AU2020442945B2 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

This refrigerator comprises a communication device capable of communicating with a control device and a mobile terminal, and a first storage device that stores the functional data and setting data of the refrigerator. The communication device transmits the functional data and the setting data to the control device. The control device has a second storage device that pre-stores a shelf life database in which the shelf life of items to be stored is set for each storage environment, receives the functional data and the setting data from the communication device, extracts, on the basis of the functional data and the setting data, the storage environment corresponding to the function and the current setting status of the refrigerator and the shelf life corresponding to the storage environment from the shelf life database as the storage environment for storing the items to be stored that are specified by the user, and transmits the extracted storage environment and shelf life to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives the storage environment and shelf life and displays the storage environment and shelf life on a screen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and more particularly to a

refrigerator that suggests a storage method to a user when the user stores a food or a

food ingredient in the refrigerator.

Background

[0002]

An existing refrigerator determines whether a food for storage has been placed

inside or removed from the refrigerator by capturing, using a camera installed in the

refrigerator, an image of the food and generates an inside-of-refrigerator food list (for

example, see Patent Literature 1).

[0003] Another existing refrigerator specifies the names of food ingredients in the

refrigerator and displays food ingredients present in the refrigerator, a recipe received

from a server, and information about food ingredients that need to be purchased to

make a food in accordance with the recipe (for example, see Patent Literature 2).

Patent Literature

[0004]

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.

2019-070477

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.

2019-095172

[0005] In Patent Literature 1 described above, a food in a refrigerator is specified and is

added to a list; however, which storage compartment the food should be stored in is not

suggested.

[0006] In Patent Literature 2 described above, a recipe is suggested on the basis of

information regarding food ingredients in the refrigerator; however, how the food should be stored is not suggested in a case where the food is left over or a case where the food is a make-ahead meal prepared to be stored.

[0007]

It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations

associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative. Embodiments

provide a refrigerator that can suggest, to a user, a storage environment suited to

storing a storage item in a case where the storage item is to be stored.

Summary

[0008] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a

main body, a plurality of storage compartments provided inside the main body, a

communication device provided in the main body and configured to communicate with a

controller and a mobile terminal, and a first storage device in which function data

includes types of the plurality of storage compartments of the refrigerator and setting

data including currently set temperature for the plurality of respective storage

compartments of the refrigerator and setting information including current storage

compartments of the refrigerator and setting information include current storage modes

for the plurality of respective storage compartments are stored. The controller is

installed outside or inside the main body. The communication device is configured to

transmit the function data and the setting data to the controller. The controller has a

second storage device in which a shelf life database is stored in advance in which one

or more shelf lives of one or more respective storage items are set separately for each

storage environment. The controller is configured to receive the function data and the

setting data from the communication device, to extract, from the shelf life database on

the basis of the function data and the setting data, one of the plurality of storage

compartments suited to storing the one or more storage items and shelf lives set for the

respective ones of the plurality of storage compartments suited to storing the one or

more storage items, the ones of the plurality of storage compartments and the shelf life

being extracted as a storage environment in which a storage item to be stored in the refrigerator is to be stored and that is suited to the types of the plurality of storage compartments of the refrigerator, the currently set temperatures for the plurality of respective compartments, and the setting information including the current storage modes for the plurality of respective storage compartments, and to output the ones of the plurality of storage compartments suited to storing the one or more storage items and the shelf lives set for the respective ones of the plurality of storage compartments suited to storing the one or more storage items as the extracted storage environment.

[0009] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can suggest,

to a user, a storage environment suited to a storage item in a case where the storage

item is to be stored.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating the configuration of the entirety of a

refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a sectional side view illustrating the configuration of the

refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the refrigerator 1

according to Embodiment 1 and individual communication devices.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of processing regarding

presentation of a storage environment for a storage item in the refrigerator 1 according

to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of processing regarding

presentation of a storage expiry date of the storage item in the refrigerator 1 according

to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating storage item names 18 registered in an

external network 11 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a shelf life database 19, which the external

network 11 according to Embodiment 1 has.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of function data 20 regarding

the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating setting data 21 regarding the refrigerator 1

according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of storage suggestion

information 30 displayed by a mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a front view illustrating an example of a panel 13 of the

refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage expiry date list

stored in the external network 11 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an approaching expiry

notification 41 displayed by the mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a number-of-days-stored

notification 42 displayed by the mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of processing performed

by a refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 2.

[Fig. 16] Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a food list 50 of an

external network 11 according to Embodiment 2.

[Fig. 17] Fig. 17 illustrates an example of list data 60 regarding storage items 17

displayed by a mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 2.

[Fig. 18] Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recommended recipe

displayed by the mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 2.

Detailed Description

[0011]

In the following, embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present disclosure

will be described with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited

to the embodiments below, and various changes can be made without departing from

the gist of the present disclosure. Moreover, the present disclosure includes all

A combinations that can be made from configurations illustrated in each of the embodiments below and their modifications. In the individual drawings, items denoted by the same reference signs are identical or substantially identical, and this applies to the entire description of the present specification. Note that, in each diagram, the relationship between the relative sizes, shapes, or other properties of individual components may be different from actual ones.

[0012]

Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating the configuration of the entirety of a refrigerator 1

according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view illustrating the configuration

of the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the

relationship between the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 and individual

communication devices. Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of processing

regarding presentation of a storage environment for a storage item in the refrigerator 1

according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of

processing regarding presentation of a storage expiry date of the storage item in the

refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[0013] As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a main body 1a of the refrigerator 1 is provided

with five compartments as storage compartments classified by purpose, which are a

refrigerator compartment 2, a versatile compartment 3, an ice-making compartment 4, a

freezer compartment 5, and a vegetable compartment 6.

[0014]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a main control unit 7 for controlling the operation of the

refrigerator 1 is provided at the top of the back of the refrigerator 1. Moreover, a first

storage device 7a is connected to the main control unit 7.

[0015] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the refrigerator compartment 2 has a refrigerator

compartment left door 8 and a refrigerator compartment right door 9. A pair of hinges

is provided at the top of the refrigerator 1 and serves as a rotating shaft of the refrigerator compartment left door 8 and a rotating shaft of the refrigerator compartment right door 9. The refrigerator compartment 2 has a plurality of shelves 2a in its inside.

[0016] The versatile compartment 3, the ice-making compartment 4, the freezer

compartment 5, and the vegetable compartment 6 are pull-out drawer type storage

compartments. The versatile compartment 3 has a plurality of storage modes and can

be switched between the storage modes in accordance with a command from a user.

The storage modes include, for example, a normal mode, a supercooling freezing

mode, and a subzero mode. The other storage compartments may also have a

plurality of storage modes.

[0017]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, one of the hinges 10 is provided with a communication

device12. The communication device 12 maybe provided inside the hinge 10 or may

also be fixed to the surface of the hinge 10. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the communication

device 12 can communicate with an external network 11, which is provided outside.

The external network 11 is, for example, a cloud server. The external network 11 has a

second storage device 11a for storing, for example, a shelf life database 19 to be

described later (see Fig. 7). In Embodiment 1, a description will be made, as an

example, by use of the case where the external network 11 operates as a controller that

manages the shelf lives of storage items. However, the main control unit 7 of the

refrigerator 1 may operate as the controller.

[0018] The communication device 12 may be directly connected to the external network

11 or may also be configured to communicate with the external network 11 through a

gateway 15 provided separately from the refrigerator 1 as illustrated in Fig. 3. In the

description above, the communication device 12 is described as being provided in the

hinge 10; however, the communication device 12 is not limited to this case. The

communication device 12 may be installed at any position of the refrigerator 1 or at any

position inside the room where the refrigerator 1 is installed as long as there is a space

where the communication device 12 can be installed.

[0019] As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the refrigerator compartment left door 8 is provided

with a panel 13. Fig. 11 is a front view illustrating an example of the panel 13 of the

refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1. The panel 13 accepts an operation performed by a user and displays a message for the user on the screen. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the panel 13 has buttons that the user operates, and accepts

input settings of temperatures of the individual storage compartments and input settings

of the storage modes of the individual storage compartments. Moreover, as illustrated

in Fig. 11, the panel 13 has a display screen 13b for displaying a message for the user.

The panel 13 is electrically connected to the main control unit 7 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Note that the panel 13 is connected through the hinge 10 to the main control unit 7 by a

wiring line as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus, the panel 13 may be directly connected to the

main control unit 7 or may also be electrically connected to the main control unit 7 via

the communication device 12 in the hinge 10.

[0020]

The main control unit 7 exercises control to adjust the temperature environment

of each storage compartment on the basis of information regarding the set temperature

of the storage compartment and the storage mode of the storage compartment set

through the panel 13.

[0021]

Moreover, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a mobile terminal 14 that the user owns is

connected to the external network 11 and the gateway 15 such that communication is

possible. Thus, the mobile terminal 14 can be connected to the communication device

12 via the external network 11 or the gateway 15. Thus, the mobile terminal 14 can be

connected to the main control unit 7 via the communication device 12. The user can

input a temperature setting of each storage compartment and a storage mode setting of

the storage compartment by operating the mobile terminal 14 instead of the panel 13.

The mobile terminal 14 has a screen for performing screen display. Note that the

mobile terminal 14 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

[0022]

The refrigerator compartment 2 is provided with an interior camera 16 as

illustrated in Fig. 2. The interior camera 16 captures images of the internal space of

the refrigerator compartment 2. The interior camera 16 is attached to, for example, the

refrigerator compartment left door 8 or the refrigerator compartment right door 9.

Specifically, the interior camera 16 is fixed to the face of the refrigerator compartment

left door 8 that faces the storage compartments or the face of the refrigerator

compartment right door 9 that faces the storage compartments. The refrigerator

compartment 2 may be provided with one interior camera 16, or each shelf 2a may be

provided with one interior camera 16. Alternatively, in a case where one interior

camera 16 is provided, the interior camera 16 may be moved from one shelf 2a to

another shelf 2a. In this case, the refrigerator compartment left door 8 or the

refrigerator compartment right door 9 is provided with a guide rail for guiding movement

of the interior camera 16. The guide rail is installed to extend in a vertical direction.

The interior camera 16 is moved along the guide rail in the up-down directions by a

driving device such as a motor. As a result, one interior camera 16 can capture

images of the internal spaces defined by the individual shelves 2a of the refrigerator

compartment 2. In a state where the refrigerator compartment left door 8 or the

refrigerator compartment right door 9 of the refrigerator 1 is closed, the interior camera

16 is present in the refrigerator compartment 2. Thus, when the refrigerator

compartment left door 8 or the refrigerator compartment right door 9 of the refrigerator 1

is opened, water condensation may occur on the lens of the interior camera 16. Thus, the interior camera 16 may be provided with a lens heater as needed.

[0023]

The versatile compartment 3, the ice-making compartment 4, the freezer

compartment 5, and the vegetable compartment 6 may also be each provided with an

interior camera 16.

[0024]

Moreover, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the refrigerator compartment 2 is provided with

a best before date detection sensor 25 as needed. The best before date detection

sensor 25 is, for example, a gas sensor, a temperature sensor, or a weight sensor.

A

The best before date detection sensor 25 estimates the best before dates of storage

items 17 stored in the refrigerator compartment 2. The refrigerator compartment 2 may be provided with one best before date detection sensor 25, or each shelf 2a may be

provided with one best before date detection sensor 25.

[0025]

The versatile compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 6 may also be each

provided with a best before date detection sensor 25.

[0026]

The following describes processing in a method for presenting, to a user, a

storage environment for a storage item. Fig. 4 illustrates a flow chart indicating the

procedure of processing in the method. Fig. 4 illustrates the procedure of processing

from when an image of a storage item 17 is captured to when the image is presented to

a user.

[0027]

As illustrated in Fig. 4, in step S101, the user captures, using the mobile terminal

14, an image of a storage item 17 to be stored in the refrigerator 1 and transmits the

captured image to the external network 11. The storage item 17 is, for example, a food

ingredient purchased by the user or a food prepared by the user. By receiving the

captured image of the storage item 17 from the mobile terminal 14, the external network

11 recognizes that the storage item 17 is a storage item designated by the user.

[0028]

An image of the storage item 17 may be captured in step S102 by the interior

camera 16 installed in the refrigerator 1. Step S102 is performed as needed. In a

case where step S102 is performed, processing in step S101 may or may not be

performed. Step S102 is performed, for example, at the timing at which the user stores

the storage item 17 into the refrigerator 1. The communication device 12 of the

refrigerator 1 transmits the image captured by the interior camera 16 to the external

network 11. By receiving the captured image of the storage item 17 from the

communication device 12 of the refrigerator 1, the external network 11 recognizes that

the storage item 17 is a storage item designated by the user. An image may be

Q automatically captured by the interior camera 16 when the refrigerator compartment left door 8 or the refrigerator compartment right door 9 is opened and closed, or an image may also be captured by the user operating the interior camera 16.

[0029]

In this manner, an image of the storage item 17 may be captured by the interior

camera 16 serving as a first camera or by a built-in camera included in the mobile

terminal 14 and serving as a second camera.

[0030] Next, in step S103, the external network 11 receives the captured image and

automatically recognizes a storage item name 18 from the captured image. The

storage item name 18 is a food name or a food ingredient name of the storage item 17.

The recognition is performed through, for example, pattern recognition processing. In

step S104, the recognized storage item name 18 is stored in the second storage device

11a of the external network 11 and is thus registered in the external network 11. Fig. 6

is a diagram illustrating storage item names 18 registered in the external network 11

according to Embodiment 1.

[0031] Note that just in case where the storage item name 18 of the storage item 17

cannot be automatically recognized by the external network 11, the user is allowed to

manually input the storage item name 18 instep S105. Instep S105, the user inputs

the storage item name 18 of the storage item 17 into the mobile terminal 14 and

transmits it to the external network 11. As a result, the storage item name 18 is

registered in the external network 11. Step S105 is performed as needed.

Alternatively, to prompt the user to perform step S105, the external network 11 may

transmit a message saying "the name of the storage item could not be recognized" to

the mobile terminal 14.

[0032] The shelf life database 19 is stored in the second storage device 11a of the

external network 11. Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the shelf life database 19, which

the external network 11 according to Embodiment 1 has. In the shelf life database 19,

in for example, storage recommendation data such as a recommended storage environment and a shelf life is stored for each storage item name 18. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the shelf life database 19 stores, for each storage item name 18, a plurality of storage environments suited to storing the storage item 17 and furthermore stores, for each storage environment, the shelf life of the storage item 17. For example, in a case where the storage item name 18 is "pork belly", the stored shelf life is "2 days" when the storage environment is the "refrigerator compartment" and is "30 days" when the storage environment is the "freezer compartment". These shelf lives are not best before dates written on the product and are, for example, use-by dates or expiration dates usually recommended by government and municipal offices.

[0033] The description returns to Fig. 4. In step S106, the external network 11 acquires

storage recommendation data regarding the storage item name 18 registered in step

S104 from the shelf life database 19.

[0034] In step S107, the external network 11 acquires function data 20 indicating the

functions of the refrigerator 1 from the main control unit 7 of the refrigerator 1 via the

communication device 12. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the function

data 20 regarding the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1. The function data 20

is stored in the first storage device 7a of the main control unit 7. In the function data

, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the types of storage compartments of the refrigerator 1 and

the storage modes of the refrigerator 1 are stored. In step S107, the external network

11 acquires, as the function data 20, for example, data indicating the presence or

absence of the supercooling freezing mode of the versatile compartment 3.

[0035] In step S108, the external network 11 acquires setting data 21 indicating a current

setting state of the refrigerator 1 from the main control unit 7 of the refrigerator 1 via the

communication device 12. Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the setting data 21 regarding

the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1. The setting data 21 is stored in the first

storage device 7a of the main control unit 7. In the setting data 21, setting information and other information are stored as illustrated in Fig. 9. The setting information includes set temperatures for the individual storage compartments of the refrigerator 1 and the storage modes for the individual storage compartments. InstepS108,the external network 11 acquires, as the setting data 21, for example, setting information that the temperature setting of the freezer compartment 5 is "low" and other information.

[0036] In step S110, the external network 11 checks the storage recommendation data,

the function data 20, and the setting data 21 acquired in steps S106 to S108 against

each other. That is, the external network 11 extracts, from the storage

recommendation data acquired from the shelf life database 19, a storage environment

for the storage item 17 suited to the functions of the refrigerator 1 and the current

setting state of the refrigerator 1. Moreover, the external network 11 extracts a shelf

life set for the extracted storage environment from the shelf life database 19.

[0037]

In step S111, the external network 11 presents, as the storage environment

extracted in step S110, a storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 suited to storing the

storage item 17. Moreover, the external network 11 may present, as the storage

environment, the set temperature of the storage compartment suited to storing the

storage item 17. Furthermore, the external network 11 may present, as the storage

environment, the storage mode of the storage compartment suited to storing the storage

item 17. In the following, these pieces of presented information will be referred to as

storage suggestion information 30 (see Fig. 10). The storage suggestion information

includes at least one out of the storage compartment, the set temperature, and the

storage mode.

[0038] As a method for presenting the storage suggestion information 30 to the user in

step S111, for example, the storage suggestion information 30 is displayed on the

display screen of the mobile terminal 14 communicating with the external network 11 or

on the panel 13 of the refrigerator 1 via the main control unit 7.

[0039]

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage suggestion information

displayed by the mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 1. As illustrated in

Fig. 10, the storage item name 18 and the storage suggestion information 30 are

displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 14.

[0040]

In this manner, by registering purchased food ingredients or prepared foods in the

external network 11, the user can create and manage a list of the food ingredients or the

foods. Moreover, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the user can check the storage item name

18 and the storage suggestion information 30 on the display screen of the mobile

terminal 14. Thus, the user can be informed of storage methods suited to the food

ingredients and foods and the refrigerator 1 of the user.

[0041]

Fig. 11 illustrates an example of the storage suggestion information 30 displayed

on the panel 13 of the refrigerator 1. As illustrated in Fig. 11, the storage item name 18

and the storage suggestion information 30 are displayed on the display screen 13b of

the panel 13. Note that the display screen 13b does not always have to be displayed

on the panel 13 and may be displayed on the panel 13 when the user touches a main

switch 13a.

[0042]

Regarding the process in Fig. 4, a description will be made by use of a specific

example. For example, the user captures an image of some pork belly purchased at a

supermarket as a storage item 17 using the mobile terminal 14 and registers a storage

item name 18 in the external network 11. The external network 11 acquires storage

recommendation data regarding the registered storage item name 18 from the shelf life

database 19. That is, as illustrated in Fig. 7, pieces of data indicating that pork belly

can be stored for 2 days in the refrigerator compartment, 6 days in a chilling

compartment, 14 days in the versatile compartment 3 with the supercooling freezing

mode, and 30 days in the freezer compartment is stored in the shelf life database 19.

Thus, the external network 11 acquires these pieces of data as storage

recommendation data. The external network 11 checks the acquired storage recommendation data against the function data 20 and the setting data 21 regarding the refrigerator 1. Specifically, the external network 11 comprehends, on the basis of the function data 20 regarding the refrigerator 1, that the refrigerator 1 used by the user is provided with the versatile compartment 3, the versatile compartment 3 can be set to the supercooling freezing mode, and a chilling compartment is not provided. Moreover, the external network 11 comprehends, on the basis of the setting data 21 regarding the refrigerator 1, that the versatile compartment 3 of the refrigerator 1 used by the user is currently set to the supercooling freezing mode. The external network 11 first excludes, on the basis of these pieces of comprehended information, information regarding the chilling compartment from the storage recommendation data acquired in advance. Moreover, the external network 11 compares the freezer compartment 5 with the versatile compartment 3 set to the supercooling freezing mode and prioritizes and chooses the versatile compartment 3, which can keep storage items fresher than can the freezer compartment 5. Here, the external network 11 is defined to prestore priority levels of the individual storage compartments in the second storage device 11a. In this manner, the external network 11 transmits, to the mobile terminal 14 of the user, storage suggestion information 30 (see Fig. 10) indicating that pork belly can be stored for 2 days in the refrigerator compartment 2 but can be stored for 14 days in the versatile compartment 3 set to the supercooling freezing mode. Moreover, without using the priority levels, the external network 11 may transmit, as the storage suggestion information 30, all the candidates that the user can select from, that is, all of the refrigerator compartment 2, the versatile compartment 3, and the freezer compartment

5.

[0043]

Through the storage suggestion information 30, the user can easily know which

storage compartment, which set temperature, and which storage mode are suited to

storing the storage item 17. Moreover, in recent years, the refrigerator 1 has the

supercooling freezing mode, the subzero mode, and other mode, and the functions of

the refrigerator 1 have been more and more complicated each year. The user can

easily know, from the storage suggestion information 30, the functions of the refrigerator

1A

1 that have been more and more complicated as above without referring to its manual

while actually using the refrigerator 1, that is, while storing the storage item 17 into the

refrigerator 1.

[0044]

Next, Fig. 5 illustrates a flow chart indicating the procedure of processing in a

method for presenting, to a user, a storage expiry date of a storage item in the

refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 5 illustrates the procedure of

processing from when a storage item 17 is stored to when the number of days of the

shelf life of the storage item 17 is presented to the user. Moreover, Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage expiry date list 40 stored in the external

network 11 according to Embodiment 1.

[0045]

As illustrated in Fig. 5, in step S201, the user stores the storage item 17 into the

refrigerator 1.

[0046]

In step S202, the refrigerator 1 specifies a storage location of the storage item 17

in the refrigerator 1 by causing the interior camera 16 to capture an image of the

storage item 17. The refrigerator 1 transmits the specified storage location of the

storage item 17 to the external network 11.

[0047]

In step S203, the external network 11 registers the specified storage location,

which is denoted by 22, of the storage item 17 in the storage expiry date list 40

illustrated in Fig. 12. As a result, which storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 the

storage item 17 has been stored in can be automatically registered. The storage

expiry date list 40 is stored in the second storage device 11a.

[0048]

Just in case where the storage location 22 of the storage item 17 cannot be

specified using the interior camera 16, the user is allowed to manually input the storage

location 22 of the storage item 17 in step S204. Note that step S204 is performed as

needed. Alternatively, to prompt the user to perform step S204, the refrigerator 1 may transmit a message saying "storage location could not be specified" to the mobile terminal 14. In step S204, the user inputs the storage location 22 of the storage item

17 into the mobile terminal 14 and transmits it to the external network 11. As a result, the storage location 22 of the storage item 17 is registered in the storage expiry date list

of the external network 11.

[0049]

In step S205, the external network 11 determines whether the storage item name

18 of the storage item 17 has already been registered in the storage expiry date list 40.

In a case where the storage item name 18 has already been registered, the process

proceeds to step S206. In a case where the storage item name 18 has not yet been

registered, processing in steps S103 to S105 will be performed. Steps S103 to S105

have already been described using Fig. 4, and thus their description will be omitted

here.

[0050] In step S206, the external network 11 registers the date at which the storage item

17 is stored into the refrigerator 1 as a storage date 23 in the storage expiry date list 40.

[0051] In step S207, the external network 11 counts the number of elapsed days 24 for

the storage item 17 stored in the refrigerator 1 and registers the number of elapsed

days 24 in the storage expiry date list 40. The number of elapsed days 24 is updated

every day at the same time of day, for example, at midnight. Note that the amount of

time elapsed may be registered instead of the number of elapsed days 24.

[0052] In step S208, the external network 11 acquires a shelf life regarding the

registered storage item name 18 from the shelf life database 19.

[0053] In step S209, the external network 11 determines whether a storage expiry date

26 of the storage item 17 is within a short time by comparing the shelf life acquired in

step S208 with the number of elapsed days 24 in the storage expiry date list 40. For

example, a case will be discussed where some pork belly is stored in the versatile compartment 3, and the number of elapsed days indicates 4 days. In this case, for the pork belly stored in the versatile compartment, a shelf life of 14 days is stored in the shelf life database 19. Thus, the external network 11 compares the number of elapsed days of 4 days with the shelf life of 14 days and determines that the storage expiry date

26 is not within a short time. In contrast, in a case where the number of elapsed days indicates 13 days, the external network 11 compares the number of elapsed days of 13

days with the shelf life of 14 days and determines that the storage expiry date 26 is

within a short time. That is, the external network 11 determines that the storage expiry

date 26 is within a short time in a case where the difference between the number of

elapsed days and the shelf life is less than or equal to a preset threshold, and the

process proceeds to step S210. Otherwise, the external network 11 determines that

the storage expiry date 26 is not within a short time, and the process proceeds to step

S211.

[0054] Note that, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the storage expiry date 26 may be calculated

on the basis of the number of elapsed days 24 and the shelf life database 19 and

registered in the storage expiry date list 40 by the external network 11; however, the

storage expiry date 26 does not have to be registered in particular. In a case where

the storage expiry date 26 is not registered, the external network 11 calculates the

storage expiry date 26 on an as-needed basis.

[0055] In step S210, the external network 11 transmits an approaching expiry notification

41 to the mobile terminal 14 to report that the storage expiry date 26 of the storage item

17 is approaching. Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the approaching

expiry notification 41 displayed by the mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 13, the storage item name 18 and the approaching expiry

notification 41 are displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 14.

[0056] In step S211, the external network 11 regularly presents, at predetermined

intervals, a number-of-days-stored notification 42 to the user. The number-of-days stored notification 42 reports the numbers of elapsed days 24 included in the storage expiry date list 40. To present the number-of-days-stored notification 42, the number of-days-stored notification 42 is displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal

14 or on the display screen 13b of the panel 13 of the refrigerator 1. Intervals at which

the number-of-days-stored notification 42 is presented can be set by the user. Fig. 14

is a diagram illustrating an example of the number-of-days-stored notification 42

displayed by the mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 1. As illustrated in Fig.

14, the storage item names 18 and the number-of-days-stored notification 42 are

displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 14. A method for displaying the

number-of-days-stored notification 42 on the panel 13 is only required to be performed

as in the case of the approaching expiry notification 41 illustrated in Fig. 13 is displayed,

and thus its description will be omitted here.

[0057] Note that, in step S209, the external network 11 presents the approaching expiry

notification 41 to the user in a case where the storage expiry date 26 of the storage item

17 is approaching; however, what is presented is not limited to this. For example, in a

case where the storage expiry date 26 of the storage item 17 is over, the external

network 11 may present an expiry notification to the user as in the case of the

approaching expiry notification 41. Note that a method for presenting an expiry

notification to the user is substantially the same as the above-described method.

Moreover, the content of the expiry notification is, for example, "Storage item name:

pork belly Storage expiry date is over". Both of or one out of the approaching expiry

notification 41 and the expiry notification may be presented to the user.

[0058] In a case where the refrigerator 1 is provided with the best before date detection

sensor 25, processing in step S212 of Fig. 5 may be performed. The best before date

detection sensor 25 is, for example, a gas sensor, a temperature sensor, or a weight

sensor. The best before date detection sensor 25 estimates the storage expiry date of

the storage item 17 from a detection result. In step S212, in a case where the storage

expiry date of the storage item 17 is estimated from a detection result, the best before

1IA date detection sensor 25 transmits the estimated storage expiry date to the main control unit 7. The main control unit 7 transmits the estimated storage expiry date to the external network 11 via the communication device 12. The external network 11 determines, in step S209, whether the storage expiry date 26 of the storage item 17 is approaching on the basis of the received estimated storage expiry date and the number of elapsed days 24. Processing in steps S210 and S211 has already been described above, and thus their description will be omitted here.

[0059] In this manner, the user can be regularly informed of the use-by date or the

expiration date of the stored storage item 17 through the presented approaching expiry

notification 41, and thus the risk of forgetting the stored storage item and letting the

stored storage item spoil can be reduced.

[0060] As described above, in Embodiment 1, the user can be informed of a method

suited to storing a food ingredient or a food through the process in Fig. 4. Moreover, the risk of wasting the food ingredient or the food can be reduced through the process in

Fig. 5, and thus the user can relieve their stress and resolve their dissatisfaction

regarding storage of food in the refrigerator.

[0061] In the following, the hardware configurations of the external network 11 and the

main control unit 7 and the hardware configurations of the first storage device 7a and

the second storage device 11a will be described. The external network 11 and the

main control unit 7 include controllers. Functions of the external network 11 and the

main control unit 7 are implemented by processing circuits. The processing circuits

include dedicated hardware devices or processors. Examples of the dedicated

hardware devices include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field

programmable gate array (FPGA). The processors execute programs stored in a

memory or memories. Both of the first storage device 7a and the second storage

device 11a include memories. Examples of the memories include a nonvolatile or

volatile semiconductor memory such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, or an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM) or a disk or disc such as a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, or an optical disc.

[0062]

Note that, as described above, processing performed by the external network 11

described in Embodiment 1 may be performed by the main control unit 7 of the

refrigerator 1. In this case, all the data stored in the second storage device 11a is

stored in the first storage device 7a.

[0063] Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 2, the user can register a photograph, a rating, and a recipe of a

food prepared by the user in the external network 11. Fig. 15 is a flow chart illustrating

the procedure of processing performed by a refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 2.

[0064] As illustrated in Fig. 15, in step S101, the user captures, using the mobile

terminal 14, an image of a food prepared by the user as a storage item 17 to be stored

in the refrigerator 1, and transmits a photograph of the food to the external network 11.

[0065] Processing in steps S102, S103, and S105 is the same as that in steps S102,

S103, and S105 in Fig. 4 described in Embodiment 1, and thus its description will be

omitted here.

[0066] In Embodiment 2, in step S301, the external network 11 stores a storage item

name 18 indicating the name of the food and a captured image 51 of the food into a

food list 50. Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the food list 50 of the

external network 11 according to Embodiment 2. In the food list 50, as illustrated in

Fig. 16, captured images 51 of storage items 17, image capturing date data 52

indicating the image capturing dates of the storage items 17, rating data 53, and recipe

data 54 are registered for the respective storage item names 18. The food list 50 is

stored in the second storage device 11a of the external network 11. In this case, the

user further stores recipe data 54 into the food list 50 via the mobile terminal 14. Note

gn that in a case where the recipe data 54 has already been stored in the second storage device 11a of the external network 11, the user does not have to perform registration in step S301, in particular.

[0067] In step S302, the user inputs a rating of the storage item 17 into the mobile

terminal 14. The mobile terminal 14 transmits input rating data 53 to the external

network 11. In step S303, the external network 11 registers the rating data 53 in the

food list 50. The rating data 53 includes, for example, rank information. In this case, for example, when ranking is performed on a scale of five levels, five stars is the highest

rank as illustrated in Fig. 18, the rated rank is reduced by one as the number of stars is

reduced by one, and one star is the lowest rank. Note that the rating data 53 is not

limited to rank information and may be input as a text message such as a review.

[0068] In step S304, the user inputs, into the mobile terminal 14, a request to browse the

storage items 17 registered in the food list 50. The mobile terminal 14 transmits the

input request to the external network 11. In step S305, in response to the request, the

external network 11 transmits the list data 60 regarding the storage items 17 registered

in the food list 50 to the mobile terminal 14. In step S312, the mobile terminal 14

displays the list data 60 regarding the storage items 17 on the screen. Fig. 17

illustrates an example of the list data 60 regarding the storage items 17 displayed by the

mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 2. In this manner, the mobile terminal 14

displays the captured images of the foods displayed separately for each image

capturing date in a calendar format on the basis of the list data 60 regarding the storage

items 17. Note that the list data 60 is stored in the second storage device 11a of the

external network 11.

[0069] In step S306, the user selects, using the mobile terminal 14, one food from the list

data 60. The mobile terminal 14 transmits information of the selected food to the

external network 11. In step S307, the external network 11 acquires the storage expiry

date list 40 illustrated in Fig. 12. In step S308, the external network 11 checks the storage expiry date list 40 and the recipe data 54 against each other, determines food ingredients that need to be purchased for the recipe of the selected food, and transmits information of the food ingredients to the mobile terminal 14. In step S313, the mobile terminal 14 displays, on the screen, the food ingredients that need to be purchased.

[0070]

In step S309, the user inputs a request for a recommended recipe into the mobile

terminal 14. The mobile terminal 14 transmits the request to the external network 11.

In step S310, the external network 11 acquires the storage expiry date list 40 illustrated

in Fig. 12. In step S311, the external network 11 refers to the storage expiry date list

and searches for a recommended recipe using the stored storage items 17. The

recipe data 54 of the food list 50 or the recipes prestored in the second storage device

11a of the external network 11 are searched for the recommended recipe. In a case

where the recipe data 54 of the food list 50 is searched for the recommended recipe,

the external network 11 refers to the rating data 53 and extracts a highly rated recipe.

Note that the number of recipes obtained through the search may be one or two or

more. The external network 11 transmits the recommended recipe obtained through

the search to the mobile terminal 14. In step S314, the mobile terminal 14 displays the

recommended recipe on the screen. Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of the

recommended recipe displayed by the mobile terminal 14 according to Embodiment 2.

As illustrated in Fig. 18, in the recommended recipe, for example, the storage item

name 18 as the name of the food, the captured image 51 of the food, the recipe data 54

regarding the food, and the rating data 53 regarding the food are displayed.

[0071]

The other configurations and operations are the same as those of Embodiment 1,

and thus their description will be omitted here.

[0072]

As described above, since the configurations in Embodiment 2 are substantially

the same as those in Embodiment 1, substantially the same effects as those for

Embodiment 1 are obtained.

[0073]

Moreover, in Embodiment 2, photographs of foods prepared by the user, ratings,

recipes, and other information can be registered in the external network 11. Thus, the user can receive the list data 60 regarding registered foods from the external network 11

and cause the mobile terminal 14 to display the list data 60. Moreover, the user can

freely select a food from among the foods prepared in the past by browsing the list data

regarding the foods displayed by the mobile terminal 14. Moreover, since the

external network 11 determines food ingredients that need to be purchased for

preparing the food and informs the user of the food ingredients, the user can easily

know what to purchase.

[0074]

Moreover, by browsing the list data 60 regarding the foods, the user can easily

recall leftovers stored in the refrigerator 1. Moreover, through the process in Fig. 5, the

user can easily check the storage expiry dates of the leftovers. Moreover, even in a

case where the user stores a leftover into the refrigerator 1, the user can easily know

which storage compartment and which storage mode are suited to storing the leftover

through the process in Fig. 4.

[0074a]

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context

requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or

group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of

integers or steps.

[0074b]

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived

from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an

acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or

information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general

knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Reference Signs List

[0075]

1: refrigerator, 1a: main body, 2: refrigerator compartment, 2a: shelf, 3: versatile

compartment, 4: ice-making compartment, 5: freezer compartment, 6: vegetable

compartment, 7: main control unit, 7a: first storage device, 8: refrigerator compartment

left door, 9: refrigerator compartment right door, 10: hinge, 11: external network, 11a:

second storage device, 12: communication device, 13: panel, 13a: main switch, 13b:

display screen, 14: mobile terminal, 15: gateway, 16: interior camera, 17: storage item,

18: storage item name, 19: shelf life database, 20: function data, 21: setting data, 22:

storage location, 23: storage date, 24: number of elapsed days, 25: best before date

detection sensor, 26: storage expiry date, 30: storage suggestion information, 40:

storage expiry date list, 41: approaching expiry notification, 42: number-of-days-stored

notification, 50: food list, 51: captured image, 53: rating data, 54: recipe data, 60: list

data

9A

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION AREAS FOLLOWS:

[Claim 1] A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a plurality of storage compartments provided inside the main body;

a communication device provided in the main body and configured to

communicate with a controller and a mobile terminal; and

a first storage device in which function data including types of the plurality of

storage compartments of the refrigerator and setting data including currently set

temperatures for the plurality of respective storage compartments of the refrigerator and

setting information including current storage modes for the plurality of respective

storage compartments are stored,

the controller being installed outside or inside the main body,

the communication device being configured to transmit the function data and the

setting data to the controller,

the controller having a second storage device in which a shelf life database is

stored in advance in which one or more shelf lives of one or more respective storage

items are set separately for each storage environment,

the controller being configured

to receive the function data and the setting data from the communication device,

to extract, from the shelf life database on the basis of the function data and the

setting data, ones of the plurality of storage compartments suited to storing the one or

more storage items and shelf lives set for the respective ones of the plurality of storage

compartments suited to storing the one or more storage items, the ones of the plurality

of storage compartments and the shelf lives being extracted as a storage environment

in which a storage item to be stored in the refrigerator is to be stored and that is suited

to the types of the plurality of storage compartments of the refrigerator, the currently set

temperatures for the plurality of respective storage compartments, and the setting

information including the current storage modes for the plurality of respective storage

compartments, and

Claims (21)

1. to output the ones of the plurality of storage compartments suited to storing the one or more storage items and the shelf lives set for the respective ones of the plurality

   of storage compartments suited to storing the one or more storage items as the

   extracted storage environment.
2. [Claim 2]

   The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein

   the controller is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal,

   the controller is configured to transmit the extracted storage environment and the

   extracted shelf life to the mobile terminal, and

   the mobile terminal is configured to receive the storage environment and the shelf

   life and to display the storage environment and the shelf life on a screen of the mobile

   terminal.
3. [Claim 3]

   The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, comprising:

   a door that is attached to the main body and that is for opening and closing

   one of the plurality of storage compartments; and

   a first camera that is installed at a face of the door that faces the one of the

   plurality of storage compartments and that is configured to capture an image of the

   storage item, wherein

   in the one of the plurality of storage compartments, the storage item is stored,

   the communication device is configured to transmit a captured image of the

   storage item captured by the first camera to the controller, and

   the controller is configured to recognize, by receiving the captured image of the

   storage item captured by the first camera, the storage item included in the captured

   image as the storage item to be stored in the refrigerator.
4. [Claim 4]

   The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

   the mobile terminal has a second camera configured to capture an image of the

   storage item, and the controller is configured to recognize, by receiving a captured image of the storage item captured by the second camera from the mobile terminal, the storage item included in the captured image as the storage item to be stored in the refrigerator.
5. [Claim 5]

   The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

   the controller is configured

   to store a storage date of the storage item,

   to count the number of elapsed days or an amount of elapsed time from the

   storage date, and

   to regularly transmit the number of elapsed days or the amount of elapsed time to

   the mobile terminal, and

   the mobile terminal is configured to receive the number of elapsed days or the

   amount of elapsed time and to display the number of elapsed days or the amount of

   elapsed time on a screen of the mobile terminal.
6. [Claim 6]

   The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein

   the controller is configured

   to store, in the second storage device, a storage location of the storage item in

   the refrigerator,

   to extract, from the shelf life database, a shelf life set for a storage environment of

   the storage location,

   to determine, on the basis of the number of elapsed days or the amount of

   elapsed time and the shelf life, whether a difference between the number of elapsed

   days or the amount of elapsed time and the shelf life is less than or equal to a preset

   threshold, and

   to transmit an approaching expiry notification to the mobile terminal in a case

   where the difference is less than or equal to the preset threshold, and

   the mobile terminal is configured to receive the approaching expiry notification

   and to display the approaching expiry notification on the screen of the mobile terminal.
7. [Claim 7]

   The refrigerator of claim 5 or 6, wherein

   the controller is configured

   to store, in the second storage device, a storage location of the storage item in

   the refrigerator,

   to extract, from the shelf life database, a shelf life set for a storage environment of

   the storage location,

   to determine, on the basis of the number of elapsed days or the amount of

   elapsed time and the shelf life, whether a storage expiry date of the storage item is over,

   and

   to transmit an expiry notification to the mobile terminal in a case where the

   storage expiry date of the storage item is over, and

   the mobile terminal is configured to receive the expiry notification and to display

   the expiry notification on the screen of the mobile terminal.
8. [Claim 8]

   The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising:

   a door that is attached to the main body and that is for opening and closing

   one of the plurality of storage compartments; and

   a panel that is installed in the door or the main body and that is configured to

   perform screen display, wherein

   in the one of the plurality of storage compartments, the storage item is stored,

   the controller is configured to transmit the extracted storage environment and the

   extracted shelf life to the communication device of the refrigerator,

   the communication device of the refrigerator is configured to receive the storage

   environment and the shelf life, and

   the panel of the refrigerator is configured to display, on a screen of the panel, the

   storage environment and the shelf life received by the communication device.
9. [Claim 9]

   The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein

   the controller is configured

   to store a storage date of the storage item,

   9A to count the number of elapsed days or an amount of elapsed time from the storage date, and to regularly transmit the number of elapsed days or the amount of elapsed time to the communication device of the refrigerator, the communication device of the refrigerator is configured to receive the number of elapsed days or the amount of elapsed time, and the panel of the refrigerator is configured to display, on the screen of the panel, the number of elapsed days or the amount of elapsed time received by the communication device.
10. [Claim 10]

    The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein

    the controller is configured

    to store, in the second storage device, a storage location of the storage item in

    the refrigerator,

    to extract, from the shelf life database, a shelf life set for a storage environment of

    the storage location,

    to determine, on the basis of the number of elapsed days or the amount of

    elapsed time and the shelf life, whether a difference between the number of elapsed

    days or the amount of elapsed time and the shelf life is less than or equal to a preset

    threshold, and

    to transmit an approaching expiry notification to the communication device of the

    refrigerator in a case where the difference is less than or equal to the preset threshold,

    the communication device of the refrigerator is configured to receive the

    approaching expiry notification, and

    the panel of the refrigerator is configured to display, on the screen of the panel,

    the approaching expiry notification received by the communication device.
11. [Claim 11]

    The refrigerator of claim 9 or 10, wherein

    the controller is configured to store, in the second storage device, a storage location of the storage item in the refrigerator, to extract, from the shelf life database, a shelf life set for a storage environment of the storage location, to determine, on the basis of the number of elapsed days or the amount of elapsed time and the shelf life, whether a storage expiry date of the storage item is over, and to transmit an expiry notification to the communication device of the refrigerator in a case where the storage expiry date of the storage item is over, the communication device of the refrigerator is configured to receive the expiry notification, and the panel of the refrigerator is configured to display, on the screen of the panel, the expiry notification received by the communication device.
12. [Claim 12]

    The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein

    the one or more storage items are foods, and

    the controller is configured

    to store captured images of the foods and image capturing dates of the foods,

    and

    to output list data regarding the foods when a browsing request is received, the

    list data displaying the captured images of the foods displayed separately for each

    image capturing date.
13. [Claim 13]

    The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein

    the controller is configured to transmit the list data regarding the foods to the

    mobile terminal when receiving the browsing request from the mobile terminal, the list

    data displaying the captured images of the foods displayed separately for each image

    capturing date, and the mobile terminal is configured to receive the list data regarding the foods and to display, on a screen of the mobile terminal, the captured images of the foods displayed separately for each image capturing date in a calendar format.
14. [Claim 14]

    The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the controller comprises an

    external network provided outside the refrigerator.
15. [Claim 15]

    The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the external network comprises a cloud

    server.
16. [Claim 16]

    The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the controller comprises a

    main control unit provided inside the refrigerator.
17. [Claim 17]

    The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first camera is configured to be moved

    along a guide rail by a driving device.
18. [Claim 18]

    The refrigerator of claim 3 or 17, wherein

    one of the plurality of storage compartments has a plurality of shelves in an inside

    of the one of the plurality of storage compartments, and

    the first camera is configured to be moved between the plurality of shelves.
19. [Claim 19]

    The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein

    the one or more storage items are foods, and

    the second storage device is configured to store a food list in which a storage

    item name indicating a name of one of the foods is stored,

    in the food list, at least one of a captured image of the one of the foods, an image

    capturing date data indicating an image capturing date of the captured image, rating

    data for the one of the foods, and recipe data for the one of the foods is registered for

    each storage item name.
20. [Claim 20]

    The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the second storage device is configured to

    store, in the food list, the recipe data for the one of the foods transmitted from the

    mobile terminal.
21. [Claim 21] The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the second storage device is configured to

    store, in the food list, the rating data for the one of the foods transmitted from the mobile

    terminal.