1. Inventin Title. efridge: The smart kitchen s hub 2. Inventin Summary. This inventin describes a smart refrigeratr (r efridge ) that acts as the hub f a smart kitchen ec-system, a methd fr prviding infrmatin t the efridge via smart prducts and ther means, and a user interface. 3. Inventin Descriptin. a. Describe the inventin in detail. We are prpsing a Smart refrigeratr and Smart fd prducts that interact with each ther and ther devices in a Smart appliance ecsystem in the fllwing key ways: Ordering Prcess Individual fd items can be equipped with sensrs t detect hw full they are. The items then signal their levels t the efridge wirelessly. This culd be dne with RFID, Near Field, r sme ther cmmunicatin prtcl. Prducts nt inside the efridge can cmmunicate with the efridge via remte relays placed in cabinets, ther refrigeratrs, a strage Page 1
freezer, etc. These relays may cmmunicate with the efridge via Ethernet, Wi-Fi, r sme ther cmmunicatin prtcl. Fd items nt able t cmmunicate directly with the efridge can be scanned with a built in barcde/qr-cde scanner r entered int inventry manually thrugh the User Interface. The efridge keeps track f fd levels, either lcally, in the clud, r sme cmbinatin f bth. The efridge can be prgrammed t autmatically rder certain prducts when their levels crss a set threshld. The efridge can be prgrammed t send a user alert (SMS, email, n-screen, audible, etc.) when certain prducts levels crss a set threshld. The efridge can be prgrammed t generate a shpping list n demand, which cnsiders current prduct levels, planned meals, r ther criteria. Expiratin Management Individual fd items with apprpriate tagging infrmatin cmmunicate their expiratin date t the efridge; fr fd items that are nt apprpriately tagged, the infrmatin can be entered by the user. Individual fd items culd als be equipped with sensrs t detect their freshness; this infrmatin is cmmunicated t the efridge. The efridge can be equipped with internal sensrs that can further mnitr prduct freshness. The efridge tracks prduct expiratin dates and freshness and can be prgrammed t aut-rder, user-alert, etc. based n prximity t expiratin date, freshness, and/r ther means. Recipe Interactin The efridge is aware f all fd n hand. The efridge is Internet cnnected and can have supprt frm a clud based applicatin. This allws the efridge t prvide suggested recipes based n fd currently n hand. The efridge can als prvide recipe s fr which mst f the ingredients are n hand but sme need t be purchased. This wuld result in a shpping list r an aut rder, and a recipe. The efridge can reverse this prcess as well, in this case the custmer selects a recipe r a list f recipes and the efridge prvides a shpping list (r aut-rder) that will prvide all f the needed ingredients (taking int accunt fd already n hand). This prcess can be enhanced with a clud based applicatin that prvides meal planning assistance, etc. The efridge can als track leftvers in reusable Smart cntainers marked with a number f prtins leftver frm an efridge prvided recipe. The efridge can suggest recipes based upn fd nearing expiratin t prevent fd waste. This functin can be cmbined with any f the abve recipe functins. Nutritin Tracking Because the efridge is aware f all fd prducts entering and leaving the kitchen, it can prvide husehld level nutritin tracking. Page 2
This can be enhanced with dietary restrictins (nt allwing the rder f certain fds). The efridge culd ptentially be tied int yur health care prvider t dwnlad restrictins and/r uplad histry. In all f these cases, the efridge culd be equipped with ne r mre methds fr custmers t interact with it: Tuch-screen Built int the efridge Keypad Built int the efridge Web-based TV On-Screen A web server built int the efridge that allws it t be accessed frm the lcal netwrk and/r remtely frm the Internet A tie-in t the custmer s EBIF/Tru2Way capable STB r SmartTV allws n screen interactin with the efridge Mbility Applicatin Access the efridge frm yur smart phne r tablet Clud-Based A clud based interface t allw remte access and perhaps access t advanced features. Any/all f these User Interfaces wuld prvide basic cntrl f the efridge, and thrugh it cntrl f ther smart appliances. Additinally, sme r all f these UIs culd prvide access t advanced features, such as: Scial/Sharing Recipe sharing Nutritin sharing Grcery list sharing This is inclusive f all psting (manual, pre-prgrammed, r autmatic) t scial media websites such as Facebk and Twitter, as well as a pssible efridge specific scial media platfrm r frum Cupns/Sales The efridge manufacturer, service prvider, retailer r MSO can prvide cupns and sale ntificatins directly t the custmer Based n histry, culd ffer alternative brands, retailers, sizes, etc. Recmmendatins Yu liked X, try Y Recmmendatins can cme frm scial media friends/cntacts, r any f the flks listed abve under cupns and sales, etc. b. Why was the inventin develped? What prblem(s) des the inventin slve? Hw is it better? Page 3
It slves the prblems f keeping apprpriate fresh fd in cnstant supply, prviding assistance with recipe creatin and shpping list creatin, hme inventry management, and nutritinal assistance. It als brings scial netwrking int the kitchen. It culd als prvide cst savings t the cnsumer by minimizing waste. This efridge is better than current refrigeratrs in that it is an active and cnnected device that can be used as the hub f a smart kitchen, rather than just keep things cl. c.briefly utline the ptential cmmercial value and custmers f the inventin. We have identified fur ptential business mdels that culd be built arund the efridge: An Amazn Kindle style mdel where a retailer prvides the efridge at a lw cst as a way t ensure that custmers rder fd prducts thrugh the retailer. By prviding an efridge tied directly t their clud based rdering system at r belw cst, the retailer creates a captive audience f cnsumers. The secnd mdel is ne where multiple manufacturers ffer the efridge, alng with a hst f Apps that allw it t be tied int multiple retailrs f the custmer s chice. The third mdel wuld serve as an add-n t ne f the abve mdels in the frm f a medical health and diet tracking service. There culd be a way fr dctrs t push dietary restrictins dwn t custmers r fr custmers t share their diet infrmatin directly with healthcare prfessinals. Finally, cmmercial kitchens and businesses in the fd services industry culd simplify inventry management and reduce waste using an efridge system. Restaurants, grcery stres, and fd prducers culd use a Just in Time mdel facilitated by a mre cmplete and autmated fd supply tracking system. In any f the abve mdels (and likely any thers that emerge), the custmer s MSO culd becme an integral middle man in the service. With the UI extended t an nscreen guide prvided by the EBIF/Tru2Way capable STB r Cable-Ready SmartTV, Internet access prvided by the MSO, and ptentially clud servers lcated within the MSO netwrk as first steps. 4. HOW is this inventin different frm existing prducts, prcesses, systems? There is nt currently an existing system r prduct that functins in the manner described abve. Traditinal refrigeratrs are cld strage devices and peple are respnsible fr inventry cntrl and freshness sensing. The current methd leads t ingredient utages and waste. The efridge is different frm current and prpsed prducts because it creates, and servers as the hub fr, a Smart appliance and fd prduct management ecsystem. This ecsystem allws fd prducts in multiple strage lcatins t interact with a plurality f cnnected devices in the netwrk. The unique ability t interact with all r nearly all f the fd in the kitchen enables efridge the ability t ffer services single entity slutins cannt ffer. Samsung prpsed a refrigeratr with RFID capabilities but has nt brught the prduct t market (http://www.textually.rg/textually/archives/2007/01/014575.htm). Furthermre, the Page 4
slutin referenced in the link abve is a single refrigeratr slutin that is nt integrated as the hub f a Smart kitchen r fd strage system as described abve in efridge. Page 5
Page 6
Page 7