Cooking system and cooking apparatus

Abstract

To provide a cooking system capable of remotely controlling a cooking apparatus while securing safety when a user cooks an object to be cooked by using the cooking apparatus and the cooking apparatus.SOLUTION: A cooking system 100 includes a cooking apparatus 10, a cooking control section 52, a communication section 57 and an input / output section 53. The communication section 57 executes communication via a network NW1 with an external information processing terminal 8. The information processing terminal 8 can transmit a cooking command to a heating section 11 to the cooking control section 52 via the communication section 57. In the case where the cooking command from the information processing terminal 8 is received, when operation input for approving the cooking command is performed to the input / output section 53, the cooking control section 52 transmits the cooking command to the heating section 11, and executes heating of a cooking container 20 by using the heating section 11 on the basis of the cooking command.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] An example of a conventional cooking system is disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in Figures 6 to 13 of Patent Document 1, this cooking system includes a heating cooker, a cooking control unit, and an input / output unit.

[0003] The cooking appliance has a gas burner as a heating unit, which heats a cooking vessel, specifically a pan, that contains food to be cooked.

[0004] The cooking control unit is a tablet computer-shaped computing device placed near the cooking appliance. The cooking control unit controls the cooking appliance by automatically operating an adjustment device that adjusts the heat of the gas burner of the cooking appliance and by providing display and audio assistance to the user to manually operate the adjustment device.

[0005] The input / output unit is a display, an audio output device, and an input device that are provided integrally with or separately from the cooking control unit. The input / output unit receives input of operations for cooking the food to be cooked, transmits information about the operations to the cooking control unit, and is controlled by the cooking control unit to output information for cooking the food.

[0006] As shown in Fig. 1 of Patent Document 1, the heating cooking appliance, the cooking control unit, and the input / output unit can each be connected to a network to perform one-way or two-way communication, which allows the cooking system to cooperate with a remote user's computing device, a cooking adjustment cooperation service computing system, a local user's mobile device, and the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-70516 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Meanwhile, a user who uses the above-mentioned conventional cooking system can, for example, cook a meal by receiving cooking instruction from an instructor at a cooking class that he or she participates in via a network, or cook a meal by receiving cooking instruction from a cooking support service using artificial intelligence or the like via a network, or cook a meal by receiving cooking instruction from an acquaintance in a remote location via a network.

[0009] In this cooking system, for example, when a user participates in a cooking class via a network, even if the user receives cooking instructions through video, audio, etc. from an information processing terminal used by an instructor in a remote location, it may be difficult for the user to operate the heating cooking appliance and cook the food according to the cooking instructions.

[0010] Therefore, when an instructor attempts to remotely operate a cooking appliance by sending cooking commands from the information processing terminal used by the instructor to a cooking control unit on the user's side, there is a risk that the cooking commands will diverge from the actual cooking state, making it more likely that malfunctions such as abnormal heating will occur.

[0011] The same is true when a user receives cooking instructions from a cooking support service via a network and performs cooking, and attempts to remotely operate a heating cooking appliance by sending cooking commands from an external information processing terminal running artificial intelligence or the like to a cooking control unit on the user's side.

[0012] The same is true when a user receives cooking instructions from an acquaintance or the like via a network and performs cooking, and attempts to remotely operate a heating cooking appliance by sending cooking commands from an information processing terminal used by the acquaintance or the like to a cooking control unit on the user's side.

[0013] For this reason, this cooking system is required to enable a user to remotely control a cooking appliance while ensuring safety when cooking food using the cooking appliance.

[0014] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and has as its object to provide a cooking system and a heating cooking appliance that enable a user to remotely control a heating cooking appliance while ensuring safety when cooking food using the heating cooking appliance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The cooking system of the present invention includes a cooking appliance having a heating unit for heating a cooking container, A cooking control unit that is provided integrally or separately from the cooking appliance and controls the cooking appliance; a communication unit that executes communication with an external information processing terminal via a network; an input / output unit that is provided integrally with or separate from the cooking control unit, receives input of operations for cooking the food contained in the cooking container, transmits information of the operations to the cooking control unit, and is controlled by the cooking control unit to output information for cooking the food; A cooking system comprising: The information processing terminal is capable of transmitting a cooking command for the heating unit to the cooking control unit via the communication unit, The cooking control unit is characterized in that when it receives the cooking command from the information processing terminal, it transmits the cooking command to the heating unit when an operational input approving the cooking command is made to the input / output unit, and causes the heating unit to heat the cooking container based on the cooking command.

[0016] In the cooking system of the present invention, for example, when a user participates in a cooking class via a network, an instructor at a remote location operates an information processing terminal, which causes the information processing terminal to transmit a cooking command to a heating unit of the user's heating cooking appliance via a communication unit to a cooking control unit on the user's side. Then, when the cooking control unit on the user's side receives a cooking command from the information processing terminal, and when the user performs an operation input to approve the cooking command on the input / output unit, the cooking control unit transmits the cooking command to the heating unit and causes the heating unit to heat the cooking container based on the cooking command.

[0017] In this way, by having the user approve the cooking command, the cooking command and the actual cooking state are less likely to diverge, making it less likely that problems such as abnormal heating will occur, and the food to be cooked can be cooked well.

[0018] When a user receives cooking instructions from a cooking assistance service via a network and performs cooking, similarly when an external information processing terminal running artificial intelligence or the like sends cooking commands to a cooking control unit on the user's side to remotely operate a heating cooking appliance, by getting the cooking commands approved by the user, the cooking commands are less likely to diverge from the actual cooking state, making it less likely that problems such as abnormal heating will occur and the food being cooked can be cooked well.

[0019] Similarly, when a user receives cooking instructions from an acquaintance or the like via a network and performs cooking, and the acquaintance or the like sends cooking commands from an information processing terminal used by the user to a cooking control unit on the user's side to remotely operate a heating cooking appliance, approval of the cooking command by the user makes it less likely that the cooking command will diverge from the actual cooking state, making it less likely that malfunctions such as abnormal heating will occur, and the food being cooked can be cooked well.

[0020] Therefore, the cooking system of the present invention allows a user to remotely control a cooking appliance while ensuring safety when cooking food using the cooking appliance.

[0021] It is preferable that the cooking system of the present invention further comprises a status sensor provided in the cooking container or the heat cooking appliance for detecting status information of the cooking container or the food to be cooked, and a photographing device having a camera capable of photographing the cooking container and the heat cooking appliance and transmitting image information photographed by the camera to the outside. It is preferable that the cooking control unit is capable of transmitting the status information to the outside via the communication unit. It is preferable that the information processing terminal is capable of receiving at least one of heating instruction information, status information, and image information that the cooking control unit instructs the heating unit. And it is preferable that the information processing terminal is capable of transmitting a cooking command to the cooking control unit based on the received information.

[0022] In this case, the information processing terminal can receive at least one of the heating instruction information, the status information, and the image information, and transmit highly accurate cooking commands based on the received information. As a result, when a user uses a cooking appliance to cook food, the cooking appliance can be effectively remotely controlled while further ensuring safety.

[0023] When the cooking control unit receives a cooking command from the information processing terminal, it is desirable to control the input / output unit to notify the user of the cooking command and to notify the user of the cooking command by requesting an operational input as to whether or not to approve the cooking command.

[0024] In this case, the user can quickly and conveniently determine whether or not to approve the cooking command.

[0025] The cooking appliance of the present invention is a cooking appliance having a heating unit for heating a cooking container, A cooking control unit that is provided integrally or separately from the cooking appliance and controls the cooking appliance; a communication unit that executes communication with an external information processing terminal via a network; an input / output unit that is provided integrally with or separate from the cooking control unit, receives input of operations for cooking the food contained in the cooking container, transmits information of the operations to the cooking control unit, and is controlled by the cooking control unit to output information for cooking the food; Equipped with The information processing terminal is capable of transmitting a cooking command for the heating unit to the cooking control unit via the communication unit, The cooking control unit is characterized in that when it receives the cooking command from the information processing terminal, it transmits the cooking command to the heating unit when an operational input approving the cooking command is made to the input / output unit, and causes the heating unit to heat the cooking container based on the cooking command.

[0026] Like the cooking system of the present invention, the heating cooking appliance of the present invention requires the user to approve the cooking commands, which makes it less likely that the cooking commands will diverge from the actual cooking state, making it less likely that malfunctions such as abnormal heating will occur, and enables the food to be cooked well.

[0027] Therefore, the cooking appliance of the present invention allows a user to remotely control the cooking appliance while ensuring safety when cooking food using the cooking appliance. Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to the cooking system and cooking appliance of the present invention, when a user uses the cooking appliance to cook food, the cooking appliance can be remotely operated while ensuring safety. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the cooking system of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the portable information terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a cooking system according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0031] Example 1 1 and 2, a cooking system 100 of Example 1 is an example of a specific aspect of the cooking system of the present invention. The cooking system 100 includes a heating cooker 10, a mobile information terminal 50, and a photographing device 40. The heating cooker 10 of Example 1 is an example of a specific aspect of the heating cooker of the present invention.

[0032] The cooking appliance 10 is a gas stove installed in the system kitchen of the house H1. The camera 40 is suspended from the ceiling or the frame of a range hood of the kitchen of the house H1 and is located above the cooking appliance 10.

[0033] <Mobile information terminal> The mobile information terminal 50 is a smartphone, a mobile tablet terminal, or the like carried by a user residing in the house H1. As shown in Fig. 2, the mobile information terminal 50 has a control unit 51, a touch panel 53, a speaker 54, a microphone 55, and a terminal communication unit 57. The mobile information terminal 50 may be a dedicated terminal for the cooking system of the present invention.

[0034] The control unit 51 is an electronic circuit unit including a CPU (not shown), a storage unit 51M including storage elements such as a ROM and a RAM, and an interface circuit, etc. The control unit 51 executes control processing related to the operation of the mobile information terminal 50.

[0035] The storage unit 51M stores various programs and setting information for operating the mobile information terminal 50. The storage unit 51M also appropriately stores various information acquired by the control unit 51. The programs stored in the storage unit 51M include an application program for operating the cooking system 100 (hereinafter referred to as a "cooking assistant app").

[0036] The control unit 51 has a cooking control unit 52. That is, the cooking control unit 52 is provided separately from the cooking appliance 10. The cooking control unit 52 functions when a cooking assistant app is executed on the mobile information terminal 50, and controls the cooking appliance 10. The cooking control unit 52 will be described in detail later.

[0037] The touch panel 53 has a display section that displays various information such as text and images, and an input section that covers the display section in a manner that allows the user to see it, and receives various inputs through operations performed by the user touching it with their fingertips.

[0038] The speaker 54 outputs the voice of the other party when using the telephone, and is also capable of outputting various types of information as voice when various application programs are executed.

[0039] The microphone 55 picks up the user's voice when using the telephone, and is also capable of receiving voice input of operation instructions and the like when various application programs are executed.

[0040] The touch panel 53, the speaker 54, and the microphone 55 when the cooking assistant app is executed on the mobile information terminal 50 are an example of the “input / output unit” of the present invention. The touch panel 53, the speaker 54, and the microphone 55 are provided integrally with the cooking control unit 52.

[0041] The terminal communication unit 57 is capable of making calls using a frequency band for mobile phones. The terminal communication unit 57 also has built-in electronic circuits for performing short-distance wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or the like.

[0042] The terminal communication unit 57 is capable of connecting to an external network NW1 via a wireless router 7 or the like installed in the house H1 and performing network communication with an external server 9 and multiple information processing terminals 8 connected to the network NW1. The terminal communication unit 57 is an example of a "communication unit" in the present invention. The external server 9 and each information processing terminal 8 are examples of an "external information processing terminal" in the present invention.

[0043] When the cooking assistant app is executed on the mobile information terminal 50, the cooking control unit 52 can perform network communication with the external server 9, a plurality of information processing terminals 8, etc. via the network NW1 through the terminal communication unit 57.

[0044] The external server 9 is a server that holds various information for supporting the execution of the cooking system 100. The control unit 51 can download a cooking assistant app through network communication with the external server 9 and store it in the memory unit 51M.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, when a user places food F1, such as ingredients for a stew, water for the broth, various seasonings, etc., in a cooking container 20 and performs cooking using the cooking system 100, the user runs a cooking assistant app on the mobile information terminal 50.

[0046] <Heating cooking equipment> The cooking appliance 10 has a heating section 11, a heating control section 12, a container temperature sensor 16, a display operation section 13, and a first communication section 17. The container temperature sensor 16 is an example of the "status sensor" of the present invention.

[0047] The heating unit 11 is a gas burner that burns fuel gas such as city gas supplied from a fuel gas supply source. Although not shown, the heating unit 11 has a fuel gas control valve that controls the supply of fuel gas, adjustment of the supply amount, and stopping, and an ignition device. The heating unit 11 is located at the center of a trivet arranged on the top surface of the cooking appliance 10. The heating unit 11 heats the cooking container 20 placed on the trivet when it is activated.

[0048] In Figure 1, cooking container 20 is illustrated as an example of a pot with no lid, but cooking container 20 may be a pot with a lid, a frying pan, or any other type of cooking container as long as it has a shape that can accommodate the food to be cooked F1.

[0049] The container temperature sensor 16 is located in the center of the burner top of the heating unit 11. The container temperature sensor 16 is a well-known temperature sensor using a thermistor or the like built into a metallic cylindrical body that can come into contact with the bottom of the cooking container 20. The container temperature sensor 16 comes into contact with the bottom of the cooking container 20 placed on the trivet to detect temperature information of the cooking container 20.

[0050] The temperature information of the cooking container 20 may be real-time raw data of the container temperature of the cooking container 20, or may be, for example, history data combining a time axis and changes in the container temperature, or processed data obtained by extracting a portion of the data. Furthermore, the heating control unit 12 or the cooking control unit 52 that acquires the temperature information of the cooking container 20 may process the temperature information. In this embodiment, the temperature information of the cooking container 20, which is the detection result of the container temperature sensor 16, is real-time raw data of the container temperature of the cooking container 20.

[0051] The heating control unit 12 normally receives operation input by a user to an operation knob or the like arranged on the front surface of the cooking appliance 10, controls the fuel gas control valve and the ignition device, and controls gas combustion by the heating unit 11. At this time, the display operation unit 13 arranged on the front surface of the cooking appliance 10 is used to set a timer and display the remaining time, and is used to set cooking modes, etc. and display the current mode, etc.

[0052] When the cooking assistant app is executed, information on the operation set on the operation knob or display operation unit 13 is transmitted from the first communication unit 17 to the cooking control unit 52. The operation can be accepted by the operation knob of the cooking appliance 10 or the display operation unit 13. Note that the operation may also be accepted by the touch panel 53 or the microphone 55.

[0053] For example, when a user in the kitchen participates in a cooking class via the network, when receiving cooking instruction from a cooking support service via the network and cooking, or when receiving cooking instruction from an acquaintance or the like via the network and cooking, the cooking assistant app is executed on the mobile information terminal 50. As a result, when the cooking assistant app is executed on the mobile information terminal 50, the cooking control unit 52 controls the heating control unit 12. The heating control unit 12 executes control based on cooking commands transmitted by the cooking control unit 52, which will be described later.

[0054] Specifically, when the cooking assistant app is executed on the mobile information terminal 50 and enters an operating state, the heating control unit 12 controls the start of heating, change of heating output, and end of heating by the heating unit 11 based on cooking commands sent by the cooking control unit 52. Furthermore, the heating control unit 12 stops gas combustion by the heating unit 11 when it determines that a combustion abnormality has occurred in the heating unit 11 based on the detection result of a flame detection sensor (not shown) or the detection result of the container temperature sensor 16, etc.

[0055] The heating control unit 12 grasps the state of the heating unit 11. The state of the heating unit 11 grasped by the heating control unit 12 is defined as the grasped state of the heating unit 11. The grasped state of the heating unit 11 is, for example, the heating start, heating output, heating end, combustion abnormality, etc. of the heating unit 11.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 1, the first communication unit 17 is built into and disposed on the front side of the cooking appliance 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the first communication unit 17 performs short-range wireless communication. In this embodiment, the first communication unit 17 performs short-range wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark), which consumes very little power. The first communication unit 17 is paired with a terminal communication unit 57 of the mobile information terminal 50, and performs one-to-one short-range wireless communication with the terminal communication unit 57.

[0057] When the cooking control unit 52 described later selects to transmit the detection result (container temperature) of the container temperature sensor 16 to the outside, the first communication unit 17 and the terminal communication unit 57 transmit the detection result (container temperature) of the container temperature sensor 16 to the outside via the wireless router 7.

[0058] Furthermore, when the cooking control unit 52 transmits a cooking command to the heating unit 11 from the terminal communication unit 57 as described below, the first communication unit 17 receives the cooking command.

[0059] <Filming equipment> As shown in FIG. 1, the photographing device 40 has a power cable 40C that is connected to a power outlet in the house H1.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, the photographing device 40 has a camera 46, a second communication unit 47, and a light 48. When the power cable 40C is connected to an outlet, the camera 46, the second communication unit 47, and the light 48 are in a standby state in which power consumption is minimal. When the cooking assistant app is executed on the mobile information terminal 50 and the user selects the operation of at least one of the camera 46 and the light 48 by performing an operation input via the touch panel 53 or the microphone 55, at least one of the camera 46 and the light 48 and the second communication unit 47 are in an operating state. The method of putting the photographing device 40 into an operating state is not limited to this, and various methods may be adopted, such as putting the photographing device 40 into an operating state at the time when the cooking assistant app is executed.

[0061] The photographing device 40 may be built into a range hood (not shown) installed above the cooking appliance 10, and the lighting 48 may also serve as a lighting fixture for the kitchen in which the cooking appliance 10 is installed. In this case, the lighting 48 may be turned on and off independently of the execution of the cooking assistant app by the user operating a remote control switch (not shown) dedicated to the lighting 48.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 46 can capture the cooking appliance 10 and the cooking vessel 20. The camera 46 can also capture cooking utensils such as a cutting board and a knife (not shown), ingredients to be cooked, seasonings, etc., placed around the cooking appliance 10. The camera 46 stores the captured image as image information, which is a still image or a video. The camera 46 may process the image information, for example, by trimming an area outside a predetermined appropriate range set by the user on the top surface of a dining table. The camera 46 may also process the image information, for example, by extracting an image of the cooking appliance 10 and the cooking vessel 20. The camera 46 may also recognize not only visible light but also infrared light, and may be configured to extract a temperature distribution from the infrared light.

[0063] The second communication unit 47 is built in and disposed near the outer circumferential surface of the photographing device 40. As shown in Fig. 2, the second communication unit 47 performs short-distance wireless communication. In this embodiment, the second communication unit 47 performs short-distance wireless communication by Bluetooth (registered trademark) like the first communication unit 17. The second communication unit 47 is paired with the terminal communication unit 57 of the mobile information terminal 50, and performs one-to-one short-distance wireless communication with the terminal communication unit 57.

[0064] When the second communication unit 47 is in an operating state, it transmits image information captured by the camera 46 to the terminal communication unit 57. The image information may be raw data, or may be processed data obtained by extracting a portion of the data on the camera 46 side. Furthermore, the image information received by the terminal communication unit 57 may be processed by the cooking control unit 52.

[0065] The illuminance of the lighting 48 while it is turned on is changed under the control of the cooking control unit 52. For example, when the camera 46 is in an operating state, the lighting 48 increases its illuminance so as to improve the quality of the image information from the camera 46.

[0066] <Details of cooking control section> Each of the first communication unit 17 and the second communication unit 47 performs one-to-one short-range wireless communication with the terminal communication unit 57. Hereinafter, a case where a user uses the cooking system will be described.

[0067] (When a user uses a cooking system remotely at a remote cooking class) The external server 9 functions as a host server for the remote cooking class.

[0068] Among the multiple external information processing terminals 8, the information processing terminal 8 (8A) is an information processing terminal used by an instructor of the remote cooking class. Among the multiple external information processing terminals 8, the information processing terminals 8 other than the information processing terminal 8 (8A) are information processing terminals used by students of the remote cooking class. The information processing terminals 8 used by the students constitute a part of a cooking system similar to the cooking system 100 in the house or the like in which they are installed.

[0069] When a remote cooking class begins in which the user at home H1 participates as a student, the user can see the state of the food being cooked in the cooking containers used by the instructor and each student through images displayed on the touch panel 53, and can also interact with the instructor and other students face-to-face.

[0070] At this time, an image of the food F1 in the cooking container 20 and an image of the user in the house H1 are taken by the camera 46. The cooking control unit 52 can selectively transmit the image information of the camera 46 in real time to an external server 9 or an information processing terminal 8 of the instructor or another student. Note that an image of the user in the house H1 may be taken by a camera (not shown) mounted on the mobile information terminal 50 as necessary.

[0071] In addition, when a remote cooking class begins, the cooking control unit 52 can selectively transmit in real time the status of the heating unit 11 (including heating instruction information that the cooking control unit 52 instructs the heating unit 11) and the detection result of the container temperature sensor 16 (container temperature) to the external server 9 and the instructor's information processing terminal 8 (8A).

[0072] The criteria for determining whether or not the cooking control unit 52 should selectively transmit information are set by the user in advance or each time.

[0073] Furthermore, the instructor's information processing terminal 8 (8A) sequentially transmits the instruction contents of the recipe in the remote cooking class to the mobile information terminal 50 of the student user and the information processing terminals 8 of the other students. The instruction contents transmitted to the mobile information terminal 50 are displayed on the touch panel 53. In accordance with the instruction contents, the student user can, for example, change the heating output at an appropriate time, add multiple seasonings at an appropriate time, and check the degree of doneness of the ingredients of the food to be cooked F1 at an appropriate time.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 3, the instructor's information processing terminal 8 (8A) can transmit cooking commands to the heating unit 11 to the cooking control unit 52 based on information selectively transmitted and received from the cooking control unit 52.

[0075] For example, the instructor judges the cooking state of the student user based on the history of changes in the heating output, the history of changes in the temperature of the cooking container 20, and the cooking state of the food F1 visible from the image information of the camera 46. If the instructor determines that the heating output is too weak based on the history of changes in the heating output (broken line L1 shown by a solid line in FIG. 3), in order to improve the cooking state of the user, he or she determines a cooking command (broken line L2 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) for the heating unit 11 to increase the heating output for a predetermined period of time and then gradually decrease the heating output, and transmits this cooking command to the cooking control unit 52.

[0076] When the cooking control unit 52 receives a cooking command from the instructor's information processing terminal 8 (8A), it controls the touch panel 53 to notify the instructor of the cooking command and to request an operational input as to whether or not to approve the cooking command.

[0077] Specifically, the cooking control unit 52 notifies the user of the cooking command by displaying a broken line L2, shown by a dotted line in FIG. 3, on the touch panel 53, and notifies the user by displaying an “Approve” button 53A1 and a “Do not approve” button 53A2 on the touch panel 53, requesting input as to whether or not to approve the cooking command.

[0078] In this case, the cooking control unit 52 can also control the speaker 54 as necessary to notify the user of the cooking command and to request an operational input as to whether or not to approve the cooking command.

[0079] When an operation input approving a cooking command is performed on the touch panel 53, the cooking command is transmitted from the terminal communication unit 57 to the first communication unit 17. As a result, based on the cooking command, the heating control unit 12 increases the heating output of the heating unit 11 for a predetermined time as shown by the two-dot chain broken line L2 in Fig. 3, and then changes the heating output to be gradually decreased.

[0080] In this case, when an operation input approving the cooking command is made by voice input to the microphone 55, the cooking control unit 52 may transmit the cooking command from the terminal communication unit 57 to the first communication unit 17. In addition, in this case, when an operation input approving the cooking command is made to the display operation unit 13 of the heating cooking appliance 10 and the operation input is received via the first communication unit 17 and the terminal communication unit 57, the cooking control unit 52 may transmit the cooking command from the terminal communication unit 57 to the first communication unit 17.

[0081] In this embodiment, the cooking control unit 52 transmits a cooking command from the terminal communication unit 57 to the first communication unit 17 only when the user performs an operation input to approve the cooking command.

[0082] Since the cooking command is approved by the user, the external server 9 and the information processing terminals 8 of the other students may also be able to send cooking commands to the heating unit 11 to the cooking control unit 52 based on the information transmitted from the cooking control unit 52. The cooking commands sent by the external server 9 may be determined by an artificial intelligence (AI) that operates in the external server 9 and supports the remote cooking class.

[0083] In this way, when each student finishes cooking in a remote cooking class, the instructor and each student can show each other pictures of the completed dish and share each student's cooking history, promoting communication. At this time, the cooking control unit 52 is configured to selectively transmit information to the outside, preventing information leaks and privacy violations.

[0084] <Action and effect> In the cooking system 100 of Example 1, as shown in FIG. 2, when a user participates in a cooking class via the network NW1, an instructor at a remote location operates the information processing terminal 8 and the external server 9, and the information processing terminal 8 and the external server 9 can send cooking commands to the cooking control unit 52 on the user's side via the terminal communication unit 57 for the heating unit 11 of the heating cooking appliance 10 on the user's side.

[0085] Then, when the user receives a cooking command (broken line L2 shown by a dotted line in Figure 3) from the instructor's information processing terminal 8 (8A), when the user performs an operational input to approve the cooking command on the touch panel 53 or microphone 55, the cooking control unit 52 on the user side transmits the cooking command from the terminal communication unit 57 to the first communication unit 17 and transmits it to the heating cooking appliance 10, and causes the heating unit 11 to heat the cooking container 20 based on the cooking command.

[0086] In this way, by having the cooking command approved by the user, the cooking command and the actual cooking state are less likely to diverge, making it less likely that problems such as abnormal heating will occur, and the food F1 can be cooked well.

[0087] When a user receives cooking instructions from a cooking assistance service via the network NW1 and performs cooking, similarly when an external server 9 running artificial intelligence or the like sends cooking commands to the cooking control unit 52 on the user's side to remotely operate the heating cooking appliance 10, by getting the cooking command approved by the user, the cooking command and the actual cooking state are less likely to diverge, making it less likely that malfunctions such as abnormal heating will occur, and the food to be cooked F1 can be cooked well.

[0088] Similarly, when a user receives cooking instructions from an acquaintance or the like via the network NW1 and performs cooking, and the acquaintance or the like sends a cooking command from the information processing terminal 8 used by the user to the cooking control unit 52 on the user's side to remotely operate the heating cooking appliance 10, approval of the cooking command by the user makes it difficult for the cooking command to diverge from the actual cooking state, making it difficult for malfunctions such as abnormal heating to occur, and the food to be cooked F1 can be cooked well.

[0089] Therefore, the cooking system 100 of the first embodiment allows the user to remotely control the cooking appliance 10 while ensuring safety when cooking the food F1 using the cooking appliance 10. The same applies to the cooking appliance 10 of the first embodiment.

[0090] In addition, in this cooking system 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooking control unit 52 can selectively transmit the grasped state of the heating unit 11 (including heating instruction information instructed by the cooking control unit 52 to the heating unit 11), the detection result of the container temperature sensor 16 (container temperature), and the image information of the camera 46 to the external server 9 or a specific external information processing terminal 8. The external server 9 or the specific external information processing terminal 8 can receive at least one of the grasped state of the heating unit 11 (including heating instruction information instructed by the cooking control unit 52 to the heating unit 11), the detection result of the container temperature sensor 16 (container temperature), and the image information of the camera 46. Then, the external server 9 or the specific external information processing terminal 8 can transmit a cooking command to the cooking control unit 52 based on the received information. With this configuration, the external server 9 or the specific external information processing terminal 8 can transmit a highly accurate cooking command based on the received information. As a result, when the user cooks the food F1 by the heating cooking appliance 10, the heating cooking appliance 10 can be effectively remotely operated while further ensuring safety.

[0091] Furthermore, in this cooking system 100, when the cooking control unit 52 receives a cooking command (broken line L2 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) from the instructor's information processing terminal 8 (8A), as shown in FIG. 3, the cooking control unit 52 notifies the user of the cooking command by displaying the broken line L2 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 on the touch panel 53, and notifies the user of the cooking command by displaying an "Approve" button 53A1 and a "Do Not Approve" button 53A2 on the touch panel 53. The cooking control unit 52 can also control the speaker 54 as necessary to notify the user of the cooking command and to notify the user of the cooking command and to notify the user of the cooking command by displaying an "Approve" button 53A1 and a "Do Not Approve" button 53A2 on the touch panel 53. This configuration allows the user to quickly and appropriately determine whether to approve the cooking command.

[0092] Example 2 As shown in Fig. 4, in the cooking system of Example 2, the heating cooking appliance 10 of the cooking system 100 of Example 1 has a control unit 211, and is modified so that a part of the control unit 211 functions as the heating control unit 12 and another part of the control unit 211 functions as the cooking control unit 212. The cooking control unit 212 functions similarly to the cooking control unit 52 of Example 1. Accordingly, the cooking control unit 52 is eliminated from the control unit 51 of the mobile information terminal 50 of Example 1. In other words, the cooking control unit 212 is provided integrally with the heating cooking appliance 10.

[0093] When the cooking control unit 212 of the cooking appliance 10 executes the cooking assistant app in response to a user's operation input, the cooking control unit 212 communicates with the control unit 51 via the first communication unit 17 and the terminal communication unit, and causes the touch panel 53, the speaker 54, and the microphone 55 to function as the "input / output unit" of the present invention.

[0094] The cooking control unit 212 can perform network communication with an external server 9, a plurality of information processing terminals 8, etc. via the network NW1 using the first communication unit 17 and the terminal communication unit 57.

[0095] The external server 9 or a specific external information processing terminal 8 can transmit cooking commands to the heating unit 11 of the cooking appliance 10 to the cooking control unit 212 via the terminal communication unit 57 and the first communication unit 17.

[0096] When the cooking control unit 212 receives a cooking command (broken line L2 shown by a dashed double-dashed line in FIG. 3) from an external server 9 or a specific external information processing terminal 8, when the user performs an operational input to approve the cooking command on the touch panel 53 or the microphone 55, the cooking control unit 212 transmits the cooking command to the heating control unit 12 and causes the heating unit 11 to heat the cooking container 20 based on the cooking command.

[0097] Other configurations of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

[0098] The cooking system of Example 2 having such a configuration, like the cooking system 100 of Example 1, allows a user to remotely control the cooking appliance 10 while ensuring safety when cooking the food F1 using the cooking appliance 10.

[0099] In the above, the present invention has been described based on Examples 1 and 2. However, the present invention is not limited to the above Examples 1 and 2, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0100] The present invention also includes a configuration in which the photographing device 40 is provided with a cooking control unit that functions similarly to the cooking control unit 52 according to the first embodiment or the cooking control unit 212 according to the second embodiment. In this case, the cooking control unit communicates with the control unit 51 via the second communication unit 47 and the terminal communication unit 57, and causes the touch panel 53, the speaker 54, and the microphone 55 to function as the "input / output unit" of the present invention. The external server 9 or a specific external information processing terminal 8 can transmit a cooking command to the heating unit 11 of the heating cooking appliance 10 via the terminal communication unit 57 and the second communication unit 47 to the cooking control unit. Furthermore, the cooking control unit transmits the cooking command to the heating control unit 12 via the second communication unit 47 and the first communication unit 17, and causes the heating unit 11 to heat the cooking container 20 based on the cooking command.

[0101] The present invention also includes a configuration of the cooking system of the second embodiment that does not require the mobile information terminal 50. In this case, the display operation unit 13 of the cooking appliance 10 functions as the "input / output unit" of the present invention, and the first communication unit 17 executes network communication with the outside.

[0102] In the first and second embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 is a gas stove having a gas combustion type heating unit 11, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the cooking appliance may be an IH cooking heater having a high-frequency induction heating type heating unit.

[0103] In the first and second embodiments, the container temperature sensor 16 is provided in the cooking appliance 10, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the present invention also includes a configuration in which a container temperature sensor provided in the cooking container 20 detects temperature information of the cooking container 20. In this case, the detection result of the container temperature sensor may be sent directly to the terminal communication unit 57, or may be sent to the terminal communication unit 57 via the first communication unit 17.

[0104] In the first and second embodiments, the photographing device 40 has the lighting 48, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration in which the lighting 48 is eliminated from the photographing device 40 is also included in the present invention.

[0105] In the first and second embodiments, the mobile information terminal 50 is provided with a touch panel 53, a speaker 54, and a microphone 55 as input / output units, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the mobile information terminal may only perform display, and the display operation unit of the cooking appliance may receive an operation to approve the cooking command. In other words, the input (display operation unit of the cooking appliance) and the output (display of the mobile information terminal) may be configured separately.

[0106] In the first and second embodiments, the container temperature sensor 16 is provided as a status sensor, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, various sensors such as a weight sensor that weighs the food in the container and a concentration sensor that measures the salt concentration of the food can be used as the status sensor, and a plurality of these sensors may be installed.

[0107] In the first and second embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 communicates with the external server 9 and each information processing terminal 8 via the mobile information terminal 50 and the network, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The present invention also includes a configuration in which a terminal communication unit is provided in the cooking appliance and the cooking appliance directly communicates with an external information processing terminal via the network. [Industrial Applicability]

[0108] The present invention can be used, for example, in a cooking system for performing cooking in a home, a cooking facility, or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 100…Cooking system 20...Cooking container 11...Heating part 10…Heating cooking equipment NW1…Network 8, 9... External information processing terminal (8... Information processing terminal, 9... External server) 57...Communication unit (terminal communication unit) 52, 212...Cooking control unit F1…Item to be cooked 53, 54, 55...input / output section (53...touch panel, 54...speaker, 55...microphone) 16...Status sensor (container temperature sensor) 46…Camera 40...Filming equipment

Claims

1. A cooking appliance having a heating unit for heating a cooking container; A cooking control unit that is provided integrally or separately from the cooking appliance and controls the cooking appliance; a communication unit that executes communication with an external information processing terminal via a network; an input / output unit that is provided integrally with or separate from the cooking control unit, receives input of operations for cooking the food contained in the cooking container, transmits information of the operations to the cooking control unit, and is controlled by the cooking control unit to output information for cooking the food; A cooking system comprising: The information processing terminal is capable of transmitting a cooking command for the heating unit to the cooking control unit via the communication unit, A cooking system characterized in that when the cooking control unit receives the cooking command from the information processing terminal, when an operational input approving the cooking command is made to the input / output unit, the cooking control unit transmits the cooking command to the heating unit and causes the heating unit to heat the cooking container based on the cooking command.

2. A status sensor provided in the cooking container or the cooking appliance for detecting status information of the cooking container or the food to be cooked; The cooking container and the cooking device may further include a camera that can capture images of the cooking container and the cooking device, and a photographing device that transmits image information captured by the camera to the outside. The cooking control unit is capable of transmitting the status information to the outside via the communication unit, the information processing terminal is capable of receiving at least one of heating instruction information instructed by the cooking control unit to the heating unit, the status information, and the image information; The cooking system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing terminal is capable of transmitting the cooking command to the cooking control unit based on the received information.

3. 3. The cooking system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the cooking control unit receives the cooking command from the information processing terminal, the cooking control unit controls the input / output unit to notify the user of the cooking command and to request the user to input an operation to indicate whether or not to approve the cooking command.

4. A cooking appliance having a heating unit for heating a cooking container, A cooking control unit that is provided integrally or separately from the cooking appliance and controls the cooking appliance; a communication unit that executes communication with an external information processing terminal via a network; an input / output unit that is provided integrally with or separate from the cooking control unit, receives input of operations for cooking the food contained in the cooking container, transmits information of the operations to the cooking control unit, and is controlled by the cooking control unit to output information for cooking the food; Equipped with The information processing terminal is capable of transmitting a cooking command for the heating unit to the cooking control unit via the communication unit, The cooking control unit, when receiving the cooking command from the information processing terminal, transmits the cooking command to the heating unit when an operational input approving the cooking command is made to the input / output unit, and causes the heating unit to heat the cooking container based on the cooking command.

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