Heating cooking system

Abstract

To provide a heating cooking system which can present, to a user, timely information which helps proper action according to the current state of a heating cooker and determination for issuing an operation instruction, and which can provide high convenience to the user.SOLUTION: A heating cooking system 1 includes: a heating cooker 2 capable of transmitting information regarding the current state to the outside of the machine; and an information terminal 3 capable of receiving information from the heating cooker 2. The heating cooker 2 transmits information as periodical information at predetermined time intervals, and also transmits the information as non-periodical information non-periodically. The information terminal 3 receives the periodical information and the non-periodical information from the heating cooker 2, and updates the current state of the heating cooker 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking system.

Background Art

[0002] When instructing a multifunction device to execute a job, the AI assistant server device forms response information including information indicating that the multifunction device has been instructed to execute the job and the current job execution state of the multifunction device. The AI assistant server device transmits this response information to the smart speaker via the speech recognition server device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A conventional information processing system transmits response information including the current job execution state of a multifunction device to a smart speaker when a job execution instruction for the multifunction device is issued.

[0005] Here, a cooking system including a cooking appliance and an information terminal is known. The current state of the cooking appliance includes various states such as the progress of cooking the object to be heated, the remaining time until the end of cooking, and the necessity of supplying water for steam cooking.

[0006] If, like a conventional information processing system, information including the current states of various cooking appliances is transmitted to an operation terminal upon receipt of some operation instruction for the cooking appliances from a user, the user of the cooking system cannot immediately grasp the current states of the cooking appliances before the operation instruction, and there is a risk that the user cannot take appropriate actions according to the current states of the cooking appliances or give appropriate operation instructions to the cooking appliances.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooking system that enables a user to grasp the current state of a cooking appliance almost in real time on an information terminal, can present timely information that serves as a basis for judgment for giving appropriate actions and operations according to the current state of the cooking appliance, and can provide high convenience to the user.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] A cooking appliance system according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a cooking appliance capable of transmitting information regarding the current state outside the appliance, and an information terminal capable of receiving the information from the cooking appliance. The cooking appliance transmits the information as periodic information at a predetermined time interval and also transmits the information as irregular information irregularly. The information terminal receives the periodic information and the irregular information from the cooking appliance and updates the current state of the cooking appliance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a cooking system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. In a plurality of drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, a cooking system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention provides information transmitted by a cooking device 2 to an information terminal 3 in a state where the information terminal 3 can receive it. The cooking system 1 may provide information transmitted by the information terminal 3 in a state where the cooking device 2 in the residence can receive it. The information transmitted by the cooking device 2 is information including the current state and current settings of the cooking device 2. That is, the cooking system 1 provides an environment in which the current state and current settings of the cooking device 2 in the residence can be confirmed from the information terminal 3 when away from home, and an environment in which the cooking device 2 in the residence can be remotely operated. A user of the cooking system 1 can, for example, confirm the current state and current settings of the cooking device 2 while away from home, and operate the cooking device 2 according to the current state and current settings.

[0013] The cooking system 1 includes a cooking device 2 used for cooking a heated object, and at least one information terminal 3 used for checking the cooking status of the heated object by the cooking device 2 and remotely operating the cooking device 2. The cooking system 1 only needs to include at least the cooking device 2 and the information terminal 3. The cooking device 2 and the information terminal 3 may establish a direct two-way communication environment by short-range wireless communication 8 such as NFC (Near Field Communication) or Bluetooth, or may establish a direct two-way communication environment via a home Wi-Fi network or the like.

[0014] The cooking system 1 may include a cooking device 2, at least one information terminal 3, a server 5 that establishes communication between the cooking device 2 and the information terminal 3, and a storage device 6 that stores information for establishing communication between the cooking device 2 and the information terminal 3.

[0015] Each of the cooking device 2, the information terminal 3, the server 5, and the storage device 6 is communicably connected to the network NW via the telecommunication network 11. The network NW uses, for example, the Internet, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, LPWA (Low Power Wide Area), WAN (Wide Area Network), LAN (Local Area Network), or other public or dedicated lines according to the situation.

[0016] The telecommunication network 11 includes a short-range wireless communication 8, an external communication network 12, an in-house communication network 13, and a relay device 15 that relays information between the external communication network 12 and the in-house communication network 13.

[0017] The external communication network 12 includes the network NW. The relay device 15, the server 5, and the information terminal 3 are connected to the network NW via a public telephone network or a mobile phone network. The cooking system 1 provides a user with a convenient communication environment between the cooking device 2 and the information terminal 3 by interposing the Internet.

[0018] The in-house communication network 13 is a wireless or wired telecommunication network including the relay device 15, which is a so-called intranet.

[0019] The relay device 15 is, for example, at least one of a wireless router and a modem.

[0020] The cooking device 2 is communicably connected to the in-house communication network 13. The cooking device 2 is, for example, at least one of an oven range, a microwave oven, an oven, a toaster, and a rice cooker mainly installed in a user's residence. The cooking device 2 can communicate with the server 5 via the relay device 15 installed in the user's residence. The cooking device 2 and the storage device 6 store a plurality of cooking menus used for cooking an object to be heated by the cooking device 2.

[0021] Server 5 manages the cooking appliance 2. Server 5 manages information regarding, for example, the device registration of the cooking appliance 2, and information regarding the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2, including the cooking status of the object to be heated by the cooking appliance 2.

[0022] Also, Server 5 establishes a communication line through which information can be communicated bidirectionally between the cooking appliance 2 and the information terminal 3 via the network NW. Server 5 is, for example, a cloud server and is composed of one or more server devices. Note that Server 5 may include an information processing unit that performs edge computing or fog computing, such as an information processing unit included in a router in the network NW. Server 5 is not limited to a cloud server and may be a computer in the user's residence or, for example, a home router such as a wireless router.

[0023] Server 5 communicates with a number of cooking appliances 2 and a number of information terminals 3 via the network NW. Server 5 assigns an identifier to each of the plurality of cooking appliances 2. The heating cooking system 1 establishes bidirectional communication between the information terminal 3 and the cooking appliance 2 based on the identifier managed by Server 5.

[0024] The storage device 6 stores various information. Server 5 can refer to the information stored in the storage device 6. That is, Server 5 can receive the target information as a response by sending a predetermined request to the storage device 6. The information stored in the storage device 6 includes, for example, heating condition command information transmitted from the information terminal 3.

[0025] The information terminal 3 is communicably connected to at least one of the external communication network 12 and the in-house communication network 13. The information terminal 3 is a terminal device used by the user of the cooking system 1 to check the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 and to remotely operate the cooking appliance 2. The information terminal 3 may be a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet, or a terminal device that is not suitable for portability, such as a personal computer or a smart speaker, and is permanently installed in a residence. The information terminal 3 communicates bidirectionally directly with the cooking appliance 2 via short-range wireless communication 8 or via a relay 15. The information terminal 3 can also be connected to the network NW via a public wireless line or a mobile phone line and communicate bidirectionally with the server 5. The information terminal 3 acquires information on the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 from the server 5 and outputs the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 to the screen of the information terminal 3.

[0026] An information terminal 3 such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device acquires information with or without going through the server 5 and outputs the state of the cooking appliance 2 to the screen of the information terminal 3. Also, an information terminal 3 such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device causes the cooking appliance 2 with which the processing according to the user's operation has been coordinated to execute the processing. When the smart speaker detects that the speaker has uttered a specific word, it then uses natural language processing to identify the subsequent questions and requests of the speaker, converts the response according to the identified content into voice and outputs it, or causes the cooking appliance 2 with which the processing according to the identified content has been coordinated to execute the processing. A similar natural language processing function may be installed in a portable information terminal 3 such as a smartphone or in the cooking appliance 2.

[0027] Note that the information transmitted and received within the cooking system 1 such as the cooking appliance 2, the information terminal 3, and the server 5 is preferably variable-length information having an appropriate amount of information as needed. That is, the information transmitted and received within the cooking system 1 may include all the information regarding the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2, may include only a part of the information regarding the current state of the cooking appliance 2, or may include only a part of the information regarding the current settings.

[0028] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a microwave oven, which is an example of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the cooking appliance 2 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a microwave oven 21.

[0030] The microwave oven 21 is substantially rectangular box-shaped and includes a main body 23 that partitions a cooking chamber 22, an openable and closable door 25 provided on the front surface of the main body 23, and a detachable water supply cassette 26 and a water receiving pan 27.

[0031] The main body 23 is covered with a metal cabinet 31 as the outer shell of the microwave oven 21.

[0032] The door 25 is a vertically-opening type and includes a handle 32 that a user grips when opening and closing, an operation panel unit 33 for displaying, operating, and notifying, and a communication module 35 as a transmission and reception unit that establishes two-way communication between the microwave oven 21 and the information terminal 3.

[0033] The handle 32 is provided at the upper part of the door 25.

[0034] The operation panel unit 33 is provided at a side part on the front surface of the door 25. The operation panel unit 33 includes a display unit 36 that displays various information regarding cooking, a plurality of keys 37 that receive various operations, and a touch panel 38 provided on the surface of the display unit 36. The plurality of keys 37 and the touch panel 38 correspond to the operation unit of the microwave oven 21.

[0035] The display unit 36 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) using thin film transistors (TFTs). The display unit 36 preferably includes a backlight. The display unit 36 may be a color display or a monochrome display. The display unit 36 may be a display using organic electro-luminescence (OEL). The display unit 36 combines characters, numbers, symbols, and images to display various pieces of information related to cooking, including the cooking settings, the progress of cooking, the name of the object to be heated, the type of heating applied to the object to be heated, the name of the dish, the heating time, the temperature, and a photo of the cooking.

[0036] The plurality of keys 37 are switches that output an operation signal when pressed, such as tactile switches. The plurality of keys 37 are arranged so as not to overlap the display unit 36. The plurality of keys 37 include a start key 37a and a cancel key 37b. The start key 37a receives a start operation for starting the heating cooking. The cancel key 37b receives a stop operation for stopping the heating cooking and a cancel operation for canceling the operations and settings. In order to light or blink the start key 37a as needed, it is preferable that lighting, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), is provided near the start key 37a.

[0037] The touch panel 38 receives a touch operation by the user. The touch panel 38 is arranged so as to overlap the display unit 36.

[0038] The communication module 35 is built into the lower center of the door 25. The communication module 35 is a transmitting unit that transmits information from the oven range 21 to the information terminal 3, and is a receiving unit that receives information transmitted by the information terminal 3. Preferably, the communication module 35 can perform two-way communication individually with a plurality of information terminals 3. That is, preferably, the communication module 35 is a transmitting unit capable of individually transmitting information from the oven range 21 to a plurality of information terminals 3, and is a receiving unit capable of receiving information individually transmitted by a plurality of information terminals 3. That is, preferably, a single cooking appliance 2 and a number of information terminals 3 can perform two-way communication individually. In other words, preferably, the cooking appliance 2 and a plurality of information terminals 3 can perform two-way communication in a one-to-many relationship.

[0039] When the current state of the cooking appliance 2 changes or the current settings are changed, each information terminal 3 individually acquires various information from the cooking appliance 2. Also, when information is transmitted from a certain information terminal 3 to the cooking appliance 2 to change the current state of the cooking appliance 2 or change the current settings, the other information terminals 3 individually acquire various information from the cooking appliance 2. By doing so, the plurality of information terminals 3 share the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2. That is, a plurality of users can appropriately use a single cooking appliance 2. Such a usage mode of the cooking appliance 2 is suitable for the convenience of a plurality of users.

[0040] The water supply cassette 26 is a container for water for generating steam and is a water supply source. The steam is used for heating the object to be heated.

[0041] The water receiving pan 27 is a container for receiving discharges such as food scraps, water droplets, and steam discharged from the main body 23.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a schematic first cross-sectional view of an oven range which is an example of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 23 of the oven range 21 according to the present embodiment has a cooking chamber 22 for accommodating an object to be heated. The main body 23 includes a ceiling wall 22a, a bottom wall 22b, a left side wall 22c, a right side wall 22d, and a rear wall 22e that define the cooking chamber 22. The inner surfaces of the respective walls 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e excluding the ceiling wall 22a are substantially flat surfaces.

[0044] The rear wall 22e includes a suction port 41 and a pair of hot air outlets 42u, 42l. The suction port 41 is disposed at the center of the inner surface of the rear wall 22e. The pair of hot air outlets 42u, 42l are respectively disposed above and below the suction port 41. The pair of hot air outlets 42u, 42l have a rectangular shape extending in the width direction of the main body 23.

[0045] The main body 23 also includes a hot air unit 43 disposed behind the cooking chamber 22 and a case 45 attached behind the cooking chamber 22 for accommodating the hot air unit 43.

[0046] The hot air unit 43 includes a hot air heater 46 for heating the air in the cooking chamber 22, a hot air fan 47 for circulating the heated air in the cooking chamber 22, and a hot air motor 48 for rotationally driving the hot air fan 47.

[0047] The hot air fan 47 is disposed so as to face the suction port 41 of the rear wall 22e.

[0048] The hot air heater 46 is disposed around the hot air fan 47. The hot air fan 47 rotationally driven by the hot air motor 48 sucks air from the cooking chamber 22 through the suction port 41 and radially discharges the air toward the periphery of the hot air fan 47. The air discharged from the hot air fan 47 is heated by the hot air heater 46 and blown into the cooking chamber 22 through the pair of hot air outlets 42u, 42l of the rear wall 22e. A path of hot air circulating inside and outside the cooking chamber 22 is generated by this heating and flow of the air. The hot air circulating inside and outside the cooking chamber 22 heats the object to be heated in the cooking chamber 22 for oven cooking.

[0049] Furthermore, the main body 23 includes an upper heater 51 provided on the upper surface of the ceiling wall 22a for heating an object to be heated from above the cooking chamber 22, and a lower heater 52 provided on the lower surface of the bottom wall 22b for heating an object to be heated from below the cooking chamber 22. When the upper heater 51 and the lower heater 52 are energized, the upper heater 51 and the lower heater 52 generate heat radiation by infrared rays. The heat radiation from the upper heater 51 and the lower heater 52 heats the object to be heated in the cooking chamber 22 for grilling.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic second cross-sectional view of a range oven which is an example of a cooking heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 23 of the range oven 21 according to the present embodiment includes a steam unit 55 as a steam generator disposed on the side of the cooking chamber 22.

[0052] The inner surface of the ceiling wall 22a of the main body 23 is in a convex dome shape facing upward. The left side wall 22c of the main body 23 is provided with a plurality of steam outlets 56.

[0053] The steam unit 55 supplies saturated steam or superheated steam into the cooking chamber 22. The steam unit 55 includes a pump 57 for sending water in the water supply cassette 26, a water supply pipe 58 connected to the pump 57, and a steam generator 61 connected to the water supply pipe 58.

[0054] The steam generator 61 includes a heat transfer body 62 made of aluminum die-cast having a vaporization chamber, and a sheathed heater 63 embedded in the heat transfer body 62.

[0055] The driving pump 57 sends water in the water supply cassette 26 to the vaporization chamber through the water supply pipe 58. The energized sheathed heater 63 heats the water sent to the vaporization chamber to generate steam. The generated steam is supplied into the cooking chamber 22 from the plurality of steam outlets 56 on the left side wall 22c.

[0056] As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 4, the steam supplied into the cooking chamber 22 diffuses within the cooking chamber 22. This steam flow heats the object to be heated within the cooking chamber 22 for steam cooking.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a schematic third cross-sectional view of a microwave oven which is an example of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, the main body 23 of the microwave oven 21 according to the present embodiment includes a microwave generator 71 that irradiates microwaves onto the object to be heated from below the cooking chamber 22.

[0059] The microwave generator 71 is disposed below the bottom wall 22b. The microwave generator 71 includes a magnetron 72 which is a source for generating microwaves, a waveguide 73 for guiding the microwaves generated by the magnetron 72 into the cooking chamber 22, an antenna 75 for radiating microwaves from the waveguide 73 into the cooking chamber 22, an antenna motor 77 for horizontally rotating the antenna 75 about an upright axis 77a, and a microswitch 78 attached near the antenna 75 for detecting the origin position of the antenna 75. The antenna motor 77 is, for example, an AC motor. The microwaves irradiated onto the object to be heated heat the object to be heated within the cooking chamber 22 for range cooking.

[0060] The main body 23 further includes an equipment control unit 81 disposed below the bottom wall 22b, an in-chamber temperature distribution detection unit 82 disposed at the upper right side portion above the cooking chamber 22, and an in-chamber temperature detection unit 83 provided at the upper half of the left side wall 22c for measuring the temperature within the cooking chamber 22.

[0061] The in-chamber temperature distribution detection unit 82 includes an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature within the cooking chamber 22 and a swing mechanism for swinging the infrared sensor within an appropriate range to detect the temperature distribution within the cooking chamber 22 by the infrared sensor. By detecting the temperature distribution within the cooking chamber 22, the temperature of the object to be heated within the cooking chamber 22 can be detected.

[0062] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a microwave oven which is an example of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 6, the device control unit 81 of the microwave oven 21 includes a CPU, a memory, a timer as a timekeeping unit, and an input / output interface.

[0064] The memory is a storage unit 85 that stores programs executed by the CPU. The memory includes, for example, a menu storage unit 85a that stores a plurality of cooking menus used for cooking an object to be heated in the microwave oven 21 and a plurality of recipe information corresponding to each of the plurality of cooking menus.

[0065] Each recipe information includes heating condition information and display information.

[0066] The heating condition information includes heating conditions suitable for cooking an object to be heated in the cooking appliance 2. Each heating condition represents a heating profile consisting of the type of heating, the amount of heat, and the heating time. The type of heating is, for example, oven cooking, grill cooking, range cooking, or steam cooking. A certain heating condition may use one type of heating or may use a plurality of types of heating.

[0067] Each recipe information may include nutritional information which is data on nutritional components contained in food. The nutritional information may include, for example, nutritional component information corresponding to the Japanese Food Standard Composition Table, information indicating the balance of each nutritional component contained in the food, information indicating the adequacy ratio of each nutritional component contained in the food to the daily requirement, and information on nutritional advice obtained therefrom.

[0068] The display information includes image data for causing an information terminal 3 or a display unit 36 to display an image related to the cooking menu.

[0069] The timer is used for various controls related to time and time, such as control of the heating time of the object to be heated, control of the heating start time, and control of the heating end time.

[0070] The input ports of the device control unit 81 are connected to a plurality of keys 37, a touch panel 38, a communication module 35, an in-cabinet temperature distribution detection unit 82, and an in-cabinet temperature detection unit 83. Further, the input ports of the device control unit 81 are connected to a hot air motor rotation detection unit 86, a door opening / closing detection unit 87, an antenna position detection unit 88, and a vaporization chamber temperature detection unit 89. The hot air motor rotation detection unit 86 detects the rotation of the hot air motor 48. The door opening / closing detection unit 87 detects the open / closed state of the door 25. The antenna position detection unit 88 detects the position of the antenna 75 by means of the microswitch 78 of the microwave generator 71. The vaporization chamber temperature detection unit 89 detects the temperature of the vaporization chamber of the steam unit 55. The vaporization chamber temperature detection unit 89 is, for example, a thermistor.

[0071] The heating condition command information received by the communication module 35 includes heating conditions for each cooking menu that are suitable for cooking the object to be heated in the cooking appliance 2. That is, the heating condition command information includes information corresponding to the heating condition information included in the recipe information.

[0072] The output ports of the device control unit 81 are connected to the display unit 36 and the communication module 35. Further, the output ports of the device control unit 81 are connected to a microwave heating unit 91, a heater driving unit 92, an antenna driving unit 93, a hot air motor driving unit 95, a pump driving unit 96, and a notification unit 97. The microwave heating unit 91 includes a magnetron 72 of the microwave generator 71 and a driving unit of the magnetron 72. The heater driving unit 92 is, for example, a relay that is connected to each of the upper heater 51, the lower heater 52, the hot air heater 46, and the sheathed heater 63. The antenna driving unit 93 rotationally drives the antenna motor 77. The hot air motor driving unit 95 rotationally drives the hot air motor 48. The pump driving unit 96 drives the pump 57 of the steam unit 55. The notification unit 97 is, for example, a buzzer having a sound output function such as a buzzer.

[0073] The device control unit 81 receives, via the input ports, the operation signals output by each of the plurality of keys 37 and the touch panel 38. The device control unit 81 also receives, via the input ports, the detection signals output by each of the in-cabinet temperature distribution detection unit 82, the hot air motor rotation detection unit 86, the door opening / closing detection unit 87, the antenna position detection unit 88, and the vaporization chamber temperature detection unit 89. Furthermore, the device control unit 81 receives, via the input ports, various information received by the communication module 35.

[0074] The device control unit 81 outputs, via the output ports, drive control signals to the microwave heating unit 91, the heater drive unit 92, the antenna drive unit 93, the hot air motor drive unit 95, the pump drive unit 96, and the notification unit 97. The device control unit 81 also outputs, via the output ports, display control signals to the display unit 36.

[0075] The functions of the device control unit 81 are realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory. The program causes the device control unit 81 to realize, for example, a heating control function 101, a display control function 102, a communication control function 103, and a notification control function 105.

[0076] The heating control function 101 controls the heating operation of the cooking device 2. When the heating control function 101 receives an operation signal indicating the selection of a cooking menu output by at least one of the plurality of keys 37 and the touch panel 38, it reads the recipe information corresponding to one cooking menu from the menu storage unit 85a. Then, when the heating control function 101 receives an operation signal indicating the start of cooking output by at least one of the plurality of keys 37 and the touch panel 38 and determines, based on the detection signal of the door opening / closing detection unit 87, that the door 25 is closed, it cooks the object to be heated based on the read recipe information.

[0077] Further, when the heating control function 101 receives heating condition command information from the communication module 35, it waits for the start of cooking. Then, when the heating control function 101 receives an operation signal indicating the start of cooking output from at least one of the plurality of keys 37 and the touch panel 38, and determines that the door 25 is closed based on the detection signal of the door opening / closing detection unit 87, it heats and cooks the object to be heated based on the received heating condition command information.

[0078] The heating control function 101 outputs a control signal to at least one of the microwave heating unit 91, the heater driving unit 92, the antenna driving unit 93, the hot air motor driving unit 95, the pump driving unit 96, and the notification unit 97 to execute the heating and cooking of the object to be heated.

[0079] Further, the heating control function 101 includes a function as a water shortage estimation unit that estimates the water shortage in the water supply cassette 26 which is a water supply source. When the temperature of the vaporization chamber detected by the vaporization chamber temperature detection unit 89 exceeds a predetermined temperature, the heating control function 101 estimates that the heat transfer body 62 is in an overheated state and water is not supplied to the vaporization chamber of the steam unit 55, and the water volume in the water supply cassette 26 is insufficient for steam cooking. It is preferable that the estimation of water shortage is eliminated when the water supply cassette 26 is removed from the cooking appliance 2 and reinstalled. By doing so, the cooking appliance 2 can estimate whether the water volume is sufficient without relying on the actual water volume or the temperature of the vaporization chamber.

[0080] The display control function 102 controls the display operation of the display unit 36. The display control function 102 causes various screens to be displayed on the display unit 36. The display control function 102 causes, for example, display information included in the recipe information to be displayed.

[0081] In addition, when the heating condition command information does not include information corresponding to the display information included in the recipe information, the display control function 102 does not cause the display unit 36 to display a screen related to the cooking menu selected on the information terminal 3, while the heating control function 101 heats and cooks the object to be heated based on the heating condition command information.

[0082] The cooking menus stored in the menu storage unit 85a can be broadly classified into a manual cooking menu and an automatic cooking menu.

[0083] The manual cooking menu is a menu in which, after the user manually sets heating conditions such as heating time, heating output, and heating temperature by a touch operation on the touch panel 38, the start key 37a is operated to start heating cooking. For example, the cooking menu of a manual range corresponds to the manual cooking menu.

[0084] The automatic cooking menu is a menu that starts heating cooking without the user setting heating conditions such as heating time, heating output, and heating temperature by themselves. For example, the cooking menu for hamburgers corresponds to the automatic cooking menu.

[0085] The heating control function 101 that executes the automatic cooking menu realizes suitable cooking adjustment by extending or shortening the time taken for heating cooking (hereinafter simply referred to as "cooking time") according to the amount of the object to be heated. The disclosure of such a technique is, for example, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2021-167686. The amount of the object to be heated is estimated from, for example, the temperature rise rate per unit time or the time required for the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 to reach a predetermined temperature at a predetermined heat input amount, based on the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 measured by the in-chamber temperature detection unit 83. When the cooking time becomes longer or shorter, the remaining time until the end of cooking changes. The heating control function 101 includes a function as a remaining time estimation unit that estimates the remaining time of the heating cooking of the object to be heated.

[0086] The communication control function 103 controls the communication operation of the communication module 35. The communication control function 103 operates the communication module 35 so as to directly or indirectly transmit various information from the heating cooker 2 to the information terminal 3 via the server 5 and receive various information transmitted by the information terminal 3.

[0087] The notification control function 105 controls the notification operation of the notification unit 97. When, for example, the communication module 35 receives the heating condition command information, the notification control function 105 causes the notification unit 97 to notify the fact for a certain period of time.

[0088] The steam unit 55 that is the heat source for steam cooking, the hot air unit 43 that is the heat source for oven cooking, the heaters 51 and 52 that are the heat sources for grill cooking, and the microwave generator 71 that is the heat source for range cooking are the heating parts of the heating cooker 2.

[0089] Note that the oven range 21 may not have the function of oven cooking or steam cooking, and either the upper heater 51 or the lower heater 52 may be omitted in the function of grill cooking.

[0090] As described above, the heating cooker 2 according to the present embodiment, that is, the oven range 21, includes at least one of the steam unit 55, the hot air unit 43, the heaters 51 and 52, and the microwave generator 71 as the heating part for heating the object to be heated, a menu storage unit 85a that stores a plurality of cooking menus, a display unit 36 that can display a cooking menu selected from the plurality of cooking menus, at least one of the plurality of keys 37 and the touch panel 38 as an operation unit that can select one cooking menu from the plurality of cooking menus, a communication module 35 as a receiving unit that can receive various information from the information terminal 3, and a device control unit 81.

[0091] Other heating cookers 2 that are not the oven range 21 preferably have a configuration equivalent to an operation unit such as the keys 37 and the touch panel 38 that receive the start operation of heating cooking, a communication module 35 that establishes two-way communication between the heating cooker 2 and the information terminal 3, a heating part that heats the object to be heated, and a device control unit 81 that controls the heating operation of the heating part. Depending on the difference in the configuration that embodies the heating part, the heating cooker 2 may be an oven toaster or a rice cooker.

[0092] FIG. 7 is a front view of an example of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 7, the information terminal 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a smartphone. The information terminal 3 includes, for example, a display unit 111 as an output device, an input device 112 that receives user input, a communication module 113 that can transmit and receive various information including heating condition command information, and a terminal control unit 115.

[0094] The display unit 111 is a display that can display various information.

[0095] The input device 112 is, for example, a touch panel 112a provided over the display unit 111. The input device 112 may be a voice input unit 112b that receives voice input.

[0096] The communication module 113 can communicate with the heating cooker 2 via short-range wireless communication 8. The communication module 113 is connected to the network NW via the relay device 15 or directly. The communication module 113 may be able to communicate with the heating cooker 2 and the server 5 via the network NW.

[0097] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a smartphone, which is an example of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal control unit 115 of the information terminal 3 includes a CPU, a memory, a timer as a timing unit, and an input / output interface.

[0099] The input port of the terminal control unit 115 is connected to the input device 112 and the communication module 113. The output port of the terminal control unit 115 is connected to the display unit 111 as an output device and the communication module 113.

[0100] The terminal control unit 115 receives, at the input port, the operation signal output by the input device 112. Further, the terminal control unit 115 receives, at the input port, the recipe information received by the communication module 113.

[0101] The terminal control unit 115 outputs a control signal for display to the display unit 111 from the output port. The terminal control unit 115 outputs heating condition command information to the communication module 113 from the output port.

[0102] The functions of the terminal control unit 115 are realized by the CPU executing a program recorded in the memory. The program causes the terminal control unit 115 to realize, for example, a communication control function 121 and a display control function 122. A program for realizing these functions in the information terminal 3 is hereinafter referred to as a "management application".

[0103] The communication control function 121 controls the communication operation of the communication module 113. The communication control function 121 operates the communication module 113 to directly or indirectly transmit various information from the information terminal 3 to the cooking appliance 2 via the server 5 and receive various information transmitted by the cooking appliance 2.

[0104] Note that it is preferable that the cooking appliance 2, the information terminal 3, and the server 5 share the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 without delay. Therefore, it is preferable that the cooking appliance 2, the information terminal 3, and the server 5 transmit and receive information representing the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 to each other at a predetermined time interval, for example, every 5 minutes. For this reason, the information terminal 3 and the server 5 individually acquire information from the cooking appliance 2 at a predetermined time interval and transmit information to the cooking appliance 2. It is sufficient that at least the cooking appliance 2 and the information terminal 3 share the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 without delay. The communication module 35 of the cooking appliance 2 preferably transmits at least the finish storage mode information among the information stored in the menu storage unit 85a to the information terminal 3 and the server 5 at predetermined time intervals. The communication module 113 of the information terminal 3 preferably receives the information transmitted by the cooking appliance 2 at predetermined time intervals.

[0105] The display control function 122 controls the display operation of the display unit 111. The display control function 122 causes the display unit 111 to display various screens.

[0106] The display control function 122 causes the display unit 111 to display a plurality of elements such as a background and character strings based on various information received by the communication module 113, for example. The display control function 122 causes the display unit 111 to display the recipe information received by the communication control function 121, for example. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the "plurality of elements such as a background, an image, a symbol, and a character string that the display control function 122 causes the display unit 111 to display based on various information received by the communication module 113" is hereinafter referred to as a "display element".

[0107] Incidentally, it is desirable that the cooking heating system 1 has a function that allows a user to substantially grasp the current state and current settings of the cooking heater 2 in real time with the information terminal 3. Therefore, the cooking heating system 1 includes a cooking heater 2 that transmits information on the current state and current settings of the cooking heater 2 as periodic information at a predetermined time interval and also transmits information on the current state and current settings of the cooking heater 2 as irregular information irregularly, and an information terminal 3 that receives the periodic information and the irregular information from the cooking heater 2 and updates the current state of the cooking heater 2.

[0108] The irregular information is information that is transmitted during the time between two pieces of periodic information transmitted at a predetermined time interval.

[0109] FIG. 9 is an image diagram related to information update of a cooking heating system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 9, the cooking appliance 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention transmits periodic information (solid arrow Da) to the server 5 at a predetermined time interval, for example, every five minutes. The server 5 promptly transmits, that is, transfers, the periodic information (solid arrow Db) received from the cooking appliance 2 to the information terminal 3. The information terminal 3 that executes the management application promptly reflects the received periodic information in the management application. The operation in which the cooking appliance 2 transmits periodic information and the information terminal 3 receives the periodic information and promptly reflects it in the management application is hereinafter referred to as the "periodic update function" of the cooking system 1. Further, the operation in which the cooking appliance 2 transmits irregular information (broken arrow Dc) and the information terminal 3 receives the irregular information (broken arrow Dd) and promptly reflects it in the management application is hereinafter referred to as the "irregular update function" of the cooking system 1.

[0111] The current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 include changes in the state and changes in settings that are not urgent, that is, non-urgent state changes and non-urgent setting changes. For example, a state change such as the start of cooking corresponds to this. These non-urgent items are transmitted from the cooking appliance 2 to the information terminal 3 in periodic information, but may not be transmitted in irregular information. The cooking system 1 according to the present embodiment can reflect even those non-urgent items in the management application of the information terminal 3 at a predetermined time interval by the periodic update function. The cooking appliance 2 transmits periodic information at a predetermined time interval without any operation by the user, and the information terminal 3 promptly reflects the periodic information in the management application after acquiring it.

[0112] Note that the cooking appliance 2 and the information terminal 3 may directly exchange periodic information (dashed double-arrow De) and irregular information (dashed double-arrow Df) without going through the server 5.

[0113] Further, the periodic information and the irregular information are preferably variable-length information having an appropriate amount of information as needed. That is, the periodic information and the irregular information may include all or part of the information regarding the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2, may include all or part of the information regarding the current state of the cooking appliance 2, or may include all or part of the information regarding the current settings.

[0114] Furthermore, without the transmission and reception of periodic information, when all or part of the information regarding the current state and current settings of the cooking appliance 2 is changed, the cooking appliance 2 and the information terminal 3 may promptly reflect it on the management application by transmitting and receiving non-periodic information.

[0115] Next, examples of the periodic update function and the non-periodic update function between the cooking appliance 2 and the information terminal 3 will be described in accordance with a specific input / output interface.

[0116] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first screen WS1 shown in FIG. 10 is a first example of a so-called top screen of the information terminal 3.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 10, when the management application is started, the display unit 111 of the information terminal 3 according to the present embodiment displays the first screen WS1 as an initial screen. The display content of the display unit 111 is controlled by the display control function 122.

[0118] The first screen WS1 includes a plurality of first display elements 201.

[0119] The plurality of first display elements 201 include, in order from the top of the first screen WS1, a model identification character string 201a, a setting screen call icon 201b, a support screen call icon 201c, a model icon 201d, a status display character string 201e, a remaining cooking time display column 201f, a function introduction call icon 201g, an information transmission history call icon 201h, and a background 201i.

[0120] The model identification character string 201a displays the model identification of the cooking appliance 2 selected as the management target in the management application as a character string, for example, "microwave oven". The model identification is, for example, the name of the model, the model number, or a character string of arbitrary settings by the user.

[0121] The setting screen call icon 201b displays, for example, a combination of an image of a "gear" and the string "Settings". When the setting screen call icon 201b is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 111 transitions to the setting screen.

[0122] The support screen call icon 201c displays, for example, a combination of an image of a "speech bubble" and the string "Support". When the support screen call icon 201c is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 111 transitions to the support screen.

[0123] The model icon 201d displays an image of the cooking appliance 2 selected as the management target in the management app, for example, a large image that evokes an image of a range.

[0124] The status display string 201e displays the current state of the cooking appliance 2 selected as the management target in the management app as a string, for example, "Operating".

[0125] The remaining cooking time display field 201f displays the remaining time until the ongoing cooking of the cooking appliance 2 is completed as a string. The remaining cooking time display field 201f displays the remaining time, for example, as "Remaining approximately 20 minutes".

[0126] The function introduction call icon 201g displays, for example, a combination of a small image that evokes an image of a range and the string "Function Introduction". When the function introduction call icon 201g is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 111 transitions to the function introduction screen.

[0127] The information transmission history call icon 201h displays, for example, a combination of an image that evokes an image of turning back the hands of a clock and the string "Transmission History". When the information transmission history call icon 201h is touched, the display unit 111 transitions to a transmission history screen that displays a list of the communication history transmitted from the information terminal 3 to the cooking appliance 2.

[0128] The management app of the information system without a regular update function and the information terminal 3 request the transmission of information from the information terminal 3 to the cooking appliance 2 when the user intentionally touches an icon, for example, an image of two arrows circulating in a ring, and receive information including the current state from the cooking appliance 2, and may update the display of the status display character string 201e based on the acquired information.

[0129] However, a system that requires user operation to reflect the current state from the cooking appliance 2 to the management app is troublesome for the user, and there is also a possibility of inconvenience such that the user forgets such an operation and performs an inappropriate operation while misrecognizing the current state of the cooking appliance 2.

[0130] Therefore, the information terminal 3 of the cooking system 1 having a regular update function, the information terminal 3 according to the present embodiment, includes a display unit 111 capable of displaying the remaining time based on the received irregular information and regular information.

[0131] First, the heating control function 101 embodied in the device control unit 81 of the cooking appliance 2 estimates the remaining time of the cooking of the object to be heated. The remaining time is preferably presented at narrow time intervals as the cooking approaches the end, such as discrete numerical values, for example, 20 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes.

[0132] The communication control function 103 embodied in the device control unit 81 of the cooking appliance 2 controls the communication module 35 to promptly transmit the irregular information including the estimated remaining time without waiting for the elapse of the time interval when the heating control function 101 estimates a new remaining time, and transmit the regular information including the estimated remaining time thereafter. That is, the regular information retrospectively includes the remaining time already transmitted as irregular information, and the newly calculated remaining time is first transmitted from the cooking appliance 2 to the information terminal 3 as irregular information.

[0133] The information terminal 3 updates the display content of the cooking remaining time display column 201f based on the received irregular information and regular information. The cooking remaining time display column 201f changes the number enclosed by the two-dot chain line α so as to match the estimated value of the remaining time included in the irregular information and regular information received by the information terminal 3.

[0134] In addition, when the heating cooker 2 changes the cooking time according to the amount of the object to be heated, there is a time when the remaining time until the end of cooking becomes indefinite. Therefore, when the remaining time is indefinite, the communication control function 103 of the heating cooker 2 quickly transmits irregular information including remaining time indefinite information indicating that the remaining time is indefinite without waiting for the elapse of the time interval, and then controls the communication module 35 to transmit regular information including remaining time indefinite information. When the information terminal 3 receives irregular information and regular information including irregular information, the cooking remaining time display column 201f changes the number enclosed by the two-dot chain line α to a character string such as "---" so that the user can easily understand that the remaining time is indefinite.

[0135] When the remaining time is discretely displayed such as 20 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, and 3 minutes, for example, the display of "remaining about 20 minutes" means that the actual remaining time is less than 20 minutes and longer than 10 minutes. The display of "remaining about --- minutes" means that the remaining time is still indefinite.

[0136] The heating cooking system 1 according to the present embodiment updates and presents to the user the remaining time of the heating cooking of the object to be heated moment by moment without any operation of the user by the heating control function 101 and the communication control function 103 of the heating cooker 2 and the management application executed by the information terminal 3. By doing so, the user can take various actions according to the remaining time of the heating cooking, such as preparing meals other than cooking using the heating cooker 2 and returning home according to the end time of the heating cooking, which is convenient and suitable.

[0137] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second example of the first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a third example of the first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0138] The current state of the cooking appliance 2 included in the periodic information includes "operating" in which cooking is being performed as in the first example shown in FIG. 10, "stopped" in which cooking is not being performed as in the second example shown in FIG. 11, and "offline" in which communication between the cooking appliance 2 and the information terminal 3 cannot be established as in the third example shown in FIG. 12. When a state other than "offline" is displayed, the cooking appliance 2 is in an online state.

[0139] The information terminal 3 includes a display unit 111 that changes both the model icon 201d, which is an icon representing the cooking appliance 2, and the color (background color) of the background 201i based on the received non-periodic information and periodic information to display the current state of the cooking appliance 2.

[0140] In the first example, the color of the background 201i in the "operating" state is a warm orange color that evokes the image of being heated. The model icon 201d in the first example, "operating", may be a bright image of the interior of the storage with the interior light on, which evokes the image of being heated.

[0141] In the second example, the color of the background 201i in the "stopped" state is a bright achromatic gray color that evokes the image of being stopped. The model icon 201d in the second example, "stopped", may be a dark image of the interior of the storage with the interior light off, which evokes the image of being stopped.

[0142] In the third example, the color of the background 201i in the "offline" state is a dark achromatic gray color that evokes the image of being offline.

[0143] The first screen WS1 in the second example, "stopped", and the first screen WS1 in the third example, "offline", include a recipe call icon 201j instead of the cooking remaining time display column 201f.

[0144] The recipe call icon 201j is displayed by combining, for example, an image of an "open notebook" and a character string "To Recipe". When the recipe call icon 201j is touched, the screen displayed by the display unit 111 transitions to a recipe list screen.

[0145] The cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment updates and presents the current state of the cooking heater 2 to the user without any operation by the user, by the heating control function 101 and the communication control function 103 of the cooking heater 2 and the management application executed by the information terminal 3. By doing so, the user can take appropriate actions according to the current state of the cooking heater 2 or give appropriate operation instructions, which is convenient and suitable.

[0146] In addition, the cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment presents to the user by changing both the model icon 201d, which is an icon representing the cooking heater 2, and the color of the background 201i. By doing so, the user can easily grasp the current state of the cooking heater 2 visually.

[0147] By the way, when the cooking heater 2 performs range cooking and irradiates the cooking chamber 22 with microwaves, the communication state of the communication module 35 of the cooking heater 2 may become unstable.

[0148] Therefore, when the received irregular information includes starting the irradiation of microwaves, the information terminal 3 is provided with a display unit 111 that displays that the communication between the cooking heater 2 and the information terminal 3 has been stopped.

[0149] First, when operating the microwave generator 71 to perform the range cooking device, the communication control function 103 embodied in the device control unit 81 of the cooking heater 2 transmits irregular information including range cooking start information indicating starting the irradiation of microwaves without waiting for the elapse of the time interval before the irradiation of microwaves starts.

[0150] When the received irregular information includes the range cooking start information, the information terminal 3 causes the display unit 111 to display the first screen WS1 of the third example "offline", which indicates that the communication between the cooking heater 2 and the information terminal 3 has been stopped.

[0151] Note that after the range cooking is completed and the microwave irradiation stops, the communication control function 103 preferably transmits, without waiting for the passage of a time interval, unscheduled information including range cooking end information indicating that the microwave irradiation has ended promptly. When the received unscheduled information includes the range cooking end information, the information terminal 3 ends the first screen WS1 of the third example "offline" and causes the first screen WS1 of the second example "stopped" to be displayed on the display unit 111.

[0152] The range cooking start information and the range cooking end information may be, for example, 1-bit digital information, so-called flags, in which one value represents the range cooking start information and the zero value represents the range cooking end information.

[0153] The heating cooking system 1 according to the present embodiment updates moment by moment and presents to the user, without requiring any operation by the user, the start and continuation of range cooking by the heating cooker 2 and the communication failure, without the need for any operation by the user. By doing so, the user will not misidentify the destabilization of the communication between the heating cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 accompanying the execution of range cooking as a communication abnormality of the heating cooking system 1 or a failure of the communication device.

[0154] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0155] As shown in FIG. 13, in the fourth example of the first screen WS1 displayed by the information terminal 3 according to the present embodiment, an in-cabinet high temperature display 201k indicating that the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 of the heating cooker 2 is higher than a predetermined temperature threshold value is displayed, for example, by combining a white character string of "in-cabinet high temperature" with a red background color. The color (background color) of the background 201i of the first screen WS1 may be the same as the achromatic light gray that gives the impression of being stopped.

[0156] The information terminal 3 according to the present embodiment includes a display unit 111 that displays or does not display the in-cabinet high temperature display 201k based on the received unscheduled information and scheduled information.

[0157] First, the heating control function 101 embodied in the equipment control unit 81 of the cooking appliance 2 acquires the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 measured by the in-chamber temperature detection unit 83.

[0158] When the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 is higher than a predetermined temperature threshold, the communication control function 103 embodied in the equipment control unit 81 of the cooking appliance 2 immediately transmits, without waiting for the passage of a time interval, irregular information including in-chamber high-temperature information indicating that the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 is higher than the predetermined temperature threshold, and then controls the communication module 35 to transmit periodic information including the in-chamber high-temperature information. That is, the periodic information retrospectively includes the in-chamber high-temperature information that has already been transmitted in the irregular information, and the newly determined in-chamber high-temperature information is first transmitted from the cooking appliance 2 to the information terminal 3 in the irregular information.

[0159] When the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 measured by the in-chamber temperature detection unit 83 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature threshold, the communication control function 103 immediately transmits, without waiting for the passage of a time interval, irregular information including in-chamber low-temperature information indicating that the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature threshold, and then controls the communication module 35 to transmit periodic information including the in-chamber low-temperature information. That is, the periodic information retrospectively includes the in-chamber low-temperature information that has already been transmitted in the irregular information, and the newly determined in-chamber low-temperature information is first transmitted from the cooking appliance 2 to the information terminal 3 in the irregular information.

[0160] The in-chamber high-temperature information and the in-chamber low-temperature information may be, for example, 1-bit digital information, so-called flags, where one value represents the in-chamber high-temperature information and the zero value represents the in-chamber low-temperature information.

[0161] When the received irregular information and periodic information include the in-chamber high-temperature information, the information terminal 3 displays the in-chamber high-temperature display 201k, and when the received irregular information and periodic information include the in-chamber low-temperature information, the information terminal 3 turns off the in-chamber high-temperature display 201k.

[0162] In addition, when the temperature inside the cooking chamber 22 is higher than a predetermined temperature threshold, the cooking heater 2 restricts acceptance of some operations including the selection operation of the cooking menu and the start operation of the cooking. Therefore, it is preferable that the information terminal 3 that displays the in-cabinet high temperature display 201k restricts operations on the information terminal 3 corresponding to the operations restricted by the cooking heater 2 or restricts browsing of the history.

[0163] The cooking system 1 according to the present embodiment updates and presents to the user in real time whether the inside of the cooking chamber 22 of the cooking heater 2 is in a high temperature state without any operation by the user, by the heating control function 101 and the communication control function 103 of the cooking heater 2 and the management application executed by the information terminal 3. By doing so, even if the operation of the cooking heater 2 or the operation of the information terminal 3 is restricted, the user can easily recognize the cause of the restriction and will not seek for a failure or a defect.

[0164] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a fifth example of the first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0165] As shown in FIG. 14, in the fifth example of the first screen WS1 displayed by the information terminal 3 according to the present embodiment, a water supply button 201m as a water supply display prompting the user to supply water to the water supply cassette 26 is displayed by combining, for example, black characters of "water supply" and a yellow background color. The water supply button 201m is preferably superimposed on the model icon 201d and displayed in a so-called overlay. By doing so, the user can be easily reminded that the water supply button 201m is a display for prompting the act of supplying water to the cooking heater 2. Note that water shortage tends to occur during the execution of steam cooking. Therefore, in FIG. 14, the water supply button 201m is displayed in combination with the first screen WS1 of the first example "operating". When the water volume is insufficient, the water supply button 201m may be displayed on the first screen WS1 of the second example "stopped" and the first screen WS1 of the third example "offline". When the water supply button 201m is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 111 transitions to a water supply method instruction screen.

[0166] When it is estimated that the water volume in the water supply cassette 26 is insufficient based on the received irregular information and regular information, the information terminal 3 according to this embodiment displays the water supply button 201m, and when it is estimated that the water shortage has been resolved, it includes a display unit 111 that turns off the water supply display.

[0167] First, the heating control function 101 embodied in the equipment control unit 81 of the cooking appliance 2 estimates the water volume shortage in the water supply cassette 26.

[0168] When it is estimated that the water volume in the water supply cassette 26 is insufficient, the communication control function 103 embodied in the equipment control unit 81 of the cooking appliance 2 immediately transmits irregular information including water volume shortage information indicating that the water volume in the water supply cassette 26 is insufficient without waiting for the passage of the time interval, and then controls the communication module 35 to transmit regular information including the water volume shortage information. That is, the regular information retrospectively includes the water volume shortage information that has already been transmitted in the irregular information, and the newly determined water volume shortage information is first transmitted from the cooking appliance 2 to the information terminal 3 in the irregular information.

[0169] When it is estimated that the water volume in the water supply cassette 26 is sufficient, the communication control function 103 immediately transmits irregular information including water volume sufficient information indicating that the water volume in the water supply cassette 26 is sufficient without waiting for the passage of the time interval, and then controls the communication module 35 to transmit regular information including the water volume sufficient information. That is, the regular information retrospectively includes the water volume sufficient information that has already been transmitted in the irregular information, and the newly determined water volume sufficient information is first transmitted from the cooking appliance 2 to the information terminal 3 in the irregular information. Note that the estimation of whether the water volume in the water supply cassette 26 by the cooking appliance 2 is sufficient may be determined by inserting and removing the water supply cassette 26 without relying on the actual water volume.

[0170] The water volume shortage information and the water volume sufficient information may be, for example, 1-bit digital information, so-called flags, where one value represents the water volume shortage information and zero value represents the water volume sufficient information.

[0171] When the received irregular information and regular information include water shortage information, the water supply button 201m is displayed on the information terminal 3, and when the received irregular information and regular information include water sufficient information, the water supply button 201m is not displayed.

[0172] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a first sub-screen displayed on a display unit of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first sub-screen SS1 shown in FIG. 15 is an example of a water supply method instruction screen displayed by a touch operation on the water supply button 201m of the first screen WS1. The first sub-screen SS1 is pop-up displayed so as to overlap the first screen WS1.

[0173] The first sub-screen SS1 includes a plurality of second display elements 202.

[0174] The plurality of second display elements 202 include, for example, in order from the top of the first sub-screen SS1, a first title string 202a that displays, for example, "Preparation for pause (how to put water)" as a character string, and a first description string 202b that displays, for example, "Open the cap of the water supply cassette and put water in it" as a character string, a first explanatory image 202c that presents the method of the first explanatory string 202b as an intuitive image, a second explanatory string 202d that displays, for example, "Insert until it hits the back * Water will not be supplied if it is not inserted all the way in" as a character string, a second explanatory image 202e that presents the method of the second explanatory string 202d as an intuitive image, and a confirmation button 202f that displays the character string "OK".

[0175] The first explanatory string 202b and the first explanatory image 202c explain the method of supplying water to the water supply cassette 26.

[0176] The second explanatory string 202d and the second explanatory image 202e explain the method of attaching the water supply cassette 26 to the cooking heater 2.

[0177] The display of the first sub-screen SS1 preferably disappears by a touch operation of the confirmation button 202f as a confirmation indication of the water supply method by the user. The estimation of whether or not the water volume of the water supply cassette 26 by the cooking heater 2 is sufficient may depend on the actual water volume or may be replaced by a touch operation of the confirmation button 202f.

[0178] The cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment updates moment by moment whether or not the water supply cassette 26 of the cooking heater 2 is short of water volume and presents it to the user without any operation by the user, by the heating control function 101 and the communication control function 103 of the cooking heater 2 and the management application executed by the information terminal 3. By doing so, the user can appropriately recognize in a timely manner whether or not the continuation of steam cooking is possible and can take appropriate measures, that is, perform water supply or give appropriate operation instructions, which is convenient.

[0179] The cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment described above includes a cooking heater 2 that transmits information on the current state and the current settings at a predetermined time interval as periodic information and also transmits information on the current state and the current settings irregularly as irregular information, and an information terminal 3 that receives the periodic information and the irregular information from the cooking heater 2 and updates the current state of the cooking heater 2. In other words, the cooking heating system 1 can update moment by moment the current state and the current settings of the cooking heater 2 and present them to the user without any operation by the user. Therefore, the cooking heating system 1 can provide the user with an environment in which it is possible to take appropriate actions according to the current state of the cooking heater 2 and give appropriate operation instructions according to the current state of the cooking heater 2.

[0180] The cooking system 1 according to this embodiment includes a device control unit 81 that estimates the remaining time for cooking the object to be heated, and a communication module 35 that transmits irregular information including the estimated remaining time without waiting for the passage of a time interval, and then transmits regular information including the estimated remaining time. It also includes a cooking appliance 2 having the communication module 35, and an information terminal 3 having a display unit 111 capable of displaying the remaining time based on the received irregular information and regular information. In other words, the cooking system 1 can update the remaining time for cooking the object to be heated moment by moment and present it to the user without any operation by the user. Therefore, the cooking system 1 can provide the user with an environment in which various actions can be taken according to the remaining cooking time.

[0181] Furthermore, the cooking system 1 according to this embodiment includes a cooking appliance 2 having a communication module 35 that transmits irregular information including the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 measured by the in-chamber temperature detection unit 83 without waiting for the passage of a time interval, and then transmits regular information including the temperature in the cooking chamber 22 measured by the in-chamber temperature detection unit 83. It also includes an information terminal 3 having a display unit 111 that displays or does not display the in-chamber high-temperature display 201k based on the received irregular information and regular information. In other words, the cooking system 1 can update moment by moment whether the inside of the cooking chamber 22 is in a high-temperature state and present it to the user without any operation by the user. Therefore, even if various operations are restricted under the high-temperature state in the cooking chamber 22, the cooking system 1 can easily make the user recognize the cause of the restriction.

[0182] Further, the cooking system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cooking appliance 2 having a communication module 35 that transmits irregular information including starting microwave irradiation without waiting for the passage of a time interval, and an information terminal 3 having a display unit 111 that displays that communication with the cooking appliance 2 is stopped when the received irregular information includes starting microwave irradiation. In other words, the cooking system 1 updates and presents to the user moment by moment, without requiring any operation by the user, that the cooking appliance 2 is starting and continuing range cooking and that communication is interrupted. Therefore, the cooking system 1 can prevent the user from misidentifying the destabilization of communication between the cooking appliance 2 and the information terminal 3 accompanying the execution of range cooking as a communication abnormality of the cooking system 1 or a failure of the communication device.

[0183] Furthermore, the cooking system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a device control unit 81 that estimates a water shortage in the water supply cassette 26, and a communication module 35 that transmits irregular information including the estimation of a water shortage without waiting for the passage of a time interval, and thereafter transmits regular information including the estimation of a water shortage. The cooking appliance 2 is provided with a display unit 111 that displays a water supply button 201m for prompting water supply when a water shortage is estimated based on the received irregular information and regular information, and does not display the water supply button 201m when the elimination of the water shortage is estimated. In other words, the cooking system 1 updates and presents to the user moment by moment, without requiring any operation by the user, whether the water supply cassette 26 is short of water. Therefore, the cooking system 1 can easily make the user recognize the necessity of water supply required for steam cooking.

[0184] In addition, the cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an information terminal 3 having a display unit 111 that changes both the model icon 201d representing the cooking heater 2 and the color of the background 201i based on the received irregular information and regular information, and displays the current state of the cooking heater 2. In other words, the cooking heating system 1 changes both the model icon 201d and the color of the background 201i without requiring any operation by the user, and continuously updates the current state of the cooking heater 2 and presents it to the user. Therefore, the cooking heating system 1 can enable the user to grasp the current state of the cooking heater 2 with an intuitive and easily understandable image.

[0185] Therefore, according to the cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment, the user can grasp the current state of the cooking heater 2 almost in real time with the information terminal 3, and can present the user with timely information that serves as a basis for making a judgment for giving appropriate actions and operation instructions according to the current state of the cooking heater 2, and can provide the user with high convenience.

[0186] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

[0187] Further, the present invention may be provided as software that causes hardware to function like the cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment, or may be provided as a method that causes hardware to function like the cooking heating system 1 according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0188] 1... Cooking system, 2... Cooking appliance, 3... Information terminal, 5... Server, 6... Storage device, 8... Short-range wireless communication, 11... Telecommunication network, 12... External communication network, 13... In-house communication network, 15... Repeater, 21... Oven range, 22... Cooking chamber, 22a... Ceiling wall, 22b... Bottom wall, 22c... Left side wall, 22d... Right side wall, 22e... Rear wall, 23... Main body, 25... Door, 26... Water supply cassette, 27... Water receiving pan, 31... Cabinet, 32... Handle, 33... Operation panel section, 35... Communication module, 36... Display section, 37... Keys, 37a... Start key, 37b... Cancel key, 38... Touch panel, 41... Suction port, 43... Hot air unit, 42u, 42l... Hot air outlets, 45... Case, 46... Hot air heater, 47... Hot air fan, 48... Hot air motor, 51... Upper heater, 52... Lower heater, 55... Steam unit, 56... Steam outlet, 57... Pump, 58... Water supply pipe, 61... Steam generator, 62... Heat transfer body, 63... Sheathed heater, 71... Microwave generating device, 72... Magnetron, 73... Waveguide, 75... Antenna, 77... Antenna motor, 77a... Shaft, 78... Microswitch, 81... Equipment control section, 82... Detection section for temperature distribution inside the chamber, 83... Detection section for temperature inside the chamber, 85... Storage section, 85a... Menu storage section, 86... Detection section for rotation of the hot air motor, 87... Detection section for door opening / closing, 88... Detection section for antenna position, 89... Detection section for temperature in the vaporization chamber, 91... Microwave heating section, 92... Heater drive section, 93... Antenna drive section, 95... Hot air motor drive section, 96... Pump drive section, 97... Notification section, 101... Heating control function, 102... Display control function, 103... Communication control function, 105... Notification control function, 111... Display section, 112... Input device, 112a... Touch panel, 112b... Voice input section, 113... Communication module, 115... Terminal control section, 121... Communication control function, 122... Display control function, 201... First display element, 201a... Model identification character string, 201b... Icon for calling up the setting screen, 201c... Icon for calling up the support screen, 201d... Model icon, 201e... Status display character string, 201f... Cooking remaining time display column, 201g... Icon for calling up function introduction, 201h... Icon for calling up information transmission history, 201i... Background, 201j... Icon for calling up recipes, 201k... Display for high temperature inside the chamber, 201m... Water supply button, 202... Second display element, 202a... First title character string, 202b... First explanatory character string, 202c... First explanatory image202d…Second explanatory string, 202e…Second explanatory image, WS1…First screen, SS1…First sub-screen.,

Claims

1. A cooking appliance capable of transmitting information on the current state outside the appliance, and an information terminal capable of receiving the information from the cooking appliance, wherein the cooking appliance transmits the information as periodic information at predetermined time intervals and also transmits the information as aperiodic information irregularly, and the information terminal receives the periodic information and the aperiodic information from the cooking appliance and updates the current state of the cooking appliance. A cooking system.

2. The cooking appliance includes a remaining time estimation unit that estimates the remaining time of cooking the object to be heated, and a transmission unit that transmits the aperiodic information including the estimated remaining time without waiting for the elapse of the time interval and then transmits the periodic information including the estimated remaining time. The information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit capable of displaying the remaining time based on the received aperiodic information and the periodic information.

3. The cooking appliance includes a cooking chamber capable of accommodating the object to be heated, an in-chamber temperature detection unit that measures the temperature in the cooking chamber, and a transmission unit that transmits the aperiodic information including the measured temperature without waiting for the elapse of the time interval and then transmits the periodic information including the measured temperature. The information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays or does not display a high-temperature in-chamber display based on the received aperiodic information and the periodic information.

4. The cooking appliance includes a microwave generator that irradiates the object to be heated with microwaves for microwave cooking, and a transmission unit that transmits the aperiodic information including starting the irradiation of the microwaves without waiting for the elapse of the time interval. The information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays that communication between the cooking appliance and the information terminal is stopped when the received aperiodic information includes starting the irradiation of the microwaves.

5. The cooking appliance includes a steam generator that cooks the object to be heated with steam, a water supply source that stores water supplied to the steam generator, a water shortage estimation unit that estimates a shortage of the amount of water in the water supply source, and a transmission unit that transmits the aperiodic information including the estimated water shortage without waiting for the elapse of the time interval and then transmits the periodic information including the estimated water shortage. The information terminal according to claim 1, comprising: a display unit that displays a water supply display for prompting water supply when it is estimated that there is a shortage of water based on the received irregular information and the regular information, and that turns off the water supply display when it is estimated that the shortage of water has been resolved.

6. The information terminal according to claim 1, comprising: a display unit that displays the current state of the cooking heater by changing both an icon representing the cooking heater and a background color based on the received irregular information and the regular information.

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