JP2022076493A - Recipe proposal system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a recipe proposal system capable of improving a convenience.SOLUTION: In a recipe proposal system, an application server includes a reception unit 204, a recipe selection unit 205, and an information output unit 206. The reception unit 204 receives an instruction of a user. The recipe selection unit 205 selects one or more recipes using a recipe retrieval method selected from a plurality of recipe retrieval methods with different retrieval criteria for cooking ingredients to be used, based on the instruction of the user received by the reception unit 204. The information output unit 206 outputs the one or more recipes selected by the recipe selection unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a recipe proposal system.

A system is known that proposes a recipe when a user inputs ingredients. The system is expected to be further improved in convenience.

JP-A-2002-09120

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a recipe proposal system capable of improving convenience.

The recipe proposal system of the embodiment has a reception unit, a recipe selection unit, and an information output unit. The reception unit receives a user's instruction. The recipe selection unit selects one or more recipes using a recipe search method selected from a plurality of recipe search methods having different search criteria for the ingredients to be used, based on the instructions of the user received by the reception unit. select. The information output unit outputs the one or more recipes selected by the recipe selection unit.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the recipe proposal system of an embodiment. The front view which shows the refrigerator of an embodiment. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part of an embodiment. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the foodstuff management part of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the contents of the inventory list database of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the contents of the shopping list database of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the contents of the food material database of an embodiment. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the recipe server of an embodiment. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the application server of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of an embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of an embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of an embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of an embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of an embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of an embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of an embodiment. A flowchart showing the operation of the recipe proposal system of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, the recipe proposal system of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, configurations having the same or similar functions are designated by the same reference numerals. Then, the duplicate description of those configurations may be omitted. "Based on XX" means "based on at least XX" and may include cases based on other factors in addition to XX. The term "based on XX" is not limited to the case where XX is used directly, but may include the case where it is based on a calculation or processing performed on XX. The term "XX or YY" is not limited to the case of either XX or YY, and may include both cases of XX and YY. "XX" and "YY" are arbitrary elements (for example, arbitrary information). Hereinafter, the "database" is referred to as "DB". "Temperature of the storage chamber" means, for example, the air temperature of the storage chamber.

(Embodiment)
[1. Overall configuration of recipe proposal system]
Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the recipe proposal system 1 will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the recipe proposal system 1 of the embodiment. The recipe proposal system 1 includes a refrigerator 101, a server 200, and a terminal device 300. The network NW includes, for example, one or more of the Internet, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a public line, a telephone line, a wireless base station, and the like.

A "recipe" is information including a cooking method of ingredients. The recipe includes information about the ingredients, cooking time, household appliances required for cooking, the number of people that can be consumed (that is, how many people are cooking), the expiration date, the amount of heat of cooking, information promoting the food, images or videos showing the food. , The salt content of the dish and the difficulty of cooking may be included. The "recipe" is an example of recipe information. "Ingestion" means eating food (or foodstuff).

Examples of "foodstuffs" include grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, seaweeds, flavors, fish and shellfish, meat, eggs, milk, bones, seasonings, flavors, processed foods, dried foods and food additives. The ingredients are not limited to those that have not been cooked. For example, the ingredients may be cooked. "Cooking" means cooked ingredients. The "cooking" may include the ingredients themselves.

Examples of "cooking" are washing ingredients, cutting ingredients, boiling ingredients, baking ingredients, frying ingredients, steaming ingredients, mixing ingredients, and frying ingredients. , Boil the ingredients, freeze the ingredients, dry the ingredients, etc. It should be noted that "cooking" is not limited to the above example. It should be noted that "cooking" may be a combination of two or more of the above examples.

Examples of "information on foodstuffs" include the names of foodstuffs, the amount of foodstuffs, the condition of foodstuffs, the place of origin of foodstuffs, and the types of foodstuffs. The "intake deadline" is the deadline related to ingestion. Examples of the "intake deadline" include a best-by date and an expiration date.

The refrigerator 101 is installed in the residence of the user U. The refrigerator 101 is an example of a home electric appliance. Refrigerator 101 stores foodstuffs and manages foodstuffs. The refrigerator 101 is connected to the network NW via, for example, a router R in the house, and can communicate with the server 200. Further, the refrigerator 101 can communicate with the terminal device 300 via, for example, the router R and the network NW.

An application program for managing ingredients (hereinafter referred to as application 1) and an application program for proposing a recipe (hereinafter referred to as application 2) are installed in the refrigerator 101. Application 1 and application 2 are activated in the refrigerator 101. The application 1 and the application 2 may be implemented as one application. An "application program" is an example of computer software.

The recipe proposal system 1 may include a plurality of refrigerators 101. Further, the use of the refrigerator 101 included in the recipe proposal system 1 is not limited to home use. For example, the refrigerator 101 may be a commercial refrigerator or a commercial freezer related to the place of work of the user U. Further, the recipe proposal system 1 may be provided with home appliances capable of storing and managing foodstuffs instead of the refrigerator 101. In addition to the refrigerator 101, the recipe proposal system 1 may be equipped with home appliances capable of storing and managing foodstuffs. The detailed configuration of the refrigerator 101 will be described later.

The terminal device 300 is, for example, a mobile terminal used by the user U. Examples of the terminal device 300 include a smartphone, a tablet terminal device, and the like. The terminal device 300 is connected to the network NW and can communicate with the refrigerator 101 and the server 200. Further, the terminal device 300 may be able to communicate with the refrigerator 101 via a connection cable. An example of the connection cable is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable.

The terminal device 300 has a display screen 310. The display screen 310 includes a screen capable of displaying an image or a video, and a touch sensor provided on the screen. In the terminal device 300, at least one of the above-mentioned application 1 or application 2 is installed in place of / in addition to the refrigerator 101. The application 1 and the application 2 are started in the terminal device 300. The terminal device 300 is not limited to the above example, and may be a personal computer, a television receiver having an input function, or the like. The display screen 310 (or terminal device 300) is an example of a "display unit".

The server 200 provides various services related to recipes. The server 200 may include an information processing unit that performs edge computing or fog computing, such as an information processing unit included in the router R and / or an information processing unit included in a router in the network NW.

The server 200 includes a recipe server 200A and an application server 200B. The "application server" may be referred to as an application program server. The recipe server 200A is composed of, for example, one or more server devices (cloud servers). The application server 200B is composed of, for example, one or more server devices (cloud servers). The recipe server 200A and the application server 200B may be realized by one server device. The recipe server 200A and the application server 200B will be described in detail later.

[2. refrigerator]
Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the refrigerator 101 will be described.

[2-1. Overall structure of the refrigerator]
Hereinafter, the overall structure of the refrigerator 101 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the refrigerator 101. The refrigerator 101 includes, for example, a housing 110, a plurality of doors 130, a display device 140, an actuator 150, a control unit 160, a camera 170, a speaker 180, and a microphone 190.

A plurality of storage rooms (storage rooms) 120 are provided inside the housing 110. The plurality of storage rooms 120 include, for example, a refrigerating room 121, a chilled room 122, a vegetable room 123, an ice making room 124, a small freezing room 125, and a main freezing room 126. In the present embodiment, the refrigerating chamber 121 is arranged at the uppermost part, the vegetable chamber 123 is arranged below the refrigerating chamber 121, the ice making chamber 124 and the small freezing chamber 125 are arranged below the vegetable chamber 123, and the ice making chamber 124 and the small freezing chamber 125 are arranged. The main freezing chamber 126 is arranged below the small freezing chamber 125. However, the arrangement of the storage chamber 120 is not limited to the above example. The plurality of storage chambers 120 are closed by the plurality of doors 130 so as to be openable and closable.

Examples of the display device 140 include a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, and the like. The display device 140 includes a display screen 141 capable of displaying an image and / or a moving image. Further, the display device 140 includes a touch sensor 142 provided so as to be superimposed on the display screen 141. The position of the display device 140 in the refrigerator 101 shown in FIG. 2 is an example. The display screen 141 (or display device 140) is another example of the “display unit”.

The actuator 150 includes a compressor that compresses a cooling refrigerant and sends it to a cooler, a blower that sends cold air cooled by the cooler to each storage chamber 120, and the like.

The control unit 160 controls the display device 140, the actuator 150, and the like. For example, the control unit 160 can accept the operation of the user U with respect to the display screen 141 via the touch sensor 142. By controlling the actuator 150, the control unit 160 changes the set temperature zone of each storage chamber 120 of the refrigerator 101, changes the control mode of the chilled chamber 122, and cools the main freezing chamber 126 more rapidly than in normal operation. It is possible to execute the functions of the refrigerator 101 such as "quick freezing" and "quick ice making" that makes ice faster than in normal operation.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control unit 160. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 160 includes a food material management unit 161 and a communication module 162. The details of the food management unit 161 will be described later.

The communication module 162 includes a communication circuit and the like, and can be connected to the router R. The refrigerator 101 is connected to the router R by the communication module 162 and can communicate with the server 200 and the terminal device 300.

The camera 170 is provided inside the housing 110 or inside the door 130. The position of the camera 170 shown in FIG. 2 is an example. The image of the food material taken by the camera 170 is used for food material management of the refrigerator 101.

The speaker 180 and the microphone 190 are provided on the door 130. An opening is provided in the vicinity of the portion where the speaker 180 and the microphone 190 are provided so that sound can easily pass through. The speaker 180 and the microphone 190 are connected to the control unit 160 of the refrigerator 101 via a cable. The speaker 180 and the microphone 190 are controlled by the control unit 160.

[4-2. Food Management Department]
Hereinafter, the details of the food material management unit 161 of the control unit 160 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the foodstuff management unit 161. The food material management unit 161 includes an information processing unit 520 and a storage unit 530. The foodstuff management unit 161 manages inventory information. The inventory information is information indicating the foodstuffs owned by the user U. Details of inventory information will be described later.

[4-2-1. Information Processing Department]
The information processing unit 520 includes an instruction receiving unit 521, a registration information management unit 522, a display control unit 523, a voice processing unit 524, a control instruction generation unit 525, and a response generation unit 526. However, a part or all of the components of the information processing unit 520 may be provided in the server 200 or the terminal device 300 instead of the refrigerator 101.

The instruction receiving unit 521 receives information indicating the operation of the user U received by the display screen 310 of the terminal device 300 from the terminal device 300 via the communication module 162. Further, the instruction receiving unit 521 receives information indicating the operation of the user U received by the display device 140 from the display device 140. The instruction receiving unit 521 transmits the information received from the terminal device 300 or the display device 140 to the registration information management unit 522.

The registration information management unit 522 updates various DBs described later based on the information received from the instruction reception unit 521. The above-mentioned "various DBs" are an inventory list DB601, a shopping list DB602, a user setting DB604, a regular item DB605, and a remote control registration DB607. The registration information management unit 522 receives information indicating the content (instruction of the user U by utterance) analyzed by the voice processing unit 524, which will be described later, from the voice processing unit 524.

The registration information management unit 522 can update "various DBs" based on the information received from the voice processing unit 524 in place of / in addition to the information received from the instruction reception unit 521. The operation of the registration information management unit 522 will be described in detail later. In the following description, the "operation of the user U" or the "input of the user U" means the operation of the user U received by the instruction receiving unit 521 or the operation of the user U analyzed by the voice processing unit 524 described later. do.

The display control unit 523 generates display data and control signals based on the contents of various DBs. The "display data" includes an image or a video to be displayed on the display screen 310 of the terminal device 300. The "display data" may include a screen or an image to be displayed on the display screen 141 of the display device 140.

The display control unit 523 transmits the generated display data and control signal to the display device 140 or the terminal device 300 via the communication module 162. The display device 140 or the terminal device 300 receives display data and control signals. The display device 140 or the terminal device 300 displays the foodstuff management based on the received display data and the control signal. As a result, the user U can grasp the information related to the foodstuff management.

Note that "displaying on the display screen" is not limited to the meaning of displaying on the display screen 141 or the display screen 310 by directly giving display data and / or a control signal from the display control unit 523. "Displaying on the display screen" means displaying an image or video on the display screen 141 or the display screen by giving display data and / or a control signal to the display device 140 or the terminal device 300 from the outside (for example, the server 200). It may also include displaying on 310.

The voice processing unit 524 receives from the microphone 190 a signal indicating the voice acquired by the microphone 190. The voice processing unit 524 may receive a signal indicating the voice acquired by the terminal device 300 from the terminal device 300 via the communication module 162.

For example, the voice processing unit 524 receives a signal indicating a voice other than the trigger word among the acquired signals indicating the voice. The voice processing unit 524 analyzes a signal indicating the received voice. For example, the voice processing unit 524 converts a signal indicating voice into text by performing voice recognition processing, and performs semantic interpretation by performing natural language processing on the signal indicating the textualized voice. The voice processing unit 524 outputs the analysis result of the signal indicating voice to the control instruction generation unit 525 and the response generation unit 526.

The control instruction generation unit 525 receives an instruction to the refrigerator 101 when the utterance of the user U includes an instruction to the refrigerator 101 based on the analysis result of the signal indicating the voice by the voice processing unit 524. Examples of the above-mentioned "instruction to the refrigerator 101" include a change in the set temperature zone of each storage chamber 120, a change in the control mode of the chilled chamber 122, an instruction such as "quick freezing" or "quick ice making".

The control instruction generation unit 525 generates a control instruction corresponding to the “instruction to the refrigerator 101”. The food material management unit 161 drives the actuator 150 based on the control instruction generated by the control instruction generation unit 525. By driving the actuator 150, the control desired by the user U is realized.

The response generation unit 526 refers to the voice DB 608 (described later) and generates a signal indicating the voice to be output from the speaker 180. The response generation unit 526 generates the above-mentioned "voice indicating voice" when there is a content to be answered to the utterance of the user U analyzed by the voice processing unit 524 or when there is a content to be notified to the user U. do. The response generation unit 526 transmits a signal indicating the generated voice to the speaker 180.

The speaker 180 receives a signal indicating the voice generated by the response generation unit 526. The speaker 180 vibrates the diaphragm included in the speaker 180 based on the signal indicating voice. The vibration of the diaphragm causes the air around the refrigerator 101 to vibrate. The user U can recognize the voice related to the signal indicating the voice by the vibration of the air.

The response generation unit 526 may transmit a signal indicating the generated voice to the terminal device 300. The speaker included in the terminal device 300 that has received the signal indicating voice operates in the same manner as the speaker 180.

[4-2-2. Various DBs]
The storage unit 530 stores the inventory list DB601, the shopping list DB602, the foodstuff DB603, the user setting DB604, the regular item DB605, the history DB606, the remote control registration DB607, and the voice DB608. The inventory list DB601, the shopping list DB602, the user setting DB604, the regular item DB605, and the history DB606 are prepared for each user U.

In the following, for convenience of explanation, an example in which the above-mentioned plurality of DBs exist as DBs for managing foodstuffs will be shown. However, these DBs may be managed as one. In this case, identification information (for example, a tag) indicating that the food is to be displayed in a specific list (shopping list or candidate list) described later may be added to the registration of each food material. The processing for various DBs (for example, registration, deletion, and confirmation of ingredients) described below is executed by the registration information management unit 522.

[4-2-2-1. Inventory list DB]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the inventory list DB 601. The "stock list" is a list in which the ingredients owned by the user U are managed. In the following description, the "inventory list" may be referred to as "foodstuff list" or "inventory information".

In the inventory list DB601, the foodstuffs existing in stock in the home of the user U are registered. In the inventory list DB 601 not only the foodstuffs stored inside the refrigerator 101 but also the foodstuffs stored outside the refrigerator 101 (for example, stored at room temperature) are registered. In addition, the foodstuffs stored in the plurality of refrigerators 101 may be registered in the inventory list DB 601. In addition, only the foodstuffs existing in the refrigerator 101 may be registered in the inventory list DB 601. The information registered in the inventory list DB601 is an example of the above-mentioned "inventory information".

In the inventory list DB601, for each ingredient, "management ID", "ingredient name", "ingredient classification", "storage location", "purchase date", "best-by date" (or "expiration date"), "quantity", "Unit" and "history" are associated and registered.

“For each ingredient” means, for example, the same ingredient purchased at the same time. In other words, ingredients purchased at a certain date and time and ingredients purchased at another date and time, even if they are of the same type, are registered as different ingredients. The "purchase date" here refers to the registration date when a specific ingredient is newly registered, that is, the date when the inventory amount increases, and is used to include the case where the acquisition route of the ingredient is not purchase. ..

"Ingredient classification" means the classification of ingredients. In this embodiment, as "foodstuff classification", "vegetables", "fruits", "meats", "seafood / seaweeds", "eggs / dairy products", "beans / bean products", "processed foods", " There are 16 kinds of food classifications such as "rice / bread", "noodles", "beverage", "frozen food", "sweets", "seasoning", "spices", "side dish", and "others". It is set. However, the above classification is an example, and the classification of foodstuff classification can be set as appropriate.

"Preservation place" means the place where the ingredients are stored. In the present embodiment, four types of storage locations, which are a "refrigerator room", a "vegetable room", a "freezing room", and "others", are set as "storage locations". The "refrigerating room" corresponds to an area in which the refrigerating room 121 and the chilled room 122 are combined. The "vegetable room" corresponds to the vegetable room 123. The "freezing room" corresponds to an area in which the small freezing room 125 and the main freezing room 126 are combined. “Other” corresponds to an external storage location of the refrigerator 101.

However, the above classification is an example, and the classification of the storage location can be set as appropriate. For example, the refrigerating room 121 and the chilled room 122 may be separated from each other as storage locations. The small freezing chamber 125 and the main freezing chamber 126 may be separated from each other as storage locations. Furthermore, the storage location may be subdivided into "top of the refrigerator compartment" and "right door pocket of the refrigerator compartment". The "storage location" may be referred to as a "storage room" or a "storage area". In the following, for convenience of explanation, the term "refrigerator chamber 121" is a concept that may include a chilled chamber 122, and the term "main freezer chamber 126" is a concept that may include a small freezer chamber 125.

The latest quantity of ingredients is registered in "quantity". In the "history", when the amount of foodstuffs is reduced, information indicating the quantity after the decrease and the date and time of the decrease is registered.

The registration information management unit 522 registers, deletes, and confirms the ingredients in the inventory list DB 601 based on, for example, the operation of the user U. In the present embodiment, the registration information management unit 522 has an ingredient whose expiration date (or expiration date) is close to a predetermined number of days (for example, one day before) the expiration date (or expiration date) of the ingredient registered in the inventory list DB601. Notify the terminal device 300 that there is. This notification is displayed on the display screen 310 of the terminal device 300 as a push notification. Note that this notification may be displayed on the display screen 141 of the display device 140 as a push notification.

When the expiration date (or expiration date) of the ingredients registered in the inventory list DB601 has passed, the registration information management unit 522 automatically deletes the ingredients whose expiration date (or expiration date) has passed from the inventory list DB601, which will be described later. The registration of ingredients is transferred to the trash box DB603 and the candidate list DB604.

The "stock list" is displayed as a "food list" on the display screen 310 of the terminal device 300 under the control of the control unit 160. The "stock list" may be displayed on the display device 140 as a "foodstuff list".

[4-2-2-2. Shopping list DB]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the shopping list DB 602. The "shopping list" is a list that the user U can refer to at the time of shopping in order to prevent forgetting to buy, and is a list of ingredients for which the purchase schedule (for example, an explicit purchase intention) of the user U is confirmed.

The "shopping list" is a list with a higher possibility of purchase than the candidate list described later. However, the "shopping list" is not limited to the user U's explicit purchase intention, and may include ingredients registered by estimation based on the user U's regular intention (intention to hold a certain ingredient as a regular item).

Ingredients registered in the "shopping list" are, for example, once registered in the "candidate list" described later, and then moved from the "candidate list" to the "shopping list" based on the intention of the user U (operation of the user U). By doing so, it will be registered in the "shopping list". However, the ingredients registered in the "shopping list" may be directly registered in the "shopping list" based on the operation of the user U without going through the candidate list. The "shopping list" is displayed on the display screen 310 of the terminal device 300 under the control of the control unit 160. The "shopping list" may be displayed on the display device 140.

In the shopping list DB 602, the ingredients to be displayed as the "shopping list" are registered. In the shopping list DB 602, a "management ID", a "food ingredient name", a "food ingredient classification", a "quantity", and a "unit" are associated and registered for each ingredient. The registration information management unit 522 registers, deletes, and confirms the ingredients in the shopping list DB 602 based on the operation of the user U.

[4-2-2-3. Ingredients DB]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the food material DB 603. The food material DB 603 is a default DB commonly set for a plurality of users U. The food material DB 603 is used for automatic input of food material information described later. As the foodstuffs registered in the foodstuff DB, a large number of foodstuffs that are generally distributed are registered.

In the foodstuff DB 603, for each foodstuff, "foodstuff name", "candidate for foodstuff name", "foodstuff classification", "foodstuff classification icon", "default storage place (recommended storage place)", "best-by date" (Or expiration date) ”is associated and registered. Each of "food classification", "food classification icon", "default storage location", and "best-by date (or expiration date)" is an example of "accompanying information".

As "candidates for receiving food names", one or more reception candidates are registered in consideration of input blurring of food names. For example, when the foodstuff is petit tomato, in addition to "petit tomato (katakana notation)", "petit tomato (hiragana notation)", "tomato" and the like are registered.

The "default storage location" is a storage location inside the refrigerator 101 or outside the refrigerator 101, and a storage location suitable for storing foodstuffs is registered. As mentioned above, the "storage place" is a part of the specific storage room 120 that is distinguished from other places, such as the "top of the refrigerating room 121", when the refrigerating room 121 has shelves. It may be a category indicating.

Here, in the refrigerator 101, the arrangement of the storage chamber 120 differs depending on the model. Therefore, the recommended storage location for ingredients may differ depending on the model. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the food material DB 603 is prepared for each model of the refrigerator 101, for example. In other words, the food material DB 603 differs depending on the model of the refrigerator 101.

The registration information management unit 522 identifies the model of the refrigerator 101 of the user U based on the model information of the refrigerator 101 obtained by referring to the remote control registration DB 607 described later, and selects the food material DB 603 corresponding to the specified model. It should be noted that the information different for each model of the refrigerator 101 may be prepared not for the entire food material DB 603 but only for a part of the food material DB 603 such as the information indicating the storage location.

[4-2-2-4. Other DB]
Returning to FIG. 4, the explanation will be continued. In addition to the above-mentioned DB, the storage unit 530 stores a user setting DB 604, a regular item DB 605, a history DB 606, a remote control registration DB 607, and a voice DB 608.

The user setting DB 604 is information registered by the user U. In the user setting DB 604, user U-specific change settings for the food material DB are registered in order to give flexibility to the automatic input of food material information described later. For example, in the user setting DB 604, the correspondence relationship peculiar to the user U between the food material and the storage location is registered.

Specifically, in the food material DB 603, a "refrigerator room" is registered as a default storage place for "chicken". When the user U purchases chicken and stores it in the freezing room more often than storing it in the refrigerating room, the user U can register the “chicken” and the “freezing room” in the user setting DB 604 in association with each other. The registration information management unit 522 registers, deletes, and confirms the user setting DB 604 based on the operation of the user U.

In the regular goods DB 605, foodstuffs often used by the user U (for example, foodstuffs that the user U does not want to run out of stock) are registered. In the regular product DB 605, the food material (special food material) that the user U has "declared" that he / she wants to have the stock is registered. The registration information management unit 522 registers, deletes, and confirms the regular item DB 605 based on the operation of the user U.

The history DB 606 can be used in place of the user setting DB 604 or in combination with the user setting DB 604. In the history DB 606, for example, the history of the user U (the usage history of the refrigerator 101) regarding the storage of the food material is registered without the explicit registration of the user U. By referring to the history DB 606, the registration information management unit 522 can obtain information on which storage room 120 is frequently used for a certain food material. The history DB 606 is generated based on the registration result of the user U in the inventory list DB 601 and / or the shooting result of the camera 170 of the refrigerator 101.

In the remote control registration DB 607, a "management ID", a "model", and a "management ID of a terminal device registered for remote control" are associated and registered for each refrigerator 101. The display control unit 523 identifies the model of the user's refrigerator 101 from the remote control registration DB 607 based on the management ID of the terminal device 300 received from the terminal device 300, and enables the specified refrigerator 101 to be remotely controlled.

In the voice DB 608, a dictionary for interpreting the meaning of the utterance of the user U, voice information for generating a signal indicating the voice for response, and the like are registered.

[3. server]
Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the server 200 will be described.

[3-1. Recipe server]
Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the recipe server 200A will be described.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the recipe server 200A. The recipe server 200A includes a communication unit 201, a recipe setting unit 202, and a storage unit 203. The configuration of the recipe server 200A shown in FIG. 8 is an example. The recipe server 200A is composed of one or a plurality of devices. The recipe server 200A may be configured by a plurality of devices provided at different locations.

The communication unit 201 receives a signal from the application server 200B described later. Further, the communication unit 201 transmits a signal to the application server 200B. The communication unit 201 may be connected to the router R or the terminal device 300. That is, the recipe server 200A may be able to communicate with the refrigerator 101 or the terminal device 300.

The recipe setting unit 202 accepts a new recipe registration from the operator of the recipe server 200A, and records the recipe in the storage unit 203. Examples of the above-mentioned "operator of the recipe server 200A" include a manufacturer of a home appliance, a manager of the recipe server 200A, a general cooking enthusiast, or a user of the home appliance (for example, a plurality of users including the user U). Can be mentioned. The recipe setting unit 202 may accept the recipe from a server other than the recipe server 200A even when the operator of the recipe server 200A does not input the recipe.

The storage unit 203 stores the recipe recorded by the recipe setting unit 202. The storage unit 203 may be provided at a place different from the recipe setting unit 202. For example, the storage unit 203 may be provided in the data center of the manufacturer of the home electric appliance.

[3-2. Application server]
Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the application server 200B will be described.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the application server 200B. The application server 200B includes a reception unit 204, a recipe selection unit (recipe proposal unit) 205, and an information output unit 206. The configuration of the application server 200B shown in FIG. 9 is an example. The application server 200B is composed of one or a plurality of devices. The application server 200B may be configured by a plurality of devices provided at different locations.

[3-2-1. Reception desk]
Hereinafter, the details of the reception unit 204 will be described.
The reception unit 204 receives signals from the router R, the recipe server 200A, and the terminal device 300. Further, the reception unit 204 transmits a signal to the router R, the recipe server 200A, and the terminal device 300. That is, the application server 200B can communicate with the refrigerator 101, the recipe server 200A, and the terminal device 300.

The reception unit 204 receives the instruction of the user U based on the signals received from, for example, the refrigerator 101, the recipe server 200A, and the terminal device 300. That is, the user U inputs to the terminal device 300 to indicate the instruction of the user U. The terminal device 300 accepts an input indicating the instruction of the user U. The terminal device 300 transmits a signal indicating the instruction of the user U to the application server 200B. The reception unit 204 receives a signal indicating the instruction of the user U from the terminal device 300. This also applies when the user U inputs an instruction to the display device 140. As a result, the reception unit 204 receives the instruction of the user U. In the following, the instruction of the user U who selects a specific recipe from a plurality of recipes is referred to as a "selection instruction".

Further, the reception unit 204 accepts the operation of the user U who selects two or more foodstuffs that are candidates for use from the foodstuffs owned by the user U in a predetermined state.

In the following, "foodstuffs owned by user U" may be referred to as "something" or "inventory foodstuffs". The above-mentioned "two or more foodstuffs" are "two or more kinds of foodstuffs". In addition, "two or more kinds of ingredients" is not limited to "two or more kinds of ingredients". The "two or more ingredients" may be, for example, the same kind of ingredients having different purchase dates or storage room registrations. The above-mentioned "predetermined state" is, for example, a state in which at least a part of inventories is displayed in a predetermined priority order by the information output unit 206 (described later). Examples of the above-mentioned "predetermined priority order" include the order of purchase date of in-stock foodstuffs, the order of intake deadline of in-stock foodstuffs, the order of names of in-stock foodstuffs, and the like.

The reception unit 204 may accept the operation of the user U in the "predetermined state" in a state other than the "predetermined state". That is, it suffices if the user U is in a "predetermined state" when operating. After the operation by the user U, it does not have to be in the "predetermined state".

The user U activates the application 2 of the terminal device 300. The terminal device 300 transmits a signal to the effect that the application 2 has started to the application server 200B. The application server 200B receives a signal that the application 2 has started. The application server 200B reads the inventory list DB 601 and specifies the inventory ingredients. The application server 200B may read the inventory list DB 601 after receiving the input of "search for something (described later)". The information output unit 206 transmits a signal to the terminal device 300 to display the in-stock ingredients in a predetermined priority order. The terminal device 300 receives the above signal and displays the stocked foods in a predetermined priority order on the application 2. The operation when the user U activates the application 2 of the display device 140 is the same as described above. In this case, the in-stock ingredients are displayed on the display screen 141 of the display device 140 in a predetermined priority order.

User U selects a candidate ingredient for use from the inventory ingredients displayed in a predetermined priority order. The display device 140 or the terminal device 300 accepts an operation in which the user U selects the above-mentioned foodstuff. The display device 140 or the terminal device 300 transmits a signal indicating the operation of the user U to the application server 200B. The reception unit 204 accepts the operation of the user U. The detailed operation of the reception unit 204 other than the above description will be described later.

[3-2-2. Recipe selection section]
Hereinafter, the details of the recipe selection unit 205 will be described.
The recipe selection unit 205 selects one or more recipes by using a recipe search method selected from a plurality of recipe search methods having different search criteria for the ingredients to be used. "Selecting a recipe" means searching for a plurality of referenceable recipes and extracting one or more recipes that meet the conditions. The recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe from a plurality of referenceable recipes based on the instruction of the user U received by the reception unit 204. The “plurality of referenceable recipes” is, for example, a plurality of recipes registered in the storage unit 203 of the recipe server 200A.

Examples of the recipe search method include "something required search", "something priority search", "category search", "free word search", and "browsing history search". The recipe search method is not limited to the above example. The recipe search method will be described below. In the following, the recipe selected by the recipe selection unit 205 may be referred to as "recipe 1". In the following description, in the present embodiment, the “foodstuff” means a food ingredient that is a protagonist or a quasi-protagonist of a dish, and is used in a sense that does not include seasonings, flavors, condiments, and the like.

[3--2-2-1. Required search for something]
The following describes the required search for certain items.
The one-required search is a method of searching for a recipe that requires the use of at least one ingredient contained in inventory information. That is, the required search for certain items is a method for searching for recipes that use "something (inventory ingredients)". The required search for something is an example of the first recipe search method.

The required search for certain items is, for example, accompanied by an instruction of the user U to select a candidate ingredient for use. In the present embodiment, the information output unit 206 displays at least a part of the in-stock ingredients on the display screen 310 or the display screen 141 (hereinafter referred to as "display unit") in the inventory information (for example, based on the inventory list DB 601) in the essential search for certain items. The reception unit 204 receives an instruction from a user to select a food candidate to be used from the stock foods in a state where at least a part of the stock foods is displayed by the information output unit 206.

In the present embodiment, the reception unit 204 can receive a user's instruction to select a plurality of foodstuffs as candidate foodstuffs from the stock foodstuffs. In the present embodiment, when the reception unit 204 receives a user's instruction to select a plurality of ingredients as candidate ingredients for use, the recipe selection unit 205 prepares a recipe containing at least one of the plurality of ingredients. select. However, when the reception unit 204 receives a user's instruction to select a plurality of ingredients as candidate ingredients for use, the recipe selection unit 205 may select only a recipe containing all of the plurality of ingredients. ..

Then, the recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe including the ingredients of the use candidate accepted by the reception unit 204 in the required search for a certain item. For example, it is assumed that the food material A, the food material B, the food material C, the food material D, and the food material E are inventories. User U selects Ingredient A, Ingredient B, and Ingredient C as "candidate ingredients". The recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe containing one or more (preferably two or more, more preferably three or more) of the food A, the food B, and the food C. A specific example of a certain required search will be described later.

[3-2-2-2. Priority search for something]
Hereinafter, the priority search for certain items will be described.
The certain thing priority search is a search method in which the priority of using the ingredients included in the inventory information is lower than the "something mandatory search". That is, the one-of-a-kind priority search is a search method that allows the inclusion of recipes that do not use any in-stock ingredients (excluding seasonings, flavors, and condiments). In the following, "using something (inventory food)" is referred to as search condition 1. Further, in the following, search conditions other than search condition 1 will be referred to as search condition 2. The priority of the search condition 1 in the "something priority search" is lower than the priority of the search condition 1 in the "something essential search". The one-of-a-kind priority search is an example of the second recipe search method.

In the recipe selection unit 205, the recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects a recipe containing the foodstuff owned by the user U based on the inventory information without the instruction of the user U who selects the foodstuff of the candidate to be used in the certain item priority search. In addition, the recipe selection unit 205 gives priority to a plurality of recipes that can refer to recipes including ingredients with an old purchase date or a near intake deadline based on the purchase date or the intake deadline of the in-stock ingredients in a certain item priority search. To select. In addition, the recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects from among a plurality of recipes that can refer to a recipe containing more ingredients having an old purchase date or a near intake deadline in a certain item priority search.

For example, the recipe selection unit 205 extracts a first ingredient and a second ingredient based on inventory information in a certain item priority search, and among a plurality of recipes that can refer to a recipe containing both the first ingredient and the second ingredient. Priority is given to selection from. In the following, a recipe containing both the first ingredient and the second ingredient may be referred to as recipe 2. Further, the recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe containing either the first ingredient or the second ingredient with a lower priority than the recipe containing both the first ingredient and the second ingredient. In the following, a recipe containing either the first ingredient or the second ingredient may be referred to as recipe 3.

In the present embodiment, the recipe selection unit 205 extracts the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient based on the inventory information in the one-of-a-kind priority search, and selects all of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient. Priority is given to selecting from multiple recipes that can refer to the included recipe. In this case, a recipe including all of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient may correspond to an example of "recipe 2". Further, the recipe selection unit 205 has a lower priority than a recipe containing all of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient, and includes any two of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient. Select a recipe. In this case, a recipe containing any two of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient may correspond to an example of "recipe 3". Further, the recipe selection unit 205 has a lower priority than a recipe containing any two of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient, and has one of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient. Select a recipe that contains one. In this case, a recipe containing any one of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the third ingredient may correspond to an example of "Recipe 4".

The "first foodstuff" is a foodstuff having an old purchase date or a near intake deadline among the foodstuffs belonging to the first foodstuff category. The "second foodstuff" is a foodstuff having an old purchase date or a near intake deadline among the foodstuffs belonging to the second foodstuff category. The "third foodstuff" is a foodstuff having an old purchase date or a near intake deadline among the foodstuffs belonging to the third foodstuff category. The "first foodstuff classification" is one of a foodstuff classification including meat or seafood, a foodstuff classification including processed foods, or a foodstuff classification including vegetables. The "second foodstuff classification" is any one of a foodstuff classification including meat or seafood, a foodstuff classification including processed foods, or a foodstuff classification including vegetables. The "third foodstuff classification" is one of the foodstuff classifications including meat or seafood, the foodstuff classification including processed foods, or the foodstuff classification including vegetables.

In addition, "fourth food ingredient classification" may be set. The "fourth foodstuff classification" is one of a foodstuff classification including meat or seafood, a foodstuff classification including processed foods, or a foodstuff classification including vegetables. In addition, the "fourth ingredient" may be set. The "fourth foodstuff" is a foodstuff having an old purchase date or a near intake deadline among the foodstuffs belonging to the fourth foodstuff category.

Further, in the recipe selection unit 205, the first number, which is the number of recipes 2 selected by the recipe selection unit 205 (that is, extracted by being searched and satisfying the condition) in the priority search for a certain item, is more than a predetermined number. If the number is small, recipe 3 is additionally selected according to the second number (that is, additionally searched and extracted). The above-mentioned "predetermined number" is a preset number. For example, the "predetermined number" is the number of recipes output to the display device 140 or the terminal device 300 at one time as a response to the instruction of the user U requesting the proposal of the recipe. In other words, the "predetermined number" is the number of recipes displayed on the display screen 141 or the display screen 310 at one time as a response to the instruction of the user U requesting the proposal of the recipe. The term "displayed at once" includes the case where a part of the display screen is displayed in order by scrolling from a hidden state.

The "second number" is a number corresponding to the difference between the predetermined number and the first number, or a number smaller than the above difference. Further, when the number of recipes 3 selected by the recipe selection unit 205 (that is, searched and extracted by satisfying the conditions) is larger than the second number, the recipe selection unit 205 has a predetermined rule (predetermined rule). The second number of recipes is irregularly selected from the recipes 3 based on the procedure). The above "predetermined rule" is a preset rule. "Random selection" is not limited to a specific method, but is realized, for example, by generating a random number by the recipe selection unit 205 and selecting a recipe based on the generated random number.

If the total of the first number and the second number is less than the "predetermined number" in the priority search for a certain item, the recipe selection unit 205 additionally selects the recipe 4 according to the third number (that is, additionally). Search and extract). The "third number" is a number corresponding to the difference between the total of the first number and the second number and the "predetermined number", or a number smaller than the above difference. When the number of recipes 4 selected by the recipe selection unit 205 (that is, searched and extracted by satisfying the conditions) is larger than the third number, the recipe selection unit 205 has a predetermined rule (predetermined procedure). The third recipe is irregularly selected from the recipes 4 based on the above. A specific example of a certain priority search will be described later.

[3-2-2-3. Category search]
The category search will be described below. The category search is a method of searching for a recipe including a category according to the instruction of the user U. Examples of the above-mentioned "category" include a cooking category, a cooking scene, a cooking purpose, a cooking theme, a cooking mood, and a cooking season.

Examples of the above "cooking category" are vegetable side dishes, meat side dishes, seafood side dishes, salads, rice dishes, stew / soup / soup, pasta / gratin, noodles, egg / soybean products, seaweed / dried foods.・ Examples include konjac, sweets, and baby food.

Examples of "cooking scenes" include Japanese, Western, Chinese, Asian, and others. Examples of the above "others" include countries in regions other than Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia. Examples of "purposes related to cooking" include staple foods, main dishes, side dishes, soups (side dishes), drinks, desserts, and the like.

Examples of "cooking themes" include classics, hospitality, events, time (easy), and health. Examples of "cooking moods" include refreshing, thick, sweet, spicy, and sour. Examples of "cooking seasons" include spring, summer, autumn, winter and year-round.

In addition, the above-mentioned "category" may include time-saving recipes, hospitality recipes, cherry-blossom viewing lunch boxes, Valentine's Day, and the like. Further, the category search may be a method of searching a recipe including a plurality of categories according to the instruction of the user U.

[3-2-2-4. Free Word Search]
The free word search will be described below. The free word search is a method of searching a recipe related to an arbitrary word (free word) input by the user U. Examples of the above-mentioned "recipe related to an arbitrary word" include a recipe containing an arbitrary word, a recipe associated with the arbitrary word, and the like.

[3-2-2-5. Browsing history search]
The browsing history search will be described below. The browsing history search is a method of searching for a recipe related to the browsing history of the user U. Examples of the "browsing history" include the log of the application server 200B associated with the user U, the log of the application server 200B received from the terminal device 300 of the user U, the log of the application 2 of the terminal device 300, and the application 2 of the user U. The input contents in.

[3-2-3. Information output section]
Hereinafter, the information output unit 206 will be described. The information output unit 206 outputs one or more recipes (recipe 1) selected by the recipe selection unit 205. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1 by transmitting a signal indicating the recipe 1 to the terminal device 300 or the display device 140. Upon receiving the signal indicating the recipe 1, the terminal device 300 or the display device 140 displays the recipe 1 on the display screen 310 or the display screen 141. User U can recognize Recipe 1.

User U refers to the recipe in order to cook according to a predetermined desire. User U launches application 2. User U inputs the desired instruction. The reception unit 204 receives the instruction of the user U. The recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe based on the instruction of the user U and the recipe search method. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1. The display screen 310 or the display screen 141 displays the recipe 1. User U can recognize the recipe 1 according to the desire. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

Further, the information output unit 206 displays at least a part of the foodstuff owned by the user U based on the inventory information. That is, the information output unit 206 displays the in-stock ingredients. The information output unit 206 receives a signal indicating in-stock food from the food management unit 161. The information output unit 206 receives a signal indicating inventory ingredients. The information output unit 206 transmits a signal indicating inventory ingredients to the display device 140 or the terminal device 300. The display device 140 or the terminal device 300 receives a signal indicating inventory ingredients. The display device 140 or the terminal device 300 causes the display screen 141 or the display screen 310 to display the stocked foods based on the received signal. As a result, the information output unit 206 displays the in-stock ingredients. Further, as a result, the user U can recognize the stocked food.

User U refers to the recipe because he cooks using the in-stock ingredients. The information output unit 206 displays in-stock ingredients. User U can recognize the in-stock ingredients. When selecting a recipe, the user U can search for a recipe that uses in-stock ingredients. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

In addition, the information output unit 206 displays the in-stock ingredients on the display screen. The reception unit 204 receives the instruction of the user U in the "predetermined state" in which the stocked food is displayed on the display screen. The recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe based on the instruction of the user U or the like. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1. User U can recognize recipe 1 related to in-stock ingredients. The user U can give an instruction in a state where the in-stock food is displayed, and can reduce the trouble of referring to the recipe related to the in-stock food. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

As described above, in the recipe selection unit 205, the first number, which is the number of recipes 2 selected by the recipe selection unit 205 (that is, extracted by being searched and satisfying the conditions) in the priority search for a certain item, is used. If the number is less than the predetermined number, the recipe 3 is additionally selected according to the second number (that is, additionally searched and extracted). When the number of recipes 3 selected by the recipe selection unit 205 (that is, searched and extracted by satisfying the conditions) is larger than the second number, the recipe selection unit 205 has a predetermined rule (predetermined procedure). The second number of recipes is irregularly selected from the recipes 3 based on.

In the present embodiment, when the information output unit 206 displays a predetermined number of recipes including the first number of recipes 2 and the irregularly selected second number of recipes 3 on the display screen, the predetermined number of recipes is displayed. The recipes are randomly rearranged and displayed on the display screen based on the above-mentioned predetermined procedure (that is, the procedure for selecting recipe 3 irregularly) or another procedure. As a result, the recipe 2 and the recipe 3 are displayed in the order in which the recipe 2 and the recipe 3 are mixed as the order on the display screen. "Random sorting" is not limited to a specific method, but is realized, for example, by generating a random number by the information output unit 206 and sorting the recipes based on the generated random number.

In another example, the information output unit 206 displays a predetermined number of recipes including the first number recipe 2, the second number recipe 3, and the irregularly selected third number recipe 4 on the display screen. In this case, the predetermined number of recipes are randomly rearranged and displayed on the display screen based on the above-mentioned predetermined procedure (that is, the procedure for selecting recipe 4 irregularly) or another procedure. As a result, the recipe 2, the recipe 3, and the recipe 4 are displayed in the order in which the recipe 2, the recipe 3, and the recipe 4 are mixed as the order on the display screen.

In the present embodiment, when the recipe is selected by the recipe selection unit 205 based on the purchase date or the intake deadline of the food material, the information output unit 206 is the food material whose purchase date or intake deadline included in the recipe satisfies a predetermined condition (hereinafter referred to as , Called foodstuff 1). Examples of the foodstuff 1 include foodstuffs whose purchase date is old or whose intake deadline is near. The "predetermined condition" may be, for example, a case where the purchase date is old or the intake period is within a certain number of days. This will be described in detail later.

[4. Concrete example]
Hereinafter, a specific example of the operation of the recipe proposal system 1 will be described. In the specific example described below, the application 2 is started by the terminal device 300. The screen described below is an example of the display screen 310 of the terminal device 300 in which the application 2 is running. The screen described below may be the display screen 141 of the display device 140 in which the application 2 is running.

[4-1. Specific example of required search]
Hereinafter, a specific example of a certain required search will be described.
FIG. 10 is an example of the display screen 310. Three icons are provided in the A1 part. Each icon shows how to search for a recipe. When the user U operates the icon, the screen is changed based on the recipe search method indicated by the icon.

FIG. 11 is an example of the display screen 310. When the user U operates the "something required" icon in the A1 part, the screen of FIG. 10 is changed to the screen of FIG.

The part of B1 is a part related to the above-mentioned "predetermined state". The "predetermined priority order" shown in B1 is the order of foodstuff name, the order of purchase date (order of foodstuff purchase date), and the order of expiration date (order of foodstuff intake deadline). An example of the above-mentioned "order of food name" is an order in which the initials of the names of foods are shown in hiragana order. As an example of the above-mentioned "order of purchase date", the order shown in the order of the earliest purchase date of the ingredients can be mentioned. As an example of the above-mentioned "best-by-date order", the order shown in the order of the earliest best-by-date of the ingredients can be mentioned. In the portion B1 of FIG. 11, something stored in the refrigerating chamber 121 appears.

Five icons are provided in the B2 part. Each icon indicates the storage location for the in-stock ingredients. The storage locations are all (total storage room 120), refrigerating room (refrigerating room 121), vegetable room (vegetable room 123), and freezing room (small freezing room 125, main freezing room 126). By operating any of the icons of B2, the user U can display the display screen 310 in which the ingredients of the storage room 120 are displayed in a predetermined priority order.

In the B3 part, icons related to the order of purchase date of ingredients are provided. The user U can display the display screen 310 in which the ingredients are displayed in the order of purchase date by inputting the icons in the order of purchase date of the ingredients. In the B4 part, icons related to the order of the expiration dates of the ingredients are provided. The user U can display the display screen 310 showing the ingredients in the order of the expiration date by inputting the icons in the order of the expiration date of the ingredients.

In the B5 part, icons related to the order of the names of the ingredients are provided. By inputting the icons in the order of the names of the ingredients, the user U can display the display screen 310 showing the ingredients in the order of the names. A cancel icon is provided in the B6 part. The user U can transition the screen of FIG. 11 to the screen of FIG. 10 by inputting the cancel icon.

Some items displayed in the B1 part are limited to those whose expiration date has not expired. The above-mentioned "best-by-date" means that the best-by-date is after the day when the recipe proposal system 1 operates. User U refers to the recipe because he cooks using the in-stock ingredients. However, even if the foodstuff is in stock, if the foodstuff whose expiration date has expired is used, the physical condition of the user U may occur. Some items displayed in the B1 part are limited to those whose expiration date has not expired. User U can refer to a recipe using in-stock ingredients whose expiration date has not expired. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can suppress the health risk of the user U when selecting a recipe.

When the user U swipes in the B7 direction while keeping his / her body in contact with the display screen 310, in-stock foodstuffs whose expiration date has expired (hereinafter referred to as disposal targets) are displayed. The information output unit 206 may display the disposal target so that the user U can carefully recognize it.

FIG. 12 is an example of the display screen 310. When the user U inputs the stocked food in the portion of B1, the screen of FIG. 11 is changed to the screen of FIG. The input of the in-stock food is performed by, for example, the user tapping (pressing) the display of the food displayed in B1.

In the part of C1, the stock ingredients input (selected) by the user U appear. It is assumed that "cheese", "cabbage", and "chicken thigh" are stored in the refrigerator compartment 121. "Cheese", "cabbage", and "chicken thigh" are displayed as "stock ingredients" in the portion B1 of FIG. When the user U selects "cheese", "cabbage", and "chicken thigh" in the B1 portion, "cheese", "cabbage", and "chicken thigh" are displayed in the C1 portion as shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the application 2 does not accept the input of four or more objects from the user U. Application 2 accepts input of one stock ingredient, two stock ingredients, or three stock ingredients from the user U. The recipes that can use the ingredients are limited. Therefore, if the user U inputs four or more in-stock ingredients, the recipe selection unit 205 may not be able to select the recipe 1. Application 2 does not accept input of four or more in-stock ingredients from user U. There are more cases where the recipe proposal system 1 can select a recipe based on the input received by the application 2. Therefore, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U when selecting a recipe. The application 2 may accept four or more inputs from the user U.

A cancel icon is provided in the C2 part. The user U can transition the screen of FIG. 12 to the screen of FIG. 10 by inputting the cancel icon.

A decision icon is provided in the C3 part. When the user U operates the decision icon, the recipe selection unit 205 compares the “cheese”, “cabbage”, and “chicken thigh” with the recipe server 200A. The recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe to use "cheese", "cabbage", and "chicken thigh" by the above comparison. Examples of recipe 1 selected by recipe selection unit 205 are peanut banana cake, Sri Lankan-style coconut curry, oven-baked okonomiyaki, Singapore chicken rice, three kinds of spicy chicken wings, pork plum-flavored steam, spare ribs and vegetables. Oven-grilled, scallop and sardine bread gratin and grilled chicken and vegetables. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1 to the terminal device 300. After that, the screen of FIG. 12 is changed to the screen of FIG. 13 (described later). If the user U has not input the stocked food, the application 2 does not accept the input of the decision icon.

FIG. 13 is an example of the display screen 310. Eight recipes (hereinafter referred to as recipe 1-1) out of recipe 1 are displayed in the portion of D1. Examples of Recipe 1-1 are peanut banana cake, Sri Lankan-style coconut curry, oven-baked okonomiyaki, Singapore chicken rice, three kinds of spicy chicken wings, pork plum-flavored steamed pork, oven-baked spareribs and vegetables, and scallops. Pangratin. When the user U swipes in the D2 direction while keeping his / her body in contact with the display screen 310, recipe 1 (hereinafter referred to as recipe 1-2) that is not recipe 1-1 is displayed. Examples of recipe 1-2 include grilled chicken and vegetables.

An arrow icon is provided in the portion of D3. The user U can transition the screen of FIG. 13 to the screen of FIG. 12 by inputting the arrow icon. That is, the user U can operate the arrow icon to input the stocked food material again. User U refers to the recipe because he cooks using the in-stock ingredients. However, in the referenced recipe, there may be no dish that the user U wants to ingest. User U can operate the arrow icon to input the stocked food again. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U when selecting a recipe.

On the screen of FIG. 13, the user U can input a selection instruction. For example, the user U can input a selection instruction by tapping (pressing) a character or an image portion of the D1 portion. When the user U taps (presses) the image of the part of D4 or the character of "Singapore chicken rice", the user U can select and instruct the recipe of the Singapore chicken rice. When the recipe is instructed to be selected, the image of FIG. 13 is transitioned to the image of FIG. 14 (described later). FIG. 14 is an example of the display screen 310. When the user U gives a selection instruction, the information output unit 206 displays the recipe related to the selection instruction as shown in FIG. As a result, the recipe selected and instructed by the user U can be referred to.

[4-2. Specific example of priority search for something]
Hereinafter, a specific example of a certain priority search will be described.
FIG. 15 is an example of the display screen 310. Three icons are provided in the E1 part. Each icon shows how to search for a recipe. When the user U inputs an icon, the screen is changed based on the recipe search method indicated by the icon.

FIG. 16 is an example of the display screen 310. When the user U operates the "Random" icon in the part of E1, the screen of FIG. 15 is changed to the screen of FIG.

The display screen 310 of FIG. 16 displays the recipe searched by the priority search for a certain item. The detailed operation of the priority search for a certain item will be described later. The recipe displayed on the display screen 310 of FIG. 16 is a recipe output by the information output unit 206. The information output unit 206 irregularly rearranges and outputs a predetermined number of recipes based on a predetermined rule. That is, the display screen 310 shown in FIG. 16 displays the recipes sorted irregularly.

When the user U swipes the display screen 310 in the F2 direction, the display screen 310 displays another recipe. Further, the display screen 310 displays the names of the ingredients used in the recipe in the F3 portion. For example, in the F3 portion, ingredients (ingredient 1) that are ingredients used in each recipe and whose purchase date or intake deadline satisfy a predetermined condition are displayed. In the present embodiment, the ingredients used in each recipe include a maximum of four first ingredients, a maximum of four second ingredients, and a maximum of four third ingredients set as search conditions in the "preferred search for certain things". Of these, the ingredients included in the recipe are displayed. The fact that the foodstuff is set as a search condition in the "preferred search for something" is an example of "foodstuff that satisfies a predetermined condition". As a result, the user U can recognize the name of the foodstuff used in the recipe, more specifically, the foodstuff used in the recipe and the intake deadline is near). User U can select a recipe after recognizing the necessary ingredients.

When the user U inputs (selection instruction) the portion of F4, the screen of FIG. 16 is changed to the screen of FIG. As a result, the user U can refer to the recipe instructed to select.

[5. Operation of recipe proposal system]
Hereinafter, among the operations of the recipe proposal system 1, a certain operation of priority search will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the operation of priority search for something.

Priority search for something is started (S101). For example, application 2 is started. After that, "Random" is operated on the display screen 310 of FIG. The terminal device 300 transmits a signal indicating the start of a priority search to the server 200. The reception unit 204 receives the signal. As a result, a priority search for something starts.

The recipe selection unit 205 transmits a signal requesting registration information of the in-stock ingredients to the foodstuff management unit 161 (S102). For example, assume that the first foodstuff classification is "meat" and "seaweed / seaweed", the second foodstuff classification is "processed food", and the third foodstuff classification is "vegetables". The recipe selection unit 205 transmits a signal (hereinafter referred to as signal 1) requesting registration information of inventories related to the above-mentioned foodstuff classification to the foodstuff management unit 161. That is, the recipe selection unit 205 transmits a signal 1 requesting registration information of in-stock foodstuffs for each foodstuff classification of “meat / fish / seaweed”, “processed food”, and “vegetable food”.

The signal 1 will be described in detail below. In signal 1, the number of required registration information of in-stock foodstuffs is limited to four foodstuffs for each foodstuff classification. Priority is set for these four foodstuffs according to the intake deadline or the purchase date in each foodstuff classification. For example, in the foodstuff classification of "processed foods", the priority of the registration information of the stock foodstuffs whose expiration date is after today and whose expiration date is near is set high.

The recipe selection unit 205 receives a signal from the food material management unit 161 for the request of S102. That is, the recipe selection unit 205 receives a signal indicating registration information of the stocked food (S103). As a result, the recipe selection unit 205 has registration information of up to four first ingredients (ingredients belonging to the first ingredient classification), registration information of up to four second ingredients (ingredients belonging to the second ingredient classification), and up to four. Acquire registration information of three third ingredients (ingredients belonging to the third ingredient category).

The recipe selection unit 205 performs a priority search for something (S104). For example, the recipe selection unit 205 has the first ingredient of any one of the maximum four first ingredients acquired in S103, the second ingredient of any one of the maximum four second ingredients, and the maximum four third ingredients. It searches for the existence of a recipe 2 containing all of the third ingredients of any one of the ingredients, and if one or more such recipes 2 exist, the one or more recipes 2 are selected. If such recipes 2 exist in excess of the predetermined number, the recipe selection unit 205 selects the predetermined number of recipes 2 from the recipes 2 in excess of the predetermined number searched and extracted. Select irregularly according to the rules (procedures). "Random selection" means, for example, a determination using random numbers as described above.

The search for the above recipe 2 is performed for a combination of a maximum of four first ingredients, a maximum of four second ingredients, and a maximum of four third ingredients. In the present embodiment, the recipe selection unit 205 assigns an identifier of 1 to 4 (for example, an order of 1 to 4) to a maximum of four first ingredients, and an identifier of 1 to 4 to a maximum of four second ingredients (for example, an order of 1 to 4). For example, an order of 1 to 4) is given, and an identifier of 1 to 4 (for example, an order of 1 to 4) is given to a maximum of four third ingredients. Then, for example, only combinations of the same identifiers (same order) (that is, up to four ways) are searched for the above combinations. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent only recipes using the same ingredients from being proposed. The recipe selection unit 205 searches for recipe 2 of all combinations (4 × 4 × 4 = 64 ways) of a maximum of four first ingredients, a maximum of four second ingredients, and a maximum of four third ingredients. You may do so.

When the number of selected recipes 2 (first number) is less than a predetermined number, the recipe selection unit 205 selects the second number of recipes 3. For example, the recipe selection unit 205 has a first ingredient of any one of a maximum of four first ingredients, a second ingredient of any one of a maximum of four second ingredients, and a maximum of four third ingredients. Of any one of the third ingredients, a combination of two ingredients (that is, a combination of the first ingredient and the second ingredient, a combination of the first ingredient and the third ingredient, and a combination of the second ingredient and the third ingredient). It searches for the existence of the included recipe 3, and if one or more such recipes 3 exist, the one or more recipes 3 are selected.

When the total of the number of selected recipes 2 (first number) and the number of recipes 3 (second number) is less than a predetermined number, the recipe selection unit 205 selects the third number of recipes 4. For example, the recipe selection unit 205 may use one of a maximum of four first ingredients, one of a maximum of four second ingredients, a second ingredient of any one of a maximum of four second ingredients, or a maximum of four third ingredients. It searches for the existence of a recipe 4 containing any one of the third ingredients, and if one or more such recipes 4 exist, the one or more recipes 4 are selected.

The recipe selection unit 205 described above when the total of the number of selected recipes 2 (first number), the number of recipes 3 (second number), and the number of recipes 4 (fourth number) is less than a predetermined number. One or more recipes that do not contain up to four first ingredients, up to four second ingredients, and up to four third ingredients are selected by a predetermined algorithm.

The information output unit 206 sorts the recipes selected in S104 (S105). For example, the information output unit 206 associates the random number generated by the random number generation function with the ID of the recipe. The information output unit 206 specifies the order of the recipes based on the random number associated with the recipe ID. Since the random numbers generated by the random number generation function are irregular, the order of the recipes is also irregular.

The information output unit 206 displays a plurality of recipes sorted in S105 on the display screen 310 (S106). The information output unit 206 transmits a recipe and a signal indicating the order of the recipes to the terminal device 300. The terminal device 300 receives the signal. The terminal device 300 displays the recipe on the display screen 310 based on the received signal. For example, the display screen 310 displays a screen as shown in FIG.

The reception unit 204 receives a selection instruction (S107).
The information output unit 206 displays the contents of the recipe related to the selection instruction on the display screen 310 (S108). For example, the display screen 310 displays a screen as shown in FIG.

[6. advantage]

When the user U refers to the recipe, the stocked ingredients may be low (or short). In this case, the number of recipes that can be referred to by the user U is smaller than that when there are many in-stock ingredients. Further, in the search based only on the stock ingredients, the recipe desired by the user U may not be searched. The recipe selection unit 205 can select a recipe by "a certain thing priority search" which has a lower priority of the search condition 1 than "a certain thing essential search". By lowering the priority of the search condition 1 and searching, the user U can refer to more recipes or recipes according to the desire. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

Further, the recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects a recipe including in-stock ingredients in a certain item priority search without the instruction of the user U who selects the ingredients to be used. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1. User U can recognize Recipe 1. Even if the user U does not give an instruction regarding the stocked food, the user U can recognize the recipe 1 related to the stocked food. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

In addition, the recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects a recipe containing an ingredient with an old purchase date or a near expiration date based on the purchase date or the intake deadline of the stocked ingredient in the certain item priority search. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1. User U can recognize Recipe 1.

User U prepares foodstuffs for ingestion. Ingredients have an intake deadline for a certain period from the date of purchase. If the intake deadline is exceeded, it becomes difficult for the user U to ingest the food. The recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects a recipe containing ingredients with an old purchase date or a near intake deadline based on the purchase date or the intake deadline of "something" in the certain thing priority entrusted search. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1. User U can recognize Recipe 1. The user U can refer to the recipe 1 related to the intake deadline or the like without searching the recipe for the recipe related to the intake deadline or the like. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

Further, the recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects a recipe containing more ingredients having an old purchase date or a near ingestion deadline in a certain item priority search. User U prepares a plurality of foodstuffs for ingestion. Ingredients have an intake deadline for a certain period from the date of purchase. If the intake deadline is exceeded, it becomes difficult for the user U to ingest the food. However, it takes time and effort for the user U to refer to the recipe in consideration of the intake deadlines of a plurality of ingredients. The recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects a recipe containing more ingredients with an old purchase date or a near ingestion deadline in a certain item priority search. User U can refer to recipes related to the intake deadlines of a plurality of ingredients. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

The recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects the recipe 2 and selects the recipe 3 with a lower priority than the recipe 2. The information output unit 206 outputs recipe 2 and recipe 3. User U can recognize Recipe 2 and Recipe 3.

User U refers to the recipe in order to ingest the food according to the predetermined food classification. The recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects the recipe 2 and selects the recipe 3 with a lower priority than the recipe 2. User U can refer to Recipe 2 including a plurality of predetermined food classifications or Recipe 3 related to any of the food classifications. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

Further, the recipes 2 and 3 selected by the recipe selection unit 205 are recipes related to the first food ingredient classification and the second food ingredient classification. The first foodstuff classification and the second foodstuff classification are any one of a foodstuff classification including meat or seafood, a foodstuff classification including processed foods, or a foodstuff classification including vegetables. According to such a configuration, it is possible to propose a recipe that combines a foodstuff having a near intake deadline in the first foodstuff classification and a foodstuff having a close intake deadline in the second foodstuff classification. In the recipe proposal system 1, a food classification other than the above food classification may be specified.

User U refers to the recipe for ingesting a dish relating to meat, fish and shellfish, processed foods or vegetables. The recipe selection unit 205 preferentially selects the recipe 2 and selects the recipe 3 with a lower priority than the recipe 2. As a result, it is possible to give priority to a recipe that combines ingredients with close ingestion deadlines in a plurality of ingredient classifications and propose them to the user.

Further, the information output unit 206 is set to output a predetermined number of recipes. The above-mentioned "predetermined number" is a preset number. When the first number, which is the number of recipes 2, is less than a predetermined number, the recipe selection unit 205 selects the recipe 3 according to the second number. As a result, many recipes can be proposed to the user even when the recipes combining the ingredients having close ingestion deadlines are limited in the plurality of ingredient classifications.

User U refers to the recipe in order to cook the desired dish. As the number of recipes that can be referred to decreases, the possibility that the user U can refer to the desired dish is reduced. The information output unit 206 is set to output a predetermined number of recipes. When the first number, which is the number of recipes 2, is less than a predetermined number, the recipe selection unit 205 selects the recipe 3 according to the second number. The information output unit 206 outputs recipe 2 and recipe 3. User U can recognize a predetermined number of recipes. That is, there is a high possibility that the user U can refer to the desired recipe from the predetermined number of recipes. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

When the number of recipes 3 is larger than the second number, the recipe selection unit 205 randomly selects the second number of recipes from the recipes 3 based on a predetermined rule. The information output unit 206 outputs an irregularly selected recipe. User U can recognize an irregularly selected recipe. Thereby, for example, it is possible to propose various recipes using various kinds of ingredients, instead of recipes that are biased toward the use of specific ingredients.

In the present embodiment, the information output unit 206 irregularly rearranges and outputs a predetermined number of recipes based on a predetermined rule or another rule. If the recipes are arranged according to a certain rule, the user U will continue to refer to the recipe biased to the rule. On the other hand, when a predetermined number of recipes are randomly rearranged and output, the user U can recognize the irregularly rearranged recipes. Therefore, the recipes referred to by the user U may be diverse.

User U refers to the recipe to cook. Multiple ingredients are used in cooking. When the plurality of foodstuffs exceed the intake deadline, it becomes difficult for the user U to ingest the foodstuffs. The recipe selection unit 205 selects a recipe based on the total score of a plurality of ingredients contained in the recipe. The information output unit 206 outputs the recipe 1. User U can recognize Recipe 1. User U can refer to a recipe related to the intake deadline of a plurality of ingredients used in cooking, not a recipe related to the intake deadline of one ingredient. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

Since the user U ingests the food before the ingestion deadline, it is necessary to recognize the ingestion deadline of the food. When a recipe is selected by the recipe selection unit 205 based on the purchase date or the intake deadline of the ingredient, the ingredient (ingredient 1) whose purchase date or intake deadline included in the recipe satisfies a predetermined condition is notified. As a result, the recipe proposal system 1 can improve the convenience of the user U in selecting a recipe.

(Computer configuration)
The computer includes a processor, main memory, storage, and an interface.
The refrigerator 101, the server 200, and the terminal device 300 described above are mounted on a computer. The operation of each of the above-mentioned processing units is stored in the storage in the form of a program. The processor reads the program from the storage, expands it into the main memory, and executes the above processing according to the program. Further, the processor secures a storage area corresponding to each of the above-mentioned storage units in the main memory according to the program.

The program may be intended to realize some of the functions exerted by the computer. For example, the program may exert its function in combination with another program already stored in the storage or in combination with another program mounted on another device. In another embodiment, the computer may include a custom LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) in addition to or in place of the above configuration. Examples of PLDs include PAL (Programmable Array Logic), GAL (Generic Array Logic), CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate). In this case, some or all of the functions realized by the processor may be realized by the integrated circuit.

Examples of storage include magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories, and the like. The storage may be internal media directly connected to the computer's bus or external media connected to the computer via an interface or communication line. Further, when this program is distributed to a computer by a communication line, the distributed computer may expand the program in the main memory and execute the above processing. In at least one embodiment, the storage is a non-temporary tangible storage medium.

Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. Further, the program may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that realizes the above-mentioned function in combination with another program already stored in the storage.

The recipe proposal system 1 of the embodiment has a reception unit 204, a recipe selection unit 205, and an information output unit 206. The reception unit receives instructions from 204, user U. The recipe selection unit 205 uses one or more recipe search methods selected from a plurality of recipe search methods having different search criteria for the ingredients to be used, based on the instruction of the user U received by the reception unit 204. Select a recipe for. The information output unit 206 outputs one or more recipes selected by the recipe selection unit 205. According to such a configuration, the convenience of the user U can be improved.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and variations thereof are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof, as are included in the scope and gist of the invention.

1 ... Recipe proposal system, 101 ... Refrigerator, 200 ... Server, 204 ... Reception unit, 205 ... Recipe selection unit, 206 ... Information output unit, 300 ... Terminal equipment, U ... User, R ... Router, NW ... Network

Claims (12)

The reception department that accepts user instructions and
A recipe selection unit that selects one or more recipes using a recipe search method selected from a plurality of recipe search methods having different search criteria for the ingredients to be used based on the user's instructions received by the reception unit. ,
An information output unit that outputs the one or more recipes selected by the recipe selection unit, and
Recipe proposal system with. Further equipped with a foodstuff management unit that manages inventory information indicating the foodstuffs owned by the user.
The plurality of recipe search methods include a first recipe search method that requires the use of at least one ingredient contained in the inventory information, and the first recipe in which the priority of using the ingredient contained in the inventory information is the first recipe. Including a second recipe search method that is lower than the search method,
The recipe proposal system according to claim 1. The information output unit displays at least a part of the foodstuff owned by the user based on the inventory information.
The reception unit receives an instruction from the user to select a food candidate to be used from the foods owned by the user while at least a part of the foods owned by the user is displayed by the information output unit.
The recipe selection unit selects a recipe containing the candidate ingredients accepted by the reception unit in the first recipe search method.
The recipe proposal system according to claim 2. In the second recipe search method, the recipe selection unit can refer to a recipe including the ingredients owned by the user based on the inventory information without instructing the user to select the ingredients to be used. Priority is given to selecting from among
The recipe proposal system according to claim 2 or 3. In the second recipe search method, the recipe selection unit includes recipes including ingredients with an old purchase date or a near intake deadline among the plurality of recipes based on the purchase date or the intake deadline of the ingredients included in the inventory information. Priority is given to selection from
The recipe proposal system according to claim 4. In the second recipe search method, the recipe selection unit preferentially selects a recipe containing more ingredients having an old purchase date or a near intake deadline from the plurality of recipes.
The recipe proposal system according to claim 5. Based on the inventory information, the recipe selection unit extracts the first foodstuff having an old purchase date or a near intake deadline from the foodstuffs belonging to the first foodstuff classification, and the purchase date among the foodstuffs belonging to the second foodstuff classification. Extracts the second foodstuff that is old or has a near intake deadline, preferentially selects a recipe containing both the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff from the plurality of recipes, and selects the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff. Select a recipe containing either the first ingredient or the second ingredient with a lower priority than the recipe containing both of the above.
The recipe proposal system according to claim 6. The first foodstuff classification is one of a foodstuff classification including meat or seafood, a foodstuff classification including processed foods, or a foodstuff classification including vegetables.
The second foodstuff classification is any one of a foodstuff classification including meat or seafood, a foodstuff classification including processed foods, or a foodstuff classification including vegetables.
The recipe proposal system according to claim 7. The information output unit is set to output a predetermined number of recipes.
When the first number, which is the number of recipes containing both the first ingredient and the second ingredient, is less than the predetermined number, the recipe selection unit is equal to or less than the difference between the predetermined number and the first number. Select a recipe containing either the first ingredient or the second ingredient according to the second number.
The recipe proposal system according to claim 7 or 8. When the number of recipes containing either the first ingredient or the second ingredient is larger than the number of the second ingredient, the recipe selection unit includes either the first ingredient or the second ingredient based on a predetermined procedure. Randomly select the second number of recipes from the recipes,
The recipe proposal system according to claim 9. The information output unit uses the predetermined number of recipes, including a recipe containing both the first ingredient and the second ingredient, and a recipe containing either the first ingredient or the second ingredient, in the predetermined procedure or. Arrange them irregularly based on another procedure and display them on the display.
The recipe proposal system according to claim 10. When a recipe is selected by the recipe selection unit based on the purchase date or the intake deadline of the food material, the information output unit notifies the food material whose purchase date or intake deadline included in the recipe satisfies a predetermined condition.
The recipe proposal system according to any one of claims 5 to 11.

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