Cooking Program Voucher Board for Touchscreen Schedule Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cooking appliance systems face challenges in simplifying the operability of cooking appliances, particularly in creating and managing time schedules and function sequences, due to the limitations of traditional handwritten note systems which are prone to errors and difficult to read.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a virtual token board and bar displayed on a touchscreen, where program representatives are shown as virtual tokens that can be dragged, dropped, and rearranged within a multi-dimensional space, allowing for intuitive selection, storage, and visualization of cooking programs, cleaning programs, and diagnostic programs, with features like color coding, geometric shapes, and temporal organization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional handwritten note systems are used for managing cooking programs, then the system structure remains simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to errors and difficulty in reading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the copying principle by replacing handwritten notes with electronic virtual tokens that replicate the information on a touchscreen display. The control device captures images of the displayed virtual tokens and stores them, allowing users to interact with digital copies rather than physical handwriting. This eliminates reading errors while maintaining a relatively simple system structure through the use of standard touchscreen and camera components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If virtual token boards with multi-dimensional space are implemented, then the ease of operation improves through intuitive drag and drop, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service through automatic arrangement algorithms that autonomously organize virtual tokens on the token board based on program parameters such as start time, duration, and priority. The control device automatically calculates optimal positions and arranges tokens without requiring manual positioning by the user. This reduces the operational complexity for users while the system handles the computational complexity in the background.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dimensionality change by organizing virtual tokens in a multi-dimensional space on the touchscreen display, with dimensions representing time, priority, and program type. This spatial organization allows users to intuitively understand and manipulate complex cooking schedules through visual drag-and-drop operations, transforming abstract temporal and hierarchical relationships into concrete spatial arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If automatic arrangement of virtual tokens is implemented, then productivity improves through optimized schedules, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the control device continuously monitors the arrangement of virtual tokens and automatically adjusts their positions based on program parameters and user interactions. The system provides visual feedback on the touchscreen showing the optimized schedule, and users can provide feedback by manually repositioning tokens, which the system then incorporates into its automatic arrangement algorithm. This iterative feedback loop optimizes productivity while managing device complexity through software-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2391851B1Method for selecting and arranging representatives of programs and cooking appliance therefor
Publication Date: 2015.09.02 RATIONAL AG
  • EP2391851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2391851B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2391851B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for arranging representatives of programs for cooking appliances each in the form of a virtual voucher in a virtual voucher board - after the voucher board has been stored by touching a first part or approaching said first part and/or - has been moved from the second to the third part by touching a second part or approaching said second part and moving or sweeping to a third part and/or - has been changed in the visual representation thereof by moving a fourth part or approaching or departing from said fourth part and/or by means of a further entry operation, wherein the virtual voucher board enables a representation within a multidimensional space based on a coordinate system - having at least two position axes for determining an operating zone of the cooking appliance or - having at least one position axis for determining an operating plane, operating column, or operating row of the cooking appliance and a time axis for determining at least one point in time of the operation of the cooking appliance; and a cooking appliance for performing such a method.