An aerosol provision device comprising a control interface to receive physical input

Abstract

An aerosol provision device comprising: a controller configured to control operation of the aerosol provision device; and a control interface comprising one or more input components configured to receive an input, wherein the input is a physical input or a sound input, wherein the control interface is configured to provide input data to the controller, wherein the input data corresponds to the input, wherein the controller is configured to: receive the input data; in response to receiving the input data, determine whether the input passes a predetermined test, i.e. whether information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol provision device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that a user has been verified as a qualified user; and in response to determining that the input passes the predetermined test, switch from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device in accordance with a first mode to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device in accordance with a second mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an aerosol supply system, an aerosol supply device, and a method for generating atomized gas. Background Technology

[0002] The operation of a delivery system, such as an aerosol supply system, can be controlled by a controller. A delivery system may include a housing, a memory, a controller configured to control the operation of the delivery system, a control interface for receiving inputs from the delivery system and providing outputs from the delivery system, and a power source configured to supply electricity for the operation of the delivery system. The delivery system may also include an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, which may be in liquid, solid, or gel form. The operation of the delivery system can be controlled by a controller included in the delivery system, or by a controller of a separate device configured to connect to and data communicate with the control interface of the delivery system via communication circuitry. For example, the separate device may send data including instructions for performing control actions to the communication circuitry of the delivery system. The operation of the delivery system can be controlled by a distributed system that includes the delivery system and one or more other devices, such as external power source devices and / or computing devices, that together control the operation of the delivery system. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to one aspect, an aerosol supply device is provided, comprising: a controller configured to control operation of the aerosol supply device; and a control interface including one or more input components configured to receive input, wherein the input is a physical or acoustic input, wherein the control interface is configured to provide input data to the controller, wherein the input data corresponds to an input, wherein the controller is configured to: receive the input data; in response to receiving the input data, determine whether the input has passed a predetermined test, i.e., determine whether information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol supply device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user; and in response to determining that the input has passed the predetermined test, switch from control operation of the aerosol supply device according to a first mode to control operation of the aerosol supply device according to a second mode.

[0004] In one implementation, in order to determine whether the input passes a predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device.

[0005] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether information is generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device by determining whether the information is generated by applying a predetermined software function to the identifier.

[0006] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device by testing whether a first key of the aerosol supply device matches a second key included in the information input as a pass key.

[0007] In one implementation, in order to determine whether the input passes a predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated by an authorized computing device.

[0008] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by whether the test information has an encrypted association with a first key of the aerosol supply device.

[0009] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by using a first key of an aerosol supply device (which is a public key) to test whether a corresponding second key of an authorized computing device (which is a private key) was used to generate the information.

[0010] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by using a first key of an aerosol supply device as a private key to test whether the information includes a corresponding second key of an authorized computing device that matches the first key.

[0011] In one implementation, a specific function of the aerosol supply device is disabled in a first mode and enabled in a second mode, wherein the specific function includes the function of the aerosol supply device generating aerosols.

[0012] In one embodiment, the control interface includes: one or more output components configured to provide output to a user, and / or a communication circuit configured to send the output to another device; and the controller is configured to, when controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a first mode, and in response to receiving input data from the control interface corresponding to an instruction to perform a control action disabled in the first mode, cause the control interface to provide an alarm output indicating that verification of whether the user is a qualified user of the aerosol supply device is required.

[0013] In this implementation, after switching to control the aerosol supply device according to the second mode, the controller is configured as follows: i) Continue to control the operation of the aerosol supply device according to the second mode; or ii) In response to a period of time or receiving input data from the control interface corresponding to a command to switch from the first mode to the second mode, switch back from operating the aerosol supply device according to the second mode to operating the aerosol supply device according to the first mode, wherein, after switching back to operating the aerosol supply device according to the first mode, the controller is configured to switch back to operating the aerosol supply device according to the second mode in response to determining that an input has passed a predetermined test, each input that has passed the predetermined test being different from the input that previously passed the predetermined test.

[0014] In this implementation, the identifier is a unique identifier for the aerosol supply device.

[0015] In one embodiment, the aerosol supply device includes a memory in which a unique identifier is stored.

[0016] In one embodiment, the aerosol supply device includes an identifier portion that represents an identifier.

[0017] In one embodiment, the aerosol supply device includes a housing, wherein an identifier portion is disposed on the housing, and wherein: i) the identifier portion includes an optical code encoded with a unique identifier; or ii) the identifier portion includes text, wherein the identifier is readable by a user from the text.

[0018] In one implementation, one or more input components include one or more physical input components configured to receive physical inputs including a sequence of manipulations performed by a user.

[0019] In one implementation, the controller is configured to decode information in the input, which is encoded in the structure of the input manipulation sequence.

[0020] In an implementation, i) one or more physical input components include one or more buttons, and wherein the manipulation sequence includes a pressing sequence performed by a user on one or more buttons; ii) one or more physical input components include one or more switches, and wherein the manipulation sequence includes a pushing sequence performed by a user on one or more switches; and / or iii) one or more physical input components include one or more dials, and wherein the manipulation sequence includes a rotating sequence performed by a user on one or more dials.

[0021] In one implementation, one or more physical input components include an accelerometer, and the manipulation sequence includes a sequence of movements performed by the user on the accelerometer.

[0022] In one implementation, one or more input components include a microphone configured to receive sound input generated by another device.

[0023] In one implementation, the controller is configured to decode information in the input that is encoded in the audio input.

[0024] In one embodiment, the aerosol supply device is a one-piece aerosol supply device configured not to receive consumables containing aerosol generating materials.

[0025] In one embodiment, the aerosol supply device is a one-piece disposable aerosol supply device configured to not be refilled with aerosol generating material.

[0026] In one embodiment, the aerosol supply device includes a reservoir for storing aerosol-generating materials, which are liquids.

[0027] In this embodiment, the aerosol supply device is a non-rechargeable, one-piece aerosol supply device, excluding a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source.

[0028] According to one aspect, an aerosol supply system is provided, comprising: any of the aforementioned aerosol supply devices; and consumables including aerosol generating materials.

[0029] According to one aspect, a system is provided, comprising: an aerosol supply device or an aerosol supply system of any of the above; and additional means, wherein the additional means is configured to i) provide input to one or more input components of the aerosol supply device, or ii) provide a user with an instruction to provide input to one or more input components of the aerosol supply device, wherein the input indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device.

[0030] In this embodiment, the additional device is a local computing device.

[0031] In one embodiment, the system further includes an authorized computing device configured to generate input in response to receiving a mode switching request including an identifier of an aerosol supply device, and to send the input to another device.

[0032] According to one aspect, a method for an aerosol supply device is provided, comprising: providing an aerosol supply device and a controller, the controller being configured to control operation of the aerosol supply device; providing input to one or more input components of a control interface of the aerosol supply device, wherein the input is a physical or auditory input; providing input data corresponding to the input to the controller via the control interface; in response to receiving the input data, determining by the controller whether the input has passed a predetermined test, i.e., determining whether information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol supply device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user; and in response to determining that the input has passed the predetermined test, switching by the controller from controlling operation of the aerosol supply device according to a first mode to controlling operation of the aerosol supply device according to a second mode.

[0033] In one implementation, the method includes: sending materials used to verify whether a user is a qualified user of an aerosol supply device to an authorized computing device via a local computing device; and using the authorized computing device to evaluate the materials to determine one or more characteristics of the user.

[0034] In one implementation, the method includes: sending a mode switching request from a local computing device to an authorized computing device, the mode switching request being a request from a controller to switch from controlling the operation of an aerosol supply device according to a first mode to controlling the operation of an aerosol supply device according to a second mode, and including an identifier of the aerosol supply device.

[0035] In one implementation, the method includes, in response to receiving a mode switching request, having an authorized computing device verify whether the user of the aerosol supply device is a qualified user of the aerosol supply device.

[0036] In one implementation, the method includes: if a user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device, an authorized computing device generates an input and provides it to the aerosol supply device to indicate that the user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device; and the authorized computing device sends the input to a local computing device or the local computing device.

[0037] In one implementation, the method includes generating input by: using an identifier of an aerosol supply device by an authorized computing device to generate input such that information in the input has a testable association with the identifier of the aerosol supply device.

[0038] In one implementation, generating input by the authorized computing device includes applying a predetermined software function to an identifier.

[0039] In one implementation, generating input includes: generating input by an authorized computing device such that the controller can determine that the information in the input was generated by the authorized computing device.

[0040] In one implementation, generating input by the authorized computing device includes generating input such that the information in the input is cryptographically associated with a first key of the aerosol supply device.

[0041] In one implementation, the input generation by the authorized computing device includes: generating the input using a second key of the authorized computing device as a private key, and the first key of the aerosol supply device being a public key corresponding to the private key.

[0042] In one implementation, generating input by the authorized computing device includes: selecting a pass key associated with an identifier of the aerosol supply device in the memory of the authorized computing device, and generating input such that the information in the input includes the pass key.

[0043] In one embodiment, providing input to the aerosol supply device includes: providing instructions from a local computing device or the local computing device to a user to provide input by providing physical input, including a manipulation sequence, to one or more of one or more input components of the aerosol supply device.

[0044] In this implementation, the information in the input is encoded in the structure of the manipulation sequence of the physical input.

[0045] In one embodiment, providing input to the aerosol supply device includes providing sound input from a local computing device or the local computing device to a microphone of one or more input components of the aerosol supply device.

[0046] In this implementation, the information in the input is encoded in the voice input.

[0047] According to one aspect, a method for manufacturing an aerosol supply device is provided, comprising: generating an identifier for the aerosol supply device; providing the identifier to the aerosol supply device and storing the identifier in a memory of an authorized computing device; generating a first key for the aerosol supply device; storing the first key in the memory of the aerosol supply device; generating a second key for the authorized computing device, wherein the second key is cryptographically associated with the first key; and storing the second key in the memory of the authorized computing device.

[0048] In one implementation, providing an identifier for the aerosol supply device includes storing the identifier in the memory of the aerosol supply device.

[0049] In an implementation, providing an identifier for an aerosol supply device includes providing an identifier portion that represents the identifier for the aerosol supply device.

[0050] In this implementation, the first key is a public key, and the second key is a private key.

[0051] In this implementation, the first key is a private key, and the second key is a pass key that matches the first key.

[0052] In one embodiment, storing the second key in the memory of the authorized computing device includes storing the second key in association with the identifier in the memory of the authorized computing device.

[0053] According to several aspects, a controller is provided configured to control the operation of an aerosol supply device, wherein the controller is configured to: receive input data from a control interface of the aerosol supply device, the input data corresponding to input received by one or more input components of the control interface, wherein the input is physical or auditory input; in response to receiving the input data, determine whether the input has passed a predetermined test, i.e., determine whether information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol supply device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user; and in response to determining that the input from the user has passed the predetermined test, switch from controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a first mode to controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a second mode.

[0054] In one implementation, in order to determine whether the input passes a predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device.

[0055] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device by determining whether the information is generated by applying a predetermined software function to the identifier.

[0056] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device by testing whether a first key of the aerosol supply device matches a second key included in the information in the input.

[0057] In one implementation, in order to determine whether the input passes a predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated by an authorized computing device.

[0058] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by testing whether the information has an encrypted association with a first key of the aerosol supply device.

[0059] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by the authorized computing device by testing whether the corresponding second key of the authorized computing device, which is a public key of the aerosol supply device, is a private key used to generate the information.

[0060] In one implementation, the controller is configured to determine whether information was generated by an authorized computing device by testing whether a first key of an aerosol supply device using a private key includes a corresponding second key of an authorized computing device that matches the first key.

[0061] In one implementation, the controller is configured to decode information in the input, which is encoded in a structure of a manipulation sequence of one or more physical input components.

[0062] In one implementation, the controller is configured to decode information in the input that is encoded in sound input received by the microphone of one or more input components and generated by another device.

[0063] Each of the embodiments discussed above can be applied to any other aspect, and can also be combined with any other embodiment. Attached Figure Description

[0064] aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view is shown through an aerosol supply system according to certain embodiments.

[0065] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view is shown through an aerosol supply system according to certain embodiments.

[0066] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view is shown through an aerosol supply system according to certain embodiments.

[0067] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a system including an aerosol supply device, consumables, an external power source device, a local computing device, and a remote computing device, according to certain embodiments, is shown.

[0068] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view is shown through an aerosol supply system according to certain embodiments.

[0069] Figure 6 A flowchart representation of a method for an aerosol supply system according to certain embodiments is shown.

[0070] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing an aerosol supply system according to certain embodiments is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0071] This document discusses or describes several aspects and features of certain examples and implementations. Some aspects and features of certain examples and implementations can be conventionally implemented, and for the sake of brevity, these aspects and features are not discussed / described in detail. Therefore, it should be understood that aspects and features of the devices and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail can be implemented using any conventional techniques for implementing these aspects and features.

[0072] This application generally relates to the field of "delivery systems" (i.e., systems for delivering at least one substance to a user). Typically, the purpose of delivering the substance to a user is to satisfy a specific "consumer moment." For this purpose, the substance may contain components that produce physiological effects on the user, sensory effects on the user, or both. In this case, the substance is usually present in aerosol-generating materials or other materials not intended for atomization. The material itself (whether or not it is used for atomization) typically contains a range of components. These components are generally categorized as active substances, flavoring agents, aerosol-forming materials, and other functional materials (e.g., fillers). Delivering the active substance to a user may produce some form of psychological effect on the user.

[0073] The delivery system takes various forms. According to this disclosure, a "combustion-type" aerosol supply system is an aerosol supply system in which the aerosol generating material is burned or ignited during use to deliver at least one substance to the user.

[0074] Exemplary combustible aerosol supply systems include cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for self-rolled or self-made cigarettes (based on or not based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes, or other smokeable materials). Exemplary non-combustible aerosol supply systems include heated non-combustible aerosol supply systems (such as heated tobacco products (THP) and carbon-terminated heated tobacco products (CTHP)) that heat solid materials to generate an aerosol without burning the material, vaporized gas aerosol supply systems (commonly referred to as "electronic cigarettes" or "e-cigarettes") that heat liquid materials to generate an aerosol, and hybrid aerosol supply systems that are similar to vaporized gas aerosol supply systems except that the aerosol generated from the liquid material passes through a second material (such as tobacco) to absorb other components before reaching the user. An exemplary aerosol-free delivery system delivers at least one substance to a user via the mouth, nose, skin, or otherwise without forming an aerosol. This includes, but is not limited to, tablets, chewing gum, patches, articles including inhalable powders, and oral products (such as oral tobacco including snuff or wet snuff), wherein the at least one substance may or may not include nicotine.

[0075] Although this document describes various techniques for non-combustible aerosol supply systems, these techniques can be readily applied to any of the aforementioned delivery systems. For example, where feasible, these techniques can be implemented within the delivery system or in a "smart" container used for the delivery system, such as a container for storing the delivery system. The delivery systems described herein can be implemented as combustible aerosol supply systems, non-combustible aerosol supply systems, or aerosol-free delivery systems.

[0076] In particular, but not exclusively, this disclosure relates to a non-combustible aerosol delivery system. A “non-combustible” aerosol delivery system is an aerosol delivery system in which the aerosol generating material of the aerosol delivery system (or its components) delivers at least one substance to a user without combustion or ignition. The delivery system can be a non-combustible aerosol delivery system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol delivery system. A non-combustible aerosol delivery system can be an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaporizer or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not essential. A non-combustible aerosol delivery system can be an aerosol generating material heating system, such as a heated non-combustible system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system. In particular, but not exclusively, this disclosure relates to an electronic aerosol delivery system that can (or may not be) an electronic non-combustible aerosol delivery system.

[0077] Aerosol-generating materials are materials capable of generating aerosols, for example, when heated, irradiated, or powered in any other way. Aerosol-generating materials can be in the form of solids, liquids, or semi-solids (such as gels), and may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings. Aerosol-generating materials may include one or more active substances and / or flavorings, one or more aerosol-forming agent materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials. Aerosol-generating materials may include binders (such as gelling agents) and aerosol-forming agents. Optionally, a substance to be delivered and / or fillers may also be present. Optionally, a solvent (such as water) may also be present, and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of plant material. Specifically, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of tobacco.

[0078] Aerosol generating materials may include or be in the form of aerosol generating membranes. Aerosol generating membranes may include binders (such as gelling agents) and aerosol forming agents. Optionally, a substance to be transported and / or fillers may also be present. Aerosol generating membranes may be substantially free of plant material. Specifically, in some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is substantially free of tobacco. Aerosol generating membranes may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1 mm. For example, the thickness may range from about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm. Aerosol generating membranes may be continuous. For example, the membrane may include or be a continuous sheet of material. The sheet may be in the form of packaging paper, which may be aggregated to form aggregated sheets, or it may be shredded to form shredded material. Shredded material may include one or more strands or one or more strips of aerosol generating material. Aerosol generating membranes may be discontinuous. For example, an aerosol-generating membrane may include one or more discrete portions or regions of aerosol-generating material, such as dots, strips, or lines, which may be supported on a support. In these embodiments, the support may be planar or non-planar. An aerosol-generating membrane can be formed by mixing a binder (such as a gelling agent) with a solvent (such as water), an aerosol forming agent, and one or more other components (such as one or more substances to be transported) to form a slurry, and then heating the slurry to atomize at least some of the solvent to form an aerosol-generating membrane. The slurry may be heated to remove at least about 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt%, or 90 wt% of the solvent.

[0079] Aerosol-generating materials may include or may be "amorphous solids". In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material includes an amorphous solid aerosol-generating membrane. The amorphous solid may be a "monolithic solid". The amorphous solid may be substantially non-fibrous. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can retain some fluid (such as a liquid) within it. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may, for example, include from about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% of amorphous solids. The amorphous solid may be substantially free of plant material. The amorphous solid may be substantially free of tobacco.

[0080] Aerosol-forming materials may include one or more components capable of forming aerosols. In some embodiments, aerosol-forming materials may include one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl octanoate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a mixture of glycerol diacetate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, glyceryl tartrate, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. The one or more other functional materials may include one or more of pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0081] As is common in the technical field, the terms "atomizing gas" and "aerosol," along with related terms such as "vaporization," "aerosolization," and "atomization," are generally used interchangeably. In use, an inhalation action occurs on the aerosol supply system when a user inhales an aerosol generated by an aerosol-generating material. A series of inhalation actions can be considered a "session." A series of inhalation actions can correspond to a characteristic pattern of inhalation. A series of inhalation actions can correspond to a predetermined number or range of inhalations performed by the user on the aerosol supply system. For example, a session can be defined as 10 inhalations or 8 to 12 inhalations. Alternatively, a session can be defined as a predetermined time period elapsed from the first inhalation on the aerosol supply system (e.g., the predetermined time period during which the aerosol-generating material is heated to a target temperature). For example, this predetermined time period could be within 4 minutes, 6 minutes, or 10 minutes. Therefore, a session can be defined when the total number of inhalations reaches a predetermined number of inhalations or range and / or when the time elapsed since the first inhalation reaches a predetermined time period. It should be understood that the values ​​of the predetermined number of inhalations and the predetermined time period are given only as examples, and in other implementations, other numbers and time periods may be used depending on the specific circumstances.

[0082] Alternatively, in an implementation where a session corresponds to a series of inhalations, the series of inhalations is separated from another session by a pause exceeding a threshold duration. This threshold duration can be selected for ease of understanding by the user (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes, 35 minutes, 40 minutes, 45 minutes, 50 minutes, or 55 minutes, or more preferably within a period ranging from 5 to 45 minutes, or more preferably within a period ranging from 10 to 30 minutes, or even more preferably within a period ranging from 15 to 20 minutes), or can be selected based on pharmacokinetics (such as the so-called half-life of nicotine in the body (approximately 2 hours)) or physiology (such as a decrease in the perceived stimulation of the brain by nicotine (e.g., approximately 15 to 25 minutes, averaging approximately 18 to 20 minutes)). Optionally, this half-life can further be personalized, for example, based on gender, body type (height, weight, etc.), ethnicity, etc. A lookup table for half-life values ​​and / or one or more scaling values ​​related to the user's physiological factors can be used to optimize the originally generic half-life value. Therefore, an inhalation session can include a characteristic pattern and / or can be separated from another session by a non-use threshold duration.

[0083] Typically, an aerosol supply system may include an aerosol supply device (e.g., a reusable portion) and consumables (e.g., disposable portions) for use with the aerosol supply device. In many cases, consumables are sold separately from the device and are often sold in multi-packs. The terms "consumable" and "article" are generally used interchangeably. Consumables typically include aerosol-generating materials, and the aerosol supply device includes a power source, controller, control interface, and memory (each of which will be discussed in more detail herein) at least partially enclosed within a housing, which may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal. In use, the consumable may engage with the aerosol supply device. For example, at least a portion of the consumable may be received by the aerosol supply device in a consumable chamber, such as one configured to receive at least a portion of the consumable. The aerosol supply device is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the consumable. Once the aerosol-generating material of a consumable is depleted, the user can remove the consumable by, for example, detaching the aerosol supply device from the consumable, discarding the consumable, and replacing it with a (new) consumable. Devices conforming to this type of two-piece modular configuration are generally referred to as two-piece aerosol supply devices, and these two-piece aerosol supply devices together with the consumables are generally referred to as two-piece aerosol supply systems.

[0084] In this two-piece aerosol supply system, consumables and the aerosol supply device can be coupled to each other. For example, using the coupling interface of the aerosol supply device and a corresponding coupling interface of the consumable, the consumable can be mechanically and / or electrically coupled to the aerosol supply device. The coupling interface of the aerosol supply device may include a mechanical coupling for mechanical coupling with the consumable (e.g., a corresponding mechanical coupling for the consumable). The coupling interface may include an electrical coupling for electrical coupling with the consumable (e.g., a corresponding electrical coupling for the consumable). The electrical coupling interface of the aerosol supply device may be configured to supply power to the consumable (e.g., to the aerosol generator of the consumable) (as will be discussed in more detail herein).

[0085] While consumables typically comprise a single portion of aerosol-generating material, in some cases, they may comprise multiple portions of aerosol-generating material, each of which may be distinct. In such cases, the consumable may be received by an aerosol supply device configured to generate an aerosol from one or more of the multiple portions of aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol supply device may be configured to generate an aerosol independently of each other from the individual portions of aerosol-generating material. Each portion of aerosol-generating material may be a discrete portion, wherein the multiple discrete portions are separated from each other, such that each discrete portion can be individually powered (e.g., heated), and / or can be independently powered (e.g., heated) to generate an aerosol.

[0086] In some cases, an aerosol supply device can be configured to receive multiple consumables, each of which may comprise a different aerosol-generating material. In use, multiple consumables are received by the aerosol supply device, and the device is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating materials of one or more consumables, each capable of generating an aerosol independently. Devices conforming to this type of construction are generally referred to as multi-consumable devices, and such multi-consumable devices, together with multiple consumables, are generally referred to as multi-consumable systems. Such multi-consumable devices and systems can use any features used in two-piece aerosol supply devices and systems, such as, but not limited to, aerosol-generating materials, aerosol generators, power sources, control interfaces, controllers, and memory (as discussed in more detail herein). Similarly, these components can be at least partially enclosed in a housing, which can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal.

[0087] It is also conceivable that the aerosol supply device is an integrated aerosol supply device, which is not configured to receive removable consumables, but instead includes aerosol generating material itself. The integrated aerosol supply device can be configured to be refillable, such that when at least a portion (initial) of the aerosol generating material is depleted, it can be refilled with (new) aerosol generating material. Alternatively, the integrated aerosol supply device can be a disposable integrated aerosol supply device, which can be discarded by the user after the aerosol generating material is depleted (e.g., after a predetermined number of inhalations), and the integrated aerosol supply device is not configured, for example, to be refillable by the user. Furthermore, the integrated aerosol supply device can be a non-rechargeable integrated aerosol supply device, i.e., it does not include a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source (as will be discussed in more detail herein). Integrated aerosol supply devices, such as those described here (which may be refillable or disposable), can utilize any features found in two-piece (and / or multi-consumable) aerosol supply systems, such as, but not limited to, aerosol generating materials, aerosol generators, power sources, control interfaces, controllers, and memory (as will be discussed in more detail herein). Similarly, these components can be at least partially enclosed within a housing, which can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal.

[0088] An aerosol delivery system includes a mouthpiece through which a user inhales an aerosol generated by an aerosol-generating material. The mouthpiece may include a material that provides comfort to the user's lips, such as plastic or rubber. When the user inhales through the mouthpiece, air is drawn in and flows through the aerosol delivery system, mixing with the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material. The user then inhales this air-aerosol mixture, allowing substances in the aerosol to be delivered to the user. The aerosol delivery system may include one or more air inlets located remotely from the mouthpiece. When the user inhales through the mouthpiece, air is drawn in through the one or more air inlets and flows through the aerosol-generating location. A flow path may be connected between this location and an opening in the mouthpiece, allowing the air drawn in through the one or more air inlets, carrying the aerosol, to continue flowing along the flow path to the opening. The aerosol then exits the aerosol delivery system through the mouthpiece (e.g., the opening in the mouthpiece) for the user to inhale. The nozzle can be part of a consumable, part of an aerosol supply device, or a separate component that, in addition to the aerosol supply device and consumable, also forms part of the aerosol supply system.

[0089] The construction of an aerosol supply system (and its aerosol supply device) can vary depending on the form of the aerosol-generating material configured to generate aerosols. However, while examples of the construction of various aerosol-generating materials and corresponding aerosol supply devices will be discussed below, the techniques discussed herein can be applied to all forms of aerosol-generating materials.

[0090] Aerosol supply systems (e.g., their aerosol supply devices) include an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosols from aerosol-generating materials, which are generated at an aerosol generation area of ​​the aerosol supply system. Aerosol generators typically, but not always, include a heating element configured to heat and volatilize the aerosol-generating material, thereby generating an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user. While many features are discussed herein with respect to aerosol generators that include a heating element, it should be noted that these features are equally applicable to aerosol generators that do not necessarily include a heating element.

[0091] Aerosol supply systems (e.g., their aerosol supply devices) typically include a heating chamber, to which a heating assembly is configured to heat such a heating chamber, thereby heating the aerosol-generating material within it. In such devices, the heating chamber may correspond to an aerosol-generating region. The heating chamber is configured to receive the aerosol-generating material. The heating chamber may be included in a consumable. Aerosol supply systems (e.g., their aerosol supply devices) may include a consumable chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the consumable. The heating chamber may correspond to a consumable chamber; however, in devices where the heating chamber is included in the consumable, the heating chamber may not necessarily correspond to a consumable chamber, but rather refer to a region within the consumable that is received in the consumable chamber when connected to the aerosol supply device in use. The consumable may be configured such that it is partially or completely inserted into the aerosol supply device by being inserted through an opening in the housing of the aerosol supply device into the consumable chamber.

[0092] The heating assembly may include heating elements, and the heating assembly is configured to heat the heating elements. The heating elements are used to heat the aerosol-generating material, for example, by configuring them to heat a heating chamber. The heating elements may be part of an aerosol supply device, a consumable, or a separate component that is also part of the aerosol supply system in addition to the aerosol supply device and consumable. Multiple corresponding heating elements may be used, and the heating assembly may be configured to heat these heating elements independently, for example, so that they can be heated individually or in combination. In the case of a system comprising multiple portions of aerosol-generating material (whether these multiple portions are located in the same consumable, multiple consumables, or an aerosol supply device), multiple corresponding heating elements may be used, each configured to heat a corresponding portion of the aerosol-generating material. Multiple heating elements may also be configured to heat different areas of the same portion of aerosol-generating material.

[0093] In some devices, the heating assembly is configured to heat the heating element by resistance heating, wherein current flows through the heating element so that heating occurs due to the resistance of the heating element. In some devices, the heating assembly is configured to heat the heating element by induction heating, in which case the magnetic field generator of the heating assembly is configured to generate a changing magnetic field that penetrates the heating element and heats the sensor material within the heating element. In other words, the sensor material is configured to be heated by penetration with the changing magnetic field. The magnetic field generator may include a coil, such as a helical coil, which may surround at least a portion of the heating chamber.

[0094] Because the sensor material includes a conductive material, the heating element can be heated by penetrating it with a changing magnetic field, and the changing magnetic field induces eddy currents within the sensor material, which in turn cause heating. Alternatively or additionally, this could be because the sensor material includes a magnetic material, and the changing magnetic field heats the sensor material through a hysteresis mechanism. In some embodiments, the sensor material may include a material that is both conductive and magnetic.

[0095] Heating elements, such as their sensor material (if present), may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of metallic materials such as aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, ordinary carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze, or non-metallic materials such as conductive carbon or graphite.

[0096] An apparatus is conceivable that includes a radiant heating element configured to generate radiation for heating the aerosol-generating material, for example, heating a heating chamber. The radiation can include electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared or microwave radiation; or acoustic radiation, such as ultrasonic radiation. In such an apparatus, as discussed above for heating elements, the heating element can be configured to independently heat different portions of the aerosol-generating material or different regions of the same portion of the aerosol-generating material. Typically, this is achieved by configuring the heating element to independently heat different regions of the heating chamber.

[0097] Each of these heating technologies can be applied to any of the aerosol-generating materials discussed above, and can be applied to integrated aerosol supply systems, two-piece aerosol supply systems, and multi-consumable aerosol supply systems, or any other form of delivery system that utilizes heating to generate aerosols from aerosol-generating materials.

[0098] In devices where the aerosol-generating material is liquid, the aerosol-generating material can be stored in a reservoir included in the aerosol supply system. The reservoir can be part of the aerosol supply device, particularly if the aerosol supply device is an integrated aerosol supply device, or the reservoir can be part of a consumable (if present). In devices where the reservoir storing the aerosol-generating material is part of a consumable, the consumable can also include a heating element, which can be heated by resistance heating or induction heating. In such devices where the consumable includes a reservoir storing the aerosol-generating material, the consumable can be referred to as a cartridge.

[0099] The reservoir can take the form of a storage tank, i.e., a container or receiver, in which aerosol-generating material can be stored, allowing the liquid to move and flow freely within the tank. In devices where the reservoir is included in a consumable, the reservoir can be sealed during manufacturing after filling so that it can be discarded once the aerosol-generating material is depleted, or the reservoir can have an inlet port through which a user can add new aerosol-generating material. In such devices, a heating element can be included in the consumable, and the heating element can be located outside the storage tank for vaporizing the aerosol-generating material by heating, thereby generating an aerosol. A transfer device (which may include a wick or other porous element) can be provided to transport the aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the heating element. The transfer device can have one or more portions located inside the reservoir, or otherwise in fluid communication with the aerosol-generating material in the reservoir, to be able to draw in the aerosol-generating material and transfer it by wicking or capillary action to other portions of the transfer device adjacent to or in contact with the heating element. The aerosol-generating material is thus heated and vaporized, and replaced with fresh aerosol-generating material in the reservoir, to be transferred to the heating element via a core transfer device. The transfer device can be considered as a conduit between the reservoir and the heating element, transferring the aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the heating element. Although discussed in the context that the reservoir and heating element are included in consumables, these features can also be applied to aerosol supply devices, for example, in the case where the aerosol supply device is an integrated aerosol supply device.

[0100] In devices where the aerosol-generating material is a solid or gel, the aerosol-generating material may be disposed in a consumable. The consumable may be in the form of a rod, which may also be interchangeably referred to as a "bar," and may have a columnar shape. In some examples, the consumable also includes a filter and / or a cooling element. In these examples, the consumable may include a nozzle. The consumable may include a wrapping paper that at least partially surrounds other components of the consumable, including one or more of the filter, cooling element, nozzle, and aerosol-generating material. In some examples, the wrapping paper may include a paper layer. In some examples, the wrapping paper may include a non-combustible layer (e.g., a flame-retardant layer), such as metal foil. Suitablely, the wrapping paper may include an aluminum foil layer. The wrapping paper may include a laminated structure, and in some examples, the laminated structure may include at least one paper layer and at least one non-combustible layer.

[0101] Consumables may be provided in various shapes and forms, such as planar forms, in which case the consumables include sheets. Aerosol-generating materials may be present on or within the support to form a matrix. The support may be, for example, or include paper, cardboard, paperboard, cardboard, recycled materials, plastic materials, ceramic materials, composite materials, glass, metal, or metal alloys.

[0102] If present, the heating element may be part of the aerosol supply device, such that the heating element is close to (e.g., in contact with) the consumable when it is received by the aerosol supply device. Alternatively, the heating element may be part of the consumable. This may be the case in devices where the aerosol generating material is a liquid, solid, or gel.

[0103] Non-combustible aerosol supply systems (e.g., their aerosol supply devices or consumables) may include aerosol modifiers. Aerosol modifiers are substances typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, configured to modify the generated aerosols, for example, by altering their taste, flavor, acidity, or other properties. The aerosol modifier may be disposed in an aerosol modifier release component operable to selectively release the aerosol modifier. The aerosol modifier may be, for example, an additive or adsorbent. The aerosol modifier may include, for example, one or more of flavorings, colorings, water, and carbon adsorbents. The aerosol modifier may be, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel. The aerosol modifier may be in powder, filament, or granular form. The aerosol modifier may not contain filter material.

[0104] In some embodiments, a non-combustible aerosol supply system (such as its non-combustible aerosol supply device) may include a power source. This power source may, for example, include a power source or a heat source. In some embodiments, the heat source includes a carbon matrix that can be powered to distribute power in the form of heat to aerosol-generating or heat-transferring material adjacent to the heat source. In some embodiments, the power source includes a battery, such as a rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries. The power source is connected to a heating assembly and configured to supply power to the heating assembly, such that the power source is configured to supply power to the heating assembly, and the heating assembly is configured to use the power supplied by the power source to heat the aerosol-generating material.

[0105] In some embodiments, an aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) includes a controller configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply system. It should be understood that the functionality of the controller can be implemented in various different ways, such as using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computers and / or one or more appropriately configured application-specific integrated circuits / circuit systems / chips / chipsets configured to provide the desired functionality. It should be understood that the controller may include a microcontroller (MCU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a central processing unit (CPU), and / or a microprocessor. The controller can be considered as processing circuitry. The operation of the controller is typically controlled at least in part by a software program executing on the controller. Typically, the aerosol supply device of an aerosol supply system includes a controller, but this is not always the case, and in some arrangements, consumables may include the controller.

[0106] The controller can be configured to control the operation of an aerosol generator (e.g., its heating element). While many configurations will be discussed specifically for controllers configured to control the operation of the heating element of an aerosol generator, these configurations can be more generally applied to aerosol generators that may or may not include a heating element. The controller is connected to a power source and an aerosol generator and is configured to control the power supply from the power source to the aerosol generator. Therefore, the controller can be configured to control the heating of the aerosol-generating material by the heating element.

[0107] The controller can be configured to heat the aerosol-generating material according to a heating profile, for example, by causing a heating assembly to heat the aerosol-generating material according to the heating profile. A heating profile refers to the temperature change of the material over time. For example, the temperature change of a heating element measured at the heating element during a usage session can be referred to as the heating profile of that heating element (or similarly, the heating profile of the heating assembly unit including that heating element). The heating element provides heat to the aerosol-generating material during use to generate aerosols. Therefore, the heating profile of the heating element induces a heating profile for the aerosol-generating material (e.g., the aerosol-generating material disposed near the heating element).

[0108] The aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) may also include memory. This memory may include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) or flash memory; and / or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable read-only memory (EEROM), or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). In some embodiments, the memory includes controller memory, which is part of the controller and may be integrated within it. The memory may additionally or alternatively include external memory connected to and located outside the controller. The external memory may be removed from the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) and may include an SD card or a microSD card. Software programs executed by the controller may be stored on the memory.

[0109] The aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) may also include a control interface for receiving inputs and / or providing outputs. For example, the control interface may be configured to receive inputs and provide input data corresponding to the received inputs to the controller. The control interface may be configured to receive output data from the controller and provide outputs corresponding to the output data received from the controller.

[0110] The control interface may include a user interface comprising one or more input components for receiving input from a user and one or more output components for providing output to the user. One or more input components are configured to receive input from the user and provide corresponding input data to the controller. One or more input components may be configured to receive input from the user through physical manipulation. One or more input components may include buttons (such as scroll buttons), switches, knobs, microphones, cameras, accelerometers, touchscreens, or any combination thereof. One or more input components may be assigned functions such as turning the aerosol supply device on and off and selecting the operating mode of the aerosol supply system (as will be discussed in more detail herein). One or more output components are configured to receive output data from the controller and provide corresponding output to the user. One or more output components may include lights (such as LEDs), speakers, haptic components, displays (such as screens), or any combination thereof. The controller may be configured to cause one or more output components to provide outputs indicative of characteristics of the aerosol supply system, such as the characteristics of the aerosol generating material or the remaining power of the power source.

[0111] The control interface may include one or more sensors for detecting one or more characteristics related to the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device), the one or more sensors being configured to provide input data to the controller, including sensor data related to the detected one or more characteristics. The one or more sensors may include a puff sensor configured to detect user inhalation on the aerosol supply system. The one or more sensors may include a temperature sensor configured to detect temperatures related to the aerosol supply system (e.g., the temperature of heating components, heating elements, consumables, aerosol generating materials, or the temperature of the environment surrounding the aerosol supply system). The one or more sensors may include a consumable detection sensor configured to detect when a consumable engages with the aerosol supply device, for example, when the consumable is at least partially received by the aerosol supply device. The one or more sensors may include a consumable identification sensor configured to detect characteristics of the consumable (e.g., characteristics of the aerosol generating material of the consumable). The one or more sensors may include a biometric sensor configured to detect user-related biometrics (e.g., fingerprints, heart rate, respiratory attributes).

[0112] The control interface may include communication circuitry configured to connect to and / or communicate data with one or more additional devices. The communication circuitry communicating data with one or more additional devices may include: sending data to one or more additional devices (e.g., transmitting data from an aerosol supply device to the one or more additional devices); receiving data from one or more additional devices (e.g., transmitting data from one or more additional devices to the aerosol supply device); or both sending and receiving data from one or more additional devices. The term "sending" with respect to data can be understood as data being emitted from one device, while the term "transmission" can be understood as data being emitted from one device and received by another device. For example, the communication circuitry may be configured to establish a data connection with one or more additional devices. In some embodiments, the communication circuitry is integrated into the controller, and in other embodiments, the communication circuitry is implemented separately (including, for example, one or more separate application-specific integrated circuits / circuit systems / chips / chipsets). The data connection may be non-permanent or otherwise temporary; that is, the data connection may be established for a period of time required to perform a particular function, but may also be disconnected when not needed. In this context, the other device relative to the aerosol supply device may be another aerosol supply device, a consumable, or (as further described herein) an external power source or computing device.

[0113] The communication circuit can be configured to receive input containing data from another device and provide (e.g., transmit) output containing data to another device. The communication circuit can be configured to provide input data to a controller corresponding to the input containing data received from the other device, and to provide output containing data to the other device corresponding to the output data provided by the controller. Therefore, the controller can (via the communication circuit) receive data sent from the other device to the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device), and the controller can (via the communication circuit) transmit data from the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) to the other device. Data received from the other device may include instructions to cause the controller of the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) to perform one or more control actions. Data provided to (e.g., transmitted to) the other device may include instructions to cause the other device to perform one or more control actions. Referring to a device sending data to another device can be understood as the controller of that device causing its communication circuit to send data corresponding to input data to be received by the control circuit of the other device, which is then received by the controller of the other device from the control circuit of the other device.

[0114] The communication circuit may include a wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless data connection with one or more additional devices and / or to communicate data with one or more additional devices using the wireless data connection. For example, the wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth module (e.g., a Bluetooth Low Energy module), a ZigBee module, a WiFi module (e.g., a WiFi Direct module), a 2G module, a 3G module, a 4G module, a 5G module, an LTE module, an NFC module, an RFID module, an optical communication module configured to communicate data using optical signals, an audio communication module configured to communicate data using audio signals, or other wireless communication modules. Therefore, the wireless data connection may correspond to a Bluetooth connection (e.g., a Bluetooth Low Energy connection), a ZigBee connection, a WiFi connection (e.g., a WiFi Direct connection), a 2G connection, a 3G connection, a 4G connection, a 5G connection, an LTE connection, an NFC connection, an RFID connection, an optical data connection, an audio data connection, or other wireless data connections. More generally, it should be understood that any wireless protocol can, in principle, be used for wireless data connections.

[0115] The communication circuit may also, or alternatively, include a wired communication module configured to establish a wired data connection with one or more additional devices and / or to communicate data with one or more additional devices using the wired data connection. For example, the wired communication module may include a wired interface, such as a USB interface (e.g., USB-A, USB-B, mini-USB, micro-USB, USB-C, or USB-3), a Thunderbolt interface, or other wired data interfaces. Therefore, the wired data connection may correspond to a USB connection (e.g., USB-A, USB-B, mini-USB, micro-USB, USB-C, or USB-3), a Thunderbolt connection, or other wired data connections. More generally, it should be understood that the wired module may include any wired interface utilizing a wired protocol capable of transmitting data according to, for example, a packet data transmission protocol, and may include pin or contact pad devices configured to engage with mating pins or contact pads on another device that may be connected to the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device).

[0116] The controller can be configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply system based on input data received from a control interface. This input data may include input data provided by one or more input components of the user interface, input data containing sensor data provided by one or more sensors, and input data provided by communication circuitry corresponding to data received from another device. The controller can be configured to perform control actions based on an event (e.g., in response to the event) (such as receiving input data), such as activating the function of components of the aerosol supply system (e.g., causing a heating element to start heating, causing one or more output components to provide output to a user, or causing communication circuitry to provide output to other devices), changing parameters associated with the function of components of the aerosol supply system, or enabling or disabling the function of components of the aerosol supply system.

[0117] A controller can be configured to perform a control action based on an event. In this case, the controller determines whether and how to perform the control action based on whether the event has occurred and, for example, the nature of the event. For instance, the controller can heat the aerosol-generating material using a heating element based on detected consumable characteristics, such that when the controller initiates heating, a specific heating profile is used for a specific property of the detected consumable, while no heating is used for another specific property of the detected consumable. However, while the control action can be performed directly after the event, i.e., triggered by the event, this is not mandatory, and the control action can also be performed at a later point in time. The controller can also be configured to perform a control action in response to an event. In this case, the controller can perform the action directly after the event occurs or at a later point in time, i.e., the action is triggered by the event. For example, the controller can respond directly to a user's inhalation sensor by heating the aerosol-generating material using a heating element.

[0118] The controller can also be configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) according to selected modes (or multiple selected modes). Each mode is associated with predetermined rules related to the function of one or more components of the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device). For example, operating parameters and / or logic can vary between modes. These components may include, but are not limited to, memory, control interfaces, aerosol generators, and power sources. In some modes, specific functions of one or more components can be enabled such that when, for example, the controller receives input data containing instructions to perform that function, the controller can cause that function to be performed by the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device). However, in some modes, specific functions of one or more components can be disabled such that when, for example, the controller receives input data containing instructions to perform that function, the controller will not cause that function to be performed by the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device).

[0119] The consumable itself may include one or both of a controller and a memory. The controller and memory of the consumable may employ any of the types discussed above regarding aerosol supply systems. The consumable may also include a control interface for receiving inputs and / or providing outputs, which may employ any of the features of the control interfaces discussed above regarding aerosol supply systems. For example, the control interface may include communication circuitry configured to connect to one or more auxiliary devices and capable of establishing data connections with one or more auxiliary devices. In this context, another device relative to the consumable may be an aerosol supply device, another consumable, or (as further described herein) an external power source or computing device.

[0120] The aerosol supply device may include a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source. For example, the charging interface may be used to receive power from an external power source including a charging cable. An external power source device may also be provided as part of a system including an aerosol supply system, the external power source device being configured to connect to the aerosol supply device (e.g., its charging interface) and supply power to the aerosol supply device. The external power source device may include a power source comprising a battery, such as a rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries. The external power source device may be configured to provide power for charging the power source of the aerosol supply device. The external power source device may be a "charging box" and include a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol supply device, wherein the external power source device is configured to connect to the charging interface when the aerosol supply device is received in the recess.

[0121] An external power source device may include one or both of a controller and a memory. The controller and memory of the external power source device may employ any of the features of the controllers and memories discussed above regarding aerosol supply systems. The controller of the external power source device may be configured to control the power supply to the aerosol supply device. The external power source device may also include a control interface for receiving inputs and / or providing outputs, which may employ any of the features of the control interfaces discussed above regarding aerosol supply systems. For example, the control interface may include communication circuitry configured to connect to one or more additional devices and capable of establishing data connections with one or more additional devices. In this context, another device relative to the external power source device may be an aerosol supply device, a consumable, another external power source device, or (as further described herein) a computing device.

[0122] The charging interface of the external power source device can also be configured to communicate data with the external power source when connected. In such devices, the charging interface corresponds to a wired communication component (i.e., the wired communication component of the communication circuit of the external power source device) configured to communicate data via a wired data connection. The charging interface may include a wired interface, such as a USB interface (e.g., USB-A, USB-B, mini USB, micro USB, USB-C, or USB-3), a Thunderbolt interface, or other wired interfaces.

[0123] A system including an aerosol supply system may also include one or more computing devices configured to connect to the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply unit) and communicate with it via a data connection (e.g., wired or wireless). The one or more computing devices may include local computing devices that can be controlled or owned by a user, such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers (PCs), wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches), refilling devices for refilling the aerosol supply unit or consumables using aerosol-generating materials, or connection hubs. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more computing devices may include remote computing devices that cannot be controlled or owned by a user, such as servers.

[0124] The computing device may include one or both of a controller and a memory. The controller and memory of the computing device may employ any of the features of controllers and memories discussed above regarding aerosol supply systems. The computing device may also include a control interface for receiving input (e.g., from a user) and / or providing output (e.g., to a user), which may employ any of the features of control interfaces discussed above regarding aerosol supply systems. The control interface may include communication circuitry configured to connect to and communicate data with another device. In this context, the other device relative to the computing device may be an aerosol supply device, consumables, an external power source device, or another computing device.

[0125] An aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) can establish direct communication with a remote computing device using one of the wireless protocols described above, for example, by connecting to a communication node (such as a telecommunications "base station") capable of connecting to the remote computing device. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device) can establish communication with the remote computing device via a local computing device, for example, by communicating with the local computing device using wired or wireless communication protocols, which in turn communicates with the remote computing device. The local computing device can also communicate indirectly with the remote computing device via a relay device (which may be another computing device) to perform some aspect of its own functionality or to act as a representative of the aerosol supply system (e.g., as a relay or co-processing unit).

[0126] The computing devices can also transmit data to each other directly or indirectly via any of the wired or wireless communication protocols described above. Therefore, in some embodiments, a given first device and a second device (e.g., any of an aerosol supply device, consumable, external power source, and computing device) can typically be in a connected or disconnected state relative to each other. The disconnected state can also be referred to as an idle state, and in this state, the given first device may not be detectable by the other second device (i.e., the first device does not transmit any signaling capable of determining its presence and / or identifying characteristics), or it may be used to establish a data connection with the second device (i.e., it can use advertising signaling to advertise its presence and / or identifying characteristics). In the connected state, the first and second devices are configured such that data can communicate from the first device to the second device (e.g., "uplink" transmission) and / or from the second device to the first device (e.g., "downlink" transmission). Therefore, the establishment of a data connection between the first and second devices can be considered as including the establishment of any state in which the two devices can exchange data regardless of the direction of data transmission. Non-limiting instances of a connection state are establishing an RRC connection state based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, or establishing a connection state based on the Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)) standard.

[0127] When the first and second devices are configured for wireless communication, the transition from an unconnected state to a connected state typically follows this process. In the initial query step, the first device (e.g., an aerosol supply device or consumable, but this can apply to any of the aforementioned devices) confirms the presence of the second device by receiving a beacon signal or other identification signal from the second device (e.g., a computing device, but this can apply to any of the aforementioned devices). In the identification step, the first and second devices confirm information related to the data transmission protocol used for exchanging data (e.g., including encoding and encryption parameters to be used when exchanging data) by exchanging messages. In the data transmission step, the first and second devices transmit data through a wireless interface established according to the agreed data transmission protocol. This data transmission can be bidirectional or unidirectional. The data communication process for wired communication can be broadly similar, except that data is transmitted through a wired interface instead of a wireless interface.

[0128] The functionality of an aerosol supply system can be supported by any aerosol supply system and any combination of external power source devices and computing devices (as described further herein). These functions can be referred to as “connectivity” functions because they involve data transmission between the aerosol supply system and other connected devices, such as one or more computing devices. Such devices can be considered advantageous in enhancing the operation of the aerosol supply system. For example, an aerosol supply device capable of receiving data from an auxiliary device can receive software updates or updated parameters (e.g., parameters related to aerosol generation by the aerosol generator) from the computing device. Determining appropriate parameters may require substantial data processing, which can be performed more efficiently on computing devices with higher processing power than those typically located on the aerosol supply system, where lower energy consumption (for extended battery life) and reduced complexity (for lower costs) are generally considered advantageous.

[0129] Users can also provide input to the control interface of the aerosol supply system using a computing device (such as a smartphone), which may be particularly advantageous when there is an incentive to keep the input or output components on the aerosol supply system to a minimum (e.g., to reduce complexity and cost). Therefore, an application (“app”) running on the computing device can support those functions or relay functions of the aerosol supply device that are effectively offloaded, having a direct or indirect (e.g., relay) data connection with the computing device according to the methods described above. Thus, the aerosol supply system can send data to the computing device via its communication circuitry (e.g., based on sensor data related to the use of the aerosol supply system received by the controller of the aerosol supply system), and the computing device can provide the user with information related to the aerosol supply system via the app. Alternatively or additionally, the user can select control actions via the app, and the computing device can send data related to the control actions to the aerosol supply system, whose controller then executes the control actions.

[0130] This document describes various methods for operating an aerosol supply system. While these methods can be described within the context of the aerosol supply system being controlled by a controller of the aerosol supply system (e.g., its aerosol supply device), it should be recognized that these methods can be performed by any controller in the controllers of a broader system (including any combination of one or more aerosol supply devices, one or more consumables, one or more external power sources, and one or more computing devices), and combinations of any of these controllers. Specifically, since each of these controllers is capable of communicating with some or any of the other controllers in the system (including any of the aerosol supply devices, consumables, external power sources, and computing devices), data (such as instructions for performing one or more control actions) can be communicated directly or indirectly between any of these controllers. Therefore, methods for operating an aerosol supply system can be performed by a “distributed” aerosol supply system (including any combination of aerosol supply devices, consumables, external power sources, and computing devices discussed above), for example, by any one or more controllers of these devices. Therefore, although specific method steps can be described in the context of a controller in a particular device, it is foreseeable that, where feasible, these control actions can be performed by another of these controllers in an alternative device, and various method steps can be performed by various corresponding different controllers.

[0131] The various implementation methods will now be described in more detail.

[0132] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view is shown, schematically illustrated, through a two-piece aerosol supply system 1 according to certain embodiments.

[0133] The aerosol supply system 1 is a two-piece aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device 100 and consumables 150, the consumables including aerosol generating material 170. The aerosol supply device 100 includes: a housing 105; a memory 110; a controller 120 configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply system 1; a control interface 130 for receiving input to the aerosol supply device and providing output from the aerosol supply device 100; and a power source 140 configured to supply electricity for operating the aerosol supply device 100. The housing 105 may also at least partially enclose other components of the aerosol supply device 100, namely the memory 110, controller 120, control interface 130, and power source 140. The aerosol supply device 100 is a handheld electronic atomizing device, meaning that the size of the housing 105 surrounding the other components is designed and configured to be held in the user's hand. In other words, the device is portable.

[0134] Consumable 150 includes: a reservoir containing liquid aerosol generating material 170; and a nozzle 190 through which a user can draw aerosol generated by aerosol generating material 180. The consumable also includes a heating assembly 160 configured to heat the aerosol generating material 170. In use, a coupling interface 101 of the aerosol supply device 100 engages with a coupling interface 151 of the consumable, each of these coupling interfaces including a mechanical engagement means for mechanical connection to each other. Each coupling interface 101, 151 also includes an electrical coupling interface, allowing the aerosol supply device 100 to be electrically connected to the consumable 150. The electrical coupling interface 101 of the aerosol supply device is configured to supply power from a power source 140 to the consumable, specifically to the heating assembly 160 of the consumable 150. A controller 120 is configured to control the power supply from the power source 140 to the heating assembly 160, thereby controlling the heating of the aerosol generating material 170 by the heating assembly 160.

[0135] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view is shown, schematically illustrated, through an integrated aerosol supply system 2 according to certain embodiments.

[0136] The aerosol supply system 2 is an integrated aerosol supply device 200. The aerosol supply device 200 includes: a housing 205; a memory 210; a controller 220 configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply device 200; a control interface 230 for receiving input to the aerosol supply device and providing output from the aerosol supply device 200; a power source 240 configured to supply electricity for operating the aerosol supply device 200; a storage container holding liquid aerosol generating material 270; and a heating assembly 260 configured to heat the aerosol generating material 270. The housing 205 may also at least partially enclose other components of the aerosol supply device 200, namely the memory 210, controller 220, control interface 230, power source 240, storage container holding liquid aerosol generating material 270, and heating assembly 260. The aerosol supply device 200 also includes a nozzle 290 through which a user can draw aerosol generated by the aerosol generating material 270.

[0137] The aerosol supply device 200 is a handheld electronic atomizing device, meaning that the outer casing 205 surrounding other components is designed and configured to be held in the user's hand. In other words, the device is portable. The aerosol supply device 200 is a disposable, one-piece aerosol supply device that the user can discard after the aerosol generating material 180 is depleted, and this disposable, one-piece aerosol supply device is not configured to receive consumables and is not configured to be refilled by the user.

[0138] Figure 3A cross-sectional view is shown, taken through a schematic diagram of a two-piece aerosol supply system 3 according to certain embodiments.

[0139] The aerosol supply system 3 is a two-piece aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device 300 and consumables 350, the consumables including aerosol generating material 370. The aerosol supply device 300 includes: a housing 305; a memory 310; a controller 320 configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply system 3; a control interface 330 for receiving input to the aerosol supply device and providing output from the aerosol supply device 300; a heating assembly including a magnetic field generator 360 configured to generate a varying magnetic field; and a power source 340 configured to supply electricity for operating the aerosol supply device 300. The housing 305 may also at least partially enclose other components of the aerosol supply device 300, namely the controller 320, the control interface 330, the magnetic field generator 360, and the power source 340. The aerosol supply device 300 is a handheld electronic atomizing device, meaning that the size of the housing 305 surrounding the other components is designed and configured to be held in the user's hand. In other words, the device is portable.

[0140] Consumable 350 includes aerosol-generating material 370 in solid or gel form. Consumable 350 is in rod form and is received by a heating chamber 315 of an aerosol supply device 300. A magnetic field generator 360 is configured to heat the heating chamber 315 and the aerosol-generating material 370 of the consumable 350 within the heating chamber 315. To achieve this, the heating assembly includes a heating element 365 located within the consumable, having a sensory material that is readily heated by a changing magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator 360. The magnetic field generator 360 is configured to generate this changing magnetic field, which penetrates the heating chamber 315 and the heating element 365 of the consumable 350 to heat the consumable and, consequently, the aerosol-generating material 370.

[0141] In this device, consumables include a nozzle 390 through which a user can draw in aerosol generated by aerosol generating material 370. The aerosol supply device 300 and consumable 350 do not need to be configured with corresponding interfaces to allow electrical connection between them, because the electrical connection between them is not used for heating the aerosol generating material 370.

[0142] Figure 4A schematic diagram of a system is shown, which includes an aerosol supply system 4 (which includes an aerosol supply device 400 and consumables 450), an external power source device 460, local computing devices 471, 472, and 473, and a remote computing device 480. The aerosol supply device 400 and consumables 450 may have any of the characteristics of the aerosol supply devices 100, 200, and 300 and consumables 150, 350 discussed above.

[0143] In this apparatus, the remote computing device 480 is a server residing on the cloud 490. The aerosol supply system 4 may correspond to any of the aerosol supply systems 1, 2, and 3 discussed above, or to any other aerosol supply system. Each of the local computing devices 471, 472, and 473 is interconnected with each other and connected to each additional device. The accompanying drawings depict various data connections 40 between each of these devices, illustrating how data can be transmitted between any given first device and second device.

[0144] In use, once these data connections 40 are established (using wired or wireless protocols), data can be sent from a first device (such as an aerosol supply device 400) to a second device (such as a remote computing device 480), either directly via a direct data connection between the two devices (if present) or indirectly via another device or multiple other devices.

[0145] In the case of the aerosol supply device 400 and the remote computing device 480, data collected by the aerosol supply device (such as usage data) can be sent to the remote computing device 480 via a wired data connection. The external computing device then sends the data to a first local computing device 471, i.e., a smartphone 471, via a wireless data connection. The wireless data connection between the smartphone 471 and the external computing device 460 is a Bluetooth connection, established using the Bluetooth modules of both the smartphone 471 and the external computing device 460.

[0146] Then, the smartphone 471 transmits data to the remote computing device 480 via a wireless data connection. The wireless data connection between the smartphone 471 and the remote computing device 480 is a 3G wireless connection, which is established by connecting the local computing device's 3G module to a corresponding communication node (such as a telecommunications "base station"), thereby enabling the connection between the smartphone and the remote computing device 480.

[0147] The user can also use the data connection 40 network to cause the controller of the aerosol supply device 400 to perform control actions. The user can select control actions using an application on a second local computing device 472 (such as a smartphone or personal computer), and the personal computer 472 then sends the data related to the control actions to a remote computing device 480 via a wired data connection. The remote computing device 480 then uses the 3G wireless connection discussed above to send the data related to the control actions to the smartphone 471.

[0148] The smartphone 471 then uses the Bluetooth connection discussed above to send data related to the control action to the external power source device 460, and the external power source device 460 then sends the data related to the control action to the aerosol supply device 400 via a wired data connection between the external power source device 460 and the aerosol supply device 400. The data related to the control action is received by the controller of the aerosol supply device 400, and the controller causes the aerosol supply device 400 to perform the control action.

[0149] For aerosol supply devices (such as aerosol supply devices 100, 200, 300, 400), it is desirable to ensure that the aerosol supply device is operated by a qualified user. This may be because certain functions of the aerosol supply device may only be suitable for use by a qualified user, or, in a particular jurisdiction, may only be permitted to use by qualified users with specific characteristics (e.g., age greater than an age threshold).

[0150] To achieve this, the aerosol supply device can be sold with a controller configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a first mode (which may be referred to as the aerosol supply device being "in" a first mode), in which certain functions of the aerosol supply device are disabled. After purchasing the aerosol supply device, the user can then perform several steps to verify their eligibility as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device and can then provide the aerosol supply device with an indication that this verification has been performed. The controller of the aerosol supply device can then switch from controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to the first mode to controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a second mode in response to receiving this indication, wherein the specific functions of the aerosol supply device disabled in the first mode are enabled in the second mode.

[0151] For example, in a first mode, the function of the aerosol supply device in generating aerosols from aerosol generating materials can be disabled. In devices such as aerosol supply devices 200 and 300 (where at least a portion of an aerosol generator is included in the aerosol supply device), this may be the function of the aerosol generator (e.g., heating components 220 and 320) being disabled. In devices such as aerosol supply device 100 (where at least a portion of an aerosol generator is included in consumables), this may be the function of the aerosol supply device supplying power to the aerosol generator being disabled. In any case, this function is disabled in the first mode and enabled in the second mode.

[0152] All functions of the aerosol supply device that generate aerosols from any aerosol-generating material can be disabled, or specific functions of the aerosol supply device that generate aerosols from aerosol-generating materials with specific characteristics (e.g., characteristics detected by a consumable identification sensor) can be disabled. In the first mode, the function of the aerosol supply device that causes the aerosol generator to generate aerosols in a specific manner can be disabled. For example, the function of the aerosol supply device that causes the heating component of the aerosol generator to heat the aerosol-generating material according to one or more heating profiles can be disabled. Furthermore, in the first mode, the function of the aerosol supply device that generates, stores, or transmits usage data related to the user's use of the aerosol supply device can be disabled. Each or any other of these functional aspects can be enabled in the first mode and disabled in the second mode.

[0153] In existing methods, an indication that a user has been verified as a qualified user is provided to the aerosol supply device by sending data, for example, via a wired or wireless data connection to the device's control interface. However, conventional wired or wireless data connections using well-known electromagnetic data protocols can be vulnerable to attacks that could attempt to mimic legitimate instructions that have been verified against the user. Furthermore, the components required to establish a conventional wired or wireless connection can consume energy and introduce additional complexity.

[0154] This application aims to provide an aerosol supply device that can be improved in this respect. The aerosol supply system according to embodiments of the present invention... Figure 5The aerosol supply system 5 is a one-piece aerosol supply device 500, but these technologies are equally applicable to any aerosol supply device or aerosol supply system, such as aerosol supply devices 100, 200, and 300. As described above, the aerosol supply device 500 includes a housing 505, a memory 510, a controller 520 configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply device 500, a control interface 530 for receiving input to the aerosol supply device 500 and providing output from the aerosol supply device 500, a power source 540 configured to supply electricity for the operation of the aerosol supply device 500, a reservoir for storing liquid aerosol generating material 570, and a heating element 560 configured to heat the aerosol generating material 570. The housing 505 may also at least partially enclose other components of the aerosol supply device 500, namely, the memory 510, controller 520, control interface 530, power source 540, reservoir containing liquid aerosol generating material 570, and heating assembly 560. The aerosol supply device 500 also includes a nozzle 590 through which a user can draw aerosol generated by the aerosol generating material 570.

[0155] The aerosol supply device 500 is a disposable, one-piece aerosol supply device configured not to be refilled by the user. Therefore, the user can discard the aerosol supply device 500 after the aerosol generating material has been depleted (e.g., after a predetermined number of inhalations). Furthermore, the one-piece aerosol supply device 500 is a non-rechargeable one-piece aerosol supply device, which does not include a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source. However, other devices are also conceivable in which the one-piece aerosol supply device 500 is rechargeable and has a charging interface for receiving power from an external source. The aerosol supply device 500 may include any or all of the features of the aerosol supply device 200, and repeated descriptions of certain features are omitted.

[0156] The control interface 530 includes one or more input components 580 configured to receive physical or acoustic input and provide input data corresponding to the received input to the controller 520. As will be discussed in more detail, these one or more input components 580 can receive input indicating that a user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device 500. By using the one or more input components 580 configured to receive physical or acoustic input, the aerosol supply device 500 can receive input for switching to the correct mode for a qualified user after verification has occurred, without the need for conventional wired or wireless data connections using known electromagnetic data protocols. This protects the aerosol supply device 500 from attacks attempting to exploit these data protocols. Furthermore, the aerosol supply device 500 does not necessarily require (although, may still include, if desired in a particular embodiment) a corresponding wired or wireless communication module, which reduces energy requirements and complexity. As described above, these technologies can be applied to any aerosol supply device 100, 200, 300, in which case the corresponding control interfaces 130, 230, 330 may also include one or more input components configured to receive physical or acoustic input in the same manner, and a controller that can be configured in the same manner as controller 520.

[0157] Now refer to Figure 6 The flowchart describes a method for providing input to switch modes of the aerosol supply device 500. Figure 6 A flowchart of the method according to some embodiments is shown.

[0158] In step S1-1, a user who owns or intends to purchase an aerosol supply device in the first mode uses a local computing device to log in or create a (digital) user profile. While any suitable additional device discussed above may be used, the local computing device may be a smartphone or computer, such as any of local computing devices 471, 472, 473, or any other type of local computing device that the user can enter the data necessary to log in or create a user profile. Specifically, the user may log in to their user profile by submitting a username and password using an application on the local computing device, or create a user profile by submitting user information such as their name, email address, mailing address, and password.

[0159] The user account is associated with the aforementioned verification of whether the user is a qualified user and is stored on an authorized computing device. The authorized computing device can be a remote computing device, such as a remote computing device 480 on the cloud 490. In some devices, the authorized computing device may include multiple computing devices, such as a network of computing devices. The authorized computing device is controlled by the manufacturer of the aerosol supply device 500, or by an entity that works with or represents the manufacturer, to perform the verification of whether the user is a qualified user. The authorized computing device has the authority to indicate that verification has occurred and to generate the necessary input to provide to the aerosol supply device 500, thereby enabling the controller 520 to switch from controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a first mode to a second mode.

[0160] The local computing device can utilize any of the data connections discussed above (such as those related to...). Figure 4 The methods discussed involve data communication between the local computing device and the authorized computing device. For example, in the case where the local computing device is a smartphone and the authorized computing device is a remote computing device (such as a server), the local computing device can communicate with the authorized computing device via a wireless data connection (such as a 3G, 4G, or 5G wireless data connection). This wireless data connection is established using the local computing device's 3G, 4G, or 5G module and connected to a corresponding communication node (such as a telecommunications "base station"), thereby achieving a connection with the remote computing device. As another example, the local computing device can connect to the Internet via a wireless data connection established using the local computing device's WiFi module, and communicate with the authorized computing device via the Internet.

[0161] In steps S1-2, the user uses a local computing device to submit materials via their user profile to verify their eligibility as a user of the aerosol supply device, and sends these materials to the authorized computing device. These materials may include an image or video of the user and / or one or more user identification documents (such as a passport or ID card). For example, the user may use the camera on the local computing device to take an image or video of themselves and images of one or more user identification documents, or alternatively, they may upload images pre-taken and stored on the local computing device. After the user uploads the materials used to verify their eligibility via their profile to the local computing device, the local computing device then sends these materials to the authorized computing device.

[0162] Although steps S1-1 to S1-2 above discussed the process of a user using a local computing device to create or log in to a user account and submit materials to verify their eligibility, other methods are also conceivable. For example, where the authorized computing device is operated by an authorized person (such as an employee of a retailer or manufacturer of aerosol supply equipment), the user could provide details to the authorized person in step S1-1 to enable them to create or log in to a user account on the authorized computing device, and the user could then directly provide the authorized person with materials for verification in step S1-2. These materials could be paper copies or digital copies of images or videos that the authorized person could obtain.

[0163] In steps S1-3, the authorized computing device evaluates the materials to determine one or more characteristics of the user, or the materials may be provided to authorized personnel to determine one or more characteristics of the user. One or more characteristics may include the user's age or other medical or non-medical characteristics. One or more characteristics may be stored by the authorized computing device and associated with the user's user profile. The authorized computing device may then use one or more characteristics to verify whether the user is a qualified user for a specific function of the aerosol supply device 500, such as the aerosol generation function of the aerosol supply device 500, or any of the other functions discussed above. In some methods, one or more characteristics may be used to verify whether the user is a qualified user of a set of aerosol supply devices in a specific jurisdiction.

[0164] We note that while steps S1-1, S1-2, and S1-3 can be performed before the user possesses the aerosol supply device, they can also be performed after the user possesses the aerosol supply device. Specifically, these steps can be prompted to the user to perform them to verify their own eligibility by attempting to use the aerosol supply device in the first mode. For example, a user attempting to use the aerosol supply device 500 with disabled functions can receive output from the control interface. In other words, the controller 520 can be configured to provide an alarm output indicating the need to verify the user's eligibility when controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device 500 according to the first mode, and when receiving input data from the control interface 530 corresponding to a command to perform a control action that includes functions disabled in the first mode. This alarm output can be provided using the communication circuitry of the control interface 530 to send the alarm output to another device (e.g., a local computing device, such as a smartphone), or it can be provided using one or more output components of the control interface (such as haptic components or one or more lights).

[0165] Next, in step S2-1, the user submits a mode switching request via a user profile using a local computing device to switch the aerosol supply device 500 from the first mode to the second mode. The local computing device sends the mode switching request to an authorized computing device to provide input to the aerosol supply device 500 to switch it from the first mode to the second mode, and the request also indicates whether verification of the user's eligibility as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device has occurred. While this request can be made using the same local computing device discussed with respect to steps S1-1, S1-2, and S1-3, it is not mandatory, and the local computing device used in this step and subsequent steps can be different. However, all the same options for selecting the local computing device and for data communication between the local computing device and the remote device can still be applied to step S2-1 and subsequent steps.

[0166] The mode switching request includes an identifier for the aerosol supply device 500, which is submitted to the local computing device. This identifier can be a unique identifier for the aerosol supply device 500 stored in memory 510, such as a unique code. This identifier can be generated during the manufacturing process of the aerosol supply device 500, as per the relevant documentation. Figure 7 Further details can be discussed and stored in memory 510 and the memory of the authorized computing device.

[0167] The aerosol supply device 500 may include an identifier portion representing an identifier. This identifier portion is visible to the user and visually presents as an identifier, and may be disposed, for example, on the housing 505. For example, the identifier portion may include optical codes (such as barcodes or QR codes) in which the identifier is encoded, which can be read by a local computing device (or other computing device) to submit the identifier to the local computing device. In other methods, the identifier portion may include a readable representation of the identifier, such as text, wherein the identifier can be read by the user from the text and therefore can be submitted to the local computing device. In other methods, the identifier portion may be an RFID tag from which the identifier can be read using a query by the local computing device (or other computing device) to submit the identifier to the local computing device. In addition to the identifier, the mode switching request may include information about the user and may include a timestamp when the local computing device sends the request.

[0168] An arrangement is also envisioned in which one or more input components 580 are disposed on an input component portion of the aerosol supply device 500. The input component portion of the aerosol supply device 500 can be manufactured separately and, after separate manufacturing, connected to the rest of the aerosol supply device 500. In this case, at least a portion of the memory 510 can be arranged in the input component portion, and at least a portion of the controller 520 can also be arranged in the input component portion. One or more input components 580 can also have corresponding input component identifiers, which can have the same properties as the identifiers of the aerosol supply device 500, but can have different values, and serve as identifiers for one or more input components 580. Such input component identifiers can be stored in the portion of the memory 510 arranged in the input component portion, and can be generated during the manufacturing of the input component portion 580.

[0169] In step S2-2, the authorized computing device receives a mode switching request from the local computing device and generates input to be provided to the aerosol supply device 500 to indicate that user verification in step S1-3 has occurred. To ensure that the input is applicable to the aerosol supply device 500 and not to other unintended aerosol supply devices, the authorized computing device may generate an input associated with an identifier. For example, the input may be generated by the authorized computing device in a testable manner with respect to the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500. To prevent the aerosol supply device 500 from switching from the first mode to the second mode due to forged input generated by an unauthorized computing device, the authorized computing device may also generate an input that enables the controller 520 of the aerosol supply device 500 to identify it as being generated by the authorized computing device (rather than by a different unauthorized computing device).

[0170] The authorized computing device can employ various techniques to generate input associated with the identifier, and can also employ various techniques to generate input that the controller 520 can recognize as being generated by the authorized computing device. Methods that can achieve one or both of these objectives, namely authenticating that the input is associated with the identifier and originates from the authorized computing device, will now be discussed; these methods can be used in steps S2-2.

[0171] To generate input associated with an identifier, the authorized computing device can apply a predetermined software function to the identifier received in the mode switching request, thereby generating input containing (e.g., encoded in) information. This can be understood as follows: the controller 520 also has a corresponding predetermined software function that can be applied to the information in the input to determine whether the information was generated by the authorized computing device using the identifier. In other words, the controller 520 can be configured to apply the corresponding predetermined software function to the information in the input to determine whether the information was generated by applying the predetermined software function to the identifier. In some cases, this method can be implemented by configuring the controller 520 to "reverse-parse" the identifier from the information in the received input and comparing the identifier with an identifier stored in memory 510.

[0172] These authentication methods may include using a first key stored in memory 510 of the aerosol supply device 500 and a second key stored in memory of the authorized computing device. Both the first and second keys are encryption keys; in this invention, the term "encryption key" refers to a piece of information (typically a string of letters and / or numbers) to which software functions can be applied for authentication. Each of the first and second keys may be a string of at least three digits (e.g., a code), but in most cases, more digits, such as five or more or ten digits, may be used. The first and second keys are cryptographically related to each other such that each key corresponds to the other key, and one key can be used to test whether the other key has been used to generate information (e.g., whether the information contains the other key). In techniques using the first and second keys, input can typically be generated by the authorized computing device using the second key. After the aerosol supply device 500 receives input, the controller 520 can use the first key to test whether the corresponding second key of the authorized computing device has been used to generate the input. In a method that uses the first key of the aerosol supply device 500 to test whether the input was generated by an authorized computing device, it can be said that the information in the input is cryptographically associated with the first key of the aerosol supply device 500.

[0173] In a method known as "asymmetric" (or "public-key") encryption, the aerosol supply device 500 uses a first key as its public key, and the authorized computing device uses a second key as its corresponding private key. The public key is typically publicly available and does not affect the integrity of the encryption, while the private key remains confidential. In this case, the input is generated by the authorized computing device using the private key. For example, the input can be generated by applying a software function to the private key, thus the input can be considered to have been encrypted and "signed" by the private key. Once the aerosol supply device 500 receives the input, the controller 520 can use the first key, which serves as the public key, to test whether the authorized computing device's private key (i.e., the second key) was used to generate the information in the input. If the test confirms that the second key was used, the controller 520 can consider the input as authenticated as originating from the authorized computing device (rather than from a different unauthorized source).

[0174] It should be noted that, using this technique alone, the same second key, serving as the private key, can be used by an authorized computing device to generate inputs for various aerosol supply devices, each of which can use the same public key, serving as the first key, to check the second key. In the example where the same private key is used to generate inputs for various aerosol supply devices, this technique alone may not be sufficient to confirm that the input is associated with the identifier of a specific aerosol supply device 500. Therefore, this technique can be used in combination with the technique described above for authenticating the association of input with an identifier (in which input is generated by applying a predetermined software function to the identifier). Thus, in this method, input can be generated by an authorized computing device applying a predetermined software function to both the identifier and the private key to generate inputs that depend on both the identifier and the private key of the authorized computing device.

[0175] In another method called "symmetric" (or "secret key") encryption, the first key of the aerosol supply device 500 is a private key, and the second key of the authorizing computing device is a corresponding pass key (pairing key), which is associated with an identifier of the aerosol supply device 500 in the memory of the authorizing computing device. Therefore, the authorizing computing device can store a pass key library in its memory, where each pass key is associated with an identifier of a corresponding aerosol supply device, and each pass key matches the private key of the corresponding aerosol supply device. It should be noted that the term "match" here does not necessarily mean that the private key and the corresponding pass key are the same (although in some methods they may be the same), but rather that there may be a functional (e.g., mathematical) correspondence between the pass key and the private key, such as a one-to-one correspondence, which can be tested by, for example, the controller 520. In this method, to generate input, the authorizing computing device uses the identifier in the mode switching request to select the pass key associated with that identifier in memory and generates an input containing that pass key. The controller 520 can be configured to test whether the access key contained in the input information conforms to a predetermined standard by using the first key of the aerosol supply device 500 to test whether the access key matches the first key when the input is subsequently received by the aerosol supply device 500.

[0176] Using this symmetric encryption method, if the controller 520 determines through testing that the access key in the input corresponds to the first key of the aerosol supply device 500, it can be considered that the input was generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500 (i.e., the input is associated with the aerosol supply device 500), and also that the input was generated by an authorized computing device, because the authorized computing device has access to the access key repository associated with the identifier of the aerosol supply device. Therefore, when the input contains an access key corresponding to the private key of the aerosol supply device 500, the input should be considered associated with the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500. In a particular version of this method, the first key (i.e., the private key) and the second key (i.e., the access key) are the same, and therefore the controller can be configured to test whether the access key in the input is the same as the first key of the aerosol supply device 500. In this method, the processing requirements of the controller 520 may be reduced. It should be noted that although each access key can be matched with the private key of an aerosol supply device, it is also conceivable that each access key can be matched with multiple private keys of multiple corresponding aerosol supply devices.

[0177] In a method in which the aerosol supply device 500 includes an input component portion, an authorization computing device may store the association between an identifier of the aerosol supply device 500, an input component identifier, and a second key. Additionally, a first key of the aerosol supply device 500 may be stored in a portion of the memory 510 located within the input component portion. When a mode switching request containing the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500 is received, the authorization computing device then identifies the associated input component identifier and the associated second key. The authorization computing device may use the associated second key to generate an input corresponding to the first key, and after one or more input components 580 in the input component portion receive the input, a portion of the controller 520 located within the input component portion may evaluate the input, for example, using predetermined tests discussed in detail below.

[0178] Next, in steps S2-3, once the authorized computing device has generated the input (using the methods described above or any other methods), it sends the input to the local computing device. This can be done using any connection between the authorized computing device and the local computing device discussed above, and the local computing device can be configured to notify the user that the input has been received in response to its receipt.

[0179] Then, in steps S2-4, once the local computing device receives the input, it can be provided to one or more input components 580 of the control interface 530 of the aerosol supply device 500. This input can be considered an indication that the user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device, although explicit labeling of the input is not required in this regard. As will be discussed in more detail, the process of actually providing input to the aerosol supply device 500 can vary depending on whether the input is in the form of a physical input or an audio input.

[0180] In step S3-1, the aerosol supply device receives input through one or more input components 580 of the control interface 530 and provides input data corresponding to the input to the controller 520. The controller 520 is then configured to decode the information encoded in the input, which may involve different methods depending on how the input is provided, as discussed below. After the controller identifies the information in the input, the controller is configured to determine whether the input passes a predetermined test, i.e., whether the information is associated with the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500. If this is determined, the test is passed, and it can be concluded that the input is intended for use with the aerosol supply device 500, and not with another aerosol supply device. More generally, passing the test indicates that verification by a qualified user has occurred.

[0181] In one approach, the predetermined test may include determining whether information in the input (e.g., information in the first input and / or the second input) was generated by applying a specific predetermined software function to the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500. This can be understood as follows: when manufacturing the aerosol supply device 500, it is known that the information in the input is generated by applying a software function, and therefore the corresponding predetermined software function is also implemented in the controller 520. In this case, by applying the predetermined software function to the information in the input using the controller 520 of the aerosol supply device 500, the controller 250 can determine whether the input was generated (e.g., by an authorized computing device) using an identifier. As discussed above with respect to step S2-2, this may include having the controller 520 "reverse-parse" the identifier from the information in the input to check whether the identifier is the same as the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500, but this is not always the case.

[0182] As discussed above, it may also be necessary to verify that the input originates from an authorized computing device (i.e., generated by an authorized computing device) and not from a different unauthorized source. In this case, if it is determined that the information in the input was generated by an authorized computing device, the predetermined test passes. In other words, to determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller 520 can also be configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device. To achieve this, the controller 520 can be configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by testing whether the information has an encrypted association with the first key of the aerosol supply device, which is only possible if the information was generated using the corresponding encrypted second key of the authorized computing device.

[0183] In one approach, the “asymmetric” encryption technique discussed above can be applied, in which the authorized computing device generates the input using a second key (which is a private key) of the authorized computing device. In this approach, a first key (i.e., the public key corresponding to the private key) is stored in the memory 510 of the aerosol supply device 500. As discussed above, the private key can be used to generate information in the input (e.g., the information can be “signed” using the private key), and this can be tested using the first key (i.e., the public key). Therefore, the controller 520 is configured to use the first key (i.e., the public key) to test whether the corresponding private key of the authorized computing device was used to generate the information in the input. If the test determines that the corresponding private key was used, it can be considered that the input is authenticated as originating from the authorized computing device. This method can also be combined with the method discussed above for determining whether information in the input is associated with an identifier, in which case the predetermined test includes: causing the controller to apply a predetermined software function to the information in the input to determine whether the information was generated by applying the corresponding predetermined software function to the identifier; and causing the controller to use the public key to test whether the private key was used to generate the information in the input.

[0184] In one approach, a predetermined test includes determining whether the information in the input contains a pass key (i.e., a second key of the authorized computing device) that conforms to a specific criterion. This typically includes applying a software function to the pass key using controller 520 and determining whether the result indicates that the pass key matches a first key (e.g., a private key) stored in memory 510 of aerosol supply device 500. If controller 520 does determine that the pass key in the input matches the first key of aerosol supply device 500, it can be considered that the input was generated using the identifier of aerosol supply device 500 (i.e., the input is associated with aerosol supply device 500) and that the input was generated by an authorized computing device. In a particular version of this approach, both the first key (i.e., the private key) and the second key (i.e., the pass key) are identical, and therefore the controller can be configured to test whether the pass key in the input is identical to the first key of aerosol supply device 500. In this approach, the processing requirements of controller 520 can be reduced.

[0185] Therefore, while the predetermined test can authenticate whether the information in the input is associated with an identifier and whether the information in the input was generated by an authorized computing device, other methods are conceivable in which the predetermined test only authenticates whether the input information was generated by an authorized computing device, without necessarily authenticating whether the information is associated with an identifier of the aerosol supply device 500. Each of these authentication methods of the controller 520 achieves security in verifying whether a user is a qualified user of the aerosol supply device 500, and depending on the implementation, it may be advantageous to use one or both of these authentication methods.

[0186] Regardless of the method used, once it is determined that the information in the input passes the predetermined test, step S3-2 is executed. In step S3-2, the controller 520 switches from controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device 500 according to a first mode to controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device 500 according to a second mode. As discussed above, this mode switching may include the activation of a specific function that is disabled in the first mode and enabled in the second mode.

[0187] Once the controller 520 switches to controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device 500 according to the second mode, the controller 520 can be configured to continue (i.e., indefinitely) controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device 500 according to the second mode. In this approach, the switch from the first mode to the second mode can be considered as a “one-time” activation of the functionality of the aerosol supply device 500. However, in other approaches, the controller 520 can be configured to switch back from controlling the aerosol supply device 500 according to the second mode to controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device 500 according to the first mode in response to an event such as after a period of time (e.g., after a predetermined period of time or reaching a specific time event), the number of inhalations detected by the suction sensor to the aerosol supply device 500 reaching a threshold, the device reaching a predetermined position, or the loss of a wired or wireless data connection (e.g., a Bluetooth connection) established with another device. The controller 520 can also be configured to switch from operating the aerosol supply device 500 according to the second mode back to operating the aerosol supply device 500 according to the first mode in response to receiving input data from the control interface 530 corresponding to an instruction to switch back from the first mode to the second mode.

[0188] After switching back to the first mode from the second mode, it may be necessary to repeat some or all of the steps discussed above. For example, steps S1-1 to S3-2 may need to be executed, or in some methods, steps S2-1 to S3-2. In any case, another mode switching request needs to be sent to the authorized computing device, after which the authorized computing device will generate and send another input. However, the input generated by the authorized computing device may be time-dependent, such that each input generated for the user profile in question is different from the previous input, for example, different from all previously generated inputs. To pass predetermined tests, the controller 520 may also require that different inputs be required each time to ensure that the user has re-verified themselves as a qualified user. This may be particularly advantageous because it can accommodate changes in user characteristics and changes in regulatory requirements within the jurisdiction.

[0189] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing an aerosol supply device 500 according to certain embodiments is shown. It should be noted that while this method may involve the physical construction and modification of components of the aerosol supply device 500, this is not mandatory, and alternatively, manufacturing may involve only the creation of a data-based structure. Furthermore, although this method is discussed in the context of a modular aerosol supply device 500, it can also be applied to aerosol supply devices 100, 200, 300, or any other aerosol supply device.

[0190] In step S1, an identifier is generated for the aerosol supply device 500. This can be generated as a unique identifier, such as a serial number that increments for each newly produced aerosol supply device. Alternatively, this can be a randomly generated identifier, for example, one with a sufficiently high degree of randomness that the likelihood of multiple aerosol supply devices having the same identifier is low.

[0191] Then, in step S2, an aerosol supply device 500 with an identifier is provided. As discussed above, the identifier can be stored in the memory 510 of the aerosol supply device 500. Alternatively, in embodiments where the controller 520 does not need to access the identifier, the identifier may not be stored in the memory 510. The identifier can be provided by providing an identifier portion representing the identifier to the aerosol supply device 500, as discussed above. The identifier portion can be configured such that a user or computing device can read the identifier from the identifier portion.

[0192] In step S3, a first key is generated as the encryption key. As discussed above, the first key can be a short string and can be either a private key or a public key. Then, in step S4, the first key is stored in the memory 510 of the aerosol supply device 500 for subsequent authentication input, as discussed above.

[0193] In step S5, a second key is then generated as an encryption key, which has an encryption association with the first key; in step S6, the second key is stored in the memory of the authorized computing device. As discussed above, the second key can also be a short string. In some methods, such as when the first key is a public key, the second key is a private key that can be used by the authorized computing device (e.g., for multiple different aerosol supply devices) to generate inputs, and its use can be tested by the controller using the public key. In some methods, such as when the first key is a private key, the second key is a pass key specifically for the first key of the aerosol supply device 500, and the second key matches the first key of the aerosol supply device 500. In these cases, the second key is stored in the memory of the authorized computing device in a manner associated with the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500, so that the authorized computing device can select the second key from a pass key library.

[0194] In an apparatus in which one or more input components 580 are arranged in an identifier component portion of an aerosol supply device 500, the identifier component portion includes a corresponding input component identifier. Therefore, step S1 may further include generating an input component identifier for one or more input components 580 of the aerosol supply device, and in step S2, providing the input component identifier to a portion of the memory 510 located in the identifier component portion. In these cases, in step S4, a first key is also stored in the portion of the memory 510 located in the identifier component portion. Then, in step S5, a second key is stored in the memory of an authorized computing device in association with the input component identifier, and when the input component portion is subsequently connected to the remainder of the aerosol supply device 500, the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500 can be associated with the input component identifier in the memory of the authorized computing device, and thus subsequently also with the second key.

[0195] Therefore, in this method using (e.g., separately manufactured) the input component portion, when the input component portion is connected to the rest of the aerosol supply device 500 and the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500 is associated with the input component identifier, no one needs to view the second key in the memory of the authorized computing device. Thus, no one can simultaneously know both the identifier of the aerosol supply device 500 and the second key, which provides additional security.

[0196] The manner in which input is provided to one or more input components 580 of the aerosol supply device 500 will now be discussed in detail. One or more input components 580 may be configured to receive physical input comprising a sequence of physical manipulations performed by a user. In such a case, one or more input components 580 may include one or more buttons configured to be pressed by a user to receive physical input comprising a pressing sequence. Similarly, one or more input components 580 may include one or more switches configured to be pushed by a user to receive physical input comprising a switching sequence. Furthermore, one or more input components 580 may include an accelerometer configured to detect movement of the user on the aerosol supply device to receive physical input comprising a movement sequence.

[0197] Additionally, one or more input components 580 may include a joystick configured to be manipulated by a user to receive physical input including a manipulation sequence. Alternatively, one or more input components 580 may include a ball wheel configured to be rolled by a user to receive physical input including a rolling sequence. In various methods, one or more input components 580 may include a pointing stick, also referred to as a "tracking point," configured to be tightened by a user (e.g., the base of the pointing stick remains substantially stationary) to receive input including a tightening sequence applied to the pointing stick.

[0198] When one or more input components 580 are configured to receive physical input including a sequence of physical manipulations performed by the user, steps S2-4 involve presenting instructions to the user by a local computing device for performing these physical manipulations. The local computing device may visually and / or audibly instruct the user on how to provide input to one or more input components 580 of the aerosol supply device 500. Where the physical input includes a sequence of pressing one or more buttons and / or a sequence of pushing one or more switches to be provided to the control interface 530, the instructions may include a manipulation sequence to be applied in a specific configuration and having specific manipulation timing and counting. For example, the instructions may include a graphical depiction of when a button is pressed or a switch is pushed, such as graph lines alternating between two different locations. The configuration of the manipulation sequence is encoded with information (e.g., via a Morse code scheme) that will allow the user to provide information to the aerosol supply device 500, and it can be decoded by the controller 520 to decode the information in the input to perform a predetermined test. This approach allows input components (such as buttons or switches) already implemented on aerosol supply devices for different purposes to be used to provide input, thus reducing complexity.

[0199] In cases where the physical input includes a sequence of movements of an accelerometer to be provided to one or more input components 580, the instructions may include a series of taps to be provided by a user to the aerosol supply device 500, the structure of which may also be encoded with information. In this method, the user may be instructed to hold the aerosol supply device 500 as if holding a writing instrument such as a pen, and the instructions may include instructing the user to mimic drawing using the aerosol supply device 500 with one or more shapes (such as alphanumeric characters). In one method, a local computing device may draw the shape to be drawn on a display and instruct the user to use one end of the aerosol supply device 500 to follow the lines of that shape. Such a method can be particularly intuitive for the user, and inputs provided to one or more input components 580, including accelerometers, can be processed by a controller to identify information in the input for applying predetermined tests.

[0200] When one or more input components 580 are configured to receive sound input, the one or more input components 580 include a microphone. In an embodiment, this microphone is also configured as a suction sensor to detect user inhalation; and this dual purpose advantageously enables additional functionality of the aerosol supply device 500 without requiring additional components. The instructions generated in step S2-2 may include a sound data file, and when the sound data file is received by a local computing device, the input provided by the local computing device in step S2-4 can be implemented by the local computing device generating sound input from the sound data file (e.g., using a speaker), and the sound input being received by the microphone of the aerosol supply device 500.

[0201] The audio input is encoded with information, and the controller 520 of the aerosol supply device 500 is configured to decode that information from the audio input to identify information in the input used for a predetermined test. The audio input can be within an audible range of 20 kHz to 20,000 kHz, which allows the user to confirm that an audio input is being generated. Alternatively, the audio input can be outside this audible range so that it does not interfere with or can be identified by anyone. The method of encoding information in the audio input is highly non-standard and therefore may be difficult for an individual attempting to provide a forged input generated by an unauthorized computing device to replicate.

[0202] The various embodiments described herein are provided only to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of implementations and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, implementations, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or on the equivalents of the claims, and other embodiments may be used and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. In addition to those specifically described herein, various embodiments of the invention may suitably include, consist of, or substantially consist of suitable combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, devices, etc., or suitable combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, devices, etc. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. An aerosol supply device, comprising: The controller is configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply device; as well as A control interface includes one or more input components configured to receive input, wherein the input is a physical input or an audio input. The control interface is configured to provide input data to the controller, wherein the input data corresponds to the input. The controller is configured as follows: Receive the input data; In response to receiving the input data, it is determined whether the input has passed a predetermined test, the predetermined test being: determining whether information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol supply device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user; and In response to determining that the input has passed the predetermined test, the operation of the aerosol supply device controlled according to the first mode is switched to the operation of the aerosol supply device controlled according to the second mode.

2. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein, To determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated using the identifier of the aerosol supply device.

3. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, In order to determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information is generated by an authorized computing device.

4. The aerosol supply device according to claim 3, wherein, The controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by testing whether the information has an cryptographic association with a first key of the aerosol supply device.

5. The aerosol supply device according to claim 4, wherein, The controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by using a first key of the aerosol supply device, which is a private key, to test whether the information includes a corresponding second key of the authorized computing device that matches the first key.

6. The aerosol supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, A specific function of the aerosol supply device is disabled in the first mode and enabled in the second mode. The specific function includes the function of the aerosol supply device generating aerosols.

7. The aerosol supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more input components include one or more physical input components configured to receive physical input including a sequence of manipulations performed by a user.

8. The aerosol supply device according to claim 7, wherein, The controller is configured to decode information in the input, which is encoded in the structure of the manipulation sequence of the input.

9. The aerosol supply device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: i) The one or more physical input components include one or more buttons, and wherein the manipulation sequence includes a sequence of presses performed by the user on the one or more buttons; ii) The one or more physical input components include one or more switches, and wherein the manipulation sequence includes a push sequence performed by the user on the one or more switches; and / or iii) The one or more physical input components include one or more dials, and wherein the manipulation sequence includes a sequence of rotations performed by the user on the one or more dials.

10. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein, The one or more physical input components include an accelerometer, and the manipulation sequence includes a sequence of movements performed by the user on the accelerometer.

11. The aerosol supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more input components include a microphone configured to receive sound input generated by another device.

12. The aerosol supply device according to claim 11, wherein, The controller is configured to decode information in the input, which is encoded in the audio input.

13. An aerosol supply system, comprising: The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 12; as well as Consumables, including aerosol-generating materials.

14. A system comprising: The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or the aerosol supply system according to claim 13; as well as Other devices, The additional device is configured to i) provide input to one or more input components of the aerosol supply device, or ii) provide a user with an instruction to provide input to one or more input components of the aerosol supply device. The input indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an authorized computing device, wherein, The authorized computing device is configured to generate the input in response to receiving a mode switching request including an identifier of the aerosol supply device, and to send the input to the additional device.

16. A method for an aerosol supply device, comprising: Provides an aerosol supply device and a controller configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply device; One or more input components are provided to the control interface of the aerosol supply device, wherein the input is a physical input or an audio input; The input data corresponding to the input is provided to the controller through the control interface; The controller receives the input data. In response to receiving the input data, the controller determines whether the input has passed a predetermined test, the predetermined test being: determining whether the information in the input is associated with the identifier of the aerosol supply device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user; as well as In response to determining that the input has passed the predetermined test, the controller switches from controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a first mode to controlling the operation of the aerosol supply device according to a second mode.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising: If the user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device, an input generated by the authorized computing device or the authorized computing device is provided to the aerosol supply device to indicate that the user has been verified as a qualified user of the aerosol supply device. The input is sent from the authorized computing device to the local computing device or the local computing device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The input generated by the authorized computing device includes: selecting a pass key associated with the identifier of the aerosol supply device in the memory of the authorized computing device; and generating the input such that the information in the input includes the pass key.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein, Providing the input to the aerosol supply device includes: providing instructions from a local computing device to a user, the instructions instructing the user to provide the input by providing physical input, including a manipulation sequence, to one or more physical input components of the aerosol supply device.

20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein, Providing the input to the aerosol supply device includes: providing sound input from a local computing device to the microphone of one or more input components of the aerosol supply device.

21. A method for manufacturing an aerosol supply device, comprising: Generate identifiers for the aerosol supply device; The identifier is provided to the aerosol supply device, and the identifier is stored in the memory of the authorized computing device; Generate a first key for the aerosol supply device; The first key is stored in the memory of the aerosol supply device; Generate a second key for the authorized computing device, wherein the second key is cryptographically associated with the first key; The second key is stored in the memory of the authorized computing device.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein, The first key is a private key, and the second key is a pass key that matches the first key.

23. A controller configured to control the operation of an aerosol supply device, wherein, The controller is configured to: Input data is received from the control interface of the aerosol supply device, the input data corresponding to inputs received by one or more input components of the control interface, wherein the inputs are physical inputs or audio inputs; In response to receiving the input data, it is determined whether the input has passed a predetermined test, the predetermined test being: determining whether the information in the input is associated with the identifier of the aerosol supply device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that the user has been verified as a qualified user; and In response to determining that the input from the user passes the predetermined test, the operation of the aerosol supply device is switched from being controlled according to a first mode to being controlled according to a second mode.

24. The controller according to claim 23, wherein, The controller is configured to decode information in the input, which is encoded in the structure of the manipulation sequence of the one or more physical input components.

25. The controller according to claim 23, wherein, The controller is configured to decode information in the input, which is encoded in sound input received by the microphone of the one or more input components and generated by another device.

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