display device 73. The fourth input operation is a process performed by the user on the operation display device 73 to execute the fourth process. The fourth data may be display data such as a calendar that is stored in the mobile terminal 7 in advance, or display data that is acquired from an external device and stored in the mobile terminal 7 before the fourth input operation is performed. As with the first process, the fourth process is executed when the fourth input operation is performed even if the mobile terminal 7 has not received an update completion notification from the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 after acquiring firmware update data for the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 from the second server 5b.

[0063] In this embodiment, if the mobile terminal 7 does not receive an update completion notification from the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 (i.e., the firmware update is not complete) after the mobile terminal 7 obtains firmware update data for the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1 from the management device 5 (second server 5b), the second and third processes are prohibited, which makes the user feel inconvenienced and strongly urges the user to update the firmware. As a result, it is possible to prevent the continued use of firmware with security vulnerabilities.

[0064] In the present embodiment, if the firmware update is not completed after the mobile terminal 7 acquires the firmware update data for the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1, both the second process and the third process are prohibited, but either one of the second process and the third process may be prohibited. Even by prohibiting either one of the processes, it is possible to make the user feel inconvenienced and strongly urge him to update the firmware.

[0065] Furthermore, since the second process and the third process are executed by communication between the mobile terminal 7 and the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1, if the firmware update is not completed after the mobile terminal 7 acquires data for updating the firmware of the BLE communication unit 13 of the cooking appliance 1, at least one of the second process and the third process can be prohibited, thereby reducing the use of firmware in a state where security is vulnerable.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the management device 5 is configured with the first server 5a and the second server 5b, but the management device 5 may be configured with one server or three or more servers.

[0067] From the above description, many improvements and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as merely illustrative and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure and / or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0068] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as an application program for a cooking appliance that can strongly urge a user to update firmware when update data for firmware in a wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance is present. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 Cooking appliance, 4 External communication network, 5 Management device, 7 Mobile terminal, 13 BLE communication unit (wireless communication unit), 73 Operation display unit

Claims

1. An application program for a cooking appliance, which is installed in a mobile terminal having an operation display capable of performing input operations and displaying data, capable of communicating with a management device via an external communication network, and capable of communicating with a wireless communication unit having firmware built therein for performing short-range wireless communication and provided in the cooking appliance, the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance is configured to, when receiving the firmware update data from the mobile device, update the firmware, and, when the update is completed, transmit an update completion notification to the mobile device; The mobile terminal, a process of inquiring of the management device whether or not there is update data for the firmware of the wireless communication unit when the application program for the cooking appliance is started, and acquiring the update data from the management device if the update data is available in the management device; a process of displaying, on the operation display device, an update execution screen that prompts a user to execute the firmware update when the update data is acquired and at a predetermined timing after the acquisition, and allows the user to input an instruction to execute the update; a process of transmitting the firmware update data to the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance when an input operation of the update execution instruction is performed on the update execution screen; a first process of acquiring first data from the management device and displaying the first data on the operation display device when a first input operation is performed on the operation display device; a second process of transmitting second data from the mobile terminal to the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance when a second input operation is performed on the operation display device; a third process of acquiring third data from the cooking appliance through the wireless communication unit when a third input operation is performed on the operation display device and displaying the third data on the operation display device; In addition, prohibiting at least one of the second process and the third process when the update completion notification is not received from the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance after the update data is obtained from the management device. Application program for cooking appliances.

2. the first process is a process of acquiring the first data consisting of data of the plurality of recipes from the management device and displaying the plurality of recipes on the operation display device when the first input operation for displaying a plurality of recipes on the operation display device is performed, the second process is a process of transmitting, when the second input operation is performed for selecting one recipe from the plurality of recipes displayed on the operation display and transmitting the selected recipe to the cooking appliance, the second data, which is operation setting data for setting an operation of the cooking appliance for cooking based on the selected recipe, to the wireless communication unit of the cooking appliance; The third process is a process of acquiring the third data, which is data indicating the operating status of the cooking appliance, from the cooking appliance via the wireless communication unit and displaying the third data on the operation display when the third input operation for displaying the operating status of the cooking appliance on the operation display is performed. The cooking appliance application program according to claim 1 .

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