Kitchen Appliance Network Control Using Centralized Hub and Scheduler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen appliance control systems lack efficient and synchronized management of multiple appliances during cooking recipes, as they do not consider the operative status of other appliances in the network, leading to inefficient cooperation and prioritization.
Innovation Solution
A centralized control system with an adaptor module to collect data from kitchen appliances and an operation engine that programs the appliances based on this data, using automatic cooking programs with a scheduler module to prioritize instructions and commands for optimized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a network-based control system is used to connect kitchen appliances, then remote control capability is improved, but synchronized management and prioritization between multiple appliances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication hub as an intermediary device that mediates between the user terminal and multiple kitchen appliances. The hub receives control commands from the user terminal and distributes them to appropriate appliances, enabling centralized coordination and prioritization of multiple appliances while maintaining remote control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the communication hub continuously monitors the operational status of connected appliances and adjusts command distribution accordingly. This allows the hub to prioritize appliances based on their current state, ensuring synchronized management and preventing conflicts between simultaneous operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If centralized control is implemented in external devices, then control flexibility is improved, but autonomous integrated control between appliances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication hub is pre-configured with appliance profiles, operational parameters, and prioritization rules before actual cooking operations begin. This preliminary setup enables the hub to autonomously make decisions about command distribution and appliance coordination without requiring real-time user intervention, thus achieving autonomous integrated control while maintaining flexibility.
3Extent of automation
If multiple appliances operate independently on the network, then device autonomy is improved, but cooperative synchronization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication hub serves as a mediator that coordinates between autonomous appliances and the user terminal. It receives autonomous status reports from appliances and translates user commands into appliance-specific instructions, ensuring that independent devices operate in a synchronized and reliable manner without sacrificing their autonomy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a system for controlling the operation of kitchen appliances, with the aim of providing a controllable interoperability environment between a kitchen machine and a set of kitchen equipment. For that purpose, the system is based on a network architecture where the kitchen machine centralizes the control of all operations performed by the other kitchen equipment during the course of a cooking process. The communication between the kitchen machine and the kitchen equipment is provided by means of an adaptor module provided in the latter.