Aerosol delivery system and system with wireless beacon

Abstract

The non-flammable aerosol delivery system includes a wireless communication system configured to receive data from a wireless communication beacon using a connectionless data channel regarding a physical location with which the beacon is associated, and a user interface system configured to communicate instructions regarding the received data through user interface elements of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

Description

Field and Background

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This disclosure relates to inter-device sensing, and particularly, but not exclusively, to sharing operational data between devices using connectionless data channels.

[0002]

[0002] A "non-flammable" aerosol delivery system is an aerosol delivery system in which the aerosol-generating materials that make up the aerosol delivery system (or its components) are not combusted or burned to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0003]

[0003] The non-combustible aerosol delivery system may be an electronic cigarette, also referred to as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not required.

[0004]

[0004] A non-combustion aerosol delivery system may be an aerosol-generating material heating system, also referred to as a non-combustion heating system. One example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0005]

[0005] The non-combustible aerosol delivery system may be a hybrid system for generating an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, where one or more of the aerosol-generating materials may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in solid, liquid, or gel form and may or may not contain nicotine. The hybrid system may include a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0006] Typically, a non-flammable aerosol delivery system may include a non-flammable aerosol delivery device and a consumable for use with the non-flammable aerosol delivery device. The consumable may include an aerosol-generating material, and the non-flammable aerosol delivery device may generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material.

[0007]

[0007] A non-flammable aerosol delivery system, such as a non-flammable aerosol delivery device, may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, an electrical power source or a heat generating power source. The heat generating power source includes a carbon substrate that may be energized to deliver power in the form of heat to an aerosol generating material or a heat transfer material proximate to the heat generating power source.

[0008]

[0008] The non-flammable aerosol delivery system can include a consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol-generating region, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or a region containing an aerosol modifying agent.

[0009]

[0009] Consumables for use with the non-flammable aerosol delivery device may include aerosol generating materials, aerosol generating material storage areas, aerosol generating material transport components, aerosol generators, aerosol generating areas, housings, packaging materials, filters, mouthpieces, and / or aerosol modifiers.

[0010]

[0010] During use of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, there may be information collected by the device regarding the status of the device. This information may be useful to a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, such as information related to the content of the aerosol generating material, battery charge level, or information regarding the remaining level of the aerosol generating material, such as puff count and / or total puff duration. In addition, information such as error codes may be generated by the device. Furthermore, there may be information useful to the user for purposes of regulating the user's use of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Such information may be for use by some form of administrative entity, for example, allowing for logging of the number and type of error occurrences. The inventors have devised an approach to access such information in an energy efficient and non-intrusive manner.

[0011]

[0011] Methods of transferring data using low power communication protocols such as Bluetooth™ or Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE), also known as Bluetooth Smart, often involve establishing a partnership, bonding, pairing, or other connection-based channel between two entities to facilitate transmitting information over the protocol.

[0012]

[0012] Particular aspects are set out in the independent and dependent claims.

[0013]

[0013] From a first aspect, a non-flammable aerosol delivery system can be provided comprising a wireless communication system configured to receive data from a wireless communication beacon using a connectionless data channel, the data relating to a physical location with which the beacon is associated, and a user interface system configured to communicate instructions relating to the received data by a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0014]

[0014] From another aspect, a wireless communication beacon can be provided comprising a data interface configured to receive data related to a physical location with which the beacon is associated, and a wireless communication system configured to transmit data related to the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a connectionless data channel.

[0015]

[0015] From a further aspect, there can be provided a system comprising a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a wireless beacon, wherein the wireless beacon comprises a data interface configured to receive data regarding a physical location with which the beacon is associated, and a wireless communication system configured to transmit data regarding the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a connectionless data channel, wherein the non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprises the wireless communication system configured to receive data regarding the physical location with which the beacon is associated from the wireless communication beacon using the connectionless data channel, and a user interface system configured to communicate instructions regarding the data regarding the physical location with which the beacon is associated by a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0016]

[0016] From an additional aspect, a method may be provided that includes a step of receiving, by a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, data from a wireless communication beacon using a connectionless data channel regarding a physical location to which the beacon is associated, and a step of communicating, by a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, instructions regarding the received data.

[0017]

[0017] From another aspect, a method for a wireless beacon can be provided that includes receiving data regarding a physical location with which the beacon is associated via a data interface, and transmitting the data regarding the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a wireless communication system configured to use a connectionless data channel.

[0018]

[0018] From a further aspect, there may be provided a method for a system having a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a wireless beacon, the method including the steps of receiving data regarding a physical location with which the beacon is associated using a data interface of the wireless beacon, transmitting data regarding the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a wireless communication system configured to transmit using a connectionless data channel, receiving data regarding the physical location with which the beacon is associated using the wireless communication system configured to receive using a connectionless data channel, and communicating instructions representing the data regarding the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a user interface system configured to communicate with a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0019]

[0019] Additionally, although the above examples, aspects, and embodiments are implemented in the context of a user interface of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the same techniques may also be deployed in the context of, and / or alternatively, a user interface of a device in a data connection with the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. For example, the device may be a user device having a wired or wireless connection to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020]

[0020] An embodiment of the present teachings will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0022] [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating an approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0023] [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a flow chart of a method for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0024] [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of another approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of another approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of another approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0025] [Figure 3D] FIG. 3D is a flow chart of a method for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0026] [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating an approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0027] [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a flow chart of a method for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0028] [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating an approach for providing communication between a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a beacon.

[0029] [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a flow chart of a method for providing communication between a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a beacon.

[0030] [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C is a flow chart of a method for providing communication between a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a beacon.

[0031] [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a sequence of user interface screens.

[0032] [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a sequence of user interface screens. Detailed Description

[0033] While the described technique is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. The drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the scope to the particular forms disclosed, but rather, it is to be understood that the scope shall encompass all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims.

[0034]

[0034] The present invention generally relates to sharing information between different non-flammable aerosol delivery system devices, which is then displayed on the non-flammable aerosol delivery system itself, both without transmitting data to, from, or through a connected device, such as a smartphone.

[0035]

[0035] The present disclosure also relates to sharing inventory information from beacons associated with inventory holding locations to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, which then displays the inventory information directly to a user.

[0036] It should be appreciated that the present approach involves the transmission of data to and from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, as well as for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to process data stored and / or received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Accordingly, to illustrate a suitable device for providing such functionality, an exemplary non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 is shown with reference to FIG.

[0037]

[0037] An example of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. As shown, the aerosol delivery device 10 is a device that includes elements related to aerosol generation, such as an aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12 (in the case of an END device, the aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12 contains nicotine or a nicotine-containing formulation), an aerosol-generating chamber 14, and an outlet 16 through which the generated aerosol can be discharged. The aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12 generally stores the aerosol-generating material (also known as aerosol medium) and may be a consumable product or part of a consumable product. A battery 18 may be provided for powering the heat-generating elements (such as heater coil 20) within (or functionally adjacent to) the aerosol-generating chamber 14. The battery 18 may also power a processor / controller 22, which may serve the purposes of device use, such as activating the device for aerosol generation in response to an activation trigger, as well as communication and function control purposes. The processor / controller 22 may have access to a memory 24, which may be used to store operating instructions for the processor / controller 22. Memory 24 may also be used to store data describing the operating conditions and / or status of non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 and / or one or more of its components. Memory 24 may be internal to processor / controller 22 or may be provided as an additional, separate physical element.

[0038]

[0038] A transmitter / receiver element 26 is provided in the processor / controller 22 to perform data transmission and reception and / or messaging. The transmitter / receiver element 26 enables the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 to communicate with a connected device using a connection technology such as a personal area network protocol. Exemplary personal area network protocols include Bluetooth™, Bluetooth Low Energy™ (BLE), Zigbee™, Wireless USB, and Near Field Communication (NFC). Exemplary personal area network protocols also include protocols that utilize optical communication, such as Infrared Data Association (IrDA), and data over sound. Other wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi™ technology, may be used if the non-flammable aerosol delivery system has appropriate capabilities. In another example, the transmitter / receiver element 26 may be configured to provide a wired communication channel provided between the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 and a physical port of the connected device. Such a wired communication channel may utilize a physical connection technology such as USB™, serial port, FireWire™, or other point-to-point wired connection. The remainder of this description uses BLE examples and uses BLE terminology, but it should be understood that corresponding or equivalent functionality of other personal area network technologies may be used instead. Thus, in this example, transmitter / receiver element 26 is a BLE interface element that includes or is connected to a wireless antenna for wireless communication. In other examples, such as those shown above, it may be an interface element for an alternative wireless technology and / or a wired connection interface.

[0039]

[0039] Any communication established with the connecting device may not be permanent or temporary in the sense that the channel may be established for the period of time necessary to perform a particular function, but may also be disconnected when not needed. In this example, the connecting device is typically another non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In some examples, the connecting device may additionally or alternatively be some form of user device, such as a mobile phone (cell phone) or tablet of a user (and / or owner) of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system (which may also be referred to as a remote device, in the sense that the device is remote from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system).

[0040] Continuing with the description of FIG. 1, the processor / controller 22 may be, in one example, an STM32 microcontroller provided by STMicroelectronics and based on the ARM™ Cortex™-M processor. In other examples, alternative microcontrollers or processors may be used, which may be based on the ARM™ architecture, and the Atom™ architecture or other low-power processor technologies. Alternatively or additionally, the transmitter / receiver element 26 may include, in one example, an nRF BLE chip for cooperating with the processor / controller to provide BLE connectivity to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In other examples, other communication interface chips or modules may be deployed to provide connectivity services.

[0041]

[0041] As illustrated, the processor / controller 22 may be connected, for example, to the aerosol generating material container or cartridge 12, the aerosol generating chamber 14, and the battery 18. This connection may be to an interface connection or output from one of the components and / or to a sensor located on or within one of the components. These connections may provide access by the processor to characteristics of the respective components. For example, the battery connection may be used to control activation of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system for aerosol generation.

[0042] Further functionality of the processor / controller 22 and / or memory 24 will now be described with reference to examples of the present approach below.

[0043]

[0043] In addition, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system includes an output element 28. This output element can output a representation of / derived from data stored in the memory 24 and / or received by the transmitter / receiver element 26. In this example, the output element includes a visual display element such as an illuminable indicator (e.g., an LED, a multi-color LED, etc.) or a display configured to output one or more letters, numbers, or symbols. If the output element 28 is a display, it may be a matrix or grid-type display such as an LED display, an LCD display, etc. In some examples, the output element 28 may additionally or alternatively include an audio output element. Such an audio output element may be configured to emit one or more sounds. In some examples, the output element 28 may additionally or alternatively include a tactile feedback element. Such a tactile feedback element may be configured to cause a detectable vibration or buzzing of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0044]

[0044] The non-flammable aerosol delivery system may also include an input element 30. In this example, this input element 30 includes a button or other element capable of receiving physical input from a user. If the output element 28 is a display, the input element may be a touch-sensitive and / or pressure-sensitive detector included in the display, such as a touch screen display. In some examples, the input element 30 may also or alternatively include a voice detector capable of receiving voice input. Such voice input may then be subjected to recognition processing (e.g., voice recognition processing) by the controller / processor 22 (or other processing hardware of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system) to receive voice input from a user.

[0045]

[0045] The output element 28 and the input element 30 (if present) may be described as being or being part of a user interface system of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10. Content communicated via the output element 28 is provided from the processor / controller 22 to the output element, and input received via the input element 30 is provided to the processor / controller 22. Thus, the processor / controller 22 and / or instructions operating thereon may also be described as part of the user interface system. The user interface system provides a mechanism by which a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 may receive information / notifications from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10, and optionally also provides a mechanism by which a user may provide input to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10. The output element 28 and the input element 30 may be collectively referred to as user interface elements. In some examples, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be activated for aerosol generation by the input element 30 or by performing an action that results in a detectable airflow through one or more aerosol generation-related components of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Thus, the mechanism for activating the non-flammable aerosol delivery system for aerosol generation may be considered to be part of the user interface system or separate from the user interface system.

[0046]

[0046] Although the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is described above as including one or more user interface elements of a user interface system, the present teachings are also applicable to situations in which a connected device (e.g., connected in a wired or wireless manner using a transmitter / receiver element) has its own user interface system. The user interface of such a connected device may be used to implement and achieve any or all of the user interface behaviors described herein, which may be in addition to or instead of operating some or all of those user interface behaviors using the user interface system of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0047] Thus, a non-flammable aerosol delivery system has been described that can interact with one or more other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems to provide a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system with a number of additional functions for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Examples of such functions are now described.

[0048] 2A and 2B collectively illustrate a first approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0049]

[0049] This technique pertains to a given non-flammable aerosol delivery system configured to provide an indication to a user that one or more other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems are in proximity to the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2A, two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10a and 10b are within a BLE communication distance D from each other. Either or both non-flammable aerosol delivery systems may execute a technique to determine whether the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range of another non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In response to a separate determination at each non-flammable aerosol delivery system that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range, the respective display element 28 of each non-flammable aerosol delivery system may display an indication that at least one other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is active within range. Although FIG. 2A shows both non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10a and 10b performing this method to enable each to display an indication that at least one other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range, the technique is equally applicable where only one of two or more non-flammable aerosol delivery systems that are within range of each other performs the described technique.

[0050]

[0050] A method that can be independently performed by each non-flammable aerosol delivery system to realize this function is shown in FIG. 2B. Starting at step S2-1, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a transmits an advertising packet. This may be a standard BLE advertising packet of the kind conventionally used to advertise the presence of a BLE device as available for BLE connection / pairing. No specific advertising packet payload is required for this approach. In order to provide a high level of proximity information to a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be configured to repeatedly transmit such advertising packets without user input at appropriate time intervals. On the other hand, it may be appropriate to allow user input to be used to trigger the transmission of an advertising packet or the activation of an operating mode in which such advertising packet is transmitted, so as not to waste battery power of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system for aerosol generation or other functions. If user input is required for this function, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system includes an input element 30.

[0051]

[0051] In response to receiving the BLE advertising packet by the other non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10b, the other non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10b transmits a response packet. The response packet may be either a BLE scan request packet or a BLE connection request packet. The response packet is then received by the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10a in step S2-3. From the fact that this response message was received, the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10a already knows that the other non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10b is within communication range. Otherwise, the response packet would not have been received. As a result, the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10a knows that there is another non-flammable aerosol dispensing system within communication range that is active.

[0052]

[0052] Thus, in step S2-7, non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a uses display element 28a of non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a to display some information to indicate to the user that another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range. As shown in Figure 2A, this displayed information, in this example, is a symbol indicating that some other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range. In other examples, this information may be provided by one or more of other symbols, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more audible indications, and / or one or more tactile indications.

[0053]

[0053] Although it has been described that the response packet may be a BLE scan packet or a BLE connection request packet (either or both may be used as part of the process of establishing a BLE pairing or connection), it is not necessary that a BLE pairing / connection be established to utilize the techniques of the present example. In other words, the present technique utilizes a Bluetooth / BLE connectionless state to achieve the described results. There may also be cases where such pairing / connection is required / desired, and therefore this may optionally proceed in addition to the present method. As noted above, the present example describes Bluetooth / BLE terminology, but the techniques taught may employ other connection technologies, such as other personal area network technologies, to exchange connectionless and / or connection precursor packets. As will be appreciated, a connectionless state packet is a packet sent without (or prior to completion of) a formal, bonding, pairing, or other connection establishment process. Thus, a connectionless channel is a channel on which connectionless state packets may be transmitted and / or received, i.e., a channel for the exchange of packets and on which a formal, bonding, pairing, or other connection establishment process has not been completed.

[0054]

[0054] Optionally, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a may perform an additional step to determine the range to the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b from which a response was received in step S2-3. This determination includes calculating the range to the device from which the response packet was received (which in this example is the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b), as shown in optional step S2-5. This range calculation may be based on the received signal power of the response packet. By knowing the received signal power, an approximation of the distance D may be calculated. Thus, the display of information in step S2-7 may be made to indicate when another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within the range of the distance D corresponding to the threshold value.

[0055]

[0055] In this example, the distance calculation is a threshold distance calculation. In other words, the calculation determines whether the received signal power of the response packet is greater than or less than a preset threshold. This threshold is preset in the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a to represent a given value of the distance D. Thus, in one particular example, the threshold can be set to determine when another non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 comes within 10 m of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. Other range values ​​are possible, and the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can have multiple different range thresholds that a user can select for "within range" detection purposes.

[0056]

[0056] To set the threshold for use by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, a calculation may be made based on the estimated and / or expected average transmission power of all non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10 compatible with the present approach, and the estimated power drop over the distance of the expected transmission medium (probably air, but some intervening building structures and / or biological matter and / or signal interference may be tolerated). As will be understood, factors such as unexpectedly high or low response packet transmission power, a higher or lower amount of intervening building structures or biological matter, and a higher or lower interference level in the transmission frequency band(s) may all affect the received signal power, so that the determination of the range using such a threshold based on such estimated parameters is necessarily approximate. Thus, a threshold representing a particular distance D will necessarily encompass a range of possible distances in which the distance between two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10 may be approximately the particular distance D.

[0057]

[0057] By using the threshold-based calculations as described above, each non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can calculate distance using simple calculations that do not require a large amount of processing power. Thus, the present technique can be implemented in a non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 having a low power controller / processor 22.

[0058]

[0058] In another example, by accepting that the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a needs to perform more complex calculations, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can calculate the actual (albeit approximate) range to other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10b from which a response packet was received. In this example, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a uses the actual or expected transmission power of such received packets. This may be included as an estimated value in the programming of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a or may be included as payload data in the received response packet. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a also uses a value or formula indicating the expected signal strength drop with distance. By knowing the received signal power of the response packet and these two additional pieces of information, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can calculate the actual range to other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10b. This actual range will be subject to the same uncertainties as described above in connection with the threshold approach. Using this approach, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can include a representation of the distance in the display information.

[0059]

[0059] Although the above description refers to providing an indication that another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range of the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the same approach may be used to determine such range conditions for multiple other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. The same method is performed by the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system with respect to each other non-flammable aerosol delivery system (note that a single advertising packet may elicit responses from more than one other non-flammable aerosol delivery system, or that separate advertising packets may each elicit responses from different other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems). The display information may then indicate, for example, the number of other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems within range. Additionally or alternatively, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may enable the use of the input element 30 to display information about each detected non-flammable aerosol delivery system in turn.

[0060]

[0060] Although the above description has been described from the perspective of non-flammable aerosol supply system 10a, the same applies when the method is performed by non-flammable aerosol supply system 10b, although in this case it is the other non-flammable aerosol supply system 10b that sends the advertisement and it is non-flammable aerosol supply system 10a that responds.

[0061]

[0061] Thus, a technique is described in which a non-flammable aerosol delivery system can determine when at least one other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range (such as communication range, a predetermined distance and / or a calculated distance) and display information by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system itself to a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system that explains the situation. In other words, the technique allows a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to be notified when another non-flammable aerosol delivery system comes within range. This may enable or facilitate an exchange of information and / or assistance between different users of the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0062]

[0062] Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D collectively illustrate another approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0063]

[0063] This approach is similar to the approach described with respect to Figures 2A and 2B, except that in this approach, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a is configured to indicate the proximity of one or more other active non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0064]

[0064] In this example, as shown in FIG. 3A, two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10a and 10b are within a distance D1 from each other. In this example, the distance D1 is a relatively long distance, possibly at or near the maximum communication range of the non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. Thus, the display 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a shows another non-flammable aerosol delivery system at a long distance, and in this example, also shows an identifier of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system. This identifier may be information included in the response packet received from the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system, or may be any identifier assigned by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system displaying the proximity information. If an identifier was included in the response packet received from the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the identifier may be an actual identifier of the user or device, or may be a nickname or other non-personally identifying identifier. If any kind of identifier is provided in the response packet, this identifier may be included in the response packet only if the user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system has given permission to share such identifier, in some examples.

[0065]

[0065] In the illustrated example, the display 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a displays the identifier "User 2" together with a distance indicator. The identifier "User 2" is used to indicate that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is identified as a different user from the user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a, which in this example is given the identifier "User 1", or is presumed to be associated with the user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. The display 28b of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b correspondingly performs the same technique and thus is a similar range indicator, but displays the identifier assigned to the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a or the identifier received from the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a, in this example the identifier "User 1" received or applied.

[0066]

[0066] As shown in Figure 3B, the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10a and 10b are separated by a distance D2 that is less than the distance D1. As a result, the display 28 of each non-flammable aerosol delivery system now shows the same identifier information as in Figure 3A, but the distance indicator now represents the reduced distance (or greater proximity) between the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0067]

[0067] As further shown in Figure 3C, the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10a and 10b are then separated by a distance D3, which is less than distance D1 and distance D2. As a result, the display 28 of each non-flammable aerosol delivery system now shows the same identifier information as in Figures 3A and 3B, but the distance indicator now represents a further reduced distance (or greater proximity) between the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0068]

[0068] As with the technique described above with reference to Figures 2A and 2B, the illustrations of Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C show display elements 28 of each non-flammable aerosol delivery system performing the method of the technique, but again the present disclosure encompasses the method being performed by only one (or less than all) of the non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0069]

[0069] Thus, a given non-flammable aerosol delivery system may provide an indication of the proximity of one or more other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. Methods that may be performed independently by each non-flammable aerosol delivery system to achieve this functionality will now be further described with reference to Figure 3D.

[0070]

[0070] Starting at step S3-1, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a transmits an advertising packet. This may be a standard BLE advertising packet of the kind conventionally used to advertise the presence of a BLE device as available for BLE connection / pairing. No specific advertising packet payload is required for this approach. In order to provide a high level of proximity information to a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be configured to repeatedly transmit such advertising packets without user input at appropriate time intervals. On the other hand, it may be appropriate to allow user input to be used to trigger the transmission of advertising packets or the activation of an operating mode in which such advertising packets are transmitted, so as not to waste battery power of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system for aerosol generation or other functions. If user input is required for this function, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system includes an input element 30.

[0071]

[0071] In response to receiving the BLE advertising packet by the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b, the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b transmits a response packet. The response packet may be either a BLE scan request packet or a BLE connection request packet. The response packet is then received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a in step S3-3. In this manner, the response packet again indicates to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a that another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is active and within communication range.

[0072]

[0072] Although it has been described that the response packet may be a BLE scan packet or a BLE connection request packet (either or both may be used as part of the process of establishing a BLE pairing or connection), it is not necessary that a BLE pairing / connection be established to utilize the present example approach. In other words, the present approach utilizes the connectionless state of Bluetooth / BLE to achieve the described results. There may also be cases where such pairing / connection is required / desired, and therefore this may optionally proceed in addition to the present method.

[0073]

[0073] After receiving the response packet in step S2-3, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a determines a certain range to the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b. This determination includes calculating the range to the device from which the response packet was received (which in this example is the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b), as shown in optional step S3-5. As described with respect to Figures 2A and 2B, this range calculation may be based on the received signal power of the response packet. By knowing the received signal power, an approximation of the distance D may be calculated. Thus, in step S3-7, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a displays some information using the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a to indicate to the user that another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range. 3A, 3B, and 3C, this displayed information, in this example, is an identifier indicative of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b and an indication of the proximity (or range distance) to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In other examples, this information may be provided by one or more of other symbols, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more audible indications, and / or one or more tactile indications.

[0074]

[0074] In this example, the distance calculation is a threshold distance calculation. In other words, the calculation determines whether the received signal power of the response packet is greater than or less than two or more preset thresholds. Each threshold is preset in the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a to represent a given value of distance. Thus, in this example where three ranges are possible, the received signal power is compared against each of the three thresholds, one threshold corresponding to the longest distance D1, a second threshold corresponding to the middle distance D2, and a third threshold corresponding to the shortest distance D3. Thus, in one particular example, the thresholds can be set to determine if another non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 is within 10 m of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a, within 8 m of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a, and within 2 m of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. In other examples, other range values ​​and / or larger or smaller numbers of thresholds can be implemented. In one particular example, two range thresholds are used, which may correspond to ranges of, for example, 10m and 4m.

[0075]

[0075] Each such threshold may be set similarly to the thresholds already described with reference to Figures 2A and 2B above, and thus the ranges may similarly be approximate to some extent or may be expected to indicate a probability.

[0076]

[0076] As mentioned above, from the fact that this response message was received, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a already knows that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b is within communication range. Otherwise, the response packet would not have been received. Thus, in some examples, this fact may be used as an indication that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b is within the first (longest) range D1, so that a threshold test is not required to establish that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b is within the longest range D1. One or more additional ranges may then be determined using a threshold approach. Thus, in examples where only two ranges are represented, the presence of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system within the longer of the two ranges is determined by receiving a response packet, and the presence of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system within the shorter of the two ranges is determined by testing against a threshold representing the shorter range.

[0077]

[0077] By using the threshold-based calculations as described above, each non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can calculate distance using simple calculations that do not require a large amount of processing power. Thus, the present technique can be implemented in a non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 having a low power controller / processor 22.

[0078]

[0078] In another example, by accepting that the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a needs to perform more complex calculations, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can calculate the actual (albeit approximate) range to other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10b from which a response packet has been received. In this example, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a uses the actual or expected transmission power for such received packets. This may be included as an estimated value in the programming of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a or may be included as payload data in the received response packet. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a also uses a value or formula indicating the expected signal strength drop with distance. By knowing the received signal power of the response packet and these two additional pieces of information, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a can calculate the actual range to other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10b. This actual range may then be included in the display 18a as a symbolic range for maximum and minimum detectable values ​​or as an actual numerical range.

[0079]

[0079] Although the above description refers to providing an indication that another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range of the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the same approach may be used to determine such range conditions for multiple other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. The same method is performed by the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system with respect to each other non-flammable aerosol delivery system (note that a single advertising packet may elicit responses from more than one other non-flammable aerosol delivery system, or that separate advertising packets may each elicit responses from different other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems). The display information may then indicate, for example, the number of other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems within each range. Additionally or alternatively, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may enable the use of the input element 30 to generate information regarding the number of cases in which the non-flammable aerosol delivery system has been detected within each range bracket, and / or to cause range information for each detected non-flammable aerosol delivery system to be displayed in turn.

[0080]

[0080] Although the above description has been described from the perspective of non-flammable aerosol supply system 10a, the same applies when the method is performed by non-flammable aerosol supply system 10b, although in this case it is the other non-flammable aerosol supply system 10b that sends the advertisement and it is non-flammable aerosol supply system 10a that responds.

[0081]

[0081] Thus, a technique has been described in which a non-flammable aerosol delivery system can determine when at least one other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within one or more ranges (or one or more degrees of proximity) and display information by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system itself to a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system explaining the situation. In other words, this technique allows a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to be notified when another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within a certain range. This may enable or facilitate an exchange of information and / or assistance between different users of the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0082]

[0082] Figures 4A and 4B collectively illustrate another approach for providing communication between multiple separate non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0083]

[0083] This approach is similar to the approach described with respect to Figures 2A and 2B (and may optionally be used in combination with either the approach described with respect to Figures 2A and 2B, or the approach described with respect to Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D), but in this case the payload information included in the response packet is used to provide further information to the user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0084]

[0084] In this example, as shown in Fig. 4A, two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10a and 10b are within communication distance D from each other. Either or both of the non-flammable aerosol delivery systems may execute a technique for determining whether the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range of another active non-flammable aerosol delivery system and for determining any further operational information regarding the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In response to a separate determination at each non-flammable aerosol delivery system that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is active and within range, and obtaining further operational information, the respective display element 28 of each non-flammable aerosol delivery system may display an indication that at least one other active non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range and may display further operational information regarding the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Although FIG. 4A shows both non-flammable aerosol delivery systems 10a and 10b performing this method to enable each to display such information, the technique is equally applicable where only one of two or more non-flammable aerosol delivery systems that are within range of each other performs the described technique.

[0085]

[0085] In this example, the further operational information (described as "further" in the sense that it is further added to the operational information that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is active) includes information regarding the aerosol-generating material used in the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. The aerosol-generating material may be contained, for example, in an aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12. The information regarding the aerosol-generating material may be stored in memory 24. In this example, the aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12 is a removable / replaceable element, and the information describing the aerosol-generating material in the aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12 may be detectable by the controller / processor 22. In another example, the aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12 may be a refillable container or cartridge, and a user may be able to provide information regarding the aerosol-generating material to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, either directly or via a connected smartphone or tablet. In another example, the aerosol-generating material container or cartridge 12 may be a non-replaceable element, such that the information regarding the aerosol-generating material may be stored in the non-flammable aerosol delivery system as part of the manufacturing process.

[0086]

[0086] The information about the aerosol-forming material may include information about the flavor or flavoring of the aerosol-forming material. As used herein, the terms "flavor" and "flavoring" refer to materials that may be used to create a desired taste, odor, or other somatosensory sensation in products for adult consumers, where local regulations permit.They may be natural flavoring materials, botanical substances, extracts of botanical substances, synthetically derived materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, liquorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, peppermint, aniseed, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruits, parsley, raspberry ... Pya, rhubarb, grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberries, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel quid, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang ylang, Sage, fennel, wasabi, bell pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, mint oil from any species of the peppermint plant, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazel, hibiscus, bay leaf, yerba mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, shiso, turmeric, cilantro, myrtle, black currant, valerian, pimento, mace, dhammi an, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, ribes, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene, etc.), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugar and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamic acid, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath fresheners.They may be of imitation, synthetic or natural origin, or mixtures thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example a liquid such as an oil, a solid such as a powder, or a gas.

[0087]

[0087] In some examples, the flavoring includes menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruit, and / or red berry flavor ingredients. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavor ingredients extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavor ingredients extracted from cannabis.

[0088]

[0088] In some examples, the fragrance may include a sensation elicitor, which is intended to achieve somatosensory sensations, in addition to or instead of the scent or taste nerves, usually chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), and these may include agents that produce a heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effect. A suitable heating effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and a suitable cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucalyptol, WS-3.

[0089]

[0089] The information about the aerosol-generating material may also or alternatively include information about the active substances of the aerosol-generating material. An active substance as used herein may be a bioactive substance, a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected from, for example, functional foods, nootropics, psychotropic drugs. The active substance may be natural or synthetically derived. 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 botanical substance.

[0090]

[0090] In some examples, the active agent includes nicotine, hi some examples, the active agent includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0091]

[0091] As shown in Fig. 4A, in this example, the information about the aerosol-generating material includes information about the flavor of the aerosol-generating material and information about the nicotine strength. As shown, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system 10a of user 1 has an aerosol-generating material with a cherry flavor and a nicotine strength of 6 mg per milliliter, and the non-combustible aerosol delivery system 10b of user 2 has an aerosol-generating material with a mint flavor and no nicotine. It should be understood that these two specific illustrations of the contents of the aerosol-generating material are given by way of example only, and that the present teachings encompass a wide range of possible aerosol-generating material contents, including, but not limited to, one or more of the flavors and / or one or more of the active substances mentioned above. As also explained above, the user identifier may be assigned / determined in a number of different ways and / or may be personally identifying or non-personally identifying in nature.

[0092]

[0092] Information about the aerosol generating material may be considered to be information about the aerosol generating material container or cartridge 12, and therefore may also be considered to be information about a consumable item. Such a consumable item may be referred to as an SKU or may be referenced or identified using a SKU identifier.

[0093]

[0093] Other forms of further operational information may additionally or alternatively be used. These may include the amount of aerosol-forming material remaining (absolute or relative) and / or the remaining battery charge level (again, absolute or relative).

[0094]

[0094] Further operational information for the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system may, in some instances, be provided by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system only after the user has given permission to share such data.

[0095]

[0095] Thus, a given non-flammable aerosol delivery system may provide an indication of the proximity of one or more other non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. Methods that may be performed independently by each non-flammable aerosol delivery system to achieve this functionality are now further described with reference to Figure 4B.

[0096]

[0096] Starting at step S4-1, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a transmits an advertising packet. This may be a standard BLE advertising packet of the kind conventionally used to advertise the presence of a BLE device as available for BLE connection / pairing. No specific advertising packet payload is required for this approach. In order to provide a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system with high-level information about other nearby non-flammable aerosol delivery systems, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be configured to repeatedly transmit such advertising packets without user input at suitable time intervals. On the other hand, it may be appropriate to allow user input to be used to trigger the transmission of advertising packets or the activation of an operating mode in which such advertising packets are transmitted, so as not to waste battery power of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system for aerosol generation or other functions. If user input is required for this function, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system includes an input element 30.

[0097]

[0097] In response to receiving the BLE advertising packet by the other non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10b, the other non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10b transmits a response packet. The response packet may be either a BLE scan request packet or a BLE connection request packet. The response packet is then received by the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10a in step S4-3. In this way, the response packet again indicates to the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10a that another non-flammable aerosol dispensing system is active and within communication range. The response packet in this example includes further operational information. This further operational information may therefore be included as part of the payload space of the response packet.

[0098]

[0098] Although it is described that the response packet may be a BLE scan packet or a BLE connection request packet (either or both may be used as part of the process of establishing a BLE pairing or connection), it is not necessary that a BLE pairing / connection actually be established to utilize the approach of this example. In other words, the approach utilizes the connectionless state of Bluetooth / BLE to achieve the results described. There may be cases where such pairing / connection is required / desired, and therefore this may optionally proceed in addition to the method.

[0099]

[0099] In some examples, multiple packets may need to transport further operational information due to the further operational information being larger than the available payload space of the response packet. In this example, where communication occurs using BLE, this situation is accommodated by using a first response packet in the form of a BLE scan packet, and in response to receiving the BLE scan packet, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system sends a scan response packet to trigger a connection request packet from the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In this way, the payload space of both the scan request packet and the connection request packet can be utilized to transport further operational information without a pairing / connection situation being established.

[0100]

[0100] After receiving the response packet in step S4-3, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a extracts payload information from the response packet to obtain further operational information. Thus, in step S4-7, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a displays the further operational information using the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. As shown in FIG. 4A, this displayed information is, in this example, an identifier indicating the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b and an indication of the flavor and nicotine strength used by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10b. In other examples, this information may be provided by one or more of other symbols, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more audible indications, and / or one or more tactile indications.

[0101]

[0101] The above description has been given from the perspective of non-flammable aerosol supply system 10a, but the same applies when the method is performed by non-flammable aerosol supply system 10b, although in this case it is the other non-flammable aerosol supply system 10b that sends the advertisement and it is non-flammable aerosol supply system 10a that responds.

[0102]

[0102] Thus, a technique has been described in which a non-flammable aerosol delivery system may determine operational information about another non-flammable aerosol delivery system from at least one other non-flammable aerosol delivery system within communication range, and display information describing this operational information by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system itself to a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In other words, this technique allows a user of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system to be informed by the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system of the operational characteristics of another non-flammable aerosol delivery system within communication range. This may enable or facilitate the exchange of information and / or assistance between different users of the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems.

[0103]

[0103] Although the approach shown in Figures 2A and 2B and the approach shown in Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are described separately from the approach shown in Figures 4A and 4B, these approaches may be used in combination. Thus, for example, an embodiment may be created in which a user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system is able to display information regarding both ranges (whether a single range or one of several ranges) to another active non-flammable aerosol delivery system, as well as further operational information regarding this other non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0104] Additionally or alternatively, a non-flammable aerosol delivery system may provide an indication of the proximity of an entity other than another non-flammable aerosol delivery system. For example, a non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be configured to provide a distance to a beacon (and / or other information provided by the beacon). Such a beacon may be deployed in geographic association with facilities such as vendor locations where supplies for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be available. Such vendor locations may include battery charging facilities and / or aerosol generating material container or cartridge refilling facilities, and / or may retail supplies such as replacement batteries and / or aerosol generating material containers or cartridges. Figures 5A and 5B summarize approaches for providing communication between a beacon and a non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Such a beacon may have a data interface that links the beacon to an inventory information data record (e.g., an inventory list, one or more records in an inventory database, etc.) from which the beacon may receive inventory information. Such inventory information may be retrieved by the beacon in real time (i.e., in response to any specific request from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system) and / or cached in the beacon's memory (in which case periodic refreshing of the inventory information cache may be performed).

[0105]

[0105] This approach is similar to the approach shown in connection with Figures 2, 3, and 4 (indeed the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be configured to perform any of the methods of Figures 2-4 as well as the methods of Figures 5A and 5B), but in this case the communication is with a beacon and payload information included in the response packet from the beacon is used to provide information regarding the distance and / or the facility or site associated with the beacon.

[0106]

[0106] In this example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a is within communication distance D from the beacon 40. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a may execute a technique to determine whether another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within range of the beacon 40 and / or to determine some information provided by the beacon 40. In response to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system determining that the beacon is active and within range, the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a may display an indication that the beacon is within range. As shown, the display element may display a logo or symbol indicating that the beacon is nearby for the premises or facility. In some examples, the nature of the displayed symbol or logo may be used to indicate information regarding the nature of the premises or facility with which the beacon is associated, based on further information transferred from the beacon to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0107]

[0107] Alternatively, or in addition, as the non-flammable aerosol delivery system acquires further information, the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may display information regarding the premises or facility with which the beacon is associated based on the further information received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0108]

[0108] In this example, the further information (described as "further" in the sense that it is further added to the information that the beacon is active, which is inherently conveyed by the fact that a reply is being received from the beacon) includes information about the premises or facility with which the beacon is associated. In this example, such a beacon is associated with the facility or premises, both in terms of the content of the further information and geographically (i.e., the beacon is at, on or near the premises or facility, whereby receipt of the beacon signal indicates that the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is in close proximity to the actual premises or facility). The content of the further information provided by the beacon may include information about products and / or services available at the premises or facility. Such products and / or services may include, for example, indications indicating one or more of battery charging facilities, aerosol generating material container or cartridge refill facilities, replacement battery retailers, and aerosol generating material container or cartridge retailers.

[0109]

[0109] The information may refer to an aerosol generating material container or cartridge and may therefore also be considered to be information about a consumable item. Such consumable items may be referred to as SKUs or may be referenced or identified using a SKU identifier.

[0110]

[0110] In one set of examples, the further information includes inventory information regarding consumables that may be of interest to users of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In these examples, the beacons may convey real-time or near real-time (e.g., minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, or daily) indications of availability of inventory for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Such consumables, in this example, include inventory of replacement or replacement aerosol generating material containers or cartridges for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, but may also or alternatively include inventory of refill materials for refillable aerosol generating material containers or cartridges used by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, and / or rechargeable battery replacements for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0111]

[0111] In some such embodiments, the further information in the beacon provides information regarding the inventory of consumables generally, for example, indicating that the site / facility has some inventory of consumables without indicating what type of consumables are in stock for one or more ranges of one or more types of non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. In further embodiments, the further information may indicate the inventory of consumables in a manner indicating the type(s) of non-flammable aerosol delivery system for which inventory is available. In such an example, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may analyze the received further information such that it is able to recognize whether the inventory information is relevant to its particular non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0112]

[0112] In additional embodiments, advertisements or subsequent connectionless messages from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system as received by the beacon indicate the type of non-flammable aerosol delivery system and / or the type of consumables used by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, and the further information provided by the beacon is then made specific to the type of non-flammable aerosol delivery system or consumables identified to the beacon by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. For example, a facility / site may have an inventory of consumables for multiple different non-flammable aerosol delivery system types (which may be multiple types corresponding to non-flammable aerosol delivery systems from one manufacturer or from multiple different manufacturers), and by using the information to tailor the beacon content to the specific non-flammable aerosol delivery system type, notifications to the user may be made more relevant to the facts of the situation.

[0113]

[0113] In some examples, the further information may additionally or alternatively include information regarding the status of the facility / premises with which the beacon is associated. Such status information may include information regarding whether the facility / premises is open and / or information regarding the opening hours of the facility / premises.

[0114]

[0114] Thus, for example, the symbol / logo shown on display element 28a of Fig. 5a, depending on the deployed configuration, may indicate proximity to a beacon (proximity may be a simple indication of general proximity or an indication of some degree of closeness), proximity to a beacon associated with a particular type of facility / site, proximity to a beacon associated with a facility / site generally having an inventory of consumables, proximity to a beacon associated with a facility / site having an inventory of consumables specific to a type of non-flammable aerosol delivery system, and proximity to a beacon associated with a facility / site having a given open / closed state. It should be understood that one or more additional or alternative forms of content display on display element 28a may be implemented, including different symbols / logos according to proximity, available products / services, specific available consumables, and / or associations of available consumables. Additionally or alternatively, the display content may be letter / numeric in nature, such as verbally indicating the availability of products / services and / or available consumables.

[0115]

[0115] Transmission of information regarding the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and / or associated consumables, etc. to the beacon may, in some examples, be made by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system only after the user has given permission to share such data.

[0116]

[0116] An exemplary method that may be implemented by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to accomplish this function will now be further described with reference to Figures 5B and 5C.

[0117]

[0117] Starting at step S5-1, the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system 10a transmits an advertising packet. This may be a standard BLE advertising packet of the kind conventionally used to advertise the presence of a BLE device as available for BLE connection / pairing. No specific advertising packet payload is required for this approach. In order to provide a user of the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system with high-level information about nearby beacons, the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system may be configured to repeatedly transmit such advertising packets without user input at appropriate time intervals. On the other hand, it may be appropriate to allow user input to be used to trigger the transmission of advertising packets or the activation of an operating mode in which such advertising packets are transmitted, so as not to waste battery power of the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system for aerosol generation or other functions. If user input is required for this function, the non-flammable aerosol dispensing system includes an input element 30.

[0118]

[0118] In response to receipt of the BLE advertising packet by the beacon 40, the beacon transmits a response packet. The response packet may be either a BLE scan request packet or a BLE connection request packet. The response packet is then received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a in step S5-3. In this way, the response packet again indicates to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a that the beacon is active and within communication range. The response packet in this example includes further information.

[0119]

[0119] Optionally, as indicated by the dashed line, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a may perform a step of determining the range to the beacon 40 from which a response was received in step S5-3. This determination includes calculating the range to the device from which the response packet was received (which in this example is the beacon 40), as shown in optional step S5-5. This range calculation may be based on the received signal power of the response packet. By knowing the received signal power, an approximation of the distance D may be calculated.

[0120]

[0120] Thus, in optional step S5-7, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a may display some information using the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a to indicate to the user that the beacon is within range. As shown in FIG. 5A, this displayed information is, in this example, a symbol indicating that the beacon (or the premises / facility with which the beacon is associated) is within range. In other examples, this information may be given by one or more of other symbols, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more audible indications, and / or one or more tactile indications. If optional step S5-5 is also performed, the display of information in step S5-7 may be performed to indicate the range to the beacon and / or to communicate that the beacon is within a distance D corresponding to a threshold proximity. As will be appreciated, the distance information may additionally be processed and displayed in a manner similar to that described above with reference to Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, such as to provide an indication of the approximate range / proximity to the beacon of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0121]

[0121] Additionally, the further information described above with respect to Figure 5A may therefore be included as part of the payload space of the response packet.

[0122]

[0122] Although it is described that the response packet may be a BLE scan packet or a BLE connection request packet (either or both may be used as part of the process of establishing a BLE pairing or connection), it is not necessary that a BLE pairing / connection actually be established to utilize the approach of this example. In other words, the approach utilizes the connectionless state of Bluetooth / BLE to achieve the results described. There may be cases where such pairing / connection is required / desired, and therefore this may optionally proceed in addition to the method.

[0123]

[0123] In some examples, multiple packets may need to transport additional operational information due to the additional information being larger than the available payload space of the response packet. In this example, where communication occurs using BLE, this situation is accommodated by using a first response packet in the form of a BLE scan packet, and in response to receiving the BLE scan packet, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system sends a scan response packet to trigger a connection request packet from the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In this way, the payload space of both the scan request packet and the connection request packet can be utilized to transport additional information without a pairing / connection situation being established.

[0124]

[0124] After receiving the response packet in step S5-3 (and before or after optional steps S5-5 and S5-7 are performed), the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a extracts payload information from the response packet to obtain further operational information. Thus, in step S5-9, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a displays further information using the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. As shown in FIG. 5A, this displayed information is, in this example, a symbol or logo indicating the association of the beacon content with the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. In other examples, this information may be provided by one or more of other symbols, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more audible indications, and / or one or more tactile indications. As will be appreciated, if the payload information indicates that the premises / facility with which the beacon is associated is not relevant or of low relevance to the user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a (e.g., if the premises / facility does not have an inventory of consumables for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a), then display step S5-11 may be omitted or display content may be provided indicating that a low-relevant beacon signal has been received (and / or that a low-relevant facility / premises is within range).

[0125]

[0125] In some examples, the payload information may include an identifier of the site / facility with which the beacon is associated. Such an identifier may be displayed on the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a and / or provided to the connected device via the transmitter / receiver element 26 of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. Thus, the user may be provided with information from which further details of the site / facility may be obtained, for example, by retrieving the information via the Internet using a separate data connection to the connected device. Such information may include, for example, the address / location of the site / facility.

[0126]

[0126] A further exemplary method is shown in FIG. 5C, which corresponds to an embodiment in which the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a transmits information identifying the type of non-flammable aerosol delivery system and / or consumables used by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0127]

[0127] As shown in this example, the advertisement as transmitted in step S5-21 includes identification information that may enable the beacon to identify the type of non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a and / or the type of consumables for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. This information may include any or all of indications indicating the type of non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the type of compatible consumables, and the type of compatible consumables having desired consumable characteristics. For example, a given non-flammable aerosol delivery system type may be compatible with consumables available in varying nicotine concentration levels and / or flavors. The user may therefore select that the identification information indicate not only the type of non-flammable aerosol delivery system / consumable, but also the flavor, strength, and / or other characteristics of the consumable. Thus, the user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may be able to control which notifications or types of notifications are provided corresponding to the desired consumable characteristics. The advertisement may be a standard BLE advertising packet of the kind conventionally used to advertise the presence of a BLE device as available for BLE connection / pairing. The identification information may be included as a payload in a BLE advertisement packet.

[0128]

[0128] In response to receiving the BLE advertising packet by the beacon 40, the beacon transmits a response packet. The response packet may be either a BLE scan request packet or a BLE connection request packet. The response packet is then received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a in step S5-23. In this way, the response packet again indicates to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a that the beacon is active and within communication range. Additionally, the response packet in this example includes further information, which is adapted by the beacon to the unique identification information provided in the advertisement.

[0129]

[0129] In both examples of Figures 5A and 5B, the beacon may have more information available (such as inventory and other information) than can fit into a single cycle of a connectionless packet. In such a situation, the beacon may use multiple response packet cycles (i.e., as triggered by multiple separate advertising packets from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system) to transmit a complete set of the more information to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0130]

[0130] Although it has been described that the response packet may be a BLE scan packet or a BLE connection request packet (either or both may be used as part of the process of establishing a BLE pairing or connection), it is not necessary that a BLE pairing / connection actually be established to utilize the techniques of this example. In other words, the techniques utilize the connectionless state of Bluetooth / BLE to achieve the results described. There may also be cases where such pairing / connection is required / desired, and therefore this may optionally proceed in addition to the method.

[0131]

[0131] In some examples, multiple packets may need to transport additional operational information due to the additional information being larger than the available payload space of the response packet. In this example, where communication occurs using BLE, this situation is accommodated by using a first response packet in the form of a BLE scan packet, and in response to receiving the BLE scan packet, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system sends a scan response packet to trigger a connection request packet from the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system. In this way, the payload space of both the scan request packet and the connection request packet can be utilized to transport additional information without a pairing / connection situation being established.

[0132]

[0132] In some examples, the approach may be modified such that the advertisement does not include identification information, and in response to the advertisement, the beacon transmits a scan request packet having a payload corresponding to an invitation to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to provide identification information for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system / consumable, if necessary. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system then transmits a scan response packet containing a payload including the identification information, and in response, the beacon transmits a connection request packet with further information included in the payload. If the non-flammable aerosol delivery system transmits a scan response packet without identification information, the method may continue with the beacon transmitting a connection request packet having generic further information in the payload, and then processing continues as shown in steps S5-5 to S5-11 of FIG. 5B.

[0133]

[0133] After receiving the response packet with the further information, in step S2-25, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a extracts payload information from the response packet to obtain the further information. This further information is analyzed to determine the relevance (or lack of relevance) of the provided further information to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Thus, in step S5-27, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a displays the further information using the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. As shown in FIG. 5A, this displayed information is, in this example, a symbol or logo indicating the relevance of the beacon content to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. In other examples, this information may be provided by one or more of other symbols, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more audible indications, and / or one or more tactile indications. As will be appreciated, if the payload information indicates that the premises / facility with which the beacon is associated is not relevant or of low relevance to the user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a (e.g., if the premises / facility does not have an inventory of consumables for the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a), then display step S5-27 may be omitted or display content may be provided indicating that a low-relevant beacon signal has been received (and / or that a low-relevant facility / premises is within range).

[0134]

[0134] In this example, the steps of distance calculation and display may also be optionally performed.

[0135]

[0135] In some examples, the payload information may include an identifier of the premises / facility with which the beacon is associated. Such an identifier may be displayed on the display element 28a of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a and / or provided to a connected device via the transmitter / receiver element 26 of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10a. Thus, the user may be provided with information from which further details of the premises / facility may be obtained, for example, by retrieving the information via the Internet using a separate data connection to the connected device. Such information may include, for example, the address / location of the premises / facility.

[0136]

[0136] As will be appreciated, the methods of Figures 5B and 5C may overlap and be performed as a single method with a decision being made to determine which approach to use. For example, the advertisement may not include identification information (as in step S5-1), and if the response from the beacon then includes details of the inventory of the particular consumable, the method continues with the non-flammable aerosol delivery system determining the relevance of the detailed inventory information to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and displaying accordingly. On the other hand, if the response from the beacon does not include the detailed inventory information and / or requests for the provision of identification information, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may provide the identification information to the beacon and wait for the detailed inventory information corresponding to the identification information in a further response from the beacon. The method then continues with the non-flammable aerosol delivery system determining the relevance of the particular inventory to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and displaying accordingly.

[0137] Thus, a technique has been described whereby a non-flammable aerosol delivery system may determine information from within communication range of a beacon relating to a premises or facility associated with the beacon, and display information describing that information to a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system itself. In other words, the technique allows a user of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to be informed by the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system of the operating characteristics of nearby premises or facilities where related services or consumables may be obtained.

[0138]

[0138] Although the techniques shown in Figures 2A and 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, and 4A and 4B are described separately from the techniques shown in Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C, these techniques may be used in combination. Thus, for example, an embodiment may be created in which a user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system can display information about another active non-flammable aerosol delivery system as information about the beacon.

[0139] In the above examples, the display on the display element 28a is shown as being a single display of symbols / letters / numbers, etc. In some examples, the display element 28a may be configured to display content on one or more separate display "screens" or pages. For example, an initial display may be made to indicate the proximity of another non-flammable aerosol delivery system (as described with reference to FIG. 2A above) and / or a beacon (as described with reference to FIG. 5A above), and then user input (received using the input element 30) may be received to cause a calculated distance (as a symbolic or numeric range as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C above) and / or further operational information (as described with reference to FIG. 4A above) and / or information related to the details of the facility / site associated with the beacon to be displayed, etc.

[0140]

[0140] Examples are shown in Figures 6A and 6B. In the example of Figure 6A, the initial display is a symbol indicating that another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is nearby. In response to a user input (such as a button press while the initial display is in place or a predefined number of shakes / taps while the initial display is in place), the display is updated to include range and further operational information of user 2's non-flammable aerosol delivery system. While this is shown as a two display step approach, in other examples there may be more steps, such as where distance and further operational information are presented on separate display steps.

[0141]

[0141] In the example of FIG. 6B, a three display step approach is described, this time for the example of a beacon. In this example, the initial display is a symbol showing a nearby beacon (or a facility on the premises related to the beacon). In response to a user input (such as a button press while the initial display is in place or a predefined number of shakes / taps while the initial display is in place), the display is updated to include a description that there is a store with some consumable inventory within a certain distance. In response to further user input, the display is further updated to include a description of the specific consumables available at the store. The selection of which specific consumables to show may be based on the non-flammable aerosol delivery system storing data (such as a list provided by the user and / or a list of previously inserted consumables) indicative of the specific consumables of interest. Although this is shown as a three display step approach, in other examples there may be fewer or more steps, e.g., when the display of the specific consumables is omitted or when the display of further specific consumables is required.

[0142]

[0142] The user input may also be used to move to a display of a second other non-flammable aerosol delivery system that is in range. Thus, the user may be able to scroll through a display representing multiple in-range non-flammable aerosol delivery systems. Similarly, the user input may be used to move to a display of a second beacon that is in range, or to move between the other in-range non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the beacon that is in range. Thus, scrolling through a display of multiple in-range devices (whether another non-flammable aerosol delivery system or a beacon) may be provided.

[0143]

[0143] Additionally, different user inputs may also be used to navigate through the display. For example, a first input type (such as a button press of a particular duration and / or number and / or a predetermined number of shakes / taps) may be used to navigate to information about another currently displayed device (e.g., to navigate through the flows of FIG. 6A or FIG. 6B), and a second input type (such as a button press of a different particular duration and / or number and / or a predetermined number of shakes / taps) may be used to navigate to information about another in-range device (e.g., to navigate between the flows of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, or to navigate between another in-range non-flammable aerosol delivery system from an instance of the flow of 6A, or between another in-range beacon from an instance of the flow of 6B).

[0144]

[0144] Thus, an example of a multi-screen user interface that can be used to present information to a user of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system regarding other nearby non-flammable aerosol delivery systems and / or information provided by nearby beacons is described herein.

[0145]

[0145] As discussed above, detailed examples are presented with respect to communication between a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and either another non-flammable aerosol delivery system or a beacon being via BLE, however, other communication technologies may be used in place of BLE for the connection technology.

[0146]

[0146] As mentioned above, BLE is an example of a so-called personal area network technology. Therefore, another personal area technology having corresponding / equivalent messaging used to transfer information between non-flammable aerosol delivery systems and / or between the non-flammable aerosol delivery systems and beacons may be used instead of BLE. Suitable examples include Bluetooth™, ZigBee™, Wireless USB, and Near Field Communication (NFC), RFID, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), and Data Over Sound.

[0147]

[0147] Another connection technology may be a wireless network such as Wi-Fi technology. In such a case, it is assumed that the non-flammable aerosol supply system or both the non-flammable aerosol supply system and the beacon are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (in fact, the beacon may be part of or associated with a Wi-Fi access point through which the non-flammable aerosol supply system may connect to the Wi-Fi network). Thus, without establishing a specific Wi-Fi network between the non-flammable aerosol supply system and other non-flammable aerosol supply systems or beacons, the non-flammable aerosol supply system may be able to advertise its presence on the Wi-Fi network, and any other non-flammable aerosol supply systems or beacons connected to the Wi-Fi network may reply with the information shown in the various examples presented above.

[0148]

[0148] Other options for connection technology include cellular technologies such as GSM, GPRS, 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G. Another example is the low power wide area technology of the Internet of Things. Additionally, as mentioned above, wired communication technologies such as USB™, serial port, Firewire™, or other point-to-point wired connections may be used.

[0149]

[0149] Additionally, for any or all of the above or previously mentioned connection techniques, the communication between the two non-flammable aerosol delivery systems and / or between the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the beacon is not point-to-point in nature, but rather the communication may pass through one or more communication hubs or other communication concentrator devices.

[0150]

[0150] The various approaches described above allow a user of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system to be presented with information about one or more other nearby non-flammable aerosol delivery systems by the user's own non-flammable aerosol delivery system itself. In other words, the user of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system may receive such information without the need to additionally refer to another device, such as a smartphone or tablet, connected to the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Thus, the user of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system may receive such information while, for example, the user has the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system at hand to utilize the aerosol generation function. This gives the user the freedom to distribute such information about other nearby non-flammable aerosol delivery systems to the user while using (or preparing to use or having recently used) the user's non-flammable aerosol delivery system for aerosol generation, without the user also having the mobile phone or tablet at hand and connected to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0151]

[0151] The various embodiments described herein are presented only to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided merely as representative samples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the present invention may suitably include, 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. In addition, the present disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be patented in the future.

[0152]

[0152] Thus, from one perspective, a non-flammable aerosol delivery system is described comprising a wireless communication system configured to receive data from a wireless communication beacon using a connectionless data channel regarding a physical location with which the beacon is associated, and a user interface system configured to communicate instructions regarding the received data by a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0153]

[0153] Further examples are provided in the following numbered clauses:

[0154]

[0154] [Clause 1] 1. A non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising: a data system configured to store operational data relating to an operational state of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and to store received operational data relating to an operational state of another non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a wireless communication system configured to receive operational data from another non-flammable aerosol delivery system using a connectionless data channel, the operational data relating to an operational status of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a user interface system configured to communicate, by a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, instructions representative of the received operational data relating to an operational status of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system; A non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising:

[0155]

[0155] [Clause 2] The operational data relating to an operational state of the another non-flammable aerosol delivery system, information that the separate non-flammable aerosol delivery system is active; and information identifying a consumable for use with the alternative non-flammable aerosol delivery system; and The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 1, comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of:

[0156]

[0156] [Clause 3] A non-flammable aerosol delivery system as described in clause 1 or 2, wherein the instructions include information indicating that another non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within the operating range of the wireless communication system.

[0157]

[0157] [Article 4] A non-flammable aerosol delivery system as described in clause 1, 2 or 3, wherein the instructions include information indicating that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within a specified range of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0158]

[0158] [Article 5] A non-flammable aerosol supply system as described in any one of clauses 1 to 4, wherein the instruction includes information indicating that another non-flammable aerosol supply system within the operating range of the wireless communication system or within a specific range of the non-flammable aerosol supply system is the other non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0159]

[0159] [Article 6] further configured to compare the received operational data relating to an operational status of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system with one or more preset values; The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the user interface system is further configured to output one of a plurality of predetermined outputs depending on the result of the comparison.

[0160]

[0160] [Article 7] The user interface element comprises: a display configured to visually communicate the instructions; an audio output device configured to audibly communicate the instructions; and Haptic device configured to communicate instructions using contact-detectable movements - Patents.com The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising one or more selected from the group comprising:

[0161]

[0161] [Article 8] the user interface system comprising an input element configured to receive a selection input; A non-flammable aerosol supply system as described in any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein the user interface system is further configured to communicate further instructions representative of the received operational data regarding the operational status of the other non-flammable aerosol supply system in response to the received selection input.

[0162]

[0162] [Article 9] 9. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 8, wherein the input element is a button, a pressure-sensitive element, a touch membrane of a display, and / or a microphone.

[0163]

[0163] [Article 10] A non-flammable aerosol supply system as described in any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the wireless communication system is further configured to transmit operational data regarding the operating status of the non-flammable aerosol supply system to the other non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0164]

[0164] [Article 11] the wireless communication system is further configured to receive data from the beacon using a connectionless data channel regarding a premises associated with the beacon; The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the user interface system is further configured to communicate, by the user interface element, instructions representative of the received data relating to the premises associated with the beacon.

[0165]

[0165] [Article 12] A non-flammable aerosol delivery system as described in any one of clauses 1 to 11, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to receive data using the connectionless channel using personal area network technology.

[0166]

[0166] [Article 13] A non-flammable aerosol delivery system as described in any one of clauses 1 to 12, wherein the connectionless channel is configured to use pre-pairing advertising packets of the personal area network technology.

[0167]

[0167] [Article 14] The pre-pairing advertising packet is an advertising packet transmitted by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a request packet and / or a response packet transmitted by the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; 14. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 13, comprising:

[0168]

[0168] [Article 15] the wireless communication system is configured to interface with a wireless network to which both the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the another non-flammable aerosol delivery system are connected using wireless network technology; A non-flammable aerosol supply system described in any one of clauses 1 to 14, wherein the connectionless channel is configured to use network packets transmitted via the wireless network to receive the operational data without establishing a network session with the other non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0169]

[0169] [Article 16] 16. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

[0170]

[0170] [Article 17] 1. A system comprising a first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a second non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising: a first wireless communication system configured to receive operational data from the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system using a connectionless data channel, the operational data relating to an operational status of the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a first data system configured to store the received operational data relating to an operational status of the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a first user interface system configured to communicate, by a user interface element of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system, instructions representative of the received operational data relating to an operational status of the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system; Equipped with the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising: a second wireless communication system configured to receive operational data from the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system using a connectionless data channel, the operational data relating to an operational status of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a second data system configured to store the received operational data relating to an operational status of the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system; and Equipped with A system, wherein the second wireless communication system is configured to transmit the operational data regarding the operational status of the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system to the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system using the connectionless data channel.

[0171]

[0171] [Article 18] the first data system is further configured to store operational data relating to an operational status of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system; the first smokeless communication system is further configured to transmit the operational data related to an operational status of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system to the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system using the connectionless data channel; the second wireless communication system is further configured to receive the operational data from the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system using the connectionless data channel, the operational data relating to an operational status of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The system described in clause 17, further comprising a second user interface system, wherein the second non-flammable aerosol supply system is configured to communicate instructions representing the received operational data regarding the operational status of the first non-flammable aerosol supply system via a user interface element of the second non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0172]

[0172] [Article 19] The operational data relating to an operational state of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and / or the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system, information that the other of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system is active; and information identifying a consumable for use by the other of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system; 19. The system of claim 17 or 18, comprising one or more selected from the group comprising:

[0173]

[0173] [Article 20] The system described in clause 17, 18 or 19, wherein the instructions include information indicating that the other of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within the operating range of the wireless communication system.

[0174]

[0174] [Article 21] A system described in any one of clauses 17 to 20, wherein the instructions include information indicating that the other of the first non-flammable aerosol supply system and the second non-flammable aerosol supply system is within a specified range of the non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0175]

[0175] [Article 22] A system described in any one of clauses 17 to 21, wherein the instruction includes information indicating that the other of the first non-flammable aerosol supply system and the second non-flammable aerosol supply system within the operating range of the wireless communication system or a specific range of the non-flammable aerosol supply system is the other of the first non-flammable aerosol supply system and the second non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0176]

[0176] [Article 23] the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system is configured to compare the received operational data relating to an operational status of the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system with one or more preset values; 23. The system of any one of clauses 17 to 22, wherein the first user interface system is configured to output one of a plurality of predetermined outputs depending on a result of the comparison.

[0177]

[0177] [Article 24] the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system is configured to compare the received operational data relating to an operational status of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system with one or more preset values; The system of claim 18, or any one of clauses 19 to 23 when dependent on clause 18, wherein the second user interface system is configured to output one of a plurality of predetermined outputs depending on the result of the comparison.

[0178]

[0178] [Article 25] The first user interface element and / or the second user interface element include: a display configured to visually communicate the instructions; an audio output device configured to audibly communicate the instructions; and Haptic device configured to communicate instructions using contact-detectable movements - Patents.com The system of any one of clauses 18 to 24, comprising one or more selected from the group comprising:

[0179]

[0179] [Article 26] the first user interface system or the second user interface system includes an input element configured to receive a selection input; The system of any one of clauses 18 to 25, wherein the user interface system is further configured to communicate further instructions representative of the received operational data relating to an operational status of the other of the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system in response to a received selection input.

[0180]

[0180] [Article 27] 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the input element is a button, a pressure-sensitive element, a touch membrane of a display, and / or a microphone.

[0181]

[0181] [Article 28] the first wireless communication system and / or the second wireless communication system are further configured to receive data from the beacon using a connectionless data channel regarding a premises associated with the beacon; The system of any one of clauses 18 to 27, wherein the first user interface system and / or the second user interface system are further configured to communicate, by the user interface element, instructions representing the received data relating to the premises associated with the beacon.

[0182]

[0182] [Article 29] A system described in any one of clauses 18 to 29, wherein the first communication system and the wireless communication system are configured to receive data using the connectionless channel using personal area network technology.

[0183]

[0183] [Article 30] 30. The system of any one of clauses 18 to 29, wherein the connectionless channel is configured to use pre-pairing advertising packets of the personal area network technology.

[0184]

[0184] [Article 31] The pre-pairing advertising packet is An advertising packet transmitted by the first non-flammable aerosol supply system or the second non-flammable aerosol supply system, and a request packet and / or a response packet transmitted by the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and subsequently received by the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system or the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system; 31. The system of claim 30, comprising:

[0185]

[0185] [Article 32] the wireless communication system is configured to interface, using wireless network technology, with a wireless network to which both the first non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the second non-flammable aerosol delivery system are connected; The system described in any one of clauses 18 to 31, wherein the connectionless channel is configured to use network packets transmitted via the wireless network to receive the operational data without establishing a network session with the other non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0186]

[0186] [Article 33] The system of any one of clauses 18 to 32, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

[0187]

[0187] [Article 34] receiving, by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, operational data from another non-flammable aerosol delivery system using a connectionless data channel, the operational data relating to an operational status of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system; storing, by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, received operational data relating to an operational state of another non-flammable aerosol delivery system; and communicating, by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, instructions representative of the received operational data relating to an operational state of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system; A method comprising:

[0188]

[0188] [Article 35] The operational data relating to an operational state of the another non-flammable aerosol delivery system, information that the separate non-flammable aerosol delivery system is active; and information identifying a consumable for use with the alternative non-flammable aerosol delivery system; and 35. The method of claim 34, comprising one or more selected from the group comprising:

[0189]

[0189] [Article 36] The method of any one of clauses 34 and 35, wherein the instructions include information indicating that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within the operating range of a wireless communication system of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0190]

[0190] [Article 37] 37. The method of claim 34, 35 or 36, wherein the instructions include information indicating that the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system is within a specified range of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0191]

[0191] [Article 38] A method according to any one of clauses 34 to 37, wherein the instruction includes information indicating that another non-flammable aerosol supply system within the operating range of the wireless communication system or within a specific range of the non-flammable aerosol supply system is the other non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0192]

[0192] [Article 39] comparing the received operational data relating to an operational status of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system with one or more preset values; communicating one of a plurality of predetermined outputs based on a result of said comparing; 39. The method of any one of clauses 34 to 38, further comprising:

[0193]

[0193] [Article 40] 40. The method of any one of clauses 34-39, wherein the communicating includes one or more selected from the group including: visually communicating instructions; audibly communicating instructions; and communicating instructions using contact-detectable movement.

[0194]

[0194] [Article 41] The method of any one of clauses 34 to 40, further comprising receiving a selection input and, in response to the received selection input, communicating further instructions representative of the received operational data relating to an operational status of the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0195]

[0195] [Article 42] 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said receiving the selection input receives the selection input via a button, a pressure sensitive element, a touch membrane of a display, and / or a microphone.

[0196]

[0196] [Article 43] 43. The method of any one of clauses 34 to 42, further comprising transmitting operational data relating to an operational status of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0197]

[0197] [Article 44] receiving data from a beacon using a connectionless data channel relating to a site associated with said beacon; communicating instructions representative of the received data regarding a premises associated with the beacon; 44. The method of any one of clauses 34 to 43, further comprising:

[0198]

[0198] [Article 45] 45. The method of any one of clauses 34 to 44, wherein receiving data using the connectionless channel includes receiving the data using a personal area network technology.

[0199]

[0199] [Article 46] 46. ​​A method according to any one of clauses 34 to 45, wherein the connectionless channel is configured to use pre-pairing advertising packets of the personal area network technology.

[0200]

[0200] [Article 47] The pre-pairing advertising packet is an advertising packet transmitted by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a request packet and / or a response packet transmitted by the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; 47. The method according to claim 46, comprising:

[0201]

[0201] [Article 48] receiving data using the connectionless data channel includes receiving the data over a wireless network; both the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and the another non-flammable aerosol delivery system are connected to the wireless network; The method of any one of clauses 34 to 47, wherein receiving the data via the wireless network includes receiving the operational data using network packets transmitted via the wireless network without establishing a network session with the other non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

[0202]

[0202] [Article 49] The method according to any one of clauses 34 to 48, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

[0203] []

Claims

1. 1. A non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising: a wireless communication system configured to receive data from a wireless communication beacon using a connectionless data channel relating to a physical location with which the beacon is associated; a user interface system configured to communicate instructions related to the received data by a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; and A non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising:

2. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the beacon is located at, within, or near the physical location.

3. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the received data includes information indicating that the beacon associated with the physical location is within an operating range of the wireless communication system or within a specified range of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

4. A non-flammable aerosol delivery system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, further configured to compare the received data with one or more preset values, and the user interface system is further configured to communicate one of a plurality of predetermined outputs depending on the result of the comparison.

5. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the received data includes data regarding an open / closed status of the physical location.

6. 6. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 5, wherein the data regarding the open / closed status of the physical location includes one or more of a current open / closed status and a future open / closed status.

7. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the received data includes data regarding inventory available at the physical location.

8. 8. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 7, wherein the physical location is a retail store and the data regarding inventory available at the physical location is information regarding types of consumables and / or accessories available at the retail store.

9. the user interface system having an input element configured to receive a selection input; 9. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 7 or 8, wherein in response to the selection input, the user interface system is configured to communicate further instructions representative of the received data regarding inventory available at the physical location.

10. a processor configured to filter the data regarding inventory available at the physical location to remove data regarding inventory not related to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the user interface system is configured to communicate filtered inventory information.

11. the received data regarding inventory available at the physical location associated with the beacon received in response to transmitting a first advertising packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to the beacon; A non-flammable aerosol supply system as described in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the data received in response to transmitting a second advertising packet from the non-flammable aerosol supply system to the beacon is different from the data regarding inventory available at the physical location to which the beacon is associated.

12. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to transmit and / or receive data using a connectionless channel using the Bluetooth protocol and / or the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

13. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the connectionless channel includes using pre-pairing advertising packets.

14. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of claim 13, wherein the pre-pairing advertising packets include advertising packets transmitted by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and request and / or response packets transmitted by the beacon and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

15. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

16. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the user interface element comprises one or more selected from a display, an audio output device, and a tactile device.

17. The non-flammable aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the user interface system further comprises an input element configured to receive a selection input for selecting a user interface function.

18. 1. A wireless communication beacon, comprising: a data interface configured to receive data regarding a physical location associated with the beacon; and a wireless communication system configured to transmit data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a connectionless data channel; A wireless communication beacon comprising:

19. The wireless beacon of claim 18 , wherein the beacon is located at, within, or near the physical location.

20. 20. A radio beacon as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the data relating to the physical location includes data relating to an open / closed status of the physical location.

21. 21. The wireless beacon of claim 20, wherein the data regarding the open / closed state of the physical location includes one or more of a current open / closed state and a future open / closed state.

22. A wireless beacon according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the data relating to the physical location includes data relating to inventory available at the physical location.

23. 23. The wireless beacon of claim 22, wherein the physical location is a retail store and the data regarding inventory available at the physical location is information regarding types of consumables and / or accessories available at the retail store.

24. 24. The radio beacon of claim 22 or 23, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to receive a packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system via the connectionless channel and to transmit the data regarding the physical location in response to receiving the packet.

25. the amount of data related to the physical location is greater than the payload capacity that can be transmitted over the connectionless channel in response to a packet received from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The wireless beacon, transmitting a first portion of the data relating to the physical location in response to a first packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel; Transmitting a second portion of the data related to the physical location in response to a second packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel.

25. The radio beacon of claim 24 configured to:

26. the packet received from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system identifies a subset of the data regarding inventory available at the physical location; 26. A wireless beacon as claimed in claim 24 or 25 when dependent on at least claim 22, wherein said data regarding inventory available at said physical location comprises said subset of said data regarding inventory available at said physical location.

27. A radio beacon according to any one of claims 18 to 26, wherein the wireless communication system is arranged to use the Bluetooth protocol and / or the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol and to transmit and / or receive data using the connectionless channel.

28. A radio beacon as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 27, wherein the connectionless channel includes using pre-pairing advertising packets.

29. The pre-pairing advertising packet is an advertising packet received by the wireless beacon from a non-flammable aerosol delivery system within an operating range of the wireless beacon; request and / or response packets transmitted by the wireless beacon and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system within operating range of the wireless beacon; 30. The radio beacon of claim 28, comprising:

30. A radio beacon according to any one of claims 18 to 29, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

31. 1. A system comprising a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a wireless beacon, The wireless beacon, a data interface configured to receive data regarding a physical location associated with the beacon; and a wireless communication system configured to transmit data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a connectionless data channel; Equipped with The non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprises: a wireless communication system configured to receive from the wireless communication beacon using a connectionless data channel the data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated; a user interface system configured to communicate, by a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, instructions regarding the data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated; and A system comprising:

32. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the beacon is located at, within, or near the physical location.

33. The system of claim 31 or 32, wherein the data regarding the physical location associated with the beacon includes information indicating that the beacon is within an operating range of the wireless communication system or within a specified range of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

34. the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is further configured to compare the data regarding the physical location associated with the beacon to one or more preset values; The system of any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the user interface system is further configured to communicate one of a plurality of predetermined outputs depending on the result of the comparison.

35. A system according to any one of claims 31 to 34, wherein the data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated includes data relating to an open / closed status of the physical location.

36. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the data regarding the open / closed state of the physical location includes one or more of a current open / closed state and a future open / closed state.

37. The system of any one of claims 31 to 36, wherein the received data includes data regarding inventory available at the physical location.

38. 40. The system of claim 37, wherein the physical location is a retail store and the data regarding inventory available at the physical location is information regarding types of consumables and / or accessories available at the retail store.

39. the user interface system having an input element configured to receive a selection input; 39. A system as claimed in claim 37 or 38, wherein in response to the selection input, the user interface system is configured to communicate further instructions representative of the received data relating to inventory available at the physical location.

40. the non-flammable aerosol delivery system further comprising a processor configured to filter the data regarding inventory available at the physical location to remove data regarding inventory not related to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The system of any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein the user interface system is configured to communicate the filtered data regarding inventory available at the physical location.

41. the data received in response to transmitting a first advertising packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to the beacon regarding inventory available at the physical location associated with the beacon; A system as described in any one of claims 37 to 40, wherein the data received in response to transmitting a second advertising packet from the non-flammable aerosol supply system to the beacon is different from the data regarding inventory available at the physical location to which the beacon is associated.

42. A system according to any one of claims 31 to 41, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to use the Bluetooth protocol and / or the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol and to transmit and / or receive data using the connectionless channel.

43. The system of any one of claims 31 to 42, wherein the connectionless channel includes using pre-pairing advertising packets.

44. The pre-pairing advertising packet is an advertising packet transmitted by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and subsequently received by the wireless beacon; a request packet and / or a response packet transmitted by the beacon and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; 44. The system of claim 43, comprising:

45. A system according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

46. The system of any one of claims 31 to 45, wherein the user interface elements include one or more selected from a display, an audio output device, and a haptic device.

47. The system of any one of claims 31 to 46, wherein the user interface system further comprises an input element configured to receive a selection input for selecting a user interface function.

48. The wireless communication system of the wireless beacon, receiving a packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system via the connectionless channel; In response to receiving the packet, the beacon transmits the data regarding the physical location associated with the beacon. The system according to any one of claims 31 to 47, configured to:

49. the amount of data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated is greater than the payload capacity that can be transmitted over the connectionless channel in response to a packet received from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The wireless beacon, transmitting a first portion of the data related to the physical location associated with the beacon in response to a first packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel; transmitting a second portion of the data related to the physical location associated with the beacon in response to a second packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel.

49. The system of claim 48 configured to:

50. the packet received from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system identifies a subset of the data regarding inventory available at the physical location; 50. A system according to claim 48 or 49, dependent on at least claim 37, wherein the data regarding inventory available at the physical location comprises the subset of the data regarding inventory available at the physical location.

51. 1. A method comprising: receiving, by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, data from a wireless communication beacon using a connectionless data channel regarding a physical location with which said beacon is associated; communicating, via a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system, instructions related to the received data; A method comprising:

52. 52. The method of claim 51, wherein the beacon is located at, within, or near the physical location.

53. 53. The method of claim 51 or 52, wherein the received data includes information indicating that the beacon associated with the physical location is within an operating range of the wireless communication system or within a specified range of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

54. 54. The method of any one of claims 51 to 53, further comprising the step of comparing the received data with one or more preset values, and wherein the step of communicating comprises communicating one of a plurality of predetermined outputs depending on the result of the comparison.

55. A method according to any one of claims 51 to 54, wherein the received data comprises data relating to an open / closed status of the physical location.

56. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the data regarding the open / closed state of the physical location includes one or more of a current open / closed state and a future open / closed state.

57. A method according to any one of claims 51 to 56, wherein the received data comprises data relating to inventory available at the physical location.

58. 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the physical location is a retail store and the data regarding inventory available at the physical location is information regarding types of consumables and / or accessories available at the retail store.

59. 59. The method of claim 57 or 58, further comprising the step of receiving a selection input, wherein in response to said selection input, a user interface system displays further indications representative of the received data regarding inventory available at the physical location.

60. filtering the data regarding inventory available at the physical location to remove data regarding inventory not related to the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The method of any one of claims 57 to 59, wherein the user interface system communicates filtered inventory information.

61. the received data regarding inventory available at the physical location associated with the beacon received in response to transmitting a first advertising packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to the beacon; A method as described in any one of claims 57 to 60, wherein the data received in response to transmitting a second advertising packet from the non-flammable aerosol supply system to the beacon is different from the data regarding inventory available at the physical location with which the beacon is associated.

62. A method according to any one of claims 51 to 61, wherein the connectionless channel uses the Bluetooth protocol and / or the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

63. A method according to any one of claims 51 to 62, wherein the connectionless channel comprises using pre-pairing advertising packets.

64. The pre-pairing advertising packet is an advertising packet transmitted by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; a request packet and / or a response packet transmitted by the beacon and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; 64. The method of claim 63, comprising:

65. A method according to any one of claims 51 to 64, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

66. 66. The method of any one of claims 51 to 65, wherein the step of communicating includes using an interface element in the form of one or more selected from a display, an audio output device, and a haptic device.

67. A method according to any one of claims 51 to 66, further comprising receiving a selection input via an input element of the interface system for selecting a user interface function.

68. 1. A method for a wireless beacon, comprising: receiving, via a data interface, data relating to a physical location with which said beacon is associated; transmitting data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a wireless communication system configured to use a connectionless data channel; A method comprising:

69. 69. The method of claim 68, wherein the beacon is located at, within, or near the physical location.

70. 70. A method according to claim 68 or 69, wherein the data relating to the physical location includes data relating to an open / closed state of the physical location.

71. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the data regarding the open / closed state of the physical location includes one or more of a current open / closed state and a future open / closed state.

72. A method according to any one of claims 68 to 71, wherein the data relating to the physical location comprises data relating to inventory available at the physical location.

73. 73. The method of claim 72, wherein the physical location is a retail store and the data regarding inventory available at the physical location is information regarding types of consumables and / or accessories available at the retail store.

74. 74. The method of claim 72 or 73, further comprising the steps of receiving a packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system via the connectionless channel and transmitting the data regarding the data regarding the physical location in response to the receiving step.

75. the amount of data related to the physical location is greater than the payload capacity that can be transmitted over the connectionless channel in response to a packet received from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The step of transmitting transmitting a first portion of the data relating to the physical location in response to a first packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel; transmitting a second portion of the data related to the physical location in response to a second packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel; and 75. The method of claim 74, comprising:

76. 76. A method according to claim 74 or 75, dependent on at least claim 72, wherein the packet received from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system identifies a subset of the data regarding inventory available at the physical location, and the data regarding inventory available at the physical location includes the subset of the data regarding inventory available at the physical location.

77. A method according to any one of claims 68 to 76, wherein the step of transmitting using a connectionless channel comprises using the Bluetooth protocol and / or the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

78. A method according to any one of claims 68 to 77, wherein the step of transmitting using a connectionless channel comprises using pre-pairing advertising packets.

79. The pre-pairing advertising packet is an advertising packet received by the wireless beacon from a non-flammable aerosol delivery system within an operating range of the wireless beacon; request and / or response packets transmitted by the wireless beacon and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system within operating range of the wireless beacon; 79. The method of claim 78, comprising:

80. A method according to any one of claims 68 to 79, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

81. 1. A method for a system including a non-flammable aerosol delivery system and a wireless beacon, comprising: receiving data relating to a physical location with which the beacon is associated using a data interface of the wireless beacon; transmitting data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a wireless communication system configured to transmit using a connectionless data channel; receiving said data relating to said physical location with which said beacon is associated using a wireless communication system configured to receive using said connectionless data channel; communicating instructions representing the data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated using a user interface system configured for communication with a user interface element of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; A method comprising:

82. 82. The method of claim 81, wherein the beacon is located at, within, or near the physical location.

83. 83. The method of claim 81 or 82, wherein the data regarding the physical location associated with the beacon includes information indicating that the beacon is within an operating range of the wireless communication system or within a specified range of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system.

84. the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is further configured to compare the data regarding the physical location associated with the beacon to one or more preset values; A method according to any one of claims 81 to 83, wherein the user interface system is further configured to communicate one of a plurality of predetermined outputs depending on the result of the comparison.

85. A method according to any one of claims 81 to 84, wherein the data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated comprises data relating to an open / closed state of the physical location.

86. 86. The method of claim 85, wherein the data regarding the open / closed state of the physical location includes one or more of a current open / closed state and a future open / closed state.

87. A method according to any one of claims 81 to 86, wherein the received data comprises data relating to inventory available at the physical location.

88. 88. The method of claim 87, wherein the physical location is a retail store and the data regarding inventory available at the physical location is information regarding types of consumables and / or accessories available at the retail store.

89. receiving a selection input using an input element of the user interface system; in response to the selection input, communicating, using the user interface system, further instructions representative of the received data regarding inventory available at the physical location; 89. The method of claim 87 or 88, further comprising:

90. filtering the data related to inventory available at the physical location by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to remove data related to inventory not associated with the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; A method according to any one of claims 87 to 87, wherein said step of communicating comprises communicating said filtered data relating to inventory available at said physical location.

91. and transmitting a packet from the wireless communication system of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system to the wireless communication system of the wireless beacon prior to transmitting the data regarding the available inventory; A method as claimed in any one of claims 87 to 90, wherein the step of receiving data regarding available stock comprises receiving different data regarding available stock in response to transmitting each of the two packets.

92. A method according to any one of claims 81 to 91, wherein the step of transmitting using a connectionless channel comprises using the Bluetooth protocol and / or the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

93. 93. The method of any one of claims 81 to 92, wherein the step of transmitting using the connectionless channel includes using a pre-pairing advertising packet.

94. The pre-pairing advertising packet is an advertising packet transmitted by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system and subsequently received by the wireless beacon; a request packet and / or a response packet transmitted by the beacon and subsequently received by the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; 94. The method of claim 93, comprising:

95. A method according to any one of claims 81 to 94, wherein the wireless communication system uses a hub-based approach.

96. 96. The method of any one of claims 81 to 95, wherein the step of communicating includes using one or more selected from a display, an audio output device, and a haptic device.

97. A method according to any one of claims 81 to 96, further comprising receiving a selection input for selecting a user interface function using an input element of the user interface system.

98. receiving a packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel using the wireless communication system of the wireless beacon; transmitting said data regarding said physical location with which said beacon is associated in response to said receiving step; The method of any one of claims 81 to 97, further comprising:

99. the amount of data relating to the physical location with which the beacon is associated is greater than the payload capacity that can be transmitted over the connectionless channel in response to a packet received from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system; The method further comprising: transmitting a first portion of the data related to the physical location associated with the beacon in response to a first packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel; transmitting a second portion of the data related to the physical location associated with the beacon in response to a second packet from the non-flammable aerosol delivery system over the connectionless channel; 99. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

100. 100. A method as claimed in claim 98 or 99, depending at least from claim 87, further comprising transmitting the subset of the data regarding inventory available at the physical location as the data regarding inventory available at the physical location based on an indication of the subset included in the received packet.

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