Change Information System

Abstract

To reduce an amount of data on change information provided for a heating cooker.SOLUTION: A heating cooker includes: a control part for controlling the execution of cooking on the basis of cooking sequence information having a plurality of basic parameters; a storage part where the cooking sequence information is stored; a reception part for receiving change information; and a storage part where the cooking sequence information is stored. The change information includes a change parameter composed of at least one part of parameters constituting the cooking sequence information after changed. The control part changes the cooking sequence information the storage part stores on the basis of the change information the reception part receives and a prescribed regulation the storage part stores.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a change information providing system that provides change information for changing cooking sequence information to a cooking device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cooking appliance that includes a storage unit that stores cooking information for each dish on an internal menu, a cooking control unit that controls cooking of ingredients, and a communication unit. The communication unit communicates with a management device that stores cooking portion information for each dish on an external menu. The cooking portion information is associated with cooking information for one of the dishes on the internal menu. When a dish on the external menu is selected, the cooking control unit acquires the cooking portion information for the selected dish from the management device and controls cooking of the ingredients using the cooking information associated with the acquired cooking portion information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 053912 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure aims to reduce the amount of data of change information provided to a cooking appliance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The change information providing system in the present disclosure includes: a cooking device having a heating unit for heating food to be cooked, a storage unit for storing cooking sequence information and capable of storing change information for changing the cooking sequence information, a cooking device control unit for controlling the heating unit based on the cooking sequence information and the change information, and a cooking device receiving unit for receiving the change information; a change information database in which the change information is stored; a change information providing device that provides the change information to the cooking appliance, the change information providing device having a transmitting unit that transmits the change information and a providing device control unit that reads the change information from the change information database and outputs it to the transmitting unit; Equipped with The cooking sequence information is information indicating a predetermined cooking procedure and includes a plurality of basic parameters indicating a heating time or a heating power, the modification information includes at least one modification parameter arranged in a predetermined order; The cooker control unit changes a predetermined part of the basic parameters among the plurality of basic parameters based on the change parameters and the order provided from the change information providing device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, the amount of data of change information provided to a cooking appliance can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a change information providing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature inside the pot, the amount of electric power consumed by the heating unit, the pressure inside the pot, and the open / close state of the pressure valve when rice cooking, which is an example of cooking, is performed using the cooking appliance in embodiment 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a process of providing change information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4A] 10 is a flowchart showing a process of providing change information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4B] 10 is a flowchart showing a process of providing change information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a process of changing basic parameters according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a process of changing basic parameters according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a process for providing change information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8A] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for providing change information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8B] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for providing change information according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (Background to this disclosure) In the cooking device described in Patent Document 1, cooking portion information acquired from the management device is stored in a memory unit. A cooking control unit controls cooking of an external menu item using the cooking information and cooking portion information stored in the memory unit.

[0009] In such cooking appliances, the storage capacity of the storage unit is usually almost filled with programs and the like required for the operation of the cooking appliance at the time of manufacture. Therefore, the amount of data that can be stored in the storage unit when the appliance is used by a user (i.e., after manufacture) is very small. In other words, the number of cooking portion information and the amount of data that can be stored in the storage unit are very small. This frequently leads to situations where cooking portion information for other dishes must be deleted in order to store new cooking portion information, reducing the convenience of the cooking appliance.

[0010] Therefore, the present inventors have discovered a configuration for a change information providing system that reduces the amount of data of change information provided to a cooking appliance, and have arrived at the present disclosure.

[0011] The change information providing system of the first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a cooking device having a heating unit for heating food to be cooked, a storage unit for storing cooking sequence information and capable of storing change information for changing the cooking sequence information, a cooking device control unit for controlling the heating unit based on the cooking sequence information and the change information, and a cooking device receiving unit for receiving the change information; a change information database in which the change information is stored; a change information providing device that provides the change information to the cooking appliance, the change information providing device having a transmitting unit that transmits the change information and a providing device control unit that reads the change information from the change information database and outputs it to the transmitting unit; Equipped with The cooking sequence information is information indicating a predetermined cooking procedure and includes a plurality of basic parameters indicating a heating time or a heating power, the modification information includes at least one modification parameter arranged in a predetermined order; The cooker control unit changes a predetermined part of the basic parameters among the plurality of basic parameters based on the change parameters and the order provided from the change information providing device.

[0012] According to the first aspect of the change information providing system, the cooker control unit changes some of the predetermined basic parameters based on the change parameters and the order of the change parameters in the change information. That is, the cooker control unit changes the basic parameters by applying each change parameter to each basic parameter that has been pre-combined with the order of the change parameters. Therefore, the change information does not need to include information on the combination of the change parameters with the basic parameters that are changed based on the change parameters. Therefore, the data volume of the change information can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the change information includes information on the combination.

[0013] In the change information providing system of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the storage unit may have combination information indicating a predetermined combination of the order and the basic parameters to be changed based on the change parameters. The cooking appliance control unit may change a predetermined part of the basic parameters based on the change parameters and the combination information provided by the change information providing device.

[0014] According to the second aspect of the change information providing system, the cooker control unit changes a predetermined portion of the multiple basic parameters based on the change parameters and the combination information. Because the combination information is stored in the storage unit, the change information does not need to include the combination information. Therefore, the data size of the change information can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the change information includes the combination information.

[0015] The change information providing system of the third aspect of the present disclosure may further include an information terminal. The change information providing device may further include a providing device receiving unit, and the providing device control unit may control the transmitting unit to transmit a notification to the information terminal confirming whether or not to approve the provision of the change information before the transmitting unit transmits the change information. The providing device control unit may control the transmitting unit to transmit the change information after the providing device receiving unit receives approval information indicating approval for the provision of the change information.

[0016] According to the third aspect of the change information providing system, the providing device control unit controls the transmitting unit to transmit the change information after the providing device receiving unit receives approval information indicating approval for the provision of the change information, thereby preventing the change information from being provided when the provision of the change information is not desired.

[0017] In the change information providing system according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the storage unit may store the change information, and the cooker control unit may store the change information received by the cooker receiving unit in the storage unit instead of the change information stored in the storage unit.

[0018] According to the fourth aspect of the change information providing system, the cooker control unit stores the change information received by the cooker receiving unit in the storage unit instead of the change information stored in the storage unit. As a result, the storage unit stores only one piece of change information corresponding to one cooking sequence information. This reduces the number of pieces of change information and the amount of data stored in the storage unit compared to a configuration in which the storage unit stores two or more pieces of change information corresponding to one cooking sequence information. This reduces the possibility of the storage unit running out of capacity.

[0019] In the modification information providing system of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the modification information may include first modification information stored in the storage unit and second modification information stored in the modification information database. The first modification information and the second modification information may have modification parameters different from each other. The modification information may each have an identifier for identifying the modification information. The identifier may include a first identifier included in the first modification information and a second identifier included in the second modification information. The providing device control unit may control the transmitting unit to transmit the second modification information when the modification information is not stored in the storage unit, or when the providing device control unit compares the first identifier with the second identifier and finds that the first identifier and the second identifier are different.

[0020] According to the fifth aspect of the change information providing system, when change information is not stored in the storage unit or when the first identifier and the second identifier are different, change information is provided. This prevents change information having the same change parameters from being provided multiple times and prevents multiple pieces of change information having the same change parameters from being stored in the storage unit. This reduces the possibility that the storage unit will run out of capacity.

[0021] The change information providing system of a sixth aspect of the present disclosure may further include an identifier database in which individual identification information of the cooking appliance and the first identifier are stored in association with each other. The change information providing device may further include a providing device receiving unit that receives the first identifier from the cooking appliance. The providing device control unit may store the first identifier received by the providing device receiving unit in the identifier database. In the comparison, the providing device control unit may compare the first identifier and the second identifier stored in the identifier database.

[0022] According to the sixth aspect of the change information providing system, the first identifier stored in the identifier database is used in the comparison, so there is no need to transmit the first identifier from the cooking appliance to the change information providing device during the comparison. This allows the comparison to be performed even when communication between the cooking appliance and the change information providing device is not possible. Furthermore, because the comparison does not require the step of transmitting the first identifier, the number of steps in the comparison and the time required for the comparison can be reduced.

[0023] In the change information providing system of the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the cooking appliance may further include a pot for accommodating the food to be cooked and a pressure valve operable to open and close a hole connecting the inside of the pot to an external space. The cooking appliance control unit may control the pressure valve based on the cooking sequence information and the change information. The basic parameters may indicate at least one of heating time, heating power, pressure in the pot, and time for which the pressure is maintained.

[0024] According to the seventh aspect of the change information providing system, the basic parameters indicating the pressure in the pot and the time for which that pressure is maintained can be changed based on the change parameters. This increases the number of basic parameters that can be changed using change information, making it easier to improve the taste by changing the cooking sequence information using change information.

[0025] In the change information providing system according to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the cooking sequence information may be rice cooking sequence information indicating a predetermined procedure for cooking rice.

[0026] The properties of rice, such as moisture content, vary depending on the region of origin, variety, and also on the crop yield for each production season. Therefore, rice cooking based solely on cooking sequence information stored in advance in a storage unit cannot optimally cook rice according to the crop yield of the rice used by the user. On the other hand, the change information providing system of the eighth aspect provides change information having change parameters according to the crop yield, thereby enabling optimal rice cooking according to the crop yield of the rice used by the user.

[0027] Before describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, definitions of terms used in the present disclosure will be provided.

[0028] A "cooking sequence" refers to a cooking procedure in which one or more cooking steps are performed in order, with the heating time, heating power, etc. for each step being predetermined. "Cooking sequence information" indicating a cooking sequence includes both process information that defines the existence of one or more cooking steps that make up the cooking sequence, and parameters that specify the cooking control details (heating time, heating power, etc.) for each step. "Basic parameters" refer to parameters that the cooking sequence information has before the parameters are changed (described below).

[0029] The cooking appliance of the present disclosure can cook based on cooking sequence information having basic parameters even if the change information described below is not provided. However, if the cooking sequence information does not have parameters, the cooking control content for each process is not defined, and the cooking appliance cannot cook. Furthermore, if the cooking sequence information does not have process information, the existence of a cooking process is not defined, and the cooking appliance cannot cook.

[0030] "Modification information" is information provided to a cooking appliance to modify cooking sequence information, and includes modification parameters and identifiers. "Modification parameters" are parameters for modifying basic parameters. For example, modification parameters are values ​​that are added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided by basic parameters, or replacement values ​​that replace basic parameters.

[0031] An "identifier" is a name, symbol, value, character string, etc., assigned to each piece of change information to identify multiple pieces of change information that correspond to the same cooking sequence information but have different change parameters. That is, multiple pieces of change information that correspond to the same cooking sequence information but have different change parameters are assigned different identifiers. The data volume of an identifier is smaller than the total data volume of the change parameters contained in the change information to which the identifier is assigned.

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, in the drawings, substantially identical components are designated by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0033] (Embodiment 1) [1. Configuration] The configuration of the change information providing system in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the change information providing system in the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the change information providing system includes a cooking appliance 1, a change information providing device 2 that provides change information to the cooking appliance 1, and an information terminal 5 for giving approval for the provision of the change information. The cooking appliance 1, the change information providing device 2, and the information terminal 5 are connected to each other via a network 6 such as the Internet.

[0034] Cooking appliance 1 performs cooking based on cooking sequence information corresponding to the dish, ingredients, etc. In the first embodiment, cooking appliance 1 will be described as a pressure rice cooker. Cooking appliance 1 has pot 11 in which the food to be cooked is placed, heating unit 12 that heats pot 11 and the food to be cooked, pressure valve 13, temperature detection unit 14 for measuring the temperature of pot 11, pressure detection unit 15 for measuring the pressure inside pot 11, memory unit 16, cooking appliance communication unit 17 connectable to network 6, and cooking appliance control unit 18. Cooking appliance communication unit 17 is an example of a "cooking appliance receiving unit" in the present disclosure.

[0035] Heating unit 12 is, for example, a coil for induction heating pot 11. Pressure valve 13 operates to open and close a hole that connects the inside of pot 11 to the outside space. Temperature detection unit 14 is, for example, a temperature sensor arranged so as to be in contact with pot 11. Pressure detection unit 15 is, for example, a gauge pressure sensor that measures the pressure inside pot 11 relative to atmospheric pressure.

[0036] Storage unit 16 stores cooking sequence information and combination information, which will be described later. The number of cooking sequence information stored in storage unit 16 may be one or more. In the first embodiment, storage unit 16 stores approximately 60 pieces of cooking sequence information according to the origin and variety of the rice to be cooked. That is, in the first embodiment, the cooking sequence information is rice cooking sequence information that indicates a predetermined rice cooking procedure. Furthermore, storage unit 16 can store change information.

[0037] The cooker communication unit 17, the provider communication unit 21 (described later), and the terminal communication unit 51 (described later) are network modules (interface circuits) that can be connected to a network 6 such as the Internet or a wireless LAN. Each communication unit communicates in accordance with standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), IEEE802.2, IEEE802.3, 3G, and LTE. In addition to the Internet, each communication unit may communicate with an intranet, an extranet, a LAN, ISDN, a VAN, a CATV communication network, a virtual private network, a telephone line network, a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network, and the like.

[0038] Cooker control unit 18 is connected to heating unit 12, pressure valve 13, temperature detection unit 14, pressure detection unit 15, memory unit 16, and cooker communication unit 17. The temperature value of pot 11 or the pressure value inside pot 11 is input to cooker control unit 18 from temperature detection unit 14 and pressure detection unit 15, respectively. Cooker control unit 18 controls the heating power of heating unit 12 and the opening and closing of pressure valve 13 based on the temperature value and pressure value, as well as cooking sequence information and change information. Cooker control unit 18 controls reading of information from memory unit 16 and storing (writing) information in memory unit 16. Cooker control unit 18 controls the timing of connection of cooker communication unit 17 to network 6.

[0039] The change information providing device 2 has a providing device communication unit 21 connectable to a network 6, a providing device control unit 22, a change information database (hereinafter referred to as "change information DB") 3 in which change information is stored, and a user information database (hereinafter referred to as "user information DB") 4. The providing device communication unit 21 is an example of a "transmitting unit" and a "providing device receiving unit" in the present disclosure. The change information providing device 2 is, for example, a server.

[0040] The change information DB3 stores change information to be provided to the cooking appliance 1. In the first embodiment, the change information has a plurality of change parameters and an identifier. The plurality of change parameters are arranged in a predetermined order. Each of the plurality of change parameters corresponds to one basic parameter.

[0041] In the first embodiment, the identifier is an 8-bit value that combines a 4-bit first value that indicates the year in which the change information was created and a 4-bit second value that indicates the version within that year. The newer the change information, the larger each of the first value and the second value.

[0042] The user information DB4 stores individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 and user information associated with the individual identification information. The individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 is information for distinguishing between different individual cooking appliances 1. For example, the individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 is a manufacturing serial number. In the first embodiment, the user information is a user number assigned to the user when the user registers the cooking appliance 1.

[0043] The providing device control unit 22 is connected to each of the change information DB 3 and the user information DB 4, and reads information from each database and stores (writes) information in each database. The providing device control unit 22 is also connected to the providing device communication unit 21, and controls the timing of connection of the providing device communication unit 21 to the network 6.

[0044] At least one of the change information DB 3 and the user information DB 4 may be provided separately from the change information providing device 2, as long as it is possible to read information from the database and store information in the database.

[0045] The information terminal 5 has a terminal communication unit 51 connectable to the network 6, a touch screen 52, and a terminal control unit 53 connected to both the terminal communication unit 51 and the touch screen 52. The timing of the connection of the terminal communication unit 51 to the network 6 is controlled by the terminal control unit 53. The terminal control unit 53 controls the display of the touch screen 52 and receives information such as the position on the screen that has been touched from the touch screen 52. For example, the information terminal 5 is an information device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. In the first embodiment, the information terminal 5 is a smartphone. An application for approving the provision of change information is installed on the smartphone.

[0046] [2. Operation] [2-1. Cooking operation of the cooking device] Control when rice cooking, which is an example of cooking, is performed by the cooking appliance 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature inside the pot, the amount of electric power used by the heating unit, the pressure inside the pot, and the open / close state of the pressure valve when rice cooking, which is an example of cooking, is performed by the cooking appliance 1 in embodiment 1.

[0047] First, the user places pot 11 containing food to be cooked, including rice and water, into the main body of cooker 1. Then, the user selects a rice cooking course via an operation unit provided in cooker 1. Each rice cooking course corresponds to a plurality of pieces of cooking sequence information stored in memory unit 16. For example, if the rice cooking course "Uonuma Koshihikari" is selected, cooking is performed based on cooking sequence information suitable for cooking Uonuma Koshihikari rice.

[0048] When a user performs an operation to start cooking, for example, by pressing the "Start" button on the operation unit, cooker control unit 18 starts control to execute cooking based on cooking sequence information. If change information corresponding to the cooking sequence information to be executed is stored in storage unit 16, cooker control unit 18 first changes the basic parameters contained in the cooking sequence information based on the change information. Cooker control unit 18 then controls heating unit 12 and pressure valve 13 based on the cooking sequence information containing the changed parameters. The process of changing the basic parameters based on the change information will be described later.

[0049] As shown in Figure 2, the rice cooking (rice cooking) sequence consists of four steps: pre-cooking, cooking, maintaining boiling, and steaming. When cooking begins, the pre-cooking step begins first.

[0050] The pre-cooking process is a process in which rice is allowed to absorb water before being fully cooked. During the pre-cooking process, the cooker control unit 18 raises the temperature inside the pot 11 to temperature θ1 (e.g., approximately 60°C) and then controls the heating unit 12 based on the temperature value input from the temperature detection unit 14 to maintain temperature θ1. For example, if the heating unit 12 is a coil for induction heating the pot 11, the cooker control unit 18 controls the amount of power flowing through the coil and the time for which power is supplied to the coil. The cooker control unit 18 also controls the pressure valve 13 to be open during the pre-cooking process and the cooking process described below. Therefore, the pressure inside the pot 11 is maintained at atmospheric pressure (1.0 atmosphere) during the pre-cooking process and the cooking process. After a predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the start of the pre-cooking process, the process moves on to the next cooking process. Note that the values ​​of temperature θ1, time t1, etc. are determined by parameters contained in the cooking sequence information.

[0051] The cooking process is a process in which pot 11 is heated with strong heating power in a short time to bring the water contained in the food to a boiling state (approximately 100°C). In the cooking process, cooker control unit 18 controls heating unit 12 so that pot 11 is rapidly heated and the water boils in a short time. For example, cooker control unit 18 controls the amount of power flowing to heating unit 12 to be maximized. When the value input from temperature detection unit 14 to cooker control unit 18 reaches 100°C, the process moves to the next boiling maintenance process.

[0052] The boiling maintenance step is a step of maintaining the boiling state of water in pot 11. During the boiling maintenance step, cooker control unit 18 controls heating unit 12 and pressure valve 13 to maintain the boiling state of water in pot 11. Specifically, cooker control unit 18 performs duty control so that heating unit 12 is repeatedly driven for a predetermined time t2 per unit time (e.g., 16 seconds). As a result, pot 11 is intermittently heated during the boiling maintenance step. Time t2 is determined by a parameter contained in the cooking sequence information.

[0053] Furthermore, during the first half of the boiling maintenance step, cooker control unit 18 controls pressure valve 13 so that the pressure inside pot 11 fluctuates between atmospheric pressure (1.0 atmospheres) and a pressure above atmospheric pressure (for example, 1.2 atmospheres). Specifically, cooker control unit 18 first closes pressure valve 13 at the start of the boiling maintenance step. Thereafter, cooker control unit 18 controls pressure valve 13 so that it opens when the pressure inside pot 11 input from pressure detection unit 15 reaches 1.2 atmospheres, and closes pressure valve 13 when the pressure drops to 1.0 atmospheres.

[0054] In the latter half of the boiling maintenance step, cooker control unit 18 controls pressure valve 13 to close. This maintains the pressure inside pot 11 at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. Toward the end of the boiling maintenance step, the amount of water in pot 11 decreases due to boiling, causing the temperature of pot 11 to rise above the boiling point of water. When the value input from temperature detection unit 14 to cooker control unit 18 reaches a temperature higher than the boiling point of water (for example, 130°C), or when a certain amount of time has passed since the start of the boiling maintenance step, the process transitions to the next steaming step. At this time, cooker control unit 18 stops driving heating unit 12 and controls pressure valve 13 to open.

[0055] The steaming process is a process in which excess water is evaporated using residual heat. During the steaming process, when the temperature of pot 11 falls below a certain temperature, "reheating" is performed, which temporarily increases the temperature of pot 11 and the pressure inside pot 11. For example, when the value input from temperature detection unit 14 falls below a predetermined temperature (e.g., 100°C), cooker control unit 18 drives heating unit 12 and closes pressure valve 13. This starts the reheating. During reheating, cooker control unit 18 controls the opening and closing of pressure valve 13 so that the value input from pressure detection unit 15 becomes the predetermined pressure P1.

[0056] When time t3 has elapsed since the start of reheating, cooker control unit 18 stops driving heating unit 12 and opens pressure valve 13 to end reheating. Time t3 corresponds to the "pressure maintenance time" in this disclosure. Pressure P1 and time t3 are determined by parameters contained in the cooking sequence information. After a certain number of reheatings have been performed, cooking is completed.

[0057] [2-2. Provision of change information] The change information providing process in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 to Fig. 4B. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the change information providing process in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the cooking appliance 1, the change information providing device 2, and the information terminal 5 are configured to be connectable via a network 6 (see Fig. 1), but the network 6 is omitted in Fig. 3. Figs. 4A and 4B are flowcharts showing the change information providing process in the first embodiment.

[0058] In the following description, it is assumed that the storage unit 16 of the cooking appliance 1 and the change information DB3 each store one piece of change information corresponding to the same cooking sequence information. That is, there is first change information stored in the storage unit 16 and second change information stored in the change information DB3. The first change information has a first identifier, and the second change information has a second identifier. In the example described below, the change parameters held by the second change information are different from the change parameters held by the first change information. Therefore, the second identifier is different from the first identifier. It is also assumed that the second change information is newer than the first change information. User information DB4 stores user information and individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 in association with each other in advance.

[0059] First, the providing device communication unit 21 receives a request to provide change information (hereinafter referred to as "providing request") (step S1 in FIG. 4A). The providing request is transmitted at any timing from a device such as the cooking appliance 1 or the information terminal 5 that can be connected to the network 6. In the first embodiment, the terminal control unit 53 transmits the providing request via the terminal communication unit 51 and the network 6 when the above-mentioned application is launched on the information terminal 5. The providing request includes user information.

[0060] When the providing request is received by the providing device communication unit 21, the providing device control unit 22 acquires user information from the providing device communication unit 21. Next, the providing device control unit 22 acquires, from the user information DB 4, the individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 associated with the acquired user information (step S2 in FIG. 4A).

[0061] Next, the providing device control unit 22 requests the cooking appliance 1 having the individual identification information acquired from the user information DB4 to transmit the identifier of the change information stored in the memory unit 16 of the cooking appliance 1. Specifically, the providing device control unit 22 transmits a request to transmit the identifier (hereinafter referred to as "identifier transmission request") to the cooking appliance communication unit 17 of the cooking appliance 1 via the providing device communication unit 21 and the network 6 (step S3 in FIG. 4A).

[0062] When the cooker communication unit 17 receives the identifier transmission request, the cooker control unit 18 acquires the first identifier of the first change information stored in the storage unit 16 (step S4 in FIG. 4A). In the first embodiment, when no change information is stored in the storage unit 16, for example, when no change information has been provided since the start of use of the cooking appliance 1, a predetermined initial identifier is stored in the storage unit 16. In this case, the cooker control unit 18 acquires the initial identifier as the first identifier. The initial identifier is a predetermined identifier indicating that no change information is stored in the storage unit 16, and is different from the identifier contained in the change information. For example, the initial identifier is an 8-bit value consisting of eight zeros.

[0063] Next, cooker control unit 18 transmits the acquired first identifier to providing device communication unit 21 via cooker communication unit 17 and network 6 (step S5 in FIG. 4A).

[0064] When the providing device communication unit 21 receives the first identifier, the providing device control unit 22 acquires the second identifier of the second modification information stored in the modification information DB 3 from the modification information DB 3 (step S6 in FIG. 4A). Note that the acquisition of the second identifier may be performed before the above-mentioned identifier transmission request.

[0065] Next, the providing device control unit 22 compares the first identifier with the second identifier and determines whether the first identifier and the second identifier are different. As shown in FIG. 4A, the providing device control unit 22 first compares the first values ​​of the first identifier and the second identifier and determines whether the first value of the second identifier is greater than the first value of the first identifier (step S7). That is, the providing device control unit 22 determines whether the creation year of the second change information is later than the creation year of the first change information. If the first value of the second identifier is greater than the first value of the first identifier, the process proceeds to step S9, which will be described later. If the first values ​​are the same, the process proceeds to step S8. If the first value of the second identifier is smaller than the first value of the first identifier, the process ends without performing the steps described later (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). That is, the change information providing device 2 does not provide the change information to the cooking appliance 1.

[0066] In step S8 in FIG. 4A, the providing device control unit 22 compares the second values ​​of the first identifier and the second identifier, and determines whether the second value of the second identifier is greater than the second value of the first identifier. That is, it determines whether the version of the second change information is newer than the version of the first change information. If the second value of the second identifier is greater than the second value of the first identifier, the process proceeds to step S9 (see FIG. 4A), which will be described later. On the other hand, if the second value of the second identifier is smaller than the second value of the first identifier, or if the second values ​​are the same, the process ends without performing the steps described later (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). That is, the change information providing device 2 does not provide change information to the cooking appliance 1.

[0067] Fig. 3 shows the provision process when proceeding to step S9. In steps S9 and S10 shown in Fig. 4A, the providing device control unit 22 displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as "approval selection screen") on the touch screen 52 of the information terminal 5, which prompts the user of the information terminal to select whether or not to approve the provision of the change information. Specifically, the providing device control unit 22 transmits a screen display request to display the approval selection screen on the touch screen 52 via the providing device communication unit 21 and the network 6 (step S9).

[0068] When the screen display request is received by the terminal communication unit 51, the terminal control unit 53 displays an approval selection screen on the touch screen 52 (step S10). For example, the approval selection screen displays the statement "Do you approve the provision of new change information?" and two virtual buttons, "Approve" and "Do not approve."

[0069] Next, the terminal control unit 53 determines which of the two virtual buttons has been selected on the touch screen 52 (step S11 in FIG. 4A). If the "Approve" virtual button has been selected, the process proceeds to step S12 shown in FIG. 4B. If the "Do not approve" virtual button has been selected, the process ends without performing the steps described below (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). In other words, the change information providing device 2 does not provide the change information to the cooking appliance 1.

[0070] Fig. 3 shows the provision process when the "Approve" virtual button is selected. In step S12 shown in Fig. 4B, the terminal control unit 53 transmits approval information indicating that the provision of the change information has been approved to the providing device communication unit 21 via the terminal communication unit 51 and the network 6.

[0071] When the approval information is received by the providing device communication unit 21, the providing device control unit 22 acquires second change information from the change information DB 3 (step S13 in FIG. 4B). Subsequently, the providing device control unit 22 transmits the second change information to the cooking appliance communication unit 17 via the providing device communication unit 21 and the network 6 (step S14 in FIG. 4B). As a result, the second change information, which is newer than the first change information, is provided from the change information providing device 2 to the cooking appliance 1.

[0072] When the second change information is received by cooker communication unit 17, cooker control unit 18 determines whether or not change information is stored in memory unit 16 (step S15 in FIG. 4B). If change information is stored in memory unit 16, the process proceeds to step S16 shown in FIG. 4B. If change information is not stored in memory unit 16, the process proceeds to step S17 (see FIG. 4B) described below.

[0073] Fig. 3 shows the provision process when proceeding to step S16. In step S16 shown in Fig. 4B, cooker control unit 18 deletes the first change information stored in storage unit 16. Once deletion of the first change information is complete, the process proceeds to the next step S17.

[0074] In step S17 shown in Fig. 4B, cooker control unit 18 stores the second change information in storage unit 16. This completes the process of providing change information.

[0075] In addition, in the above-mentioned process of providing the change information, if the second change information is not transmitted from the providing device communication unit 21 (i.e., step S14 in FIG. 4B is not performed), a message indicating that the change information has not been provided may be displayed on the touch screen 52. Specifically, the providing device control unit 22 may transmit a request to display the message on the touch screen 52 of the information terminal 5 via the providing device communication unit 21 and the network 6.

[0076] [2-3. Basic parameter change processing] The basic parameter change processing in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the basic parameter change processing in the first embodiment. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the basic parameter change processing in the first embodiment.

[0077] 5, first, the user performs a cooking start operation (step S21). When the cooking start operation is performed, cooker control unit 18 acquires cooking sequence information corresponding to the rice cooking course selected by the user from storage unit 16 (step S22).

[0078] In step S23 shown in Fig. 5, cooker control unit 18 determines whether or not change information corresponding to the cooking sequence information acquired in step S22 is stored in storage unit 16. If the change information is not stored in storage unit 16, the process proceeds to step S24 (see Fig. 5).

[0079] 5, cooker control unit 18 controls heating unit 12 and pressure valve 13 based on cooking sequence information having basic parameters. In this way, cooking is performed in cooker 1.

[0080] On the other hand, if the change information is stored in storage unit 16 in step S23, cooker control unit 18 acquires the change information and combination information from storage unit 16 (step S25 in FIG. 5). Next, cooker control unit 18 changes the basic parameters included in the cooking sequence information based on the change information (step S26 in FIG. 5).

[0081] Here, the process of changing the basic parameters contained in the cooking sequence information will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The parameters contained in the cooking sequence information are, for example, 8-bit values ​​each consisting of two 4-bit values. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the cooking sequence information has 200 basic parameters. Fig. 6 shows four of the basic parameters.

[0082] For example, the value of the lowest 4 bits "1010" of the basic parameter "1111 1010" shown as parameter No. 1 indicates the time of the pre-cooking process (i.e., the time t1 mentioned above). The value of the lowest 4 bits "1010" indicates 160 seconds as a real number converted value.

[0083] The basic parameter "0001 0011" shown as parameter No. 4 indicates the temperature of the pre-cooking process (i.e., the temperature θ1 mentioned above) as an additional value to 50.0°C. The parameter "0001 0011" indicating the temperature θ1 indicates 9.5°C as a real number conversion value. In this case, the temperature of the pre-cooking process is specified as 59.5°C.

[0084] The basic parameter "0101 0110" shown as parameter No. 110 indicates the heating power of the heating unit 12 in the boiling maintenance step. As described above, the heating power of the heating unit 12 is controlled by changing the drive time of the heating unit 12 per unit time (e.g., 16 seconds) (i.e., the above-mentioned time t2). The parameter "0101 0110" indicating time t2 indicates 11.2 seconds as a real number converted value.

[0085] Of the basic parameter "0001 1001" shown as parameter No. 180, the value of the upper four bits, "0001", indicates the pressure during reheating in the steaming process (i.e., the aforementioned pressure P1) as an added value to atmospheric pressure (1.0 atmospheres). The value of the upper four bits, "0001", indicates 0.05 atmospheres as a converted real number value. In this case, the pressure during reheating is specified as 1.05 atmospheres. Furthermore, the value of the lower four bits, "1001", of this basic parameter indicates the time of reheating in the steaming process (i.e., time t3). The value of the lower four bits, "1001", indicates 144 seconds as a converted real number value.

[0086] Cooking appliance control unit 18 changes predetermined basic parameters based on the change information and combination information stored in storage unit 16. The change information has change parameters arranged in a predetermined order. In the first embodiment, the change parameters are values ​​added to the basic parameters.

[0087] On the other hand, the modification information does not include information on the combination of each modification parameter and the basic parameters that are modified based on each modification parameter.Furthermore, the modification information does not include the process information described above.

[0088] The combination information has a predetermined combination of the order of the change parameters in the change information and the basic parameters to be changed based on the change parameters. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the change parameters arranged first to fourth in the change information are combined with four basic parameters of parameter Nos. 1, 4, 110, and 180, respectively. In other words, the four basic parameters are predetermined as parameters to be changed based on the change parameters.

[0089] Cooking appliance control unit 18 applies each change parameter to each basic parameter based on the combination information. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the combination information combines the change parameter listed first with parameter No. 1. Based on this combination, cooking appliance control unit 18 adds the change parameter listed first, "0000 0010," to the basic parameter "1111 1010" of parameter No. 1. As a result, the basic parameter of parameter No. 1 is changed to the changed parameter "1111 1100." The four lowest bits "1100" in the changed parameter, which indicate the time for the pre-cooking process, represent 192 seconds as a real number conversion value.

[0090] Next, based on the combination information, cooker control unit 18 adds the second-listed change parameter "0000 0000" to the basic parameter "0001 0011" of parameter No. 4. In this case, since the change parameter is "0000 0000," the parameter of parameter No. 4 remains unchanged.

[0091] Next, based on the combination information, cooker control unit 18 adds the third-placed change parameter "0000 0000" to the basic parameter "0101 0110" of parameter No. 110. In this case, too, the change parameter is "0000 0000," so the parameter of parameter No. 110 remains unchanged.

[0092] Next, based on the combination information, cooker control unit 18 adds the fourth-placed changed parameter "0001 0001" to the basic parameter "0001 1001" of parameter No. 180. As a result, the basic parameter of parameter No. 180 is changed to the changed parameter "0010 1010." Of this parameter, the upper four bits "0010" indicating the reheating pressure in the steaming process are converted to a real number of 0.10 atmospheres. In other words, the pressure during reheating is changed to 1.10 atmospheres. Of this parameter, the lower four bits "1010" indicating the reheating time in the steaming process are converted to a real number of 160 seconds.

[0093] 5, after changing the basic parameters, cooker control unit 18 controls heating unit 12 and pressure valve 13 based on the cooking sequence information having the changed parameters, thereby performing cooking in cooker 1 (step S27).

[0094] When cooker control unit 18 completes all cooking steps defined by the step information, cooking is complete (step S28 in FIG. 5).

[0095] Note that even after the basic parameters are changed, cooking sequence information including the basic parameters is still stored in storage unit 16. Therefore, even if the change information is deleted from storage unit 16, cooker control unit 18 can control cooking based on the cooking sequence information including the basic parameters (step S24 in FIG. 5). The change information is deleted by cooker control unit 18. For example, the change information may be deleted in response to a user operation on the operation unit of cooker 1 or information terminal 5.

[0096] According to the change information providing system of the first embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0097] In the first embodiment, the change information providing system includes a cooking appliance 1, a change information DB 3 in which change information is stored, and a change information providing device 2. The cooking appliance 1 includes a heating unit 12 that heats food to be cooked, a storage unit 16 in which cooking sequence information is stored and which is capable of storing change information for changing the cooking sequence information, a cooking appliance control unit 18 that controls the heating unit 12 based on the cooking sequence information and the change information, and a cooking appliance communication unit 17 that receives the change information. The change information providing device 2 includes a providing device communication unit 21 that transmits the change information, and a providing device control unit 22 that reads the change information from the change information DB 3 and outputs it to the providing device communication unit 21, and provides the change information to the cooking appliance 1. The cooking sequence information is information indicating a predetermined cooking procedure and includes multiple basic parameters indicating heating time or heating power. The change information includes at least one change parameter arranged in a predetermined order. The cooking appliance control unit 18 changes a predetermined part of the multiple basic parameters based on the change parameter and its order provided by the change information providing device 2.

[0098] According to this configuration, cooker control unit 18 changes some of the predetermined basic parameters based on the change parameters and the order of the change parameters in the change information. That is, cooker control unit 18 changes the basic parameters by applying each change parameter to each basic parameter that has been pre-combined with the order of the change parameters. Therefore, the change information does not need to include information on the combination of the change parameter and the basic parameter that is changed based on the change parameter. Therefore, the data volume of the change information can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the change information includes information on the combination.

[0099] For example, if the change information shown in FIG. 6 is composed of four change parameters (8 bits each) and parameter numbers (8 bits each) of basic parameters changed based on each change parameter, the data size of the change information will be 64 bits. On the other hand, with the above configuration, cooker control unit 18 uses each change parameter to change the basic parameter corresponding to that change parameter based on predetermined combination information. For example, cooker control unit 18 uses the fourth change parameter (i.e., change parameter "0001 0001") to change parameter No. 180 (i.e., basic parameter "0001 1001"). This allows the change information to be composed of only four change parameters. In this case, the data size of the change information will be 32 bits. Therefore, with the above configuration, the data size of the change information can be reduced.

[0100] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, storage unit 16 has combination information indicating predetermined combinations of the order of change parameters and basic parameters to be changed based on the change parameters. Cooking appliance control unit 18 changes some of the basic parameters that are predetermined based on the change parameters and combination information provided by change information providing device 2.

[0101] According to this configuration, the cooker control unit 18 changes a predetermined portion of the multiple basic parameters based on the change parameters and the combination information. Because the combination information is stored in the storage unit, the change information does not need to include the combination information. Therefore, the data volume of the change information can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the change information includes the combination information.

[0102] Moreover, in the first embodiment, the change information providing system further includes an information terminal 5. The providing device control unit 22 controls the providing device communication unit 21 to send a notification to the information terminal 5 to confirm whether or not to approve the provision of the change information before the providing device communication unit 21 sends the change information. The providing device control unit 22 controls the providing device communication unit 21 to send the change information after the providing device communication unit 21 receives approval information indicating approval for the provision of the change information.

[0103] According to this configuration, the providing device control unit 22 controls the providing device communication unit 21 to transmit the change information after approval information indicating approval for the provision of the change information is received by the providing device communication unit 21. This makes it possible to prevent the change information from being provided when the provision of the change information is not desired.

[0104] The properties of rice, such as moisture content, change depending on the harvest season (e.g., year to year). Therefore, it is conceivable to provide change information to enable rice to be cooked according to the latest rice properties. In this case, if change information is provided while the user is still using rice from the previous year, an incompatibility will occur between the rice for which the change information is intended to be used (the current year's rice) and the rice actually used (the previous year's rice). If this incompatibility occurs, there is a risk that the taste of the cooked rice will deteriorate. On the other hand, with the above configuration, the user can refuse to accept the provision of change information while using the previous year's rice. This reduces the possibility of the taste of the rice deteriorating due to the incompatibility.

[0105] In the first embodiment, first change information is stored in storage unit 16. Cooking appliance control unit 18 stores second change information received by cooking appliance communication unit 17 in storage unit 16 in place of the first change information stored in storage unit 16.

[0106] For example, as described above, when change information is provided to realize rice cooking according to the latest rice properties, the change information is repeatedly provided for each cooking sequence information for each production period. In this case, the change information accumulates in memory unit 16, which may cause memory unit 16 to run out of capacity. On the other hand, with the above configuration, memory unit 16 stores only one piece of change information corresponding to one cooking sequence information. Therefore, the number of pieces of change information and the amount of data stored in memory unit 16 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which memory unit 16 stores two or more pieces of change information corresponding to one cooking sequence information. This reduces the possibility that memory unit 16 will run out of capacity.

[0107] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the modification information includes first modification information stored in the storage unit 16 and second modification information stored in the modification information DB3. The first modification information and the second modification information have modification parameters that are different from each other. Each modification information has an identifier for identifying the modification information. The identifiers include a first identifier included in the first modification information and a second identifier included in the second modification information. The providing device control unit 22 controls the providing device communication unit 21 to transmit the second modification information when no modification information is stored in the storage unit 16, or when the providing device control unit 22 compares the first identifier with the second identifier and finds that the first identifier and the second identifier are different.

[0108] According to this configuration, modification information is provided when no modification information is stored in storage unit 16 or when the first identifier and the second identifier are different. This makes it possible to prevent modification information having the same modification parameters from being provided multiple times and to prevent multiple pieces of modification information having the same modification parameters from being stored in storage unit 16. This reduces the possibility that storage unit 16 will run out of capacity.

[0109] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, cooking appliance 1 further includes pot 11 for accommodating an item to be cooked, and pressure valve 13 operable to open and close a hole connecting the interior of pot 11 with the outside. Cooking appliance control unit 18 controls pressure valve 13 based on the cooking sequence information and change information. The basic parameters indicate at least one of heating time, heating power, pressure in pot 11, and the time for which the pressure is maintained.

[0110] This configuration allows the basic parameters indicating the pressure inside pot 11 and the time for which that pressure is maintained to be changed based on the change parameters. This increases the number of basic parameters that can be changed using change information, making it easier to improve the taste by changing the cooking sequence information using change information.

[0111] In the first embodiment, the cooking sequence information is rice cooking sequence information that indicates a predetermined procedure for cooking rice.

[0112] The properties of rice, such as moisture content, vary depending on the region of origin, variety, and also on the crop yield at each production period. Therefore, rice cooking based solely on cooking sequence information pre-stored in storage unit 16 cannot optimally cook rice according to the crop yield of the rice used by the user. On the other hand, with the above configuration, by providing change information containing change parameters according to the crop yield, it is possible to optimally cook rice according to the crop yield of the rice used by the user.

[0113] (Embodiment 2) The change information providing system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 8B. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the change information providing process according to the second embodiment. Figs. 8A and 8B are flowcharts showing the change information providing process according to the second embodiment. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, descriptions that overlap with those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0114] The change information providing system in the second embodiment differs from the change information providing system in the first embodiment in that the first identifier of the first change information stored in the storage unit 16 is stored in the user information DB4.

[0115] The configuration of the change information providing system in embodiment 2 is the same as the configuration of the change information providing system in embodiment 1. That is, the change information providing system in embodiment 1 includes a cooking appliance 1, a change information providing device 2, and an information terminal 5. The cooking appliance 1 includes a heating unit 12, a pressure valve 13, a temperature detection unit 14, a pressure detection unit 15, a storage unit 16, a cooking appliance communication unit 17, and a cooking appliance control unit 18. The change information providing device 2 includes a providing device communication unit 21, a providing device control unit 22, a change information DB3, and a user information DB4. The user information DB4 is an example of an "identifier database" in the present disclosure. The information terminal 5 includes a terminal communication unit 51, a touch screen 52, and a terminal control unit 53.

[0116] The user information DB4 stores user information, individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1, and an identifier of the change information stored in the storage unit 16 in association with each other. When the individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 and the user information are stored in the user information DB4, the initial identifier may be stored in association with the individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 and the user information.

[0117] At any timing, the providing device control unit 22 stores a new identifier in place of an identifier already stored in the user information DB 4. The process of storing a new identifier in the storage unit 16 is performed, for example, when the change information providing device 2 provides change information to the cooking appliance 1. Specifically, after transmitting the change information via the providing device communication unit (step S14 in FIG. 4B), the providing device control unit 22 stores the identifier of the transmitted change information in the user information DB 4.

[0118] Alternatively, cooker control unit 18 transmits the identifier of the change information stored in storage unit 16 and the individual identification information of cooker 1 at a predetermined timing via cooker communication unit 17. For example, cooker control unit 18 transmits the identifier each time cooking is completed. When providing device communication unit 21 receives the identifier, providing device control unit 22 stores the identifier in user information DB4.

[0119] Next, a description will be given of a process for providing change information in embodiment 2. As described in embodiment 1, when a provision request transmitted from the terminal communication unit 51 is received by the provision device communication unit 21, the provision device control unit 22 acquires user information included in the provision request (step S1 in FIGS. 7 and 8A).

[0120] Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the providing device control unit 22 acquires the individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 associated with the user information from the user information DB 4 (step S2 in FIG. 8A).

[0121] Next, the providing device control unit 22 acquires the first identifier associated with the user information from the user information DB 4 (step S101 in FIG. 8A).

[0122] Next, the providing device control unit 22 acquires the second identifier stored in the change information DB3 (step S6 in FIG. 8A). Note that the acquisition of the second identifier may be performed before the acquisition of the first identifier. The subsequent processes (steps S7 to S17 in FIGS. 8A and 8B) are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

[0123] According to the change information providing system of the second embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0124] The change information providing system in the second embodiment includes a user information DB4 in which individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 and a first identifier are stored in association with each other. The change information providing device 2 has a providing device communication unit 21 that receives the first identifier from the cooking appliance 1. The providing device control unit 22 stores the first identifier received by the providing device communication unit 21 in the user information DB4. The providing device control unit 22 compares the first identifier and the second identifier stored in the user information DB4.

[0125] According to this configuration, the first identifier stored in the user information DB4 is used for the comparison, so there is no need to transmit the first identifier from the cooking appliance 1 to the change information providing device 2 during the comparison. This allows the comparison to be performed even when communication is not possible between the cooking appliance 1 and the change information providing device 2. Furthermore, the steps of transmitting and receiving the identifier transmission request and the first identifier between the cooking appliance 1 and the change information providing device 2 (steps S3 to S5 in FIG. 4A) are not required during the comparison, so the number of steps in the comparison and the time required for the comparison can be reduced.

[0126] In the above-described embodiment, the cooking device 1 is a pressure rice cooker that cooks rice, but the present invention is not limited to this. The cooking device 1 may be any device that cooks rice based on cooking sequence information, and may be, for example, a microwave oven, an oven, a pressure cooker, a fryer, an air fryer, a bread machine, or the like. The cooking performed by the cooking device 1 is not limited to rice cooking, and may be cooking that is appropriate for the cooking device 1. The dish cooked based on the cooking sequence information having the changed parameters may be different from the dish cooked based on the cooking sequence information having the basic parameters.

[0127] Furthermore, the identifier is not limited to the 8-bit value described above, as long as the data amount of the identifier is smaller than the total data amount of the change parameters.

[0128] In the above-described embodiment, both the cooking sequence information and the change information are stored in the storage unit 16. However, this is not limiting. For example, the storage unit 16 may have a first read-only storage unit that stores the cooking sequence information and a second writable storage unit that stores the change information.

[0129] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the user information may be individual identification information of the cooking appliance 1 (for example, the manufacturing serial number of the cooking appliance 1). In this case, in the first embodiment, the process (step S2 in FIG. 4A) in which the providing device control unit 22 acquires the cooking appliance individual identification information from the user information DB4 is not required. Furthermore, in the above-described case, in the first embodiment, the user information DB4 is not required.

[0130] In the above-described embodiment, the modification information includes four modification parameters, but this is not limiting. The number of modification parameters may be other than four, as long as it is less than the total number of basic parameters. Furthermore, the number of combinations of the order of modification parameters and the basic parameters to be modified in the combination information may correspond to the number of modification parameters.

[0131] In the above-described embodiment, the identifier has a first value indicating the year in which the change information was created and a second value indicating the version of the change information, but this is not limited to this. The identifier may be a name, a code, a value, a character string, etc. The identifier does not need to include information regarding the age of the change information to which the identifier is assigned.

[0132] In the above-described embodiment, the information terminal 5 has the touch screen 52, but this is not limiting. For example, the information terminal 5 does not need to have the touch screen 52 as long as it is configured to allow the user to select whether to approve or disapprove the provision of change information.

[0133] In the above-described embodiment, the providing device control unit 22 determines the magnitude of the first value and the second value between the first identifier and the second identifier, but this is not limiting. For example, the providing device control unit 22 may determine only whether the first identifier and the second identifier are different, without determining the magnitude of the identifiers.

[0134] Any of the various embodiments described above may be combined appropriately to achieve the effects of each embodiment.

[0135] Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom. [Industrial Applicability]

[0136] The present disclosure is useful for a change information providing system that provides change information for changing cooking sequence information to a cooking device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0137] 1 Cooker 11. Hot Pot 12 Heating section 13 Pressure valve 16 Memory section 17 Cooker communication unit 18 Cooker control unit 2. Change information providing device 21 Provided device communication department 22 Providing device control section 3. Change Information Database 4. User Information Database 5. Information terminals

Claims

1. a control unit that controls the execution of cooking based on cooking sequence information having a plurality of basic parameters; a receiving unit that receives change information including change parameters that are at least a part of parameters that configure the changed cooking sequence information; a storage unit that stores the cooking sequence information and combination information that associates the change parameters with the basic parameters; Equipped with the control unit changes the cooking sequence information stored in the storage unit based on the change information received by the receiving unit and the combination information stored in the storage unit. Heating cooker.

2. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the combination information is information indicating a predetermined combination of an order of the change parameters and the basic parameters to be changed based on the change parameters.

3. a pot for containing food to be cooked; a pressure valve that operates to open and close a hole that connects the inside of the pot to an external space; Further provided with the control unit controls the pressure valve based on the cooking sequence information and the change information; The plurality of basic parameters indicate at least one of heating time, heating power, pressure in the pot, and time for which the pressure is maintained. The cooking device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 4. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the cooking sequence information is rice cooking sequence information indicating a predetermined rice cooking procedure.

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