Cooking appliance and information request method for cooking appliance

Abstract

To improve the convenience of a user of a cooker.SOLUTION: The heating cooker 1 includes a cooking unit that executes at least a part of a procedure for cooking foods to make a dish, a control unit that controls the cooking unit, a setting information holding unit that holds setting information for the control unit to control the procedure executed by the cooking unit for each type of dish, a setting information download control unit that receives setting information of a dish displayed on a terminal 400 used by a user and selected by the user from among dishes for which setting information usable by the heating cooker 1 is prepared, stores the setting information in the setting information holding unit, and notifies that reception of the setting information is completed, and a display unit that displays a start screen for starting automatic cooking of a dish using the received setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to cooking appliances. [Background technology]

[0002] With the development of technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), home appliances that can obtain and provide various information through communication have been provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses that information related to a cooking menu performed by a cooking appliance is posted to a communication tool management unit of a server via a communication network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-58789 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present inventors recognized that it was an issue to further improve the convenience of cooker users by utilizing communication technology, and came up with the technology of the present disclosure.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in light of these circumstances, and its purpose is to improve the convenience of cookers for users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cooking appliance that includes a cooking unit that executes at least some of the steps for cooking food to prepare a dish, a control unit that controls the cooking unit, a setting information storage unit that stores setting information for each type of dish that the control unit uses to control the steps executed by the cooking unit, a setting information download control unit that receives setting information for a dish selected by the user from among dishes displayed on a terminal device used by the user and for which setting information usable by the cooking appliance is prepared, stores the setting information in the setting information storage unit, and notifies the user that reception of the setting information has been completed, and a display unit that displays a start screen for starting automatic cooking of the dish using the received setting information.

[0007] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, etc., are also valid aspects of the present disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the technology of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the convenience of the cooker user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a cooking device according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a cooking device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the procedure of an information providing method according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 5 is a diagram showing transitions of display screens displayed on the display unit of the cooking appliance and the display device of the terminal device when the procedure shown in FIG. 4 is being executed. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the procedure of an information providing method according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the procedure of an information providing method according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 8 is a diagram showing transitions of display screens displayed on the display unit of the cooking appliance and the display device of the terminal device when the procedure shown in FIG. 7 is being executed. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the cooking device according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of internal data of a pre-installed menu setting information table and a download menu setting information table. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a home appliance server according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of internal data of a menu ID table. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information providing server according to an embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of internal data of a recipe information table. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] As an embodiment of the present disclosure, a technology for providing recipe information for dishes that can be cooked using a cooking appliance will be described. The technology of the present disclosure can be applied to any cooking appliance, such as a microwave oven, oven, toaster, roaster, gas range, stove, rice cooker, bread maker, cooking heater, hot plate, or pressure cooker, which can perform at least some of the steps for cooking food and creating a dish, as well as a mixer, juicer, or food processor. The following mainly describes an example of providing recipe information for dishes that can be cooked using a cooking appliance such as a microwave oven.

[0011] 1 and 2 show the appearance of a cooking device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the cooking device 1 with a door 7 closed. Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the cooking device 1 with the door 7 open.

[0012] Cooking appliance 1 includes a housing 3, a heating chamber 5 disposed within housing 3, and a door 7 that can open and close and covers an opening 3b formed in a front frame 3a that forms the front of housing 3. Heating chamber 5 is a space surrounded by a top wall 5a disposed at the top, side walls 5b and 5c disposed on both sides, a rear wall 5d disposed at the rear, and a bottom wall 5e disposed at the bottom. Heating chamber 5 is provided with a microwave radiation port for radiating microwaves generated by a microwave oscillator such as a magnetron into heating chamber 5. An object to be heated (food) placed within heating chamber 5 is heated by the microwaves radiated from the microwave radiation port.

[0013] A heater (convection heater) serving as a heat source and a circulation fan are provided between the rear wall 5d of the heating chamber 5 and the back plate. An intake hole and an exhaust hole are formed in the rear wall 5d of the heating chamber 5. When the circulation fan is driven to rotate, air in the heating chamber 5 is sucked in through the intake hole, heated by the convection heater, and returned to the heating chamber 5 through the exhaust hole. This ensures that the object to be heated is heated evenly. An exhaust port is provided in the front part below the bottom wall 5e to exhaust the air in the heating chamber 5 to the outside.

[0014] A tank for storing water for generating steam to be sent to the heating chamber 5 is provided below the bottom wall 5e. The water stored in the tank is supplied to a steam generating unit (not shown) and turned into steam. The generated steam is supplied to the heating chamber 5 via a steam pipe connecting the steam generating unit and the heating chamber 5.

[0015] Door 7 is pivotally supported on housing 3 by a horizontal rotation shaft below opening 3b so as to be able to open and close. When a user pulls handle 7a attached to the upper part of outer frame 13 of door 7, door 7 is rotated to a horizontal position, opening heating chamber 5. When door 7 is rotated to a vertical position, heating chamber 5 is closed.

[0016] A display unit 9 and an operation unit 11 are arranged on the right side of the outer frame 13 of the door 7 when viewed from the front. The display unit 9 is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel, and displays a menu screen and the like. A communication device that controls communication with an external device is provided inside the door 7, and information such as recipes obtained from the external device via the communication device is displayed on the display unit 9. The operation unit 11 is, for example, a push button or a dial, and receives instructions for the cooking appliance 1 from the user.

[0017] Cooking device 1 is capable of heating food using a variety of heating methods, including microwave heating, heating with a heater, and heating with steam. For each heating method, heating conditions such as heating temperature, heating time, and output power can be variably set. By heating food using an appropriate heating method and heating conditions depending on the type of food, cooking method, and amount of food, the food can be cooked to a better finish. For example, microwave heating is suitable when the food needs to be thoroughly heated to the inside, heating with a heater is suitable when the surface of the food is to be lightly browned, and steam heating is suitable when the food is to be steamed.

[0018] To enable precise switching of heating methods and heating conditions during cooking, the cooking appliance 1 stores setting information in advance for automatically setting appropriate heating methods and heating conditions according to the type of food. The setting information is information that chronologically represents the settings of the heating methods and heating conditions. By setting the heating method and heating conditions according to the setting information, the cooking appliance 1 can automatically cook food in a way that suits the type of food.

[0019] In preparation for having cooker 1 perform such automatic cooking, the user must gather the necessary ingredients, prepare the food, and then place the food in heating chamber 5. In conventional cookers, recipe information such as ingredients and preparation methods is published in an instruction manual that comes with cooker 1, so the user must perform tasks such as food preparation while referring to the recipe information published in the instruction manual. Cooker 1 may store recipe information and display the recipe information on display unit 9 in response to a user's instruction, but if cooker 1 is not installed in a position that is easily visible from the position where the user performs tasks such as food preparation in the kitchen, the user will not be able to perform tasks while checking the recipe information displayed on display unit 9 of cooker 1.

[0020] Therefore, in the information provision system according to the present embodiment, recipe information relating to the procedure for cooking a dish using the cooking appliance 1 is provided to a terminal device used by the user. This allows the user to place the terminal device in a position where it is easy to check while preparing food, etc., and work while referring to the recipe information. This improves user convenience.

[0021] 3 shows the configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The information providing system 100 includes a cooking appliance 1, a home appliance server 200, an information providing server 300, a terminal device 400, and a communication network 102 connecting them.

[0022] The information providing server 300 provides information about dishes. The information providing server 300 holds setting information usable by the cooker 1 for each type of dish. The heating methods that the cooker 1 can execute and the heating conditions that can be set may differ depending on the type of cooker 1, so the information providing server 300 holds different setting information for each type of cooker 1 as setting information corresponding to the same type of dish, and provides the cooker 1 with setting information according to the type of cooker 1. The ingredients and preparations necessary for the cooker 1 to automatically cook a dish may also differ depending on the type of cooker 1, so the information providing server 300 holds different recipe information for each type of cooker 1 as recipe information corresponding to the same type of dish, and provides the cooker 1 with recipe information according to the type of cooker 1.

[0023] The terminal device 400 is used by a user to view recipe information and the like. The terminal device 400 may be a mobile phone terminal such as a smartphone, or may be a tablet terminal or the like. The home appliance server 200 mediates communication between the cooking appliance 1 and the information providing server 300 or the terminal device 400. The home appliance server 200 may be installed in a user's home or the like, and may communicate between the cooking appliance 1 and the terminal device 400 via a communication network such as a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.

[0024] Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the steps of an information providing method according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 shows the steps of displaying, on terminal device 400, recipe information for a dish whose setting information is stored in advance in cooking appliance 1. Fig. 5 shows the transition of display screens displayed on display unit 9 of cooking appliance 1 and the display device of terminal device 400 when the steps shown in Fig. 4 are being executed. The steps shown in Fig. 4 will be described with reference to the display screens shown in Fig. 5.

[0025] When the user touches "Recipe Collection" while the cooker 1 is displaying the top screen 60 on the display unit 9, the cooker 1 displays a recipe collection menu screen 61 on the display unit 9. When the user touches "Recommended", the cooker 1 displays a pre-loaded menu 62 on the display unit 9 that displays a list of types of dishes for which setting information is pre-stored (S10). When the user selects the dish to be cooked (here, "salted mackerel") from the pre-loaded menu 62, the cooker 1 displays a setting screen 63 on the display unit 9 for setting the portion sizes of the selected dish. When the user touches "Recipe", the cooker 1 receives a request to display recipe information for the selected dish on the terminal device 400 (S12).

[0026] The cooking appliance 1 transmits a recipe information display request including a model code indicating the model of the cooking appliance 1 and a device menu ID indicating the type of dish selected by the user to the home appliance server 200 (S14, S16). When the transmission is complete, the cooking appliance 1 displays on the display unit 9 a notification screen 64 indicating that the recipe information display request has been notified to the terminal device 400.

[0027] The home appliance server 200 refers to the correspondence relationship between the device code and device menu ID and the download menu ID that functions as a recipe ID for identifying recipe information, and acquires the download menu ID that corresponds to the device code and device menu ID included in the recipe information display request received from the cooking appliance 1 (S18). The home appliance server 200 transmits the acquired download menu ID to the terminal device 400 (S20). The download menu ID may be notified to the terminal device 400 by push notification using a notification protocol that can be processed by an operating system running on the terminal device 400, such as FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging).

[0028] The terminal device 400 displays the push notification 70 received from the home appliance server 200 on the display device (S22), and accepts a request to display recipe information from the user via the push notification 70 (S24). Upon accepting the request to display recipe information, the terminal device 400 transmits the download menu ID received from the home appliance server 200 to the information providing server 300 (S26). The information providing server 300 transmits recipe information identified by the download menu ID received from the terminal device 400 to the terminal device 400 (S28). The terminal device 400 displays the recipe information 71 received from the information providing server 300 (S30). This allows the user to make preparations to have the cooking appliance 1 automatically cook a dish while referring to the recipe information 71 displayed on the terminal device 400.

[0029] Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the steps of an information providing method according to an embodiment. Fig. 6 shows the steps of displaying, on terminal device 400, recipe information for a dish for which setting information is not held in cooking appliance 1. When the steps shown in Fig. 6 are being executed, the transition of the display screens displayed on display unit 9 of cooking appliance 1 and the display device of terminal device 400 is almost the same as in Fig. 5, so the steps shown in Fig. 6 will be described with reference to the display screens shown in Fig. 5.

[0030] When the user touches "Recipe Collection" while the cooker 1 is displaying the top screen 60 on the display unit 9, the cooker 1 displays a recipe collection menu screen 61 on the display unit 9. When the user touches "Recipe Site," the cooker 1 requests the information providing server 300 for a download menu that displays a list of types of dishes for which setting information can be downloaded from the information providing server 300 (S40). The information providing server 300 extracts types of dishes for which setting information usable by the cooker 1 is prepared according to the type of cooker 1, generates a download menu that displays a list of the extracted types of dishes, and transmits this to the cooker 1 (S42). The cooker 1 displays the download menu received from the information providing server 300 on the display unit 9 (S44). The displayed download menu is the same as the pre-loaded menu 62 in FIG. 5. When the user selects a dish to be cooked from the download menu, the cooker 1 displays a details screen for the selected dish on the display unit 9. The details screen also has a "Recipe" button, similar to the settings screen 63 in Figure 5, and when the user touches "Recipe", the cooking appliance 1 accepts a request to display recipe information for the selected dish on the terminal device 400 (S46). The cooking appliance 1 transmits a recipe information display request including a download menu ID indicating the type of dish selected by the user to the home appliance server 200 (S48). Once the transmission is complete, the cooking appliance 1 displays on the display unit 9 a notification screen 64 indicating that the terminal device 400 has been notified of the recipe information display request.

[0031] The home appliance server 200 pushes the download menu ID included in the recipe information display request received from the cooking appliance 1 to the terminal device 400 (S50).

[0032] The terminal device 400 displays the push notification 70 received from the home appliance server 200 on the display device (S52), and accepts a request to display recipe information from the user via the push notification 70 (S54). Upon accepting the request to display recipe information, the terminal device 400 transmits the download menu ID received from the home appliance server 200 to the information providing server 300 (S56). The information providing server 300 transmits recipe information identified by the download menu ID received from the terminal device 400 to the terminal device 400 (S58). The terminal device 400 displays the recipe information 71 received from the information providing server 300 (S60).

[0033] The details screen for the selected dish has a "download" button for downloading the setting information to the cooker 1, and when the user touches "download," the cooker 1 accepts a request to download the setting information for the selected dish to the cooker 1 (S62). Upon accepting the request to download the setting information, the cooker 1 transmits a download request including the download menu ID for the selected dish to the information providing server 300 (S53). The information providing server 300 transmits the setting information identified by the download menu ID received from the cooker 1 to the cooker 1 (S66). The cooker 1 stores the received setting information and makes it available for use in subsequent cooking. This allows the user to make preparations for the cooker 1 to automatically cook the dish while referring to the recipe information 71 displayed on the terminal device 400 at hand, and to have the cooker 1 automatically cook the dish.

[0034] Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the steps of an information providing method according to an embodiment. Fig. 7 shows the steps of downloading setting information for a dish for which setting information is not held in the cooker 1 to the cooker 1. Fig. 8 shows the transition of display screens displayed on the display unit 9 of the cooker 1 and the display device of the terminal device 400 when the steps shown in Fig. 7 are being executed. The steps shown in Fig. 7 will be described with reference to the display screens shown in Fig. 8.

[0035] The terminal device 400 executes an application for using the information providing system 100. The application registers information such as the model of the cooker 1 used by the user in the information providing server 300 (S70) and sets up a connection between the terminal device 400 and the home appliance server 200 or the cooker 1 (S72). In response to an instruction from the user, the application requests the information providing server 300 to provide a download menu displaying a list of types of dishes for which setting information can be downloaded from the information providing server 300 to the cooker 1 (S74). The information providing server 300 extracts types of dishes for which setting information usable by the cooker 1 is prepared according to the type of cooker 1, generates a download menu displaying a list of the extracted types of dishes, and transmits the download menu to the terminal device 400 (S76). The terminal device 400 displays the download menu received from the information providing server 300 on a display device (S78). When the user selects a dish to be cooked from the download menu, the terminal device 400 receives a request to display recipe information for the selected dish on the terminal device 400 (S80). The terminal device 400 transmits a recipe information display request including a download menu ID indicating the type of dish selected by the user to the information providing server 300 (S82). The information providing server 300 transmits to the terminal device 400 recipe information identified by the download menu ID received from the terminal device 400 (S84). The terminal device 400 displays the recipe information 80 received from the information providing server 300 (S86).

[0036] The recipe information 80 is provided with a download button for downloading the setting information to the cooking appliance 1, and when the user touches the download button, the terminal device 400 accepts a request to download the setting information of the selected dish to the cooking appliance 1 (S88). Upon accepting the request to download the setting information, the terminal device 400 transmits a download request including the download menu ID of the selected dish to the information providing server 300 (S90). While transmitting the download request to the information providing server 300, the terminal device 400 displays a transmission screen 81 on the display device. Upon completion of transmission of the download request, the terminal device 400 displays a transmission completion screen 82 on the display device.

[0037] The information providing server 300 transmits the setting information identified by the download menu ID received from the terminal device 400 to the cooking appliance 1 (S92). When the cooking appliance 1 starts receiving the setting information from the information providing server 300, it switches the top screen 90 displayed on the display unit 9 to a reception screen 91. When the cooking appliance 1 completes receiving the setting information, it displays a reception completion screen 92 on the display unit 9, and then displays a start screen 93 on the display unit 9 for starting automatic cooking of a dish using the received setting information. The cooking appliance 1 notifies the home appliance server 200 that it has completed receiving the setting information, and the home appliance server 200 sends a push notification to the terminal device 400 that the setting information has been downloaded to the cooking appliance 1. The terminal device 400 displays the push notification 83 received from the home appliance server 200 on the display device. This allows the user to download setting information that is not previously stored in the cooking appliance 1 from the information providing server 300 to the cooking appliance 1 and use it. In addition, the user can request the download of setting information from the terminal device 400.

[0038] 9 shows the functional configuration of a cooking device according to an embodiment. The cooking device 1 includes a display unit 9, an operation unit 11, a communication device 101, a heating unit 103, a control device 120, and a storage device 140.

[0039] The communication device 101 controls communication using any wired or wireless communication method. The heating unit 103 is a configuration and mechanism for performing heating using microwaves, heating using a heater, heating using steam, etc. The heating unit 103 functions as a cooking unit that performs at least a part of the steps for cooking food to prepare a dish. The storage device 140 stores data, programs, etc. used by each component of the control device 120.

[0040] The storage device 140 includes a pre-installed menu setting information table 141 , a download menu setting information table 142 , a display data storage unit 143 , and a setting information storage unit 144 .

[0041] The pre-loaded menu setting information table 141 stores information relating to setting information previously stored in the setting information storage unit 144 of the cooking appliance 1. FIG. 10(a) shows an example of internal data of the pre-loaded menu setting information table 141. The pre-loaded menu setting information table 141 stores a device menu ID, a recipe title, and a sequence name in association with each other. The device menu ID is identification information for identifying the type of dish to be cooked using the setting information previously stored in the setting information storage unit 144. The recipe title is the name of the dish. The sequence name is the name of the setting information used to automatically cook the dish.

[0042] The download menu setting information table 142 stores information related to the setting information downloaded from the information providing server 300 to the cooking appliance 1. FIG. 10(b) shows an example of internal data of the download menu setting information table 142. The download menu setting information table 142 stores a download menu ID, a recipe title, and a sequence name in association with each other. The download menu ID is identification information for identifying the type of dish to be cooked using the setting information downloaded from the information providing server 300. The recipe title is the name of the dish. The sequence name is the name of the setting information used to automatically cook the dish.

[0043] The display data storage unit 143 stores display data used by the control device 120 to generate a display screen to be displayed on the display unit 9. The display data storage unit 143 stores, for example, data on images of dishes, menu screens and buttons for receiving instruction inputs from the user, and the like.

[0044] The setting information storage unit 144 stores setting information used for automatically cooking a dish in the cooking appliance 1. The setting information storage unit 144 stores setting information for the pre-loaded menu and setting information for the download menu.

[0045] The control device 120 includes a heating control unit 121, a user interface control unit 122, a recipe display control unit 123, and a setting information download control unit 124. These components can be realized in hardware by the CPU, memory, and other LSIs of any computer, and in software by programs loaded into memory, but the functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these components are depicted here. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms, either by hardware alone or by a combination of hardware and software.

[0046] The heating control unit 121 controls the heating unit 103 in accordance with the heating method and heating conditions set by the user. When the type of food to be cooked is specified by the user, the heating control unit 121 automatically controls the heating unit 103 in accordance with setting information corresponding to the type of food.

[0047] The user interface control unit 122 displays a menu screen on the display unit 9 and accepts instruction inputs from the user via the operation unit 11. The user interface control unit 122 uses the display data stored in the display data storage unit 143 to generate the display screens shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 and displays them on the display unit 9. The user interface control unit 122 controls the transition of the display screens shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 in accordance with the instruction inputs from the user received via the operation unit 11.

[0048] The recipe display control unit 123 controls the process for displaying, on the terminal device 400, recipe information for a dish that is automatically cooked using the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 144. The recipe display control unit 123 controls the recipe display request reception process (S12) shown in Fig. 4, the process for transmitting the model code and device menu ID (S14, S16), the recipe display request reception process (S46) shown in Fig. 6, the process for transmitting the download menu ID (S48), etc.

[0049] The setting information download control unit 124 controls the process for downloading setting information that is not held in the setting information holding unit 144 from the information providing server 300. The setting information download control unit 124 controls the download request acceptance process (S62), download request transmission process (S64), setting information download process (S66) shown in Fig. 6, and setting information download process (S92) shown in Fig. 7. The setting information download control unit 124 functions as a setting information receiving unit, and stores the received setting information in the setting information holding unit 144.

[0050] 11 shows the functional configuration of the home appliance server 200 according to the embodiment. The home appliance server 200 includes a communication device 201, a control device 220, and a storage device 240.

[0051] The communication device 201 controls communication using any communication method, such as wired or wireless. The storage device 240 includes a menu ID table 241.

[0052] Menu ID table 241 stores the correspondence between pairs of device menu IDs and model codes and download menu IDs. FIG. 12 shows an example of internal data of menu ID table 241. Menu ID table 241 stores download menu IDs in association with model codes and device menu IDs. The download menu ID is identification information for identifying the type of dish for which recipe information and setting information are provided by information providing server 300. The model code is information indicating the model of cooking appliance 1. The device menu ID is identification information for identifying the type of dish to be cooked using setting information previously stored in cooking appliance 1.

[0053] The control device 220 comprises a recipe display request receiving unit 221, a download menu ID acquiring unit 222, and a download menu ID transmitting unit 223. These components can also be realized in various ways using only hardware or a combination of hardware and software.

[0054] The recipe display request receiving unit 221 receives a request from the cooking appliance 1 to display recipe information on the terminal device 400. The download menu ID obtaining unit 222 executes the download menu ID obtaining process (S18) shown in FIG. 4, and refers to the menu ID table 241 to obtain a download menu ID corresponding to the model code and device menu ID included in the recipe display request. The download menu ID transmitting unit 223 executes the download menu ID transmitting process (S20) shown in FIG. 4. The download menu ID transmitting unit 223 also executes the download menu ID transmitting process (S50) shown in FIG. 6.

[0055] The home appliance server 200 acquires a download menu ID used to identify a download menu in the information providing server 300 from the device menu ID of the setting information pre-stored in the cooker 1 and the model code of the cooker 1, so that even if the download menu ID is not stored in the cooker 1, it is possible to notify the information providing server 300 of the type of dish whose recipe information is to be displayed on the terminal device 400. Furthermore, by providing the home appliance server 200 separately from the information providing server 300, it is possible to improve the security of information and to distribute the risk in the event of a malfunction.

[0056] 13 shows the functional configuration of the information providing server according to the embodiment. The information providing server 300 includes a communication device 301, a control device 320, and a storage device 340.

[0057] The communication device 301 controls communication using any communication method, such as wired or wireless. The storage device 340 includes a recipe information table 341, a recipe information database 342, and a setting information database 343.

[0058] The recipe information table 341 stores information related to recipe information and setting information provided by the information providing server 300. Fig. 14 shows an example of internal data of the recipe information table 341. The recipe information table 341 stores a download menu ID, a model code, a device menu ID, a recipe title, and a sequence name in association with each other.

[0059] The recipe information database 342 stores recipe information provided by the information providing server 300. The recipe information database 342 stores recipe information for each type of dish. Furthermore, the recipe information database 342 stores different recipe information for each type of cooking appliance 1 as recipe information corresponding to the same type of dish. The recipe information is uniquely identified by a download menu ID.

[0060] The setting information database 343 stores setting information provided by the information providing server 300. The setting information database 343 stores setting information for each type of dish. Furthermore, the setting information database 343 stores different setting information for each type of cooking appliance 1 as setting information corresponding to the same type of dish. The setting information is uniquely identified by a download menu ID.

[0061] The control device 320 includes a recipe display request receiving unit 321, a recipe information providing unit 322, a download menu request receiving unit 323, a download menu providing unit 324, a setting information provision request receiving unit 325, and a setting information providing unit 326. These configurations can also be realized in various ways using only hardware or a combination of hardware and software.

[0062] The recipe display request receiving unit 321 receives a recipe information display request from the cooking appliance 1 or the terminal device 400, which requests that recipe information be displayed on the terminal device 400.

[0063] The recipe information providing unit 322 reads out, from the recipe information database 342, recipe information of a dish requested by a recipe information display request received from the cooking appliance 1 or the terminal device 400, and provides the recipe information to the requestor. The recipe information providing unit 322 executes the recipe transmission process (S28) shown in Fig. 4, the recipe transmission process (S58) shown in Fig. 6, and the recipe transmission process (S84) shown in Fig. 7.

[0064] The download menu request receiving unit 323 receives a download menu request from the cooking appliance 1 or the terminal device 400, which requests that a download menu be provided.

[0065] The download menu providing unit 324 references the recipe information table 341, generates a download menu displaying a list of types of dishes for which the cooking appliance 1 can download setting information, and transmits the download menu to the request source. The download menu providing unit 324 executes the download menu transmission process (S42) shown in Fig. 6 and the download menu transmission process (S76) shown in Fig. 7.

[0066] 15 shows the functional configuration of a terminal device according to the embodiment. The terminal device 400 includes a communication device 401, a display device 402, an input device 403, a control device 420, and a storage device 440.

[0067] The communication device 401 controls communication using any communication method, whether wired or wireless. The display device 402 displays a display screen generated by the control device 420. The input device 403 accepts instruction input from a user and transmits it to the control device 420. The storage device 440 includes an application data storage unit 441 and a recipe information storage unit 442.

[0068] The application data storage unit 441 stores programs and various data used by applications executed on the terminal device 400 to use services provided by the information providing system 100 .

[0069] The recipe information storage unit 442 stores the recipe information provided by the information providing server 300 .

[0070] The control device 420 includes an application execution unit 421, a browser 422, and a push notification processing unit 423. These configurations can also be realized in various ways using only hardware or a combination of hardware and software.

[0071] The application execution unit 421 executes applications for using services provided by the information providing system 100. The application execution unit 421 controls the model registration process (S70), connection setting process (S72), download menu request process (S74), and download menu display process (S78) shown in FIG. 7. The application execution unit 421 functions as a recipe provision request transmission unit that transmits a recipe display request including a download menu ID to the information providing server 300, and controls the recipe display request reception process (S24) and download menu ID transmission process (S26) shown in FIG. 4, the recipe display request reception process (S54) and download menu ID transmission process (S56) shown in FIG. 6, the recipe display request reception process (S80), and download menu ID transmission process (S82) shown in FIG. 7. The application execution unit 421 functions as a presentation unit that presents recipe information provided by the information providing server 300, and controls the recipe display process (S30) shown in FIG. 4, the recipe display process (S60) shown in FIG. 6, and the recipe display process (S84) shown in FIG. 7. When the application execution unit 421 receives an instruction input requesting that setting information corresponding to recipe information provided by the information providing server 300 be provided to the cooking appliance 1, it functions as a setting information provision request sending unit that sends a request to provide setting information to the information providing server 300, and controls the download request acceptance process (S88) and download request process (S90) shown in Figure 7.

[0072] The browser 422 displays a web page provided by the web server. When the recipe information provided by the information providing server 300 is configured as a web page, the application execution unit 421 causes the browser 422 to display the recipe information.

[0073] The push notification processing unit 423 processes a push notification received from the home appliance server 200 or the like. When the push notification processing unit 423 receives a push notification transmitted using a notification protocol such as FCM, the push notification processing unit 423 displays the contents of the push notification on the display device 402. When the input device 403 accepts an input in response to the push notification, the push notification processing unit 423 notifies the application execution unit 421 of this. The push notification processing unit 423 executes the push notification display processing (S22) shown in FIG. 4 and the push notification display processing (S52) shown in FIG. 6.

[0074] The present disclosure has been described above based on examples. These examples are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0075] The information providing server 300 may provide recipe information using multiple different cookers. In this case, the information providing server 300 stores different recipe information and setting information for each combination of multiple cookers, and provides recipe information corresponding to the combination of cookers used. The information providing server 300 also stores setting information for each of the multiple cookers used, and provides the setting information for each of the multiple cookers used.

[0076] One aspect of the present disclosure is an information provision system. The information provision system includes a cooking appliance, an information provision server that provides information about dishes, and a terminal device. The cooking appliance includes a cooking unit that performs at least some of the steps for preparing a dish by cooking food, a control unit that controls the cooking unit, a setting information storage unit that stores setting information for each type of dish so that the control unit can control the steps performed by the cooking unit, an input unit that accepts an instruction input requesting the terminal device to provide recipe information related to steps for preparing a dish using the cooking appliance, the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit, and a communication device that transmits the request for providing the recipe information. The information provision server includes a recipe information provision unit that provides the recipe information to the terminal device upon receiving the request for providing the recipe information, and the terminal device includes a presentation unit that presents the recipe information provided by the information provision server. According to this aspect, a user can prepare for automatic cooking while referring to the recipe information displayed on the terminal device, thereby improving user convenience.

[0077] The information providing server may store different recipe information for each type of cooker used as recipe information relating to the procedure for making the same dish, and the recipe information providing unit may provide the terminal device with recipe information according to the type of cooker used. According to this aspect, appropriate recipe information can be provided for each type of cooker used, thereby improving convenience for the user.

[0078] The information providing system may include a recipe providing request receiving unit that receives from a cooking appliance a provision request including a device code indicating the type of the cooking appliance and a dish ID indicating the type of dish corresponding to the recipe information requested to be provided, a recipe ID acquiring unit that acquires the recipe ID corresponding to the device code and dish ID included in the provision request received by the recipe providing request receiving unit by referencing the correspondence between the device code and dish ID and the recipe ID for identifying the recipe information, and a recipe ID transmitting unit that transmits the recipe ID acquired by the recipe ID acquiring unit to a terminal device. According to this aspect, even if the cooking appliance does not hold a recipe ID, appropriate recipe information can be provided to the terminal device, thereby improving user convenience.

[0079] The terminal device may include a recipe provision request sending unit that sends a recipe information provision request including a recipe ID to the information providing server, and the recipe information providing unit may provide the terminal device with recipe information identified by the recipe ID included in the provision request received from the terminal device. According to this aspect, appropriate recipe information can be provided for each type of dish and each type of cooker used, thereby improving convenience for users.

[0080] The information providing server may store setting information corresponding to recipe information for each type of cooking appliance, the terminal device may include a setting information request sending unit that sends a setting information request to the information providing server when it receives an instruction input requesting that the cooking appliance be provided with setting information corresponding to the recipe information provided by the information providing server, the information providing server may include a setting information providing unit that sends the setting information to the cooking appliance when it receives the setting information request from the terminal device, and the cooking appliance may include a setting information receiving unit that stores the setting information received from the information providing server in the setting information storage unit. According to this aspect, setting information that was not previously stored in the cooking appliance can be downloaded to the cooking appliance and used, thereby improving user convenience.

[0081] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance includes a cooking unit that performs at least some of the steps for cooking food to prepare a dish, a control unit that controls the cooking unit, a setting information storage unit that stores setting information for each type of dish used by the control unit to control the steps performed by the cooking unit, an input unit that accepts an instruction input requesting that a terminal device be provided with recipe information related to steps for preparing the dish for which setting information is stored in the setting information storage unit, and a communication device that transmits the request for providing the recipe information. According to this aspect, a user can use the terminal device to refer to recipe information for dishes that the cooking appliance can automatically prepare, thereby improving user convenience.

[0082] The cooking appliance may further include a setting information receiving unit that, when requested by an information providing server that provides information about cooking to provide setting information corresponding to recipe information provided to the terminal device, stores the setting information received from the information providing server in the setting information storage unit. According to this aspect, the number of dishes that the cooking appliance can automatically cook can be increased, thereby improving convenience for the user.

[0083] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is an information presentation program. This information presentation program causes a computer to function as: a notification processor that, when a provision request is sent from a cooking appliance requesting that a terminal device be provided with recipe information related to procedures for preparing a dish using the cooking appliance, acquires notification of identification information for identifying the recipe information and transmits the identification information to an information providing server that provides the recipe information to request the provision of the recipe information; and a presentation processor that presents the recipe information provided by the information providing server. According to this aspect, a user can prepare for cooking while referring to recipe information for preparing a dish using the cooking appliance on the terminal device, thereby improving user convenience. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 Cooking device, 9 Display unit, 11 Operation unit, 100 Information providing system, 103 Heating unit, 121 Heating control unit, 122 User interface control unit, 123 Recipe display control unit, 124 Setting information download control unit, 141 Pre-installed menu setting information table, 142 Download menu setting information table, 143 Display data storage unit, 144 Setting information storage unit, 200 Home appliance server, 221 Recipe display request receiving unit, 222 Download menu ID acquisition unit, 223 Download menu ID transmission unit, 241 Menu ID table, 300 Information providing server, 321 Recipe display request receiving unit, 322 Recipe information providing unit, 323 Download menu request receiving unit, 324 Download menu providing unit, 325 Setting information provision request receiving unit, 326 Setting information providing unit, 341 Recipe information table, 342 Recipe information database, 343 Setting information database, 400 Terminal device, 421 Application execution unit, 422 Browser, 423 push notification processing unit, 441 application data storage unit, 442 recipe information storage unit.

Claims

1. a cooking unit that performs at least some of the steps of cooking food to prepare a dish; A control unit that controls the cooking unit; a setting information storage unit that stores setting information for the control unit to control the procedures executed by the cooking unit for each type of dish; a setting information download control unit that receives setting information for a dish selected by the user from among dishes displayed on a terminal device used by the user and for which setting information usable by the cooking appliance is prepared, stores the setting information in the setting information storage unit, and notifies the user that reception of the setting information has been completed; a display unit that displays a start screen for starting automatic cooking using the received setting information; A cooking appliance comprising:

2. 2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein after displaying a start screen on the display unit for starting automatic cooking of a dish using the received setting information, the cooking appliance notifies the terminal device that reception of the setting information has been completed.

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