WO2025041504A1 - Cooking support system, cooking support method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooking support system (1) comprises: a cooking unit (23) that sequentially executes one or more device steps; an input interface (15) that accepts a designation of one first recipe step among a plurality of first recipe steps; a display (16); and a control unit that sets the one first recipe step indicated by the designation accepted by the input interface (15) as a displayed recipe step, and if a first device recipe step associated with the device step being executed by the cooking unit (23), among the plurality of first recipe steps, matches the displayed recipe step, sets first matching information included in step information indicating the displayed recipe step to a first mode and displays the step information on the display (16), and if the first device recipe step and the displayed recipe step differ from one other, sets the first matching information included in the step information to a second mode and displays the step information on the display (16).

Description

Cooking assistance system, cooking assistance method, and program

This disclosure relates to a cooking assistance system, a cooking assistance method, and a program.

There is technology that provides information according to the cooking status to users who are cooking using cooking appliances (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2015-68595 A

The present disclosure provides a cooking assistance system, cooking assistance method, and program that improves the convenience of users who use cooking appliances.

The cooking support system of the present disclosure is a cooking support system that includes a first cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more appliance processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of first recipe processes; an input I/F that accepts a designation of one of the plurality of first recipe processes; a display; and a control unit that sets the one first recipe process indicated in the designation accepted by the input I/F as a displayed recipe process, and (a) sets first matching information included in process information indicating the displayed recipe process to a first mode when a first appliance recipe process associated with an appliance process executed by the first cooking unit among the plurality of first recipe processes matches the displayed recipe process, and displays the process information on the display; and (b) sets the first matching information included in the process information to a second mode different from the first mode when the first appliance recipe process and the displayed recipe process are different.

The cooking assistance system disclosed herein can improve the convenience of users who use cooking appliances.

1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a first example of a cooking assistance system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a device configuration of a first example of a cooking assistance system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a second example of the cooking assistance system according to the first embodiment. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a device configuration of a second example of the cooking assistance system according to embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of recipe process information according to the first embodiment. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of equipment process information according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of correspondence information according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing a first example of processing executed by the cooking assistance system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a second example of the processing executed by the cooking assistance system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a third example of the processing executed by the cooking assistance system according to the first embodiment. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image including cooking support information displayed on a display according to embodiment 1; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of correspondence information according to the first embodiment; 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display mode of an icon displayed on a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image including supplemental information displayed on the display according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of correspondence information according to the first modification of the first embodiment; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to a second modification of the first embodiment; FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of processing executed by a cooking assistance system according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a first example of a cooking assistance system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a cooking appliance list displayed on a display in accordance with embodiment 2. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by a display according to the second embodiment; FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a second example of a cooking assistance system according to embodiment 2. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a cooking assistance system according to a third embodiment.

(Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure)
Conventionally, there is a cooking system in which a cooking appliance executes cooking steps (also called appliance steps) while sequentially displaying information about recipe steps included in a cooking recipe (also called simply a recipe). Conventional cooking systems are generally known to have limitations in terms of displaying information about other recipe steps while a cooking step is in progress using the cooking appliance.

For example, the information that a cooking appliance can display while a cooking process is in progress may be limited to information about the recipe step that corresponds to the cooking process in progress. In this case, the user cannot have the cooking system display information about recipe steps other than the recipe step that corresponds to the cooking process in progress (for example, the recipe step next to the recipe step that corresponds to the cooking process in progress). As a result, even if the user wants to prepare ingredients or cooking utensils required for the next recipe step, for example, the user cannot obtain that information from the cooking system, which is inconvenient for the user.

In addition, when the cooking appliance is performing a cooking process, if the information related to the recipe step displayed on the cooking system is advanced to the next recipe step, the cooking appliance may advance to the cooking step corresponding to the next recipe step regardless of the progress of the cooking. In this case, if the user wants the cooking appliance to properly perform the cooking process and complete the cooking, he or she cannot advance the recipe step displayed on the cooking system to the next recipe step. Therefore, as with the above, it is less convenient for the user.

The present disclosure provides a cooking assistance system, a cooking assistance method, and a program that improve the convenience of users who use cooking appliances. More specifically, the cooking assistance system, etc. according to the present disclosure provides information to users who use cooking appliances by displaying recipe steps other than the recipe step corresponding to the cooking step being executed even when a cooking step is being executed by the cooking appliance. The user can recognize whether the displayed recipe step matches the recipe step corresponding to the cooking step being executed, and can display the recipe step corresponding to the cooking step being executed by a specified operation. The user can freely view the recipe steps back and forth even while the appliance is operating, and can return to the recipe step corresponding to the cooking step currently being executed by the cooking appliance, and can determine whether the current state of the appliance matches the display location of the recipe, and can proceed with recipe operations and cooking after judging the situation. In this way, the cooking assistance system, etc. according to the present disclosure provides a cooking assistance system, a cooking assistance method, and a program that improve the convenience of users.

Below, we will present examples of inventions that can be obtained from the disclosures in this specification, and explain the effects and other aspects that can be obtained from these inventions.

(1) A cooking support system comprising: a first cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more appliance processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of first recipe processes; an input I/F that accepts a designation of one of the plurality of first recipe processes; a display; and a control unit that sets the one first recipe process indicated in the designation accepted by the input I/F as a displayed recipe process, and (a) sets first matching information included in process information indicating the displayed recipe process to a first mode when the first appliance recipe process associated with the appliance process executed by the first cooking unit and the displayed recipe process match among the plurality of first recipe processes, and displays the process information on the display; and (b) sets the first matching information included in the process information to a second mode different from the first mode when the first appliance recipe process and the displayed recipe process are different. The control unit may be composed of a plurality of processors.

According to the above aspect, when displaying the specified recipe step, the cooking assistance system displays the first match information in a different display aspect (i.e., first aspect or second aspect) depending on whether the specified recipe step (also called the displayed recipe step) matches the recipe step (also called the appliance recipe step) corresponding to the appliance step being executed by the cooking unit, so that a user viewing the displayed recipe step can visually recognize whether the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step. This allows the user to visually recognize whether the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step at the same time as visually checking the information indicating the displayed recipe step. For example, when the user wants to know in advance the recipe step that is scheduled to be executed after the appliance recipe step, or when the user wants to understand the cooking process while moving back and forth through the recipe steps, the user can recognize whether the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step, thereby improving convenience. In this way, the cooking assistance system can improve convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(2) The cooking assistance system described in (1), in which the control unit causes the first matching information to be displayed in the first manner includes displaying the process information including a first icon, and the control unit causes the first matching information to be displayed in the second manner includes displaying the process information including a second icon different from the first icon.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays information indicating the displayed recipe steps, including different icons depending on whether the displayed recipe steps match the appliance recipe steps, so that the user can more easily recognize whether the displayed recipe steps match the appliance recipe steps by visually checking the displayed icons. In this way, the cooking assistance system can further increase convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(3) The cooking assistance system described in (1), wherein the input I/F further receives an operation on the first matching information displayed in the second mode, and when the input I/F receives the operation on the first matching information displayed in the second mode, the control unit sets the recipe step indicated by the first appliance recipe step to the displayed recipe step, sets the first matching information included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe step to the first mode, and displays the process information on the display.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays information indicating the appliance recipe step by operating an icon when the displayed recipe step differs from the appliance recipe step. The user can visually recognize the information indicating the appliance recipe step by the simple operation of operating an icon when the displayed recipe step differs from the appliance recipe step, further enhancing convenience. In this way, the cooking assistance system can further enhance convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(4) The cooking assistance system described in (3) further includes a control unit that causes the display to display cooking assistance information associated with the first appliance recipe process.

According to the above aspect, when the displayed recipe step differs from the appliance recipe step, the cooking assistance system displays the cooking assistance information together with information indicating the appliance recipe step by operating the icon. The user can visually recognize the cooking assistance information together with the information indicating the appliance recipe step by simple operation, further enhancing convenience. In this way, the cooking assistance system can further enhance convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(5) A cooking assistance system as described in (4), in which the cooking assistance information includes explanatory information that explains the appliance process being performed by the first cooking unit, or recommendation information that indicates an action that is recommended for the user when the appliance process being performed by the first cooking unit is executed by the first cooking unit.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays explanatory information or recommended information as cooking assistance information, so that the user can learn in detail about the contents of the appliance process being performed by the cooking unit by visually checking the explanatory information, or can take recommended actions when the cooking unit is performing the appliance process, thereby further enhancing convenience. In this way, the cooking assistance system can further enhance convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(6) A cooking assistance system according to any one of (2) to (5), in which the first matching information displayed in the second aspect is a figure having the same shape as the first matching information displayed in the first aspect, but a different color.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays, as an icon, a graphic of a different color depending on whether or not the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step. Based on the color of the icon, the user can easily recognize whether or not the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step. In this way, the cooking assistance system can increase the convenience of the user who uses the cooking appliance.

(7) A cooking assistance system according to any one of (1) to (6), in which each of the plurality of first recipe steps is assigned an order, and the control unit causes the display of the process information in the second mode to include displaying the process information on the display in the second mode in which the greater the difference between the order assigned to the first appliance recipe steps and the order assigned to the displayed recipe steps, the greater the emphasis on the second mode in which the difference between the order assigned to the first appliance recipe steps and the order assigned to the displayed recipe steps is smaller.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays the displayed recipe steps with emphasis to a degree that corresponds to the magnitude of the difference in order between the displayed recipe steps and the appliance recipe steps. Based on the degree of emphasis of the displayed recipe steps, the user can easily recognize the magnitude of the difference in order between the displayed recipe steps and the appliance recipe steps. In this way, the cooking assistance system can increase convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(8) A cooking assistance system according to any one of (1) to (7), in which each of the first recipe steps is assigned an order, and the control unit causes the display to display the process information in the second manner, further including displaying supplementary information on the display that is determined according to the magnitude of the difference between the order assigned to the first device recipe steps and the order assigned to the displayed recipe steps.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays supplementary information that is determined according to the magnitude of difference in order between the displayed recipe steps and the appliance recipe steps. The user can recognize the supplementary information according to the degree of emphasis of the displayed recipe steps. In this way, the cooking assistance system can increase the convenience of the user who uses the cooking appliance.

(9) A cooking assistance system according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the control unit causes the display to display the process information in the first mode or the second mode only during the period from when the first cooking unit starts to execute a first appliance process included in one or more appliance processes until when the first cooking unit finishes executing a last appliance process.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays the display recipe steps in the first or second aspect only while the cooking unit is performing an appliance step. Therefore, the user can recognize whether the cooking unit is performing an appliance step depending on whether the display recipe steps in the first or second aspect are being displayed. In this way, the cooking assistance system can increase the convenience of the user who uses the cooking appliance.

(10) The cooking assistance system according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the input I/F further receives a start operation for starting display on the display or a stop operation for stopping display on the display, and when the control unit receives the stop operation, stores in the memory unit the displayed recipe process related to the process information being displayed on the display when the stop operation is received, and when the control unit receives the start operation, selects one piece of process information from the process information indicating the first appliance recipe process associated with the appliance process being executed by the first cooking unit when the start operation is received and the process information related to the displayed recipe process stored in the memory unit, and displays the selected one piece of process information on the display.

According to the above aspect, when the cooking assistance system pauses and then resumes the display of a displayed recipe step, it displays as a new displayed recipe step either the displayed recipe step at the time of the pause or the device recipe step at the time of the restart. When the displayed recipe step is restarted, the user can recognize whether it is the displayed recipe step at the time of the pause or the device recipe step at the time of the restart. In this way, the cooking assistance system can increase the convenience of the user who uses the cooking appliance.

(11) The cooking assistance system further includes a second cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more appliance processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of second recipe processes, and the control unit further causes the display to display first identification information and second identification information corresponding to the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit, respectively, and the input I/F further accepts a designation for one of the first identification information and the second identification information displayed on the display as a designation for one cooking unit corresponding to the one identification information, and the control unit further sets the appliance process being executed by the one cooking unit indicated in the designation accepted by the input I/F to a displayed recipe process, sets process information indicating the displayed recipe process to the first mode, and displays the process information on the display.

According to the above aspect, when the cooking assistance system has multiple cooking units, it displays the appliance recipe process being executed by the cooking unit specified by the user. Therefore, even when the cooking assistance system has multiple cooking units, it can increase the convenience of the user who uses the cooking appliance.

(12) The cooking assistance system further includes a second cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more appliance processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of second recipe processes, and the input I/F accepts a designation of one of the plurality of first recipe processes and the plurality of second recipe processes, and the control unit sets the one recipe process indicated in the designation accepted by the input I/F to a displayed recipe process, and (a) when a first appliance recipe process associated with an appliance process executed by the first cooking unit and the displayed recipe process match among the plurality of first recipe processes, sets the first matching information corresponding to the first cooking unit included in the process information indicated by the displayed recipe process to the first mode, and sets the process information (b) if the first appliance recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, the first matched information is set to the second aspect and the process information is displayed on the display; (c) if the second appliance recipe step associated with the appliance step being executed by the second cooking unit among the plurality of second recipe steps is the same as the displayed recipe step, the second matched information corresponding to the second cooking unit included in the process information indicated by the displayed recipe step is set to the first aspect and the process information is displayed on the display; (d) if the second appliance recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, the second matched information is set to the second aspect and the process information is displayed on the display.

According to the above aspect, when the cooking assistance system has multiple cooking units, when displaying the status information of each cooking unit, the system displays the status information in a different display mode depending on whether the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step being executed by each cooking unit. Thus, the user can visually recognize whether the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step of each cooking unit. This allows the user to visually recognize the information indicating the displayed recipe step and at the same time recognize whether the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step. Thus, even when the cooking assistance system has multiple cooking units, the system can increase the convenience of the user who uses the cooking appliance.

(13) The cooking assistance system described in (12), wherein the input I/F further receives an operation on the second matching information displayed in the second aspect, and when the input I/F receives the operation on the second matching information displayed in the second aspect, the control unit determines that the designation of the second appliance recipe step as the one recipe step has been received, sets the second appliance recipe step to the displayed recipe step, sets the second matching information included in the process information indicated by the displayed recipe step to the first aspect, and displays the process information on the display.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays the appliance recipe steps of the second cooking unit when the second icon included in the status information of the first cooking unit is operated. The second icon is included in the status information of the first cooking unit when the appliance recipe steps of the second cooking unit are being displayed. When the second icon is operated in this state, the cooking assistance system displays the appliance recipe steps being executed by the first cooking unit. By operating the icon, the user can switch from displaying the appliance recipe steps of the second cooking unit to displaying the appliance recipe steps of the first cooking unit. Thus, the cooking assistance system can increase convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(14) A cooking assistance system according to any one of (1) to (13), wherein the input I/F includes a first input I/F and a second input I/F, the display includes a first display corresponding to the first input I/F and a second display corresponding to the second input I/F, the control unit includes a first control unit corresponding to the first input I/F and a second control unit corresponding to the second input I/F, the first control unit uses the first display as the display to display the process information when the designation is received using the first input I/F as the input I/F, and the second control unit uses the second display as the display to display the process information when the designation is received using the second input I/F as the input I/F.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system displays the specified recipe steps using multiple terminals that operate independently. Therefore, multiple users can independently view information indicating the displayed recipe steps and at the same time recognize whether the displayed recipe steps match the appliance recipe steps. Therefore, the cooking assistance system can increase the convenience of multiple users who use cooking appliances.

(15) The cooking assistance system according to any one of (1) to (14), wherein the cooking assistance system is a single device, and the single device includes the input I/F and the display in a housing of the single device.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system is configured as a single device, in other words, there is no need to have two devices, a cooking appliance and a terminal. Using a single appliance, a user can more easily visually recognize whether or not the displayed recipe steps match the appliance recipe steps. In this way, the cooking assistance system can increase the convenience of users who use cooking appliances.

(16) The cooking assistance system according to any one of (1) to (14) includes a cooking appliance having the first cooking unit, and a terminal communicatively connected to the cooking appliance, the terminal including the input I/F, the display, and the control unit.

According to the above aspect, the cooking assistance system is configured to include a cooking appliance and a terminal. The terminal can be an information terminal that the user uses on a daily basis. The user can understand the recipe steps of the cooking appliance using the terminal that the user uses on a daily basis, which further enhances convenience. In this way, the cooking assistance system can enhance convenience for users who use cooking appliances.

(17) A cooking assistance method executed by a cooking assistance system, the cooking assistance system comprising a first cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more appliance processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of first recipe processes, an input I/F that accepts a designation of one of the plurality of first recipe processes, and a display, the cooking assistance method comprising: (a) accepting a designation of one of the plurality of first recipe processes using the input I/F, setting the one first recipe process indicated in the designation accepted by the input I/F as a displayed recipe process, (a) if a first appliance recipe process among the plurality of first recipe processes that corresponds to an appliance process being executed by the first cooking unit and the displayed recipe process match, setting first matching information included in process information indicating the displayed recipe process to a first aspect and displaying the process information on the display, and (b) if the first appliance recipe process and the displayed recipe process are different, setting the first matching information included in the process information to a second aspect different from the first aspect and displaying the process information on the display.

The above aspect provides the same effects as the cooking assistance system described above.

(18) A program for causing a computer to execute a cooking assistance method executed by a cooking assistance system, the cooking assistance system comprising a first cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more equipment processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of first recipe processes, an input I/F that accepts a designation of one of the plurality of first recipe processes, and a display, the program using the input I/F to accept a designation of one of the plurality of first recipe processes, and sets the one first recipe process indicated in the designation accepted by the input I/F as a displayed recipe process, (a) if a first appliance recipe process among the plurality of first recipe processes that corresponds to an appliance process being executed by the first cooking unit matches the displayed recipe process, the program sets first matching information included in process information indicating the displayed recipe process to a first aspect and displays the process information on the display, and (b) if the first appliance recipe process and the displayed recipe process are different, the program sets the first matching information included in the process information to a second aspect different from the first aspect and displays the process information on the display.

The above aspect provides the same effects as the cooking assistance system described above.

Below, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of matters that are already well known and duplicate explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily redundant and to make it easier for those skilled in the art to understand.

The inventors provide the accompanying drawings and the following description to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and do not intend for them to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

(Embodiment 1)
In this embodiment, a cooking assistance system that contributes to improving the convenience of users who use cooking appliances will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of cooking assistance system 1, which is a first example of a cooking assistance system according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the device configuration of cooking assistance system 1 according to this embodiment. The functional configuration of cooking assistance system 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cooking assistance system 1 is configured as a system including a terminal 10 and a cooking appliance 20, as an example.

The terminal 10 is a terminal that can accept user operations related to cooking using the cooking appliance 20 and display information related to cooking using the cooking appliance 20.

The cooking appliance 20 is an appliance that cooks food by executing appliance processes. The appliance processes executed by the cooking appliance 20 can be set by the terminal 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal 10 includes a processor 11, a memory unit 12, an input I/F (input interface) 15, a display 16, and a communication I/F (communication interface) 17.

The processor 11 executes the software programs stored in the memory unit 12, causing the terminal 10 to perform the functions of the software. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 11 is also connected to other components of the terminal 10 via an internal bus, and causes the terminal 10 to perform the functions of the software while transmitting and receiving information to and from the other components. The processor 11 corresponds to a control unit.

The processor 11 generates information to be displayed on the display 16 based on the information received by the input I/F 15, and displays it on the display 16. Specifically, the processor 11 acquires the designation of the recipe step (also called the displayed recipe step or the first displayed recipe step) received by the input I/F 15. Then, the processor 11 determines the display mode of the displayed recipe step according to the acquired designation of the displayed recipe step, and displays the displayed recipe step in the determined display mode.

When displaying the displayed recipe step, if a recipe step (also called an equipment recipe step or a first equipment recipe step) associated with an equipment step being executed by the cooking unit 23 among multiple recipe steps (corresponding to first recipe steps) matches the displayed recipe step, the processor 11 sets the matching information (corresponding to the first matching information) included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe step to a first mode and displays the process information on the display 16. In other words, in the above case, the processor 11 displays the matching information (corresponding to the first matching information) included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe step in a first mode on the display 16.

In addition, when the device recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, the processor 11 sets the matching information (corresponding to the first matching information) included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe step to a second mode, and displays the process information on the display 16. In other words, in the above case, the processor 11 displays the matching information (corresponding to the first matching information) included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe step on the display 16 in a second mode.

Here, the first aspect is one display aspect, and the second aspect is one display aspect different from the first aspect. The correspondence between the equipment process and the recipe process is indicated in predetermined correspondence information (described later).

The difference between the first and second aspects is, for example, that the process information is displayed including a different icon in each aspect. In this case, displaying the matching information by the processor 11 in the first aspect includes, as an example, displaying the process information including a first icon. Also, displaying the matching information by the processor 11 in the second aspect includes displaying the process information including a second icon that is different from the first icon. Specific examples of the first icon and the second icon will be described later. Displaying the first icon means displaying the matching information displayed in the first aspect, and displaying the second icon means displaying the matching information displayed in the second aspect.

Note that when the processor 11 displays the process information in the first mode, if the process information is displayed including the first icon, the process information does not include the second icon. Also, when the processor 11 displays the process information in the second mode, if the process information is displayed including the second icon, the process information does not include the first icon.

The processor 11 may cause the display 16 to display the process information in the first or second manner only during the period from when the cooking unit 23 starts executing the first equipment process to when it finishes executing the last equipment process. Note that when the cooking unit 23 is not executing the first equipment process, the processor 11 may not display the process information, or may display the process information in a manner other than the first or second manner.

If the display in the first mode is a display including the first icon and the display in the second mode is a display including the second icon, the processor 11 may cause the display 16 to display the first icon or the second icon only during the period from when the cooking unit 23 starts to execute the first equipment process to when it finishes executing the last equipment process. Note that the processor 11 does not exclude displaying the process information in a mode other than the first mode or the second mode when the cooking unit 23 is not executing the first equipment process.

The difference between the first and second aspects may be, for example, a different foreground or background color on the display screen, or a different font or color of characters displayed on the display screen, or a different color or line type of a displayed figure.

The processor 11 also generates setting information for the appliance process of the cooking appliance 20 (specifically, the cooking section 23) and transmits it to the cooking appliance 20 via the communication I/F 17. The appliance process setting information may include, for example, information indicating the dish menu, information indicating the amount of dish, or information indicating the length of heating time.

When display on the display 16 is stopped and then resumed, the processor 11 may cause the display 16 to display the displayed recipe step at the time of the stop or the equipment recipe step at the time of the restart. In this case, when the input I/F 15 receives a stop operation, the processor 11 stores in the memory unit 12 the displayed recipe step at the time the stop operation was received. Then, when the input I/F 15 subsequently receives a start operation, the processor 11 selects one piece of process information from the process information indicating the equipment recipe step associated with the equipment step being executed by the cooking unit 23 when the start operation was received and the process information related to the displayed recipe step stored in the memory unit 12, and causes the display 16 to display the selected process information.

For example, if the time between receiving a stop operation and receiving a start operation is less than a reference time, the processor 11 can select process information indicating an appliance recipe process associated with an appliance process being executed by the cooking unit 23, and if the time is equal to or greater than the reference time, the processor 11 can select process information relating to a displayed recipe process stored in the memory unit 12. The reference time is, for example, a few minutes or a few hours. The same applies hereinafter.

For example, when the input I/F 15 receives a stop operation, the processor 11 stores in the memory unit 12 the recipe step displayed at the time the stop operation was received. Then, when the input I/F 15 subsequently receives a start operation, if it is less than a reference time (e.g., within a few hours), the processor 11 makes it possible to select "Resume from the last displayed recipe step," and when this is received, the processor 11 can display the process information related to the displayed recipe step stored in the memory unit 12.

Furthermore, if the cooking unit 23 is executing a certain recipe (e.g. cream stew) when the input I/F 15 accepts a stop operation, and the cooking unit 23 has not finished executing the same recipe (e.g. cream stew) during the period until the start operation is subsequently accepted, the processor 11 makes it possible to select "Display recipe steps corresponding to the execution of the cooking appliance" when the start operation is accepted, and when this is accepted, process information indicating the appliance recipe step associated with the appliance step being executed by the cooking unit 23 can be displayed.

The memory unit 12 has a storage area for storing information. The memory unit 12 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is used as a temporary storage area when the processor 11 processes information. The memory unit 12 also includes storage (e.g., a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive)) in which the programs executed by the processor 11 and information (e.g., corresponding information) used in the processing of the processor 11 are stored.

The input I/F 15 accepts information from the user. The input I/F 15 may be, for example, a touch panel, a touch pad, a keyboard, a mouse, or a microphone. The input I/F 15 may be configured as a touch panel display together with the display 16, and this case will be described as an example. The input I/F 15 accepts a touch operation (specifically, a tap or a long tap (so-called a long press)) on an image that can be operated and is displayed on the display 16 (for example, an icon or button image, etc.), and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation.

Specifically, the input I/F 15 accepts the designation of one of multiple recipe steps included in the recipe being cooked by the cooking appliance 20. The manner in which the designation of one recipe step is accepted will be described in detail later.

In addition, the input I/F 15 may also receive a start operation to start display on the display 16, or a stop operation to stop display on the display 16.

Display 16 is a display screen that displays images. Display 16 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. When input I/F 15 is configured as a touch panel display, display 16 corresponds to the display portion of the touch panel display. Under the control of processor 11, display 16 displays information provided by processor 11 as an image.

The communication I/F 17 is a communication interface that is connected to the cooking appliance 20 so that it can communicate with the cooking appliance 20. The communication I/F 17 may be a communication interface for a wired communication standard (e.g., Ethernet (registered trademark), etc.) or a communication interface for a wireless communication standard (e.g., Wi-Fi (registered trademark), etc.).

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 20 also includes a processor 21, a memory unit 22, a cooking unit 23, an operation unit 24, and a communication I/F 25.

The processor 21 executes the software program stored in the storage unit 22, causing the cooking appliance 20 to perform the functions of the software. The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 21 is also connected to other components of the cooking appliance 20 via an internal bus, and causes the cooking appliance 20 to perform the functions of the software while sending and receiving information to and from the other components. The processor 21 corresponds to a control unit.

The memory unit 22 has a memory area for storing information. The memory unit 22 includes a RAM that is used as a temporary memory area when the processor 21 processes information. The memory unit 22 also includes storage that stores the programs executed by the processor 21 and information used in the processing of the processor 21.

The cooking unit 23 executes equipment processes. The cooking unit 23 includes, for example, an inner pot in which the ingredients to be cooked are placed, a heater for heating the inner pot, impellers for stirring the ingredients inside the inner pot, and a motor for rotating the impellers. The cooking unit 23 may also include a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the ingredients inside the inner pot, or an opening/closing sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the lid of the cooking unit 23 (or the locking or unlocking of the lid). The cooking unit 23 can perform cooking such as boiling, baking, frying, rice cooking, mixing, or chopping. Equipment processes include, for example, heating, maintaining temperature, or heating and stirring. For example, in the equipment process of heating and stirring, the cooking unit 23 raises the temperature of the inner pot while stirring the ingredients in the inner pot with impellers.

The cooking unit 23 sequentially executes one or more appliance processes. Each of the one or more appliance processes corresponds to one of a number of recipe processes (corresponding to a first recipe process) included in the recipe being cooked by the cooking appliance 20. Each of the one or more appliance processes has a condition for ending the appliance process and proceeding to the next appliance process. The condition may include, for example, the passage of a temperature and a time for maintaining that temperature (for example, raising the temperature and maintaining it at 70°C for 10 minutes), or the lid of the cooking unit 23 being opened and then closed. The cooking unit 23 may correspond to the first cooking unit.

When the cooking unit 23 acquires operation information indicating a user operation provided by the operation unit 24, the cooking unit 23 executes an equipment process according to the acquired operation information. Specifically, when the cooking unit 23 acquires operation information indicating a start operation (described below), the cooking unit 23 starts the execution of an equipment process of a specified type. Furthermore, when the cooking unit 23 acquires operation information indicating a stop operation (described below), the cooking unit 23 stops the execution of the equipment process.

The cooking unit 23 can also send information indicating the appliance process being executed (also called operation information) to the terminal 10 via the communication I/F 25. The cooking unit 23 can send the operation information to the terminal 10 at predetermined intervals (for example, several seconds to about one minute), or can send the operation information to the terminal 10 each time the appliance process changes. Furthermore, when the cooking unit 23 receives request information requesting operation information from the terminal 10, it can send the operation information to the terminal 10 in response to the request information.

The operation unit 24 accepts operations by the user on the cooking appliance 20. The operation unit 24 has, for example, an operation button that accepts operations by the user. For example, the operation unit 24 has at least a start button that accepts a start operation to start cooking by the cooking unit 23. The operation unit 24 may have a stop button that accepts a stop operation to stop cooking by the cooking unit 23. When the operation unit 24 accepts an operation on an operation button, it generates operation information indicating the accepted operation and provides it to the cooking unit 23. The operation information may include information indicating the start or stop of execution of an equipment process, or the type of equipment process (heating, etc.).

The communication I/F 25 is a communication interface that is connected to the terminal 10 so as to be able to communicate with it. The communication I/F 25 may be a communication interface for a wired communication standard (e.g., Ethernet, etc.) or a communication interface for a wireless communication standard (e.g., Wi-Fi, etc.).

In addition, in the cooking assistance system 1, the terminal 10 and the cooking appliance 20 may be connected to a server, and the terminal 10 and the cooking appliance 20 may communicate with each other via the server.

The cooking assistance system 1 may be configured as a single cooking appliance (also simply referred to as an appliance). As an example of a case in which the cooking assistance system 1 is configured as a single appliance, cooking assistance system 1A will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of cooking assistance system 1A according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the device configuration of cooking assistance system 1A according to this embodiment.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cooking assistance system 1A includes a cooking appliance 30.

The cooking appliance 30 includes a processor 11, a memory unit 12, an input I/F 15, a display 16, a cooking unit 23, and an operation unit 24.

The functions of the components of cooking appliance 30 are the same as those of the same-named components of cooking assistance system 1 (see FIG. 1). Cooking appliance 30 does not need to have communication I/F 17 and communication I/F 25 that cooking assistance system 1 has. This is because cooking appliance 30 does not need to use a communication interface used for communication with other devices to send and receive information between processor 11 and cooking unit 23, since processor 11 and cooking unit 23 can send and receive information via an internal bus.

As shown in FIG. 4, cooking appliance 30 has input I/F 15 and display 16 on the housing. More specifically, cooking appliance 30 has input I/F 15 and display 16 on the top surface of the housing. Information about the appliance process being performed by cooking unit 23 is displayed on display 16 on the housing of cooking appliance 30, which has the advantage that the user can easily visually grasp the appliance process being performed by cooking unit 23.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of recipe step information according to this embodiment. The recipe step information shown in FIG. 5 shows the recipe steps included in a recipe in a list format. As an example, the recipe step information shown in FIG. 5 shows the recipe steps included in a cream stew recipe in a list format. The recipe steps may include actions performed by a user, may include cooking performed by cooking appliance 20, or may include both.

In FIG. 5, specifically, recipe step #1 is shown as "preparation," recipe step #2 is shown as "putting ingredients into cooking appliance," etc. Other recipe steps are also as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of appliance process information according to this embodiment. The appliance process information shown in FIG. 6 shows, in a list format, the appliance processes executed by the cooking appliance 20 when progressing through the recipe processes included in the recipe, and the control content for the appliance processes.

In FIG. 6, specifically, the heater control content for equipment process #1 is shown as "W1 [W], m1 [min]" (i.e., heating with the heater at W1 [W] for m1 minutes). The heater control content for equipment process #2 is shown as "W2 [W], m2 [min]" and the motor control content is shown as "r2 [rpm], m2 [min]" (i.e., heating with the heater at W2 [W] for m2 minutes while rotating the blades with the motor at r2 [rpm] for m2 minutes).

The control details for each equipment process are set, for example, whether or not to apply heating, the amount of heat input, whether or not to rotate the blades (or motor), the rotation speed, or the duration. Also, for each equipment process, the conditions for terminating the equipment process and proceeding to the next equipment process are set. The other equipment processes are as shown in Figure 6.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of correspondence information according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the correspondence information is information that associates an equipment process, a label, and a recipe process. Specifically, the correspondence information is information that associates a label and a recipe process with each of one or more equipment processes.

The equipment process column is identification information for the equipment process, and indicates the equipment process shown in Figure 6.

The label column is text information that indicates the equipment process. The text information of the label is text information that allows the user to properly understand the equipment process, and is predetermined. It is expected that the label will be displayed, for example, on the display 16 when the equipment process is being executed. Note that the label may include an image instead of text information.

The recipe process example shows the recipe process that is associated with the equipment process when the cooking unit 23 is executing the equipment process.

The correspondence information is information that indicates the correspondence between a recipe step and an equipment step that the cooking unit executes in that recipe step.

Specifically, FIG. 7 shows that the label associated with equipment process #0 is "Heating", and that equipment process #0 is associated with recipe process #3. Also, the label associated with equipment process #13 is "Paused", and that equipment process #13 is associated with recipe process #4. The other equipment processes are as shown in FIG. 7.

The processing of the cooking assistance system 1 will be explained below.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a first example of a process executed by the cooking assistance system 1 according to this embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 8 is a process for displaying a specified recipe step when the terminal 10 receives a recipe step specification while the cooking unit 23 is executing an equipment step.

In this process, for example, it is assumed that a user views a recipe for "cream stew" and transmits a series of appliance process information along with the recipe identification information to the cooking appliance 20 via the terminal 10. The cooking appliance 20 transmits the recipe identification information and the appliance process number to the terminal 10 as operation information of the cooking appliance 20. The terminal 10 can identify the recipe process from the recipe identification information and the recipe process number. The terminal 10 can also identify the appliance process from the recipe identification information and the appliance process number. The terminal 10 can also identify the appliance recipe process using the correspondence information from the received operation information (i.e., the recipe identification information and the appliance process number).

In step S101, the processor 11 waits until the input I/F 15 accepts the designation of a recipe process to be displayed or detects a change in an equipment process. In other words, the processor 11 waits until the input I/F 15 accepts the designation of a recipe process to be displayed or detects a change in an equipment process, and when the designation is received, the processor 11 proceeds to step S102.

In step S102, the processor 11 identifies the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23, and identifies the appliance recipe process associated with the identified appliance process. The appliance process is identified, for example, by receiving operation information indicating the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23, transmitted by the cooking appliance 20, and identifying the appliance process indicated in the received operation information. The processor 11 may receive operation information from the cooking appliance 20 by transmitting request information requesting operation information, or may receive operation information spontaneously transmitted by the cooking appliance 20. The processor 11 identifies the recipe process associated with the appliance process based on the correspondence information (see FIG. 7), and sets the identified recipe process as the appliance recipe process.

In step S103, the processor 11 determines whether the display recipe step specified in step S101 matches the device recipe step identified in step S102. If it is determined that the display recipe step matches the device recipe step (Yes in step S103), the process proceeds to step S104; if not (No in step S103), the process proceeds to step S111.

In step S104, the processor 11 determines the display mode for displaying the process information of the displayed recipe process to be the first mode. The processing of step S104 corresponds to the processor 11 setting the first matching information included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe process to the first mode.

In step S105, the processor 11 displays the process information of the display recipe process on the display 16 in the display mode (i.e., the first mode) determined (or set) in step S104.

In step S111, the processor 11 determines the display mode for displaying the process information of the displayed recipe process to be the second mode. The processing of step S111 corresponds to the processor 11 setting the first matching information included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe process to the second mode.

In step S112, the processor 11 displays the process information of the display recipe process on the display 16 in the display mode (i.e., the second mode) determined (or set) in step S111.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing a second example of the process executed by the cooking assistance system 1 according to the present embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 9 is a process for displaying a recipe step corresponding to the equipment step being executed by the cooking unit 23 when the second icon is operated.

In step S201, the processor 11 identifies an appliance recipe step. Specifically, the processor 11 identifies an appliance step that is currently being executed by the cooking unit 23, and identifies the recipe step that is associated with the identified appliance step in the correspondence information as the appliance recipe step.

In step S202, processor 11 determines whether input I/F 15 has accepted an operation on the second icon displayed on display 16. If it is determined that an operation on the second icon has been accepted (Yes in step S202), the process proceeds to step S203; if not (No in step S202), step S201 is executed again. In other words, processor 11 repeatedly executes steps S201 and S202 until an operation on the second icon is accepted.

In step S203, the processor 11 sets the device recipe step identified in step S202 as the displayed recipe step.

In step S204, the processor 11 displays the process information of the display recipe process on the display 16 in the display mode determined in step S203 (i.e., the first mode).

By the series of processes shown in FIG. 9, when the second icon is operated, the cooking assistance system 1 displays the recipe step corresponding to the equipment step being executed by the cooking unit 23.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a third example of the process executed by the cooking assistance system 1 according to the present embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 10 is a process for displaying a recipe step corresponding to the equipment step being executed by the cooking unit 23 when the second icon is operated, and is a different example from the example shown in FIG. 9.

In step S211, processor 11 determines whether input I/F 15 has accepted an operation on the second icon displayed on display 16. If it is determined that an operation on the second icon has been accepted (Yes in step S211), the process proceeds to step S212; if not (No in step S211), step S211 is executed again. In other words, processor 11 waits in step S211 until an operation on the second icon is accepted.

In step S212, the processor 11 identifies an appliance recipe step. Specifically, the processor 11 identifies an appliance step that is currently being executed by the cooking unit 23, and identifies the recipe step that is associated with the identified appliance step in the correspondence information as the appliance recipe step.

In step S213, the processor 11 sets the device recipe step identified in step S212 as the displayed recipe step.

In step S214, the processor 11 displays the process information of the display recipe process on the display 16 in the display mode determined in step S213 (i.e., the first mode).

By the series of processes shown in FIG. 10, the cooking assistance system 1 displays the recipe step corresponding to the equipment step being executed by the cooking unit 23 when the second icon is operated, similar to the series of processes shown in FIG. 9.

With reference to Figures 11 to 22, the contents displayed on the display 16 when the cooking assistance system 1 is proceeding with a series of recipe steps will be described.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 11 is an example of an image displayed by the display 16 when starting cooking according to a recipe, and includes a page showing a list of all recipe steps included in the recipe (also called a list page).

The image shown in FIG. 11 includes process information 39. The process information 39 includes status information 31, buttons 32, and recipe description information 33.

The status information 31 is an image of the status information indicating the status of the cooking unit 23. Specifically, the status information 31 includes text information (also called a label) indicating the status of the cooking unit 23. When the cooking unit 23 is executing an equipment process, a label associated in the corresponding information with the currently executing equipment process is used, and when the cooking unit 23 is not executing an equipment process, predetermined text information indicating that the equipment process is not being executed (for example, "Waiting") is used. The status information 31 shown in FIG. 11 includes the text information "Waiting" because the cooking unit 23 is waiting for an equipment process to be executed (i.e., not executing an equipment process). The status information 31 is displayed, for example, at the top of the display 16.

In this way, the processor 11 refers to the correspondence information and displays on the display 16, as status information, a label corresponding to the appliance process indicated by the received appliance information. If the received appliance information indicates that the cooking unit 23 is not executing any appliance process, the processor 11 displays "Waiting" as the status information. In addition, if the processor 11 cannot receive appliance information because the cooking appliance 30 is not powered on, for example, the processor 11 may display "Communication not possible" or the like as the status information.

In the cooking assistance system 1, when the cooking unit 23 is not executing an appliance process and the terminal 10 cannot communicate with the cooking appliance 20, the processor 11 of the terminal 10 may include information indicating that the terminal 10 cannot communicate with the cooking appliance 20 in the status information 31. This can prompt the user to check the power connection. The same applies when the cooking appliance 20 is operating abnormally or is not in operation (specifically, when the power of the cooking appliance is off or when the power of the cooking appliance 20 has been turned off, etc.).

Button 32 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the next page of the currently displayed page. The next page of the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #1. When an operation is performed on button 32, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and transition to the next page is made by processing of processor 11.

Recipe explanation information 33 is an image that explains each recipe step included in the recipe. Specifically, recipe explanation information 33 includes text that includes a short explanation of each recipe step #1 to #5 (for example, "1. Preparation" and "2. Put ingredients into cooking appliance").

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 12 is the page next to the list page, and includes a page showing recipe step #1.

The image shown in FIG. 12 includes process information 49. The process information 49 includes status information 41, buttons 42 and 43, an indicator 44, and recipe description information 45.

Status information 41 is an image of status information that indicates the status of the cooking unit 23, and includes the label "Waiting" just like status information 31 in FIG. 11.

Button 42 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the page previous to the currently displayed page (i.e., go back). The page previous to the currently displayed page is a list page. When an operation is performed on button 42, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and the processor 11 processes the page to transition to the previous page (see FIG. 11).

Button 43 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the next page of the currently displayed page. The next page of the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #2. When an operation is performed on button 43, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and transition to the next page is made by processing of processor 11 (see FIG. 13).

Indicator 44 is an indicator image that shows the position of the page among all recipe steps. Indicator 44 has a number of shapes corresponding to the number of recipe steps included in the recipe, and the shape corresponding to the page among the shapes is displayed in a different manner from the other shapes to show the position of the page among all recipe steps. Here, the shape corresponding to the page of recipe step #N is the Nth shape counting from the left among the multiple shapes. Since the image shown in FIG. 12 shows recipe step #1 and there are a total of five steps, indicator 44 has five circular shapes, and of the five shapes, the first shape from the left is displayed in a filled-in manner, and the other shapes are displayed in an unfilled manner. In other words, indicator 44 shows that recipe step #1 is currently displayed. With indicator 44, the position of the page among all recipe steps can be visually grasped.

Recipe explanatory information 45 is an image that provides a detailed explanation of recipe step #1 included in the recipe. Specifically, recipe explanatory information 45 includes guidance information 45A that guides the user through the work. It is expected that a user who views guidance information 45A will perform the work in accordance with guidance information 45A.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 13 includes a page showing recipe step #2.

The image shown in FIG. 13 includes process information 59. The process information 59 includes status information 51, buttons 52 and 53, an indicator 54, and recipe description information 55.

Status information 51 is an image of status information that indicates the status of the cooking unit 23, and includes the label "Waiting" like status information 31 in FIG. 11.

Button 52 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the page previous to the currently displayed page (i.e., go back). The page previous to the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #1. When an operation is performed on button 52, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and the processor 11 processes the page to transition to the previous page (see FIG. 12).

Button 53 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the next page of the currently displayed page. The next page of the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #3. When an operation is performed on button 53, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and transition to the next page is made by processing of processor 11 (see FIG. 14).

Indicator 54 is an image of an indicator that shows the position of the page in question among all the processes. Indicator 54 is shown with the second shape from the left of the five shapes filled in, and the other shapes not filled in.

Recipe explanatory information 55 is an image that provides a detailed explanation of recipe step #2 included in the recipe. Specifically, recipe explanatory information 55 includes guidance information 55A that guides the user in operating cooking appliance 20. It is expected that a user who visually recognizes guidance information 55A will operate cooking appliance 20 in accordance with guidance information 55A.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 14 includes a page showing recipe step #3.

The image shown in FIG. 14 includes process information 69. The process information 69 includes status information 61, buttons 62 and 63, an indicator 64, and recipe description information 65.

Status information 61 is an image of status information that indicates the status of the cooking unit 23, and includes the label "Waiting" just like status information 31 in FIG. 11.

Button 62 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the page previous to the currently displayed page (i.e., go back). The page previous to the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #2. When an operation is performed on button 62, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and the processor 11 processes the page to transition to the previous page (see FIG. 13).

Button 63 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the next page of the currently displayed page. The next page of the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #4. When an operation is performed on button 63, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and transition to the next page is made by processing of processor 11 (see FIG. 18).

Indicator 64 is an image of an indicator that shows the position of the page in question among all the processes. Indicator 64 is shown with the third shape from the left of the five shapes filled in, and the other shapes not filled in.

The recipe explanation information 65 is an image of a detailed explanation of recipe step #3 included in the recipe. Specifically, the recipe explanation information 65 includes guidance information 65A that provides guidance on the heating settings of the cooking appliance 20. The guidance information 65A includes a button 65B for an operation to send setting information of the heating appliance step of the cooking appliance 20 to the cooking appliance 20. When the button 65B is operated by a user, the operation is accepted by the input I/F 15, and the processor 11 generates setting information and sends it to the cooking appliance 20 via the communication I/F 17.

The recipe explanation information 65 also includes guidance information 65C that guides the user on the operation of the cooking appliance 20 to start cooking with the cooking appliance 20. It is expected that a user who sees the guidance information 65C will operate a start button (in other words, a button marked "START") included in the operation unit 24 located on the housing of the cooking appliance 20. When the operation unit 24 accepts this operation, the operation unit 24 provides the operation information to the cooking unit 23. The cooking unit 23 starts executing the appliance process based on the operation information.

14 is displayed on the display 16, the start button arranged on the housing of the cooking appliance 20 is operated, the appliance process of the cooking appliance 20 is set to appliance process #0. As a result, the cooking appliance 20 starts the control associated with appliance process #0, that is, the control of heating with the heater at W0 [W] for m0 minutes. The cooking appliance 20 also transmits operation information indicating that the appliance process being executed is appliance process #0 to the terminal 10. The terminal 10 receives the transmitted operation information and changes the image displayed on the display 16 to the image shown in FIG. 15. At this time, the processor 11 identifies the appliance recipe process corresponding to appliance process #0 as recipe process #3 according to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 8, determines that the appliance recipe process and the displayed recipe process match, and changes the image displayed on the display 16 to the image shown in FIG. 15 by displaying the process information of the displayed recipe process in the first mode.

The start button shown in FIG. 14 may be displayed as an operable button. In this case, when the operable start button is operated, a signal to start cooking is sent from the terminal 10 to the cooking appliance 20. When the cooking appliance 20 receives the transmitted signal, it can start the execution of the appliance process by executing the same process as when the start button located on the housing of the cooking appliance 20 is operated.

In the image shown in FIG. 15, the label included in the status information 61A has changed from the image shown in FIG. 14 to "Heating". This is because the processor 11 has displayed the label "Heating" based on the fact that appliance step #0, which is an appliance step of the cooking appliance 20 shown in the operation information received from the cooking appliance 20, is associated with the label "Heating" by the correspondence information. While the appliance steps of the cooking appliance 20 progress from appliance step #0 to appliance step #12, the image shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display 16.

The image shown in FIG. 15 also includes an icon 66.

Icon 66 is an icon that indicates the consistency between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps. Icon 66 is an example of a first icon that indicates that the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps match.

Note that if a start button located on the housing of the cooking appliance 20 is operated while the image shown in FIG. 14 is being displayed on the display 16, or if an operation is performed on an operable start button displayed on the display 16 of the terminal 10, the image of the start button displayed on the display 16 of the terminal 10 may be configured to change (see FIG. 16). In FIG. 16, the image of the start button is shown hatched.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 in this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 18 is an example of an image displayed in the first mode, and includes a page showing recipe step #4, which is displayed when the appliance step of the cooking appliance 20 is operation step #13. The image shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the display 16 when the user operates button 63 while the image shown in FIG. 17 is being displayed on the display 16.

The image shown in FIG. 18 includes process information 79. The process information 79 includes status information 71, buttons 72 and 73, an indicator 74, recipe description information 75, and an icon 76.

Status information 71 is an image of status information that indicates the status of the cooking unit 23. Status information 71 includes the label "paused."

Button 72 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the page previous to the currently displayed page (i.e., go back). The page previous to the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #3. When an operation is performed on button 72, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and the processor 11 processes the page to transition to the previous page (see FIG. 17).

Button 73 is an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the next page of the currently displayed page. The next page of the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #5. When an operation is performed on button 73, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and transition to the next page is made by processing of processor 11 (see FIG. 21).

Indicator 74 is an indicator image that shows the position of the page in question among all the processes. Indicator 74 is shown with the fourth shape from the left of the five shapes filled in, and the other shapes not filled in.

The recipe explanation information 75 includes a detailed explanation of recipe step #4 included in the recipe. Specifically, the recipe explanation information 75 includes guidance information 75A that guides the user in operating the cooking appliance 20. It is expected that the user who views the guidance information 75A will operate the cooking appliance 20 in accordance with the guidance information 75A.

Icon 76 includes an icon indicating the consistency between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps. Icon 76 indicates that the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps match.

When the image shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the display 16, if the lid of the cooking section 23 of the cooking appliance 20 is opened, then closed and the start button is pressed, the appliance process of the cooking appliance 20 is set to appliance process #14. This causes the cooking appliance 20 to send operation information to the terminal 10 indicating that the appliance process being executed is appliance process #14. The terminal 10 receives the sent operation information and changes the image displayed on the display 16 to the image shown in FIG. 19. At this time, when the corresponding information is referenced, the recipe process (appliance recipe process) corresponding to appliance process #14 is still recipe process #4, so the icon remains the first icon.

In the image shown in FIG. 19, the label included in the status information 71A has changed from the image shown in FIG. 18 to "Heating". This is because the processor 11 has displayed the label "Heating" based on the fact that appliance step #14, which is an appliance step of the cooking appliance 20 shown in the operation information received from the cooking appliance 20, is associated with the label "Heating" by the correspondence information. While the appliance steps of the cooking appliance 20 progress from appliance step #14 to appliance step #16, the image shown in FIG. 19 is displayed on the display 16.

When the image shown in FIG. 19 is displayed on the display 16, if the cooking appliance 20 finishes appliance process #16, the appliance process is set to appliance process #17. As a result, the cooking appliance 20 transmits operation information indicating that the appliance process being executed is appliance process #17 to the terminal 10. The terminal 10 receives the transmitted operation information and changes the image displayed on the display 16 to the image shown in FIG. 20.

In the image shown in FIG. 20, the label included in the status information 71B has changed from the image shown in FIG. 19 to "Heating Completed." This is because the processor 11 has displayed the label "Heating Completed" based on the fact that appliance process #17, which is an appliance process of the cooking appliance 20 shown in the operation information received from the cooking appliance 20, is associated with the label "Heating Completed" by the association information.

In addition, in the image shown in FIG. 20, icon 76 in the image shown in FIG. 19 has changed to icon 76A. Icon 76A is an icon indicating the consistency between the device recipe step and the displayed recipe step, and is an example of a second icon indicating that the device recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different. The second icon can be a figure having the same shape as the first icon but a different color. The display of the second icon is based on the fact that recipe step #5, which is the recipe step (i.e., the device recipe step) associated with device step #17 in the correspondence information, is different from recipe step #4, which is the recipe step (i.e., the displayed recipe step) shown in the image shown in FIG. 20.

The user can perform an operation on the second icon. When an operation on the second icon is performed, the input I/F 15 accepts the operation. When the input I/F 15 accepts an operation on the second icon, the processor 11 determines that a designation of an appliance recipe process associated with the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23 has been accepted, and causes the display 16 to display process information indicating the appliance recipe process in a first form. Specifically, the processor transitions the page displayed on the display 16 to a page showing recipe process #5 (see FIG. 21).

Furthermore, the image shown in FIG. 20 includes indicator 74A instead of indicator 74 in the image shown in FIG. 19. Indicator 74A is shown with the fourth figure from the left of the five figures filled in, and further with the fifth figure from the left of the five figures hatched, and the other figures unfilled. This is based on the fact that the equipment recipe step is recipe step #5 and the displayed recipe step is recipe step #4. With indicator 74A, the position of the equipment recipe step and the displayed recipe step in all recipe steps can be visually grasped.

When the image shown in FIG. 20 is displayed on the display 16, if an operation is performed on the button 73 or the icon 76A, the operation is accepted by the input I/F 15, and the processor 11 processes the page to transition to the next page (see FIG. 21).

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 21 includes a page showing recipe step #5, and is an example of an image displayed in the first mode.

The image shown in FIG. 21 includes process information 89. The process information 89 includes status information 81, buttons 82 and 83, an indicator 84, recipe description information 85, and an icon 86.

Status information 81 is an image of status information that indicates the status of cooking unit 23. Status information 81 includes a label that reads "Heating completed," which indicates that the execution of the heating equipment process has been completed.

Button 82 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the page previous to the currently displayed page (i.e., go back). The page previous to the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #4. When an operation is performed on button 82, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and the processor 11 processes the page to transition to the previous page (see FIG. 19).

Button 83 is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition from the currently displayed page to the next page. The page after the currently displayed page is a page indicating that the dish is complete. When an operation is performed on button 83, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and transition to the next page is made by processing of processor 11 (see FIG. 22).

Indicator 84 is an image of an indicator that shows the position of the page in question among all the processes. Indicator 84 has five shapes, of which the fifth shape from the left is shown filled in, and the other shapes are shown unfilled.

The recipe explanation information 85 includes a detailed explanation of recipe step #5 included in the recipe. Specifically, the recipe explanation information 85 includes guidance information 85A that guides the user in operating the cooking appliance 20. It is expected that the user who visually recognizes the guidance information 85A will operate the cooking appliance 20 in accordance with the guidance information 85A.

Icon 86 is an icon that indicates the consistency between the device recipe step and the displayed recipe step. Icon 86 indicates that the device recipe step and the displayed recipe step are consistent.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 22 includes a page indicating that the recipe steps have been completed, in other words, that the dish has been completed, and is an example of an image displayed in the first mode.

The image shown in FIG. 22 includes process information 89. The process information 89 includes status information 81A, a button 82A, recipe description information 85B, and an icon 86A.

Status information 81A is an image of status information that indicates the status of cooking unit 23. Like status information 81, status information 81A includes a label that reads "Heating completed," which indicates that the execution of the heating equipment process has been completed.

Button 82A is an image of an operation button for accepting an operation to transition to the page previous to the currently displayed page (i.e., go back). The page previous to the currently displayed page is the page of recipe step #5. When an operation is performed on button 82A, the operation is accepted by input I/F 15, and the processor 11 processes the page to transition to the previous page (see FIG. 21).

Recipe explanatory information 85B includes information indicating that the recipe steps have been completed, in other words, that the dish has been completed. Recipe explanatory information 85B specifically includes text information stating "Complete."

Icon 86A is an icon that indicates the consistency between the device recipe step and the displayed recipe step. Icon 86A indicates that the device recipe step and the displayed recipe step match.

As described above, the cooking assistance system 1 can proceed through a series of recipe steps while displaying the images shown in Figures 11 to 22.

Note that when buttons 32, 42, 43, 52, 53, 62, 63, 72, 73, 82, or 83 are operated, the appliance process being executed by cooking unit 23 is not changed.

Next, other examples of the content displayed by the display 16 will be described with reference to Figures 23 to 29.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. The image shown in FIG. 23 includes a page showing recipe step #4, and is an example of an image in which recipe steps are displayed in the second mode.

The image shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on the display 16 when, for example, the image shown on the page of recipe step #3 (see FIG. 15) is displayed on the display 16 and the user operates button 63.

The image shown in FIG. 23 includes process information 99. The process information 99 includes status information 91, buttons 92 and 93, an indicator 94, recipe description information 95, and an icon 96.

The status information 91 is an image of status information that indicates the status of the cooking section 23, and includes the label "heating."

Indicator 94 is an indicator image that shows the position of the page in all the processes. Of the five figures, indicator 94 is shown with the fourth figure from the left being filled in, and further, of the five figures, the third figure from the left being hatched, and the other figures being unfilled. With indicator 94, the position of the device recipe process and the displayed recipe process in all the recipe processes can be visually grasped.

Icon 96 is an icon that indicates the consistency between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps. The icons included in icon 96 are examples of second icons that indicate that the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps are different.

The user can perform an operation on the second icon. When an operation on the second icon is performed, the input I/F 15 accepts the operation. When the input I/F 15 accepts an operation on the second icon, the processor 11 determines that a designation of an appliance recipe process associated with the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23 has been accepted, and causes the display 16 to display process information indicating the appliance recipe process in a first form. Specifically, a transition is made to a page showing recipe process #3 (see FIG. 15).

Buttons 92 and 93 and recipe description information 95 are the same as buttons 72 and 73 and recipe description information 75 shown in FIG. 18, respectively.

In addition, a progress bar 94A may be used instead of the indicator 94. An example of the progress bar 94A is shown in FIG. 24.

The progress bar 94A shown in FIG. 24 is an image that indicates the position of the page in all the steps, similar to the indicator 94. For example, for the progress bar 94A, the length L3 corresponds to the number of shapes in the indicator, the length L2 corresponds to the position of the equipment recipe step in all the recipe steps, and the length L1 corresponds to the position of the displayed recipe step in all the recipe steps. As with the indicator 94, the progress bar 94A allows the positions of the equipment recipe step and the displayed recipe step in all the recipe steps to be visually grasped.

When the input I/F 15 receives an operation on the status information 61, the processor 11 may cause the display 16 to display cooking assistance information associated with the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23.

Alternatively, when the input I/F 15 accepts an operation on the first icon or the second icon, the processor 11 may cause the display 16 to display cooking assistance information associated with the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23. Here, when the processor 11 accepts an operation on the second icon, it changes the displayed recipe process and displays the cooking assistance information.

Alternatively, the processor 11 may display on the display 16 cooking assistance information associated with the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23 each time the appliance process changes. An example of an image including cooking assistance information is shown in FIG. 25.

The cooking support information 67 shown in FIG. 25 is, as an example, explanatory information that explains the appliance process being executed by the cooking unit 23. The explanatory information may include text information (e.g., "Increasing the heating temperature") or image information (e.g., an image of a pot being mixed, or a red icon). The cooking support information 67 may include, for example, recommendation information that indicates an action that is recommended to the user when the appliance process being executed by the cooking unit 23 is executed by the cooking unit 23.

When the processor 11 displays the cooking assistance information 67, the correspondence information shown in FIG. 26 may be used as the correspondence information instead of the correspondence information shown in FIG. 5. The correspondence information shown in FIG. 26 is information that associates an equipment process with a label A, a label B, and a recipe process. The equipment process, label A, and recipe process are similar to the equipment process, label, and recipe process in FIG. 7, respectively. Label B is text information that indicates the cooking assistance information for the equipment process. It is expected that label B will be displayed on the display 16 as cooking assistance information 67 when the equipment process is being executed.

The second icon may be displayed in a more emphasized manner depending on the magnitude of the difference in order between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps. In other words, the processor 11 may display the process information on the display 16 in a more emphasized manner the greater the difference between the order assigned to the device recipe steps and the order assigned to the displayed recipe steps, compared to the second manner in which the difference between the order assigned to the device recipe steps and the order assigned to the displayed recipe steps is small.

The highlighting of the display mode of the second icon will be explained with reference to Figure 27.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display mode of the icon 96 (see FIG. 23) displayed by the display 16 according to this embodiment. Here, a case is described in which the display mode is emphasized by enlarging the displayed dimensions.

In FIG. 27, icons 101, 101A, and 101B are shown. Icons 101, 101A, and 101B are each an example of a second icon, but are displayed in different ways.

Specifically, icon 101 has a relatively small display dimension, and icon 101B has a relatively large display dimension. Icon 101A has a display dimension that is between icon 101 and icon 101B.

The display 16 may display icon 101B when the difference in order between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps is greater than a first reference value, display icon 101 when the difference is less than a second reference value (where the second reference value is less than the first reference value), and display icon 101A when the difference is greater than or equal to the second reference value and less than or equal to the first reference value.

Indicator 94 can also be said to be a second icon that is displayed in a more emphasized manner depending on the magnitude of the difference in order between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps. In this case, the magnitude of the difference in order between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps is expressed as the distance between the filled and hatched figures included in indicator 94, and the distance between the filled and hatched figures can be said to indicate the degree of emphasis.

Furthermore, supplementary information may be displayed on the second icon depending on the magnitude of the difference between the device recipe steps and the displayed recipe steps. In other words, the processor 11 may add supplementary information of larger dimensions to the second icon and display it on the display 16 the greater the magnitude of the difference between the order assigned to the device recipe steps and the order assigned to the displayed recipe steps.

The display of supplementary information will be explained with reference to Figure 28.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of supplementary information displayed on the display 16 in this embodiment.

(a) of FIG. 28 shows supplemental information 97 added to an icon 96. For example, the processor 11 displays supplemental information 97 when the equipment recipe step is recipe step #3 and the displayed recipe step is recipe step #4. The difference in the order assigned to these recipe steps is 1.

FIG. 28(b) shows supplemental information 97A added to icon 96. For example, processor 11 displays supplemental information 97A when the equipment recipe step is recipe step #3 and the displayed recipe step is recipe step #5. Since the difference in the order assigned to these recipe steps is 2, which is greater than the difference in the order assigned to the recipe steps in the case of FIG. 28(a), which is 1, processor 11 displays supplemental information 97A with a larger dimension.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 in this embodiment.

The image shown in FIG. 29 includes a page showing recipe step #4 and is an example of an image displayed in the second aspect.

The image shown in FIG. 29 is another example of an image that is displayed on the display 16 when the user operates button 63 while the image shown in FIG. 15 is being displayed on the display 16.

The image shown in FIG. 29 has a different color for the background color portion 98 than the image shown in FIG. 15. For example, if the background color in the image shown in FIG. 15 (i.e., the color of the image in the background color portion) is white, the color of the background color portion 98 may be, for example, black, red, blue, or yellow.

In addition, the background color portion 98 may be the same color as shown in FIG. 15 and may be an image containing a pattern or figure.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the operation information transmitted from the cooking unit 23 to the terminal 10 includes an appliance process. In this case, specifically, the terminal 10 identifies the label and recipe process that are associated in the correspondence information (see FIG. 5) with the appliance process transmitted from the cooking unit 23. The terminal 10 then performs processing using the appliance process transmitted from the cooking unit 23 and the identified label and recipe process.

Here, the operation information transmitted by the cooking unit 23 to the terminal 10 may include a label in addition to the equipment process. In this case, specifically, the terminal 10 identifies the recipe process that is associated in the correspondence information (see FIG. 5) with the equipment process transmitted from the cooking unit 23. The terminal 10 then performs processing using the equipment process and label transmitted from the cooking unit 23 and the identified recipe process. In this case, the cooking unit 23 needs to store correspondence information that associates the equipment process with the label (i.e., the first and second columns in FIG. 7).

Furthermore, the operation information transmitted by the cooking unit 23 to the terminal 10 may include a label and an appliance recipe step in addition to the appliance step. In this case, specifically, the terminal 10 performs processing using the appliance step, label, and recipe step transmitted from the cooking unit 23. In this case, the cooking unit 23 needs to store correspondence information (i.e., FIG. 7) that associates the appliance step, label, and recipe step. Note that the server may be configured to store the correspondence information (i.e., FIG. 7) that associates the appliance step, label, and recipe step, and when the cooking unit 23 transmits the appliance step to the terminal 10, it may be possible to refer to the correspondence information stored by the server and identify the label and recipe step that correspond to the appliance step.

As described above, the cooking assistance system 1 of this embodiment displays the displayed recipe step in a different display mode depending on whether or not it matches the appliance recipe step, so that a user viewing the displayed recipe step can visually recognize whether or not the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step. This allows the user to visually recognize whether or not the displayed recipe step matches the appliance recipe step while at the same time viewing the information indicating the displayed recipe step. In this way, the cooking assistance system can increase the convenience of users who use cooking appliances.

(First Modification of First Embodiment)
In this modified example, another example of the correspondence information will be described.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of correspondence information related to this modified example. The correspondence information shown in FIG. 30 is information that associates equipment processes, labels, and recipe processes, similar to the correspondence information shown in FIG. 7, and is used in place of the correspondence information shown in FIG. 7.

The corresponding information shown in Figure 30 has (null) information for the equipment process.

Equipment process (null) means that the cooking unit 23 is not executing an equipment process. The label "on standby" is associated with equipment process (null). No recipe process is associated with equipment process (null).

When the processor 11 displays status information (such as status information 31 (see FIG. 11)) on the display 16, if the current equipment process is (null), it can display, as the status information, specified text information (such as "Waiting") indicating that the equipment process is not being executed.

As described above, by using the correspondence information shown in FIG. 30, the cooking assistance system 1 can improve the convenience of the user who uses the cooking appliance, just as in the above embodiment.

(Second Modification of First Embodiment)
In this modification, another example of the display mode of the process information of the displayed recipe process will be described.

Here, in addition to the first and second aspects described in the first embodiment, a third aspect will be described.

When displaying the displayed recipe steps, if the cooking unit 23 is not executing an appliance step, the processor 11 causes the display 16 to display the step information indicating the displayed recipe step in a third mode. Here, the third mode is a display mode that is at least different from the second mode.

When the third mode is different from the first mode and the second mode, the difference between the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode is, for example, that the process information is displayed including a different icon in each mode. In this case, displaying the process information in the third mode by the processor 11 includes, for example, displaying the process information including a third icon. The third icon is different from the first icon and the second icon.

Note that when processor 11 displays process information in the first mode, if the process information is displayed including the first icon, the process information does not include the second icon and the third icon. Also, when processor 11 displays process information in the second mode, if the process information is displayed including the second icon, the process information does not include the first icon and the third icon. Also, when processor 11 displays process information in the third mode, if the process information is displayed including the third icon, the process information does not include the first icon and the second icon.

The difference between the first, second, and third aspects may be, for example, a difference in the foreground or background color of the display screen, or a difference in the font or color of the characters displayed on the display screen, or a difference in the shape, color, or line type of the graphics displayed.

Note that if the third aspect is the same as the first aspect and different from the second aspect, the third aspect may have the same appearance as the first aspect. The icons indicate whether or not there will be a transition, and both the first icon and the third icon indicate that there will be no transition. By making them have the same appearance, it is easy to determine that there will be no transition. In that case, the third icon may have the same appearance as the first icon.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display according to this modified example. The image shown in FIG. 31 includes a page showing recipe step #2, and is an example of an image displayed in the third mode.

The image shown in FIG. 31 includes status information 51, buttons 52 and 53, an indicator 54, recipe description information 55, and an icon 56. The image included in the image shown in FIG. 31, except for icon 56, is the same as that in FIG. 13, so a description thereof will be omitted.

Icon 56 is an example of a third icon that indicates that the cooking unit 23 is not performing an appliance process. Icon 56 is a figure that has the same shape as the first icon or the second icon, but has a different line type, and specifically includes a figure drawn with a dotted line.

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram showing an example of processing executed by the cooking assistance system 1 according to this modified example. The processing shown in FIG. 32 is processing for displaying a specified recipe step when the cooking assistance system 1 receives a recipe step designation. Note that processing that is the same as the processing in FIG. 8 is given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 8, and detailed explanations may be omitted.

In step S101, the processor 11 waits until the input I/F 15 accepts a designation of a recipe process to be displayed or detects a change in an equipment process. In other words, the processor 11 waits until the input I/F 15 accepts a designation of a recipe process to be displayed or detects a change in an equipment process, and when the designation is received, the processor 11 proceeds to step S102A.

In step S102A, the processor 11 identifies the appliance process currently being executed by the cooking unit 23.

In step S102B, the processor 11 executes a process to identify the equipment recipe process that is associated with the equipment process identified in step S102A based on the correspondence information (see FIG. 7 or FIG. 30). In this process, there are cases where the equipment recipe process can be identified and cases where the equipment recipe process cannot be identified.

The above-mentioned device recipe step can be identified when the cooking unit 23 is executing any of the device steps and the device recipe step can be identified based on the corresponding information (see Figures 7 and 30). The above-mentioned device recipe step cannot be identified when the cooking unit 23 is not executing any of the device steps and the device recipe step cannot be identified based on the corresponding information (see Figures 7 and 30).

In step S102C, the processor 11 determines whether or not the device recipe process was identified in step S102B. If it is determined that the device recipe process was identified (Yes in step S102C), the process proceeds to step S103; if not (No in step S102C), the process proceeds to step S121.

Steps S103 to S105 and steps S111 to S112 are the same as the processes of the same names in Figure 8.

In step S121, the processor 11 determines the display mode for displaying the process information of the displayed recipe process to be the third mode.

In step S122, the processor 11 displays the process information of the display recipe process on the display 16 in the display mode determined in step S121 (i.e., the third mode).

As described above, the cooking assistance system 1 can increase the convenience of users who use cooking appliances by displaying recipe steps using the third mode in addition to the first and second modes.

(Embodiment 2)
In this embodiment, another example of a cooking assistance system that contributes to improving the convenience of a user who uses cooking appliances will be described. The cooking assistance system of this embodiment contributes to improving the convenience of a user who uses multiple cooking appliances. Here, a case will be described in which the cooking assistance system includes two cooking appliances as an example of multiple cooking appliances, but the number of cooking appliances is not limited to two.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of cooking assistance system 1B according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 33, the cooking assistance system 1B includes a terminal 10 and two cooking appliances 20A and 20B.

The terminal 10 is the same as the terminal 10 in the first embodiment. The communication I/F 17 is connected to each of the two cooking appliances 20A and 20B so as to be able to communicate with each other.

The two cooking appliances 20A and 20B are appliances that perform cooking by executing appliance processes, similar to the cooking appliance 20 in embodiment 1. Here, the recipe cooked by cooking appliance 20A is also referred to as the first recipe, and the recipe cooked by cooking appliance 20B is also referred to as the second recipe.

The cooking unit 23 (corresponding to a first cooking unit) of the cooking appliance 20A sequentially executes one or more appliance processes, and the one or more appliance processes correspond to multiple recipe processes (also called first recipe processes) in the first recipe.

The cooking unit 23 (corresponding to a second cooking unit) of the cooking appliance 20B sequentially executes one or more appliance processes, which correspond to multiple recipe processes (also called second recipe processes) in the second recipe.

Processor 11 executes the same processing as processor 11 in embodiment 1, and can further display a cooking appliance list on display 16. The cooking appliance list is a list that includes identification information corresponding to each of two cooking appliances 20A and 20B.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a cooking appliance list displayed on the display 16 in this embodiment.

The cooking appliance list shown in FIG. 34 includes appliance operation information 102A and 102B corresponding to two cooking appliances 20A and 20B, respectively. Appliance operation information 102A includes identification information 103A, and appliance operation information 102B includes identification information 103B. Identification information 103A and identification information 103B are information that identify the cooking appliances.

The appliance operation information 102A is appliance operation information corresponding to the cooking appliance 20A. The appliance operation information 102A may include the status of the cooking appliance 20A, and may also include the remaining time for which the cooking appliance 20A is executing an appliance process when the cooking appliance 20A is executing the appliance process.

The appliance operation information 102B is appliance operation information corresponding to the cooking appliance 20B. Note that the appliance operation information 102B may include the status of the cooking appliance 20B, as with the appliance operation information 102A, and may also include the remaining time.

The input I/F 15 executes the same processing as the input I/F 15 in the first embodiment, and can further accept a designation for the identification information displayed on the display 16. The input I/F 15 accepts a designation for the identification information as a designation for the cooking unit 23 that corresponds to the identification information related to the designation. When the input I/F 15 accepts a designation for the cooking unit 23, the processor 11 causes the display 16 to display in a first form process information indicating the equipment recipe process that is associated with the equipment process being executed by the designated cooking unit 23 (see FIG. 15, for example).

The processor 11 also causes the display 16 to display status information indicating the status of the cooking unit 23 of each of the cooking appliances 20A and 20B. The status of the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20A is also referred to as first status information, and the status of the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20B is also referred to as second status information.

When the processor 11 displays the first status information on the display 16, if an appliance recipe step (also called a second appliance recipe step) among the multiple first recipe steps that is associated with an appliance step being executed by the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20A matches a display recipe step (also called a second display recipe step) indicated in the specification accepted by the input I/F 15, the processor 11 displays the matching information (corresponding to the first matching information) corresponding to the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20A in a first form on the display 16. In addition, if the second appliance recipe step and the second display recipe step differ, the processor 11 displays the matching information (corresponding to the first matching information) corresponding to the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20A in a second form on the display 16.

When the processor 11 displays the second status information on the display 16, if an appliance recipe step (also called a third appliance recipe step) associated with an appliance step being executed by the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20B among the multiple second recipe steps matches the second display recipe step, the processor 11 displays the matching information (corresponding to the second matching information) corresponding to the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20B in the first form on the display 16. If the third appliance recipe step and the second display recipe step differ, the processor 11 displays the matching information (corresponding to the second matching information) corresponding to the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20B in the second form on the display 16.

We will now explain specific examples of displaying status information that indicates the status of the cooking section 23 of each of cooking appliances 20A and 20B.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the display 16 in this embodiment.

Here, it is assumed that input I/F 15 has accepted the designation of one recipe step in the first recipe, and thus the display 16 is displaying process information for that one recipe step in the first recipe. It is also assumed that the recipe step associated with the appliance process being executed by cooking unit 23 of cooking appliance 20A matches the recipe step designated by input I/F 15.

The image shown in FIG. 35 includes process information 109. The process information 109 may be displayed, for example, in place of the process information shown in FIG. 11.

The process information includes recipe explanation information that guides the user through the work, and for cooking appliances 20A that correspond to the recipe, a set of identification information indicating the cooking appliance, status information indicating the status of the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance, and matching information. In addition, for each cooking appliance 20B that does not correspond to the recipe, the process information includes a set of identification information indicating the cooking appliance, status information indicating the status of the cooking unit 23B of the cooking appliance, and an icon. Note that the status information 104 may be displayed in a format similar to that of the status information 31 (see FIG. 11).

Specifically, the upper row of status information 104 includes identification information 104A indicating cooking appliance 20A (specifically, a graphic simulating the appearance of cooking appliance 20A), status information 105A indicating the state of cooking section 23 of cooking appliance 20A, and icon 106A. Because the appliance recipe step and the displayed recipe step match, a first icon (in other words, the first matching information displayed in the first mode) is displayed as icon 106A.

The lower section of the status information 104 includes identification information 104B indicating cooking appliance 20B (specifically, a figure simulating the appearance of cooking appliance 20B), status information 105B indicating the state of cooking section 23 of cooking appliance 20B, and icon 106B. Because the appliance recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, a second icon (in other words, second matching information displayed in a second manner) is displayed as icon 106B.

At this time, when the input I/F 15 accepts an operation on the icon 106B, it is assumed that a designation of an appliance recipe step (corresponding to a second appliance recipe step) in the second recipe that is associated with an appliance step being executed by the cooking unit 23 of the cooking appliance 20B has been accepted, and the process information indicating the second appliance recipe step as the displayed recipe step can be displayed on the display 16 in a first form. At this time, as the appliance recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different for the icon 106A, it is displayed on the display 16 in a second form.

The cooking assistance system 1B may be configured with two cooking appliances (also simply referred to as appliances). As an example of a case where the cooking assistance system 1B is configured with two appliances, cooking assistance system 1C will be described.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a cooking assistance system 1C, which is a second example of a cooking assistance system according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 36, cooking assistance system 1C includes cooking appliances 30A and 30B.

Cooking appliance 30A includes a processor 11, a memory unit 12, an input I/F 15, a display 16, a communication I/F 17, a cooking unit 23, and an operation unit 24. Cooking appliance 30B includes a processor 11, a memory unit 12, an input I/F 15, a display 16, a communication I/F 17, a cooking unit 23, and an operation unit 24. Cooking appliances 30A and 30B may each have the device configuration shown in FIG. 4.

The functions of the components of cooking appliances 30A and 30B are the same as the components of the same names that are included in cooking assistance system 1 (see FIG. 1).

The communication I/F 17 of cooking appliance 30A and the communication I/F 17 of cooking appliance 30B are connected so that they can communicate with each other.

Cooking appliance 30A can operate in the same manner as terminal 10 of cooking assistance system 1B, using processor 11 and other components included in cooking appliance 30A. In addition, cooking appliance 30B can also operate in the same manner as terminal 10 of cooking assistance system 1B, independently of cooking appliance 30A, using processor 11 and other components included in cooking appliance 30B.

(Embodiment 3)
In this embodiment, another example of a cooking assistance system that contributes to improving the convenience of a user who uses a cooking appliance will be described. The cooking assistance system of this embodiment contributes to improving the convenience of a user by allowing multiple terminals to be used.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the cooking assistance system 1D according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 37, the cooking assistance system 1D includes terminals 10A and 10B and a cooking appliance 20.

Terminals 10A and 10B each have the same configuration as terminal 10.

The processor 11 provided in the terminal 10A is also referred to as a first control unit, the input I/F 15 provided in the terminal 10A is also referred to as a first input I/F, and the display 16 provided in the terminal 10A is also referred to as a first display.

The processor 11 provided in the terminal 10B is also referred to as a second control unit, the input I/F 15 provided in the terminal 10B is also referred to as a second input I/F, and the display 16 provided in the terminal 10B is also referred to as a second display.

Here, components that are provided on the same terminal are said to correspond to each other. Specifically, the display 16 provided on terminal 10A corresponds to the input I/F 15 provided on terminal 10A, and the processor 11 provided on terminal 10A corresponds to the input I/F 15 provided on terminal 10A. In addition, the display 16 provided on terminal 10B corresponds to the input I/F 15 provided on terminal 10B, and the processor 11 provided on terminal 10B corresponds to the input I/F 15 provided on terminal 10B.

In addition, components may be compatible if they are connected via an internal bus of the terminal.

Cooking appliance 20 has the same configuration as cooking appliance 20 in embodiment 1.

The communication I/F 17 of the terminal 10A and the communication I/F 17 of the terminal 10B are communicatively connected to the communication I/F 25 of the cooking appliance 20.

The terminal 10A can operate in the same manner as the terminal 10 of the cooking assistance system 1, using the processor 11 and other components included in the terminal 10A. In addition, independent of the terminal 10A, the terminal 10B can also operate in the same manner as the terminal 10 of the cooking assistance system 1, using the processor 11 and other components included in the terminal 10B.

Specifically, when the processor 11 of the terminal 10A receives a designation using the input I/F 15 of the terminal 10A, it displays the process information on the display 16 of the terminal 10A, similar to the terminal 10 of the first embodiment. Also, when the processor 11 of the terminal 10B receives a designation using the input I/F 15 of the terminal 10B, it displays the process information on the display 16 of the terminal 10B, similar to the terminal 10 of the first embodiment.

For example, while one member of a couple is cooking in the kitchen using a cooking appliance and terminal 10A, the other member of the couple can independently use terminal 10B to view the recipe steps being cooked by the cooking appliance in the kitchen or somewhere outside the kitchen.

As described above, the embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed herein. For this purpose, the attached drawings and detailed description have been provided.

　Therefore, among the components described in the attached drawings and detailed description, not only are there components essential for solving the problem, but there may also be components that are not essential for solving the problem in order to illustrate the above implementation. Therefore, just because those non-essential components are described in the attached drawings or detailed description, it should not be immediately determined that those non-essential components are essential.

Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology disclosed herein, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. may be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

This disclosure can be used in a cooking assistance system that assists in cooking using cooking appliances.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Cooking assistance system 10, 10A, 10B Terminal 11, 21 Processor 12, 22 Storage unit 15 Input I/F
16 Display 17, 25 Communication I/F
20, 20A, 20B, 30, 30A, 30B Cooking appliance 23 Cooking section 24 Operation section 31, 41, 51, 61, 61A, 71, 71A, 71B, 81, 81A, 91, 104, 105A, 105B Status information 32, 42, 43, 52, 53, 62, 63, 65B, 72, 73, 82, 82A, 83, 92, 93 Button 33, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 85B, 95 Recipe explanation information 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99, 109 Process information 44, 54, 64, 74, 74A, 84, 94 Indicator 45A, 55A, 65A, 65C, 75A, 85A Guide information 56, 66, 76, 76A, 86, 86A, 96, 101, 101A, 101B, 106A, 106B Icon 67 Cooking support information 94A Progress bar 97, 97A Supplementary information 98 Background color portion 102, 103, 103A, 103B, 104A, 104B Identification information 102A, 102B Equipment operation information

Claims (18)

a first cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more equipment processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of first recipe processes;
An input I/F that receives a designation of one of the first recipe steps among the plurality of first recipe steps;
A display and
The one first recipe step indicated in the designation received by the input I/F is set as a display recipe step;
(a) when a first appliance recipe step corresponding to an appliance step being executed by the first cooking unit among the plurality of first recipe steps matches the displayed recipe step, first matching information included in process information indicating the displayed recipe step is set to a first mode, and the process information is displayed on the display;
(b) a control unit that, when the first appliance recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, sets the first matching information included in the step information to a second aspect different from the first aspect and displays the step information on the display. The control unit causes the first matched information to be displayed in the first manner,
Displaying the process information including a first icon;
The control unit causes the first matched information to be displayed in the second aspect,
The cooking assistance system according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying the process information including a second icon different from the first icon. The input I/F further includes:
accepting an operation on the first matched information displayed in the second aspect;
The control unit is
2. The cooking assistance system of claim 1, wherein when the input I/F receives the operation on the first matched information displayed in the second aspect, the recipe step indicated by the first appliance recipe step is set to the displayed recipe step, the first matched information included in the process information indicating the displayed recipe step is set to the first aspect, and the process information is displayed on the display. The cooking assistance system according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit further causes the display to display cooking assistance information associated with the first appliance recipe process. The cooking assistance information is
Explanation information explaining the appliance process being performed by the first cooking unit; or
The cooking assistance system according to claim 4 , further comprising recommendation information indicating an action recommended to the user when the appliance process being performed by the first cooking unit is performed by the first cooking unit. The cooking assistance system according to claim 2 , wherein the first matched information displayed in the second manner is a graphic having the same shape as the first matched information displayed in the first manner but a different color. A sequence is assigned to each of the first recipe steps,
The control unit displays the process information in the second aspect,
The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the process information on the display in the second mode in which the difference between an order assigned to the first appliance recipe steps and an order assigned to the displayed recipe steps is greater than the second mode in which the difference between an order assigned to the first appliance recipe steps and an order assigned to the displayed recipe steps is smaller. A sequence is assigned to each of the first recipe steps,
The control unit displays the process information in the second aspect,
The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, further comprising displaying on the display supplementary information determined according to the magnitude of a difference between an order assigned to the first appliance recipe steps and an order assigned to the displayed recipe steps. The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the display to display the process information in the first aspect or the second aspect only during a period from when the first cooking unit starts to execute a first equipment process included in one or more equipment processes to when the first cooking unit finishes executing a last equipment process. The input I/F further receives a start operation for starting display on the display or a stop operation for stopping display on the display;
The control unit is
When the stop operation is received, the display recipe process related to the process information displayed on the display when the stop operation is received is stored in a storage unit;
2. The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein, when the start operation is accepted, one piece of process information is selected from process information indicating the first appliance recipe process associated with the appliance process being executed by the first cooking unit when the start operation is accepted and the process information relating to the displayed recipe process stored in the memory unit, and the selected one piece of process information is displayed on the display. The cooking assistance system further comprises:
A second cooking unit sequentially executes one or more equipment steps, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of second recipe steps;
The control unit further
Displaying on the display first identification information and second identification information corresponding to the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit, respectively;
The input I/F further includes:
accepts a designation for one of the first identification information and the second identification information displayed on the display as a designation for one cooking unit corresponding to the one identification information;
The control unit further
The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, further comprising: setting an equipment process being executed by the one cooking unit indicated in the specification received by the input I/F as a displayed recipe process; setting process information indicating the displayed recipe process to the first aspect; and displaying the process information on the display. The cooking assistance system further comprises:
A second cooking unit sequentially executes one or more equipment steps, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of second recipe steps;
The input I/F is
Accepting a designation of one recipe step among the plurality of first recipe steps and the plurality of second recipe steps;
The control unit is
setting the one recipe step indicated in the designation received by the input I/F as a display recipe step;
(a) when a first appliance recipe step associated with an appliance step being executed by the first cooking unit among the plurality of first recipe steps matches the displayed recipe step, the first matching information corresponding to the first cooking unit included in the process information indicated by the displayed recipe step is set to the first mode, and the process information is displayed on the display;
(b) if the first equipment recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, set the first match information to the second aspect and display the step information on the display;
(c) when a second appliance recipe step corresponding to an appliance step being executed by the second cooking unit among the plurality of second recipe steps matches the displayed recipe step, set second matching information corresponding to the second cooking unit included in the process information indicated by the displayed recipe step to the first mode, and display the process information on the display;
The cooking support system according to claim 1 , further comprising: (d) when the second appliance recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, setting the second match information to the second aspect and displaying the step information on the display. The input I/F further includes:
accepting an operation on the second matched information displayed in the second aspect;
The control unit is
The cooking assistance system of claim 12, wherein when the input I/F accepts the operation on the second matched information displayed in the second aspect, the second appliance recipe step is set to the displayed recipe step as having accepted designation of the second appliance recipe step as the one recipe step, the second matched information included in the process information indicated by the displayed recipe step is set to the first aspect, and the process information is displayed on the display. the input I/F includes a first input I/F and a second input I/F;
the display includes a first display corresponding to a first input I/F and a second display corresponding to a second input I/F;
The control unit includes a first control unit corresponding to a first input I/F and a second control unit corresponding to a second input I/F,
When the first control unit receives the designation using the first input I/F as the input I/F, the first control unit displays the process information using the first display as the display,
The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein when the second control unit receives the designation using the second input I/F as the input I/F, the second control unit uses the second display as the display to display the process information. The cooking assistance system is a single device,
The cooking assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the one device includes the input I/F and the display in a housing of the one device. The cooking assistance system includes:
A cooking appliance including the first cooking section;
The cooking assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising: a terminal communicatively connected to the cooking appliance, the terminal including the input I/F, the display, and the control unit. A cooking assistance method executed by a cooking assistance system,
The cooking assistance system includes:
A first cooking unit sequentially executes one or more equipment processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of first recipe processes;
An input I/F that receives a designation of one of the first recipe steps among the plurality of first recipe steps;
A display;
The cooking assistance method includes:
Using the input I/F, a designation of one first recipe step among the plurality of first recipe steps is accepted;
The one first recipe step indicated in the designation received by the input I/F is set as a display recipe step;
(a) when a first appliance recipe step corresponding to an appliance step being executed by the first cooking unit among the plurality of first recipe steps matches the displayed recipe step, first matching information included in process information indicating the displayed recipe step is set to a first mode, and the process information is displayed on the display;
(b) when the first device recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, the first match information included in the step information is set to a second aspect different from the first aspect, and the step information is displayed on the display.
Cooking assistance methods. A program for causing a computer to execute a cooking assistance method executed by a cooking assistance system,
The cooking assistance system includes:
a first cooking unit that sequentially executes one or more equipment processes, each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of first recipe processes;
An input I/F that receives a designation of one of the first recipe steps among the plurality of first recipe steps;
A display;
The program is
Using the input I/F, a designation of one first recipe step among the plurality of first recipe steps is accepted;
The one first recipe step indicated in the designation received by the input I/F is set as a display recipe step;
(a) when a first appliance recipe step corresponding to an appliance step being executed by the first cooking unit among the plurality of first recipe steps matches the displayed recipe step, first matching information included in process information indicating the displayed recipe step is set to a first mode, and the process information is displayed on the display;
(b) when the first device recipe step and the displayed recipe step are different, the first match information included in the step information is set to a second aspect different from the first aspect, and the step information is displayed on the display.
program.

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