JP3924914B2 - Cooking equipment network system and communication method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cooking device such as a microwave oven, an electric oven, a gas range, and an electromagnetic cooker, and a network system for managing them.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional cooking device network system has a general configuration as shown in FIG. This configuration includes a management computer 107 and a microwave oven 100.
[0003]
The microwave oven 100 includes a heating unit 101 that heats food, a power supply control unit 102 that supplies power to the heating unit, and a controller 103 that controls the amount of power supplied to the heating unit to control heating power and heating time. The display unit 104 that displays the control state of the microwave oven and the cooking menu number, the operation unit 105 that allows the user to select the cooking menu, and the cooking menu memory that stores cooking sequence information (menu number and heating procedure information) The communication control unit 107 is configured to communicate with the unit 106 through the telephone line, receive the cooking sequence data from the management computer, and store it in the cooking menu storage unit 106.
[0004]
With this configuration, a cooking sequence can be transmitted from the management computer to the microwave oven, or a cooking sequence data acquisition request can be issued from the microwave oven and data can be received from the management computer. By such communication between the management computer and the microwave oven, the cooking sequence stored in the microwave oven can be automatically set.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional configuration as described above has the following problems.
[0006]
1. Since the microwave oven is directly connected to the management computer, when connecting a plurality of microwave ovens of different models to the management computer, it is necessary to communicate for each microwave oven, and communication time and communication costs are required.
[0007]
2. Only a microwave oven with a built-in communication controller can be connected to the management computer.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a management computer that transmits cooking sequence information, cooking sequence information transmitted from the management computer, and stores the cooking sequence information in at least one connected cooking device. A network adapter that distributes sequence information and at least one cooking device that performs cooking according to a cooking sequence obtained from the network adapter are provided.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The heating and cooking equipment network system according to claim 1 is an IC card that performs the acquisition of the cooking sequence information from a removable memory card on the cooking equipment and records the usage status and failure status of the cooking equipment on the memory card. A slot, and the network adapter communicates with a memory card in the IC card slot, writes a cooking sequence acquired from the management computer to the memory card, and uses and malfunctions of the cooking device The situation is acquired . Currently, there are few cooking devices that can communicate, and many cooking devices have only an IC card slot. Such a cooking device can be connected to the network adapter.
[0015]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
Example 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooking device network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are chart diagrams illustrating an operation procedure of the cooking device network system.
[0017]
Although the present invention can be applied to all cooking devices, an example applied to a microwave oven will be described here as an example.
[0018]
The configuration of this embodiment is roughly divided into three parts. The first is a microwave oven (at least one) that is a cooking device. The second is a network adapter for connecting a microwave oven to an external organization via a network. The third is a management computer that communicates with the network adapter through a public line.
[0019]
When installing this configuration in a store such as a convenience store or family restaurant, install a plurality of microwave ovens and at least one network adapter in the store, and install a management computer in a remote location (for example, the head office). Then, it becomes the form which integrates and manages the microwave oven of each store there.
[0020]
The cooking sequence is distributed from the management computer using a public telephone line. The network adapter receives and stores it, and sends it to the microwave when necessary. At the same time that the cooking sequence is distributed from the management computer, the network adapter returns the equipment information of the microwave oven (usage count, usage time of each part, failure status, cooking log, etc.) and its history to the management computer. To do. In addition, the cooking sequence here shows the operation | movement procedure of the microwave oven with respect to a specific cooking menu. Specifically, it is as follows.
[0021]
Makunouchi Bento: (Stage 1: Power 6, Time 13sec) (Stage 2: Power 3, Time 23sec)
In this example, “When heating the inner lunch box of a curtain in a microwave oven, first, it is heated for 13 seconds at an output level 6 and then is heated for 23 seconds at an output level 3”. The number of stages varies depending on the dish. Also, many recent microwave ovens are provided with an oven function and a steam function. In such a case, the sequence becomes more complicated.
[0022]
Each component structure of the present embodiment that performs such a cooking sequence distribution operation will be described in detail below.
[0023]
In FIG. 1, 1 is a heating part for heating food. Here, an example of a microwave oven is described, and specifically corresponds to a magnetron. A power supply control unit 2 supplies power to the magnetron that is a heating unit, and can change the power to be supplied. 3 is a controller that issues a command to the power supply control unit 2 to control the size of the heating output and the heating time. A display unit 4 displays the control state of the microwave oven, the heating time, the remaining heating time, the designated cooking number, the failure code, and the like. 5 is an operation unit for a user to input a number corresponding to a cooking menu, cooking time, output power, and the like. A communication control unit 6 communicates with the network adapter and exchanges cooking sequences and device information. The communication control unit 6 performs local communication with the network adapter by serial communication such as RS-232C instead of connection to a public line. The configurations from 1 to 6 so far are the configurations inside the microwave oven.
[0024]
Stores such as convenience stores and family restaurants often have multiple microwave ovens. Here, taking into account such cases, at least one microwave oven is connected to the network adapter.
[0025]
Next, the configuration of the network adapter is shown below. A microwave communication unit 10 performs serial communication with the communication control unit 6 in the microwave oven to transmit and receive data. A public line communication unit 15 is connected to a management computer using a public telephone line and transmits and receives data. A cooking sequence storage unit 12 stores the cooking sequence of the microwave oven sent from the management computer for each model. Reference numeral 13 denotes a device status history storage unit that stores the current state of the microwave oven, failure, operation history, cooking log, and the like. A security information storage unit 14 stores security information such as a model name of a microwave oven connected to the network adapter and a login password when the server computer connects to the network adapter. 11 stores information obtained from the public line communication unit 15 in the cooking sequence storage unit 12, stores malfunctions, operating histories, cooking logs, etc. of the microwave oven in the device status history storage unit 13, and stores device status history The information in the unit 13 and the security information storage unit 14 is sent to the management computer by controlling the public line communication unit 15, or the microwave communication unit 10 is controlled to respond to the cooking sequence request from each microwave oven. An information control unit that transmits data to the communication control unit 6.
[0026]
Reference numeral 20 denotes a management computer. This is a server computer that has the ability to connect to a public telephone line and send and receive data, delivering cooking sequence distribution to network adapters, and receiving device history information and cooking logs for microwave ovens received from network adapters. Management is done for each store and equipment by the built-in database function. This management computer normally manages a plurality of stores in a lump, and rewrites cooking sequences of a plurality of microwave ovens in each store at the same time or checks a failure status.
[0027]
A detailed operation of the embodiment of the cooking device network system configured as described above will be described with reference to the chart of FIG.
[0028]
The chart of FIG. 2 shows an example in which the cooking sequence is distributed from the management computer to the microwave and the device information is returned from the microwave to the management computer.
[0029]
Step 1: First, call from the management computer through the public telephone line and connect to the network adapter. The network adapter receives the transmitted signal (ringer signal) and immediately receives the call.
[0030]
Step. 2: Next, the management computer sends a model identification signal request signal. The network adapter receiving it transmits a model identification signal stored in the security information storage unit 14.
[0031]
The security information storage unit 14 stores the type of the microwave oven connected to the network adapter (the manufacturer name and model name encoded). The contents of the cooking sequence vary greatly depending on the type of microwave oven. Moving the microwave oven with a different cooking sequence will not only cause improper heating, but may also cause machine failure. In order to prevent such unauthorized operation of the device and to ensure proper operation, the model code is always confirmed at the beginning of communication.
[0032]
In order to cope with exchange of a microwave oven in a store, the network adapter periodically communicates with the microwave oven and updates the model information of the connected microwave oven. In this step, when a model identification signal request is received from the management computer, the network adapter may communicate with the microwave oven to update such model information.
[0033]
In addition, a login process may be performed simultaneously with this operation. This is done so that the network adapter does not receive unauthorized access from other computers. Specifically, a password code is added to the beginning of the model identification signal request signal transmitted from the management computer side, and whether the code corresponds to the password stored in the security information storage unit on the network adapter side. Check. If it is not supported or the password code is not sent, the network adapter will disconnect the line.
[0034]
Step. 3: Send the cooking sequence for each model from the management computer. Specifically, the cooking menu number and cooking sequence are transmitted.
[0035]
On the network adapter side, the transmitted data is stored in the cooking sequence storage unit 12 for each model.
[0036]
Step.4: Send the microwave device status data from the network adapter to the management computer. The equipment status data here is specifically the number of times the microwave oven is used (usage time), the magnetron usage time, and the error code history (failure information history). When the microwave function has a steam function or an oven function, the log information of various device operations such as the number of times and the use time of each function and parts is included.
[0037]
In addition, as the equipment status data here, cooking start date and time, cooking end date and time, cooking or food temperature, power consumption, and cooking menu type (cooking menu number) for each cooking actually performed are related to cooking. Log data may be collectively transferred to the management computer.
[0038]
Step. 5: Send a code to notify the end of communication from the management computer and disconnect the line. With the above operation, cooking sequence data for the microwave oven connected to the network adapter is transmitted from the management computer to the network adapter through the public telephone line.
[0039]
Step. 6: This step is local communication performed between the microwave oven and the network adapter, and is performed by serial communication such as RS-232C.
[0040]
When the user puts food in the microwave and inputs a number (cooking menu number) corresponding to the food from the operation unit 5, the controller 3 immediately controls the communication control unit 6 to communicate with the network adapter, and cook sequence data. A request signal, cooking menu number data, and a model identification signal are transmitted. When the network adapter receives this request signal, the information control unit 11 searches the cooking sequence storage unit 12 using the transmitted model identification code and cooking menu number, finds the corresponding cooking sequence, and the microwave communication unit 10. To control and forward the request to the microwave oven that issued the request.
[0041]
The controller 3 in the microwave oven receives the cooking sequence transmitted from the network adapter by the communication control unit 6 and controls the power supply control unit 2 according to the contents. Thereby, suitable cooking is performed.
[0042]
By performing the operation as described above, an appropriate cooking sequence can be distributed from the management computer to a plurality of different types of microwave ovens in the store. Simultaneously with the delivery of the cooking sequence, the management computer can grasp the usage status of the microwave oven by transmitting data related to the status of the devices in the microwave oven to the management computer. Such information is useful for machine life prediction and maintenance.
[0043]
Next, an operation for reporting a failure in the microwave oven with the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described. The operation procedure will be described with reference to the chart of FIG.
[0044]
Step 1: When a failure occurs in the microwave oven, the controller 3 not only displays a failure code on the display unit 4, but also transmits a failure signal to the network adapter using the communication control unit 6. When the signal is received by the microwave oven communication unit 10 on the network adapter side, the information control unit 11 requests the model identification code and the failure code from the microwave oven, and obtains the signal.
[0045]
Step 2: After this, the network adapter immediately calls the management computer. The other party (telephone number) at this time may be different from that of the management computer that has distributed the cooking sequence. The partner information (telephone number) is stored in advance in the security information storage unit 14. Further, the information control unit 11 may switch the call destination depending on the type of failure.
[0046]
Step 3: After connecting to the management computer, the network adapter sends a store identification number and a failure signal to the management computer.
[0047]
Step 4: When the management computer receives the failure signal, it requests information such as a model identification code, failure code, and operation history information to obtain more detailed information as necessary. The detailed information request here may change depending on the situation.
[0048]
When the detailed information request signal is received on the network adapter side, the information control unit 11 transmits the contents stored in the device information history storage unit 13 to the management computer.
[0049]
Step 5: After the management computer has obtained the prescribed information, disconnect the line.
By causing the network system having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 to perform the above-described operation, it is possible to immediately know the failure of the microwave oven in the store with the management computer, and it is possible to quickly deal with repairs and the like.
[0050]
(Example 2)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooking device network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0051]
The difference from the first embodiment is that an IC card slot 31 is provided instead of the communication control unit 6 in the microwave oven, and an IC card 32 and an IC card communication unit 33 are provided instead of the microwave oven communication unit 10 in the network adapter. Is a point. In addition, the thing of the same code | symbol as Example 1 has the same structure, and abbreviate | omits description.
[0052]
Many of the microwave ovens currently used in convenience stores and family restaurants do not have the communication control unit 6 as shown in FIG. 1, and most models do not have a connection function with a management computer.
[0053]
However, many models have an IC card slot. This is what is used to rewrite the cooking sequence offline. The IC card here is a memory card, and is configured such that the CPU data bus and address bus in the controller 3 are directly connected to the card.
[0054]
Specifically, when the user inputs a cooking menu number corresponding to a food item on the operation unit 5, the controller 3 accesses the IC card at an address corresponding to the number, and the contents written on the address (cooking sequence information) Get. Thereafter, the controller 3 controls the power supply control unit 2 in accordance with the cooking sequence information obtained by accessing.
[0055]
In this embodiment, the IC card slot is used to receive a cooking sequence from the online management center as in Embodiment 1 and to transmit device information.
[0056]
The IC card 32 converts the data access (address designation) from the controller 3 into a serial signal and transmits it to the network adapter, and converts the signal sent as a serial signal from the network adapter into a parallel signal. 3 has a circuit for outputting to the data bus.
[0057]
From the controller 3, an address signal corresponding to the cooking menu number is output. The IC card 32 converts this address into a serial signal and sends it to the network adapter.
[0058]
The IC card communication unit 32 in the network adapter receives this address signal. The information control unit 11 determines which cooking menu number of which model the received address corresponds to from this address signal, the port number from which the signal came, and the model information stored in the security information storage unit 14. Deriving and accessing the cooking sequence storage unit 12 to find the corresponding cooking sequence. The information control unit 11 converts the obtained cooking sequence into a serial signal and outputs it to the IC card 32 through the IC card communication unit 32. The IC card 32 converts this signal into parallel and outputs it to the data bus of the controller 3 through the IC card slot 31. With this operation, the controller 3 can receive cooking sequence data.
[0059]
By performing the operation as described above, the microwave oven having the IC card slot can communicate with the network adapter using the IC card interface, and cooking sequence information can be communicated. As described in the first embodiment, the network adapter can communicate with the management computer using a public telephone line. Therefore, even in a microwave oven having no such communication means, the cooking sequence can be distributed from the management computer in the same procedure as in FIG.
[0060]
In addition, regarding a microwave oven failure or operating condition, a specific signal is usually output to the address bus or data bus of the controller 3. Therefore, by converting these signals into serial data using the IC card 32 and transmitting the signals to the network adapter, the device status history storage unit 13 can store the status such as the number of operations, operating time, failure, cooking log, and the like. By using this, it is possible to transmit the device status to the management computer described in Steps 4 and 5 of FIG. 2 and to transmit the failure status to the management computer described in FIG.
[0061]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the description has been given using the microwave oven. However, the same effect can be obtained in other cooking devices such as an oven and an electromagnetic cooker. A combination of these cooking appliances (for example, an oven microwave oven) has the same effect. The communication between the network adapter and the management computer uses a public telephone line, but other communication means such as a satellite line, TV broadcast, radio broadcast, CATV, Internet, optical fiber dedicated line may be used. good. Further, although the communication control unit 6 in the first embodiment performs serial communication with the network adapter by RS232C, other methods (for example, Ethernet (TCP / IP) or other parallel communication) may be used. In addition, the communication between the IC card 32 and the network adapter in the second embodiment is serial communication, but other methods may be used. In addition, the communication between the cooking device (here, the microwave oven) and the network adapter has been described as a wired connection in this embodiment, but a wireless signal such as infrared rays or radio waves may be used.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the cooking device network system according to claim 1 stores the acquisition of the cooking sequence information from the removable memory card and the recording of the use status and the failure status of the cooking device in the cooking device. An IC card slot for the card, wherein the network adapter communicates with a memory card in the IC card slot, writes a cooking sequence acquired from the management computer to the memory card, and the cooking device By acquiring the usage status and failure status, it is possible to effectively enable communication services such as cooking sequence distribution even for a microwave oven that does not have a communication function.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a cooking system network system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cooking sequence distribution operation according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a failure notification operation of the cooking device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a cooking equipment network system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional cooking equipment network system.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating part 2 Electric power feeding control part 3 Controller 4 Display part 5 Operation part 6 Communication control part 10 Microwave oven communication part 11 Information control part 12 Cooking sequence memory | storage part 13 Equipment status log | history memory | storage part 14 Security information memory | storage part 15 Public line communication part 20 Management computer 31 IC card slot 32 IC card 33 IC card communication section

Claims (2)

A management computer that transmits cooking sequence information, a network adapter that receives and stores cooking sequence information transmitted from the management computer, and distributes cooking sequence information to at least one connected cooking device, and the network in the heating cooking appliance network system consisting of cooking apparatus to perform cooking according to cooking sequence obtained from the adapter,
The cooking device comprises an IC card slot for acquiring the cooking sequence information from a removable memory card and recording the usage status and failure status of the cooking device on the memory card,
The network adapter communicates with the memory card in the IC card slot, writes the cooking sequence acquired from the management computer to the memory card, and acquires the use status and failure status of the cooking device. Perform cooking equipment network system. A management computer that transmits cooking sequence information, a network adapter that receives and stores cooking sequence information transmitted from the management computer, and distributes cooking sequence information to at least one connected cooking device, and the network In the heating and cooking equipment network system consisting of heating and cooking equipment that performs cooking according to the cooking sequence obtained from the adapter,
Obtaining the cooking sequence information from a memory card to which the cooking device can be attached and detached, and recording the usage status and failure status of the cooking device on the memory card;
The network adapter communicates with the memory card, and writes the cooking sequence acquired from the management computer to the memory card, and acquires the usage status and failure status of the cooking device. Communication method.

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