Advanced food and or drink organization and or handling system

• US 7,292,146 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thu Nguyen
• Inventors: Nguyen, Thu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US11/422,282
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/584, 340/585, 340/586, 340/588, 340/506, 340/3.1, 345/87, 707/10, 707/104.1, 705/22, 705/15, 705/26, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

An advanced food and/or drink organization and/or handling system that greatly facilitates food management and handling to help streamline household operations as relate to foods and related functions and events.

Claims

1. A method of handling and/or organizing food and/or drink, comprising the steps of:

providing a refrigerator and an associated processor in communication with a data entry device;

placing an item of food and/or drink in the refrigerator;

communicating data corresponding to the item via a bar code reader in communication with the associated processor;

automatically monitoring an expected period of usefulness for the item by the associated processor;

remotely submitting meal data to the associated processor corresponding to a recipe to be used in preparing a meal; and

the associated processor identifies whether needed items are present in the refrigerator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of remotely submitting meal data comprises transmitting meal data via email.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of remotely submitting meal data comprises transmitting meal data via telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the remotely submitted meal data further comprises an expected meal time;

and remotely starting an oven to preheat so that the meal can be prepared in accordance with the expected meal time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor automatically contacts a supermarket when one of the items needed for the recipe is missing and places an order with the supermarket.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor automatically contacts a supermarket when one of the items needed for the recipe needs to be replaced and places an order with the supermarket.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, checking the food and/or drink that is contained in the refrigerator via the associated processor to determine whether there are any items of food and/or drink that are nearing the end of their expected period of usefulness which can be incorporated into the meal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, checking the food and/or drink that is contained in a cupboard via the associated processor to determine whether there are any items of food and/or drink that are nearing the end of their expected period of usefulness which can be incorporated into the meal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is entered into the associated processor by an RFID reader that obtains information from at least one RFID tag on the item.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second refrigerator having a second associated processor in communication with the associated processor of the refrigerator to allow coordination therebetween.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of submitting meal data further comprises submitting meal data which includes a quantity of food and/or drink for the meal.

12. A method of handling and/or organizing food and/or drink, comprising the steps of:

providing a refrigerator and an associated processor in communication with a data entry device;

placing an item of food and/or drink in the refrigerator;

entering data corresponding to the item via the data entry device;

entering date data corresponding to the item via the data entry device;

monitoring an expected period of usefulness for the item of food and/or drink by the associated processor;

entering genre data corresponding to a genre of food for which a meal is to be made; and

searching through recipes by the associated processor to identify recipes within the genre of food that include items which are within the refrigerator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of searching through recipes further comprises searching through recipes by the associated processor to identify recipes within the genre of food that include items nearing the end of the expected period of usefulness.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the refrigerator automatically providing an audible or visual alarm when the item is nearing the end of its expected period of usefulness.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the data corresponding to the item is entered via a bar code reader in communication with the associated processor.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing information regarding the food and/or drink in the refrigerator in the associated processor which is disposed on and/or in the refrigerator.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing information regarding the food and/or drink in the refrigerator in the associated processor which is remote from the refrigerator.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the recipes that are reviewed are stored in the associated processor.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the associated processor accesses at least one remote database to identify recipes that may incorporate food and/or drink that is currently stored in the refrigerator.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending emails to a predetermined location when the item is near the expected period of usefulness.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the data is entered into the associated processor by an RFID reader that obtains information from at least one RFID tag on the item.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising a second refrigerator having a second associated processor in communication with the associated processor of the refrigerator to allow coordination therebetween.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising sending at least one email to a predetermined location when the item is near the expected period of usefulness.

24. A method of handling and/or organizing food and/or drink, comprising the steps of:

providing a refrigerator and an associated processor in communication with a data entry device;

placing an item of food and/or drink in the refrigerator;

entering data corresponding to the item via the data entry device; and

accessing at least one remote database by the associated processor to determine an expected period of usefulness for the item; and

monitoring the expected period of usefulness for the item of food and/or drink by the associated processor.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the data is entered into the associated processor by an RFID reader that obtains information from at least one RFID tag on the item.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the associated processor also maintaining an inventory of ingredients that are stored in cupboards.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising a second refrigerator having a second processor in communication with the processor of the refrigerator to allow coordination therebetween.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the data corresponding to the item is entered via a bar code reader in communication with the associated processor.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the associated processor identifies recipes that may incorporate food and/or drink that is currently stored in the refrigerator.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of identifying recipes further comprises searching through recipes by the associated processor to identify recipes within the genre of food that include items nearing the end of the expected period of usefulness.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of identifying recipes further comprises the associated processor accessing at least one remote database to identify recipes.