Abstract: An automated recommendation system keeps track of the needs and preferences of the user through a user preference vector. Each field of the user preference vector represents the user's preference for a specific item attribute. Item attributes are defined by a systems programmer. The systems programmer also creates product vectors of items in the recommendation database. A user preference vector is compared against a product vector to determine if the product is suitable for recommendation. A recommended item may be purchased by the user by submitting a purchase request over a network connection. The user preference vector is constantly refined through feedback from the user about the recommended items.

Abstract: An automatic maid performs all of the selection and organization tasks involved with family meal planning. The automatic maid keeps track of the needs and preferences of all users. User needs and preferences are constantly refined through questions about foods both eaten and rejected. The automatic maid keeps track of household inventory and can order additional supplies. The automatic maid uses the preferences of the users and its knowledge of the household inventory to select the most compatible meals. It gives instruction on food preparation, can activate appliances, and can order food. The automatic maid can be accessed from a remote location and can update its recipes over a network or the Internet.