MEAL PREPARATION ORCHESTRATOR

1 . A method of using a control unit ( 110 ) for assisting a user in orchestrating preparation of a meal comprising a plurality of dishes, based on recipes ( 160 , 170 ) stored in a database ( 120 ) on a common recipe format, by independent recipe authors ( 130 , 140 ), the method comprising the steps of:

offering a plurality of dishes to a user via a communication device ( 150 ), which dishes correspond to a respective recipe ( 160 , 170 ) in the database ( 120 );

receiving a selection of dishes forming the meal via a communication interface;

determining a required work intensity for the user, for each step in a respective recipe ( 160 , 170 ), based on information provided by the recipe author ( 130 , 140 );

determining a maximum time limit of each step of the respective recipes ( 160 , 170 ), based on information provided by the recipe author ( 130 , 140 );

composing a time interval structure of the steps of the respective recipes ( 160 , 170 ), based on the determined required work intensity of the user and the determined maximum time limit of each step; and

generating and transmitting control signals to the communication device ( 150 ) of the user, for outputting the composed time interval structure.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

determining a resource utilisation of each step of each received selected dish, based on information provided by the recipe author ( 130 , 140 ); and

composing the time interval structure of the steps, in order to avoid a conflict in resource utilisation between steps of the respective recipes ( 160 , 170 ), based on the determined resource utilisation of each respective step.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of

receiving at least one input value from a sensor ( 310 ), or the communication device ( 150 ) of the user.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method further comprise the steps of:

adapting the time interval structure of the steps with regard to the received input value; and

generating control signals to output information to the communication device ( 150 ) of the user, or a kitchen appliance ( 320 ) of the user, concerning the adapted time interval structure.

5 . A method in a control unit ( 110 ) for assisting a user in orchestrating preparation of a meal comprising a plurality of dishes, based on recipes ( 160 , 170 ) stored in a database ( 120 ) on a common recipe format, by independent recipe authors ( 130 , 140 ); the method comprising the steps of:

offering ( 401 ) a plurality of dishes to the user via a communication device ( 150 ), which dishes correspond to a respective recipe ( 160 , 170 ) in the database ( 120 );

receiving ( 402 ) a selection of dishes forming the meal, selected by the user;

determining ( 403 ) a required work intensity for the user, for each step in a respective recipe ( 160 , 170 ) associated with the received ( 402 ) dish selection, based on information provided by the recipe author ( 130 , 140 );

determining ( 404 ) a maximum time limit of each step of the respective recipe ( 160 , 170 ), based on information provided by the recipe author ( 130 , 140 );

composing ( 406 ) a time interval structure of the various steps of the respective recipes ( 160 , 170 ), based on the determined ( 403 ) required work intensity of the user for each step and the determined ( 404 ) maximum time limit of each step; and

generating and transmitting ( 409 ) control signals to the communication device ( 150 ) of the user, for outputting the composed ( 406 ) time interval structure.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:

determining ( 405 ) a resource utilisation of each step of each received ( 402 ) selected dish; and

wherein the time interval structure of the steps is composed ( 406 ) in order to avoid a conflict in resource utilization between steps of the recipes ( 160 , 170 ).

7 . The method according to claim 5 wherein the method further comprises the step of:

receiving ( 407 ) at least one input value from a sensor ( 310 ), or the communication device ( 150 ) of the user.

8 . The method ( 400 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:

adapting ( 408 ) the time interval structure of the steps with regard to the received ( 407 ) input value; and wherein the generated and transmitted ( 409 ) control signals to the communication device ( 150 ) of the user, or to a kitchen appliance ( 320 ) of the user, comprises information concerning the adapted ( 408 ) time interval structure.

9 . (canceled)

10 . (canceled)