JP5948917B2 - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker that includes communication means and enables transmission and reception of information with an external server such as a manufacturer.

Recent electric rice cookers are equipped with a microcomputer control unit that performs heating based on a preset heating control sequence, efficiently cooks rice with high heating output, and automatically completes the cooking process when cooking is completed. Microcomputer-type electric rice cookers that maintain a desired heat retention temperature for a predetermined time have become mainstream (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such an electric rice cooker, for example, an operation panel is provided on the front portion of the rice cooker body, and the operation panel portion further includes a rice cooking menu selection switch, a rice cooking switch, a timer around a display portion such as a liquid crystal panel. A reservation switch, a heat retention selection switch, a cancel switch, and other various operation switches are arranged.

  And on the display section, information necessary for cooking menu, rice type, cooking level (Kana, normal, soft), reservation time, cooking rice, warming, warming temperature, and other various operation settings Settings, information during operation, etc. are displayed.

JP 2003-10042 A

  There are a wide variety of user preferences and types of rice using the electric rice cooker as described above, and it is difficult to reproduce the contents of the offer from the user to the manufacturer (for example, hard, with a sticker, etc.).

  In addition, although the rice state is affected by the usage environment (room temperature and power supply circumstances), it is difficult to grasp the usage environment of the user except by actually visiting.

  Up to now, if a user who is using an electric rice cooker as described above offers a trouble such as “cooking is bad”, the electric rice cooker itself is sent to the manufacturer, and the cooking temperature Based on the results of investigations, etc., we are taking measures such as changing the control sequence to the correction program estimated from the contents of the above user's offer, but this takes time and transportation costs, depending on the user's usage environment May still not be possible.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. For example, communication from the electric rice cooker side to an external server such as a manufacturer via a network is performed, and rice cooking and heat retention data (for example, menu, room temperature) , Water temperature, combined number, cooking rank, time of each rice cooking process, heat retention time, power supply voltage, etc.) by checking the manufacturer on the electric rice cooker that can cope with troubles easily and accurately It is intended to provide.

This gun onset bright, in order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, is configured to include a following problem solving means.

(1) Invention of Claim 1 The electric rice cooker of this invention controls the heating means for rice cooking, the rice cooking program according to a rice cooking rank, and the said cooking means based on the rice cooking program according to the said rice cooking rank. A control means and a communication means with an external server are provided, and when the rice cooking rank reaches a specific rank, user information is transmitted to the external server.

  According to such a configuration, when it is determined that the program mode of a specific rank among the rice cooking control programs of a plurality of ranks is reached, control information such as the user information at that time, for example, the temperature of the inner pot, An appropriate response method corresponding to the same mode is transmitted to the external server and the user is instructed.

  In addition, in such a configuration, it is not necessary to transmit user information except in a specific rank rice cooking mode such as the foreign object detection rice cooking mode, so that the system configuration is simplified.

  As a result of the above, according to the present invention, for example, by checking the power supply voltage level on the user side, the place of use and other usage environments on the manufacturer side, and advising appropriate usage conditions accordingly, it is possible to check for unnecessary problems. Thus, repair and the like can be avoided, and it is unnecessary to send and return useless products.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structure of the rice cooker main-body part of the electric rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the relationship with the mobile telephone corresponding to it. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control circuit part of the electric rice cooker, and the relationship with the mobile telephone corresponding to it. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the abnormality response system of the electric rice cooker. It is a flowchart which shows the structure and content of the 1st abnormality response system of the electric rice cooker. It is a flowchart which shows the structure and content of the 2nd abnormality response system of the electric rice cooker. It is a flowchart which shows the structure and content of the 3rd abnormality response system of the electric rice cooker.

  1 to 3 are diagrams showing a rice cooker body of an electric rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention and a mobile phone as an example of a corresponding portable terminal, a control circuit unit in the rice cooker body, and a system configuration. 4 to 6 show the configurations and contents of first to third abnormality handling systems using the mobile phone, respectively.

(Configuration of the electric rice cooker body)
First, in this embodiment, as an example of an electric rice cooker, for example, an electric rice cooker EJ as shown in FIG. 1 is adopted, and on the side of the rice cooker main body 1 (main body case 1a, bottom member 1b), for example, an inner pot While a magnetic metal plate capable of electromagnetic induction is adopted as a work coil so as to wrap the entire inner pot through a synthetic resin inner case as a heating means at the time of rice cooking for the inner pot In addition, a heating heater corresponding to the side wall portion and the bottom wall portion of the inner pot is provided as a heating means for keeping the inner pot warm. And it can implement | achieve appropriate rice cooking and a heat retention function by them (illustration omitted).

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a lid unit having a steam cap (pressure adjusting device) 14 provided at the top of the electric rice cooker body (and inner pot) 1 so as to be opened and closed.

  On the other hand, the operation part is provided in the front side upper part of the lid unit 2 of the electric rice cooker main body 1 upper part, and is comprised by the operation panel 3 provided with various operation switches 5-12 and display parts 4, such as a liquid crystal panel. Has been.

  The various operation switches 5 to 12 are, for example, a rice selection switch 5 for selecting the type of rice to be used, a rice cooking menu selection switch 6 for selecting a rice cooking menu, a hot spring switch 7, a timer reservation switch 8, and a timer reservation time setting. Time setting switch 8a, equivalent setting switch 8b, rice cooking switch 9, cancel switch 10, heat retention switch 11 that also functions as a heat retention function selection switch such as "glossy and long lasting" and "glossy and high temperature", voice guide for selecting voice guidance function It consists of a switch 12 and the like.

  In the above-described fire switch 7, for example, 3 to 4 subtle heating power settings are possible, and savory “cooked rice” can be cooked in a strong fire.

  In addition, the timer reservation switch 8 is not only used for setting the cooking time at the time you want to eat, but also after setting the inner pot in the electric rice cooker body 1 until the start of cooking (natural water absorption time) : Reservation time setting function as a reserved water absorption timer that can be set between 10 and 60 minutes.

  Furthermore, the voice guide 12 is a call that can guide the setting of “timer reservation rice cooking”, which is considered to be relatively difficult for the elderly, etc., by voice guidance and can confirm the key actually pressed. It also has a back function.

  In addition, a notification function using a predetermined melody is also provided. This melody can be downloaded from an external sound source as well as a ready-made one set by the manufacturer in advance.

  Of course, the volume can be adjusted digitally.

  In addition, the display unit 4 made of a liquid crystal panel, for example, displays white rice, non-washed rice, brown rice, glutinous rice and other types of rice, as well as eco-cooked rice, rice, quick-cooked, cooked, rice porridge, gomoku rice, and beans , Rice menu such as cereal rice, glossy and long-lasting, warming menu such as glossy and high temperature (when warming is set), cooked reservation time, water absorption reserved time, warming time, rice cooking start, cooked rice and other characters and instruction marks (during cooking: From the display unit that displays the current time, reserved time or remaining time corresponding to characters such as morning, afternoon, and remaining minutes A display unit for information (described later) such as the transmitted rice cooking information selection / setting menu is provided.

  Further, reference numeral 13 denotes a transmission / reception antenna unit attached to a rice cooking or cooking information communication control unit 40 which will be described later, and is provided on the front surface of the electric rice cooker body 1. And the input / output of the rice cooking or cooking control data bidirectionally with the mobile phone 41 composed of, for example, a high-functional mobile phone (smart phone) or the like, which is an external communication means (external mobile terminal) for cooking rice or cooking information to be described later ( It has a function that enables transmission / reception).

(Configuration of the rice cooker body side control circuit)
Next, FIG. 2 shows the control of the microcomputer control unit 20, the work coil and the heat insulation heater control circuit centered on the rice cooker body 1 side rice cooking and heat insulation control microcomputer control unit 20 configured as described above. Necessary control data (program) storage means (ROM and RAM) 32, rice cooking or cooking control data communication control unit 40 for input / output communication control, rice cooking cooking control data storage means 34 necessary for controlling the communication control unit 40 The structure of the control circuit part centering on (RAM) etc. is shown.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a microcomputer control unit (CPU) for comprehensive control such as rice cooking, heat insulation, and communication, and the microcomputer control unit 20 is mainly configured of a microcomputer, for example, a temperature detection circuit for an inner pot portion. Functions to control the input / output and operating states of the drive control circuit unit, communication control circuit unit, power supply circuit unit, etc., and the work coil drive control circuit unit, oscillation circuit unit, reset circuit unit, heat retention heater and lid heater It is configured.

  First, in the sensor input circuit 31 provided corresponding to the inner pot temperature detection sensor, the inner pot detection switch, the lid sensor and the like of the center sensor on the bottom wall side of the inner pot, the inner pot of the inner pot is detected by the inner pot temperature detection sensor. Temperature detection signal, heat sink temperature detection signal by lid sensor, inner pot detection signal by inner pot detection switch, room temperature detection signal by room temperature sensor, water temperature detection signal by water temperature sensor, lid opening detection signal by lid opening sensor, etc. are input respectively. It has become so.

  The work coil drive control circuit unit is formed by, for example, a pulse width modulation circuit 21, a synchronization trigger circuit 22, an IGBT drive circuit 23, an IGBT 29, and a resonance capacitor 27. Then, by controlling the pulse width modulation circuit 21 by the microcomputer control unit 20, for example, according to the rice cooking process, the output value of the work coil 24 and the ON duty ratio at the same output value (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds) By appropriately changing each, the heating temperature and heating pattern of the inner pot in each step of the rice cooking process are appropriately variably controlled in consideration of the amount of rice cooked to achieve uniform water absorption and cooking of rice without uneven heating Appropriate output control is performed for this purpose.

  Reference numeral 30 in the drawing denotes a flywheel diode of the IGBT 29. Reference numeral 26 denotes a power supply side rectifier circuit including a diode bridge for driving the work coil inserted between the household AC power supply 28 and reference numeral 25 denotes a smoothing capacitor.

  In this circuit, the warming heater and the lid heater are not shown, but the warming heater is driven ON and OFF by the warming heater driving circuit and the lid heater is driven by the lid heater driving circuit, respectively. Reference numeral 33 denotes a voice notification unit that performs the above-described operation guide by voice, notification by melody, and the like.

  Furthermore, the code | symbol 40 is the communication control unit of the rice cooking or cooking information mentioned above, and it is bidirectional | two-way between the said rice cooker EJ and the mobile telephone 41 which is the rice cooking information mentioned later or the external setting means of cooking. It has a data communication function that enables input / output (transmission / reception) of rice cooking or cooking control data.

  This rice cooking or cooking information communication control unit 40 includes, for example, a router device R for wireless LAN (see FIG. 1), and is interactive with a mobile phone 41 including the above-described high-functional mobile phone (smartphone) on the user side, which will be described later. For example, a wireless personal area network based on Wi-Fi is possible.

  On the other hand, the code | symbol 41 is a mobile telephone and comprises the Wi-Fi system corresponding to the rice cooking by the said electric rice cooker main body 1 side or the cooking information communication control unit 40, The rice cooking or cooking by the said electric rice cooker main body 1 side is comprised. Bidirectional rice cooking or cooking control data input / output communication with the information communication control unit 40 is possible.

  Moreover, this mobile phone 41 memorizes rice cooking or cooking information such as rice cooking or cooking control data on the electric rice cooker body 1 side as its application function, and supports the manufacturer's support center MSC via the manufacturer's external server SV. It is configured with a rice cooking app function that can be transmitted to (described later), and rice cooking or cooking control data transferred from the electric rice cooker EJ is transmitted and received on the rice cooking control data communication control unit 40 and the rice cooker body 1 side. Transmitting from the rice cooking or cooking control data storage means 41b side of the mobile phone 41 to the external server SV on the manufacturer side via the antenna unit 13 and the mobile phone 41 side transmitting / receiving antenna unit 41a, and supporting the manufacturer via the external server SV An input is stored in the center MSC.

  In this case, a pass key (authentication key) is set between the rice cooking or cooking information communication control unit 40 on the rice cooker body 1 side and the mobile phone 41, and mutual pairing is realized. Therefore, communication can be performed safely and reliably without affecting other home appliances in the house (for example, a television, an air conditioner, a microwave oven, a personal computer, etc.).

  That is, in the electric rice cooker EJ of this embodiment, as described above, the abnormality handling system as shown in FIG. 3 through the mobile phone 41 described above is adopted, and control during rice cooking from the electric rice cooker EJ is adopted. The data is once transferred to the mobile phone 41 and input, and the data is transmitted from the mobile phone 41 to the manufacturer's external server SV, and sent from the manufacturer's external server SV to the manufacturer's support center MSC.

  The transmission and transmission of the control data from the electric rice cooker EJ side may be sent to the mobile phone 41 side once when a predetermined amount is accumulated and necessary (for example, when an abnormality occurs). The system may be activated with ON as a trigger, and control data during rice cooking may be constantly transmitted in real time, and the rice cooking state may be monitored by the manufacturer's support center MSC.

  If the latter is used, the user's daily cooking situation can be accurately grasped, and the control data informs the amount of cooking rice and the electricity bill used when the user needs it. It will be possible to respond immediately to the case. Further, it is possible to determine a tendency (predictor) before the abnormality occurs.

  In this abnormality handling system, for example, the following configuration is adopted.

(A) Registration of user information 1) When purchasing an electric rice cooker, the user's address, name, age, family structure, etc. are sent according to the format, and customer registration (approval) is performed.

  2) When there is a problem with the rice cooker or when there is any question or consultation regarding how to use it, the user makes an inquiry to the manufacturer's support center by telephone or email. Then, the person in charge of the manufacturer's support center answers them.

(B) Transmission of control data during rice cooking 1) Control data (menu, water temperature, room temperature, combined judgment value, cooking rank, sensor temperature, time required for each process, etc.) when necessary or during daily rice cooking Sent to the manufacturer's server and support center.

  2) From the transmission data of 1), the following can be found on the user side.

1. Frequently used menu 2. Difference between room temperature and water temperature Actual amount of cooked rice 4. Abnormal rice cooking status such as foreign object detection, early cutting, rice cooking on the carpet Insulation time Cooking rice status (reservation frequency, reservation time, etc.)
7). Electricity charges (C) Support for users 1) Answer inquiries from users.

  2) Calculate the consumption of rice from the amount of cooked rice and inform the user.

  3) Calculate and notify the electricity bill used from the rice cooking process, time required, rank, etc.

  4) When there is an abnormality in the rice cooking data, the user is inquired about the rice cooking state and the corresponding problem solving method is notified.

  5) If it is possible to resolve the abnormal rice cooking by changing the control sequence data, send the changed control sequence.

  6) Ask users who have been using the product for a long time and ask them about the recent cooking status of the electric rice cooker, and if necessary, help them to replace them.

(1) Abnormal response system by rice cooking data storage system This abnormality response system inputs the control data at the time of rice cooking to the mobile phone 41 described above, and stores it. If any abnormality occurs in the middle of the process, send the stored control data to the support center MSC of the manufacturer of the electric rice cooker, discuss the countermeasures, investigate and analyze it, and clarify the cause of the problem. It is characterized by doing so.

  The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the contents of such an abnormality handling system.

  In this system, when the rice cooker switch 9 is pressed or when the timer reservation time is reached and the rice cooker switch 9 is turned on, the electric rice cooker EJ starts cooking rice (step S1).

  And at the same time, the detection value of the various sensors mentioned above, the rice cooking menu, each process time on the rice cooking program according to the rice cooking menu, the amount of rice cooking, the heating pattern (temperature gradient) according to the amount of rice cooking etc. The control data is taken in and stored in the mobile phone 41 (step S2). Capture and memory (storage) of these control data are performed in all steps of water absorption, temperature increase, combined number determination, cooking, boiling maintenance, cooking detection, unevenness, and warming. In addition, of course, the process in the case of performing a total number determination in a water absorption process is also included in these processes.

  If the user finds any abnormality during the cooking process or after cooking is complete (YES in step S3), the user uses the mobile phone 41 to contact the manufacturer's support center MSC. Contact (step S4).

  Then, the control data stored in the mobile phone 41 is transmitted to the manufacturer's support center MSC via the external server SV (step S5).

  Then, the person in charge of the support center MSC of the manufacturer who has received the control data analyzes the content of the control data, investigates the content of the abnormality or failure, and finds a necessary solution (step S6).

  This necessary solution includes, for example, when the user has a bad usage (for example, cooking rice on a carpet), repairing a faulty part in the event of actual failure, and various other things.

  Finally, the necessary solution is reported as a survey result from the person in charge at the support center MSC side of the manufacturer to the user's mobile phone 41, and the necessary solution is verbally explained or explained in an email. When repair is necessary, the electric rice cooker EJ is requested to be sent to the manufacturer's support center MSC or service center (step S7).

  As a result, according to the above configuration, after starting rice cooking, when some abnormality occurs in the electric rice cooker EJ itself, or when cooking rice after cooking is not preferable (for example, too hard or soft) If you contact the manufacturer's support center MSC immediately, the manufacturer's support center MSC will elucidate the cause from the control data at the time of rice cooking, determine the necessary countermeasures, It will report and explain to the user.

  Therefore, for example, when there is a foreign object in the lower part of the inner pot, when the AC power supply voltage is low, it is quickly cut off, or in abnormal rice cooking situations such as cooking in a carpet, an inspection to that effect is instructed. In the case where any of them is applicable, the user can cancel the cause so that proper cooking can be performed thereafter.

  On the other hand, when there is an abnormal condition other than the cause that can be improved by the user (such as premature disconnection when the AC power supply voltage is lower than 100V), for example, the manufacturer's support center (or service center) will send you a repair. Respond by instructing specific responses.

  As a result, proper cooking of rice can be performed thereafter.

(2) Anomaly handling system using rice cooking data automatic monitoring system This anomaly handling system always inputs the control data at the time of cooking to the mobile phone 41 described above and transfers it to the support center MSC on the manufacturer side via the external server SV. Like that. And, if any abnormality occurs during cooking, the person in charge at the support center MSC investigated and analyzed based on the transferred control data to clarify the cause of the abnormality or malfunction and report it to the user. It is characterized by.

  The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows the contents of such a control state monitoring type abnormality handling system.

  In this system, when the rice cooker switch 9 is pressed or when the timer reservation time is reached and the rice cooker switch 9 is turned on, the electric rice cooker EJ starts cooking rice (step S1).

  And at the same time, the electric rice cooker EJ side, such as each process time on the rice cooking program according to the detection value of the various sensors mentioned above, the rice cooking menu, the amount of rice cooking, and the heating pattern (temperature gradient) according to the amount of rice cooking The control data used for rice cooking is transferred to the support center MSC of the manufacturer via the mobile phone 41 and the external server SV (step S2). Capture and transfer of these control data are performed in all steps of water absorption, temperature increase, combined number determination, cooking, boiling maintenance, cooking detection, unevenness, and heat retention. Then, the control data is monitored on the support center MSC side (step S3).

  Then, if any abnormality occurs during the cooking process to completion of cooking (YES in step S4), the user uses the mobile phone 41 to contact the person in charge at the manufacturer's support center MSC. Needless to say, the person in charge at the support center MSC of the manufacturer analyzes the contents of the control data sent at the same time, investigates the contents of the abnormality or defect, and finds a necessary solution (step S5).

  This necessary solution includes, for example, repairing the failure location in the case where the user is not using the user in practice, or when a failure actually occurs, and other various solutions.

  Finally, the necessary solution is reported from the support center MSC side of the manufacturer to the user's mobile phone 41 as a survey result, and the necessary solution is verbally explained or explained in an e-mail message (step S6). ). When repair is necessary, the electric rice cooker EJ is requested to be sent to the manufacturer's support center MSC (or service center).

  As a result, proper rice cooking in a state where the abnormality and the defect are improved is possible (step S7).

(3) Anomaly response system using rice cooking data automatic monitoring and automatic analysis method In this anomaly response system, control data at the time of rice cooking is always input to the mobile phone 41 described above, and the support center MSC on the manufacturer side via the external server SV To forward to. If any abnormality occurs during cooking, the automatic analysis device of the support center MSC automatically investigates and analyzes based on the transferred control data to clarify the cause of the abnormality or failure and report it to the user. On the other hand, the rice cooking sequence is changed as necessary.

  The flowchart in FIG. 6 shows the contents of such a control state monitoring and automatic analysis type abnormality handling system.

  In this system, when the rice cooker switch 9 is pressed or when the timer reservation time is reached and the rice cooker switch 9 is turned on, the electric rice cooker EJ starts cooking rice (step S1).

  And at the same time, the time required for each step on the rice cooking program according to the rice cooking date, the rice cooking time, the detection values of the various sensors described above (inner pan temperature, room temperature, water temperature, lid open / closed state), rice cooking menu, rice cooking menu, Control data used for cooking rice on the electric rice cooker EJ side, such as the total cooking time, the amount of rice cooked, the heating pattern (temperature gradient) according to the amount of rice cooked, the heat retention time, etc., via the mobile phone 41 side and the external server SV Transfer to the support center MSC (step S2). Incorporation and memory (storage) of these control data are constant in all steps of water absorption, temperature rise, total number determination, cooking, boiling maintenance, cooking detection, unevenness, and warming. Performed at time intervals (cycles).

  These control data are received by the manufacturer's support center MSC, read into the control data analysis system, and sequentially stored (step S3).

  Next, the control data analysis system of the support center MSC compares the sequentially read control data with normal control data as a reference, and analyzes whether proper rice cooking control is performed (step S4). Then, based on the analysis result, it is determined whether or not an abnormal tendency or an abnormal state has occurred, and if an abnormal tendency or abnormality has occurred, the cause of the abnormality is specifically clarified (step S5). .

  In the determination of the abnormal state and the elucidation of the cause of the abnormality, for example, in the case of foreign object detection, premature break detection, lid open detection, etc., if there is an abnormality in the rice cooking process, the rice cooking control mode is Since the foreign object detection mode is entered, it is understood that there is an abnormality.

  Therefore, when there is an abnormality as described above, the current rice cooking state is abnormal, the rice cannot be cooked normally, and the cause of the abnormality may be, for example, a foreign object in the lower part of the inner pot 3 It is transmitted (feedback) as analysis information to the mobile phone 41 on the user side including the cause, such as being there, or being prematurely cut out, or because the inner lid is not attached (step S6).

  Then, the analysis information is received by the mobile phone 41 on the user side and displayed on the abnormality handling screen of the rice cooking application (step S7).

  Then, the user confirms the abnormality content and the coping method on the abnormality response screen of the rice cooking application (step S8), and correspondingly, for example, removes foreign matter on the heater, attaches an inner lid, and cooks rice. The user takes appropriate measures according to the reported content of the instruction, such as placing the vessel in a well-ventilated place (step S9).

  Thereby, normal cooking of rice after that is attained.

  On the other hand, as a result of elucidating the cause of the abnormality in step S5, depending on the case, the rice cooking sequence itself of the electric rice cooker may have to be changed (corrected) (for example, the AC power supply voltage of the household is environmental If it is too low and cuts quickly, it is necessary to increase the heating amount).

  Therefore, in such a case, the fact that the system needs to be changed is sent as feedback information to the mobile phone 41 on the user side through the processing of steps S6 to S7, and the abnormality for cooking rice is handled in step S8. Display on the app screen.

  On the screen of this app, display the confirmation screen of “You need to change the rice cooking sequence. Is it OK to make changes?” And get the user's approval (YES / NO).

  Then, when the user makes a YES display, the information is transmitted to the support center MSC on the manufacturer side.

  In the support center MSC on the manufacturer side, the person in charge of system change confirms the approval information, changes the rice cooking sequence so far, and sets it as a new rice cooking sequence (step S10).

  Then, the new changed rice cooking sequence is transmitted to the mobile phone 41 on the user side (step S11). Correspondingly, the user's mobile phone 41 receives the changed new rice cooking sequence (step S12).

  Then, a user confirms it on the application screen for rice cooking, and transmits (transfers) the data of the received change sequence to the communication control unit 40 on the electric rice cooker EJ side (step S13).

  Then, in response to this, the communication control unit 40 on the electric rice cooker EJ side receives the data of the change sequence (step S14) and is stored in the rice cooking or cooking control data storage means 34 on the microcomputer control unit 20 side. The existing rice cooking sequence is changed to the new rice cooking sequence and stored (step S15).

  Thereby, the problem of the rice cooking defect (early cutting etc.) by the power supply environment etc. of a user side is eliminated reliably.

  In the above configuration, for example, when dealing with an abnormal state such as foreign object detection or premature disconnection, it is confirmed that abnormal data indicating them has been transmitted not only once, but multiple times (three times), for example. As a condition, a method such as taking measures is adopted.

  Moreover, if it carries out as mentioned above, the electric rice cooker maker can acquire a user's use environment and the rice cooking data in the environment, and can reflect those data in the next product development.

  As a service to the user, it is also possible to notify the consumption of rice and the electricity bill calculated by the manufacturer from the transmitted data, in addition to the above-mentioned contact at the time of abnormality.

  In this case, “rice consumption” and “power consumption” are calculated as follows.

“Rice consumption”: Estimated rice cooking amount from menu, rank (combined) information → Calculates the amount of rice cooked for the user's desired period from date information → Presented as rice consumption “Power consumption”: Menu, rank (total Number), estimated power consumption during cooking from information on each process required time, heat retention time → calculated integrated power for user desired period from date information → conversion to electricity bill and presentation Data communication from the above electric rice cooker May start communication for the first time when moving to a specific rank or a specific course (such as foreign object detection rice cooking) in a plurality of rank rice cooking programs.

  This simplifies the system.

  EJ is an electric rice cooker, 1 is an electric rice cooker body, 1a is an outer case, 1b is a bottom member, 2 is a lid unit, 3 is an operation panel, 4 is a display unit, 20 is a microcomputer control unit, 20A is a microcomputer board, 32 is a control data storage means, 34 and 41b are rice cooking cooking control data storage means, 40 is a rice cooking cooking control data communication control unit, and 41 is a mobile phone.

Claims (1)

  The above-mentioned rice cooking means is provided with a rice cooking heating means, a rice cooking program according to the rice cooking rank, a rice cooking control means for controlling the heating means based on the rice cooking program according to the rice cooking rank, and a communication means with an external server. An electric rice cooker that transmits user information to an external server when the rank reaches a specific rank.

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