Terminal-Based Cooking Time Control Using User Preference Logs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooking methods, such as those using microwave ovens, do not account for individual user preferences in cooking temperature, leading to inconsistent food warmth, with users often requiring additional heating to achieve desired warmth levels.

Innovation Solution

A control method for a terminal apparatus connected to multiple cooking devices, which manages user logs to acquire and display recommended cooking times based on user preferences and cooking device data, allowing users to select and set optimal cooking times via a touch-panel interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional cooking methods use fixed cooking programs, then cooking process is simple, but cooking temperature does not match individual user preferences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking operation simplicityVSAvoidadaptation to user preferences

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system collects cooking logs from multiple users including cooking times and food types, processes this feedback data through a server, and generates personalized recommended cooking times. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to individual user preferences while maintaining simple operation through automated recommendations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-calculates recommended cooking times based on user history and food characteristics before the actual cooking process. By preparing personalized recommendations in advance, the system eliminates the need for users to manually adjust cooking parameters, combining simplicity with personalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Temperature

If users manually adjust cooking time for each food, then cooking temperature matches preference, but user operation becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood warmth temperatureVSAvoidcooking time setting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates and provides recommended cooking times based on stored user preferences and cooking history. Users simply need to select from pre-calculated recommendations rather than manually adjusting parameters, making the system serve itself by automatically adapting to user needs without requiring complex user input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes cooking time parameters based on processed user log data and food characteristics. By automatically adjusting these parameters according to accumulated knowledge, the system achieves personalized temperature control without requiring users to understand or manually set complex parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If cooking time is not optimized, then cooking process is simple, but additional heating is required wasting time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking efficiencyVSAvoidadditional heating time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates optimal cooking times by analyzing user preferences and food characteristics before cooking begins. By determining the precise cooking time in advance, the system eliminates the need for additional heating cycles, thereby improving cooking efficiency and preventing time loss without complicating the cooking process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If cooking program is downloaded from internet, then cooking variety increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking program varietyVSAvoiddevice system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a server as an intermediary that handles the complex tasks of collecting, processing, and analyzing cooking data from multiple users. The cooking device itself remains relatively simple, while the intermediary server manages the complexity of program variety and personalization, allowing the device to access diverse cooking programs without becoming overly complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10282079B2Control method of controlling a terminal apparatus connected to a cooking device

Publication Date: 2019.05.07 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

Using a memory that manages a user log including at least a cooking time and a food to be cooked with a cooking device used by each user in a plurality of users, a recommended cooking time corresponding to a first user's food to be cooked included in recommended cooking times for respective foods calculated based on cooking times with the cooking devices is acquired from a server, a user interface that prompts the first user to select one of candidates of cooking times including at least the recommended cooking times is displayed on a display, and in response to detecting that a cooking time is selected by performing an input operation on the user interface, a setting command to set the selected cooking time is output to the first cooking device.