Methods and devices for individualized laundry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11807974-B2
Application number	US-201816652874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2018
Priority date	Oct 5, 2017
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for creating a bespoke laundry treatment recipe includes receiving fabric data related to one or more of stain identity, fabric identity, user requirements and user preference; comparing by means of a data processing system said input data with ingredient combination data stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and formulating one or more laundry treatment recipes, said recipes being bespoke to the user input data; wherein said ingredient combination data comprises: multiple ingredient composition data; multiple combinations of said ingredient compositions; and multiple treatment (e.g. stain) categories related to said ingredient composition combinations.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a laundry treatment recipe, the method comprising:
receiving fabric data input by a user, wherein the fabric data includes data related to one or more of a stain identity, a fabric identity, user requirements, or user preference;
determining conflicting data, by a data processing system, wherein the data processing system determines conflicting data based on conflicting data combinations within the fabric data and based on conflicting data within a comparison of the fabric data with functionality and inter-relationships of individual laundry treatment ingredients within ingredient data stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
performing conflict resolution, by the data processing system, in response to the determined conflicting data, the conflict resolution comprising:
displaying the determined conflicting data; and
determining an overriding a laundry treatment and/or ingredient priority based on an input from the user or based on rules pertaining to the fabric data, the ingredient data, and the determined conflicting data;

formulating one or more laundry treatment recipes, wherein the laundry treatment recipes combine individual laundry treatment ingredients from the ingredient data according to the treatment and/or ingredient priority; and
supplying a dose of laundry treatment product according to the one or more laundry treatment recipes by a controllable dispensing device, the device having multiple reservoirs, wherein each reservoir comprises an individual laundry treatment ingredient within the ingredient data, wherein the ingredient data includes:
multiple individual laundry treatment ingredients available for the laundry treatment recipe;
multiple combinations of the individual laundry treatment ingredients for the laundry treatment recipe; and
multiple stain treatment categories related to the multiple combinations of the individual laundry treatment ingredients for the laundry treatment recipe.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying one or more lists of choices from which the user may select to input the fabric data input by the user.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the one or more lists of choices from which the user may select are displayed according to different operating modes, each operating mode having a different list of choices from which the user may select, the method further comprising receiving a selection of a mode of operation.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying one or more lists of individual stains to the user to select or de-select.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein fabric data related to the stain identity is determined from one or more of user activity, location of activity, weather, dining, garment user, garment type, and user location within the data input by the user.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein fabric data related to fabric identity is determined from one or more of user behavior, user location, location environment, and weather within the data input by the user.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fabric data input by the user is transmitted from a location remote from a laundry treatment location.

Assignees

• Conopco Inc

Inventors

• Cooke Deborah Jane
• Moorfield David
• Shaw Katharine Jane

Classifications

• D06F33/37 Primary

  of metering of detergents or additives · CPC title

• D06F33/32 Primary

  Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry · CPC title

• D06F34/32

  characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens · CPC title

• D06F34/05

  for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control · CPC title

• D06F34/30

  characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials · CPC title