JP2023507414A - Customizable aerosol generator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a computer-implemented method of operating an aerosol generation device comprising the steps of retrieving a user's aerosol delivery profile stored on the aerosol generation device or personal computing device; retrieving a user schedule from an application; customizing a retrieved aerosol delivery profile for the user based at least on the user schedule; and controlling operation of an aerosol generator based on the customized aerosol delivery profile. and a method comprising: [Selection diagram] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an aerosol generator customizable according to user preferences. In particular, the present invention relates to aerosol-generating devices such as electronic cigarettes, heated non-combustible devices, etc. that can provide an enhanced user experience.

Inhalers or aerosol generating devices such as electronic cigarettes or vaping devices are becoming increasingly popular. They generally heat or warm an aerosolizable substance to produce an aerosol for inhalation, as opposed to burning tobacco as in conventional tobacco products. The aerosol produced may contain flavors and/or stimulants (eg, nicotine or other active ingredients). Users of such inhalers may wish to control the amount of flavor or stimulant released based on their preferences or other factors.

Most aerosol generators typically incorporate some form of electronic control circuitry, including a simple computer processor, to allow the user to control the operation of the aerosol generator. Some vaping devices also allow the device to be wirelessly connected to a computing device to exchange data regarding the functionality of certain components of the vaping device. However, these devices are often designed to provide a standardized user experience, do not meet individual needs, or rely on manual adjustments by the user to affect aerosol delivery. .

A need therefore exists for a device that can be adapted to its user and customizable according to the user's preferences.

According to one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method of operating an aerosol generator comprising the steps of retrieving a user's aerosol delivery profile stored on an aerosol generator or personal computing device; obtaining a user schedule from a calendar application on a viewing device; customizing a retrieved aerosol delivery profile for the user based at least on the user schedule; and controlling the movement.

Advantageously, it is possible to create a customizable, user-specific vaping profile, taking into account the user's vaping history, preferences and schedule. Profiles can be automatically modified based on appointments and tasks in the user's calendar. Controlling a vaping device with such a customized vaping profile enhances the user experience and provides the user with greater control over his or her vaping habits.

Preferably, the aerosol delivery profile contains information regarding the amount of substance to be delivered to the user in the aerosol. Accordingly, the amount of substance such as nicotine delivered to the user can be adjusted based on the user's vaping profile.

Preferably, the aerosol delivery profile comprises a workday profile and a non-workday profile. Thus, a user's vaping profile can be customized based on different requirements for different days of the week.

Preferably, the method receives input from a user on a personal computing device to set a recurring event for each day during the week and to use the aerosol generator during the recurring event. including limiting. Therefore, vaping can be restricted to certain times of the day, such as bedtime, for the benefit of the user.

Preferably, the method also establishes a communication pairing between the aerosol generator and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generator to obtain the user schedule from the personal computing device. , the user schedule also includes being acquired periodically by the aerosol generator. Accordingly, the user schedule can be easily fetched from the user's personal computing device, such as a smart phone, automatically by the vaping device without requiring much effort from the user.

Preferably, the method also establishes a communication pairing between the aerosol generator and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generator to receive control commands, the control commands comprising: generating by a personal computing device based on the customized aerosol delivery profile; and controlling operation of the aerosol generator based on the received control commands. As such, the vaping device can be easily controlled by the user's personal computing device, such as a smart phone.

Preferably, the method also includes monitoring usage of the aerosol generating device over time and modifying the aerosol delivery profile based on usage. Thus, the vaping device can continuously learn from the user's habits and routines and modify the vaping profile accordingly.

Preferably, the method also includes exchanging the aerosol delivery profile and/or user schedule with other aerosol generating devices or their respective other personal computing devices connected on the network. Thus, it is possible to connect with like-minded users of vaping devices and participate in social networks based on shared preferences.

Preferably, the method also includes searching in a predetermined area for other aerosol generators or respective personal computing devices having an aerosol generator control application to identify candidate devices, and aerosol delivery profiles and/or and identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices to exchange user schedules. Therefore, it is possible to search only for other users within a limited area for the convenience of arranging meetings.

Preferably, the method also includes comparing the device IDs of the candidate devices to previously stored device IDs; and based on the comparison, identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices; including. Thus, it is possible to identify known users whose trusted devices the user has previously interacted with.

Preferably, the method also includes transmitting the list of candidate devices to a server storing user profiles and configurable rules; and based on the user profiles and configurable rules associated with the candidate devices by the server, and identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices. Thus, from profiles stored on remote servers, it is possible to find other users based on one or more user attributes, such as working for the same employer.

Preferably, the method also includes identifying a time slot based on the exchanged user schedule; displaying a message on the user computing device indicating one or more matching users each associated with. Thus, it is possible to exchange messages and arrange meetings with trusted users who share the same preferences as the user and who are available at the same time as the user.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method of exchanging aerosol delivery profiles, the method comprising: exchanging an aerosol delivery profile on another aerosol generator or other personal computer having an aerosol generator control application to identify candidate devices; identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices to exchange aerosol delivery profiles and/or user schedules; based on the exchanged user schedules; and generating a message indicating one or more matching users each associated with at least one of the trusted devices with matching user profiles available in the identified time slots. and displaying on a user computing device.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a data processing system for generating a customizable aerosol delivery profile for a user, the system comprising means for performing the method as described above. .

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method as described above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

1 illustrates an aerosol generating device according to one aspect of the invention; 2 shows a system including the devices of FIG. 1 and other entities in a connected network; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of various components of the apparatus of Figure 1; 3 depicts a block diagram of various components of a personal computing device present in the system of FIG. 2; FIG. Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of operating the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of operating the apparatus of Figure 1; 2 shows a graph showing the vaping history of a user of the device of FIG. 1; 2 shows a graph showing the vaping history of a user of the device of FIG. 1; 2 shows a graph showing the vaping history of a user of the device of FIG. 1;

Various aspects of the invention are now described. It should be noted that, in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. It should be noted that the drawings are schematic representations and the proportions of the respective sizes are different from the actual ones. Therefore, specific sizes and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description.

FIG. 1A shows a non-combustion aerosol generator 100, which is a device for inhaling an aerosol by heating or vaporizing it without burning it. The device 100 has a rod shape with a body 101 extending from a non-mouthpiece end 102 to a mouthpiece end 103 . An air channel or pathway is defined within body 100 between opposing ends 102 , 103 . The aerosol generating device 100 in this embodiment is an electronic cigarette or vaping device, hereinafter referred to as e-cig 100. The e-cig 100 functions by vaporizing or heating an aerosol source that is inserted into the e-cig 100 to release flavors or stimulants for inhalation through the mouthpiece end 103 by the user. The construction and operation of such devices for generating aerosols are well known in the art, and the invention disclosed herein is not limited to any form of aerosol generation technique, constructed by any aerosol generation technique. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that it may be applicable to aerosol generating devices.

The e-cig 100 may include an activation switch 104 that may be configured to power on and/or power off the e-cig 100 . Activation switch 104 may be a push button or touch button disposed at any convenient location on the surface of body 101 of e-cig 100 . Alternatively, the e-cig 100 does not rely on a switch button to activate power to the heater, but relies on a puff sensor to detect airflow and trigger the device to begin generating aerosol.

FIG. 2 shows system 200 comprising e-cig 100 and other related entities connected via network 202 . In this example, e-cig 100 is configured to communicate with a personal computing device 201 owned by a user. Personal computing device 201 may be a smart phone, tablet, or laptop. For simplicity, personal computing device 201 is hereinafter referred to as smart phone 201 . The e-cig 100 is preferably configured to wirelessly communicatively connect or pair with the smartphone 201 using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless communication standard. Smartphone 201 preferably runs a mobile application (commonly referred to as an app) that allows a user to interact with e-cig 100 through a user-friendly interface. The app may be hosted by the e-cig 100 manufacturer and compatible with different mobile platforms such as iOS™ and Android™.

The e-cig 100 and/or smartphone 201 may also be configured to connect to network 202 . Network 202 may be a public network, such as the Internet, and may allow e-cig 100 and smart phone 201 to connect to other entities within system 200 . It will be appreciated that the e-cig 100 and apps on smartphone 201 preferably have built-in security protocols to prevent unauthorized access by any malicious entity connected via network 202. .

The e-cigs 100 are also configured to communicate with other similar aerosol generating devices, such as e-cigs 203 a , 203 b , 203 c (hereinafter collectively referred to as e-cigs 203 ) that are also connected to network 202 . The e-cigs 203 are similar to the e-cigs 100 and preferably have the same components and functionality as the e-cigs 100. E-cigs 203 may also be associated with their respective personal computing devices (not shown) similar to smart phone 201 . The interaction of e-cigs 100 with other e-cigs 203 is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 4B.

The e-cigs 100 , 203 and/or their respective smartphones may be connected to server 204 by network 202 . Server 204 is a central controller preferably managed or licensed by the manufacturer of the e-cigs 100,203 and is preferably configured to remotely manage the e-cigs 100,203. The server 204 manages and monitors the operation of the e-cigs 100, 203 and may also run machine learning algorithms or artificial intelligence programs to learn from the habits of users of these devices. An app on smartphone 201 preferably interfaces with server 204 to share the status of e-cig 100 and receive any updates and suggestions for the user from server 204 . The user may also be able to order refills and other flavors for the e-cig 100 from the server 204 using the app.

A user profile that indicates preferences by the user can be stored on the server 204 , smart phone 201 or e-cig 100 . These preferences may be calculated from usage data or selected by the user on smartphone 201 or e-cig 100 . For example, a user profile may include personal data such as name, age, address, etc., as well as puff records and/or event records or periods of preferred or unavailable use.

The system 200 may also include a tracking device 205 in communication with the smart phone 201 and configured to communicate directly or indirectly (via the smart phone) with the e-cig 100 . Tracking device 205 is preferably a wearable device such as an Apple™ watch or a Fitbit™ fitness tracker. Tracking device 205 can record user health data such as heart rate, number of steps, distance traveled, stress level, sleep patterns, etc. and transmit this data to smartphone 201 and/or e-cig 100 .

Of course, system 200 is implemented using known communication technologies and standards. System 200 may include several other entities known to those skilled in the art that are not shown or described for the sake of brevity.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing various components or modules of e-cig 100. As shown in FIG. In one embodiment, the e-cig 100 vaporizes the consumable module 301a and the consumable 301b received by the consumable module 301a to release an aerosol containing flavors and/or stimulants for inhalation by the user. and a heating element 302 . In this embodiment, consumable 301b is a substance containing nicotine. The presence of consumable 301b within consumable module 301a may be detected by detector 301c. Consumable 301b may be in solid or liquid form and is heated by heating element 302 to emit an aerosol without burning. If consumable 301b is a liquid reservoir, more than one consumable can be received in consumable module 301a. Heating element 302 may be powered by power source 303 .

Power supply 303 is, for example, a lithium ion battery. A power supply 303 provides the power necessary for the e-cig 100 to operate. For example, power supply 303 powers all other components or modules included in e-cig 100 .

For the purposes of this description, the terms vapor and aerosol will be understood interchangeably. In some embodiments, the heating element is located within a capsule or cigarette-like aerosol-generating material and can be connected to the aerosol-generating device rather than being a component of the aerosol-generating device itself.

In one embodiment, the flavorant is present in consumable 301b. Flavoring agents may include ethyl vanillin (vanilla), menthol, isoamyl acetate (banana oil), or the like. In another embodiment, the consumable 301b may include additional flavor sources (not shown) provided beyond the consumable module 301a and on the side of the mouthpiece end 103 that are produced from the consumable 301b. produces a flavor that is inhaled by the user along with the aerosol. In yet another embodiment, the e-cig 100 is equipped with two or more consumables, each containing a flavorant and/or a certain level of active ingredient (nicotine). In this case, each consumable can be heated separately to generate an aerosol.

The e-cig 100 also includes a controller 304 configured to control various components within the e-cig. For example, controller 304 may control timing unit 305 , communication unit 306 , memory 307 , and sensors 308 included in e-cig 100 . Timing unit 305 is configured to provide time information (eg, time of day) and generate time stamps for puff or event data to aid in analyzing a user's vaping preferences. The timing unit 305 also schedules a customized aerosol delivery profile (also referred to as a vaping profile) for the user and provides this customized vaping profile to the controller 304 to facilitate the user's use of the e-cig 100. configured to monitor and limit the For example, the timing unit 305 may specify days of the week to enable either a workday or weekend vaping profile, or a time of day to enable a strong vaping profile (eg, higher nicotine needs). Or a weaker vaping profile (eg, lower nicotine needs) may be enabled. The timing unit 305 may also disable the device at set times, such as bedtime, daily, or some specific days as set by the user. Alternatively, the functionality of the timing unit 305 can be integrated into the controller 304, in which case the controller 304 receives time information from the timing unit 305 to activate the vaping profile or deactivate the device. .

Communication unit 306 is configured to manage communications with smartphone 201 , server 204 , tracking device 205 , network 202 as well as other e-cigs 203 . Memory 307 is configured to store information such as different vaping profiles and user settings and preferences.

The e-cig 100 may also include various sensors 308 (eg, puff sensors, biometric sensors, etc.) to record usage data for each inhalation or puff when the e-cig 100 is used by the user. The usage data recorded may comprise puff duration (ie, length of puff), puff interval (ie, time between successive puffs), and fluid and/or nicotine consumption. Usage data may also include user heart rate data and any suitable metrics for analyzing consumer behavior, such as obtained from tracking device 205 . The timing unit 305 is configured to generate a timestamp of usage data, which is stored with the usage data for analysis and to build a customized vaping profile for the user. In one example, the puff detector can determine the number of puffs to inhale the aerosol. The puff detector can also detect the time required for one puff to inhale the aerosol.

The e-cig 100 may also include an input/output (I/O) or user interface 309 configured to provide instructions to and receive input from the user. The I/O interface 309 preferably includes a display device and an input device. The indicating device may comprise a visible light emitting element including one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), a screen display, or an acoustic emitter, or other suitable means of providing instructions to the user. A visible light emitting element, such as an LED, may be disposed on the tip of the non-mouthpiece end 102 or on the side of the e-cig 100 . Such LEDs indicate the puff state when aerosol is being inhaled, the non-puff state when no aerosol is being inhaled, the preheat state when the heater is heating, and the vape ready when the heater is operating at the target temperature to generate aerosol. Various lighting modes may be indicated to provide the user within the display with a completion status, a depletion status where the LED bar indicates the depletion level of the aerosol source, and any other information regarding the operating status of the e-cig. The input device may be one or more user-operable buttons or sensible touch panels that respond to presses, toggles, or touches.

All elements described above send and/or receive commands and/or data via communication bus 310 .

FIG. 3B is a block diagram of various components in personal computing device or smart phone 201 . The smartphone 201 includes a processor 311 for controlling various operations of the smartphone, a memory 312 for storing system and user data, an operating system 313 such as Android™ or iOS™, and power to the device. and a power source 314, such as a lithium-ion battery, for supplying the power. Smartphone 201 also comprises a communication unit 315 including modules such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, etc., to connect with various entities present in system 200 . Further, smart phone 201 includes an I/O interface 316 for interacting with a user. The I/O interface 316 preferably comprises a touch screen capable of receiving input from a user via touch actions and displaying content to the user on the screen. However, it should be appreciated that the I/O interface may alternatively include keys for receiving input and a non-touch screen for displaying content.

Additionally, the smartphone 201 has an e-cig control app 317 running on it that is downloaded onto the smartphone 201 by the user. The e-cig control app 317 preferably allows the user to set his vaping preferences on the e-cig 100 . The e-cig control app 317 may also allow the user to view vaping history and other useful statistics. Smartphone 201 also preferably has a calendar app 318 (which may be built-in or downloadable from an app store) with which the user may record his or her daily schedule and appointments. The smartphone 201 may also have an e-cig control app 317 and a calendar app 318, such as a clock app, or other apps 319 that the user may use with apps associated with the Fitbit™ fitness tracker.

All the elements described above send and/or receive commands and/or data via communication bus 320 .

FIG. 4A shows a flow diagram for a process 400a of managing user vaping profiles on the e-cig 100. As shown in FIG. Note that the steps in process 400a do not necessarily have to be performed in the same order. Also, some steps may be optional and may be omitted.

At step 401, the aerosol generator obtains the user's aerosol delivery profile from the user history. In this example, the e-cig 100 retrieves the vaping profile for the user from the user history stored in the memory 307 or connects with the e-cig app 317 on the smartphone 201 and sends it to the smartphone 201. is configured to retrieve from the memory 312 of the User vaping history may also include preferences set by the user in the past. The acquiring step may be triggered by the user pressing a switch 104 or shaking the e-cig 100 or using the e-cig app 317 .

At step 402, the days of the week are identified. In this example, controller 304 is configured to identify the day of the week with the help of timing unit 305 . The user may set the date and time on the e-cig 100 upon first use. Alternatively, e-cig 100 may automatically determine the correct date and time by connecting directly to network 202 or via smart phone 201 .

In step 403 it is determined whether it is a working day. In this example, controller 304 compares the identified day of the week to the user's schedule to see if it is a working day for the user. The user's typical weekly schedule may be stored in the memory 307 of the e-cig 100, or the e-cig 100 simply fetches the user's schedule from any of the calendar apps 318 on the smartphone 201. may If no user schedule has been set, by default the controller 304 preferably sets Monday through Friday as working days and Saturday through Sunday as non-working days. The user may change these settings at any time and/or the e-cig 100 may periodically check the user's schedule on the calendar app 318 and update the settings accordingly. If the controller 304 identifies that the current day is a working day, then the controller 304 proceeds to step 404 , else it proceeds to step 405 .

At step 404, the aerosol delivery profile is customized according to the workday schedule. In this example, controller 304 customizes the aerosol delivery profile for e-cig 100, identifying that it is a work day. In the workday aerosol delivery profile, the amount, flavor, and timing of aerosol emissions from the e-cig 100 are preferably set to provide the user with different amounts and types of aerosol during different times of the day. It is well known that taking moderate amounts of nicotine during the day can provide wakefulness and help improve concentration and performance at work. However, at night, the same amount of nicotine may interfere with sleep, while a smaller amount may help calm the user. The demand for nicotine is completely dependent on the user's personal lifestyle and changes from time to time. Thus, by setting the workday aerosol delivery profile, controller 304 ensures that the correct amount of nicotine is delivered to the user to meet the user's needs. The e-cig 100 may be a multi-tank device with different concentrations of nicotine and flavors that may be selectively activated. For example, in the morning the controller 304 may activate tanks containing light nicotine and fruity flavor, strong nicotine and coffee flavor in the afternoon, and chamomile flavor in the evening.

The controller 304 may also learn from the user's vaping habits over time to adjust or modify the aerosol delivery profile. For example, if the user is vaping and taking longer or more frequent puffs during certain times of the day, as identified by the puff sensor, controller 304 may modify the profile to It is preferable to deliver an increased amount of nicotine during that time each day for the duration of the week.

At step 405, the aerosol delivery profile is customized according to the non-workday schedule. In this example, specifying that it is not a workday, controller 304 customizes the aerosol delivery profile for e-cig 100 based on the non-workday schedule and preferences. In the non-workday aerosol delivery profile, the amount, flavor, and timing of aerosol emissions from the e-cig 100 are different than in the workday profile. As explained above, the user may change these settings, or the controller 304 may adapt the profile according to changes in the user's schedule as fetched from the calendar app 318 on the smartphone 201. good too. For example, the user may be working from home or performing some task that requires increased alertness.

At step 406, the time is identified. In this example, using timing unit 305, controller 304 identifies what time of day it is. If the user is traveling and is in a different time zone than his or her home location, the timing unit 305 can either directly connect to the network 202 or via the smart phone 201 to set the new time. It will be appreciated that it may automatically adjust to the band.

At step 407, it is determined whether it is a preset event time. In this embodiment, the user can set a daily bedtime, preferably using the e-cig control app 318 . The controller 304 determines whether the current time is within a certain time of the preset bedtime (eg, within 8 hours of the preset bedtime). The bedtime may be fetched from the memory 307 of the e-cig 100 or obtained from the smart phone 201 . If it is determined that it is the user's bedtime, the process proceeds to step 408; Preset event times may relate to any recurring event, including bedtime, set by the user for each day of the week or separately for work and non-work days. It goes without saying that For example, it can be time set aside for exercise or intercession, playing with children, routine meetings at work, and the like.

At step 408 the device is disabled. In this example, upon specifying that it is time for the user to go to bed, the controller 304 preferably disables the use of the e-cig 100 to limit the user from vaping at night. This may be done in many ways. In one embodiment, the controller 304 automatically disables or locks the e-cig 100 as soon as it determines that it is bedtime. In another preferred embodiment, controller 304 sends a warning message to the user for a predetermined period of time (eg, 15-30 seconds) before automatically disabling the device. This can be done by lighting an LED in a certain way, by playing a sound on the I/O interface 309, and/or by displaying a pop-up message on the e-cig app 317 on the smartphone 201. may be done. During this time, the user may choose to decline the automatic deactivation and continue using the e-cig 100. However, if no input is received from the user, controller 304 automatically disables e-cig 100 . In yet another embodiment, controller 304 sends a warning message to the user at bedtime, but does not automatically disable the device. Instead, they rely on the user manually locking or disabling the device.

In step 409 the device is controlled according to the customized profile. In this example, either the workday or non-workday vaping profile is active on the e-cig 100 when specified as not a set time limit (such as bedtime). Vaping predictions are made taking into account the time of day and the user's schedule. The e-cig 100 may also be able to suggest flavors to the user for different times of the day, such as, for example, suggesting a mint flavor after lunch and a coffee flavor in the afternoon. In addition, smart charging can be planned in advance to keep the e-cig 100 in good standing for anticipated vaping needs. For example, if, under the vaping profile, Tuesday is expected to be a high vaping day, the predicted user vaping profile is shared with the associated charger to control full charge, or , the user can be suggested to charge in advance on Monday night.

Note that profile activation may be performed directly on the e-cig 100 or via the smartphone 201. A communication pairing between the e-cig 100 and the smartphone 201 allows the e-cig 100 to receive control commands generated by the smartphone 201 based on customized aerosol delivery profiles. Operation of the e-cig 100 is thus controlled based on the received control commands.

At step 410, it is determined whether additional user data is available. In this example, e-cig 100 may also receive additional user data from smart phone 201 and/or tracking device 205 . The tracking device 205 can monitor, for example, the user's heart rate, number of steps taken per day, stress level, etc. and provide it to the e-cig 100 either directly or via the smart phone 201 . Such user data may not always be available, for example when the user is not wearing a tracking device. It will be appreciated that such data is also available from sensors 308 on e-cig 100 . If no additional data is available, the e-cig 100 continues with the activated profile. However, if additional data is available, the process moves to step 411 .

At step 411, the customized profile is modified according to additional user data. In this embodiment, in response to user data obtained from smartphone 201, tracking device 205, or sensor 308, controller 304 preferably modifies the user's activated vaping profile. For example, upon determining that the user's heart rate is outside the normal range based on available data, the intensity and frequency of vaping may be reduced to limit the user's vaping, or The e-cig 100 may be completely disabled. The user may also be notified via the I/O interface 309 and/or the e-cig app 317 on the smartphone 201 to modify the vaping profile based on additional data.

In the embodiment described above, method 400a is performed by e-cig 100. FIG. In alternative embodiments, method 400a can also be performed by smart phone 201 . When the method is performed by smart phone 201 , it gains access to all user data as recorded by e-cig 100 and/or tracking device 205 . The smartphone 201 stores user data in the memory 312 . Since the smartphone 201 is communicatively connected to the e-cig 100, it can control various functions of the e-cig 100, such as vaping profile activation, heating element activation, device deactivation, etc. . In yet another embodiment, some steps are performed by e-cig 100 and some are performed by smart phone 201 .

FIG. 4B shows a flow diagram of a method 400b that allows users of aerosol-generating devices 100 to connect with users of other similar devices 203. As shown in FIG. It will be appreciated that method 400b may be performed in conjunction with method 400a or separately.

At step 412, other devices in the vicinity of the user of the aerosol generating device are searched. In this example, a user of e-cigs 100 may wish to connect with other users using e-cigs 203 within system 200 . In one embodiment, the e-cig 100 has a Bluetooth communicator included in the communication unit 306 so that it can search for other similar e-cigs 203 in proximity to the e-cig 100 . It goes without saying that you can only find e-cigs with their Bluetooth communicator enabled. Alternatively, the e-cig 100 has a GPS sensor that can identify other e-cigs 203 in the vicinity of the e-cig 100 through a GPS tracking app. In another embodiment, the user uses the e-cig app 317 to engage the Bluetooth module or GPS sensor of the smart phone 201 to run a control application similar to the e-cig control app 317 on each personal computing device. Search for other similar e-cigs 203 via In an alternative embodiment, the e-cig 100 or smartphone 201 uses a GPS sensor to identify the location of the user and uploads the location information to server 204, where all e-cigs 100, 203 follow their respective locations. grouped. Grouping information, including a list of nearby e-cigs, is communicated to the e-cigs 100 so that the e-cigs 100 can identify other e-cigs 203 nearby. Alternatively, the grouping information can be e-cigs (belonging to the same user) such that the smartphone 201 can identify other e-cigs 203 nearby or other smartphones paired with other e-cigs 203 respectively. The smartphone 201 paired with the cig 100 is notified. Note that in Bluetooth scanning, an area to be searched is automatically set according to the Bluetooth range. However, with GPS sensing, the user may limit the search of other users within an area that defines a predetermined area to search, eg, within a 100 meter radius of the user.

At step 413, it is determined whether other devices are available. In this embodiment, controller 304 or e-cig app 317 analyzes the results obtained in step 412 to determine if there are other devices in the vicinity of the e-cig 100 user. In other words, candidate devices are identified from the search results. If no other user is found, the process returns to step 412 and continues to search for other devices, preferably periodically. However, if candidate devices are found, the process moves to step 414 .

At step 414, it is determined whether the candidate device is a trusted device. In this embodiment, the e-cig 100 may store in memory 307 the device IDs of other users' devices that have previously connected with the e-cig 100 in the past. Alternatively, this may be stored in memory 312 of smart phone 201 via e-cig app 317 . The controller 304 compares the device IDs of available users to the device IDs stored in memory to identify whether they are trusted devices. These trusted devices in the user's vicinity are preferably friends, associates, or colleagues of the user who share a workspace with the user. If a trusted device is found, the process moves to step 416; However, for other users the process moves to step 415 .

At step 415, additional information is requested for other candidate devices. In this example, the e-cig app 317 running on the controller 304 of the e-cig 100 or the smartphone 201 looks for additional information about candidate devices that are not found in memory and are not yet considered trusted devices. The e-cig 100 or smart phone 201 may send a request to a server 204 where a comprehensive user profile of all connected users of the e-cigs 203 is stored. A comprehensive user profile may include information such as username, employer name, employer, contact information, and the like. In this way, users can identify other users who are recognizable and verified. In another embodiment, controller 304 may also solicit additional information directly from other users. A user may also find other candidate devices by submitting a list of candidate devices to server 204 with configurable rules. Configurable rules are criteria or filters based on one or more user attributes such as employer name, age, occupation, and the like. For example, a user may only want to find users who work for the same employer as the user. In another example, the user may combine employer name with another attribute, such as flavor preference, to set up configurable rules. Controller 304 may also pose some security questions to ensure that other users are not malicious entities.

At step 416, one or more candidate devices are added as new trusted devices based on mutual agreement. In this example, if the user is confident about these other candidate devices and the candidate devices provide their consent to connect with the user of the e-cig 100, these devices are added as trusted devices. be. The e-cig and/or smartphone device IDs of these new trusted devices may then be stored in memory 312 . For some reason, if one or more other users are not verified or do not agree with each other, they will not connect to the e-cig 100 .

At step 417, the user's aerosol delivery profile and/or user schedule is exchanged with the user of the trusted device. In this example, the user is connected via network 202 to a trusted device such as one or more e-cigs 203 or their respective smart phones. A user's vaping profile shared with users of these trusted devices may include information about the user's lunch break, free time, and his nicotine and flavor preferences. The profile may be shared via the e-cig app 317 on smartphone 201 with other users' respective devices that also have a connected app. Additionally, a vaping profile of the user of the trusted device is received. In this embodiment, the e-cig 100 or smart phone 201 may seek and receive the profile of the user of the trusted device. These users' profiles may also include their availability and vaping preferences.

At step 418, users of trusted devices having profiles matching the user are identified. In this example, the e-cig 100 via controller 304 or smartphone 201 preferably via e-cig control app 317 compares the profiles received from one or more e-cigs 203 trusted devices and determines which one is Check if it matches the user's profile for a particular timeslot. For example, if a user is free at 4:00 pm and usually takes a vaping break at that time (as specified from the user's schedule), and another user, say A, is also free at the same time: Controller 304 identifies A as a good match. In another example, a user may have set preferences for particular flavors in his or her profile, and another user, say B, also has preferences for the same flavors. well, so controller 304 identifies B as also a good match. Upon identifying one or more trusted devices with matching profiles, smartphone 201 identifies one or more matching users (each of which is a trusted device with a matching user profile) available in the identified timeslot. associated with at least one of them) may be displayed on the I/O interface 316 .

In step 419 messages are exchanged with the trusted device. In the present invention, based on the matches identified by the e-cig 100 via the controller 304 or by the smart phone 201 preferably via the e-cig control app 317, the communication unit 315 of the smart phone 201 will: A message may be sent to those matching users. For example, smartphone 201 may send a message to A's smartphone to meet at that time. Moreover, you may suggest a preferable place, such as a nearby smoking area. Smartphone 201 may also message B to suggest a vaping break based on shared preferences. To avoid exchanging too many messages and conserve device/network resources, smart phone 201 limits exchanging messages only with trusted devices and/or limits their proximity to the user. You can limit it based on

In accordance with the above description, the present invention allows a user's vaping needs and preferences to be profiled according to his or her schedule and aerosol delivered to the user accordingly. Moreover, by sharing the user's profile with other users, the user can engage with like-minded people during vaping breaks.

5A-5C show graphs 500a, 500b, 500c showing a user's vaping history for a typical week, a typical workday, and a typical non-workday, respectively. In the graph, the height of the bar indicates the frequency of e-cig 100 use or the total amount of aerosol inhaled by the user on a particular day. In this example, the user works only during the day, Monday through Friday. The user is vaping more on workdays and less on weekends, as can be seen from graph 500a. On a workday, a user may generally vape more around noon and in the afternoon, but relatively less in the morning, as can be seen from graph 500b. On non-work days, users may vape more at night and late at night and less during the day for social events, as can be seen from graph 500c. A usage profile based on historical statistics helps predict a user's usage on a particular day. However, given the user's real-life schedule, the user may not be vaping as much on Mondays if they plan to take the day off. If the user stays up late at night and needs to stay awake, the user may need to vape more. Therefore, a customized and well-designed user profile would be advantageous.

For the user's benefit, the e-cig 100 may automatically lower the nicotine level if it exceeds a predetermined threshold level. The e-cig 100 may also automatically turn off after a preset time, restricting the user from vaping late at night or during work (except during breaks and lunch). Additionally, the e-cig 100 may also track the total amount of nicotine ingested by the user during the day and limit further intake if it reaches the recommended level for the day. Preferably, such settings are hard-coded into the e-cig 100 to control maximum usage. However, this is completely optional and the e-cig 100 may allow the user to change these settings.

The controller 304 may also adjust the aerosol delivery to increase or decrease the substance in the aerosol and/or add flavor to the aerosol, depending on user preference. The amount of substance in the aerosol can be modified (increased or decreased) in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the amount of aerosol emitted from consumable 301b may be varied, thereby affecting the amount of material inhaled by the user. In another embodiment, a multi-tank vaping device may be used that includes two or more liquid reservoirs, each containing liquid having a different concentration of substance. By switching the feed to reservoirs containing different concentrations of liquid, it is possible to regulate substance intake while maintaining the same aerosol volume. In yet another embodiment, substance delivery is controlled by controlling the heating action in heated non-combustion and steam-based devices (e.g., by controlling the energy supplied to the heater) or in steam-based devices. Modifications can be made by controlling the pressurized liquid source.

The processing steps described herein performed by the main control unit, or controller, may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, or storage, associated with the main control unit. Computer-readable media can include non-volatile media and volatile media. Volatile media can include semiconductor memory and dynamic memory, among others. Non-volatile media can include, among others, optical and magnetic disks.

The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise forms disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments. .

As used herein, the term "non-transitory computer-readable media" refers to short-term and long-term information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and submodules, or other data in any device. It is intended to represent any tangible computer-based device implemented in any method or technology for storage. Accordingly, the methods described herein may be encoded as executable instructions embodied in tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media including, but not limited to, storage devices and/or memory devices. . Such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform at least part of the methods described herein. Moreover, as used herein, the term "non-transitory computer-readable media" includes, but is not limited to, volatile and non-volatile media, non-transitory computer storage devices, firmware, physical and virtual All tangible computer readable media, including but not limited to storage, removable and non-removable media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and any other digital sources such as networks or the Internet, and transitory propagating signals. Including not yet developed digital means, with one exception.

As will be appreciated based on the foregoing specification, the above-described embodiments of the disclosure employ computer programming or engineering techniques, including computer software, firmware, hardware, or any combination or subset thereof. may be implemented using Any such resulting program having computer readable code means may be embodied or provided in one or more computer readable media, thereby creating a computer program product, i.e., a computer program product, according to the contemplated embodiments of the present disclosure. , may create manufactured goods. An article of manufacture containing computer code may be made and/or used by executing the code directly from one medium, by copying the code from one medium to another, or by transmitting the code over a network. may be

Claims (17)

A computer-implemented method of operating an aerosol generator, comprising:
retrieving a user's aerosol delivery profile stored on the aerosol generator or personal computing device, the aerosol delivery profile comprising a workday profile and a non-workday profile;
obtaining a user schedule from a server or a calendar application on the personal computing device;
customizing one of the workday profile and the non-workday profile in the retrieved aerosol delivery profile for the user based at least on the user schedule;
controlling operation of the aerosol generator based on the customized aerosol delivery profile;
Method. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery profile includes information regarding the amount of substance delivered to the user in an aerosol. Furthermore,
receiving input from the user on the personal computing device to set recurring events for each day during the week;
limiting use of the aerosol generating device during the recurring event;
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2. Furthermore,
establishing a communication pairing between the aerosol generating device and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generating device to obtain the user schedule from the personal computing device; a user schedule is obtained periodically by the aerosol generator;
The method according to any one of claims 1-3. Furthermore,
establishing a communication pairing between the aerosol generator and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generator to receive control commands, the control commands being the customized generated by the personal computing device based on the aerosol delivery profile obtained;
controlling operation of the aerosol generator based on the received control command;
The method according to any one of claims 1-3. Furthermore,
monitoring the use of the aerosol generating device over time;
modifying said aerosol delivery profile based on said use;
The method according to any one of claims 1-5. 7. Any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising exchanging said aerosol delivery profile and/or said user schedule with other aerosol generating devices connected over a network or their respective other personal computing devices. or the method described in paragraph 1. Furthermore,
searching the predetermined area for the other aerosol generator or the respective personal computing device having an aerosol generator control application to identify candidate devices;
identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices for exchanging aerosol delivery profiles and/or user schedules;
8. The method of claim 7. said identifying one or more of said candidate devices as trusted devices;
comparing the device ID of the candidate device to a previously stored device ID;
identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices based on the comparison;
9. The method of claim 8. said identifying one or more of said candidate devices as trusted devices;
sending the list of candidate devices to a server storing user profiles and configurable rules;
identifying, by the server, one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices based on user profiles and the configurable rules associated with the candidate devices;
9. The method of claim 8. Furthermore,
identifying time slots based on the exchanged user schedule;
a message on the user computing device indicating one or more matching users each associated with at least one of the trusted devices with a matching user profile available in the identified timeslot; displaying, including
The method according to any one of claims 8-10. A computer-implemented method of exchanging aerosol delivery profiles, comprising:
searching the predetermined area for other aerosol generators or other personal computing devices having an aerosol generator control application to identify candidate devices;
identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices for exchanging aerosol delivery profiles and/or user schedules;
identifying time slots based on the exchanged user schedule;
a message on the user computing device indicating one or more matching users each associated with at least one of the trusted devices with a matching user profile available in the identified timeslot; displaying;
Method. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a message to the one or more matching users to schedule a meeting at the identified time slot. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said message further includes a location for said meeting. 15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein said message is sent only to said at least one trusted device in proximity to said user computing device. A data processing system for generating a customizable aerosol delivery profile for a user, the data processing system comprising means for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1-11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15.

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