Food container system with image processing and method

Abstract

A method and container for providing an enclosure for a food item includes a plurality of grading marks and a docking station to dock an electronic device. Yet further, the system includes a processor configured to take one or more pictures of the food item using the electronic device, transmit the one or more pictures to a cloud, receive recommended recipes for the food item and display the recommended recipes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining image data relating to a food item;   delivering the data to a processor, and using the processor to carry out the steps of:   obtaining information relating to the weight of the food item by;   calculating the volume occupied by the food item based on one or more pictures of the food item;   accessing the food database to obtain the density of the food item based on the type of food item; and   obtaining the weight of the food item from the density of the food item, and the volume of the food item;   comparing the image data with comparative data in a database;   determining, based on the comparative data and the additional information, the type and quantity of the food item;   selecting, based on the determined type and quantity, a recipe relating to the food item, the recipe comprising food preparation information relating to a plurality of food preparation steps, including configuration information relating to at least one food preparation step to be carried out by a kitchen appliance;   providing the configuration information to the kitchen appliance; and   configuring the kitchen appliance to carry out the at least one food preparation step based on the configuration information.   
     
     
         2 . Image processing apparatus comprising:
 an electronic device arranged to obtain image data relating to a food item, and to deliver the data to a processor, the processor being configured to:   obtain information relating to the weight of the food item by;   calculating the volume occupied by the food item based on one or more pictures of the food item;   accessing the food database to obtain the density of the food item based on the type of food item; and   obtaining the weight of the food item from the density of the food item, and the volume of the food item;   compare the image data with comparative data in a database;   determine, based on the comparative data and the additional information, a type and quantity of the food item;   select, based on the determined type and quantity, a recipe relating to the food item, the recipe comprising food preparation information relating to a plurality of food preparation steps, including configuration information for operating a kitchen appliance to carry out at least one of the plurality of food preparation steps;   provide the configuration information to the kitchen appliance; and   configure the kitchen appliance to carry out the at least one food preparation step based on the configuration information.   
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the processor is configured to provide the recipe to the electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the recipe comprises instructions for programming a kitchen appliance. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the image data comprises a bar code providing information about the type and/or quantity of the food item. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  in which:
 the database comprises pictures and recipes relating to a plurality of food items; and 
 the processor is configured to: 
 select one or more recipes based on the type of the food item: and transmit information about the one or more recommended recipes to the electronic device. 
 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  in which the image data comprises one or more pictures and wherein the processor is configured to match the one or more pictures of the food item with the pictures of the plurality of food items available in the database. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to obtain information relating to the weight of the food item by:
 calculating the volume occupied by the food item based on grading marks visible in the one or more pictures of the food item, wherein the grading marks indicate the size of the food item in each or any of the three dimensions.   
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to calculate the volume occupied by the food item by creating a 3D digital model of the food item based on the one or more pictures of the food item and then enumerating the number of voxels in the 3D digital model to determine volume of the food item. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the food database further includes nutritional information about a plurality of food items, wherein the nutritional information includes amount of calories, carbohydrates and protein in each food item in the plurality of food items.