RU2789017C2 - Method for creation of product, using beverage making machine, system for implementation of this method and machine backend for beverage making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: beverage making.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method, a system, and a machine backend for creation of a product, using a beverage making machine. The machine backend is configured to perform stages, at which: backend command (32) is received, wherein backend command (32) contains identifier (44) for identification of preparation instruction (14), as well as a configuration identifier. It is determined from the identifier, whether the backend command contains a general identifier or an individual identifier. Preparation instructions (14) are determined by determination, if identifier (44) matches individual identifier (24), of preparation instruction (14), which is assigned to individual identifier (24) in user profile (26), while user profile (26) is determined in accordance with the configuration identifier, if identifier (44) is general identifier (34), of preparation instruction (14), which is assigned to general identifier (34), while the assignment does not depend on user profile (26). Machine command (22) is generated for beverage making machine (1), wherein machine command (22) indicates preparation instruction (14). Moreover, if the identifier is an individual identifier, preparation instruction (14) is indirectly assigned to individual identifier (24), using assignment instruction (25) and personal identifier (27), wherein assignment instruction (25) is determined based on configuration information containing the assignment of assignment instruction (25) to the configuration identifier.

EFFECT: increase in the reliability of user input recognition.

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Description

The invention relates to beverage preparation machines for preparing beverages or the like, for example from a portion pack with a portion shell (eg a capsule) and an extraction material (eg coffee) contained in the portion shell. In particular, it relates to a method for creating a product with a beverage preparation machine, a system for carrying out the method, and a machine backend for a beverage preparation machine.

Beverage preparation machines for preparing drinks or the like from an extraction material which is in a portion pack are known as coffee machines or espresso machines, for example. In many suitable systems, the portion shell is in the form of a capsule in which the extraction material is hermetically sealed, for example in an airtight manner. For extraction, the capsule is placed in the capsule receiver and pierced, for example, from two sides opposite to each other. Then, the extraction liquid, usually hot water, is introduced from the first side. From the second side, the extraction product is released from the capsule. This takes place in the so-called brewing module.

In addition to the brewing module, there may be one or more additional units for delivering and adding an additional beverage component, such as, for example, milk. In this way, a beverage preparation machine can create a beverage or, in general, an end product from two components.

European Patent Application No. 15194735 discloses a method of operating a beverage preparation machine to create a product from several components, in which the user can adapt the proportions of the components on a graphical display of quantitative proportions.

European Patent Application No. 15194667 discloses a method for operating beverage preparation machines using preparation parameters that are determined based on a unit pack code. In this case, the individual cooking parameters can be changed by the user.

Among other things, communication of the beverage preparation machine with a control device is described in the aforementioned patent applications, said control device being mobile and portable, such as a mobile phone or smart phone. With the control device, preparation instructions or recipes can be transferred (forwarded) to the beverage preparation machine, or preparation instructions stored in the beverage preparation machine can be modified. The preparation instruction may indicate, for example, the quantitative ratios of the components and/or preparation parameters, such as infusion time and preparation temperature, in accordance with the individual preferences of users. Therefore, individual preparation instructions can be stored in the beverage preparation machine. Such individual preparation instructions may also contain their own individual name, such as "Karl's coffee" or "Morgan's coffee".

The preparation instructions may be selected on the beverage preparation machine and/or on the controller, depending on how the user interface is designed. In the next step, product creation can be activated according to the selected cooking instruction. This can also be done on the beverage preparation machine and/or on the controller or both.

As an alternative or in addition to the one described above, it is possible to select a cooking instruction using a voice-activated system. Here you can use the existing infrastructure for voice recognition and command processing. Such an existing system is, for example, an Amazon Echo device in combination with Alexa Voice Services)) in the Amazon-Cloud. Other notable systems are "Google Note" by Google and "Siri" by Apple.

In addition to standard features, Amazon provides a framework for third-party provider features, called skills. In this case, voice commands to the Amazon Echo device that relate to these third-party features may be recognized and forwarded to the third-party provider's servers. Likewise, responses from a third-party provider's server can be processed, and from this, responses to the user that are appropriate for the situation can be generated, and these can be verbally output by the Amazon Echo device.

With the help of the system, the name of the preparation instruction, hereinafter also abbreviated as the name of the recipe, can be recognized and transmitted to the beverage preparation machine as the selected preparation instruction as part of the beverage instruction.

However, in combination with the described individual cooking instructions, there is a problem of people who can arbitrarily name, write and pronounce their recipes. However, Alexa has limitations here. For example, Alexa in the word "Morgan's coffee" respectively recognizes "Morgan's coffee", "Morgan's coffee", "morning coffee", "Morgan's cafe", "morning coffee", "Morgans coffee". Assigning a voice input to an actual recipe name is very tricky when there are such different possible interpretations.

Also, there is no third-party solution that can store custom cooking instruction names. Only a few recipe names can be saved for a skill, such as the skill "Managing a Qbo Maker Coffee Machine", and the names specified are generally the same for all users of the skill. This would mean that the voice recognition system would need to know all the individual recipe names of all machines and all users for all machines of that manufacturer - but most of these cannot be implemented at all, since they are only stored and required on one machine.

WO 01/12038 discloses a "delayed filtration" method for creating individualized fresh coffee variants based on an extract that has been brewed for some time - 48 hours maximum. This extract is filtered based on user settings. User settings are handled by the "Settings Director". This can be implemented on a server outside of the beverage machine. The recipe is generated from user settings in the settings director. Here you can use the stored data that is associated with the identity of the user. However, an identifier that identifies a cooking instruction is not processed.

A possible object of the invention is to allow the user to control the creation of drinks according to individual recipes (or preparation instructions) using voice input, despite the voice recognition infrastructure that is used to not allow the execution of individual voice commands.

A possible object of the invention is to enable the user to create drinks according to individual recipes (or preparation instructions) with a relatively high reliability of voice (speech) recognition.

At least one of these objectives is achieved by a method for creating a product with a beverage machine, a system for carrying out the method, and a machine backend for the beverage machine.

Thus, the object of the invention is to provide a method for creating a product with a beverage preparation machine, a system for carrying out the method and a machine backend for a beverage preparation machine of the aforementioned type, which overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.

The method of creating a product using a beverage preparation machine includes the following steps:

using a machine backend for the beverage preparation machine, receiving a backend command, wherein the backend command contains an identifier for identifying a preparation instruction, as well as a configuration identifier;

determining the cooking instruction by determining,

in case the identifier matches the individual identifier, a cooking instruction that is assigned to the individual identifier in one of the plurality of user profiles, the user profile being determined according to the configuration identifier;

using a machine backend, generating a machine instruction for the beverage preparation machine, the machine instruction indicating a preparation instruction;

using a beverage preparation machine, creating a product in accordance with the preparation instructions.

At the same time, the voice recognition backend that creates the backend command can only identify a relatively small number of identifiers. These identifiers are common to all users of beverage machines that are activated in this way, and therefore to all individual configurations of voice recognition devices and users and beverage machines. This number of identifiers may contain, for example, twenty or less, or forty or less, or sixty or less identifiers.

Due to the fact that a plurality of identifiers are individual identifiers, for which each individual cooking instruction can be stored specifically for the user, the creation of individual products for the user is possible even if the voice interface only processes standardized individual identifiers.

Due to the fact that there are only a limited number of identifiers and associated voice commands, an infrastructure can be used that can only handle such a limited number of voice commands.

Due to the fact that only a limited number of identifiers and associated voice commands are present, the reliability of voice recognition can be increased compared to a situation in which a large number of voice commands need to be recognized and distinguished from each other. In addition, given the choice of a limited number of voice commands, you can make sure that they can be easily distinguished from each other and they will not sound the same.

The individualization of commands is done in the native backend by determining whether the command contains a common identifier or an individual identifier using an identifier. If there is an individual identifier, then the cooking instruction determined from it depends on the configuration identifier.

The configuration identifier identifies a certain configuration of a particular voice interface of at least one beverage preparation machine and a user profile and thus their assignment to each other.

This assignment may be described as configuration information. The configuration information assigns a voice interface interface identifier to a user identifier and/or at least one machine identifier.

Therefore, the configuration identifier, depending on the embodiment, may be the same as the interface identifier, user identifier, or machine identifier.

The user can use multiple beverage preparation machines. Accordingly, multiple machine identifiers may be assigned to a user identifier. Several beverage preparation machines can also be assigned to the voice interface. Accordingly, several machine identifiers may be assigned to an interface identifier in the configuration information.

Based on the configuration information, it can be determined, starting from the voice interface from which the command originates, for which user and/or which beverage preparation machine the command is valid. This determination can be made in the voice recognition backend or in the machine backend, depending on the implementation.

Acquisition of configuration information and thus assignment between the voice interface and the user and/or the beverage machine can be performed when the user logs in using the voice interface, whereby the voice interface identifier can be assigned to the user ID and/or machine identifier.

The use of a user ID or a corresponding user profile allows the user to generate and use individual preparation instructions regardless of the beverage preparation machine they are using. The individual cooking instructions are then preferably stored in the machine backend and assigned to a user ID as well as individual IDs and optionally also destination instructions (see below).

The product creation step with the beverage preparation machine may include sub-steps to validate the selected preparation instruction and/or to check the possibility of creation, and/or to separately activate the creation by means of an additional user control step. Thus, this control step may be an interaction with the beverage preparation machine, a voice interface, or a control device that is separate and interacts with the beverage preparation machine, such as a smartphone.

In embodiments, the step for determining the cooking instruction includes the step of:

definition,

if the identifier matches the general identifier, the cooking instructions assigned to it, and the assignment is independent of the user profile.

This can be done based on the list, which in each case assigns a common identifier to the cooking instructions. Such a list, or in general the assignment implemented in this case, is usually stored in a native backend. In other embodiments, it is stored in a beverage preparation machine. Thus, the assignment is generally independent of the configuration information as described above, or of the user or user profile, and may also be independent of the interface ID and/or machine ID.

In embodiments, if no cook instruction is assigned a unique identifier (thus no cook instruction can be determined based on the individual identifier), then the machine backend sends backend feedback to the voice recognition backend to output an error message using voice interface.

In doing so, the fact that the system configuration is incomplete with respect to the cooking instruction for the received individual identifier can be displayed to the user.

In embodiments, a cook instruction is directly assigned to an individual identifier, and the individual identifiers and assigned cook instructions are stored in the machine backend.

In this way, individual user preparation instructions can be managed and used independently of the specific beverage preparation machine.

In embodiments, multiple user profiles are stored in the machine backend and each user profile contains a user specific list of individual identifiers and their assignment to user specific cooking instructions.

This makes it possible to manage and use individual cooking instructions for several users. Thus, the selection of a user profile may be based on a configuration identifier, thus a user identifier or an interface identifier or a machine identifier.

In embodiments, a machine instruction specifies a cook instruction according to an individual identifier or a common identifier with a machine instruction containing that cook instruction.

Therefore, the preparation instruction is transmitted to the beverage preparation machine and used in the beverage preparation machine for production. To define a cooking instruction, the machine backend has a stored list of cooking instructions and assigns them to individual IDs or shared IDs.

In embodiments, a machine instruction indicates a cooking instruction according to an individual identifier or common identifier with a machine instruction containing the individual identifier or general identifier.

Thus, the individual identifier is transferred to the beverage preparation machine, and in the beverage preparation machine, based on the stored list of preparation instructions, it corresponds to the individual identifier or common identifier that is selected and used for creation. Here, the configuration information is indirect, since a particular beverage preparation machine has been determined based on this information, and it only knows a set of individual identifiers by itself.

In embodiments, each of the cooking instructions is assigned to an individual identifier indirectly via the assignment instruction and the personal identifier.

In embodiments, the cooking instruction is assigned to the individual identifier indirectly by the assignment instruction and the personal identifier, and the assignment instruction is determined based on the configuration information, which contains the assignment of the assignment instruction to the configuration identifier, in particular in the form of one or more of the following information:

assigning an assignment instruction to a machine identifier; assigning an assignment instruction to an interface identifier; assigning an assignment statement to a user ID.

Starting from the individual identifier, the assigned personal identifier is determined by the assignment instruction, and in turn, the preparation instruction is assigned by this identifier.

In general, in this case, such assignments in the system, in particular in the machine backend, can be represented directly or indirectly using other identifiers. In both options (direct or indirect), the configuration information allows you to uniquely identify one of several assignment instructions based on a given machine identifier, interface identifier, user identifier, and so on.

Thus, in embodiments, multiple assignment instructions are stored in the machine backend. The assignment instruction that is used in a particular order is determined in the native backend based on the configuration information.

In embodiments, the method includes the following step: using the voice interface and the voice recognition backend, receiving the voice input and generating, in accordance with the voice input, a backend command for the machine backend of the beverage preparation machine, this backend command containing an identifier for identifying the preparation instruction.

The voice interface is typically a device with a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a data processing unit, said data processing unit being configured to detect acoustic signals using a microphone, digitize them, and transmit them as a voice command file to the voice recognition backend, and receive voice feedback files from the voice recognition backend and their output through the loudspeaker in the form of acoustic signals.

The voice recognition backend can process the command voice file and determine if it contains a command to create a product using a beverage machine, and if so, determine the identifier.

Command generation (backend command or machine command) involves passing the command to the receiver. The transfer can be done by either the push method or the pull method.

In embodiments, the transfer of a machine command to the beverage machine is performed by a pull method with the beverage machine, which queries the machine backend if there is a machine command, and if there is a machine command, activates its transmission to the beverage machine.

In embodiments, the method includes the following additional steps:

using a beverage machine, generating a machine feedback signal for the machine backend;

using the machine backend, generating an appropriate backend feedback signal to the voice interface;

using the voice interface, output a voice message according to the backend feedback signal.

The feedback signal of the machine may contain, for example, information of the following type:

confirmation that the preparation instruction selection has been received by the beverage preparation machine;

confirmation of the choice of cooking instruction together with the name of the cooking instruction;

error messages regarding the status of the beverage preparation machine, for example, if there is no water, there is no portion pack, there is a portion pack that does not match the preparation instructions.

The system comprises a beverage preparation machine and a machine backend and is configured to carry out the method.

The machine backend of the beverage preparation machine is configured to perform the following steps:

receiving a backend command, wherein the backend command contains an identifier for identifying a cooking instruction, as well as a configuration identifier;

determining the cooking instruction by determining,

in case the identifier matches the individual identifier, the cooking instructions assigned to the individual identifier in the user profile, the user profile being determined according to the configuration identifier;

generating a machine instruction for the beverage preparation machine, the machine instruction indicating a preparation instruction.

The machine backend is generally a data processing system and comprises a memory means with computer program code means stored therein that describe the computer program, and data processing means for executing the computer program, wherein the execution of the computer program results in the execution of the method according to the invention.

The method for selecting a product to be created by a beverage machine can be carried out without creating a product and includes the steps mentioned above as being performed by a machine backend.

An appropriate computer program can be downloaded and executed in the data processing unit and, when executed, performs the method with the steps mentioned above as being performed in the machine backend.

The computer program is usually loaded into the internal memory of the digital data processing unit and contains computer code means which, when executed in the digital data processing unit, result in the method according to the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, the computer program product comprises a storage medium or a computer-readable medium on which program code means are stored.

Further preferred embodiments follow from the dependent claims. Thus, method-related clauses, where appropriate, can be combined with apparatus-related clauses, and vice versa.

The essence of the invention is explained in more detail below with the help of examples of preferred options for its implementation, which are presented in the attached drawings. In each case, schematically shown:

fig. 1 is a design of a system for creating a product using a beverage preparation machine;

fig. 2 - alternative forms of machine backend and beverage preparation machines; and

fig. 3 is a block diagram of how the system operates.

In FIG. 1 schematically shows the design of a system for creating a product with a beverage preparation machine using a system for voice input and voice output. The system contains a beverage preparation machine 1, a machine backend 2, a voice recognition backend 3, and a voice interface 4.

The beverage preparation machine 1 is designed to create a beverage, also referred to as a product, with one or more components, in accordance with preparation instructions or recipes 14. The beverage preparation machine 1 contains means for data processing and for communication with other devices, usually via wire or wireless computer network. The beverage preparation machine 1 contains a machine identifier 11 for unique identification, ie to distinguish it from other beverage preparation machines. The beverage preparation machine 1 can receive or store preparation instructions 14 based on which the preparation of products can be controlled. Each of the preparation instructions 14 is uniquely identified by an identifier.

In the embodiments of FIG. 1 cooking instructions 14 and their assignment to an individual identifier 24 or a general identifier 34 are stored in the machine backend 2. Generic identifiers 34 are assigned to standard cooking instructions 14 which are defined and unchanged for all users. In the drawings, the common indicators 34 are abbreviated as x, y, z, w, v, but in fact they are, for example, "ristretto", "espresso", "coffee", "large coffee", "foam coffee", latte, cappuccino, cold milk foam, warm milk foam, etc. In addition, common identifiers 34 may be provided for similar names in other languages, in particular in English.

Individual identifiers 24 are assigned to individual cooking instructions 14 which can be customized by the user. Here, the individual cooking instructions 14 may each be assigned a user ID 21 (as shown in the figure) and/or a machine ID 11 (not shown). In other words, the assignment between individual identifiers 24 and preparation instructions 14 is user dependent and may be stored in a user profile 26 identified by user identifier 21. In the drawings, individual identifiers 24 are abbreviated as a, b, c, but in reality they are for example, “morning coffee”, “favorite coffee”, “take it with you”, etc. In addition, individual identifiers 24 may be provided for similar names in other languages, in particular in English.

Personal identifiers 27 may also be stored as part of the user profile 26. They may be set or processed by the user and the server part 2 in the same way. They differ from the individual identifiers 24 in that their values do not have equivalents in the voice recognition backend 3. In the drawings, personal identifiers 27 are abbreviated as m, n, o, p, q, but in reality they represent, for example, "Coffee Carl", "Erich's espresso", "Claudia cappuccino", etc.

The machine backend 2 can communicate with multiple beverage machines 1 in both directions using a link connection.

The voice recognition backend 3 can communicate with the machine backend 2 in both directions using an optional communication connection. The voice recognition backend 3 comprises a voice recognition system and a domain specific subsystem ("skills") which is configured to recognize and process specific commands for a specific application - in this case the activation of beverage preparation machines 1 of a specific manufacturer. As a result of the processing, the subsystem can, inter alia, extract identifiers 44, ie general identifiers 34 and individual identifiers 24, from the voice command.

The voice interface 4 contains a microphone, a loudspeaker and a data processing unit. It receives the acoustic signals and transmits them digitally in the form of a voice order file 42 to the voice recognition backend 3 . The feedback voice files 33 from the voice recognition backend 3 are output by the loudspeaker as acoustic signals.

An example of voice recognition backend 3 is the previously mentioned Echo system, which is implemented by Amazon and can be used by third party providers. It includes an "Alexa backend" for processing audio data from an Amazon Echo device as a voice interface 4, as well as a Lambda system for implementing "skills" for third-party providers. Based on the processed audio files, the Lambda system can recognize the command for the machine 1 to prepare drinks, as well as the common identifier 34 from a limited number of predefined third-party provider common identifiers 34 . The Lambda system is an Amazon architecture, runs in the Amazon cloud, and implements functionality that combines the skills of a third-party provider with voice communications.

The assignment between the machine ID 11, the interface ID 41 and the user ID 21 can be made in the registration procedure. This defines configuration information, and each of these identifiers can serve as a configuration identifier. Subsequently, the order that is received by the voice interface 4 can be assigned to the user and/or beverage machine 1 while the system is running. In this case, local information regarding the command, destination instruction 25 (see below), individual identifiers 24, and preparation instructions 14 can be determined. Depending on how the system works, this local information is assigned to the user or beverage preparation machine 1 and is identified by user ID 21 or machine ID 11.

In order to make an individual cooking instruction 14 available for voice control, the user, for example, using a configuration program running on the control device, sets the cooking instruction 14 to his liking and assigns it to one of the predefined individual identifiers 24.

For example, 24 individual identifiers are available: "morning coffee", "favorite", "coffee to go". The assignment is realized by saving the user of his cooking instruction, which he himself sets, under the given name.

If the command "Alexa, start Qbo and make me a coffee to go" is received and processed by the voice interface 4 and the voice recognition backend 3, then the individual identifier 24 designated "coffee to go" is recognized, and the personalized preparation instruction 14 is executed, which is stored under the name "coffee to go".

If the voice command "Alexa, start Qbo and make me a ristretto" is received, then there is a common identifier 34 for this, and the general predetermined cooking instruction 14 that is stored for this is executed.

If the voice command "Alekha, start Qbo and make me coffee Carl" is received, then there is no individual identifier 24 or common identifier 34 for this, and the voice recognition backend 3 creates a voice feedback file 33 with the corresponding message for the user.

In FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the machine backend 2. The individual identifiers 24 therein are assigned to the preparation instruction 14 not directly, but indirectly via the assignment instruction 25 and the personal identifier 27. The personal identifier 27, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be set by the user and assigned to cooking instructions 14. This assignment, and thus the preparation instruction 14, can be stored in the machine backend 2 or in the beverage preparation machine 1.

Therefore, assignment instruction 25 assigns personal identifier 27 to individual identifier 24. In this embodiment, individual identifiers 24 are also common to all users and beverage machines 1. Each of the personal identifiers 27 is individually adapted to the user and/or beverage preparation machine 1 .

In the example of FIG. 2, preparation instructions 14 and assigned personal identifiers 27 are stored in the beverage preparation machine 1, and instruction 25 for assigning individual identifiers 24 to personal identifiers 27 is stored in the machine backend 2.

The assignment instructions 25 can be assigned to individual users or user IDs 21 in the machine backend 2. The assignment instructions 25 for multiple users are then stored in the machine backend 2.

As an alternative, assignment instructions 25 may also be assigned to beverage preparation machines 1. Destination instructions 25 for multiple dispensing machines 1 are then stored in the machine backend 2, such assignment instruction 25 being assigned to each of the dispensing machines 1 either directly (for example, by the machine ID 11 of the dispensing machine) or indirectly (for example, via a custom ID 21, which in turn is assigned to machine ID 11).

In FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing how the system for creating a product in a beverage preparation machine works. The use cases mentioned here include, for example, preparing a drink, preparing a drink at a specific time (exactly specified), preparing a drink after a specific time (specified relatively), inquiring about the capabilities that the beverage preparation machine 1 provides, and so on. The following steps may be performed in the method.

A. In voice interface 4, such as Alexa or Echo device:

a. recognizes the user's voice, decodes the voice message "Alexa" <X>, and sends <X> as a command the voice file 42 to the voice recognition server 3.

B. Voice recognition backend 3, such as Amazon's Alexa B backend:

a. receives the order voice file 42 with raw audio files and decodes the audio files into written language.

b. If the command is directed to a specific infrastructure for 1 beverage machines, for example, according to the "skill" that is set in the Amazon Alexa device, with the command "Alexa, start Qbo and <Y>", then <Y> it is sent to the Lambda system for Qbo.

C. Voice recognition backend 3, such as Amazon's Lambda system:

a. recognizes, for example, in the command "Alexa, start Qbo and make me an espresso" that the term "espresso" is a fixed variable corresponding to common identifier 34 for the standard Qbo preparation instruction.

b. fetches all variables (common id 34, time details, use case...) and sends them to native backend 2 as backend command 32.

D. Machine backend 2:

a. runs on third party servers.

b. Receives backend command 32: Machine A in use case B now needs variable C. For example, if A is a specific machine ID (meaning that the assignment between interface ID 41 and machine ID 11 was made based on the configuration information in voice recognition backend 3 ), then the use case is "create a drink" and C is ID 44, i.e. individual ID 24 or common ID 34.

c. saves 14 cooking instructions for 24 individual IDs and 34 common IDs.

d. Communicates with all machines, and depending on the use case, sends the identified cooking instruction 14 to the machine as part of the machine command 22.

E. Beverage machine 1:

a. Maintains communication with machine backend 2.

b. For security reasons, beverage machine 1 creates a connection and receives recipes that are directed to it from machine backend 2 using a pull mechanism (push mechanism is not possible).

c. This activates the brewing process depending on the application.

d. If brewing can be activated, then it can send an acknowledgment to the voice recognition backend as a feedback signal 13 . Otherwise, for example, if there is no water, it may transmit an error message as the feedback signal 13 of the machine.

F. Machine backend 2:

a. Receives a feedback signal and sends it to the Lambda system of the voice recognition backend 3 as a feedback signal 23.

G. Backend 3 voice recognition, Lambda system:

a. Receives feedback and processes it according to the use case.

b. Decide what answer to give.

c. Sends a response to the Alexa device backend.

H. Voice recognition backend 3, Alexa device backend:

a. Receives the response and converts it to a voice file.

b. Sends a voice message to the voice interface 4 as a voice file 33 feedback.

I. Voice interface 4, Alexa device:

a. Plays back voice file 33 feedback.

The control unit of the beverage preparation machine 1 contains a memory in which, among other things, preparation instructions or recipes are stored. The preparation instruction contains at least control information that can be converted into instructions for controlling the beverage preparation machine 1 . Such control information, on the one hand, contains information about the sequence, which specifies the sequence of steps to be performed by the machine 1 for the preparation of beverages to create the final product. On the other hand, the control information contains, for example, information about temperature, volume, time, and so on. - which hereinafter are generally also referred to as cooking parameters - and which parameterize the sequence.

The sequence information is, for example, “turn on auxiliary device heating; turn on the brewing unit pump for fifteen seconds; wait at least five seconds after turning off the pump until the heating reaches the required temperature; turn on the milk pump for twelve seconds. The time and temperature referred to in this example may be set by the cooking parameters and/or determined by the controller in accordance with other cooking parameters and measured sensor values.

The cooking instruction may also contain instructions for the user. These instructions are part of the preparation of the entire product and must be followed by the user. To do this, instructions to the user can be displayed using the beverage machine's output device or the user interface of a separate control device (eg smartphone). For example, such instructions to the user are: “Now add ice cubes” or “Please measure out 20 ml of caramel syrup” or “Now add prepared caramel syrup” or “Please stir” or “Please check if the inserted capsule and selected recipe”, etc. The instruction to the user may be accompanied by a visual display of, for example, the end product to be created, the capsule selected or actually inserted, etc.

To prepare the product, the control information or corresponding commands are implemented by the beverage preparation machine 1 in accordance with the preparation instruction, and thereby the preparation sequence is realized. If the cooking instruction contains instructions for the user, they are displayed to the user at the appropriate places in the sequence. The subsequent control information of the preparation sequence is implemented after confirmation by the user through the input unit of the beverage preparation machine or the user interface, said confirmation confirming to the system the execution of the instruction for the user.

The cooking instruction may contain cooking parameters that can be changed by the user, as well as cooking parameters that cannot be changed by the user. The adaptable cooking parameters are, for example, the (volume) fractions of the components in the final product, the total quantity or the temperature of the component. For adaptable cooking parameters, the cooking instruction may contain a default value or a default value that is used if the user does not adapt the parameter.

Claims (33)

1. A method for creating a product using a beverage preparation machine (1), comprising the steps: - using the machine backend (2) for the machine (1) for preparing drinks, a backend command (32) is received, and the backend command (32) contains an identifier (44) for identifying the preparation instruction (14), as well as a configuration identifier; determining from the identifier whether the backend command contains a common identifier or an individual identifier; - determine the preparation instructions (14) by determining, in case the identifier (44) is an individual identifier (24), of the cooking instruction (14), which in one of several user profiles (26) is assigned to an individual identifier (24), while the user profile (26) is determined in accordance with configuration identifier; in case the identifier (44) is the general identifier (34), of the cooking instruction (14) that is assigned to the general identifier (34), the assignment being independent of the user profile (26); - using the machine backend (2), a machine command (22) is generated for the machine (1) for preparing drinks, and the machine command (22) indicates the preparation instruction (14); - using the machine (1) for the preparation of drinks create a product in accordance with the instruction (14) preparation; wherein the method further comprises - using the voice interface (4) and the voice recognition backend (3), voice input is received and, in accordance with the voice input, a backend command (32) for the machine backend (2) for the beverage preparation machine (1) is generated, and the voice the interface (4) only processes individual identifiers (24) that are standardized individual identifiers, and the backend command (32) contains an identifier (44) to identify the cooking instruction (14); moreover, if the identifier is an individual identifier (24), the preparation instruction (14) is indirectly assigned to the individual identifier (24) using the assignment instruction (25) and the personal identifier (27), and the assignment instruction (25) is determined based on the configuration information , containing the assignment of the assignment instruction (25) to the configuration identifier. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the individual identifier (24) is not assigned a cooking instruction (14), the machine backend (2) sends a backend feedback signal (23) to the voice recognition backend (3) to output an error message with using the voice interface (4). 3. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1, 2, in which the machine instruction (22) indicates a cooking instruction (14) in accordance with an individual identifier (24) or a common identifier (34) using a machine instruction (22) containing said cooking instruction (14). 4. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the machine instruction (22) specifies the cooking instruction (14) according to the individual identifier (24) or the common identifier by means of the machine instruction (22) containing the individual identifier (24) or the general identifier (34). 5. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1, 2, in which the configuration information contains the assignment of assignment instruction (25) to the configuration identifier in the form of one or more of the following information: assigning an assignment instruction (25) to a machine identifier (11); assignment of assignment instruction (25) to interface identifier (41); assignment of assignment instruction (25) to user identifier (21). 6. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, in which the transmission of the machine command (22) to the machine (1) for the preparation of drinks is carried out by the pull method with the machine (1) for the preparation of drinks, requesting the machine backend (2), whether the machine command (22) is present, and if there is a machine command (22), its transmission to the beverage preparation machine (1) is activated. 7. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, including additional steps: - with the help of the machine (1) for preparing drinks, a machine feedback signal (13) is generated for the machine backend (2); - using the machine backend (2) generate the corresponding backend feedback signal (23) for the voice interface (4); - using the voice interface (4), a voice message is output in accordance with the backend feedback signal (23). 8. A system for creating a product, containing a machine (1) for preparing drinks and a machine backend (2), and the system is configured to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7. 9. Machine backend (2) for processing data for the beverage machine (1), configured to perform the following steps: - receive a command (32) of the backend, and the command (32) of the backend contains an identifier (44) for identifying the instruction (14) of preparation, as well as a configuration identifier; - determine from the identifier whether the backend command contains a common identifier or an individual identifier; - determine the preparation instructions (14) by determining, if the identifier (44) matches the individual identifier (24), the cooking instruction (14), which is assigned to the individual identifier (24) in the user profile (26), wherein the user profile (26) is determined in accordance with the configuration identifier; in case the identifier (44) is the general identifier (34), of the cooking instruction (14) that is assigned to the general identifier (34), the assignment being independent of the user profile (26); - generate a machine command (22) for the machine (1) for the preparation of drinks, and the machine command (22) indicates the instruction (14) of preparation; moreover, if the identifier is an individual identifier, the preparation instruction (14) is indirectly assigned to the individual identifier (24) using the assignment instruction (25) and the personal identifier (27), and the assignment instruction (25) is determined based on the configuration information containing the assignment assignment instructions (25) to a configuration identifier.

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