System provided with aerosol supply system and computer

Abstract

To provide a system equipped with an aerosol supply system and a computer.SOLUTION: An aerosol supply system is configured to generate aerosol from an aerosol generation material. A computer is configured to obtain user behavior data related to a component amount delivered to a user of the aerosol supply system from the aerosol generation material. The computer then determines a default user behavior related to the quantity of active ingredients to be delivered on the basis of the obtained user behavior data. Then, the computer identifies under which condition a notification is transmitted to the user on the basis of the obtained user behavior, and the notification notifies the user of a current behavior of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system comprising an aerosol delivery system and a computer. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic aerosol delivery systems, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), generally contain an aerosol-generating material, such as a reservoir of a liquid feedstock containing a formulation, typically including nicotine, or a solid material, such as a tobacco-based product, from which an aerosol is generated, for example through thermal vaporization, for inhalation by a user. Thus, an aerosol delivery system generally comprises an aerosol generator, such as a heating element, arranged to aerosolize a portion of the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol at an aerosol-generating region of an air channel through the aerosol delivery system. When a user inhales on the device and power is provided to the aerosol generator, air is drawn into the device along the air channel through one or more inlet holes toward the aerosol-generating region, where it mixes with the vaporized aerosol generator to form a condensed aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol-generating region continues along the air channel to the mouthpiece, thereby carrying with it a portion of the aerosol and exiting through the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

[0003] Aerosol delivery systems are typically modular assemblies and often include two main functional components: an aerosol delivery device and a disposable / replaceable consumable component. Generally, the consumable component includes the consumable aerosol generating material and the aerosol generator (heating element), while the aerosol delivery device component includes long-life items such as rechargeable batteries, device control circuitry, and user interface features. The aerosol delivery device may also be referred to as the reusable component or battery section, and the consumable component may also be referred to as the disposable component, cartridge, or cartomizer.

[0004] The aerosol delivery device and the consumable are mechanically coupled to one another at an interface for use using, for example, a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction fit fastener. When the aerosol generating material in the consumable is depleted or when a user wants to switch to a different consumable having a different aerosol generating material, the consumable can be removed from the aerosol delivery device and a replacement consumable can be installed in its place in the aerosol delivery device.

[0005] The amount of aerosol and aerosol-generating material delivered to a user depends, at least in part, on how long and how deeply the user inhales, and also on how frequently the user inhales over a period of time. These user behaviors, in turn, may be influenced by the user's mood. Currently, there is no way to take into account how such user behaviors and changes therein affect the user's preferences and choices regarding use of and interaction with the aerosol delivery device.

[0006] Various approaches are described herein that attempt to address or help alleviate some of the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present disclosure is defined in the appended claims.

[0008] According to some embodiments described herein, a system is provided that includes an aerosol delivery system and a computer. The aerosol delivery system is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material. The computer is configured to obtain user behavior data related to an amount of an ingredient delivered from the aerosol generating material to a user of the aerosol delivery system. The computer then determines a default user behavior related to an amount of an active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data. The computer then identifies under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user based on the obtained user behavior, the notification informing the user of the user's current behavior.

[0009] A default user behavior may be determined for an inhalation. A default user behavior may be determined for multiple inhalations, where the time between each of the multiple inhalations is less than a predetermined time. The default user behavior may be determined based on at least one of a time of day, a day of week, and a period of at least a week.

[0010] The user behavior data may include a duration of each inhalation and a time between each inhalation, and the user behavior data may include a remaining amount of the ingredient based on the duration of each inhalation and the time between each inhalation. The user behavior data may include at least one of an operating parameter of the device, a concentration of the ingredient in the aerosol-generating material, and an indication of a flavoring present in the aerosol-generating material.

[0011] The user's current behavior may be an inhale. The user's current behavior may be multiple inhalations, where the time between each of the multiple inhalations is less than a predetermined time. The user's current behavior may span a rolling period.

[0012] The notification may include a proposed adjustment of the aerosol delivery system, the proposed adjustment being a setting corresponding to an amount of power provided by a power source of the aerosol generation system to an aerosol generator of the aerosol generation system, where the aerosol generator is configured to aerosolize the aerosol generating material. The proposed adjustment may include at least one of a different aerosol generating material, a different concentration of ingredients, and a different flavoring in the aerosol generating material.

[0013] The notification may be provided by the aerosol delivery system and / or by an application on a remote device. The notification may be a haptic notification. Parameters of the haptic notification may be adjustable by a user of the device. The notification may be configurable by the user.

[0014] The ingredient may be nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, a vitamin, melatonin, or a cannabinoid.

[0015] The computer may be configured to store at least one of the user behavior data and the default user behavior.The computer may be configured to transmit at least one of the user behavior data and the default user behavior to a remote device.

[0016] The aerosol delivery system and the computer may be physically separate and communicate using SigFox.

[0017] According to some embodiments described herein, a computer is provided that is configured to acquire user behavior data regarding an amount of an ingredient delivered from an aerosol-generating material of the aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system. The computer then determines a default user behavior regarding the amount of active ingredient to be delivered based on the acquired user behavior data. The computer then identifies under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user based on the acquired user behavior, the notification informing the user of the user's current behavior.

[0018] According to some embodiments described herein, an aerosol delivery method is provided. User behavior data is obtained regarding an amount of an ingredient delivered to a user from an aerosol-generating material of an aerosol delivery system. A default user behavior is determined regarding an amount of an active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data. Based on the obtained user behavior, it is identified under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user, and the notification informs the user of the user's current behavior. Also provided is a computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the above method.

[0019] These and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description, and in this regard, certain sections of the specification should not be read in isolation from other sections.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery system. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a system comprising an aerosol delivery system and a computer. [Figure 4] 4 is a flow chart of a method 400 of aerosol delivery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and, for the sake of brevity, will not be discussed / described in detail. Thus, it will be understood that aspects and features of the articles and systems discussed herein that are not described in detail can be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

[0023] Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and, for the sake of brevity, will not be discussed / described in detail. Thus, it will be understood that aspects and features of the articles and systems discussed herein that are not described in detail can be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

[0024] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery system, which may be referred to as an aerosol delivery system, such as an e-cigarette. Throughout the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, with the understanding that the terms can be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery system and electronic aerosol delivery system.

[0025] As mentioned above, aerosol delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often constitute a modular assembly that includes both a reusable part (aerosol delivery device) and a replaceable (disposable) cartridge part, called a consumable. Systems that conform to this type of two-part modular form may generally be referred to as two-part systems or devices. It is also common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongated shape. To provide a concrete example, certain embodiments of the present disclosure described herein comprise this type of generally elongated two-part system that uses a disposable cartridge. However, it will be appreciated that the basic principles described herein may equally be employed for other e-cigarette forms, for example modular systems with three or more parts, as devices conforming to other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod smart devices, which generally have a more box-like shape.

[0026] As previously mentioned, the present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and corresponding aerosol delivery systems, such as, but not limited to, e-cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.

[0027] 1 is a highly schematic illustration (not to scale) of one example of an aerosol delivery system 10, such as an e-cigarette, to which embodiments are applicable. The aerosol delivery system has a generally cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal or y-axis as indicated by the dashed line (although aspects of the invention are applicable to e-cigarettes configured in other shapes and configurations) and comprises two main components: an aerosol delivery device 20 and a consumable 30.

[0028] A consumable 30 is an article that comprises or consists of an aerosol-generating material 38, some or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. The consumable 30 may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage region, an aerosol-generating material transfer component 37, an aerosol-generating region, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece 35, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0029] The consumable 30 may also include an aerosol generator 36, such as a heating element, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material 38 to generate an aerosol during use. The aerosol generator 36 may comprise, for example, a combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor. It should be noted that it is possible for the aerosol generator 36 to be part of the aerosol delivery device 20, in which case the consumable 30 may comprise an aerosol-generating material storage area for the aerosol-generating material 38, such that the aerosol-generating material 38 can be transferred to the aerosol generator 36 when the consumable 30 is coupled with the aerosol delivery device 20.

[0030] The aerosol-generating material 38 is a material that can generate an aerosol when, for example, heated, irradiated, or energized in any other manner. The aerosol-generating material 38 may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not include actives and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 38 may comprise an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, about 50%, 60%, or 70% amorphous solid by weight to about 90%, 95%, or 100% amorphous solid by weight.

[0031] The aerosol-generating material 38 comprises one or more ingredients, such as one or more active agents and / or flavorings, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and, optionally, one or more other functional materials, such as pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0032] The active substance used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material that is adapted to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, psychotropic drugs. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or components, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0033] In some embodiments, the active agent comprises nicotine, hi some embodiments, the active agent comprises caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0034] The aerosol delivery device 20 includes a power source 14, such as a battery, configured to power an aerosol generator 36. The power source 14 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, such as the type typically used in e-cigarettes and other applications requiring the delivery of a relatively high current for a relatively short period of time. The battery 14 may be recharged via a charging port (not shown), which may include, for example, a USB connector.

[0035] The aerosol delivery device 20 includes a control circuit 28 configured to monitor and / or control the operation of the aerosol delivery system 10 and provide conventional operational functions in accordance with established techniques for controlling aerosol delivery systems such as electronic cigarettes. The control circuit (processor circuit) 28 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuit elements associated with different aspects of the operation of an electronic cigarette. For example, depending on the functionality provided in different implementations, the control circuit 28 may comprise a power control circuit for controlling the supply of power from the power source 14 to the aerosol generator 36, a user programming circuit for establishing configuration settings (e.g., user-defined power settings) in response to user input, and other functional units / circuit-related functions in accordance with the principles described herein and conventional operational aspects of electronic cigarettes. It will be appreciated that the functionality of the control circuit 28 may be provided in a variety of different ways, for example, using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more appropriately configured application specific integrated circuit(s) / circuit(s) / chip(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.

[0036] The aerosol delivery device 20 shown in Figure 1 includes one or more air inlets 21. In use, when a user inhales on a mouthpiece 35, air is drawn into the aerosol delivery device 20 through the air inlet 21 and along an air channel 23 towards an aerosol generator 36 where it mixes with vaporized aerosol-generating material 38 to form a condensed aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol generator 36 continues along the air channel 23 to the mouthpiece 35, carrying with it a portion of the aerosol and exiting through the mouthpiece 35 for inhalation by the user. It will be appreciated that the one or more air inlets may be provided in the consumable 30 such that the air channel 23 is contained entirely within the consumable 30, or alternatively, the aerosol delivery device 20 and the consumable 30 may each comprise at least one air inlet 21 and a portion of the air channel 23.

[0037] As a specific example, the consumable 30 includes a housing (e.g., formed from a plastic material), a reservoir formed within the housing for containing an aerosol-generating material 38 (which in this example may be a liquid that may or may not contain nicotine), an aerosol-generating material transport component 37 (which in this example is a wick formed from, for example, glass or cotton fibers, or a ceramic material configured to transport the liquid from the reservoir using capillary action), an aerosol-generating region, and a mouthpiece 35. Although not shown, a filter and / or an aerosol modifier (such as a flavoring material) may be located at or near the mouthpiece 35. The consumable in this example includes a heater element formed from an electrically resistive material (such as NiCr8020) spirally wrapped around the aerosol-generating material transport component 37 and positioned in the air channel 23. The area surrounding the heating element and wick combination is the aerosol-generating region of the consumable 30. The consumable includes electrical contacts suitable for coupling to electrical contacts provided on the aerosol delivery device 20 so that power can be supplied directly to the heater element.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a further example of an aerosol delivery system 10, in which the same reference numbers are used for similar elements between the aerosol delivery system 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the aerosol delivery system 10 shown in FIG. 2.

[0039] The aerosol delivery system 10 of Figure 2 includes a sensor 25 configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol delivery system 10 by a user of the aerosol delivery system 10. For example, the sensor 25 may be a flow sensor, a microphone, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a touch sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other type of sensor suitable for directly or indirectly detecting or inferring inhalation of the aerosol delivery system 10 by a user of the aerosol delivery system 10. Although the sensor 25 shown in Figure 2 is part of the aerosol delivery device 20, this is not required. In other embodiments, the sensor 25 may be part of the consumable 30.

[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 including an aerosol delivery system 10 configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material 38 as described above. The system 300 also includes a computer. As described later in this specification, the computer may be located in the aerosol delivery system 10 or in a remote device 40. For example, a user of the aerosol delivery system 10 may have a remote device 40 associated with the aerosol delivery system 10 but separate from the aerosol delivery system 10. The remote device 40 may include any suitable electronic device that can be communicatively coupled to the aerosol delivery system 10. For example, the remote device 40 may include a mobile device (such as a smartphone), a PDA, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, a smart watch, etc. The functionality of the computer may be shared between the respective processors (control circuits) of each of these devices and / or between a remote server (not shown). Thus, the aerosol delivery system 10 and the computer may be physically separated. As such, the aerosol delivery system 10 and the computer may be configured to communicate using Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ANT+, Wi-Fi, SigFox, or any other suitable wireless communication method.

[0041] The computer is configured (eg, by suitable software instructions) to perform the following functions:

[0042] First, the computer obtains user behavior data regarding the amount of components delivered from the aerosol generating material 38 to a user of the aerosol delivery system 10;

[0043] Second, the computer determines a default user behavior regarding the amount of the ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data;

[0044] The computer then determines under what conditions notifications should be delivered to the user based on the captured user behavior, the notifications informing the user of the user's current behavior.

[0045] With respect to the first function, it can be seen that the amount of aerosol, and therefore the amount of aerosol-generating material 38 delivered to the user during inhalation, varies based on a variety of factors, such as the duration of the inhalation, the type of aerosolized aerosol-generating material, the temperature of the aerosol generator 36, the amount of power provided to the aerosol generator 36, the velocity or mass flow rate of air through the aerosol delivery system 10, etc. As noted above, the aerosol-generating material 38 includes one or more ingredients. The ingredients may be active substances, derivatives, or combinations thereof, such as nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or C12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents. The ingredients may be flavorings, aerosol-forming agents, or functional materials, such as pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, or antioxidants. The respective amounts of one or more ingredients delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during inhalation may also vary based on the amount of aerosol delivered to the user during inhalation. Furthermore, for a given amount of aerosol generated by aerosol generator 36 from aerosol-generating material 38, the amount of a component in the resulting aerosol varies depending on the concentration, i.e., amount, of the component in aerosol-generating material 38. Thus, the user behavior data may depend on the concentration of the component in aerosol-generating material 38 and / or an indication of flavorings present in aerosol-generating material 38.

[0046] The user behavior data may include any sensor data or user interface interaction data related to the amount of components delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user. Examples related to inhalation based interactions include one or more of the frequency of inhalation actions, regularity / irregularity / distribution of inhalation actions, shallowness / depth / amount of inhalation, and duration of inhalation. For example, as discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, the aerosol delivery system 10 may include a sensor 25 configured to detect an inhalation by a user at the aerosol delivery system 10. In response to detecting an inhalation by a user at the aerosol delivery system 10, the sensor 25 may be configured to output a corresponding inhalation detection signal to the computer.

[0047] The user behavior data may include the duration of each inhalation and the time between each inhalation. For example, in response to receiving an inhalation detection signal, the computer may then determine an indication of the amount of component delivered from the aerosol generating material 38 to the user during inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal. This may involve, for example, using a timer or other timing means, such as a clock associated with the computer, to determine the duration of each inhalation and / or the time between each inhalation. Alternatively, the computer may receive an indication of the duration of each inhalation and / or the time between each inhalation directly from the aerosol delivery system 10 or other suitable source.

[0048] The user behavior data may include data related to one or more operating parameters of the aerosol delivery system 10, such as the amount of power supplied by the power source 14 to the aerosol generator 36, the power level or settings for the aerosol generator 36, the amount of charge on the power source 14, the temperature of the aerosol generator 36, or the temperature proximate to the aerosol generator 36.

[0049] The computer may be configured to obtain user behavior data for multiple sample points within a predefined time period. Thus, user data for each hour of the day may be collected so that behavior over the day can be determined for each hour. Alternatively or additionally, user data for different locations may be collected, optionally using a filter that limits the locations to locations visited multiple times and / or locations where the user stays for more than a threshold time period. Thus, it can be seen that this may be equivalent to obtaining user behavior data for multiple sample points within a predefined time period, where the time period corresponds to a measured typical or average duration of a user at a location (e.g., at home, at work, in town, etc.). Optionally, traffic may also be considered as a virtual location (where the user travels, e.g., when in a car or on a train). Optionally, the user may blacklist the current location via the user interface to prevent it from being included in such data.

[0050] For some components, the amount of component remaining in the user's body tissue decreases over time as the component is absorbed, degraded, excreted, or otherwise depleted from the user's body tissue. By taking into account the time between each inhale and the duration of each inhale, an indication of the amount of component delivered from aerosol-generating material 38 can indicate not only the amount of component delivered to the user, but also the amount of component remaining in the user's body tissue. Thus, the user behavior data can include the remaining amount of component based on the duration of each inhale and the time between each inhale.

[0051] With respect to the second function, a default user behavior is determined by the computer with respect to the amount of the component to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data, in other words, the computer is configured to detect a pattern in the user's behavior related to the user's use of the aerosol delivery system 10 and the amount of the component to be delivered.

[0052] A default user behavior can be determined with respect to inhalation. For example, the default user behavior may correspond to an average inhalation profile by a user of the aerosol delivery system 10. This may take into account one or more of the above user behavior elements, such as the duration of the inhalation, the average air velocity or mass flow rate of air through the aerosol delivery system 10, changes in the air velocity or mass flow rate of air through the aerosol delivery system 10 during inhalation, and the type and / or concentration of one or more of the components of the aerosol-generating material 38. The default user behavior may take into account the operating parameters of the aerosol delivery system 10 during inhalation, such as the amount of power provided by the power source 14 to the aerosol generator 36, the power level or settings on the aerosol generator 36, the amount of charge on the power source 14, the temperature of the aerosol generator 36, or the temperature proximate to the aerosol generator 36, as well as changes to any of these settings during inhalation.

[0053] Each of the factors listed can affect the amount of component delivered for inhalation, and therefore each can be taken into consideration when determining the default user behavior regarding the amount of component to be delivered for inhalation.

[0054] Thus, in the context of a single cigarette puff, the default user behavior may be a default amount of ingredient and / or aerosol delivered per inhalation. As noted above, this amount may be influenced by many factors.

[0055] The default user behavior may be determined by any suitable statistical analysis. For example, if the user data relates to continuous variables such as inhalation frequency, inhalation volume, inhalation time, etc., the average value of this property may be determined as the default. Optionally, the variance or standard deviation of the average may also be determined as an indication of how accurate or reliable this determined default user behavior is (so, for example, a narrow variance suggests an accurate estimation, whereas a wide variance suggests that the estimation is representative but unlikely to be accurate for individual instances).

[0056] Other data can be represented using multiple continuous variables, such as values ​​characterizing the regularity of inhalations or the distribution pattern of inhalations. For example, a user may habitually inhale in a so-called "burst" pattern, where the user inhales the aerosol delivery system 10 frequently for a limited period of time, then pauses for an extended period of time, and then repeats this pattern. Such a pattern of inhalation is also referred to as session-based usage, where a session is defined as a collection of inhalations within a limited period of time. Alternatively, a user may habitually inhale in a so-called "grazing" pattern, where the user inhales the aerosol delivery system 10 less frequently than in a burst pattern, but without long pauses.

[0057] Thus, the default user behavior may be determined for multiple inhalations to capture the above-mentioned "burst" pattern, where the time between each of the multiple inhalations is less than the predetermined time. In other words, the default user behavior can be determined based on whether the user performs a "burst" pattern or a "grazing" pattern. Furthermore, the default user behavior can take into account the tendency of the pattern of inhalation by the user. For example, the user behavior data may indicate that the user performs a "burst" pattern in the morning, and then switches to a "grazing" pattern in the afternoon or evening. The user may perform a "burst" pattern during the weekdays, but a "grazing" pattern on weekends. Thus, the default user behavior can be determined based on the user behavior data obtained for multiple inhalations to take into account such behavior patterns.

[0058] Such patterns can be represented using average inhalation frequency data, but can be more accurately represented by adding low frequency or aggregate inhalation frequency data that indicates patterns consistent with burst patterns or a lack of patterns over longer time frames. Alternatively, patterns can be represented using average inhalation frequency data compiled for inhalations separated by less than a predetermined time, with average pause times for gaps in inhalations longer than a predetermined time. Alternatively or additionally, such schemes can be represented using other analyses, such as k-means clustering of inhalation records and / or any of the above values ​​to classify user behavior as bursts, grazing, or any other characteristic patterns identifiable within the data.

[0059] In any case, a statistical representation of a user's typical or default behavior with respect to a particular aspect of interaction with the aerosol delivery system 10 can be determined in this manner for one or more types of data and / or one or more time periods or equivalent locations.

[0060] It is understood that such a determination may relate to predictable behavior over an extended period of time, such as weeks or months. In other words, the default user behavior may be determined based on at least one of a time of day, a day of week, and a period of at least one week. This may be a default user behavior based on user behavior data obtained over a specific time of day, such as an hour, a series of hours, such as morning or 12 hours, a specific day of the week, such as Monday, Wednesday, weekday, or weekend, over a period of at least one week, such as two weeks, one month or more, such as a quarter year or a year. Alternatively or additionally, the determined default user behavior may represent a default user behavior over a time of day, a day of a week, and / or a period of at least one week. Similarly, even if the statistical model relates to an individual time of day, it is based on data for that time obtained from multiple days, possibly multiple weeks or months.

[0061] Optionally, recognizing that users may slowly change their behavior (e.g., due to changes in personal circumstances, changes in work, or as part of a behavioral cessation plan), such statistical representation of typical / default user behavior may be a rolling representation (e.g., based on the past L hours, M days, N weeks, or O months of data) or multiple representations of the same data may be maintained, e.g., a statistical representation of typical / default user behavior with respect to the amount of ingredient to be delivered may be based on a month's data, while a separate measured behavior may be based on last week's data. Thus, if the variance of the individual measurements exceeds a threshold indicating that the user's behavior is changing and / or if the average deviates from the long-term average, this may indicate a need to build or begin to build a new statistical representation based on more recent data.

[0062] A further function of the computer is to determine under what conditions to deliver notifications to the user based on the obtained user behavior, the notifications informing the user of their current actions.

[0063] The user's current behavior may be determined through a monitoring process similar to that described above in relation to obtaining user behavior data. For example, at least a subset of the same means used to collect user behavior data underlying the default user behavior may be obtained by the computer. Thus, for example, data relating to the frequency of inhalations, the amount and / or duration of inhalations may again be detected using the sensor 25 and timing means as described above. The computer may perform statistical analyses corresponding to those described herein above in relation to the determination of typical / default user behavior to enable or simplify comparisons.

[0064] The user's current behavior may be an inhale or multiple inhale corresponding to a burst pattern. Alternatively or additionally, the user's current behavior may be determined over a rolling period, for example, a rolling period of one hour, 24 hours (one day), one week (working or calendar week), or a longer period, such as two weeks, one month, or one quarter of a year. As will be appreciated, a rolling period is intended to mean the period immediately preceding any point in time, whereby, for example, a rolling 24 hour period represents the 24 hour period immediately preceding any point in time (i.e., the most recent 24 hours at any point in time).

[0065] In this case, however, the statistical analysis is performed on relatively short-term or "current" user behavior data. Thus, for example, a default user behavior facet for a given location or time may be determined using data over several days or weeks, while the user's current behavior may be based on the past 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes, or, as appropriate, since the user arrived at a given location, entered a given state, or began a detectable behavior.

[0066] The computer identifies under what conditions the notification should be delivered to the user. That is, the computer determines when and how the notification should be delivered to the user. For example, one of the conditions may be that the notification is sent to the user periodically, such as hourly, daily, weekly, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the condition may be that the notification is provided at the end of a period of time during which the current user behavior is relevant. For example, if the current user behavior is associated with an inhale or "burst" pattern, the notification may be provided at the end of the inhale or "burst" pattern, respectively.

[0067] One of the conditions may be that notifications are sent only at certain times, e.g., at certain times of the day or on certain days of the week, for example, notifications are sent to a user only once a day or once a week, so that the notifications provide a daily or weekly overview of the user's current behavior.

[0068] In some embodiments, at least some of the conditions are identified by comparing the user's current behavior to a default user behavior. In other words, the current user behavior over a short period of time is compared to typical / default / long-term user behavior data determined for one or more facets / types of user behavior. The current user behavior may be a single inhalation or multiple inhalations corresponding to a burst pattern, but this current user behavior may be compared to default user behavior for a longer period of time, such as default user behavior for an inhalation, multiple inhalations corresponding to a burst pattern, and default user behavior over an hour, a day, a week, a month, or more. The notification may include the default user behavior, so that the user can recognize differences or similarities between the user's current behavior and the default user behavior.

[0069] A notification may be provided when the user's current behavior deviates from the default user behavior. If the user's current behavior is identified as deviating from the default user behavior, a notification may be provided to the user at the end of a period that defines the current user behavior, such as the end of a "burst" pattern, the end of a day, the end of a week, or the end of a month. The computer may determine the number of instances in which the user's current behavior deviates from the default user behavior in a particular period and provide the number of instances as part of the notification. The notification may include an indication of the magnitude of the deviation from the default user behavior. Alternatively, the notification may be provided to the user at the time the user's current behavior deviates from the default user behavior.

[0070] Alternatively or additionally, a notification may be provided if the user's current behavior is consistent with or within a threshold value of the default user behavior, in other words, the notification provides an indication to the user that the user is continuing to interact with the aerosol delivery according to standard behaviors and patterns.

[0071] A notification may be provided when a pattern of the user's current behavior is detected that reflects a pattern determined from the user behavior data. For example, the user behavior data may relate to bursting, grazing, or any other characteristic pattern identifiable in the data as described above. A notification may then be provided to the user when the user's current behavior matches one of these patterns. For example, the user's current behavior may indicate that the user is a burst user (inhalations follow a "burst" pattern) or a grazing user (inhalations follow a "grazing" pattern). Furthermore, the default user behavior may indicate that the user follows one particular pattern, such as a "burst" pattern, but the current user behavior follows another pattern, such as a "grazing" pattern. A notification may then be sent to the user to inform the user that the user is currently following a "grazing" pattern. The notification may also inform the user that the user normally follows a "burst" pattern.

[0072] A notification to inform the user of the user's current behavior may be provided by the aerosol delivery system 10, for example, by activating an indicator light, emitting a sound from a speaker, or displaying a message on a display screen of the aerosol delivery device 20 and / or the consumable 30. The notification may also be a tactile notification on the aerosol delivery system 10, such as a vibration or force feedback. For example, the vibration may be generated by an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) or a piezoelectric actuator in the aerosol delivery device 20 and / or the consumable 30, or the force may be generated by a motor in the aerosol delivery device 20 and / or the consumable 30. The notification may also be a change in the operating mode of the aerosol delivery system 10 detected by the user, such as switching off, disabling, or otherwise preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator 36. For example, the aerosol generator 36 may be disabled for a period of time, such as 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 1 minute, or more.

[0073] As noted above, the aerosol delivery system 10 and the computer may be physically separate, such that the computer can send instructions to the control circuitry 28 of the aerosol delivery system 10 to provide notifications to the user.

[0074] Alternatively or additionally, notification may be provided at the remote device 40. Again, if a computer is located at the aerosol delivery system 10, the computer may send instructions to the remote device 40 to provide a notification to the user at the remote device 40, such as an application installed on the remote device 40. For example, a message may be displayed on a display screen of the remote device 40, an indicator light may be activated, a sound may be emitted from a speaker, or a tactile notification means of the remote device 40 as previously described. The notification at the remote device 40 may be a push notification or a passive notification.

[0075] As previously discussed, the notification informs the user of the user's current behavior, which may include any of the data used to determine the user's current behavior and / or user behavior data, such as the duration of an inhalation, the time between inhalations, an indication of the amount of component delivered from the aerosol generating material 38 to the user during an inhalation, multiple inhalations or a rolling time period, such as a rolling 24 hour period, and / or operating parameters of the aerosol delivery system 10 during an inhalation, multiple inhalations or a rolling time period, such as a rolling 24 hour period.

[0076] In some embodiments, the notification also includes a proposed adjustment of the aerosol delivery system. For example, the proposed adjustment can be an operating parameter of the aerosol delivery system 10, such as a setting or level corresponding to the amount of power provided by the power supply 14 of the aerosol generation system 10 to the aerosol generator 36 of the aerosol generation system 10, or a duty cycle or heating profile of the aerosol generator 36 to change the temperature of the aerosol generator 36 and thus the amount of components delivered to the user during one or more inhalations. Alternatively, the operating parameter can be the flow rate (air velocity or mass flow rate) through the aerosol delivery system 10, since decreasing the flow rate increases the density of the aerosol and can increase the amount of components delivered for a given amount of inhaled air.

[0077] Alternatively, the proposed adjustments may relate to characteristics of the consumable 20, such as replacing the consumable 20 with a different aerosol-generating material 38, a different concentration of a component in the aerosol-generating material 38, a consumable with a different flavoring present in the aerosol-generating material 38, and / or a consumable with a different volume of aerosol-generating material 38.

[0078] The proposed adjustments may depend on various factors, such as the amount by which the current user interaction deviates from the default user behavior, the nature of the deviation, or the number of times the current user interaction deviates from the default user behavior within a particular period, such as an hour, a day, or a week. The user may be able to configure the proposed adjustments. For example, the user may be able to disable the proposed adjustments of the operating parameters or configure the time period during which such proposed adjustments are provided, such as only during the day or only in the morning. If the user unexpectedly switches from glazing to bursts or high frequency consumption that may indicate stress or limited available time, the proposed adjustments may correspond to related stress-relief actions, such as a suggestion to provide another form of notification, such as playing a soothing sound or displaying a soothing visual display, or by providing a passive notification on the remote device 40 rather than a push notification.

[0079] The notifications may be configurable by the user. In other words, the user may be able to adjust one or more parameters associated with the notifications at the aerosol delivery system 10 and / or the remote device, regardless of whether the notifications are provided at the aerosol delivery system 10 or the remote device. For example, even if the notifications themselves are provided at the aerosol delivery system 10, the user may be able to adjust one or more of the parameters associated with the notifications using an application at the remote device. For example, the user may disable notifications during inhalation so that notifications are only received when inhalation is not detected by the sensor 25. The user may be able to adjust the number, brightness, and / or color of the indicator lights that are activated, the amount, pitch, or duration of the sounds that are emitted, and / or the messages that are displayed. The user may also be able to adjust one or more parameters of the haptic notifications. For example, the user may be able to adjust the duration, magnitude, and / or pattern of the vibrations or forces that are applied by the actuators and motors, respectively.

[0080] The user may also be able to adjust the conditions under which notifications are delivered to the user. For example, the user may want notifications to be sent only at certain intervals, such as once an hour, once a day, once a week, or only on weekdays. The user may disable or otherwise prevent notifications that are triggered by certain conditions, such as disabling notifications related to single inhalations or "burst" patterns as described above. The user may only want to receive notifications regarding current user behavior that are related to longer-term behavior patterns, such as on a daily, weekly, monthly, or longer basis.

[0081] In some embodiments, the computer is configured to store the user behavior data and / or the default user behavior data. The computer can then simply recall the user behavior data from the store to determine the default user behavior and the conditions for delivering notifications to the user. Alternatively or additionally, the computer may be configured to transmit the user behavior data and / or the default user behavior to a remote device, for example, for storage or further analysis. This reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored in the computer, but requires retrieval by the computer when the user behavior data and / or the default user behavior are needed for processing. With reference to FIG. 4, the computer may be located in the aerosol delivery system 10, and the user behavior data and / or the default user behavior may be stored in the remote device 40. Regardless of the location of the computer and where the user behavior data and the default user behavior data are stored, the stored user behavior data and the default user behavior data may be updated as more data is generated and the computer updates the default user behavior as described above.

[0082] 4 is a flow chart of an aerosol delivery method 400. The method begins at step 401, where user behavior data is obtained regarding the amount of a component delivered from an aerosol generating material to a user of the aerosol delivery system. At step 402, a default user behavior regarding the amount of a component to be delivered is determined based on the obtained user behavior data. At step 403, based on the obtained user behavior, it is identified under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user, the notification informing the user of the user's current behavior.

[0083] As described above, a computer may be configured to perform the method 400 shown in Figure 4. The method 400 shown in Figure 4 may be stored as instructions on a computer-readable storage medium, such that when the instructions are executed by a processor, the aforementioned method 400 is performed. The computer-readable storage medium may be non-transitory.

[0084] As mentioned above, the present disclosure relates to a system including, but not limited to, an aerosol delivery system and a computer. The aerosol delivery system is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material. The computer is configured to obtain user behavior data related to an amount of an ingredient delivered from the aerosol generating material to a user of the aerosol delivery system. The computer then determines a default user behavior with respect to the amount of the ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data. The computer then identifies under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user based on the obtained user behavior, where the notification informs the user of the user's current behavior.

[0085] Thus, a system comprising an aerosol delivery system and a computer, a computer, an aerosol delivery method, and a computer readable storage medium have been described.

[0086] The various embodiments described herein are presented only to aid in understanding and teaching the features recited in the claims. These embodiments are provided only as a representative sample of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, features, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or the equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments can be utilized and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of any suitable combination of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Furthermore, the present disclosure may include other inventions not claimed herein but which may be claimed in the future.

[0087] The present disclosure includes the following aspects. [Claim 1] an aerosol delivery system configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material; A computer comprising: obtaining user behavior data regarding amounts of components delivered from the aerosol generating material to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of the active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; Identifying under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user based on the captured user behavior, the notification informing the user of the user's current behavior; A computer configured to A system comprising: [Claim 2] The system of claim 1 , wherein the default user behavior is determined with respect to inhalation. [Claim 3] The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the default user behavior is determined for multiple inhalations, the time between each of the multiple inhalations being less than a predetermined time. [Claim 4] The system of claim 1 , wherein the default user behavior is determined based on at least one of a time of day, a day of a week, and a period of at least a week. [Claim 5] The system of claim 1 , wherein the user behavior data includes the duration of each inhalation and the time between each inhalation. [Claim 6] The system of claim 5 , wherein the user behavior data includes a remaining amount of an ingredient based on the duration of each inhalation and the time between each inhalation. [Claim 7] The system of claim 1 , wherein the user behavior data includes at least one of device operating parameters, concentrations of ingredients in the aerosol-generating material, and an indication of flavorings present in the aerosol-generating material. [Claim 8] The system according to claim 1 , wherein the current behavior of the user is inhalation. [Claim 9] 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the current behavior of the user is a plurality of inhalations, and the time between each of the plurality of inhalations is shorter than a predetermined time. [Claim 10] The system of claim 1 , wherein the user's current behavior spans a rolling period. [Claim 11] The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification includes a proposed adjustment to an operating parameter of the aerosol delivery system. [Claim 12] 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the operating parameters are settings corresponding to an amount of power supplied by a power supply of the aerosol generation system to an aerosol generator of the aerosol generation system, and the aerosol generator is configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material. [Claim 13] 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the proposed adjustments include at least one of a different aerosol-generating material, a different concentration of an ingredient, and a different flavoring in the aerosol-generating material. [Claim 14] The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is provided by the aerosol delivery system. [Claim 15] The system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the notification is provided by an application on a remote device. [Claim 16] The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is a tactile notification. [Claim 17] The system of claim 16 , wherein parameters of the haptic notification are adjustable by a user of a device. [Claim 18] The system of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the notification is user configurable. [Claim 19] 19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the component is nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, a vitamin, melatonin, or a cannabinoid. [Claim 20] The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to store at least one of the user behavior data and the default user behavior. [Claim 21] The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to transmit at least one of the user behavior data and the default user behavior to a remote device. [Claim 22] The system of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the aerosol delivery system and the computer are physically separate and communicate using SigFox. [Claim 23] obtaining user behavior data relating to an amount of a component delivered from an aerosol-generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of the active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; Identifying under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user based on the captured user behavior, the notification informing the user of the user's current behavior; A computer configured to: [Claim 24] acquiring user behavior data relating to amounts of components delivered from an aerosol generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; determining under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user based on the captured user behavior, said notification informing the user of the user's current behavior; 23. An aerosol delivery method comprising: [Claim 25] When executed by the processor, acquiring user behavior data relating to amounts of components delivered from an aerosol generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; determining under what conditions a notification should be delivered to the user based on the captured user behavior, said notification informing the user of the user's current behavior; A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for performing a method comprising:

Claims

1. an aerosol delivery system configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material; A computer comprising: obtaining user behavior data regarding amounts of components delivered from the aerosol generating material to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of the active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; Identifying whether one or more conditions for delivering a notification to the user are met based on the captured user behavior, the notification informing the user of a current behavior of the user, and the satisfaction of at least some of the conditions is identified by comparing the current behavior of the user with the default user behavior. A computer configured to A system comprising:

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a condition for providing a notification is that the user's current behavior deviates from the default user behavior.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a condition for providing a notification is that the user's current behavior matches the default user behavior.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition for providing the notification is that the notification is sent to the user periodically.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition for providing a notification is that a notification is sent to the user at the end of a period that defines a current behavior of the user.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user can adjust one or more conditions under which notifications are delivered to the user.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the default user behavior is determined with respect to inhalation.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determined default user behavior takes into account patterns of user behavior.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the default user behavior is determined for multiple inhalations, and the time between each of the multiple inhalations is less than a predetermined time.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the default user behavior is determined based on at least one of a time of day, a day of a week, and a period of at least a week.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user behavior data includes the duration of each inhalation and the time between each inhalation.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user behavior data includes a remaining amount of an ingredient based on the duration of each inhale and the time between each inhale.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user behavior data includes at least one of an operating parameter of a device, a concentration of an ingredient in the aerosol-forming material, and an indication of a flavoring present in the aerosol-forming material.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user's current behavior is inhalation.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user's current behavior is multiple inhalations, and the time between each of the multiple inhalations is less than a predetermined time.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user's current behavior spans a rolling period.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification comprises a proposed adjustment to an operating parameter of the aerosol delivery system.

18. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the operating parameters are settings corresponding to an amount of power supplied by a power supply of the aerosol generation system to an aerosol generator of the aerosol generation system, the aerosol generator being configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material.

19. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the proposed adjustments include at least one of a different aerosol-forming material, a different concentration of an ingredient, and a different flavoring in the aerosol-forming material.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is provided at the aerosol delivery system.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is provided in an application on a remote device.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is a haptic notification.

23. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein parameters of the haptic notification are adjustable by a user of a device.

24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is user configurable.

25. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ingredient is nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, a vitamin, melatonin, or a cannabinoid.

26. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to store at least one of the user behavior data and the default user behavior.

27. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to transmit at least one of the user behavior data and the default user behavior to a remote device.

28. obtaining user behavior data relating to an amount of a component delivered from an aerosol-generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of the active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; Identifying whether one or more conditions for delivering a notification to the user are met based on the captured user behavior, the notification informing the user of a current behavior of the user, and the satisfaction of at least some of the conditions is identified by comparing the current behavior of the user with the default user behavior. A computer configured to:

29. acquiring user behavior data relating to amounts of components delivered from an aerosol generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; identifying whether one or more conditions for delivering a notification to the user are met based on the captured user behavior, the notification informing the user of a current behavior of the user, and the fulfillment of at least some of the conditions being identified by comparing the current behavior of the user with the default user behavior; 13. An aerosol delivery method comprising:

30. When executed by the processor, acquiring user behavior data relating to amounts of components delivered from an aerosol generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; identifying whether one or more conditions for delivering a notification to the user are met based on the captured user behavior, the notification informing the user of a current behavior of the user, and the fulfillment of at least some of the conditions being identified by comparing the current behavior of the user with the default user behavior; 23. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for performing a method comprising:

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