US 12,303,074 B2
Customized identification of ingredients in a storage system
Wenyi Wang, Blaine, MN (US); and Mark E. Arlinghaus, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/129,689.
Prior Publication US 2024/0324825 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 1/12 (2006.01); A47J 36/32 (2006.01); A47J 47/00 (2006.01); G08B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 47/00 (2013.01) [A47J 36/32 (2013.01); G08B 5/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for use with an ingredient storage system having a plurality of receptacles configured to store ingredients, the method comprising:
obtaining food-selection data of a user, the food-selection data indicating a meal;
obtaining, based on the food-selection data, ingredient data indicating a set of ingredients for the meal;
obtaining synchronization data indicating a cooking time for each ingredient of the set of ingredients;
selecting, based at least in part on the synchronization data, target ingredients for the meal, the target ingredients comprising a first ingredient and a second ingredient, wherein the synchronization data indicates a first cooking time for the first ingredient and a second cooking time for the second ingredient, and wherein the selecting the target ingredients comprises determining that the first cooking time is within a predetermined range of the second cooking time; and
in response to the selecting the target ingredients:
activating a first indicator corresponding to a first receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, the first receptacle storing the first ingredient; and
activating a second indicator corresponding to a second receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, the second receptacle storing the second ingredient.