Food storage system including a freezer and a temporary tent accessory

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for a food storage system including a freezer, a temporary storage unit removably coupled with the freezer, and a freezer management application. The freezer includes two or more independently controllable climate zones which can be automatically adjust based on data received from sensors and cameras in each of the climate zones or manually adjust using the freezer management application. The freezer is also configured to receive one or more modular inserts for increased customization and functionality. The temporary storage unit includes a climate zone that is configured to be controlled and regulated by the freezer when the temporary storage unit is coupled with the freezer. Based on the data received from the sensors and cameras, the freezer management application generates alerts regarding deviations in the conditions of the climate zones or conditions of food items stored in the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food storage system, comprising:
 a customizable freezer for storing food items, comprising:
 a first drawer associated with a first climate zone; 
 a second drawer associated with a second climate zone; 
 a plurality of sensors positioned in each of the first climate zone and the second climate zone, the plurality of sensors being configured to generate climate data associated with each of the first and second climate zones; and 
 a controller configured to receive the climate data associated with each of the first and second climate zones from the plurality of sensors; 
   and   a freezer management application in communication with the controller;   wherein the freezer management application is configured to receive user inputs;   wherein the user inputs comprise a target climate setpoint; and   wherein the controller is configured to regulate each of the first and second climate zones independently based on the respective climate data received from the plurality of sensors and the target climate setpoint.   
     
     
         2 . The food storage system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a climate of the first climate zone is different from a climate of the second climate zone.   
     
     
         3 . The food storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a modular insert configured to be removably attached to the freezer.   
     
     
         4 . The food storage system of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the freezer further comprises a slot configured to receive at least a portion of the modular insert to facilitate the removable attachment of the modular insert to the freezer.   
     
     
         5 . The food storage system of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the slot is positioned on an external side surface of the freezer.   
     
     
         6 . The food storage system of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the modular insert includes a table-top surface; and   wherein the modular insert is removably attached to the freezer via the slot such that the table-top surface of the modular insert extends across and forms a top surface of the freezer.   
     
     
         7 . The food storage system of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the modular insert includes a table-top surface; and   wherein the modular insert is removably attached to the freezer via the slot such that the table-top surface of the modular insert extends away from the freezer and coplanar with a top surface of the freezer such that the table-top surface of the modular insert effectively extends the top surface of the freezer.   
     
     
         8 . The food storage system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a trash receptacle removably attached to and suspended from the modular insert.   
     
     
         9 . The food storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more accessories including one or more of a printer, a scanner, and a scale;   wherein the freezer further comprises a power supply configured to supply power to the one or more accessories.   
     
     
         10 . The food storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temporary storage unit removably attached to the freezer, the temporary storage unit comprising:
 an interior associated with a third climate zone; 
 a frame configured to support suspension of food items therefrom; and 
 a cover surrounding the frame and enclosing the interior. 
   
     
     
         11 . The food storage system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a conduit removably attached to the temporary storage unit and to the freezer to facilitate the removable attachment of the temporary storage unit to the freezer;   wherein the freezer further comprises a valve in fluid communication with the conduit and configured to control a flow of air between the freezer and the temporary storage unit.   
     
     
         12 . The food storage system of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the third climate zone of the temporary storage unit is in fluid communication with the second climate zone of the freezer; and   wherein the controller of the freezer is configured to regulate the third climate zone in series with the second climate zone such that a climate of the third climate zone is substantially the same as the climate of the second climate zone.   
     
     
         13 . The food storage system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a mobile device in wireless communication with the controller of the freezer;   wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit a command signal to the controller of the freezer to adjust a climate of one or more of the climate zones of the freezer or the temporary storage unit.   
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a food storage system, comprising:
 receiving, via a controller of a freezer of the food storage system, climate data from a plurality of sensors associated with first and second climate zones of the freezer and with a third climate zone of a temporary storage unit removably attached to the freezer;
 wherein the second climate zone associated with the freezer is in fluid communication with the third climate zone associated with the temporary storage unit; 
   adjusting, using the controller of the freezer and based on the climate data associated with the first climate zone of the freezer, the first climate zone of the freezer independently of the second climate zone of the freezer; and   adjusting, using the controller of the freezer and based on the climate data associated with the third climate zone of the temporary storage unit, the second climate zone of the freezer independently of the first climate zone of the freezer in order to adjust the third climate zone of the temporary storage unit that is in fluid communication with the second climate zone of the freezer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the controller of the freezer and from a mobile device in wireless communication with the controller, a first request to adjust the first climate zone of the freezer;
 wherein the controller adjusts the first climate zone based on the first request; and 
   receiving, via the controller of the freezer and from the mobile device, a second request to adjust the third climate zone of the temporary storage unit;
 wherein the controller adjusts the second climate zone of the freezer based on the second request. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the controller of the freezer, a request associated with a future adjustment of one or more of the climate zones; and   scheduling, using the controller, the future adjustment of the one or more of the climate zones.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 storing a food item in the first climate zone of the freezer;   wherein the first climate zone of the freezer is adjusted to facilitate thawing of the food item in the first climate zone.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 storing a food item in the first climate zone;   monitoring, using the plurality of sensors, a condition of the food item stored in the first climate zone; and   determining, using the controller and based on the condition of the food item, that the first climate zone should be adjusted;   wherein adjusting the first climate zone is further based on the determination that the first climate zone should be adjusted based on the monitored condition of the food item stored in the first climate zone.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the controller utilizes a machine learning model to determine that the first climate zone should be adjusted based on the condition of the food item.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 attaching a modular insert to the freezer; and   connecting one or more accessories to a power supply of the freezer.