Method and system for calculating and integrating cooking times into meal planning and preparation

Abstract

A method and system for calculating grilling timelines and parameters for specific items to be cooked on a grill includes presenting to a user an input screen and means for inputting grilling planning assumptions. Information about items to be grilled includes default grilling time, doneness factor, thickness factor, cut of meat factor and refrigerator factor as normalized values. A grilling timeline is calculated running the information through a summing function to result in a calculated grilling time per side value which is then output and displayed to the user.

1 . A method of calculating grilling times and parameters for specific items to be cooked on a grill, comprising: 
 presenting a user an input screen and means for inputting grilling planning assumptions;    inputting information about items to be grilled, including at least default grilling times, doneness factor, thickness factor, cut of meat factor and refrigerator factor as normalized values;    calculating a grilling timeline by inputting said information as normalized values into a summing function to result in a calculated grilling time per side value; and    outputting said calculated grilling time per side value to the user.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information further comprises a grill type factor, +grill covered factor, grill calibration factor, fire factor and outside temperature factor.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said running function further adds a grill preparation time to said resulting calculated grilling time per side value.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said input screen is located at a user device, and said information is transmitted to a central processor wherein said grilling time is determined, with the calculated grilling times per side value being transmitted back to the user input screen.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said grilling time per side transmitted to the user further comprises transmitting a grilling timeline in a countdown mode wherein event times are indicated at specific intervals for the user to take specific action when conducting grilling.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cut of meat factor is indicative of different types of meat including at least pork, beef, fish and fowl.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said input of grilling planning assumptions is conducted at a personal device connected to a server, and wherein said server calculates the grilling timeline from information received from the personal device.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the personal device in a personal computer and the connection to the server is at least one of through a wired network and window.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the personal device is a PDA.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the personal device is a cellular telephone programmed to input said assumptions and to receive the grilling timeline.  
   
   
       11 . A system for calculating grilling times and parameters for specific items to be cooked on a grill comprising: 
 a user input screen for allowing a user to input grilling planning assumptions through said screen;    input means for inputting through said screen information about items to be grilled, including at least default grilling time, doneness factor, thickness factor, cut of meat factor and refrigerator factor as normalized values;    processing means programmed for having said information input thereto and for calculating a grilling timeline from said information as normalized values through a summing function to result in a calculated grilling time per side value; and    means for providing an output to a user indicative of a calculated grilling time per side value.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said input means is configured for inputting and said processing means is programmed for calculating said grilling timeline based on said information, and said information further comprising a grill type factor, grill covered factor, grill calibration factor, fire factor and outside temperature factor.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said input screen is located at a user device, and said user device is connected for having said information transmitted to a central processor wherein said grilling timeline is determined, and for having the calculated grilling time per side value transmitted back to the user input screen.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said summing function further adds a grill preparation time to said resulting calculated grilling time per side value.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said processing means is further programmed for transmitting back to the user a grilling timeline in a countdown mode wherein event times are indicated at specific intervals for the user to take specific action when conducting grilling.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , further programmed for processing said cut of meat factor as indicative of different types of meat including at least one of pork, beef, fish and fowl.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said user input screen and input means are part of a personal device connected to a server, for having said server calculate the grilling times from information received from the personal device.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the personal device is a personal computer and the connection to the server is at least one of through a wired connection and wireless.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the personal device is a PDA.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the personal device is a cellular telephone programmed to input said assumptions and to receive the grilling timeline.