Virtual Token Board for Cooking Appliance Program Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliance systems face challenges in simplifying the operability of cooking appliances, particularly in creating and managing time schedules, function plans, and program sequences, with existing methods often relying on handwritten notes that are difficult to read and prone to loss, leading to inefficiencies in kitchen logistics.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a virtual token board system on a display device, where program representatives are arranged as virtual tokens, allowing for a multidimensional representation of cooking programs, with parameters such as treatment zones, time, and climate considered, enabling automatic arrangement and prioritization based on energy consumption, water usage, and other factors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If handwritten notes are used to manage cooking programs and schedules, then the system is simple and requires no additional devices, but the notes are difficult to read and prone to loss, reducing reliability and ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidschedule management reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces handwritten notes with a digital display device that shows program representatives (visual copies of cooking programs). This allows the schedule to be viewed clearly without being prone to loss or illegibility, while maintaining system simplicity by using the existing display device of the cooking appliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical handwritten note system with an electronic display system. The display device electronically presents cooking programs and schedules, eliminating the physical handling and storage issues of handwritten notes while improving readability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cooking programs are managed manually, then flexibility in program selection is maintained, but the complexity of creating and managing time schedules and function plans increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogram selection flexibilityVSAvoidschedule management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically arrange program representatives on the display device based on parameters such as start times, duration, and resource requirements. This self-arranging capability reduces the manual effort needed to create and manage complex schedules while maintaining full program selection flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows users to pre-configure program representatives with their parameters (start time, duration, resource needs) before execution. The system then automatically organizes these pre-configured programs into schedules, simplifying the management of multiple cooking programs while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If program representatives are displayed without automatic arrangement, then manual control over display layout is maintained, but the time and effort required to create and adjust schedules increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveschedule creation easeVSAvoidschedule adjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically arranges program representatives on the display device based on their parameters such as start times, duration, and resource requirements. This self-arranging feature eliminates the manual time and effort needed to create and adjust schedules, significantly improving ease of operation while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic arrangement system where program representatives automatically reposition themselves on the display based on changing parameters and schedule requirements. This dynamic capability allows the schedule to adapt automatically to changes without requiring manual intervention, reducing time loss while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2211114B1Method for assembling programs
Publication Date: 2017.01.25 RATIONAL AG
  • EP2211114B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2211114B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2211114B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves arranging program representations in form of a virtual token in an area in form of a virtual token board (200). Other program representations with parameters are automatically provided depending on parameters of the former program representations arranged in the area. The parameters are characterized for a function device of a cooking device, a treatment level, treatment gap, treatment line and/or treatment zone of the cooking device, a time point, time period, prioritization and climatic variables of programs corresponding to the program representations. An independent claim is also included for a cooking device comprising a function device for executing programs.