Aerosol Delivery Device

Abstract

A method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device. The method includes determining a location of the aerosol delivery device and storing the location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device. Thus, in response to a subsequent request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device, the user device may provide a display of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location. Providing the display may include displaying the last known location on a map on a user interface, or displaying a diagram of a predetermined parameter, such as the shape of the aerosol delivery device, on the map, allowing a user to visually confirm that the type of device they are viewing on the map is the type of device they intended to locate.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of aerosol delivery devices. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to tracking the location of aerosol delivery devices.

[0002]

[0002] Known approaches are described in International Publication No. WO 2019121778, US Patent Application Publication No. 2016331025, International Publication No. 201816578, US Patent Application Publication No. 2014174459, and US Patent Application Publication No. 2018289074. Summary of the Invention

[0003]

[0003] In view of a first aspect, there is provided a method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method including the steps of receiving the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device by the user device when the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, storing the location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device, and in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device, providing by the user device an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location.

[0004]

[0004] In view of a second aspect, there is provided a device for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, the device being configured to receive the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device when the device and the aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, store the location of the aerosol delivery device by the device, and in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the device, provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location.

[0005]

[0005] In view of a third aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided that contains instructions which, when executed by a processing circuit of a device, cause the device to be configured to receive the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device when the device and the aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, store the location of the aerosol delivery device by the device, and, in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the device, provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location.

[0006]

[0006] In view of the fourth aspect, a method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device is provided, comprising the steps of determining the location of the aerosol delivery device by the aerosol delivery device, and communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device to a user device by the aerosol delivery device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device.

[0007]

[0007] In view of a fifth aspect, there is provided an aerosol delivery device comprising: a position determination element configured to determine a position of the aerosol delivery device; and a communication element configured to communicate the position of the aerosol delivery device to a user device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device.

[0008]

[0008] In view of a sixth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a processing circuit of a device, cause the device to be configured to determine the location of an aerosol delivery device and to communicate the location of the aerosol delivery device to a user device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device.

[0009]

[0009] In view of a seventh aspect, there is provided a method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising the steps of determining a location of the aerosol delivery device by the aerosol delivery device; communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device by the aerosol delivery device to a user device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device; receiving the location of the aerosol delivery device from the user device by the user device; sending the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service; storing the location of the aerosol delivery device by the location storage service; requesting, by the user device, the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from the location storage service in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device; retrieving the last known location of the aerosol delivery device by the location storage service in response to the request from the user device; sending the last known location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the received location.

[0010]

[0010] In view of an eighth aspect, there is provided a system for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, the system comprising: an aerosol delivery device comprising: an aerosol delivery device having a location determination element configured to determine the location of the aerosol delivery device; and a communication element configured to communicate the location of the aerosol delivery device to the device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the device; and a device configured to receive the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device and send the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service when the device and the aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, the location storage service being configured to store the location of the aerosol delivery device; in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device, the device is configured to request the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from the location storage service; the location storage service being configured to retrieve the last known location of the aerosol delivery device and send the last known location of the aerosol delivery device to the device in response to the request from the device; and the device being configured to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the received location.

[0011] Considered from a ninth aspect, there is provided a method for tracking a location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method comprising: When the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in communication, determining a position of an aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device; providing an indication, displaying the last known location on a map on a user interface from a display of the user device; and displaying on the map a diagram of predetermined parameters of the aerosol delivery device, the predetermined parameters including a shape of the aerosol delivery device.

[0012] Considered in a tenth aspect, there is provided a method for tracking a location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method comprising: When the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in communication, determining a position of an aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device; The method is: A method is provided that includes a step of allowing a user device to make a request for the location of an aerosol delivery device only in response to the user device being logged in to a predetermined account associated with the aerosol delivery device, the predetermined account being password protected.

[0013] Considered from an eleventh aspect, there is provided a method for tracking a location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method comprising: When the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in communication, determining a position of an aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device; the request is made on a first portion of a user interface from a display of the user device; A method is provided in which the display is provided on a second portion of the user interface, and the first portion of the user interface and the second portion of the user interface are not displayed simultaneously.

[0014]

[0014] In view of the twelfth aspect, there is provided a user device configured to communicate with an aerosol delivery device, the user device having a user interface from a display of the user device, the user interface having a first portion.

[0015]

[0015] Embodiments and examples of the present approach will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an aerosol delivery device having a consumable item. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a user device. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a non-combustion aerosol delivery device, a user device, and a location storage service. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the aerosol delivery device and a user device in tracking the position of the aerosol delivery device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an aerosol delivery device, a user device, and a location storage service in tracking the location of the aerosol delivery device. [Figure 6]1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a portion of a user interface from a display of a user device that can interact with an aerosol delivery device of the type mentioned above, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a further portion of the user interface from FIG. 6 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017]

[0023] While the invention 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. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the scope to the particular forms disclosed; on the contrary, the scope is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]

[0024] According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustion" aerosol delivery system is an aerosol delivery system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials (or components of those materials) of the aerosol delivery system are not combusted or burned to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0019]

[0025] The delivery system may be a non-combustion aerosol delivery system, such as an electrically powered non-combustion aerosol delivery system.

[0020]

[0026] The non-combustion aerosol delivery system may be a vaporization device or an electronic cigarette, also known as an electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0021]

[0027] The non-combustion aerosol delivery system may be an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system, one example of which is a tobacco heating system.

[0022]

[0028] A non-combustion aerosol delivery system may be a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which 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. A 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.

[0023]

[0029] Typically, a non-combustion aerosol delivery system may include a non-combustion aerosol delivery device and a consumable item for use with the non-combustion aerosol delivery device.

[0024]

[0030] A non-combustion aerosol delivery system, e.g., a non-combustion aerosol delivery device of the system, 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 can be energized to deliver power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating or heat transfer material proximate the heat generating power source.

[0025]

[0031] The non-combustion aerosol delivery system may include an area for receiving a consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0026]

[0032] Consumables for use with non-combustion aerosol delivery devices may include aerosol-generating materials, aerosol-generating material storage regions, aerosol-generating material transfer components, aerosol generators, aerosol-generating regions, housings, packaging, filters, mouthpieces, and / or aerosol modifiers.

[0027]

[0033] A consumable is an article containing or consisting of an aerosol-generating material, some or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may include one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, a packaging material, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. A consumable may also include an aerosol generator, such as a heater that generates heat upon use to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol. The heater may include, for example, a combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

[0028]

[0034] The susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetration by a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be a conductive material, such that penetration of the conductive material by the varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be a magnetic material, such that penetration of the magnetic material by the varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both conductive and magnetic, such that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a varying magnetic field is referred to herein as a magnetic field generator.

[0029]

[0035] An aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to thermal energy to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material and form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, elevated pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0030]

[0036] For convenience, non-combustion aerosol delivery systems are typically very small, often slightly larger than a conventional cigarette. This allows for ease of use, portability, and storage. However, this small size also makes it easier for users to lose the non-combustion aerosol delivery system.

[0031]

[0037] The technology described herein provides a method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, such as may be used with a non-combustion aerosol delivery system, which can be used, for example, to help locate the aerosol delivery device when lost.

[0032]

[0038] In accordance with the techniques described herein, the aerosol delivery device is provided with a method for determining its own position. For example, the aerosol delivery device may be provided with a positioning element, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) element, that allows the aerosol delivery device to determine its own position. It will be appreciated that other forms of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) may be used with appropriate positioning elements provided in the system used.

[0033]

[0039] The aerosol delivery device may then communicate the determined location to a user device (e.g., a mobile phone) for storage by the user device. Thus, if a user wants to know the location of the aerosol delivery device, the user may consult the user device to request a display of the last known location, even if the user cannot determine the location directly from the aerosol delivery device and the aerosol delivery device is no longer in communication with the user device.

[0034]

[0040] In this way, a user can obtain an estimated location of the aerosol delivery device even if the user and user device are not in communication with the aerosol delivery device. As an illustrative example, consider a situation in which a user leaves their aerosol delivery system at a store and only later realizes that their aerosol delivery device is missing. This approach may enable the user to determine where the aerosol delivery device was lost. Specifically, while at the store, the aerosol delivery device may determine its location (e.g., using a location-determining element on the aerosol delivery device) and communicate that location to the user device, where it was stored. If the user subsequently leaves the store with the user device but leaves the aerosol delivery device behind, the user can request an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from the user device. The user device can provide an indication of the store as the last known location of the aerosol delivery device, even though the aerosol delivery device is not in communication with the user device at this time.

[0035]

[0041] It will be appreciated that the present approach includes transmitting data to and from the aerosol delivery device, and the aerosol delivery device processing stored and / or received data. The present approach also requires that a user device be capable of communicating with the aerosol delivery device. Such a user device may also be capable of communicating with other services or systems. Accordingly, to illustrate suitable devices for providing such functionality, an exemplary aerosol delivery device 10 and an exemplary user device 40 are shown with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

[0036]

[0042] An example of an aerosol delivery system is shown schematically in FIG. 1. As shown, the aerosol delivery system includes an aerosol delivery device 10, which, during use, is shown as containing a consumable having elements related to aerosol generation, such as an aerosol medium container or cartridge 12 (in the case of an END device, the aerosol medium container or cartridge 12 contains nicotine or a nicotine-containing formulation). In addition to an area for receiving the consumable, the aerosol delivery device 10 of the aerosol delivery system includes an aerosol generation chamber 14 and an outlet 16 through which generated aerosol can be discharged. A battery 18 may be provided to power a heat-generating element (such as a heater 20, which may take the form of a heater coil) within (or functionally adjacent to) the aerosol generation chamber 14. The battery 18 may also power a processor / controller 22, which may serve device use purposes, such as activating the device for aerosol generation in response to an activation trigger, as well as for communication and functional 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 the aerosol delivery device and / or one or more components thereof. Memory 24 may be internal to processor / controller 22 or may be provided as an additional, separate physical element.

[0037]

[0043] To transmit and receive data and / or messaging, the processor / controller 22 is provided with a communication element, such as a transmitter / receiver element 26. The transmitter / receiver element 26 enables the aerosol delivery device 10 to communicate with connected devices using connection technologies, such as personal area network protocols. Examples of personal area network protocols include Bluetooth™, Bluetooth Low Energy™ (BLE), Zigbee™, Wireless USB, and Near Field Communication (NFC). Examples of personal area network protocols include protocols that utilize optical communications, such as Infrared Data Association (IrDA) and Data Over Sound. Other wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi™ technology, may also be used if the aerosol delivery device has appropriate capabilities. In other examples, the transmitter / receiver element 26 may be configured to provide a wired communication channel between a physical port on the aerosol delivery device 10 and the connected device. Such a wired communication channel may utilize a physical connection technology, such as USB™, a serial port, FireWire™, or other point-to-point wired connection. The remainder of this discussion will use BLE examples and use BLE terminology, although it will be understood that corresponding or equivalent functionality of other personal area network technologies may be substituted. 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.

[0038]

[0044] Any communications established by connected devices may be non-permanent or otherwise temporary, in the sense that the channel may be established for the period of time necessary to perform a particular function, but may be disconnected when not needed. For this reason, such connected devices are referred to herein as user devices, in the sense that the devices are likely utilized and / or controlled by a user of the aerosol delivery device and the connected device. An example of such a user device (which may also be referred to as a remote device, in the sense that the device is remote from the aerosol delivery device, or an intermediate device, in the sense that the device is intermediate between the aerosol delivery device and the unlocking / age verification service) is described below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0039]

[0045] Returning to the description of FIG. 1 , aerosol delivery device 10 is provided with a position determination element 30 for determining the position of aerosol delivery device 10. Position determination element 30 may operate according to any of a range of possible protocols for determining the position of aerosol delivery device 10. In some examples, position determination element 30 is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) element configured to determine position using GNSS. For example, the GNSS element may be any of a Global Positioning System (GPS) element, a Global Navigation System (GLONASS) element, a Galileo element, or a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System element (BDS), each configured to determine the position of the aerosol delivery device using a corresponding protocol.

[0040]

[0046] In some examples, the location determination element 30 is a Wi-Fi™ element for determining the location of the aerosol delivery device using Wi-Fi™ positioning based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points. Alternatively or additionally, the location determination element 30 may be a cell phone tower locating element for determining location using cell phone tower triangulation. Furthermore, the location determination element 30 may be a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) element or a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network element for determining location using communications over an LPWAN or IoT network, respectively. The location determination element may also be a near-field communications (NFC) element for determining location based on recognition of near-field communications tags with known locations.

[0041]

[0047] In some examples, the positioning element 30 comprises two or more positioning sub-elements that operate according to different protocols (such as those described above) to provide additional resilience and / or accuracy when position determination from one or some of the positioning sub-elements is unavailable or inaccurate.

[0042]

[0048] The processor / controller 22, in one example, may be an STM32 microcontroller provided by ST Microelectronics and based on an ARM™ Cortex™-M processor. In other examples, alternative microcontrollers or processors may be used, which may be based on the ARM™ architecture, the Atom™ architecture, or other low-power processor technologies. Alternatively or additionally, the transmitter / receiver element 26, in one example, may include an nRF BLE chip for cooperating with the processor / controller to provide BLE connectivity to the aerosol delivery device. In other examples, other communication interface chips or modules may be deployed to provide connectivity services.

[0043]

[0049] As shown, the processor / controller 22 may be connected, for example, to the aerosol medium container or cartridge 12, the aerosol generation 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 the characteristics of each component. For example, a battery connection may be used to control the operation of the aerosol delivery device for aerosol generation.

[0044]

[0050] Further functionality of the processor / controller 22 and / or memory 24 is described with reference to examples of the present approach below.

[0045]

[0051] An example of a user device 40 is shown schematically in FIG. 2. The user device may be a device such as a mobile phone (cell phone) or tablet of a user (and / or owner) of aerosol delivery device 10. As shown, user device 40 includes a transceiver element 42 for communicating with aerosol delivery device 10. As such, transceiver element 42 is configured to use the same connections, protocols, etc. as the aerosol delivery device 10 with which it interacts in any given embodiment. Thus, in this example, transceiver element 42 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.

[0046]

[0052] The transceiver element 42 is connected to a processor or controller 44 that can receive and process data or messaging received from the aerosol delivery device. The processor or controller 44 has access to a memory 46 that can be used to store program information and / or data. The user device 40 may also include an additional data transmission interface 48. This interface may provide one or more interface functions, for example, to a wired connection, such as a wired local area network, and / or a wireless connection, such as a wireless local area network and / or a cellular data service. This interface may be used, for example, to send and receive messaging to and from various other devices, computer systems, and / or computer services, as required by any particular implementation. This interface may also, or alternatively, be used for communication regarding other functions of the user device 40 unrelated to the operation of or interaction with the aerosol delivery device.

[0047]

[0053] The user device 40 also includes user interface elements including output devices 50 (which may include one or more of a display, an audio output, and a tactile output) and input devices 52 (which may include one or more of buttons, keys, a touch-sensitive display element, or a mouse / trackpad).

[0048]

[0054] The user device 40 may be pre-programmed or configured to provide functionality according to the techniques discussed below. Additionally or alternatively, the user device may store software (e.g., in memory 46) such as apps that, when executed, cause the processor or controller 44 to have those functions. Thus, the user device may be a multi-purpose device that has the described functionality when an application is executed.

[0049]

[0055] Software that causes a user device to be programmed for the techniques described herein may be embodied or encoded in a computer-readable medium, such as a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions. The instructions embedded in or encoded in the computer-readable medium, when executed, may cause a programmable processor or other processor to perform a method, for example. Computer-readable media may include non-transitory computer-readable storage media as well as transitory communication media, such as carrier signals and transmission media. Computer-readable storage media may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, hard disk, CD-ROM, floppy disk, cassette, magnetic medium, optical medium, or other computer-readable storage medium. The term "computer-readable storage medium" refers to a physical storage medium. Transient communication media may occur between components of a single computing system (e.g., on an internal link or bus between memory and a processor) or between separate computing systems (e.g., via a network or other connection between computing devices), and may include transmission signals, carrier waves, etc.

[0050]

[0056] Such software may be loaded directly onto the user device 40 from a computer-readable medium, or may be loaded onto the user device by connecting the user device to another computing device (e.g., a desktop computer, a laptop computer, etc.) and using software on the other computing device to control the loading of the software onto the user device.

[0051]

[0057] Thus, an aerosol delivery device and a user device have been described that can interact to provide a user of the user device with several additional functions of the aerosol delivery device. Examples of such functions will now be described.

[0052]

[0058] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an aerosol delivery device 10, a user device 40, and a location storage service 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the aerosol delivery device 10 communicates with the user device 40. This communication may occur using any suitable communication technology and / or protocol, such as those discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the aerosol delivery device 10 may communicate with the user device 40 via a BLE connection. However, the user device 40 and the aerosol delivery device 10 may lose communication with each other. This may occur, for example, by exceeding the range of the form of communication being used (as may be the case if the connection is a BLE connection) or by the physical connection between the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 being severed.

[0053]

[0059] In some examples, the user device 40 is also in communication with a location storage service 60. The location storage service provides storage functionality for an indication of the location of the aerosol delivery device 10. Thus, instead of or in addition to storing a location indication of the location of the aerosol delivery device 10, the user device 40 may provide the indication of the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 to the location storage service 60. This may be done to provide a backup of the stored location in case this information is lost from the user device 40 or if the user device 40 itself is lost, and / or to avoid the need to store the location on the user device 40, for example, to reduce the storage requirements of the user device 40. If the location storage service 60 is located remotely from the user device 40, the user device 40 may communicate with the location storage service 60 via the Internet.

[0054]

[0060] Location storage service 60 may be implemented using remote hardware (e.g., one or more servers) and may be operated, for example, by the vendor / manufacturer of aerosol delivery device 10, the user, or a third party.

[0055]

[0061] The operation of the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 in tracking the position of the aerosol delivery device 10 will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0056]

[0062] In step S1 of Figure 4, the aerosol delivery device 10 determines its own position. This is done using the position determination element 30 of the aerosol delivery device 10, which may be done using the techniques described with reference to Figure 1.

[0057]

[0063] The aerosol delivery device 10 then communicates its location to the user device 40 in step S3, which is received by the user device in step S5. At least during the period in which the aerosol delivery device 10 is communicating its location to the user device 40, the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 are able to communicate with each other (e.g., are within BLE range). This communication may occur using, for example, BLE, or may occur using an alternative communication mode, such as those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0058]

[0064] Upon receiving the location of the aerosol delivery device 10, the user device 40 stores the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 in step S7. The user device 40 may store the location locally (i.e., on the user device 40 itself) or may be configured to store the location elsewhere. One such manner in which the location is stored in the location storage service 60 is discussed below with reference to FIG. 5. By storing the location in this manner, the user device 40 can provide an indication of the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 even if the user device 40 subsequently loses contact with the aerosol delivery device 10 and is therefore unable to receive the location from the aerosol delivery device 10.

[0059]

[0065] As shown in dashed box 101 in FIG. 4, the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 are in communication (e.g., the devices are within BLE range of each other) at least while steps S3-S5 are being performed. It will be understood that the method illustrated in FIG. 4 may be performed in situations where the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 are in communication for longer than the time required to perform steps S3 and S5. For example, the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 may lose contact with each other during the period between the user device 40 receiving a location from the aerosol delivery device 10 (step S5) and storing the location (step S7), yet it is entirely possible to perform any of steps S7-S13 while the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 are still in communication. Thus, the user device 40 may nevertheless store the location (S7) and proceed with the remaining steps of the method, even though the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 remain in communication.

[0060]

[0066] Furthermore, the aerosol delivery device may perform step S1 even when the aerosol delivery device 10 is not in communication with the user device 40, such that the aerosol delivery device 10 may have a determined location that it can transfer to the user device 40 when the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 are in communication. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device 10 may be configured to refrain from performing step S1 while the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 are not in communication, for example, to avoid consuming power in step S1 when step S3 cannot be performed because no user device 40 is currently in communication with the aerosol delivery device 10.

[0061]

[0067] In some examples, steps S1-S7 are repeatedly performed to update the stored last known location. Repeatedly performing these steps provides the user device 40 with more access to an up-to-date representation of the location of the aerosol delivery device 10. In some examples, steps S1-S7, including determining the location of the aerosol delivery device 10, transmitting that location to the user device 40, and storing that location, may be performed periodically (e.g., at predetermined intervals) and / or whenever it is detected that the aerosol delivery device 10 has changed location (e.g., when the location has changed by more than a threshold distance).

[0062]

[0068] If steps S1-S7 are performed multiple times, user device 40 may be configured to replace a previously stored indication of location upon receiving an updated location of aerosol delivery device 10 to avoid increasing storage space occupied by the stored locations. However, in some examples, user device 40 may maintain a previously stored location or locations so that a history of the movement of aerosol delivery device 10 can be established. In such examples, user device 40 may be configured to provide an indication of the movement of aerosol delivery device 10 based on this stored location history information.

[0063]

[0069] In step S9, the user device 40 receives a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device 10. This request may be received, for example, from a user and by an app running on the user device 40. However, in some examples, the user device 40 may accept a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 received from another location, such as a separate device.

[0064]

[0070] In response to the request for the location of the aerosol delivery device 10, the user device 40 retrieves, in step S11, the stored location (or the most recent location, if multiple locations are stored) of the aerosol delivery device 10. If the location is stored locally at the user device 40 (e.g., in the system storage of the user device 40), retrieving the stored location includes retrieving the location from the storage. It will be appreciated that if the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 is stored elsewhere, the retrieval may take a corresponding form.

[0065]

[0071] Once the stored location is retrieved, the user device 40, in step S13, provides an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device 10 based on the stored indication. The indication may take the form of a message displayed on the user device 40 stating the location. Additionally or alternatively, the user device 40 may indicate the location by displaying the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 on a map and / or by displaying the location of the aerosol delivery device relative to the user device 40 (e.g., by displaying an arrow indicating the direction toward and separation distance from the aerosol delivery device 10).

[0066]

[0072] Thus, a technique has been described in which an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device 10 can be received based on location measurements made by and received by the user device 40 while the aerosol delivery device 10 was still in communication with the aerosol delivery device 10, even when the aerosol delivery device 10 and the user device 40 are no longer in communication.

[0067]

[0073] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the non-combustion aerosol delivery device 10 , the user device 40 , and the location storage service 60 in tracking the location of the non-combustion aerosol delivery device 10 .

[0068]

[0074] The method shown in Figure 5 has many steps in common with the method discussed with reference to Figure 4. Corresponding steps are indicated with the same reference numerals and will not be discussed in detail again.

[0069]

[0075] 5 utilizes a location storage service 60 to store location information received from the aerosol delivery device 10. This location storage service 60 may be located remotely from the user device 40 and may provide secure storage of the location information, thereby protecting against loss of such information by the user device 40 and reducing the storage requirements of the user device 40 for storing the location information. This approach may also protect against loss of the user device 40, as a user whose user device 40 is lost (permanently or temporarily) or becomes unavailable may be able to access the location stored in the location storage service from an alternative user device.

[0070]

[0076] However, unlike the method shown in FIG. 4 , after the user device 40 receives the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 in step S5, the user device 40 sends the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service in step S71. This location may be sent, for example, via the Internet, via a local network, or via other communication means. The form of communication used may be selected based on the form of the location storage service 60. For example, the location storage service 60 may be operated by or on behalf of the manufacturer / supplier of the aerosol delivery device, in which case the location storage service 60 may be implemented using a server operated by the manufacturer / supplier and accessible via the Internet. However, in some examples, the location storage service 60 may be implemented by a device owned by the user, such that the user device 40 sends its location to the location storage service 60 when the user device 40 and the device implementing the location storage service 60 are in communication with each other (e.g., via a local network / via a wired connection).

[0071]

[0077] After receiving the location in step S73, the location storage service 60 stores the location in step S75.

[0072]

[0078] As indicated by dashed box 101, at least steps S3-S5 are implemented while aerosol delivery device 10 is in communication with user device 40. As discussed above in connection with FIG. 4, additional steps of the method may also be performed while aerosol delivery device 10 is in communication with user device 40.

[0073]

[0079] As further indicated by dashed boxes 102 and 103, at least steps S71-S75 and steps S111-S115 (discussed below) are performed while user device 40 is in communication with location storage service 60. Similar to the connectivity discussion discussed above with respect to steps S3 and S5 of FIG. 4 , additional steps of the method may be performed while user device 40 is in communication with location storage service 60.

[0074]

[0080] These steps may also be repeated one or more times and may be performed periodically so that the most recent location of the aerosol delivery device 10 is maintained in the location storage service 60 .

[0075]

[0081] If the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 is stored in the location storage service, when the user device 40 receives a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 in step S9, the user device 40 requests the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 from the location storage service 60 in step S111 instead of retrieving the location from the user device 40's local storage device. This request is received by the location storage service 60 in step S113, which then provides the stored location to the user device 40 in step S115. In response to receiving this location in step S117, the user device 40 provides an indication of the last known location received from the location storage service 60 in step S13.

[0076]

[0082] Thus, an approach has been described in which a location determined by aerosol delivery device 10 can be recorded by location storage service 60, thereby avoiding the need for location storage by user device 40 and / or providing protection against loss of (data from) user device 40. Thus, location information is available to user device 40 when the location of aerosol delivery device 10 is unknown to the user. Thus, if the user loses aerosol delivery device 10, the user device 40 and location storage service 60 can be used to determine the last known location of aerosol delivery device 10, which may assist in locating the aerosol delivery device 10.

[0077]

[0083] 4 and 5 may be combined in a hybrid configuration, such as to provide storage of a location received by the user device 40 in addition to providing storage of that location in the location storage service 60. Such a hybrid approach, for example, allows the location received in step S5 to be stored in the user device 40 while the user device waits to connect to the location service 60. The user device 40 may then continue to store the location received in step S5 after sending the location to the location storage service in step S71, or may cease storing the location once step S71 is performed. Such a hybrid approach also allows the overall implementation to be robust against both connection failures between the user device 40 and the location storage service 60 and loss of location information by the user device 40 and / or loss of the user device 40 (whether permanent or temporary). In such a hybrid approach, location requests may be serviced using a locally stored location from the user device 40, if available, and using a location retrieved from the location storage service 60 if the user device 40 does not have a stored location available. In some examples, the user device 40 may compare the stored locations on the user device 40 and available from the location storage service 60 and provide the most recent of these two stored locations.

[0078]

[0084] In this application, the term "configured to" is used to mean that the elements of a device have a configuration that allows them to perform a defined operation. In this context, "configuration" refers to an arrangement or method of interconnection of hardware or software. For example, a device may have dedicated hardware that provides the defined operation, or a processor or other processing device may be programmed to perform the function. "Configured to" does not imply that the device elements must be modified in any way to provide the defined operation.

[0079]

[0085] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in the understanding and teaching of the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as a representative sample 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 construed as 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 comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of any suitable combination of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, the present disclosure may include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

[0080]

[0086] In this regard, for example, in reworking the disclosure above, it will also be understood that while in some embodiments the aerosol delivery device may communicate its location to user device 40, such as by using a location-determining element of the aerosol delivery device, in some embodiments this need not be explicitly the case. For example, in some embodiments, user device 40 may instead determine its location using a location-determining element of the user device. In these embodiments, the location of user device 40 may therefore be determined to be the location of the aerosol delivery device based on the approximation / understanding that user device 40 may be in approximately the same location as aerosol delivery device 10 (i.e., close enough to justify this approximation) when communicating with the aerosol delivery device using, for example, a Bluetooth protocol.

[0081]

[0087] Thus, and at a general level, the present disclosure may also provide a method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device 10 by a user device 40, the method including the steps of determining the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 when the user device 40 and the aerosol delivery device are in communication, and storing the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 by the user device 40.

[0082]

[0088] According to some embodiments, the step of determining the position of the aerosol delivery device 10 may include, as noted above, determining the position of the user device 40 and determining the position of the aerosol delivery device 10 as being the position of the user device 40.

[0083]

[0089] However, it will be understood that once the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 has been determined and then subsequently stored, the user device 40 may be configured to provide the user of the user device 40 with an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device 10 based on the stored location, as previously noted.

[0084]

[0090] To the extent that such an indication can be provided, it can be appreciated that, according to some embodiments, the last known location can be displayed on a map 102 on a user interface 100 from a display 50 of a user device 40, as shown in FIG. 7 for example. While not necessary, if such a map 102 is provided, a diagram of predetermined parameters 104 of the aerosol delivery device 10 can also be displayed on the map 102. With respect to what such predetermined parameters might be, this could obviously include, for example, any combination of aerosol delivery device shape 104A (as shown in FIG. 7), aerosol delivery device color 104B, aerosol delivery device 10 model 104C (e.g., the ePod 2+ model shown in FIG. 7), and / or aerosol delivery device 10 type 104D. Thus, by providing this diagram of predetermined parameters on the map 102, this can provide a user with useful visual confirmation that the displayed last known location pertains to the particular aerosol delivery device 10 whose location the user intends to determine. This can be particularly useful when a user or user device 40 operates simultaneously with multiple aerosol delivery devices 10 of different types / models and / or visual characteristics, so that providing a diagram of the predetermined parameters 104 can help the user avoid confusion caused by inadvertently tracking the location of the wrong aerosol delivery device 10.

[0085]

[0091] It can be appreciated that, if predetermined parameters 104 are also provided, in some embodiments, the predetermined parameters 104 may include a status 106 regarding whether the aerosol delivery device 10 is locked for use and / or a status 106 regarding whether the aerosol delivery device 10 is unlocked for use. In this way, to the extent that the user can subsequently view the location of the aerosol delivery device 10 on the map 102, the user can then visualize whether the aerosol delivery device 10 is ready for use. This may provide reassurance to the user, for example, when the map indicates that the aerosol delivery device is far away but is locked and unavailable for use. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 7 , indicating such a locked / unlocked status of the aerosol delivery device 10 can be achieved, for example, by displaying indicia 108 in either red (to indicate a locked status) or green (to indicate an unlocked status) on / around the illustrated shape of the aerosol delivery device 10. Such indicia 108 may be, for example, a colored border around the illustrated shape of the aerosol delivery device (e.g., a colored red or colored green border to reflect the locked / unlocked state of the aerosol delivery device).

[0086]

[0092] With regard to accessing this map 102, it is envisioned that user device 40 may be configured to allow a request for the location of aerosol delivery device 10 to be made only in response to the user device logging into a predetermined account associated with aerosol delivery device 10, for example, using user interface 100 shown in FIG. 6. To further restrict access to this location tracking service, the predetermined account may be password protected, for example, requiring the use of a predetermined password or some other biometric metric (e.g., face / fingerprint / voice identification) that can serve as the associated password to access the predetermined account.

[0087]

[0093] With the above in mind and referring to the embodiments of Figures 6 and 7, which illustrate user interfaces 100 usable with the technology described herein, it will be appreciated that any user interface 100 described herein may, in some embodiments, be part of an app that can be used on a user device 40, such as the smartphone shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0088]

[0094] However, whatever the form of user interface used, as shown in the embodiment from FIG. 6, another potential function of this user interface 100 may be to not only provide position tracking capabilities for the aerosol delivery device, but also to allow the user to view and / or control aspects of operation from the aerosol delivery device 10.

[0089]

[0095] If such functionality of the user interface is used, such functionality may be provided in a first portion 100A of the user interface 100, such as the first portion 100A shown in the embodiment of FIG.

[0090]

[0096] Such first portion 100A may, in some embodiments, be separate from a second portion 100B of the user interface used to provide a display of the last known location of aerosol delivery device 10, such as second portion 100B shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6 (which may include, for example, a map 102). By employing this effective layout, a user may be able to better visualize the last known location of aerosol delivery device 10 on second portion 100B without simultaneously being distracted by some of the visualization from first portion 100A of the user interface. In this way, in other words, first portion 100A of the user interface (e.g., as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6) and second portion 100B of the user interface (e.g., which may include a map as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7) are not displayed simultaneously.

[0091]

[0097] For any first portion 100A that may be used, for example, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the first portion 100A may be configured to serve as a portion of a user interface through which a request for the location of an aerosol delivery device may be made by a user, for example, using a button or some other option 110 selectable on this first portion 100A of the user interface 100 (e.g., by selecting a "FIND MY VAPE" icon from the first portion 100, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6).

[0092]

[0098] In connection with any such functionality from first portion 100A, according to some embodiments, which may help provide a user with appropriate visual confirmation regarding any current connection status between the user device and the aerosol delivery device, first portion 100A of user interface 100 may further include an indication 112 regarding whether aerosol delivery device 10 is in communication with user device 40. Similarly, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , to help a user confirm that they are interacting with the correct aerosol delivery device, first portion 100A of aerosol delivery device 10 according to some embodiments may be configured to provide / show a diagram of predetermined parameters 114 of aerosol delivery device 10, such as any combination of aerosol delivery device shape 116, aerosol delivery device color, aerosol delivery device model, aerosol delivery device type, and / or even aerosol delivery device name 118. 6, the first portion is configured to display the name of the aerosol delivery device (i.e., James's ePod 2+) and also the shape / model of the aerosol delivery device (i.e., the shape of the ePod 2+ device). Thus, when such information is displayed, it can provide a clear visual confirmation to the user that the aerosol delivery device 10 in question is the device the user intended to interact with, which can be particularly useful when the user or user device 40 operates with multiple aerosol delivery devices 10 of different types; thus, providing this visual can help avoid confusion from the user inadvertently interacting with the wrong aerosol delivery device 10.

[0093]

[0099] Similarly, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 6, in some embodiments, first portion 100A of user interface 100 may further include a first selector 120 for switching aerosol delivery device 10 between i) a first locked position and ii) a second unlocked position. This may be particularly effective when the user knows they are in a location where operation of the aerosol delivery device may not necessarily be permitted (e.g., on an airplane or in a theater or cinema), in which case the user can simply use the selector to lock aerosol delivery device 10 to prevent it from generating vapors while in the locked state.

[0094]

[0100] Then, when the user leaves the relevant location, the user can subsequently switch the aerosol delivery device 10 back to the unlocked state simply by using the first selector 120 .

[0095]

[0101] It will be apparent that the first portion 100A of the user interface can additionally / alternatively include a second selector 122 for controlling the power delivered from the aerosol delivery device 10 to the vaporizer 20 as part of the operation of the vaporizer 20. This selector 122 can then switch the power delivered to the vaporizer 20 between a number of different states, such as "low" / "high," or among three states: "low," "medium," or "high." As such, this functionality can be particularly effective when a user desires a means to tailor the operation of the vaporizer 20 to meet the user's needs at any particular time.

[0096]

[0102] It will be apparent that the first portion of the user interface may also additionally / alternatively comprise an indicator 124 for indicating the remaining power level of the power source / battery 18 from the aerosol delivery device 10. This indicator may, in some embodiments, be expressed as a percentage of the full capacity of the power source / battery 18 from the aerosol delivery device 10 (e.g., as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , where the indicator shows a remaining power level of 100%). In particular, if this indicator is then used in conjunction with a selector for controlling the power delivered from the aerosol delivery device 10 to the vaporizer 20 as part of the operation of the vaporizer 20, these two features may provide a synergistic effect through which the user can easily control the power delivered to the vaporizer 20, for example, by increasing the power if there is still a lot of power remaining in the power source 18 from the aerosol delivery device 10, while perhaps decreasing the power supplied to the vaporizer 20 if the power source 18 from the aerosol delivery device 10 is running low.

[0097]

[0103] Thus, from the foregoing, it can be seen that if any such first portion 100A for the user interface 100 is provided, it can serve as a very versatile control platform through which the user can view and / or interact with the functions of the aerosol delivery device 10.

[0098]

[0104] It will be understood that the subject matter herein may also be pursued in one or more granted designs and / or design patent applications. Such designs are deemed to be as shown in the figures, particularly FIGS. 6 and 7, and the corresponding description and any and all parts, portions, elements, and / or combinations thereof. The right to claim any parts, portions, elements, and / or combinations thereof of the disclosed designs is also reserved, including replacing any solid lines with dashed lines to disclaim any parts, portions, elements, and / or combinations thereof of the disclosed designs, or replacing any dashed lines with solid lines to claim any parts, portions, elements, and / or combinations thereof of the disclosed designs. Thus, with this in mind, and in some embodiments based on the disclosure from FIGS. 6 and 7, what is provided herein may also be an ornamental design for a user device, such as a smartphone, as shown and described (e.g., in accordance with the present disclosure with respect to FIG. 6 or FIG. 7). What is provided herein may also be an ornamental design for a display screen or portion thereof having a graphical user interface, as shown and described (e.g., in accordance with the present disclosure with respect to FIG. 6 or FIG. 7).

[0099] Set of Consistency Clauses 1. A method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method comprising: When the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, receiving, by the user device, a location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device.

[0100] 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the user device is a location determined using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0101] 3. The method of clause 2, wherein the GNSS is selected from the group including Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

[0102] 4. The method of clause 1, 2 or 3, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the user device is a location determined using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0103] 5. The method of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the user device is a location determined using cell phone tower triangulation.

[0104] 6. The method of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the user device is a location determined using communication over a low-power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0105] 7. The method of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the user device is a location determined using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0106] 8. The method of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the user device is a location determined based on recognition of a near field communications tag having a known location.

[0107] 9. Storing the location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device includes transmitting the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service; The method of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the step of providing an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device includes retrieving the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from a location storage service.

[0108] 10. The method of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the step of receiving the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device is performed via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0109] 11. The method of any of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is received from the aerosol delivery device via a mobile network.

[0110] 12. A method according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the step of providing an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device based on the stored location is performed when the user device and the aerosol delivery device are not in remote communication.

[0111] 13. A device for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, the device comprising: When the device and the aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, receiving, by the device, from the aerosol delivery device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; storing, by the device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; The device is configured to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored locations in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the device.

[0112] 14. The device of clause 13, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0113] 15. The device of clause 14, wherein the GNSS is selected from the group including Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

[0114] 16. A device described in clause 13, 14 or 15, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0115] 17. A device described in any of clauses 13 to 16, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using cell phone tower triangulation.

[0116] 18. A device described in any of clauses 13 to 17, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using communication over a low-power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0117] 19. A device described in any of clauses 13 to 18, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0118] 20. A device described in any of clauses 13 to 19, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined based on recognition of a near field communication tag having a known location.

[0119] 21. To store the location of the aerosol delivery device, the device is configured to send the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service; A device as described in any of clauses 13 to 20, wherein the device is configured to retrieve the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from a location storage service in order to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device.

[0120] 22. A device described in any of clauses 13 to 21, wherein receiving the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device is via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0121] 23. A device described in any of clauses 13 to 21, wherein the device is configured to receive the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device via a mobile network.

[0122] 24. A device described in any of clauses 13 to 23, wherein the device is configured to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on stored locations when the device and the aerosol delivery device are not in remote communication.

[0123] 25. A computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a device, cause the device to: When the device and the aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, receiving, by the device, from the aerosol delivery device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; storing, by the device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; A computer-readable medium configured to provide, in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored locations.

[0124] 26. The computer-readable medium of clause 25, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0125] 27. The computer-readable medium of clause 26, wherein the GNSS is selected from the group including Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

[0126] 28. The computer-readable medium of clause 25, 26, or 27, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0127] 29. A computer-readable medium according to any of clauses 25 to 28, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using cell phone tower triangulation.

[0128] 30. A computer-readable medium described in any of clauses 25 to 29, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using communication over a low-power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0129] 31. A computer-readable medium described in any of clauses 25 to 30, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0130] 32. A computer-readable medium as described in clauses 25 to 31, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device received by the device is a location determined based on recognition of a near field communication tag having a known location.

[0131] 33. To store the location of the aerosol delivery device, the instructions cause the device to send the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service; The computer-readable medium of clauses 25-32, wherein the instructions cause the device to retrieve the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from a location storage service to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device.

[0132] 34. The computer-readable medium of any of clauses 25 to 33, wherein receiving the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device is via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0133] 35. A computer-readable medium according to any of clauses 25 to 33, wherein the device is configured to receive the location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device via a mobile network.

[0134] 36. The computer-readable medium of any of clauses 25-35, wherein the device is configured to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location when the device and the aerosol delivery device are not in remote communication.

[0135] 37. A method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, comprising: determining a position of the aerosol delivery device by the aerosol delivery device; and communicating, by the aerosol delivery device, the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device.

[0136] 38. The method of clause 37, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0137] 39. The method of clause 38, wherein the GNSS is selected from the group including Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

[0138] 40. The method of clause 37, 38 or 39, wherein the location of the non-combustion aerosol delivery is determined using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0139] 41. The method of any of clauses 37 to 40, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined using cell phone tower triangulation.

[0140] 42. A device described in any of clauses 37 to 41, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined using communication over a low-power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0141] 43. A device described in any of clauses 37 to 42, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0142] 44. A device described in any of clauses 37 to 43, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on recognition of a near field communication tag having a known location.

[0143] 45. The method of any of clauses 37-44, wherein the step of communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device is via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0144] 46. A method according to any one of clauses 37 to 44, wherein the step of communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device is via a mobile network.

[0145] 47. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a position determining element configured to determine the position of the aerosol delivery device; a communication element configured to communicate a location of the aerosol delivery device to a user device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device.

[0146] 48. An aerosol delivery device as described in clause 47, wherein the position determination element is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) element configured to determine the position of the aerosol delivery device using GNSS.

[0147] 49. An aerosol delivery device as described in clause 48, wherein the GNSS element is selected from the group including a Global Positioning System (GPS) element, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) element, a Galileo element, and a Beidou Navigation Satellite System element (BDS), and the GNSS is selected from the group including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BDS.

[0148] 50. An aerosol delivery device as described in clause 47, 48 or 49, wherein the location determination element is a Wi-Fi™ element configured to determine the location of the aerosol delivery device using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0149] 51. An aerosol delivery device described in any of clauses 47 to 50, wherein the position determination element is a cell phone tower positioning element configured to determine position using cell phone tower triangulation.

[0150] 52. An aerosol delivery device described in any of clauses 47 to 51, wherein the location determination element is a low power wide area network (LPWAN) element configured to determine the location of the aerosol delivery device using communication over the low power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0151] 53. An aerosol delivery device described in any of clauses 47 to 52, wherein the position determination element is a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network element configured to determine position using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0152] 54. An aerosol delivery device described in any of clauses 47 to 53, wherein the location determination element is a near field communication (NFC) element configured to determine location based on recognition of a near field communication tag having a known location.

[0153] 55. An aerosol delivery device described in any of clauses 47 to 54, wherein the aerosol delivery device is configured to communicate the location of the aerosol delivery device to a user device via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0154] 56. An aerosol delivery device according to any of clauses 47 to 54, wherein the aerosol delivery device is configured to communicate the location of the aerosol delivery device to a user device via a mobile network.

[0155] 57. A computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a device, cause the device to: Determining the location of the aerosol delivery device; A computer-readable medium that causes the aerosol delivery device to be configured to communicate a location of the aerosol delivery device to a user device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device.

[0156] 58. The computer-readable medium of clause 57, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0157] 59. The computer-readable medium of clause 58, wherein the GNSS is selected from the group including Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

[0158] 60. The computer-readable medium of clause 57, 58 or 59, wherein the location of the non-combustion aerosol delivery is determined using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0159] 61. The computer-readable medium of any of clauses 57-60, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using cell phone tower triangulation.

[0160] 62. The computer-readable medium of any of clauses 57-61, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using communication over a low-power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0161] 63. The computer-readable medium of any of clauses 57-62, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0162] 64. A computer-readable medium according to any of clauses 57 to 63, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined based on recognition of a near field communication tag having a known location.

[0163] 65. The computer-readable medium of any of clauses 57-64, wherein communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device is via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0164] 66. A computer-readable medium according to any of clauses 57 to 64, wherein communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device is via a mobile network.

[0165] 67. A method for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising: determining a position of the aerosol delivery device by the aerosol delivery device; communicating, by the aerosol delivery device to the user device, a location of the aerosol delivery device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the user device; receiving, by the user device, a location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device.

[0166] 68. The method of clause 67, wherein the position of the aerosol delivery device is a position determined using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0167] 69. The method of clause 68, wherein the GNSS is selected from the group including Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

[0168] 70. The method of clause 67, 68 or 69, wherein the location of the non-combustion aerosol delivery is determined using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0169] 71. A method according to any one of clauses 67 to 70, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using triangulation of mobile phone towers.

[0170] 72. The method of any of clauses 67 to 71, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using communication over a low-power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0171] 73. The method of any of clauses 67 to 72, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0172] 74. A method according to any of clauses 67 to 73, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined based on recognition of a near field communications tag having a known location.

[0173] 75. Storing the location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device includes transmitting the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service; 75. The method of any of clauses 67 to 74, wherein the step of providing an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device includes retrieving the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from a location storage service.

[0174] 76. The method of any of clauses 67-75, wherein the step of communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device is via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0175] 77. A method according to any one of clauses 67 to 75, wherein the step of communicating the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device is via a mobile network.

[0176] 78. A method according to any of clauses 67 to 77, wherein the step of providing an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device by the user device based on the stored location is performed when the user device and the aerosol delivery device are not in remote communication.

[0177] 79. A system for tracking the location of an aerosol delivery device, the system comprising: 1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a position determining element configured to determine the position of the aerosol delivery device; an aerosol delivery device comprising: a communication element configured to communicate a location of the aerosol delivery device to the device when the aerosol delivery device is in remote communication with the device; a device, when the device and an aerosol delivery device are in remote communication, receiving a location of the aerosol delivery device from the aerosol delivery device; storing the location of the aerosol delivery device; a device configured to, in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device, provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the received location.

[0178] 80. The system of clause 79, wherein the position determination element is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) element configured to determine the position of the aerosol delivery device using GNSS.

[0179] 81. The system of clause 80, wherein the GNSS element is selected from the group including a Global Positioning System (GPS) element, a Global Navigation Satellite System element (GLONASS), a Galileo element, and a Beidou Navigation Satellite System element (BDS), and the GNSS is selected from the group including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BDS.

[0180] 82. A system described in clause 79, 80 or 81, wherein the location determination element is a Wi-Fi™ element configured to determine the location of the aerosol delivery device using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

[0181] 83. A system as described in any of clauses 79 to 82, wherein the location determination element is a cell phone tower positioning element configured to determine location using cell phone tower triangulation.

[0182] 84. A system described in any of clauses 79 to 83, wherein the location determination element is a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) element configured to determine the location of the aerosol delivery device using communication over the low-power wide area network (LPWAN).

[0183] 85. The system of any of clauses 79-84, wherein the position determination element is a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network element configured to determine position using communication over a low-power Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0184] 86. A system described in any of clauses 79 to 85, wherein the location determination element is a near field communication (NFC) element configured to determine location based on recognition of a near field communication tag having a known location.

[0185] 87. Further provided with a location memory service, To store the location of the aerosol delivery device, the device is configured to send the location of the aerosol delivery device to a location storage service; 87. The system of any of clauses 79 to 86, wherein the device is configured to retrieve the last known location of the aerosol delivery device from a location storage service to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device.

[0186] 88. A system described in any of clauses 79 to 87, wherein the aerosol delivery device is configured to communicate the location of the aerosol delivery device to the user device via the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0187] 89. A system according to any of clauses 79 to 87, wherein the aerosol delivery device is configured to communicate the location of the aerosol delivery device to a user device via a mobile network.

[0188] 90. A system described in any of clauses 79 to 89, wherein the device is configured to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on a received location when the device and the aerosol delivery device are not in remote communication.

[0189] 91. Decorative design for a user device, such as a smartphone, as shown and described.

[0190] 92. A decorative design for a display screen or portion thereof having a graphical user interface, as shown and described.

Claims

1. 1. A method for tracking a location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method comprising: When the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in communication, determining the location of the aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device; Including, providing the indication comprises: displaying the last known location on a map on a user interface from a display of the user device; displaying a diagram of predetermined parameters of the aerosol delivery device on the map, the predetermined parameters including a shape of the aerosol delivery device; The method further comprises:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is a location determined using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the GNSS is selected from the group including Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined using Wi-Fi™ positioning, and the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined based on characteristics of nearby wireless access points.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the location of the aerosol delivery device is determined to be the location of the user device at the time the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in communication.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the method includes determining the location of the aerosol delivery device when the user device and the aerosol delivery device are communicating via a Bluetooth™ protocol.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising determining the position of the aerosol delivery device when the user device and the aerosol delivery device are physically connected to each other.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the physical connection comprises a wired connection.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the physical connection comprises a USB connection.

10. The predetermined parameters are: i) the color of the aerosol delivery device; ii) a model of the aerosol delivery device; iii) the type of the aerosol delivery device; iv) the status of the aerosol delivery device as to whether it is locked for use; and / or The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising any combination of: v) a state regarding whether the aerosol delivery device is unlocked for use.

11. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a diagram is displayed at the last known location on the map.

12. The method comprises: The method of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a step of enabling the request for the location of the aerosol delivery device to be made only in response to the user device logging in to a predetermined account associated with the aerosol delivery device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined account is password protected.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the step of enabling the user device to make the request for the location of the aerosol delivery device only in response to logging in to a predetermined account associated with the aerosol delivery device further comprises enabling the user device to make the request for the location of the aerosol delivery device only in response to logging in to a predetermined account associated with the aerosol delivery device via a user interface from a display of the user device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the user interface is part of an app.

16. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the user device comprises a smartphone.

17. 1. A method for tracking a location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method comprising: When the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in communication, determining the location of the aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device; The method comprises: The method further includes a step of allowing the user device to make the request for the location of the aerosol delivery device only in response to logging in to a predetermined account associated with the aerosol delivery device, the predetermined account being password protected.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication on a user interface from the user device.

19. 19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication on a user interface from a display of the user device.

20. providing the indication comprises: A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, comprising displaying the last known location on a map on a user interface from a display of the user device.

21. providing the indication comprises:

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying a diagram of the predetermined parameter of the aerosol delivery device on the map.

22. The predetermined parameters are: i) the color of the aerosol delivery device; ii) a model of the aerosol delivery device; iii) the type of the aerosol delivery device; iv) the shape of the aerosol delivery device; v) the status of the aerosol delivery device as to whether it is locked for use; and / or vi) a state regarding whether the aerosol delivery device is unlocked for use.

23. 1. A method for tracking a location of an aerosol delivery device by a user device, the method comprising: When the user device and the aerosol delivery device are in communication, determining the location of the aerosol delivery device; storing, by the user device, the location of the aerosol delivery device; and providing, by the user device, an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device based on the stored location in response to a request for the location of the aerosol delivery device at the user device; the request is made on a first portion of a user interface from a display of the user device; The method, wherein the display is provided on a second portion of the user interface, and the first portion of the user interface and the second portion of the user interface are not displayed simultaneously.

24. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first portion of the user interface further includes an indication of whether the aerosol delivery device is in communication with the user device.

25. the first portion of the user interface is adapted to connect the aerosol delivery device i) a first locked position; ii) a second unlocked position; and 25. The method of claim 23 or 24, further comprising a first selector for switching between

26. 26. The method of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the first portion of the user interface further comprises a second selector for controlling power delivered from the aerosol delivery device to the vaporizer as part of the operation of the vaporizer.

27. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second selector is configured to allow the user to switch the power delivered to the vaporizer between a plurality of different power settings.

28. The method of any one of claims 23 to 27, wherein the first portion of the user interface further comprises an indicator for indicating a remaining power level in a battery from the aerosol delivery device.

29. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the indicator is expressed as a percentage of the full capacity of the battery from the aerosol delivery device.

30. A user device configured to communicate with an aerosol delivery device, the user device comprising a user interface from a display of the user device, the user interface comprising a first portion.

31. The user device of claim 30 , wherein the first portion of the user interface includes an indication of whether the aerosol delivery device is in communication with the user device.

32. the first portion of the user interface is adapted to connect the aerosol delivery device i) a first locked position; ii) a second unlocked position; and 32. A user device according to claim 30 or 31, further comprising a first selector for switching between:

33. 33. The user device of any one of claims 30 to 32, wherein the first portion of the user interface further comprises a second selector for controlling power delivered from the aerosol delivery device to the vaporizer as part of the operation of the vaporizer.

34. 34. The user device of claim 33, wherein the second selector is configured to allow the user to switch the power delivered to the vaporizer between a plurality of different power settings.

35. The user device of any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein the first portion of the user interface further comprises an indicator for indicating a remaining power level in a battery from the aerosol delivery device.

36. 36. The user device of claim 35, wherein the indicator is expressed as a percentage of the full capacity of the battery from the aerosol delivery device.

37. A user device according to any one of claims 30 to 36, wherein the user interface further comprises a second portion.

38. 38. The user device of claim 37, wherein the first portion of the user interface and the second portion of the user interface are configured to not be displayed simultaneously.

39. 39. A user device according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the second portion of the user interface is configured to be accessed from the first portion of the user interface.

40. 40. The user device of claim 39, wherein the second portion of the user interface is configured to be accessed from a button or icon from the first portion of the user interface.

41. The user device of any one of claims 37 to 40, wherein the second portion of the user interface is configured to provide an indication of the last known location of the aerosol delivery device.

42. 42. The user device of claim 41, wherein the last known location is displayed on a map from the second portion.

43. 43. The user device of claim 42, wherein the display further includes a diagram of predetermined parameters of the aerosol delivery device on the map.

44. The predetermined parameters are: i) the color of the aerosol delivery device; ii) a model of the aerosol delivery device; iii) the type of the aerosol delivery device; iv) the shape of the aerosol delivery device; v) the status of the aerosol delivery device as to whether it is locked for use; and / or vi) a status regarding whether the aerosol delivery device is unlocked for use; 44. The user device of claim 43, comprising any combination of:

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