# US 2014/0151447 A1 · Methods and systems of assistive food preparation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151447 A1 - Document ID: US20140151447A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/095,943 - Filed: 2013-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Inventors: Patrick Klos; Michael Klos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151447A1 ## CPC - G06F 16/00: Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An assistive food preparation system and method configured to match a code with at least one signal within a database for facilitating food preparation and transmit the signal associated with the numerical code for receipt by a user seeking food preparation assistance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assistive food preparation system, the system comprising: a system controller; a bar code capture device connected to the system controller; and a database connected to the system controller, the database including a plurality of signals, each signal associated with a plurality of numerical codes; and an output device coupled to the system controller; the bar code capture device configured to capture a barcode image and forward the image to the system controller, the system controller configured to convert the bar code image into a numerical code, the system controller further configured to match the numerical code with at least one signal within the database, and the system controller further configured to send the signal associated with the numerical code within the database to the output device, the output device configured to output the signal received from the system controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the bar code capture device further including an image capture sensor, the image capture sensor configured to convert a bar code image into a numerical code. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the bar code capture device further including a laser-based bar code decoder, the decoder configured to convert a laser-based light reading into a numerical code. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the output device further including a display and each signal further including a visual signal associated with at least one numerical code, the system controller configured to display the visual signal thru the display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the output device further including a speaker and each signal further including an audio signal associated with at least one numerical code, the system controller configured to play the audio signal thru the speaker. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the output device further including an input console and each signal further including an input trigger associated with the numerical code, the system controller further configured to detect the input trigger thru the input console in association with the numerical code. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, further including a food preparation unit connected to the system controller, the system controller configured to the send a signal to the food preparation unit in response to the numerical code in the database. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the food preparation unit is a microwave oven. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A system as recited in claim 1, wherein, the system further including a network and a second database connected to the network, the database including a plurality of signals, each signal associated with a plurality of numerical codes, the system controller configured to access the second database through the network and find a match for the converted numerical code, the system controller further configured to move the signal associated with the matched numerical code from the second database to the first database, the system controller further configured to send the signal associated with the numerical code within the database to the output device, the output device configured to output the signal received from the system controller. ### Claim 10 A method of providing assistive food preparation instruction through a system including a system controller, a bar code capture device, a database containing a plurality of signals, and an output device and comprising the steps of: capturing a bar code image and forwarding the image to the system controller; converting the bar code image into a numerical code; matching the numerical code with a least one signal within the database; sending the signal associated with the numerical code within the database to the output device; and outputting the signal through the output device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the system further includes an image capture sensor, the method further comprising the steps of converting an image into a numerical code for matching with at least one signal within the database. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the system further includes a laser-based bar code decoder, the method further comprising the step of converting a laser-based light reading into a numerical code for matching with at least one signal within the database. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the system further includes a display, the method further comprising the step of sending a visual signal through the display based on the association with the numerical code within the database. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the system further includes a speaker, the method further comprising the step of sending an audio signal through the speaker based on the association with the numeric code within the database. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the system further includes an input console, the method further comprising the steps of: matching an input trigger to a numeric code within the database; and detecting the input trigger thru the input console in association with the numeric code. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the system further includes a food preparation unit connected to the system controller, the method further comprising the step of sending a signal to the food preparation unit in response to the numerical code in the database. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the food preparation unit is a microwave oven. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the system further includes a network and a second database connected to the network, the database including a plurality of signals, each signal associated with a plurality of numerical codes, the method further comprising the steps of: accessing the second database through the network; matching the converted numerical codes with at least one signal; moving the signal from the second database to the first database; and sending the signal to the output device, cause the output device to the receive the signal.