One-Scan Cooking Control for Appliance-Specific Precision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Home cooks face challenges in preparing food due to difficulties in understanding instructions, variations in appliances, and unfamiliarity with cooking techniques, leading to unsatisfactory results.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that allows users to scan food packages or recipes, access cooking data, and program appliances to cook food accurately by using a probabilistic model to suggest adjustments to cooking instructions, thereby improving cooking outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cooking instructions are provided in ranges (e.g., 10-15 minutes), then flexibility is provided for different appliances, but cooking precision and consistency deteriorate leading to unsatisfactory results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility for different appliancesVSAvoidcooking precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts cooking parameters (time, temperature) based on detected appliance characteristics. Instead of using fixed ranges, the system modifies parameters in real-time to match the specific appliance's performance profile, thereby maintaining precision while accommodating appliance variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where cooking outcomes are monitored and used to refine future cooking instructions. This closed-loop approach allows the system to learn from actual cooking results and adjust parameters to achieve consistent precision across different appliances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If users manually read and understand cooking instructions, then cooking control is maintained, but time consumption and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking controlVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables appliances to automatically retrieve, interpret, and execute cooking instructions without requiring user intervention. The appliance autonomously accesses cooking data, processes it according to its characteristics, and executes the cooking program, thereby maintaining control while eliminating time-consuming manual steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a digital intermediary layer (mobile application, database) that bridges the gap between cooking instructions and appliance execution. This intermediary automatically processes and translates instructions into appliance-specific parameters, reducing the cognitive load and time required for users to manually interpret instructions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If cooking data is stored in a centralized database, then consistency and reliability are improved, but data accessibility and user control may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking data consistencyVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system designs the database and application interface to serve multiple functions: storing authoritative cooking data for reliability while simultaneously providing users with access and control capabilities. Users can view, select, and potentially customize cooking data, maintaining centralized consistency while enabling user control through a unified multi-functional platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240255900A1Methods and systems for one scan cook

Publication Date: 2024.08.01 HSIAO IPIN

AI summary

Computer-implemented one scan cook methods, systems, and computer-readable media are described.