Recipe Graph Data Structure for Multi-Device Control Readability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recipe data represented as natural language graphs lacks machine readability and is limited in supporting various devices, making it difficult to control multiple devices effectively.

Innovation Solution

A device control system that represents recipe data as a graph with nodes for ingredients and actions, using unique IDs for ingredients and actions, enabling machine-readable data that can control various devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If recipe data is represented as natural language graphs, then human readability is maintained, but machine readability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehuman readabilityVSAvoidmachine readability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments recipe data into distinct graph components: ingredient nodes with unique ingredient IDs, action nodes with unique action IDs, and equipment nodes with unique equipment IDs. This segmentation transforms continuous natural language into discrete, machine-parseable units while preserving the semantic relationships through graph edges, thereby improving machine readability without sacrificing human readability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary graph data structure that sits between natural language representation and machine execution. This graph serves as a mediator that translates human-readable recipe descriptions into a structured format that machines can interpret, maintaining both human and machine readability through its dual nature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If recipe data uses generic action descriptions, then human understanding is improved, but device control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehuman understandingVSAvoiddevice control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different levels of specificity to different parts of the recipe data. Ingredient nodes contain detailed properties (name, quantity, unit), action nodes contain specific operation parameters (type, duration, temperature), and equipment nodes contain precise identification. This localized detail provides both human understanding through descriptive labels and machine precision through structured data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms generic action descriptions into parameterized action nodes that include specific attributes such as action type, duration, temperature, and equipment ID. This parameterization enables precise device control while maintaining human understanding through the structured organization of these parameters in the graph data structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If recipe data is designed for specific devices, then control reliability is improved, but adaptability to new devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoiddevice adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal graph data structure that can represent recipes independent of specific devices. By using abstract equipment nodes with unique IDs rather than device-specific instructions, the system achieves multi-functionality where the same recipe graph can control different devices performing the same culinary function, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining control reliability through consistent graph semantics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If recipe data includes detailed natural language descriptions, then human readability is improved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehuman readabilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts essential semantic information from natural language descriptions and places it into structured graph nodes. By taking out only the critical elements (ingredients, actions, equipment, their relationships and parameters) and representing them in a standardized graph format, the system reduces data processing complexity while preserving human readability through the organized structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12011116B2Device control system, device control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for recipe
Publication Date: 2024.06.18 COOKPAD
  • US12011116B2 patent drawing
  • US12011116B2 patent drawing
  • US12011116B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A device control system that includes a memory, and processing circuitry that acquires recipe data of a culinary dish, the recipe data being represented by a graph including a plurality of nodes and edges between the nodes, and processes the acquired recipe data for controlling a device, and the plurality of nodes include an ingredient node that represents an ingredient of the culinary dish, and a culinary dish node that represents the culinary dish, the edge represents an action that is necessary for state transition between the nodes, an ingredient ID that uniquely identifies the ingredient is assigned to the ingredient node, an action ID that uniquely identifies the action is assigned to the edge, and the processing circuitry controls the device based on the acquired recipe data.