Mobile application for controlling outdoor grill

Embodiments are directed to controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application and providing a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. In one scenario, a computer system receives an indication from a remote computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing system. The computer system provides a notification in the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and receives a user input at the software application indicating that certain functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system further generates instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions specified in the received user input, and sends the generated instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions. These functions are then interpreted and carried out on the electronically-controlled appliance via the hardware controller.

BACKGROUND

Outdoor appliances have long been used to prepare food and perform other tasks. For example, outdoor appliances such as grills and smokers are often used to prepare meats, vegetables, fruits, and other types of food. These grills and smokers are typically operated using manual controls that are integrated into the frame of the grill or smoker. For example, many such outdoor appliances have an ignition button that, when pressed, generates a spark near a gas outlet on a burner. The spark ignites the gas and the burner begins to create heat. The amount of heat is generally controlled using a dial or nob that allows more or less gas to be introduced at the burner.

In some cases, the outdoor appliances may have electronic controls. Thus, instead of having a manual dial to adjust the amount of gas being introduced at the burner, an electrical control is set or adjusted by the user. The electrical control then interacts with a solenoid or other electro-mechanical component to regulate the flow of gas to the burner. Still, however, as is the case with manual dials and nobs, the user of the outdoor appliance has to be present at the grill to make changes to settings on the grill.

To overcome this problem, some newly-manufactured outdoor appliances have been equipped with Bluetooth radios. These Bluetooth radios allow communication with nearby electronic devices including cell phones or tablets of the appliance's owner. Range limitations to the Bluetooth radio, however, necessitate that the user of the appliance still be within a certain proximity of the appliance. Once outside this proximity, the user no longer has any communication with the appliance, and thus cannot control any functionality related to the appliance. Moreover, even when connected to a mobile device, the appliance has very limited options as to what can be controlled over Bluetooth. Indeed, the appliance has no access to any information or control signals beyond the user's mobile device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein are directed to controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application and to providing a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. In one embodiment, a computer system receives an indication from a remote computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing system. The computer system provides a notification in the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and receives a user input at the software application indicating that certain functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance.

The computer system further generates instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions specified in the received user input, and sends the generated instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions. These functions are then interpreted and carried out on the electronically-controlled appliance via the hardware controller.

In another embodiment, a computer system provides a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. The user interface (UI) includes the following: a first input field configured to receive input indicating whether an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with remote computing systems, a notification field configured to indicate whether the electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing systems, and to further provide notifications indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and a second input field configured to receive input indicating that specified functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance.

The UI further includes an instruction generating indicator configured to indicate that instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance are being generated based on the functions specified in the received user input, and a transmission indicator configured to indicate that the instructions are being sent to the electronically-controlled appliance for performance of the specified functions, where the functions are interpreted and carried out by a hardware controller on the electronically-controlled appliance.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of embodiments described herein may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the embodiments described herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein are directed to controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application and to providing a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. In one embodiment, a computer system receives an indication from a remote computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing system. The computer system provides a notification in the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and receives a user input at the software application indicating that certain functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance.

The computer system further generates instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions specified in the received user input, and sends the generated instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions. These functions are then interpreted and carried out on the electronically-controlled appliance via the hardware controller.

In another embodiment, a computer system provides a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. The user interface (UI) includes the following: a first input field configured to receive input indicating whether an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with remote computing systems, a notification field configured to indicate whether the electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing systems, and to further provide notifications indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and a second input field configured to receive input indicating that specified functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance.

Embodiments described herein may implement various types of computing systems. These computing systems are now increasingly taking a wide variety of forms. Computing systems may, for example, be mobile phones, electronic appliances, laptop computers, tablet computers, wearable devices, desktop computers, mainframes, and the like. As used herein, the term “computing system” includes any device, system, or combination thereof that includes at least one processor, and a physical and tangible computer-readable memory capable of having thereon computer-executable instructions that are executable by the processor. A computing system may be distributed over a network environment and may include multiple constituent computing systems.

A computing system typically includes at least one processing unit and memory. The memory may be physical system memory, which may be volatile, non-volatile, or some combination of the two. The term “memory” may also be used herein to refer to non-volatile mass storage such as physical storage media or physical storage devices. If the computing system is distributed, the processing, memory and/or storage capability may be distributed as well.

As used herein, the term “executable module” or “executable component” can refer to software objects, routines, methods, or similar computer-executable instructions that may be executed on the computing system. The different components, modules, engines, and services described herein may be implemented as objects or processes that execute on the computing system (e.g., as separate threads). As described herein, a computing system may also contain communication channels that allow the computing system to communicate with other message processors over a wired or wireless network. Such communication channels may include hardware-based receivers, transmitters or transceivers, which are configured to receive data, transmit data or perform both.

Embodiments described herein also include physical computer-readable media for carrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or data structures. Such computer-readable media can be any available physical media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computing system.

Computer storage media are physical hardware storage media that store computer-executable instructions and/or data structures. Physical hardware storage media include computer hardware, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, solid state drives (“SSDs”), flash memory, phase-change memory (“PCM”), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other hardware storage device(s) which can be used to store program code in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures, which can be accessed and executed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computing system to implement the disclosed functionality of the embodiments described herein. The data structures may include primitive types (e.g. character, double, floating-point), composite types (e.g. array, record, union, etc.), abstract data types (e.g. container, list, set, stack, tree, etc.), hashes, graphs or any other types of data structures.

As used herein, computer-executable instructions comprise instructions and data which, when executed at one or more processors, cause a general-purpose computing system, special-purpose computing system, or special-purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or even source code.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles described herein may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computing system configurations, including, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, tablets, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The embodiments herein may also be practiced in distributed system environments where local and remote computing systems, which are linked (either by hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless data links) through a network, both perform tasks. As such, in a distributed system environment, a computing system may include a plurality of constituent computing systems. In a distributed system environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Still further, system architectures described herein can include a plurality of independent components that each contribute to the functionality of the system as a whole. This modularity allows for increased flexibility when approaching issues of platform scalability and, to this end, provides a variety of advantages. System complexity and growth can be managed more easily through the use of smaller-scale parts with limited functional scope. Platform fault tolerance is enhanced through the use of these loosely coupled modules. Individual components can be grown incrementally as business needs dictate. Modular development also translates to decreased time to market for new functionality. New functionality can be added or removed without impacting the core system.

Referring to the figures,FIG. 1illustrates an environment100in which at least one embodiment described herein may be employed. The environment100includes a computer system101. The computer system101may be any type of local or distributed computer system, including a cloud computer system. The computer system101includes a hardware processor102and physical system memory103. The computer system101further includes modules for performing a variety of different functions.

For instance, the communications module104may be configured to communicate with other computing systems (e.g. remote computing systems113). The communications module104may include any wired or wireless communication means that can receive and/or transmit data to or from other computing systems such as wired or wireless network interface cards. The communications module104may be configured to interact with databases, mobile computing devices (such as mobile phones or tablets), electronically-controlled appliances (e.g.115), embedded computing systems or other types of computing systems.

Indeed, in one embodiment, the computer system101may be a mobile computer system, and may be configured to communicate with remote computing systems113(e.g. cloud computing systems) and/or with electronically-controlled appliance115. The remote computing systems113may also be able to communicate with the electronically-controlled appliance115, either directly or through the (mobile) computer system101. The electronically-controlled appliance115may be any type of appliance or device that is electronically-controlled. For example, any device that is controlled by an electronic hardware controller116would be an electronically-controlled appliance115. The electronic hardware controller116may include computer memory that has instructions stored thereon for controlling the appliance or device.

In one example embodiment, the electronically-controlled appliance115is a grill or smoking appliance, although the embodiments described herein are not limited to such. The grill/smoker may be operated by the electronic hardware controller116. The controller116may be configured to control temperature, control cooking cycles, control fuel burn rate, monitor ambient temperature, or perform other functions. In some cases, the electronic hardware controller116may include or be communicatively connected to a radio such as a Bluetooth or WiFi radio that can wirelessly communicate with other computing systems (e.g.101and113). The electronic hardware controller116may control these communications, and may present a display to a user. The display may include a variety of information, including a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows interaction from an appliance user.

The computer system101may be configured to interact with the electronically-controlled appliance115through the communications module104. The computer system101further includes a software application instantiating module105that instantiates software application106on the computer system. The software application106may include a GUI for controlling the electronically-controlled appliance115. The GUI may provide various notifications, alerts, buttons, fields, prompts or other elements that allow monitoring and control of the electronically-controlled appliance115.

In one embodiment, the software application106provides a notification of availability107. The notification of availability107may indicate that the electronically-controlled appliance115is available to receive control instructions. These control instructions109may include, for example, an indication that a certain amount of fuel pellets are to be added to a smoker's combustion area, or that a specified amount of fuel (such as propane) is to be burned by a grill, or that a specified internal temperature is to be reached and maintained. The notification of availability107may indicate whether the electronically-controlled appliance115is available or not to receive such control instructions109.

If the notification of availability107indicates that the electronically-controlled appliance115is currently available to receive instructions, the user interface118may be displayed so that a user111may provide input112, indicating how the user wants to control the appliance. The user interface118may provide many different functions110that are controllable using the user interface. As mentioned above, these functions110may include substantially any function that the electronically-controlled appliance115is capable of (or is modified to be capable of) performing. For grill and smokers, this may include controlling burn rate, temperature, cooking cycle, fuel dispensing, controlling timers, accessing recipes, displaying probe temperatures or alerts, turning the device on or off, or other functions.

Other electronically-controlled appliances115such as ovens, refrigerators, blenders, toasters, dishwashers, coffee machines, mixers, bread makers, washers and dryers or other appliances may also be controlled using the software application106in a manner that is the same as or similar to that used to control a grill or smoker. The software application106may provide a notification of availability for the appliance, and the application may display a user interface for controlling functions of that appliance. As the inputs112are received from the user111, the instruction generator108may generate instructions that are specific to that device, and that are interpretable and understandable by the electronically-controlled appliance115. These control instructions109are then sent to the electronically-controlled appliance115to control the functions110specified by the user111.

In some cases, a user may control whether the electronically-controlled appliance115is permitted to communicate with other computing systems such as remote computing systems113. The electronically-controlled appliance115may send an indication117to the (mobile) computer system101, indicating that it wishes to communicate with one or more remote computing systems113(for example, to download a recipe). The user111may provide input112indicating whether the electronically-controlled appliance115is permitted to communicate with the remote computing systems113or not. If such communication is permitted by the user, the electronically-controlled appliance115may communicate with an access point (such as a router) that permits flow of data between the appliance115and the remote system113.

FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment in which a smoker202is controlled via a smart phone203(or rather via a software application running on the smart phone). The smart phone203may communicate with a cloud service201which, in turn, communicates with the smoker202. The cloud service201may provide data storage along with other features. The data storage may store, for example, recipes used by the smoker202to smoke meats, vegetables, fruits or other food items. Using the cloud service201, a customer or user may use their phone203, tablet, laptop, desktop or other computer system to control the functions of the smoker202.

The functionality may include smoker/grill monitoring including monitoring of the internal temperature, external ambient air temperature, probe temperature (e.g. from probes that communicate wirelessly), and alerts that may be raised by the grill or smoker. Other controls may include adjusting the temperature by adding more fuel, or allowing the existing fuel (such as pellets) to burn down so as to reduce the temperature, turning the device on or off or turning certain components on or off, controlling the timer or custom cooking cycles, or monitoring probe temperature alerts. Many more controls may be provided on the smart phone203, and the amount and type of controls may be updated over time to add new functionality.

As control inputs are received at the smart phone203(or other electronic device), they are passed to the cloud service201via a wired or wireless data transmission. The control inputs are then passed to the smoker/grill202directly or via an access point such as a WiFi router. In this manner, a user may be able to control their smoker/grill from substantially any location that has internet access. In some cases, the user may even be able to ignite the smoker/grill202remotely, while in other cases, such functionality may be disabled unless the user is within a specified distance of the grill, as determined by a GPS or Bluetooth geofence.

FIG. 3illustrates an environment similar to that ofFIG. 2in which a cloud service301links various devices including a smoker/grill302and a smart phone303or other electronic computing device. The cloud service301is also connected to various other services and systems including, but not limited to, data analytics, third party advertising, remote diagnostic services, eCommerce services, social media, customer service assistance and others. For example, usage data for the smoker/grill302may be uploaded to the cloud service301and stored in the global data storage.

This usage data (such as when the smoker was turned on, how long was it turned on, what temperature did it reach, what was the average internal temperature, what was the average external temperature, what cooking/smoking recipe was used, what controls were used and when or other operational usage data) may be analyzed by an analytics engine in combination with data from other users. As such, usage data from many different users may be logged and analyzed to identify broad patterns of use. These analytics may then be used to refine and improve future smokers or grills, or may be used for other purposes such as providing advertising.

In one example, the cloud service may track users' usage of the smoker/grill, and may determine which products or recipes may be of interest to a given user based on similarities between their usage of the grill and other's usage. The usage data may also be used to perform remote diagnostics of the smoker/grill302. For instance, the usage data may indicate that a user's grill temperature exceeded a normal operating temperature (e.g. due to a grease fire). As such, certain parts may have failed or may be likely to fail due to the extreme heat. Other usage data may indicate different problems that may be likely to occur as a result of how the user is using their grill. Usage data may also be sent to social media announcing successful implementation of a recipe, or announcing to party guests that a specified meat is smoking and will be ready at a certain time. Many other social media implementations may also be used as provided by the cloud service301.

FIG. 4illustrates an application workflow400for a software application such as application106ofFIG. 1. The application may run on a mobile device such as a phone or tablet or wearable device, or may be run on a desktop computing system or may be run through a web browser. It will be understood that the application workflow400is one example of an application workflow, and other embodiments and implementations are possible.

The application workflow400includes a home menu401that, on launch, shows the status of the grill (or other electronically-controlled appliance), the status of any probes in use, the status of any timers in use and any alerts. A first time setup may walk a user through connecting the grill to an access point (such as a WiFi access point), and linking the mobile device to the grill. The first time setup may also take the user through a tutorial on how to use the grill, or at least certain components of the grill. The home menu401may show any or all of the following: grill temperature, probe temperature, timer (if running), active alerts (e.g. a low pellet alert or an empty hopper alert), current cook cycle, current cook time-to-completion, startup delay time, or other information.

The application may have many different tabs and menus, including one or more of the following: a control menu402that allows users to control the grill's target temperature, control the grill's target probe temperatures, set or restart timers, set startup delays, remotely start or turn grill off, set alerts or perform other functionality. A cook cycles menu403may be provided which allows users to select from different cooking cycles (i.e. pre-programmed cooking routines that control temperature for a specified amount of time to cook or smoke the food item in a certain manner), save cooking cycles, upload cooking cycles to a cloud service (e.g.301ofFIG. 3), provide the user a play-by-play indicator of what is occurring during a cooking cycle, implement a certain cook cycle for a given food, browse and download recipes and/or cook cycles, provide access to a food warming cycle that keeps the food at a certain temperature for a specified time, or perform other functions.

The cook cycles menu403may have one or more submenus including a cook cycle creation menu409. The cook cycle creation menu409may allow a user to create his or her own custom cooking cycle. The custom cooking cycle can specify a given time to begin and end, a certain temperature to hold or change to throughout the cycle, various customizable triggers or conditions that may cause changes to the cooking cycle such as shortening or lengthening the cooking time, or increasing or decreasing internal grill temperature for a given length of time. The cook cycle creation menu409may allow a user to push the customized cooking cycle to the grill and have the grill begin implementation of the cycle. This customized cooking cycle may also be saved directly on the grill or in the cloud service301.

Other menus provided on the application workflow may include a settings menu404. The settings menu may allow a user to set up WiFi, Bluetooth or communication means on the grill. The settings menu404may also allow configuration settings to be accessed and changed. The settings menu404may further provide tutorial as well as other appliance- or application-specific settings that may be changed using the settings menu. A map menu or tab405may be provided which gives access to local retailers including pellet sellers or distributors, local butchers or farms for meat or vegetables, local events including barbeques or tailgate parties, or locations of nearby grill distributors. The map menu405may also provide other information that is specific to the appliance, such as a repair shop that specializes in repairs for that appliance.

A social media menu406may be provided which allows users to upload photos, recipes, videos or other media which may be of interest to other users. The social media tab may allow the user to post images or status updates to social media websites, including location pins, updates from the grill itself or other information. As such, the social media menu406allows users to share their grilling/smoking experience with others.

A recipes menu407allows users to browse recipes available online or through the cloud service301. When browsing these recipes, the user may select to download the recipes to their phone or other device. These recipes can be collected in a library and shared via social media. Users can sort the recipes, add their own recipes, add pictures to others' recipes or otherwise interact with the recipe database. A store menu408allows a user to purchase pellets, propane or other fuel, purchase sauces, rubs, grill accessories, grill parts or full grills/smokers. The store may be expanded to allow the purchase of food items or other items that may be used in conjunction with the grill. The concepts described above will be explained further below with regard to method500ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 5illustrates a flowchart of a method500for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application. The method500will now be described with frequent reference to the components and data of environment100ofFIG. 1.

In some embodiments, method500may begin with the act of receiving an initiation input that indicates that the software application is to be instantiated on a mobile device (510) and instantiating the software application on the mobile device (520). For example, a user111may provide input112at the (mobile) computer system101indicating that software application106is to be instantiated. The software application may be implemented to control functionality of the electronically-controlled appliance115. Once such an input is received, the computer system101may instantiate the software application, making it available for use by the user111.

Method500may further include receiving an indication at the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is attempting to communicate with one or more remote computing systems (530) and further receiving a user input at the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with the one or more remote computing systems (540). For instance, computer system101may receive indication114from remote computing systems113(e.g. from a cloud service) indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance115is attempting to communicate with them. The communication attempt may be for the purposes of downloading a recipe, for example. The software application106may provide a notification to the user indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance115is attempting communication with the remote computing systems113. The user111may then indicate whether such communication is permissible or not.

If so, then the electronically-controlled appliance, which is communicably connected to the remote computing systems113via a wired or wireless connection (such as through an access point) may begin communication with the remote computing systems. This permission may be valid for a given session, for a given period of time, or for a given purpose (e.g. downloading a recipe). Method500next includes receiving an indication from one or more remote computing systems indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the one or more remote computing systems (550).

One or more of the remote computing systems113may send an indication114to the computer system101indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance115communicably connected to the remote systems, after which the software application106may provide a notification107indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions (560). In some cases, the notification of availability107may be color-coded to indicate at a glance whether the electronically-controlled appliance115is available to receive instructions. For instance, if it is available, the notification107may be illustrated in green, while if the appliance115is not available, the notification107may be illustrated in red or in some other manner that clearly indicates the communication status.

Method500further includes receiving a user input at the software application indicating that one or more specified functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance (570). For example, user111may provide user input112that specifies various functions110that are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance115. The inputs may specify new instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance115, or changes to existing instructions.

The user's input112may cause the instruction generator108of the software application106to generate one or more control instructions109configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions110specified in the received user input (580). These control instructions109are then sent to the electronically-controlled appliance115to perform the functions. The electronic hardware controller116of the electronically-controlled appliance115then interprets and carries out the specified functions (590).

The software application106may be configured to display a user interface118that prompts the user111to provide demographic information such as name, age, address, gender, grilling preferences, grill serial number and/or other similar information. This demographic information may then be sent to a cloud platform (e.g. cloud service301ofFIG. 3) configured to register the electronically-controlled appliance to an account associated with the user. The account may store the user's information, appliances that are registered to the account, recipes associated with the user (e.g. recipes the user has uploaded, downloaded or “liked”), or other information associated with the user.

The software application106may be configured to receive information from the one or more remote computing systems113, and may be in continuous or continual communication with such systems. The received information may include data regarding the electronically-controlled appliance. This information associated with the electronically-controlled appliance115may include usage information, analytics data, remote diagnostic information or other types of data. The data may be displayed in the user interface118. The user interface118allows functions of the electronically-controlled appliance115to be monitored by a user and/or controlled by a user. Indeed, the user can use various buttons or input fields of the user interface to control functionality or establish monitors on the electronically-controlled appliance115.

In some cases, for example, the user interface118of the software application106allows recipes to be downloaded onto the computer system101and then provided to the electronically-controlled appliance115. The user interface118may additionally or alternatively provide alerts for timers, probes or temperature, or may allow the user to program or make changes to a custom smoking/cooking cycle. The custom cooking cycle may specify, for example, that a meat is to be smoked at a certain temperature (e.g. low) for nine hours, then at a different temperature (e.g. high) for two hours, and then kept warm until served. Many different cooking or smoking cycles may be established and stored on the grill/smoker itself, or on the cloud service.

A user (e.g.111) may send a customized smoking cycle to the electronically-controlled appliance115from anywhere in the world where the user has an internet connection. The electronically-controlled appliance115may receive the customized smoking cycle and begin initiating it by igniting the smoker and adding wood pellets from the hopper to the combustion area. The electronic hardware controller116on the electronically-controlled appliance115may receive the custom smoking cycle, interpret its associated instructions, and carry them out by activating an ignition switch or solenoid, by activating the hopper, or by performing other functions as necessary to carry out the customized smoking cycle.

The software application may provide a user interface118feature that allows the user111to save the customized smoking cycle to a data store on the remote computing systems113, to the electronically-controlled appliance115or to data storage on the (mobile) computer system101. The user interface118may further provide a feature that allows a user to initiate a recipe on the electronically-controlled appliance. The recipe may include a custom smoking/grilling cycle or may use a pre-programmed cooking cycle. The recipe may include specified smoking/grilling settings that are to be carried out by the electronically-controlled appliance115when preparing food according to that recipe.

The software application106facilitates communication between the remote computing systems113and the electronically-controlled appliance115. The software application106transmits data packets to and receives data packets from the remote computing systems113, and further transmits data packets to and receives data packets from the electronically-controlled appliance. The software application106thus enables communication between, for example, an internet site and a grill/smoker. A user using the application can select a chicken recipe on the application, and the application will communicate with the grill to run the correct cooking program. As such, the user111can control their electronically-controlled appliance115from anywhere in the world, and can allow that appliance to access internet- or cloud-provided functions directly, such as downloading or uploading recipes or custom cooking cycles.

In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided which includes one or more computer storage media having thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the computing system, cause the computing system to instantiate a user interface. One embodiment of this user interface is shown inFIG. 6.

A mobile computing device601such as a smart phone, tablet, laptop or wearable device may be configured to run software application602(which may be the same as or different than software application106ofFIG. 1). The software application602may include user interface603. The user interface may include a first input field604that is configured to receive input indicating whether an electronically-controlled appliance (e.g.115ofFIG. 1) is permitted to communicate with one or more remote computing systems (e.g.113). The first input field604may prompt the user to provide indicating whether they allow the electronically-controlled appliance115to communicate with the remote computer systems113(“Yes”605) or not (“No”606).

The user interface603of software application602may further include a notification field607configured to indicate whether the electronically-controlled appliance115is communicably connected to the one or more remote computing systems113(e.g. in connection status field608). The user interface603may further provide notifications indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance115is available to receive instructions (e.g. in input status field609). The instructions may come from user input at the mobile computing device601, or may come from the remote computing systems113.

The user interface603may also include a second input field610configured to receive input indicating that one or more specified functions (e.g.611A,611B, custom function611C, etc.) are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance115. The functions may include temperature monitoring and control, gas burn rate, hopper control for feeding pellets into the combustion area, timer control, or other functions. The user interface603may further provide an instruction generating indicator612configured to indicate that control instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance115are being generated based on the functions (e.g.611A) specified in the received user input. A transmission indicator613may indicate that the instructions are being sent to the electronically-controlled appliance115for performance of the specified functions. These functions are interpreted and carried out by the electronic hardware controller116on the electronically-controlled appliance.

The user interface603may also provide real-time additions or changes to custom cook cycles on the electronically-controlled appliance. As such, once a user has initiated a cooking/smoking cycle, the user may update that cooking cycle throughout the process and customize each part of the cooking if desired using the application602. In some cases, the software application602may receive temperature updates from a wireless cooking instrument (such as a wireless digital probe) implemented in conjunction with the electronically-controlled appliance. The user interface603may display these updates or alerts, and may request the user to perform an action such as turning the smoker to a keep warm state so as not to overcook the food.

Accordingly, methods, systems and computer program products are provided which control an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application. Moreover, methods, systems and computer program products are provided which provide a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance.