Auxiliary button for a cooking system

Abstract

According to one example, a system includes a computing device having a processor that is operable to display a first portion of a cooking recipe. The system further includes a heat source system having a heat source operable to provide an amount of energy to be used to cook a food item in accordance with the cooking recipe, and a processor operable to adjust the amount of energy provided by the heat source based on one or more communications with the computing device. The system further includes an auxiliary button system having an interface operable to receive an instruction to move from a first step of the cooking recipe to a second step, and a processor operable to transmit, via a second communication link with the computing device, an indication of the instruction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 a. displaying, by a processor of a computing device, a first portion of a cooking recipe having a plurality of steps, the first portion of the cooking recipe being associated with a first step of the cooking recipe;   b. establishing, by the processor of the computing device, a first communication link with a heat source system, the heat source system having a heat source that is operable to provide an amount of energy to be used to cook a food item in accordance with the cooking recipe;   c. establishing, by the processor of the computing device, a second communication link with an auxiliary button system, the auxiliary button system having an interface that is operable to receive an instruction to move from the first step of the cooking recipe to a second step of the cooking recipe;   d. transmitting, by the processor of the computing device and via the first communication link, one or more communications to the heat source system so as to cause the heat source system to adjust the amount of energy provided by the heat source in accordance with the cooking recipe; and   e. receiving, by the processor of the computing device and via the second communication link, an indication of the instruction to move from the first step of the cooking recipe to the second step of the cooking recipe.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, following receipt of the indication of the instruction, displaying, by the processor of the computing device, a second portion of the cooking recipe, the second portion of the cooking recipe being associated with the second step of the cooking recipe. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, following receipt of the indication of the instruction, transmitting, by the processor of the computing device and via the first communication link, one or more additional communications to the heat source system so as to cause the heat source system to further adjust the amount of energy provided by the heat source in accordance with the cooking recipe. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary button system comprises:
 a. an auxiliary device that is separate from the computing device; and   b. an auxiliary button module coupled to the auxiliary device, the auxiliary button module including the interface.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary button module is integrated with the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary button module is removable from the auxiliary device and operable to be used as a standalone device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary device comprises a cooking appliance, a cooking vessel, a cooking surface, a cooking utensil, a support system, an auxiliary display, or a wearable device. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a. a computing device having a processor that is operable, when executed, to:
 i. display at least a portion of a cooking recipe; and 
 ii. transmit, via a first wireless communication link, one or more communications associated with the cooking recipe to a heat source system so as to assist in cooking a food item in accordance with the cooking recipe; and 
   b. an auxiliary button system that is separate from the computing device, the auxiliary button system comprising:
 i. an interface operable to receive an instruction associated with the cooking recipe; and 
 ii. a processor communicatively coupled to the interface, and operable, when executed, to transmit, via a second wireless communication link with the computing device, an indication of the instruction associated with the cooking recipe.