Cooking management method, food processor, and system for carrying out a cooking operation

The invention concerns a cooking management method (100) for planning a cooking process (200) of a kitchen machine (1) comprising the following steps: determining (105) an entertainment program (201) of an entertainment apparatus (2); determining (106) a planning interval (202) in which at least one user of the kitchen machine (1) is connected to the entertainment machine (2) to enjoy the entertainment program (201). The invention also concerns a food processor (1) and a system for carrying out a cooking operation (200).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European application no. 18 159 013.4 filed on Feb. 27, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a cooking management method for planning a cooking process of a food processor, a food processor, and a system for performing a cooking process according.

It is well known that more and more processes of daily life are intertwined in order to improve efficiency and comfort, especially in private life. Many people would like to create more space for leisure activities or—despite a time-consuming job—still try to enjoy leisure time. Although nutritional awareness has become part of the public consciousness as a whole, a healthy way of cooking in everyday stress is often the first to be neglected due to time constraints. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate a cooking process as efficiently as possible into everyday life so that the user still has enough time for free space.

It is known from DE 10 2014 211 094 B4 that a household appliance can be connected to a television set and that operating noises can be matched to the behavior of the television. However, there can still be a high inhibition threshold for the user to prepare elaborate food, as he has to take care of the timing himself, obtain information about the duration of the recipe and the television program and finally coordinate these with each other.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate previous disadvantages known from the state of the art. In particular, one object of the present invention is to simplify the integration of food preparation into a user's leisure activities and to improve it in terms of comfort and/or time efficiency.

The above object is solved by a cooking management method with the characteristics of claim1, a food processor with the characteristics of claim14, and a system for performing a cooking operation with the characteristics of claim15.

Further characteristics and details of the invention result from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Features and details which have been described in connection with the cooking management method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the food processor according to the invention and/or the system according to the invention and vice versa in each case, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention mutual reference is or can always be made.

According to the invention, the cooking management method for planning the cooking process of a food processor comprises the following steps:determining an entertainment program of an entertainment device,determining a planning interval in which at least one user of the food processor is at least partially connected to the entertainment device for enjoying the entertainment program,Create a planning of the cooking process depending on the planning interval.

The enjoyment of the entertainment program can preferably be understood to mean that the user uses the entertainment program, for example, to organize or even relax his leisure time or training or the like. In particular, the entertainment program is a function of the entertainment device. Preferably, the entertainment device is an electronic entertainment device. The entertainment device may, for example, include a television set, in particular a smart TV, a game console, a tablet, a computer, a fitness machine and/or the like. The planning interval can preferably be understood as a future or already started period of time. The planning interval can, for example, be linked to a time or an event. It is therefore conceivable that the planning interval corresponds to a start time of the entertainment program, which represents the event that triggers the planning interval. It is also conceivable that the event may include a commercial break during the entertainment program or the end of a football match. In particular, the planning interval can also reflect the time span in which the entertainment program is scheduled.

The cooking process can advantageously include a recipe process, in particular automated or partially automated. The recipe process can include various steps for preparing a dish using a recipe. Furthermore, the recipe process can be controlled directly by a control unit of the food processor or by an external server, e.g. connected to the food processor via the Internet. For this purpose, it can be provided that the user first determines a recipe for the cooking process, in particular selects one from an existing recipe collection.

The fact that the planning of the cooking process is created as a function of the planning interval has the advantage that the cooking process can be integrated efficiently and conveniently into the daily routine of a user and the user is supported in his time management. Thus, the planning of the cooking process can take place within the framework of the inventive cooking management method, in particular, depending on the planning interval, which in turn corresponds to the entertainment program. Particularly in combination with an at least partially automated food processor, individual steps of a recipe to be executed can be carried out or prepared. For example, it is conceivable that water is already heated so that the user can immediately add noodles at the end or during a break in the entertainment program to cook them. This in turn saves time heating the water when this step is performed in parallel with the entertainment program. It can also be possible to switch the food processor on and off at certain times. It is also conceivable, however, that the planning of individual steps or the entire recipe process is merely given to the user. The individual steps can be planned accordingly, e.g. during interruptions of the entertainment program or the like. For example, it can be pre-set by the user that he plans to use the entertainment program at a certain time so that the planning of the cooking process can take into account the entertainment program accordingly. However, it is also conceivable that the planning of the cooking process is only adapted after the entertainment program has been called up.

Preferably, an inventive cooking management procedure may provide that the entertainment program includes a streaming offer, a TV program, a computer game, a learning program and/or a radio program. A streaming service can be understood, for example, as a program offering of films, music, audio books and/or the like which is made available by an external streaming service, in particular via the Internet. It is conceivable that the user may call up the streaming service individually and that the planning of the cooking process may be adapted according to the streaming service. In particular, the entertainment program may thus be based on electronic media, in particular, which entertain and/or inform a user. Thus, the user has the possibility to use everyday entertainment media and to integrate the cooking process into the time schedule accordingly.

It is also conceivable that, in the case of a cooking management method in accordance with the invention, the planning interval may be determined by evaluating at least one source of information. Preferably, at least one source of information may include a user interface, an entertainment history, an electronic program guide (EPG), an Internet service and/or a user calendar. The evaluation may advantageously include receiving and/or processing data from the information source. Thus, for example, an information source of the entertainment device can be accessed in order to obtain, in particular, temporal data on the entertainment program. The entertainment history can include information about user behavior. It is conceivable, for example, that the entertainment history might contain a list of previously called entertainment programs. In particular, pattern recognition can be provided, by which certain habits of the user can be identified and thus anticipated for the future. If, for example, the entertainment history shows that the user regularly watches news programs, the news program can be scheduled in the cooking process without additional user input. It is also possible that the user calendar is used for evaluation, so that user appointments can also be included in the planning of the cooking process and/or the user can make his planning of the entertainment program available to the food processor or an external server for determining the planning interval using the user calendar, for example. An electronic program guide may preferably provide access to a TV program, in particular without the need to connect to the Internet. The use of an Internet service as a source of information also has the advantage that complex data relationships can be transmitted and/or, for example, services of providers on the Internet can be taken into account when determining the planning interval. Other sources of information can include a live blog on the Internet, online TV magazines and/or hard disk recorders.

Preferably, a cooking management method according to the invention may provide that the planning of the cooking process includes the determination of a starting time for the start of the cooking process. Preferably, the start time can be output as a suggestion and/or the cooking process can be started automatically at the start time. So, it is conceivable that the cooking process should immediately follow the end of the entertainment program and the start time is planned accordingly. If the start time is output as a default, it is possible, for example that the user changes the start time. Furthermore, it is conceivable that a selection of several start times is output, which are determined according to different criteria using the planning interval and/or entertainment program, so that the user can select one of the start times. Thus, by suggesting a starting time, a user can be supported in planning the cooking process and at the same time be given a high degree of individual freedom in execution. If the cooking process is started automatically at the start time, a user can also be free of a further work step, so that it is not or only to a small extent necessary for the user to take care of the cooking process at least at the start of the cooking process. In particular, the start time can also be linked to certain events, such as the termination of the entertainment program by the user, a commercial break, or the like.

Advantageously, in an inventive cooking management method, scheduling the cooking process can also include determining an end time to complete the cooking process.

Preferably, the end time can be output as a suggestion and/or the cooking process can be automatically completed at the end time. It is conceivable that the cooking process should be completed at a certain phase of the program, such as immediately at the end of the entertainment program, so that the end time is planned accordingly. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the end time is planned at the beginning of a program break, so that the user can for example, consume food during the halftime break of a football game.

Further, in an inventive cooking management method, it may be provided that scheduling of the cooking process comprises determining at least one intermediate stage of the cooking process in which user interaction is required for further performance of the cooking process. In particular, the user can be automatically notified of an actual and/or scheduled attainment of at least one intermediate stage. This means that the cooking process can also be advantageously integrated into the user's schedule if at least one user interaction is necessary in between. For example, it is conceivable that certain steps in a recipe sequence may be performed automatically by the food processor, but it is necessary for the user to add ingredients in the meantime. This can be represented by the intermediate level, which, for example, can correspond to a program interruption or can be provided between two planned entertainment programs. The notification may preferably include the sending of a message to a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, by the user and/or via an output unit, for example by playing a notification tone and/or displaying the notification on a display of the food processor. In particular, the notification may include a pre-announcement, so that, for example, the user is informed before the start of the entertainment program that the addition of an additional ingredient is required during the first advertising break.

In the context of the invention, it may also be provided that the determination of the planning interval and/or the preparation of the planning of the cooking process takes place as a function of navigation data, in particular the navigation data comprising traffic data and/or a location of the at least one user. The user's location can, for example, contain GPS information, in particular a GPS position, which can be made available for planning the cooking process. From the location and/or the navigation data, it can then be advantageously determined when the user will be on site to carry out further steps of the recipe process and/or to start the entertainment program. Traffic data may be general traffic data comprising the route and/or map data to be covered by the user or several users. Traffic data may preferably provide information on current traffic, public transport delays and/or the like.

Preferably, the navigation data may include public traffic data in a cooking management method according to the invention. In particular, public transport data can be obtained from a public information system. The public information system may, for example, provide map data, public transport connections and/or other navigation data. In particular, public traffic data may be provided by third party services and/or accessed over the Internet. This will ensure a high level of suitability of the data, in particular when the public transport data are regularly updated and/or retrieved in real time from the public information system. The public information system may preferably include an Internet platform, traffic radio, timetables and/or the like.

In the context of the invention, it is also conceivable that the determination of the planning interval and/or the creation of the planning of the cooking process is carried out as a function of activity data, in particular wherein the activity data are used for at least partial determination of the navigation data. Activity data should preferably include information on the activities and/or whereabouts of the user. In particular, the activity data may include data on events visited by the user, information on school and holiday days, and the like. It is therefore conceivable that, in addition to the entertainment program, further program items can be taken into account in the user's daily routine in order to embed the preparation of the food into the daily routine as efficiently as possible. This allows the user to conveniently take over a part of his appointment planning or to coordinate it for him. When linking the activity data with the navigation data, it is also conceivable that an arrival and departure route to events can also be integrated.

By integrating additional data, in particular navigation data and/or activity data, the planning of the cooking process can be synchronized continuously. This means, for example, that the planning of the cooking process can be influenced to determine whether the cooking process is completed before or after the entertainment program. If the user is delayed, for example, he can be rescheduled from a cooking process initially planned before the entertainment program to a subsequent or parallel cooking process.

Furthermore, in the case of an inventive cooking management method, it can be provided that the activity data and/or the navigation data and/or different entertainment programs are assigned to a plurality of users, the planning interval and/or the planning of the cooking process arranged for a user community. Thus, it is conceivable that the planning of the cooking process is carried out for a family, for example, whereby each family member can be assigned their own activity data, their own navigation data and/or their own entertainment programs. In particular, the meal times of the individual family members can be coordinated taking into account the respective leisure activities, so that the family members can eat together and/or the kitchen machine is available to everyone in a certain time window. Preferably, the activity data, navigation data and/or entertainment program may be linked to different user accounts, with multiple user accounts forming a user community. It is also possible for multiple user accounts to be linked to a particular entertainment program or to an event associated with that program. For example, it is conceivable that an event could be planned in the form of a shared international game evening and that several user accounts would be linked to the event, whereby the planning of the cooking process would be coordinated according to the data of the users. For example, the arrival of individual users can be taken into account. Thus, through the cook management process, social interaction can be simplified in relation to joint planning.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that, in the case of a cooking management method in accordance with an invention, the cooking management method comprises the following steps:Establish an appliance connection between the kitchen appliance and the entertainment appliance,Get information about the entertainment program from the entertainment device via the device connection.

The appliance connection may preferably be a direct or indirect connection between the food processor and the entertainment appliance. For example, the food processor can be wired or wirelessly connected or paired to the entertainment device. In particular, the device connection may include an Ethernet connection, Bluetooth connection, WLAN connection and/or the like. This means that required data can be retrieved directly from the entertainment device, preferably by the food processor. For example, it may not be necessary to connect the food processor or entertainment device to an Internet connection. In particular, the user comfort can also be increased by an intuitively operable coupling.

The invention may also provide that the cooking management method includes the following steps:Establish a network connection between the food processor and a server,retrieving data from the server, the data comprising information about the entertainment programme and/or the navigation data.

The network connection may preferably include an Internet connection, LAN connection and/or WLAN connection. In particular, the food processor may have a network interface for establishing the network connection with the server. The entertainment device may have another network interface to provide data to the entertainment program. However, it is also possible that the data for the entertainment program is provided by the server while the entertainment device is not connected to the Internet. This is conceivable, for example, when retrieving program information about a TV program if the data for the TV program is provided by the server, but a TV set can receive the TV program independently of an Internet connection.

Preferably, in an inventive cooking management method, determining the entertainment program may include at least one of the following steps:Gain a selection of the entertainment program by the at least one user,Enabling at least one user to influence the planning of the cooking process.

It is conceivable, for example, that the user would like to change the planning of the cooking process again after creation and influence it, in particular via a user interface. The corresponding control signal can be generated by the user interface depending on the user input. By selecting the entertainment program by at least one user, it is not necessary, for example, to record and evaluate an entertainment history so that computing and storage capacity can be reduced. In addition, the user's ability to interact with the food processor may improve user comfort, especially if the user can intervene in the cooking management process at any time in order to take into account individual wishes regarding the planning of the cooking process.

According to another aspect of the invention, a kitchen machine is claimed to prepare food. The food processor has a control unit for electronic data processing. Furthermore, the control unit can be used to initiate a cooking management method in accordance with the invention, in particular to carry it out. The food processor can be advantageously an electromotive kitchen appliance, by which a cooking process can be carried out at least partially automatically. For this purpose, the kitchen appliance may comprise at least an agitator, a scale (for weight measurement) and/or a heating element to automatically mix and/or cook food. The initiation of the cooking management process can preferably be understood to mean that the cooking management process is triggered or started at the food processor. The further steps of the process can be carried out on the kitchen appliance itself or on an external server which is in communication with the kitchen appliance, for example via a network connection. In particular, it is also conceivable that the cooking management procedure may be carried out partly on the kitchen machine and partly on the server. If steps of the procedure are executed on the server, computing and storage capacity can be saved so that the control unit can be small. Furthermore, processing on a server can ensure that the processing steps and/or data are highly up-to-date, so that user comfort can be further improved. In addition, a food processor incorporating an invention has the same advantages as those described in detail in relation to a cooking management method incorporating an invention.

According to another aspect of the invention, a system for performing a cooking process is required. The system comprises a food processor, in particular according to the invention food processor, for preparing food and a server which can be connected to the food processor. Through the server, a cook management procedure according to the invention is at least partially or completely feasible. Thus, a system conforming to the invention has the same advantages as those described in detail with regard to a cooking management method conforming to the invention and/or a food processor according to the invention. The communication connection may preferably include a network connection, in particular an Internet connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In the following figures, the identical reference signs are used for the same technical characteristics, even for different embodiments.

FIG. 1shows a cooking management method100according to the invention in a schematic representation of the process steps in a first embodiment. The cooking management method100comprises establishing101a device connection30between food processor1and an entertainment device2and retrieving information102via an entertainment program201from the entertainment device2. In addition or alternatively, it may be provided that a compile103of a network connection31of the food processor1is established with a server3and104of data20is retrieved from the server3. The data20comprises in particular information via an entertainment program201and/or navigation data21of a user. This allows the information about the entertainment program201to be obtained from food processor1directly via device connection30from entertainment machine2or via network connection31. Preferably afterwards a purpose of the entertainment program201of the entertainment device2, which the user would like to use, is made. This may include, for example, a user interaction where receiving105.1of a selection by the user and/or receiving105.2of an influence on the planning of a cooking operation200may be provided. The user of food processor1can thus communicate his desired entertainment program201to food processor1, so that the further steps of the cooking management method100can be used to orient the preparation of food to entertainment program201, at least with regard to time planning. Based on the entertainment program201, there is further provided a determining106of a planning interval202during which the user is at least partially bound to the entertainment device2for enjoyment of the entertainment program201. For example, it is conceivable that information on interruptions to entertainment program201may be extracted from the selection of entertainment program201. In particular, the planning interval202can take into account several maintenance programs201with an idle in the meantime. Finally, depending on the planning interval202, a planning of the cooking process200is created107.

FIG. 2shows a schematic representation of a time planning over a time t, wherein the planning interval202is oriented to two entertainment programs201which the user has selected. Depending on the planning interval202, a start time200.1is then created for the cooking process200, at which preferably the first step for preparing a meal according to a predefined recipe is carried out. In addition, an intermediate level200.2is planned, in which a user interaction is necessary, in which the user is to add ingredients to food processor1, for example. Intermediate level200.2was set correspondingly to the time between entertainment programs201, so that intermediate level200.2is already reached when the first entertainment program201ends, but the user has sufficient time to perform the user interaction. Furthermore, an end time of200.2is planned, which corresponds to the end of the second entertainment program201, so that the user can eat the finished food afterwards. Thus an efficient and comfortable procedure is created, which integrates the cooking process200into the everyday life, in particular into the leisure time of the user. Preferably, additional data20can be used to determine106of the planning interval202and/or107of the planning of the cooking process200.

FIG. 3shows a system according to invention4showing a food processor1and a server3in a further embodiments in schematic representation. The food processor1is in communication connection with an entertainment device2via a device connection30and with the server3via a network connection31. Furthermore, the food processor1has a communication interface1.1to establish the appliance connection30and/or the network connection31. Finally, via the communication interface1.1, a control unit1.2of kitchen machine1receives data20, which can contain, for example, information about an entertainment program201, in order to initiate or carry out a cooking management method100according to the invention, in particular according to the first embodiment. It may be provided that only some process steps are carried out by food processor1, while others are carried out on server3. In order to obtain information about the entertainment program201for planning the cooking process200, various information sources10are accessible via the device connection30and/or the network connection31. Thus, the entertainment device2provides an electronic program guide13, which provides a selection of possible entertainment programs201and/or temporal information about these entertainment programs201. A further source of information10comprises a user interface10on the food processor1for manual input and/or selection of the desired entertainment program201. Furthermore, the server3provides an entertainment history12which is linked in particular to a user account and in which data of most recently viewed entertainment programs are stored. This ensures to calculate with a certain probability an entertainment program201that is likely to be desired by the user. In particular, entertainment device2is also in communication with server3via a further network connection31.1, so that server3can directly determine information about the entertainment programs201. Furthermore, the server can communicate with other sources of information10, such as a vehicle and/or a mobile device, such as a smartphone, of the user. For example, a user calendar15can be made available via the mobile device, via which activity data24can be taken into account when planning the cooking process200. Navigation data21can also be provided via the vehicle, for example, which can also be processed for planning the cooking process200.

FIG. 4shows a system4with a food processor1in another embodiment in schematic form. The food processor1receives data from 20 different information sources10, which are taken into account in the planning of a cooking process200. Activity data24on leisure activities, such as theatre visits or the like, of a user with a server3and/or the food processor1is exchanged via an information source10in the form of a smartphone of the user. Furthermore, the user can communicate a desired entertainment program201via the smartphone of kitchen machine1and/or server3. In addition, Server3receives a location23of the user via the smartphone in order to be able to compare this with traffic data22, which are obtained via an Internet service14, and public traffic data22.1, which are obtained from a public information source10.1. These data22,22.1,23can be bundled and/or further processed by server3in order to make navigation data21of the user available to the food processor1. This can be used, for example, to determine the user's arrival time and to compare, for example, whether sufficient time remains for cooking process200before the start of entertainment program201, or whether cooking process200should take place after and/or during entertainment program201.

FIG. 5shows a food processor1in another embodiment. The food processor1receives data20from multiple users, whereby, for example, navigation data21.1,21.2, activity data24.1,24.2assigned to each user and/or entertainment programs201.1,201.2desired by the individual users can be transmitted. This allows a cooking management to be carried out as efficiently as possible for a user community and to be adapted to the needs of the individual users in such a way that they do not collide with the needs of other users at all or only to a minor extent.

The preceding explanation of the embodiment describes the present invention exclusively in the context of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other, if technically reasonable, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST