Multiple recipe merge with feedback

• US 6,789,067 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liebenow, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US09/740,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 705/15, 705/28, 705/30, 705/32, 705/29, 707/3, 707/7
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

An electronic recipe manager capable of merging two or more electronic recipes into a task list that can be executed to prepare a multiple dishes or food items of a complete a meal is described. Electronic recipes for preparing one or more food items are retrieved wherein each recipe includes at least one task. The recipes are then merged by combining the task(s) of each recipe to provide a task list suitable for use in preparing the food items, wherein the tasks are arranged chronologically so that the food items are completed and made ready to serve at substantially the same time. In exemplary embodiments, merging of the recipes may be accomplished by interrogating a database associating each task within the recipes with a time requirement describing the estimated time required for performing the task. When a task is performed, the actual time required for performing the task may be determined and used for updating the time requirement associated with the task.

Claims

1. A method for preparing two or more food items, comprising:

retrieving in a computer system at least a first recipe for preparing a first food item and a second recipe for preparing a second food item, each of the first and second recipes including at least one task; and

merging the first recipe and the second recipe by combining the at least one task of the first recipe and the at least one task of the second recipe to provide a task list suitable for use in preparing the first and second food items; and

identifying a cook performing the task from the plurality of cooks; and

associating an actual time required to complete the task with the identity of the cook for providing a time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook;

wherein the time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook is thereafter used for arranging the task in the task list when that cook is to perform the task and wherein the tasks within the task list are arranged chronologically so that the first food item and the second food item are completed at substantially the same time.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein merging the first recipe and the second recipe includes interrogating a database associating each task with a time requirement describing the estimated time required for performing the task, wherein the time requirement is used for arranging the task in the task list.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, whereupon a task is performed, determining the actual time required for performing the task, whereupon the actual time required for performing the task is used for updating the time requirement associated with the task.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein merging the first recipe and the second recipe includes interrogating a database associating each task with an appliance requirement describing the appliance required for performing the task, wherein the appliance requirement is used for arranging the task in the task list.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein merging the first recipe and the second recipe includes interrogating a database capable of associating each task with a time requirement and an appliance requirement describing respectively the time and appliance required for performing the task, wherein the time requirement and the appliance requirement are used for arranging the task in the task list.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising, whereupon a task is performed, determining the actual time required for performing the task, whereupon the actual time required for performing the task is used for updating the time requirement associated with the task.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

identifying a cook performing the task from a plurality of cooks; and

associating an actual time required to complete the task with the identity of the cook for providing a time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook;

wherein the time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook is thereafter used for arranging the task in the task list when that cook is to perform the task.

8. A system for preparing two or more food items, comprising:

means for retrieving in a computer system at least a first recipe for preparing a first food item and a second recipe for preparing a second food item, each of the first and second recipes including at least one task; and

means for merging the first recipe and the second recipe by combining the at least one task of the first recipe and the at least one t of the second recipe to provide a task list suitable for use in preparing the first and second food items; and

means for determining the actual time required for performing the task; and

means for identifying a cook from the plurality of cooks performing the task; and

means for associating an actual time required to complete the task with the identity of the cook for providing a time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook;

wherein the tasks are arranged chronologically so that the f food item and the second food item are completed at substantially the same time and wherein the means for merging includes means for interrogating a database associating each task with a time requirement describing the estimated time required for performing the task and whereupon the actual time required for performing the task is used for updating the time requirement associated with the task and wherein the time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook is thereafter used for arranging the task in the task list when that cook is to perform the task.

9. A system for preparing two or more food items, comprising:

means for retrieving in a computer system at least a first recipe for preparing a first food item and a second recipe for preparing a second food item, each of the first and second recipes including at least one task; and

means for merging the first recipe and the second recipe by combining the at least one task of the first recipe and the at least one task of the second recipe to provide a task list suitable for use in preparing the first and second food items; and

means for assigning the tasks within list to a plurality of cooks;

means for identifying a cook performing the task; and

means for associating an actual time required to complete the task with the identity of the cook for providing a time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook;

wherein the time requirement for performing the task for the identified cook is thereafter used for arranging the task m the task list when that cook is to perform the task and wherein the tasks are arranged chronologically so that the first food item and the second food item are completed at substantially the same time and wherein the means for merging the first recipe and the second recipe includes means for interrogating a database capable of associating each task with a time requirement and an appliance requirement describing respectively the time and appliances required for performing the task and wherein the time requirement and the appliances requirement are used for arranging the task in the task list and whereupon a task is performed, for determining the actual time required for performing the task, whereupon the actual dine required for performing the task is used for updating the time requirement associated with the task.