DOMESTIC APPLIANCE, DOMESTIC APPLIANCE SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE

Abstract

A network-compatible household appliance includes a communications facility for coupling via a data link to an external database. The household appliance is configured to receive operating parameters relevant for an operating sequence from the database via the communications facility, to store the operating parameters for implementing the operating sequence by the household appliance, and, when triggered by a user, to automatically transfer the operating parameters for the operating sequence to the database via the communications facility.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A network-compatible household appliance, comprising a communications facility for coupling via a data link to an external database, said household appliance being configured to receive operating parameters relevant for an operating sequence from the database via the communications facility, to store the operating parameters for implementing the operating sequence by the household appliance, and when triggered by a user to automatically transfer the operating parameters for the operating sequence to the database via the communications facility.

18. The household appliance of claim 17, further comprising an actuating field configured to trigger the automatic transfer of the operating parameters to the database.

19. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the household appliance is configured to query a user specification associated with regard to the operating sequence and to transfer the user specification together with the operating parameters to the database.

20. The household appliance of claim 19, wherein the user specification comprises a rating of a characteristic of a commodity that is to be handled in response to the operating sequence.

21. The household appliance of claim 19, wherein the user specification comprises a rating of multiple characteristics of a commodity handled in response to the operating sequence.

22. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the household appliance is configured to add an interactive element to the operating sequence and to transfer the interactive element together with the operating parameters to the database.

23. The household appliance of claim 17, constructed in the form of a cooking appliance.

24. A household appliance system, comprising: a network-compatible household appliance comprising a communications facility; a database storing operating parameters relevant for an operating sequence to be implemented by the household appliance and providing in a retrievable manner the operating parameters to the household appliance; and a network configured to couple the communication facility of the household appliance to the database.

25. The household appliance system of claim 24, wherein the database is configured to enable a user to submit a rating for a set of operating parameters of an operating sequence, said household appliance system being configured to calculate an average rating from multiple individual ratings, with the average rating being stored in and retrieved from the database such that it is linked to the operating sequence.

26. The household appliance system of claim 25, wherein the database is configured to store sets of operating parameters of multiple variants of an operating sequence together with their ratings, said household appliance system being configured to only store a one of the variants which has a highest average rating after a predetermined event has occurred.

27. The household appliance system of claim 25, wherein sets the database is configured to store of operating parameters of multiple variants of an operating sequence together with their ratings, said household appliance system being configured to store at least two of the variants as different operating sequences.

28. The household appliance system of claim, wherein the household appliance system is configured to store an operating sequence as a stand-alone operating sequence based upon a previous operating sequence and a group of individual ratings of the preceding operating sequence represents a differentiable subset of ratings for the stand-alone operating sequence.

29. The household appliance system of claim 24, wherein the household appliance system is configured to store operating parameters for an operating sequence of the household appliance and to provide in a retrievable manner operating parameters of an operating sequence in an adapted form for a network compatible further household appliance having a functionality which is different than a functionality of the household appliance.

30. The household appliance system of claim 29, wherein the functionality of the further household appliance is reduced in comparison to the functionality of the household appliance for which the operating sequence is stored, said household appliance system being configured to adapt an operating parameter of the further household appliance so that when the operating sequence is executed on the further household appliance, a handling result is approximated with respect to a handling result of the household appliance for which the operating sequence is stored.

31. The household appliance system of claim 24, wherein the database is configured to generate variants of operating parameters relevant for an operating sequence and to store the variants in the database, with the variants being generated by an algorithm and the operating parameters being stored in the database.

32. A method for operating a network-compatible household appliance, said method comprising: implementing an operating sequence on the household appliance; when triggered by a user and after the operating sequence is terminated, automatically transferring operating parameters relevant for the operating sequence to an external database; and retrieving the operating parameters stored in the external database by a network-compatible household appliance in order to implement a corresponding operating sequence.

Description

[0086] The above-described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention and also the manner in which these are achieved become clearer and more easily understandable in conjunction with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment that is further explained in conjunction with the drawings.

[0087] FIG. 1 shows a sketch of a household appliance system having a household appliance and a database; and

[0088] FIG. 2 shows a method sequence for operating the household appliance and/or the household appliance system.

[0089] FIG. 1 illustrates a sketch of a household appliance system 1. The household appliance system 1 comprises a network-compatible household appliance in the form of for example a baking oven 2.

[0090] The baking oven 2 has a cooking compartment 3 in which the food can be handled. In one development, in addition to its conventional heating modes (upper heating, lower heating, grill, hot air, circulating air etc.) for the cooking compartment 3, the baking oven 2 can also have a microwave functionality and/or a steam-generating functionality. The operation of the baking oven 2 can be controlled by means of a control facility 4 that is also connected via a data link to a user interface 5 and to at least one communications module 6.

[0091] The user interface 5 that can be embodied for example as a touch sensitive screen or control panel is used for the purpose of receiving user settings and relaying said user settings to the control facility 4. In particular, a user can set cooking parameters via the user interface 5 and can read information regarding an operating sequence.

[0092] The at least one communications module 6 renders it possible to couple the baking oven 2 to an external database 7 via a data link, for example via a data network N. The communications module 6 can then be for example a wireless local area network module. The database 7 can be located in a server (not illustrated) or can be cloud-based. The database proprietor can be the manufacturer of the baking oven 2. The database 7 can be connected to further household appliances, in particular of the same manufacturer.

[0093] The at least one communications module 6 further renders it possible to couple the baking oven 2 to a user end device S, for example a smartphone, via a data link. This coupling via a data link can likewise be provided via the data network N, for example by means of the wireless local area network module. The communications module 6 however can be configured for the direct coupling to the user end device S via a data link, for example as a Bluetooth module. This renders it possible to remotely control the baking oven 2 via the user end device S.

[0094] The user end device S can also be connected via the data network N to the database 7, for example by permitting a corresponding application program to be executed.

[0095] The database 7 is configured or provided for storing relevant operating parameters for an operating sequence of the household appliance (in this case: cooking parameters for executing a cooking procedure on the baking oven 2) and for providing said operating parameters in a retrievable manner for the baking oven 2 or other baking ovens or cooking appliances. The relevant operating parameters can represent parts of a recipe block that can also include yet additional specifications and information. The database 7 is therefore in particular configured or provided for the purpose of storing entire recipe blocks.

[0096] The recipe blocks that are stored in the database 7 can be set by a manufacturer or third-party provider. In addition, users can set recipe blocks, for example the user of the baking oven 2. For this purpose, the baking oven 2—in particular its control facility 4—is configured for the purpose of in a manner triggered by the user automatically transferring to the database via the at least one communications module 6 the relevant operating parameters for a cooking sequence that is implemented by the baking oven 2, in particular within a recipe block. This is performed in a manner triggered by the user automatically or “at the push of a button”. For this purpose, the user can actuate a corresponding actuating field on the user interface 5 or on the user end device S.

[0097] It is possible that a user adds additional user specifications, interactive elements etc., that become a component part or parts of the recipe block and consequently are transferred together with the relevant operating parameters to the database. The user specifications, interactive elements etc. can comprise for example comments, images and ratings of the cooking sequence that is associated with the recipe block, including for example user specifications with regard to a cooking result (in other words at least one characteristic of a food that is to be handled by the operating sequence) and/or with regard to the cooking sequence as such.

[0098] With regard to inputting user specifications, in one development after triggering the transfer a—for example menu-controlled—query mask can be provided in the user interface 5 and/or on the user end device S in order to query the user specifications. The query mask can be operated (for example filled out) by a user inputting user specifications (for example regarding the rating of the cooking result globally or in more categories) or can be skipped or ignored if the user is not interested.

[0099] Moreover, the baking oven 2 can receive relevant operating parameters for an operating sequence from the database via the communications module 6 and can store said operating parameters for implementing an operating sequence, for example in the control facility 4. In particular, the baking oven 2 can receive recipe blocks that also have additional specifications and information with regard to the cooking sequence or have interactive elements in addition to the relevant operating parameters for the operating sequence. In one development, these additional specifications and information (for example user comments, instructions for preparing food, ratings etc.) can be displayed in the user interface 5 and/or on the user end device S.

[0100] In particular, it is possible for a user of the baking oven 2 to download a recipe block from the database 7 to the baking oven 2 in an amended form and for the accordingly amended operating parameters to be uploaded again within a variant of the recipe block into the database 7, where applicable together with the additional specifications and information.

[0101] Moreover, it is possible that an average rating is calculated from multiple individual ratings for a set of cooking parameters of a cooking sequence or for a recipe block that is stored in the database 7. The average rating can be stored in the database linked to the cooking sequence (for example as information or an entry of the recipe block) and can be retrieved by users. The average rating can be displayed for example as a numerical value and/or graphically (by way of example by stars).

[0102] In particular, it is possible to keep multiple variants of a cooking sequence or recipe block stored together with their ratings in the database 7 and after at least one predetermined event has occurred it is possible to only store the variant(s) with the highest average rating(s). Variants of a cooking sequence or recipe block can be identified as variants of a base recipe block for example by their identifier or ID.

[0103] It is also possible to keep multiple variants of an operating sequence or recipe block stored together with their ratings in the database and to store two variants as different cooking sequences after fulfilling at least one criterion, in other words to create two independent recipe blocks from two variants of one recipe block.

[0104] Moreover, it is possible starting from a preceding cooking sequence to store a cooking sequence as a standalone cooking sequence for which a group of individual ratings of the preceding cooking sequence represents a significantly different or differentiable subset of ratings.

[0105] It is also possible to store cooking parameters for a cooking sequence of a baking oven 2 and to provide in a retrievable manner the cooking parameters for at least one network-compatible baking oven having a different functionality in an amended form. In particular, it is possible in this case that the baking oven having a different functionality in comparison to the baking oven 2 has a reduced functionality and at least one operating parameter of the baking oven having a reduced functionality can be adapted so that when the cooking procedure is performed on the baking oven having the reduced functionality, a cooking result is approximated with respect to the handling result of the baking oven 2. By way of example, if the baking oven 2 has a microwave functionality and the cooking parameters of a specific recipe block comprise activating the microwave function, the recipe block can be modified for use on a baking oven without a microwave functionality so that the influence of the microwaves in the recipe block is approximated by adapting the cooking parameters of the baking oven without the microwave functionality. The cooking time can therefore be extended in the baking oven without the microwave functionality in order to compensate for the lack of microwave power.

[0106] FIG. 2 illustrates a method sequence for operating the baking oven 2 and/or the household appliance system 1. In this case, there is a requirement that a first recipe block R1 is stored in the database 7 and namely with an associated identifier ID1. The user of the baking oven 2 can search through the database 7 for recipes and can have decided to cook the recipe that corresponds to the recipe block R1.

[0107] In a first step S1, the user downloads the recipe block R1 from the database 7 to the baking oven 2. The selection of the recipe block R1 and the procedure of issuing the instruction to download the recipe block R1 by the user can be made by means of the baking oven 2 or by means of the user end device S (for example via a corresponding app).

[0108] In a second step S2, the user would like to cook the recipe that corresponds to the recipe block R1 however in a slightly modified manner. For this purpose, the cooking parameters that are stated in the recipe block R1 can be automatically accepted by the baking oven 2 after being downloaded from the database.

[0109] In a third step S3, the user varies at least one cooking parameter and permits an accordingly varied cooking sequence to be performed on the baking oven.

[0110] In a fourth step S4, after the varied cooking sequence is terminated an accordingly varied second recipe block R2 for the varied cooking sequence is automatically transferred in a manner triggered by the user to the database, where applicable together with other specifications and information such as comments, images, ratings, interactive elements etc. This second recipe block R2 is provided with an identifier ID2 from which it is possible to discern that said second recipe block represents a variant of the recipe block R1, in other words that ID2=ID2 [ID1].

[0111] These steps S1 to S4 can subsequently be repeated by the same user or other users and namely for example can be applied to the first recipe block R1 or the second recipe block R2.

[0112] Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

[0113] In general, “a”, “one” etc. can be understood to mean singular or plural, in particular in the sense of “at least one” or “one or more” etc. as long as this is not explicitly ruled out, for example by the expression “precisely one” etc.

[0114] A specification of a number can also comprise precisely the specified number as well as a customary tolerance range as long as this is not explicitly ruled out.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0115] 1 Household appliance system [0116] 2 Baking oven [0117] 3 Cooking compartment [0118] 4 Control facility [0119] 5 User interface [0120] 6 Communications module [0121] 7 Database [0122] N Data network [0123] S User end device [0124] S1-S4 Method steps