Cooking Step Aggregation for Reduced Overall Time

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for cooking multiple recipes simultaneously struggle to reduce overall cooking time while allowing for proper interruption of cooking steps.

Innovation Solution

An information processing method that acquires multiple first and second cooking steps, and outputs aggregated step data by combining these steps based on the instruments used, such that the overall cooking time is shorter than the total time of individual steps, with a second cooking step inserted between divided steps of a first cooking step that uses the same instrument.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple recipes are cooked simultaneously according to individual step sequences, then cooking completeness is maintained, but overall cooking time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall cooking timeVSAvoidwaiting time between steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines cooking steps from multiple recipes into a single integrated sequence by identifying and merging steps that use the same cooking instrument. This allows parallel execution of compatible steps while maintaining proper sequencing, thereby reducing the overall cooking time compared to executing each recipe's steps separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the cooking step sequence by inserting steps from one recipe between divided portions of another recipe's steps when the same instrument is used. This dynamic reordering optimizes instrument utilization and eliminates idle waiting time, improving overall cooking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If cooking steps are interrupted and resumed later, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but cooking quality may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidcooking quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments cooking steps into divisible and non-divisible categories. By identifying which steps can be safely interrupted and resumed, the system provides scheduling flexibility while ensuring that critical steps maintain their quality requirements. This segmentation allows users to interrupt cooking at appropriate points without compromising the final result.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250181825A1Information processing method, information processing apparatus, and program that combines multiple cooking steps

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

An acquisition unit acquires a plurality of first cooking steps and a plurality of second cooking steps. An output unit outputs, based on an instrument used in the plurality of first cooking steps and the plurality of second cooking steps, aggregated step data indicating an aggregated step comprised of a mixture of the plurality of first cooking steps and the plurality of second cooking steps such that an overall cooking time is shorter than a total of a step comprised of a combination of the plurality of first cooking steps and the plurality of second cooking steps. The aggregated step includes, between steps derived from dividing a given first cooking step, a second cooking step that uses the same instrument as the given first cooking step.