Patent Publication Number: US-9844103-B2

Title: Cooking assistance device, cooking assistance method, and cooking assistance system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a cooking assistance device, a cooking assistance method, and a cooking assistance system, and in particular, relates to a cooking assistance device and a cooking assistance system for providing information that assists cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Information that assists cooking utilizing a cooking appliance such as a microwave oven has been provided in various forms. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-107766 (PTL 1), an information terminal is disclosed which generates a recipe unique to the cook based on control information such as heating time from the cooking appliance. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-310431 (PTL 2), a technique is disclosed in which a host computer which stores information on the type of machine of each cooking device and the like provides, to another cooking device, a cooking sequence which is customized to a cooking device by acquiring information on operation content and a state of an object to be heated. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-187824 (PTL 3), a technique is disclosed in which an instruction to proceed to a subsequent cooking step is provided to a heating cooking device in accordance with information on a state of an object to be heated corresponding to the progress of cooking in the heating cooking device. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-107766. 
     PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-310431. 
     PTL 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-187824. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, the techniques disclosed in PTL 1 to PTL 3 are techniques in which control information of a cooking appliance is generated, but information that is referenced by a user who is cooking is not provided. Meanwhile, in a case where the user performs cooking using the cooking appliance, the user generally desires provision of information according to actual cooking conditions, which is difficult to be provided with a cookery book or the like. 
     The present disclosure is made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide information, according to actual cooking conditions, to a user who is cooking using a cooking appliance. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an aspect, there is provided a cooking assistance device for providing information that assists cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance. The cooking assistance device is provided with storage means for storing information which relates to power consumption in cooking, acquisition means for acquiring a measurement value which relates to power consumption of the cooking appliance, and output means for outputting the measurement value and the information which relates to power consumption in cooking. 
     Preferably the output means is configured to output recipe information. The information which relates to power consumption in cooking is associated with the recipe information. The measurement value is a value which relates to power consumption of the cooking appliance in a period which corresponds to the recipe information. 
     Preferably, the recipe information includes cooking information on a plurality of procedures. The information which relates to power consumption in cooking includes a value which relates to power consumption that relates to cooking which corresponds to at least one procedure among the plurality of procedures. The acquisition means is configured to acquire a measurement value relating to at least one of the plurality of procedures. The output means is configured to output the recipe information, the information which relates to power consumption in cooking, and the measurement value relating to at least one of the plurality of procedures. 
     Preferably, the information which relates to power consumption in cooking includes a value which relates to power consumption by each of two or more cooking devices which relate to cooking that corresponds to recipe information. The acquisition means acquires a value which relates to power consumption by each of the two or more cooking devices as the measurement value. 
     Preferably, information is generated according to the result of a comparison between the measurement value and the information which relates to power consumption in cooking. The output means is configured to further output information according to the comparison result. 
     According to another aspect, there is provided a cooking assistance method which is executed by a cooking assistance device for providing information that assists cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance. The cooking assistance device includes storage means for storing information which relates to power consumption in cooking. The method includes the steps of acquiring a measurement value which relates to power consumption of the cooking appliance, and outputting the measurement value and the information which relates to power consumption in cooking. 
     According to still another aspect, there is provided a cooking assistance device for providing information that assists cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance. The cooking assistance device includes storage means for storing information which relates to power consumption in cooking, acquisition means for acquiring a measurement value which relates to power consumption of the cooking appliance, and output means for outputting recipe information. The recipe information includes a first procedure and a second procedure which is a subsequent procedure to the first procedure. The output means is configured to output the second procedure in the recipe information after it is determined that the first procedure is complete in the cooking appliance based on comparison between the measurement value and the information which relates to power consumption in cooking. 
     According to still another aspect, there is provided a cooking assistance device for providing information that assists cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance. The cooking assistance device includes storage means, acquisition means for acquiring a measurement value which relates to power consumption of the cooking appliance, input means for receiving input of information which specifies recipe information, and control means for storing in the storage means, the measurement value which is acquired by the acquisition means and the recipe information which is input to the input means, while associating the measurement value and the recipe information with each other. 
     According to still another aspect, there is provided a cooking assistance system for providing information that assists cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance. The cooking assistance system includes a server, an output device, and a measurement device for measuring power consumption of the cooking appliance. The measurement device includes measurement means for measuring a value which relates to the power consumption of the cooking appliance, and first transmission means for transmitting a measurement result by the measurement means toward the server. The server includes storage means for storing information which relates to power consumption in cooking, acquisition means for acquiring a measurement value which relates to power consumption of the cooking appliance from the measurement result, and second transmission means for transmitting data for outputting the measurement value and the information which relates to power consumption in cooking to the output device. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide information, according to actual cooking conditions, to a user who is cooking using a cooking appliance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an outline configuration of a network system. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram representing an outer appearance of a repeater. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the repeater. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a tap. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram representing a hardware configuration of the tap. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram representing a hardware configuration of a tablet terminal. 
         FIG. 7  is a hardware block diagram of a server. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image of recipe information which is displayed on the tablet terminal. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on the tablet terminal by a cooking assistance application. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of recipe information which is utilized in a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is an example of an image which is displayed using an appliance registration application, and illustrates a tap which is linked to the repeater. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram for describing selection of the type of home appliances from a list which is prepared in advance in the appliance registration application. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed for inputting a start instruction of power measurement. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed during measurement of power. 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a process by the cooking assistance application. 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart of a process by the cooking assistance application of a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating an example of recipe information which is generated in a fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating a modification example of an image which is displayed by the cooking assistance application. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed by the cooking assistance application on a cooking method comparison menu. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating another example of an image which is displayed by the cooking assistance application on a cooking method comparison menu. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of a cooking assistance device and a cooking assistance system will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description below, the same components are assigned the same reference numerals. The designations and functions are also the same. Accordingly, detailed description is not repeated. 
     First Embodiment 
     &lt;A. Network System Summary&gt; 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an outline configuration of a network system. The network system in  FIG. 1  includes a home network Z and a home network E as well as a network  800  outside and a server  900 . 
     In the first embodiment, in the home, a tablet terminal  100  generates information for assisting cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance such as a microwave oven or an induction heating (IH) cooking appliance. A summary of the configuration of the network system will be described below. In the present specification, a “cooking appliance” may also be referred to as a “cooking device”. 
     An in-home portion within the network system will be described. The network Z indicates a low-speed wireless communication network (for example, ZigBee (registered trademark)). The network E indicates a high-speed communication network (for example, Ethernet (registered trademark), WiFi (registered trademark), or a combination of the two are assumed). Here, in the present example, a network is described using the system described above, but the network is not particularly limited. For example, it is possible to use Z-WAVE (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), a specified low-power wireless, or the like in the network Z, in addition, it is also possible to use power line communications (PLC) or the like in the network E. 
     The network Z includes a repeater  300 , a tap  600 , and a current transformer (CT) sensor unit  500  (hereinafter referred to as a “sensor unit  500 ”), and various other appliances. The network E includes the repeater  300  and a broadband router  200  (hereinafter referred to as a “router  200 ”), and the tablet terminal  100 , and various other appliances. The repeater  300  is included in both networks of the network Z and the network E. In addition, the repeater  300  has a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) server function. A microwave oven  410  which is an example of the cooking appliance is connected to the tap  600 . The tap  600  is a power consumption measuring instrument which measures the power consumption of a connected home appliance (the microwave oven  410 ), and it is possible to transmit information which represents the measured power consumption to the repeater  300 . 
     A power plug of the microwave oven  410  is plugged into a socket of the tap  600 . The tap  600  is attached to an outlet  710  which is installed in the home. The outlet  710  is connected to a switchboard  750 . Thereby, the tap  600  is fed power via the outlet  710 . In addition, the microwave oven  410  is fed power via the outlet  710  and the tap  600 . 
     The power plug of an IH cooker  420  is attached to the outlet (not shown in the diagram) which is connected to the switchboard  750 . Thereby, the IH cooker  420  is fed power via the outlet. A CT sensor  720  is attached on a circuit between the outlet and the switchboard  750 . The CT sensor  720  measures a current value which is supplied to the IH cooker  420 , and is wiredly or wirelessly connected to the sensor unit  500 . In the system in  FIG. 1 , a value of power which is supplied to the IH cooker  420  is calculated based on the current value which is detected by the CT sensor  720 . The calculation of the value of the power is executed in, for example, the CT sensor  720 , the sensor unit  500 , the tablet terminal  100 , or the server  900 . 
     Each of the repeater  300 , the sensor unit  500 , and the tap  600  is provided with a low-speed wireless communication module. The low-speed wireless communication network Z (hereinafter referred to simply as the “network Z”) includes the repeater  300 , the sensor unit  500 , and the tap  600 . The repeater  300  is connected to the router  200  using Ethernet, functions as a bridge (media conversion device) or a gateway (protocol conversion device) between the network Z and the network E, and performs low-speed wireless communication between the sensor unit  500  and the tap  600 . 
     The tablet terminal  100  performs communication with the repeater  300  via the router  200 . The tablet terminal  100  is connected to the router  200  using WiFi. Here, the tablet terminal  100  may be connected to the router  200  using Ethernet. 
     The tablet terminal  100  is able to perform various display which relates to the power consumption of the home appliance such as the microwave oven  410  or the IH cooker  420 . The various display includes display of the value of the power consumption of each home appliance. 
     An example which uses ZigBee, as the network Z, that is one short-range wireless communication standard for home appliances will be described. 
     &lt;B. Repeater  300  Configuration&gt; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram representing an outer appearance of the repeater  300 .  FIG. 2(A)  to  FIG. 2(C)  are included in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2(A)  is a perspective view of the repeater  300 .  FIG. 2(B)  is a side surface view of the repeater  300 .  FIG. 2(C)  is a main section enlarged view of another side surface of the repeater  300 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2(A) , the repeater  300  is provided with a light emitting section  303  and an antenna  307 . The light emitting section  303  is configured by three light emitting diodes (LED)  303 A,  303 B, and  303 C for displaying an operation state or the like of the repeater  300 . 
     The LED  303 A is a light-emitting element (power LED) for displaying the ON or OFF state of the power of the repeater  300 . The LED  303 B is a light-emitting element (tap LED) for displaying a communication state of the tap  600 . The LED  303 C is a light-emitting element (router LED) for displaying a communication state of the router  200 . 
     The antenna  307  is used for communicating with the sensor unit  500  and the tap  600 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2(B) , the repeater  300  is further provided with a push button  308  on a surface on the opposite side to a surface on which the light emitting section  303  is provided. The push button  308  is a button for transitioning the repeater  300  to a join permitted state (join mode) or a leave mode. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2(C) , the repeater  300  is further provided with a slide switch  309  on a surface which is different to the surface on which the light emitting section  303  is provided and the surface on which the push button  308  is provided. The slide switch  309  slides by a user operation. The slide switch  309  is able to be positioned at any one of a JOIN position, a no operation (NOP) position, and a LEAVE position. Here, when the push button  308  is pressed, the slide switch  309  is used to select the join permitted state or the leave mode for the repeater  300 . The slide switch  309  is set at the NOP position during normal use. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the repeater  300 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the repeater  300  is provided with a control section  301 , the light emitting section  303 , a high-speed communication interface section  304 , a power supply section  305 , a wireless radio frequency (RF) built-in communication controller section  360 , the antenna  307 , the push button  308 , the slide switch  309 , and a reset switch which is not shown in the drawings. 
     The wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  361 , a read only memory (ROM)  362 , a random access memory (RAM)  363 , a general purpose input/output (GPIO)  364 , a wireless RF section  365 , and a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART)  366  for communicating with the control section  301 . 
     In the first embodiment, the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360  is described as operating as a ZigBee coordinator. In another embodiment, the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360  may be operated as a ZigBee router. In that case, the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360  is set so as to be normally receivable from another communication device which is on the network Z. 
     In addition, the ROM  362 , the RAM  363 , the UART  366 , the GPIO  364 , and the wireless RF section  365  are respectively connected to the CPU  361 . 
     The wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360  is connected to the antenna  307 . The wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360  controls communication with the communication device which is on the network Z. Here, the ROM  362  is typically configured using an NVRAM. 
     The control section  301  is provided with a CPU with high-performance in comparison to the CPU  361 , and is abundant in memory. The repeater  300  is able to realize advanced information processing by such configuration. 
     The high-speed communication interface section  304  is an interface for performing communication with the router  200  using Ethernet or WiFi. The power supply section  305  supplies power to the control section  301  and the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360 . 
     The control section  301  is connected to the light emitting section  303 , the high-speed communication interface section  304 , the power supply section  305 , the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  360 , the push button  308 , and the slide switch  309 . The control section  301  controls the overall operation of the repeater  300 . The control section  301  receives input from the push button  308  and slide switch  309 . In addition, the control section  301  outputs an output instruction to the light emitting section  303 . 
     In the network system in  FIG. 1 , the tablet terminal  100  acquires the measurement result of the power consumption in the tap  600  via the repeater  300 . Here, in the system, as a preparation in advance, a process to link the repeater  300  and the tap  600  is carried out in order to specify that the measurement result which is acquired by the repeater  300  is detected in the tap  600 , that is, the result is the power consumption of the home appliance (in  FIG. 1 , the microwave oven  410 ) to which power is supplied via the tap  600 . In the present specification, the process is referred to as a “pairing”. 
     The summary of the operation for pairing by the user is described. First, the user slides the slide switch  309  from the NOP position to the JOIN position. After this, the user presses the push button  308 . Thereby, the repeater  300  is in a join permitted state for a time which is set in advance (for example, sixty seconds). Here, during this time, the control section  301  causes the light emitting section  303  to emit light in a state which is set in advance. Then, in the join permitted state of the repeater  300  and by the user inserting the tap  600  into the outlet  710 , “pairing” is performed between the repeater  300  and the tap  600 . 
     &lt;C. Tap  600  Configuration&gt; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tap  600 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the tap  600  is provided with the socket  601  for inserting a plug, a plug  602 , an LED  605 , and a setting button  606 . When using the tap, the user inserts the plug  602  into the outlet which is installed in the home while inserting the home appliance power plug into the socket  601  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). Here, the form of the socket  601  is determined according to the form of the home appliance power plug to be connected. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram representing a hardware configuration of the tap  600 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , the tap  600  is provided with the socket  601 , the plug  602 , a shunt resistor  603 , a power supply section  604 , the LED  605 , the setting button  606 , the antenna  607 , a power sensor section  610 , a wireless RF built-in communication controller section  620 , a wire  631 , a wire  632 , and a wire  633 . 
     The power sensor section  610  includes a voltage input ADC section  611 , a current input ADC section  612 , a multiplier  613 , and a digital/frequency conversion section  614 . The wireless RF built-in communication controller section  620  includes a CPU  621 , a ROM  622 , a RAM  623 , a GPIO  624 , and a wireless RF section  625 . 
     The wire  632  and the wire  633  are connected by the shunt resistor  603 . The shunt resistor  603  is a minute (several hundred micro Ω) resistor which is used in order to measure the current. 
     The socket  601  and the plug  602  are connected by the wires  631  to  633  and the shunt resistor  603 . The wire  631  is connected to one terminal of the plug  602  and one terminal of the socket  601 . The wire  632  is connected to the other terminal of the plug  602  and one end section of the shunt resistor  603 . The wire  633  is connected to the other terminal of the socket  601  and the other end section of the shunt resistor  603 . 
     The power supply section  604  is connected to the wire  632 . The power supply section  604  converts the alternating current to a direct current. The power supply section  604  applies the direct current power, which is obtained by conversion, to the power sensor section  610  and the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  620 . 
     The voltage input ADC section  611  is connected to the wire  631  and the wire  632 . The voltage input ADC section  611  outputs the voltage (potential difference) between the wire  631  and the wire  632  to the multiplier  613  in a digital signal. 
     The current input ADC section  612  is connected to the wire  632  and the wire  633 . The current input ADC section  612  outputs the current value of the current, which flows to the shunt resistor  603 , to the multiplier  613  in the digital signal. 
     The multiplier  613  multiplies the output from the voltage input ADC section  611  and the output from the current input ADC section  612 , and the digital signal which is obtained by multiplying is output to the digital/frequency conversion section  614 . 
     The digital/frequency conversion section  614  converts the input digital signal to a frequency signal. The digital/frequency conversion section  614  outputs the frequency signal, which is obtained by conversion, to the GPIO of the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  620 . 
     The CPU  621  carries out data conversion on the frequency signal which is acquired from the GPIO. The wireless RF section  625  transmits the signal, which is obtained by data conversion, to the repeater  300  using the antenna  607 . 
     A program or the like which is executed by the CPU  621  is stored in the ROM  622 . Here, the ROM  622  is typically configured using an NVRAM. 
     The LED  605  represents the data process state of the tap  600  using color or the like which is caused to blink or be lit. The setting button  606  is used for initial setting or the like of the tap  600  by the user. 
     In the first embodiment, the wireless RF built-in communication controller section  620  is described as operating as a router. 
     &lt;D. Tablet Terminal  100  Configuration&gt; 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram representing a hardware configuration of the tablet terminal  100 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the tablet terminal  100  includes a CPU  110 , a touch screen  120 , a timepiece  130 , a memory  140 , a button  150 , and a communication interface  160 , a speaker  170 , and a microphone  180  (hereinafter referred to as a “mic  180 ”). The touch screen  120  is configured by a display  121  and a touch panel (tablet)  122 , and the touch panel  122  is laid on the surface of the display  121 . However, the tablet terminal  100  may not include the touch panel  122 . 
     The memory  140  is realized by various RAM, ROM, flash memories, hard disks, and the like. The memory  140  stores an OS and various programs which are executed by the CPU  110 , and various data tables such as tables which are read by the CPU  110 . For example, an application for performing setting (resetting) with respect to the tap  600  is stored in a flash memory which is a non-volatile memory in the memory  140 . Here, the application performs setting of the tap  600  according to a request from the user. 
     The CPU  110  executes various information processing and the like by executing various programs which are stored in the memory  140 . Here, the program is not only a program which is directly executable by the CPU, and includes a source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like. 
     The display  121  displays, for example, power consumption of each microwave oven  410  by controlling using the CPU  110 . The touch panel  122  detects a touch operation of finger of a user, and inputs touch coordinates and the like to the CPU  110 . The CPU  110  receives a command from the user via the touch panel  122 . 
     The button  150  is disposed on the surface of the tablet terminal  100 . A plurality of buttons such as a decision key, a direction key, and a numeric key may be disposed on the tablet terminal  100 . The button  150  receives a command from the user. The button  150  inputs the command from the user to the CPU  110 . 
     The communication interface  160  communicates with the repeater  300  via the router  200  by controlling using the CPU  110 . As described above, the communication interface  160  communicates with the router  200  using, for example, WiFi. 
     The speaker  170  outputs speech based on the command from the CPU  110 . For example, the CPU  110  causes the speaker  170  to output speech based on speech data. The timepiece  130  inputs the current time and date to the CPU  110  based on the command from the CPU  110 . 
     The mic  180  generates speech data based on external speech, and outputs the speech data to the CPU  110 . 
     The CPU  110  executes various information processing and the like by executing various programs which are stored in the memory  140 . In other words, the processing in the tablet terminal  100  is realized using each of hardware, and software which is executed by the CPU  110 . There are cases where such software is stored in the memory  140  in advance. In addition, there are also cases where the software is stored in a storage medium and is distributed as a program product. Alternatively, there are also cases where the software is provided as a downloadable program product by a so-called Internet connected information provider. 
     Such software is read from the storage medium using a reading device which is not shown in the drawings, or alternatively, downloaded using the communication interface  160 , and temporarily stored in the memory  140 . The CPU  110  stores the software in an executable program format in the memory  140 , then executes the program. 
     Here, as the storage medium, a medium (non-temporary medium) which stores the program in a non-volatile manner is given such as a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk read only memory (DVD-ROM), a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a memory card, a flexible disk (FD), a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a cassette tape, a magnetic optical disc (MO), a mini disc (MD), an integrated circuit (IC) card (except a memory card), an optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM, and an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). 
     &lt;E. Server  900  Configuration&gt; 
       FIG. 7  is a hardware block diagram of the server  900 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the server  900  includes an input device  911 , a display device  912 , a processor  913 , an internal storage device  914 , a main memory  915 , and a high-speed communication interface section  916 . 
     For example, the input device  911  is configured by a keyboard, is operated by an operator of the server  900 , and outputs a signal to the processor  913  according to the user operation. The display device  912  displays an image on a screen. The displayed image is, for example, an image which indicates the operation state of server  900 . The display device  912  is able to be realized by a known display device such as a liquid crystal display apparatus. 
     The processor  913  functions as an arithmetic processing unit by executing a computer program. In particular, the processor  913  includes an input information processing section  913 A for processing information which is input from the outside, and an output information generating section  913 B for generating information externally by processing the information which is input from the outside. 
     In the present specification, the processing which is executed by the server  900  is realized by software which is executed by each hardware and the processor  913 . There are case where such software is stored in the internal storage device  914  in advance. In addition, there are also cases where the software is stored in a storage medium and is distributed as a program product. Alternatively, there are also cases where the software is provided as a downloadable program product by a so-called Internet connected information provider. Here, the program is not only a program which is directly executable by the CPU, and includes a source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like. 
     A computer program which is executed by the processor  913  is stored in the internal storage device  914 . The internal storage device  914  is a medium which stores the program in a non-volatile manner and non-temporarily such as, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB memory, a memory card, an FD, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a cassette tape, an MO, an MD, an IC card (except a memory card), an optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM, a EEPROM. 
     The main memory  915  temporarily stores various data. The main memory  915  is, for example, a pseudo static random access memory (PSRAM). 
     The high-speed communication interface section  916  is an interface for performing communication with the router  200  using Ethernet or WiFi. The high-speed communication interface section  916  communicates with another apparatus via a network  800 . Thereby, in addition to the home networks which include the network E and the network Z, the server  900  is able to communicate with home networks  810 ,  820 , and  830  which are separate from the above home networks. 
     &lt;F. Process Summary&gt; 
     As described above, in the first embodiment, the tablet terminal  100  provides information that assists cooking using at least one of the microwave oven  410  and the IH cooker  420  based on the measurement result of the power consumption of at least one of the microwave oven  410  and the IH cooker  420 . A summary of the process for providing the information will be described. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image of recipe information which is displayed on the tablet terminal  100 . An image  1000  in  FIG. 8  includes description of each of ten procedures which are included in the recipe information. In  FIG. 8 , description of the ten procedures is indicated by images which are given numbers “1” to “10” in combination with explanatory text. Each description includes the image which indicates the cooking conditions and the explanatory text. Here, in the recipe information, it is not necessary for the description of all procedures to include both the image and explanatory text. The description of each procedure includes at least one of the image and explanatory text. 
     The image  1000  includes a related information button  1001 . The related information button  1001  is operated in order to output the description to each procedure. When the related information button  1001  is operated on the tablet terminal  100 , a specific application (hereinafter referred to as a “cooking assistance application”) is started up. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on the tablet terminal  100  by the cooking assistance application. The image  1100  in  FIG. 9  includes explanation  1110 , procedure information  1120 , power information  1130 , general information  1140 , and additional information  1150 . 
     The cooking assistance application switches display on the tablet terminal  100  in each procedure in the plurality of procedures which are included in a recipe on a menu which is a display target. The explanation  1110  describes the procedure which is the display target. In  FIG. 9 , a fifth procedure on a cooking menu is the display target. Then, the explanation  1110  includes explanatory text and the image in order to describe the fifth procedure. In more detail, the explanation  1110  includes the explanatory text “When the color of the chicken starts to change, add the carrots and mushrooms and continue to fry.”, and an image which represents cooking conditions according to the explanatory text (an image which represents a case where the chicken, carrots, and mushrooms are fried in a frying pan). 
     The procedure information  1120  indicates the procedure number which is the display target. In  FIG. 9 , in the procedure information  1120 , the procedure number which is the display target is displayed in a different mode (for example, with a different display color) from the other numbers. 
     The power information  1130  includes reference power information  1131  and user power information  1132 . The reference power information  1131  and the user power information  1132  indicate the power consumption which relates to cooking of the procedure which is the display target. In further detail, the reference power information  1131  indicates the power consumption when cooking of the procedure is carried out by a teacher who is the model for cooking. The user power information  1132  indicates power consumption in cooking by the user. Here “user” is, for example, a user who uses (logs into) the tablet terminal  100 . “Power consumption in cooking by the user” is power consumption by an appliance which is determined that the user is using in cooking, and in the present embodiment, is power consumption of at least one of the microwave oven  410  and the IH cooker  420 . 
     For example, the user starts up the cooking assistance application during actual cooking, and carries out cooking while referencing the information which is output by the application. The tablet terminal  100  acquires a value of the “power consumption in cooking by the user” in real time (for example, every four to five seconds) while outputting explanation of the procedure. Then, the tablet terminal  100  displays the information as the user power information  1132  based on the value of the acquired power consumption. Thereby, there are cases where the user power information  1132  is changed in real time. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 9 , the reference power information  1131  includes cooking time (3 mins) and a graph which represents time change of the power consumption so as to describe “teacher cooking time”. The user power information  1132  includes cooking time and a graph which represents the time change of the power consumption of the user of the tablet terminal  100  so as to describe “your cooking time”. The cooking assistance application is able to extend the graph in the user power information  1132  as time passes so as to supplement the measurement result of the power consumption which is newly acquired. 
     The reference power information  1131  further includes an image (for example, a picture of a flame) in which the display mode is changed according to the size of the value of the power consumption so as to be displayed as “teacher power consumption”. In addition, the user power information  1132  further includes an image (for example, a picture of a flame) in which the display state is changed according to the size of the power consumption so as to be displayed as “your power consumption”. Since the amount of the power consumption of the reference power information  1131  is greater than the power consumption of the user power information  1132 , in  FIG. 9 , among the two pictures of flames of the power information  1130 , the picture of the flame of the reference power information  1131  is larger than the picture of the flame of the user power information  1132 . 
     The general information  1140  includes information which represents a comparison to history of required time and power consumption in the current cooking. In more detail, the general information  1140  includes a display column  1141  and a display column  1142 . The display column  1141  indicates the time from the start up of display of the explanation of the first procedure to the current display target procedure in the current cooking. The display column  1142  indicates the power consumption from the start up of display of the explanation of the first procedure to the current display target procedure. Here, the display column  1142  displays a value of power in a state in which the value is converted according to a given formula to be displayed in a given unit (“POINTS” in  FIG. 9 ). 
     A comparative example of the value of past power consumption on a menu which is an output target is indicated below each of the display column  1141  and the display column  1142 . The value of past power consumption is a measurement result of power consumption which is obtained during past cooking by the user of the tablet terminal  100 . The user of the tablet terminal  100  is a user who logs in to the tablet terminal  100  (or the cooking assistance application). 
     In a case where the time until procedure 5 is reached is 30 mins in the current cooking and is 40 mins in the previous cooking, a message is displayed saying so below the display column  1141 . According to  FIG. 9 , an example of the message is “10 mins shorter than 6/27”. Furthermore, a graph for indicating a shorter time is displayed below the display column  1141 . 
     In a case where a cumulative value of power consumption up to procedure 4 in current cooking is a reduced value corresponding to “50 POINTS” from the value corresponding to previous cooking, a message is displayed saying so below the display column  1142 . According to  FIG. 9 , an example of the message is “50 points better than 6/27”. Furthermore, a graph for indicating the size of the value of the reduced power consumption is displayed below the display column  1142 . 
     The additional information  1150  displays information which indicates a given evaluation with respect to content of the current cooking, and includes a display column  1151  and a display column  1152 . The display column  1151  represents a cooking level. It is possible to determine the cooking level, for example, using required time. For example, if the actual required time is equal to or less than the required time which is included in the data which is the model, the cooking level is determined to be “GOOD”. When the actual required time exceeds the time which is the model, the cooking level “Need Improvement” is determined. 
     Here, cases where information other than the evaluation is displayed in the display column  1151  are possible. The tablet terminal  100  receives the input of the information which is related to the recipe information, during output of the recipe information (or at another timing). The user inputs amendments to the recipe information, matters for the user to be aware of upon cooking, and the like in the tablet terminal  100  as the information which is related to the recipe information. The CPU  110  stores the input information as a portion of, for example, common data of “user power data” (refer to  FIG. 10 ). 
     Cases where such information is input in each procedure are also possible. In a case where such information is input in each procedure, the CPU  110  stores the information as a portion of each procedure of “user power data”. It is possible for the information which is input in each procedure to be displayed along with content of each procedure. 
     The display column  1152  displays advice for improving the cooking level. The advice may be constant in each menu or regardless of the menu, and may be modified in each menu according to the cooking level. 
     An example is described above in which the recipe explanation is output by a mode of “display”. Here, the output mode of the explanation of the recipe in the tablet terminal  100  is assumed to be: display only, speech only, a combination of both, or the like, or another output mode which is able to be considered. In addition, the explanation of all of the procedures may have the same output mode, or the output mode of the explanation in each procedure may be different. 
     &lt;G. Recipe Information&gt; 
     As above, the cooking assistance application outputs the explanation of each of the plurality of procedures which are included in the menu. An example of the information which is used for outputting the explanation in each procedure is described with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of recipe information which is utilized in the first embodiment. 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , the recipe information includes data common to the recipe (common data), and data of each of the plurality of procedures (procedure 1, procedure 2, procedure 3, . . . ) which are included in the recipe (menu). In more detail, the recipe information includes common data and data of each procedure with respect to each of “content”, “related information”, “model data”, and “user power data”. 
     The “content” is data for displaying the explanation. In more detail, the “content” of the common data includes data for displaying the image  1000  in  FIG. 8 , and is indicated as “Data-G- 1 ” in  FIG. 10 . There are cases where the “content” of the common data includes information which is displayed in the additional information  1150  in  FIG. 9 . The “content” of each procedure includes data for displaying the image  1100  in  FIG. 9 , and is indicated by “Data-A- 1 ”, “Data-A- 2 ”, and the like in  FIG. 10 . Here, there are cases where the “content” includes speech data. 
     The “related information” is information which is output in a case of being requested by the user (for example, in a case where the user performs a special operation). For example, the common data of the “related information” includes information which is related to the menu itself (for example, an episode or the like related to the menu), and is indicated by “Data-R-G” in  FIG. 10 . The “related information” of each procedure includes at least one of the image and speech for outputting the detailed explanation of each procedure, and is indicated by “Data-R- 1 ”, “Data-R- 2 ”, and the like in  FIG. 10 . 
     The “model data” is information on the user which is a model. In more detail, the common data of “model data” includes information which is specified by the user themself which is a model, and is indicated by “Data-TX” in  FIG. 10 . The “model data” of each procedure is information which specifies a value of power consumption of the cooking appliance which is used by the user when cooking of each procedure is performed, and is indicated by “Data-T- 1 ”, “Data-T- 2 ”, and the like in  FIG. 10 . 
     The “user power data” is information on the user of the tablet terminal  100 . In more detail, the common data of the “user power data” includes information which is specified by the user themselves of the tablet terminal  100 , and is indicated by “Data-U-G” in  FIG. 10 . The “user power data” of each procedure is information which specifies a value of power consumption of the cooking appliance which is used by the user when cooking of each procedure is performed, and is indicated by “Data-U- 1 ”, “Data-U- 2 ”, and the like in  FIG. 10 . 
     The “user power data” of each procedure is time which corresponds to a value of each power consumption, and includes information which specifies elapsed time after the cooking is started based on the recipe information which is exemplified in  FIG. 10 . The CPU  110  is able to acquire time by referencing the timepiece  130 . For example, the CPU  110  stores time from a point in time at which the menu is selected to a point in time at which each value of the power consumption is measured in step S 10 , which will be described later with reference to  FIG. 15 , as the “information which specifies the elapsed time” described above. 
     &lt;H. Process Flow&gt; 
     In the first embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , each menu process is displayed. Furthermore, the explanation of each procedure is displayed along with the information on power consumption in cooking by the user. In order to display in this manner, in the first embodiment, the following two processes are executed. 
     1) Linking of measurement device and cooking appliance 
     2) Display process utilizing cooking assistance application 
     The flow of each process will be described below. 
     (H-1. Linking of Measurement Device and Cooking Appliance) 
     In the tablet terminal  100 , the measurement device and the cooking appliance are linked using an application for registering the cooking appliance (hereinafter referred to as an “appliance registration application”). The linking includes a process for linking the tap  600  and the cooking appliance, and a process for linking the sensor unit  500  and the cooking appliance. 
     The process for linking the tap  600  and the cooking appliance will be described. In the first embodiment, the repeater  300  and the tap  600  are linked by the “pairing” described above. The tablet terminal  100  acquires information on the tap  600  which is linked to the repeater  300  by communicating with the repeater  300  in the appliance registration application. Then, the tablet terminal  100  receives the input of information on the cooking appliance, and generates information which links the measurement device and the cooking appliance by associating the input information with the information on the tap  600 . Here, the tablet terminal  100 , for example, communicates with the repeater  300  via the router  200 . 
       FIG. 11  is an example of an image which is displayed using the appliance registration application, and illustrates the tap  600  which is linked to the repeater  300 . In  FIG. 1 , only one tap (the tap  600 ) is illustrated, but cases in which two or more taps are included in the cooking assistance system are possible. Information on five taps is illustrated in the image  1910  in  FIG. 11 . 
     In more detail, “tap identification number”, “floor”, “room”, and “appliance” are indicated for each tap in the image  1910 . The “tap identification number” is information which is acquired from the repeater  300 . The repeater  300  acquires the identification number of the tap  600  from the tap  600  in the pairing, and transmits the identification number to the tablet terminal  100 . “Floor”, “room”, and “appliance” are information which is input by the user. The user inputs information which indicates whether each tap is disposed on the same floor in the home as a corresponding tap “floor”. In addition, the user inputs information which indicates whether each tap is disposed in the same room in the home or the like as a corresponding tap “room”. In addition, the user inputs information which indicates the type of home appliance which is connected to each tap as a corresponding tap “appliance”. 
     During the input of the information on each tap which is displayed in the image  1910 , first, the user, for example, selects one tap. The information on the selected tap is displayed in a color which is different from the information on the other taps so as to be indicated in the image  1910  in  FIG. 11 . 
     The type of home appliance which is connected to the tap may be directly input by the user, and may be selected from a list which is prepared in advance in the appliance registration application.  FIG. 12  is a diagram for describing various selections of home appliances from the list which is prepared in advance in the appliance registration application. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , when an operation is performed in which the user requests display from the list, a list image  1911  is displayed on the image  1910 . The list image  1911  includes a list which includes two or more types of home appliances. The user registers the information on the “appliance” which corresponds to each tap by selecting the type of home appliance from the list. 
     The process for linking the sensor unit  500  and the cooking appliance will be described. The tablet terminal  100  is able to communicate with the sensor unit  500  via the repeater  300 . In addition, the tablet terminal  100 , utilizes information which is received from the sensor unit  500 , or alternatively, utilizes the information which is input from the user to store the information which specifies the sensor unit  500  in the memory  140  or the like. Furthermore, the tablet terminal  100  utilizes the information or the like which is input from the user to store the information which specifies the IH cooker  420  in the memory  140  or the like. In addition, the tablet terminal  100  stores the information which is associated with the sensor unit  500  (CT sensor  720 ) and the IH cooker  420 . Thereby, in the tablet terminal  100 , the IH cooker  420  and the CT sensor  720  which outputs the measurement result to the sensor unit  500  are linked. 
     (H-2. Display Process Utilizing Cooking Assistance Application) 
     The processes by the cooking assistance application will be described. The cooking assistance application of the first embodiment needs information which specifies the cooking appliance which is the power measurement target. In the first embodiment, the user inputs the information which specifies such a cooking appliance. For example, the information which specifies the cooking appliance is input by the operation of a selected mode being determined, in a state where the tap connected to a cooking appliance that is specified as the measurement target is selected from the image  1910  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed for inputting a start instruction of power measurement of the cooking appliance that is specified as the measurement target. 
     An image  1920  in  FIG. 13  includes icons which represent the respective cooking appliances which are specified as the measurement target. In more detail, the image  1920  includes an icon which corresponds to “IH cooker” and an icon which corresponds to “microwave oven”. The user operates a specific button (for example, a button  1921  in the image  1920  in  FIG. 13 ). Thereby, during execution of the cooking assistance application, the CPU  110  of the tablet terminal  100  utilizes the power measurement result of the cooking appliance for which the icon is displayed in the image  1920 . 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed during measurement of power. An image  1930  in  FIG. 14  includes an icon which corresponds to “IH cooker” and an icon which corresponds to “microwave oven” in the same manner as in the image  1920  in  FIG. 13 . Then, on the button  1921  in the image  1930 , information which indicates that measurement of the power is taking place is displayed (for example, a character string “measuring”). 
     As described above, a process for selecting the cooking appliance which utilizes the power measurement result and a process for starting power measurement in the cooking assistance application may be combined in the cooking assistance application, or may be configured as a separate application. 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a process by the cooking assistance application. The content of the process by the cooking assistance application will be described with reference to  FIG. 15 . 
     When the cooking assistance application is started up, in step S 10 , the CPU  110  of the tablet terminal  100  selects a menu which is a recipe output (display) target, and outputs the content of common data of the recipe on the menu (refer to  FIG. 10 ). For example, the menu is selected based on the information which is input by the touch operation on the touch panel  122 . Then, control proceeds to step S 20 . 
     In step S 20 , the CPU  110  sets the value of a variable M which is utilized in the process which is indicated in  FIG. 15  to an initial value “1”. Then, control proceeds to step S 30 . 
     In step S 30 , the CPU  110  outputs the content of an Mth procedure (refer to  FIG. 10 ). Thereby, as shown in  FIG. 9 , explanation of the Mth procedure is output. At this time, the model data and user power data (refer to  FIG. 10 ) of the Mth procedure are also output. In addition, as described with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , as the procedure M user output data, the CPU  110  acquires the power consumption of the cooking appliance which is specified as the power measurement target and stores the power consumption in the recipe information (refer to  FIG. 10 ). Then, control proceeds to step S 40 . 
     In step S 30 , the user power data is stored for each cooking appliance. In the example of the system which is shown in  FIG. 1 , the CPU  110  stores a value of the power consumption of the IH cooker  420  which is detected by the CT sensor  720 , and a value of the power consumption of the microwave oven  410  which is detected by the tap  600  independently from each other. 
     The model data of the Mth procedure includes the value of the power consumption of at least one of the microwave oven  410  and the IH cooker  420  which are acquired along with the execution of step S 30 . Thereby, the user power data of the Mth procedure is able to, for example, be updated at every predetermined time (for example, four to five seconds). Thereby, it is also possible to update display of the user power information  1132  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) which is displayed along with the explanation of the Mth procedure at every predetermined time in step S 30 . 
     In step S 40 , the CPU  110  determines whether information which requests related information is input in the tablet terminal  100 . For example, in a case where a specific button is operated or specific speech (for example, a message “tell me”) is input in the tablet terminal  100 , the CPU  110  determines that the information in which the related information is requested is input. A known speech recognition means is mounted in the tablet terminal  100 . Thereby, the CPU  110  is able to determine whether the speech which is input via the mic  180  includes a specific message. In step S 40 , in a case where determination is realized by detecting whether specific speech is input or not, the CPU  110  utilizes the speech recognition means. 
     When the CPU  110  determines that information requesting the related information is input (step S 40  YES), the control proceeds to step S 50 . When the CPU  110  determines that information requesting the related information is not input (step S 40  NO), the control proceeds to step S 60 . 
     In step S 50 , the CPU  110  outputs the related information of the Mth procedure (refer to  FIG. 10 ). Then, control proceeds to step S 60 . 
     In step S 60  the CPU  110  determines whether the information which represents that the Mth procedure is complete is input. For example, the input may be speech such as “end”, or may be operation of a button on the tablet terminal  100 . In addition, in the tablet terminal  100 , in a case where a device for detecting gestures of a user, such as a camera or the like, the CPU  110  determines that the input is made by the user performing a specific gesture. When the CPU  110  determines that the input is made (step S 60  YES), the control proceeds to step S 70 . Meanwhile, when the CPU  110  determines that the input is not made (step S 60  NO), the control returns to step S 40 . 
     Here, the completion of the Mth procedure may be specified based on 1) the elapsing of a specific time from the start of the output of content which corresponds to the Mth procedure, 2) the elapsing of a specific time from a point in time at which output of content of the menu is started in step S 10 , 3) power of a specific amount from the start of output of content which corresponds to the Mth procedure being consumed, 4) a specific power pattern from the start of output of content which corresponds to the Mth procedure being completed, 5) power of a specific amount from the point in time at which output of content of the menu is started in step S 10  being consumed, or 6) a specific power pattern being completed from the point in time at which output of content of the menu is started in step S 10 . 
     In step S 70 , the CPU  110  updates the variable M by adding one. Then, control proceeds to step S 80 . 
     In step S 80 , the CPU  110  determines whether the value of the variable M which is updated in step S 70  exceeds a procedure number N which is included in the menu of the process target. Then, when the CPU  110  determines that the variable M exceeds the number N (step S 80  YES), control ends. Meanwhile, when the CPU  110  determines that the variable M is less than or equal to the number N, control proceeds to step S 90 . 
     In step S 90 , along with update to the variable M by adding in step S 70 , setting is switched appropriately so as to update the target procedure in which the power consumption of the cooking appliance specified as the power measurement target is stored. Then, control returns to step S 30 . Thereby, for example, in a case where the value of the variable M in step S 70  is switched from 4 to 5, in step S 90 , the information which specifies a storage target of the power consumption is switched from “procedure 4” to “procedure 5”. 
     &lt;I. Summary of the First Embodiment&gt; 
     In the first embodiment described above, the tablet terminal  100  is able to start up the cooking assistance application during cooking by the user. Thereby, the user is able to refer to the explanation in each procedure in the selected cooking menu. 
     In addition, concerning the respective two or more procedures which are included in the cooking menu, the tablet terminal  100  is able to output the progress of the power consumption of the cooking appliance in cooking (at least one of the microwave oven  410  and the IH cooker  420 ), and also the progress of the power consumption of the cooking appliance by the user who is the model ( FIG. 9  and the like). Furthermore, in the respective two or more procedures, the tablet terminal  100  is able to output information based on a result of a comparison between the measurement result of the power consumption and power consumption by the user who is a model (the size of the picture of a flame in  FIG. 9  and the like). Accordingly, the user compares the value of heat intensity or the timing of the change of intensity in each procedure to the value of intensity or the timing of the change of intensity by the user who is the model. Thereby, in more detail, the user is able to confirm their own cooking skill. 
     After cooking has ended, the user is able to start up the cooking assistance application. Thereby, after cooking has ended, it is possible to confirm the cooking skill degree and improvement of the user by confirming the flow of power consumption of the cooking appliance in cooking by the user in each procedure. Furthermore, since it is possible to confirm information which relates to cooking by the user and information which relates to cooking by the user who is the model, it is possible to more effectively confirm the skill degree and improvement. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the other embodiments in the present specification. When not otherwise specified, it is possible to adopt a configuration which is common with the other embodiments as the configuration of the second embodiment. 
     In the second embodiment, it is possible to store power data of cooking two times or more in the recipe information in the same menu of the same user. Thereby, it is possible for the cooking assistance application to output the information of power consumption in cooking of a plurality of times for the user. Thereby, the user is able to confirm the condition and degree of improvement in cooking skill. 
     Third Embodiment 
     A third embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the other embodiments in the present specification. When not otherwise specified, it is possible to adopt a configuration which is common with the other embodiments as the configuration of the third embodiment. 
     The recipe information which is described with reference to  FIG. 10  may at least be associated with each procedure of the menu, and include the model data and user power data. That is, the content of each of the procedures may be stored in another device such as the server  900 . 
     The tablet terminal  100  is able to communicate with the other device. In the third embodiment, the data “content” in the recipe information ( FIG. 10 ) is information which specifies the storage location and the content file of the respective content. By communicating with the other device, the CPU  110  of the tablet terminal  100  is provided with information such as described with reference to  FIG. 9  by acquiring the file which is specified by the data “content” from the storage location which is specified by the data “content”. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     A fourth embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the other embodiments in the present specification. When not otherwise specified, it is possible to adopt a configuration which is common with the other embodiments as the configuration of the fourth embodiment. 
     In the fourth embodiment, based on the model data, not only the information with respect to the power consumption, but also, or in place of the information on the power consumption, advice is sequentially provided to the user who is the target for providing information by the tablet terminal  100  (hereinafter referred to as “target user”).  FIG. 16  is a flowchart of a process of the cooking assistance application of the fourth embodiment. For example, the target user is a user who logs in to the tablet terminal  100  or the cooking assistance application. 
     In the process which is shown in  FIG. 16 , control in step S 52  and step S 54  is added to the process which is shown in  FIG. 15 . Here, mainly, the differences from the process which is shown in  FIG. 15  are described. 
     With reference to  FIG. 16 , after the related information in procedure M is output in step S 50 , or after it is determined that there is no request for the related information in step S 40 , in step S 52 , the CPU  110  compares the latest user power data to the value (reference value) of power of the model data (refer to  FIG. 10 ) which corresponds to the user power data. Then, when the CPU  110  determines that the values are different (step S 52  YES), the control proceeds to step S 54 . Meanwhile, when the CPU  110  determines that the values match (step S 52  NO), the control proceeds to step S 60 . 
     The model data which corresponds to the user power data has a power value which is stored as data with the same elapsed time of the same procedure as the user power data which is the process target among the model data. In more detail, in a case where user power data of the process target is a measurement result one minute from the start of procedure 2 in procedure 2, the model data which is stored as the measurement result one minute from the start of procedure 2 in procedure 2 in the recipe information is “corresponding model data”. 
     In step S 54 , the CPU  110  outputs a message which corresponds to the result of the comparison between the user power data and the corresponding model data. Then, control proceeds to step S 60 . 
     The process content in step S 54  will be described in more detail. For example, in a case where the power value of the user power data is greater than the power value of the corresponding model data, the CPU  110  outputs the message for conveying such. The output message is, for example, “Heating power is stronger than the model data. Check the heating power”. In addition, the CPU  110  may output a message which promotes suppression of the power consumption. The output message is, for example, “Heating power is stronger than the model data. Reduce the heating power”. 
     For example, in a case where the power value of the user power data is smaller than the power value of the corresponding model data, the CPU  110  outputs the message for conveying such. The output message is, for example, “Heating power is weaker than the model data. Check the heating power”. In addition, the CPU  110  may output a message which promotes increasing the power consumption. The output message is, for example, “Heating power is weaker than the model data. Increase the heating power”. 
     Here, the output message may be modified according to the type of cooking appliance. The message is output in a case where, for example, the type of cooking appliance is the “IH cooker”. In a case where the type of the cooking appliance is the “microwave oven”, for example, “heating power” is modified to “output”. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     A fifth embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the other embodiments in the present specification. When not otherwise specified, it is possible to adopt a configuration which is common with the other embodiments as the configuration of the fifth embodiment. 
     It is possible to store the power data of a plurality of users other than the target user in the recipe information. In the fifth embodiment, the power data of each procedure in the same menu is accumulated in the tablet terminal  100  via the network  800 . Then, the accumulated data is stored in the recipe information of the tablet terminal  100 . 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating an example of recipe information which is generated in the fifth embodiment. As indicated by “user A power data” in  FIG. 17 , the recipe information includes a value of power consumption of each procedure of another user other than model data and data of power consumption of the target user. The cooking assistance application may generate the information in  FIG. 17  by acquiring the user data of each network each time the cooking assistance application is executed in each of the plurality of home networks, and may generate the information in  FIG. 17  by utilizing the information which is registered on the server  900  or the like, or by utilizing the input information in which there is no relationship with the execution of the cooking assistance application with respect to the tablet terminal  100  or the server  900 . 
     In the fifth embodiment, since the recipe information includes the value of the power consumption of a plurality of different users, it is possible to output an average value of the power consumption of the plurality of different users in place of information on power consumption of the model in each procedure (“reference power information  1131 ” in  FIG. 9 ). 
       FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating a modification example of an image which is displayed by the cooking assistance application. In the image  1101  in  FIG. 18 , the power information  1130  includes average power information  1133  and the user power information  1132 . The cooking assistance application displays the average value of power consumption of two or more users in the recipe information of the procedure which is the display target as the average power information  1133 . 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     A sixth embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the other embodiments in the present specification. When not otherwise specified, it is possible to adopt a configuration which is common with the other embodiments as the configuration of the sixth embodiment. 
     In the sixth embodiment, it is possible to compare the information between users by utilizing the measurement result of power consumption of the plurality of users such as described in the fifth embodiment. As the information to be compared, for example, it is possible to give a mode of the time change of the power consumption and a total amount of power consumption which is consumed for cooking. Such comparison is executed by the user selecting a special menu (hereinafter referred to as “cooking method comparison menu”). The user normally selects the cooking method comparison menu when, for example, a schedule is made for a cooking method and the like other than during cooking. 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed by the cooking assistance application on the cooking method comparison menu.  FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating another example of an image which is displayed by the cooking assistance application on the cooking method comparison menu. 
       FIG. 19  includes a graph  1300  and a graph  1400 . The graph  1300  indicates the time change of the power consumption in the cooking by the user A on the cooking menu “chicken pilaf”. The graph  1400  indicates the time change of the power consumption in the cooking by the user B on the cooking menu “chicken pilaf” which is the same as when the graph  1300  is the target. Both of the graph  1300  and the graph  1400  include the time change of the power consumption of the IH cooker and the time change of the power consumption of the microwave oven. 
     In both of the graph  1300  and the graph  1400 , the range which corresponds to each of the “procedure 2” to “procedure 7” is indicated by six bidirectional arrows. In addition, in both of the graph  1300  and the graph  1400 , in cooking, the consumed power amount which corresponds to each procedure is indicated. For example, “consumed power amount which corresponds to the procedure” has the meaning of the sum of power which is consumed during a period in which the explanation of the corresponding procedure is output by the cooking assistance application. 
     Furthermore, the graph  1300  and the graph  1400  indicate the total amount of cooking time, the total amount of power consumption, and the total amount of power consumption of each of the IH cooker and the microwave oven within the total amount. In more detail, in the cooking which is illustrated in graph  1300 , the total amount of cooking time is “60 mins and 55 secs”, the total amount of power consumption is “293.51 wh”, the total amount of the power consumption of the IH cooker is “266.28 wh”, and the total amount of the power consumption of the microwave oven is “7.23 wh”. In addition, in the cooking which is illustrated in graph  1400 , the total amount of cooking time is “46 mins and 46 secs”, the total amount of power consumption is “430.53 wh”, the total amount of the power consumption of the IH cooker is “407.6 wh”, and the total amount of the power consumption of the microwave oven is “22.93 wh”. 
     As understood from  FIG. 19 , in the cooking according to graph  1300 , in comparison to the cooking according to graph  1400 , the cooking time is long, but the power consumption is lowered. Accordingly, in a case where the user desires to suppress the amount of power consumption even if the cooking time is long, cooking is performed using the pattern according to the graph  1300 . Meanwhile, in a case where it is desired to suppress the cooking time to be short even if the power consumption is slightly high, cooking is performed using the pattern according to the graph  1400 . 
     That is, the user is able to perform cooking by selecting the cooking pattern which is specialized in the matter in which the user prioritizes by confirming the plurality of measurement results of the power consumption in the cooking menu which is the same as shown in  FIG. 19 . 
       FIG. 20  includes a graph  1500  and a graph  1600 . The graph  1500  indicates the time change of the power consumption in the cooking using the IH cooker and the microwave oven on the cooking menu “chicken pilaf”. The graph  1600  indicates the time change of the power consumption in the cooking using the IH cooker and a rice cooker on the cooking menu “chicken pilaf” which is the same as when the graph  1500  is the target. The graph  1500  and the graph  1600  indicate the time change of the measured power consumption in the cooking by the user B. Here, in the graph  1500 , the time change of the power consumption is indicated which is the same as indicated in graph  1400  in  FIG. 19 . 
     In the cooking assistance system which is described in  FIG. 1 , it is also possible to adopt a rice cooker as the cooking appliance which is the measurement target of the power consumption. It is also possible in the rice cooker to measure the power consumption using the measurement device of the tap  600 , the CT sensor  720 , and the like. 
     In the graph  1600 , the order of the procedures is different from the order which is indicated in graph  1500  and the like. In the cooking assistance application, it is possible to store the information on the power consumption which corresponds to each procedure even in a case where the explanation of each procedure in the recipe information is output in an order which is different from the order which is specified in the recipe information. 
     Furthermore, the graph  1500  and the graph  1600  indicate the total amount of cooking time, the total amount of power consumption, and the total amount of power consumption of each of the IH cooker and the microwave oven (or the rice cooker) within the total amount. In more detail, in the cooking which is illustrated in graph  1500 , the total amount of cooking time is “46 mins and 46 secs”, the total amount of power consumption is “430.53 wh”, the total amount of the power consumption of the IH cooker is “407.6 wh”, and the total amount of the power consumption of the microwave oven is “22.93 wh” in the same manner as the cooking which is indicated by graph  1400 . In the cooking which is illustrated in graph  1600 , the total amount of cooking time is “58 mins and 38 secs”, the total amount of power consumption is “237.86 wh”, the total amount of the power consumption of the IH cooker is “73.6 wh”, and the total amount of the power consumption of the rice cooker is “237.86 wh”. 
     As understood from  FIG. 20 , in the cooking according to graph  1600 , in comparison to the cooking according to graph  1500 , the cooking time is long, but the power consumption is lowered. Accordingly, in a case where the user desires to suppress the amount of power consumption even if the cooking time is long, cooking is performed using the pattern according to the graph  1600 . Meanwhile, in a case where it is desired to suppress the cooking time to be short even if the power consumption is slightly high, cooking is performed using the pattern according to the graph  1500 . That is, the user is able to perform cooking by selecting the cooking pattern which is specialized in the matter in which the user prioritizes by confirming the plurality of measurement results of the power consumption in the cooking menu which is the same as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     Furthermore, as understood from  FIG. 20 , in the cooking according to graph  1500  and the cooking according to graph  1600 , the utilized cooking utensils are different. Accordingly, the user is able to determine the pattern of the cooking which adopts the cooking menu while modifying the utensil which is utilized in cooking and confirming a difference of the amount of power consumption with reference to the display which is shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     In the relationship on paper, each of  FIGS. 19 and 20  indicate that only the information of the pattern of two types of power consumption are simultaneously viewable in the same menu, but a case where three or more patterns are displayed to be simultaneously viewable is also possible. In addition, a case where the plurality of patterns are switchably displayed is also possible. 
     In addition, a case where the power consumption pattern of the different cooking menus are displayed so as to be simultaneously viewable, or switchable is also possible. The user who references the display is able to select the cooking menu based on the total amount or the pattern of the power consumption. Furthermore, the user is able to select a combination of the menu in which cooking is performed at a simultaneous progression within the plurality of cooking menus based on the total amount and pattern of the power consumption. 
     In the sixth embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the information on the power consumption in the selected cooking menu is able to be output not to each procedure, but to the entire cooking menu. 
     Seventh Embodiment 
     A seventh embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the other embodiments in the present specification. When not otherwise specified, it is possible to adopt a configuration which is common with the other embodiments as the configuration of the seventh embodiment. 
     In the seventh embodiment, the cooking assistance application is installed on the server  900 , and is executed by the processor  913  of the server  900 . That is, in the seventh embodiment, the cooking assistance application is provided as a so-called cloud application with respect to the tablet terminal  100 . 
     Then, in the seventh embodiment, for example, when execution of the cooking assistance application is instructed in the tablet terminal  100 , the instruction is transmitted to the server  900  via the network  800 . According to this, on the server  900 , the processor  913  starts the cooking assistance application. The output information generating section  913 B transmits various information which includes content (refer to  FIG. 10 ) for outputting the explanation of each procedure to the tablet terminal  100 . The input information processing section  913 A acquires the measurement result of the “power consumption in the cooking by the user” from the repeater  300  via the network  800 . The output information generating section  913 B further includes the power consumption and the like which is transmitted from the repeater  300 , and transmits the information on power consumption in each procedure to the tablet terminal  100 . 
     Eighth Embodiment 
     An eighth embodiment will be described below focusing on differences from the other embodiments in the present specification. When not otherwise specified, it is possible to adopt a configuration which is common with the other embodiments as the configuration of the eighth embodiment. 
     In the eighth embodiment, the tablet terminal  100  stores the power consumption pattern in the cooking appliance in cooking according to a recipe which is prepared in advance or in cooking which is performed without a recipe which is prepared in advance. 
     In more detail, first, the user activates a function of measuring the power consumption of the cooking appliance with respect to the tablet terminal  100 . Then, the cooking is performed utilizing the cooking appliance. When the cooking is complete, the user instructs the end of the function of measuring the power consumption with respect to the tablet terminal  100 . Thereby, the CPU  110  acquires the power consumption of the cooking appliance of the period after the function activation is instructed to the end being instructed, and the instruction is stored in the memory  140  or the like. 
     At this time, the user may further input the information which specifies the recipe information with respect to the tablet terminal  100 . Thereby, the CPU  110  associates the power consumption of the cooking appliance of the period with the recipe information. 
     The user may input the information which specifies the information which specifies the period of each procedure (start and end of the period of each procedure) which is included in the recipe information with respect to the tablet terminal  100  during cooking. Such information may be, for example, speech such as “procedure 2, start” and “procedure 2 end”. The CPU  110  may have the speech recognition function. Then, the CPU  110  associates the power consumption with each procedure which is included in the recipe information so as to indicate the power consumption of the cooking appliance of the period as graph  1300  in  FIG. 19  according to the input. Here, after the cooking ends, the user may input the information which specifies the period of each procedure with respect to the mic  180 , the touch panel  122 , or the like of the tablet terminal  100 . In this case, the CPU  110  associates the power consumption with each procedure which is included in the recipe information so as to indicate the power consumption of the cooking appliance of the period as graph  1300  in  FIG. 19 . 
     Furthermore, the CPU  110  is able to register the pattern of the power consumption which is stored so as to be associated in the recipe information in the memory  140  or the like on the server  900  so as to be associated with the user of the tablet terminal  100 . Thereby, the pattern is able to be common between the plurality of users of the network system in  FIG. 1 . 
     It is considered that the embodiment which is currently disclosed and modification examples thereof are not limited to the exemplifications. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims and not the description above, and the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims are intended to be included. 
     In each embodiment, control is described based on the power value which is measured by the cooking appliance such as the microwave oven. Here, the measurement value which is utilized in control may be a power amount or the like as long as the value relates to the power consumption of the cooking appliance. 
     In addition, in each embodiment, the power consumption is described so as to be displayed by being stored to be associated with the procedure in the recipe information. Here the power consumption may be displayed so as to be associated with at least the elapsed time of cooking. That is, the model data (refer to  FIG. 10 ) and data of other users (refer to  FIG. 17 ) in each embodiment may be data which is associated with at least cooking, and associated with the information which relates to the power consumption. That is, the model data and the data of other users need not be associated with the recipe information or the elapsed time from the start of cooking. The model data and the data of other users may be, for example, information “after cooking for three hours at an output of 900 W, cooking for five hours at an output if 600 W” which relates to the power consumption which is associated with each “cooking A” pattern. The power which is consumed in the cooking by the user of the tablet terminal  100  is able to be displayed, or compared alongside the model data or the data of other users which is stored in this manner. Furthermore, the model data or the data of other users may include output levels (“high”, “low”, “heating power 1”, “heating power 2”, “heating power 3”, and the like) in the cooking appliance and corresponds to the value of the power consumption in place of the value of the power consumption (“900 W” and “600 W” described above). 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               100  TABLET TERMINAL 
               120  TOUCH SCREEN 
               121  DISPLAY 
               122  TOUCH PANEL 
               160  COMMUNICATION INTERFACE 
               170  SPEAKER 
               180  MICROPHONE 
               200  BROADBAND ROUTER 
               300  REPEATER 
               900  SERVER