Patent ID: 6957111

Claim:
A food preparation appliance, comprising: a. a residential home gateway server ( 10 ) operatively connected to a source of food preparation instructions via a first data communications interface, the server ( 10 ) comprising i. a memory, for storing predetermined food processing characteristics, and ii. a first communications interface; b. a controller ( 20 ) operatively connected to the server ( 10 ) by a second data communications interface; c. a hopper ( 42 ) for containing food to be prepared; d. a chamber ( 46 ) for being heated by a heating element; e. a stopper ( 44 ) in communication with the hopper ( 42 ) and the chamber ( 46 ), the stopper ( 44 ) operatively connected to and selectively controllable by the controller ( 20 ) to provide a predetermined portion of the food from the hopper ( 42 ) into the chamber ( 46 ); f. a conduit ( 30 ) for a liquid, the conduit ( 30 ) in fluid communication with the chamber ( 46 ); g. a valve ( 32 ) disposed intermediate the conduit ( 30 ) and the chamber ( 46 ) and operatively connected to and selectively controllable by the controller ( 20 ); and h. software, resident in the memory, to transform the food processing characteristics into a set of commands for the controller ( 20 ) based on the instructions.