INTELLIGENT BLENDING SYSTEM

• US 20160241653A1
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Inventors: Ciepiel, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,931,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2043/0733 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/046 with tools driven from the bottom side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A blending system is provided for contextual blending. The blending system may include an ingredient component and a recipe component. The ingredient component may identify ingredients and determine a quantity of each type of ingredient. The recipe component may create a recipe based on the identified ingredients and the determined quantities of the ingredients. The recipe may include instructions for controlling a blender device.

Claims

1. A blender system comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of the instructions to perform operations, comprising;

determining an identity of an ingredient being added to a set of ingredients for blending; and

generating a blending process based at least in part on the set of ingredients.

2. The blender system of claim 1, wherein generating the blending process further comprises:

generating the blending process based at least in part on a user preference associated with the blending.

3. The blender system of claim 1, wherein generating the blending process further comprises:

selecting operating parameters associated with a blender motor based at least in part on a characteristic the set of ingredients.

4. The blender system of claim 1, wherein generating the blending process further comprises:

generating the blending process based at least in part on a target consistency describing a desired thickness resulting from blending of the set of ingredients.

5. The blender system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data describing a property of the ingredient.

6. The blender system of claim 5, wherein receiving the data describing the property of the ingredient further comprises:

receiving the data as at least one of a cooked status, a temperature state, or a preparation status of the ingredient.

7. The blender system of claim 5, wherein receiving the data describing the property of the ingredient further comprises:

receiving the data as a quantity of the ingredient.

8. The blender system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the quantity of the ingredient.

9. The blender system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise

receiving data describing a user preference associated with at least one of a consistency of a blend, a blend time, dietary thresholds, or a flavor profile.

10. The blender system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a tablet, smartphone, wearable device, networked computer system, central computer system, laptop, or desktop.

11. The blender system of claim 1, wherein generating the blending process further comprises:

generating the blending process based at least in part on a target texture describing a desired coarseness resulting from the blending of the set of ingredients.

12. A method, comprising:

identifying, by a system comprising a hardware processor, an ingredient associated with a set of ingredients to be blended;

analyzing, by the system, the set of ingredients and data describing a blending preference; and

determining, by the system, parameters for operation of a blending device based at least in part on the analyzing of the set of ingredients and of the data describing the blending preference.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, by the system, data instructing the blending device to blend the set of ingredients based at least in part on the parameters.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by the system, data representing a user'"'"'s rating of at least one aspect associated with blending the set of ingredients based on the parameters.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating, by the system, a suggestion for altering the set of ingredients based on at least one of the data describing the blending preference or a user defined threshold associated with a blended product.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

monitoring, by the system, a history associated with a user entity, wherein the history comprises data describe at least one of a blending history, a dietary history, or a fitness activity history, and wherein the user entity is associated with the set of ingredients to be blended.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining, by the system, a suggestion for altering the set of ingredients based at least in part on the history.

18. A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

identifying foodstuff to be added to a blender device;

determining a quantity of the foodstuff; and

generating a recipe based at least in part on the quantity of the foodstuff and a quantity of other foodstuff added to the blender device, wherein the recipe includes at least one instruction associated with operation of the blender device.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the identifying the foodstuff further comprises:

identifying an identity of the foodstuff based on an image associated with the foodstuff.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the determining the quantity of the foodstuff further comprises:

determining a quantity of the foodstuff based on an output of a measurement system.

21. The computer readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

publishing the recipe to a social network.

22. A blender system comprising:

a base;

a container selectively attached with the base;

a blending mechanism positioned in the container;

a memory;

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of at least one instruction to operate at least one of the blending mechanism and the container;

an identification device to identity an ingredient being added to a set of ingredients for blending; and

wherein the process generates a blending process based at least in part on the set of ingredients.

23. A blender system comprising:

a base;

a container selectively attached with the base;

a blending mechanism positioned in the container;

a memory storing at least one recipe;

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of at least one instruction to operate at least one of the blending mechanism and the container; and

a communication device communicatively coupled to the processor to modify the at least one recipe.

24. The blender system of claim 23, wherein the at least one recipe is modified by based upon user feedback.

25. The blender system of claim 23, wherein the processor generates a blending process based at least in part on a set of ingredients of the at least one recipe.

26. The blender system of claim 25, wherein the blending process based at least in part on a user preference associated with blending of the at least one recipe.

27. The blender system of claim 25, wherein the blending process further comprises:

selecting operating parameters associated with a blender motor based at least in part on a characteristic the set of ingredients.

28. The blender system of claim 25, wherein the blending process further comprises:

generating the blending process based at least in part on a target consistency describing a desired thickness resulting from blending of the set of ingredients.

29. The blender system of claim 23, wherein the processor receives data describing a property of at least one of the set of ingredients.

30. The blender system of claim 29, wherein the data comprises data of a cooked status, a temperature state, or a preparation status of the at least one ingredient.

31. The blender system of claim 29, wherein the data comprises a quantity of the at least ingredient.

32. The blender system of claim 31, further comprising a measuring device communicatively coupled with the processor to determine the quantity.

33. The blender system of claim 32, wherein the measuring device includes a scale.

34. The blender system of claim 23, further comprising an ingredient identification device communicatively coupled with the processor configured to identify ingredients added to the container.

35. The blender system of claim 34, wherein the ingredient identification device includes at least one of camera, optical scanning device, spectrometer, multi-wave length scanner, or electronic nose.

36. The blender system of claim 34, wherein the processor modifies the at least one recipe based upon at least one ingredient identified by the ingredient identification device.

37. The blender system of claim 23, wherein the blending mechanism includes a blade assembly.

38. The blender system of claim 23, further comprising:

a second base;

a second container selectively attached with the second base;

a second blending mechanism positioned in the second container;

a second memory storing the at least one recipe;

a second processor, communicatively coupled to the second memory that facilitates execution of at least one instruction to operate at least one of the second blending mechanism and the second container; and

wherein the communication device is communicatively coupled to the second processor to modify the at least one recipe.

39. The blender system of claim 37, wherein the communication device is a networked computer.

40. The blender system of claim 37, wherein the at least one recipe is modified based upon consumer ratings.

41. The blender system of claim 37, wherein the second blending mechanism includes a blade assembly.

42. A blender system comprising:

a base;

a container selectively attached with the base;

a blending mechanism in operative communication with the container;

a memory storing at least one recipe;

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of at least one instruction to operate at least one of the blending mechanism and the container; and

a communication device on the container and communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the communication device provides feedback to the processor regarding the operation of at least one of the blending mechanism and the container.

43. The blender system of claim 42, wherein the communication device includes a near field communication chip embedded into the container or attached with the container.

44. The blender system of claim 43, wherein the near field communication chip includes a sensor detecting or indicating at least one state of material in the container.

50. The blender system of claim 44, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a velocity detector, a viscosity detector, and an opacity detector.

45. The blender system of claim 45, wherein the sensor includes a thermometer reading temperature of contents in the container.

46. The blender system of claim 45, wherein the near field communication chip communicates with the processor to stop operation of the blending mechanism when a predetermined temperature is read by the thermometer.

47. The blender system of claim 45, wherein the near field communication chip communicates with the processor to modify operation of the blending mechanism when a predetermine temperature is read by the thermometer.

48. The blender system of claim 45, wherein the container is powered through the near field communication chip.

49. The blender system of claim 48, further comprising a digital readout indicating a temperature reading from the thermometer.