Aerosol supply system with transaction function

Abstract

A device component for the aerosol delivery system includes a speaker operable to emit an acoustic signal, and a controller, the controller configured to provide a drive signal to the speaker that is encoded with payment entity information related to a payment entity associated with a user, causing the speaker to emit an acoustic signal that carries the payment entity information for detection by a point-of-sale payment transaction system.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery system or portion thereof having transaction functionality, and a method for conducting a transaction using an aerosol delivery system. [Background technology]

[0002] Aerosol delivery systems are often small, handheld devices that users typically carry with them to access the provided aerosol whenever needed or desired. While some systems are quite simple, more modern systems include a processor or controller for controlling the operation of the system to provide optimized and adjustable aerosol generation. To this end, the controller may include software. Thus, the aerosol delivery system may be easily adaptable for expansion of its functionality by modifying the controller and any programming associated with the controller to enable the system to perform additional functions. While the system is likely to be carried by the user at all times, features related to the user's typical behavior and requirements may be usefully incorporated into the aerosol delivery system so that they are easily accessible to the user at all times.

[0003] Therefore, techniques for configuring aerosol delivery systems for extended function are important. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a device component for an aerosol delivery system, the device component comprising: a speaker operable to emit an acoustic signal; and a controller, the controller configured to provide a drive signal to the speaker, the drive signal being encoded with payment entity information relating to a payment entity associated with a user, to cause the speaker to emit the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information for detection by a point-of-sale payment transaction system.

[0005] According to a second aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol delivery system comprising a device component according to the first aspect.

[0006] According to a third aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method for effecting a payment transaction, the method including generating a drive signal for a speaker in an aerosol delivery system encoded with payment entity information related to a payment entity associated with a user; providing the drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information; detecting the acoustic signal at a point of sale system; and extracting the payment entity information from the acoustic signal.

[0007] These and further aspects of particular embodiments are set forth in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. It will be understood that features of the dependent claims may be combined with each other and with features of the independent claims in combination with features other than those explicitly set forth in the claims. Furthermore, the approaches described herein are not limited to specific embodiments such as those described below, but include and contemplate any suitable combination of features presented herein. For example, an aerosol delivery system, or portion thereof, or related method may be suitably provided by the approaches described herein including any one or more of the various features described below.

[0008] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary electronic aerosol delivery system in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a first example of device components for an aerosol delivery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus for conducting electronic financial transactions using an aerosol delivery system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart of steps in an exemplary method of conducting an electronic financial transaction using an aerosol delivery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a second example of a device component for an aerosol delivery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Aspects and features of particular examples and embodiments are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of particular examples and embodiments may be conventionally implemented and, for purposes of brevity, will not be discussed / described in detail. Accordingly, it will be understood that aspects and features of the apparatus and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail may be implemented by any conventional technique for implementing such aspects and features.

[0011] As mentioned above, the present disclosure relates to aerosol or vapor delivery systems, including (but not limited to) electronic systems such as e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" and "electronic cigarette" may be used, but it will be understood that these terms can be used interchangeably with aerosol (vapor) delivery systems. The systems are intended to generate an inhalable aerosol by evaporation of a substrate (aerosol-forming material) in liquid or gel form, which may or may not contain nicotine. Additionally, hybrid systems may include a solid substrate that is further heated in addition to the liquid or gel substrate. The solid substrate may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. As used herein, the terms "aerosol-forming material" and "aerosolizable material" are intended to refer to a material capable of forming an aerosol by application of heat or some other means. The term "aerosol" can be used interchangeably with "vapor."

[0012] As used herein, the terms "system" and "delivery system" encompass systems that deliver substances to a user and are intended to include non-combustion aerosol delivery systems that release compounds from aerosolizable materials without burning them, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems that generate aerosols using a combination of aerosolizable materials, as well as articles that comprise aerosolizable materials and are configured for use in one of these non-combustion aerosol delivery systems. According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustion" aerosol delivery system is one in which the constituent aerosolizable materials of the aerosol delivery system (or its components) are not burned or combusted to facilitate delivery to the user. In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustion aerosol delivery system, such as a powered non-combustion aerosol delivery system. In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery (END) system, although it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolizable material is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that generates the aerosol using a combination of aerosolizable materials, and may also heat one or more of the aerosolizable materials. Each of the aerosolizable materials may be, for example, in solid, liquid, or gel form, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosolizable material and a solid aerosolizable material. The solid aerosolizable material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0013] Typically, a non-combustible aerosol delivery system can include a non-combustible aerosol delivery device and an article (consumable) for use with the non-combustible aerosol delivery device. However, it is contemplated that an article that itself includes an aerosol generator or a means for powering an aerosol-generating component can itself form a non-combustible aerosol delivery system. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol delivery device can include a power source and a controller. The power source can be, for example, an electrical source. In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol delivery device can include an aerosol-generating component (aerosol generator), an aerosol-generating region, a mouthpiece, and / or a region for receiving the aerosol-generating material.

[0014] In some systems, the aerosol-generating component or aerosol generator comprises a heater capable of interacting with the aerosolizable material to liberate one or more volatile substances from the aerosolizable material and form an aerosol, although the present disclosure is not limited in this respect and also applies to systems that use other techniques to form the aerosol, such as a vibrating mesh.

[0015] In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-burning aerosol delivery device can comprise an aerosolizable material or an area for receiving an aerosolizable material. In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-burning aerosol delivery device can comprise a mouthpiece. The area for receiving an aerosolizable material can be a storage area for storing the aerosolizable material. For example, the storage area can be a reservoir. In some embodiments, the area for receiving an aerosolizable material can be separate from the aerosol-generation area or can be combined with the aerosol-generation area.

[0016] As used herein, the term "component" can be used to refer to a portion, section, unit, module, assembly, etc., of an electronic cigarette or similar device, which incorporates several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an external housing or outer wall. An aerosol delivery system, such as an electronic cigarette, can be formed or constructed from one or more such components, such as articles and devices, which can be detachably or separably connectable to one another or can be permanently joined together during manufacturing to define the entire system. The present disclosure is applicable (but not limited to) to systems comprising two detachably connectable components, configured, for example, as an article in the form of an aerosolizable material carrying component (alternatively referred to as a cartridge, cartomizer, pod, or consumable) that holds a liquid or other aerosolizable material, and a device having a battery or other power source to provide power to operate the aerosol generating component or aerosol generator to produce a vapor / aerosol from the aerosolizable material. A component may include more or fewer parts than those included in the examples.

[0017] In some examples, the present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems and components thereof that utilize aerosolizable material in liquid or gel form, where the aerosolizable material is held in a storage area, such as a reservoir, tank, container, or other receptacle, included in the system, or absorbed into a carrier substrate. Apparatus is included for delivering the material from the reservoir to provide the material to an aerosol generator for vapor / aerosol generation. Terms such as "liquid," "gel," "fluid," "source liquid," "source gel," and "source fluid" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "aerosol-generating material," "aerosolizable substrate material," and "substrate material" to refer to materials having a form that can be stored and delivered by examples of the present disclosure.

[0018] 1 is a highly schematic illustration (not to scale) of a generic, exemplary electronic aerosol / vapor delivery system, such as an e-cigarette 10, in which aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented, presented for the purposes of illustrating the relationships between various parts of a typical system and explaining general principles of operation. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to systems configured in this manner, and features may be modified in accordance with various options and definitions discussed above and / or apparent to those skilled in the art. The e-cigarette 10, in this example, has a generally elongated shape, extends along a longitudinal axis indicated by a dashed line, and comprises two main components: a device 20 (a control or power component, section, or unit) and an article or consumable 30 (a cartridge assembly or section, sometimes referred to as a cartomizer or clearomizer) that operates to deliver aerosol-generating material and generate vapor / aerosol.

[0019] The article 30 includes a storage area, such as a reservoir 3, containing a liquid feedstock or other aerosol-generating material, including a nicotine-containing liquid or gel formulation from which an aerosol is generated. By way of example, the liquid feedstock may contain approximately 1% to 3% nicotine and 50% glycerin, with the remainder consisting of approximately equal amounts of water and propylene glycol, and possibly other components, such as flavoring. A nicotine-free liquid feedstock may also be used, such as for delivering flavoring. It may also contain a solid substrate (not shown), such as tobacco or other flavoring elements, through which vapor generated from the liquid passes. The reservoir 3 may have the form of a storage tank, a container or receptacle in which the liquid feedstock can be stored, allowing for free movement and flow of the liquid within the tank. For consumable products, the reservoir 3 may be sealed after filling during manufacture so that the liquid feedstock is disposable after consumption; otherwise, the reservoir 3 may have an inlet port or other opening through which a user can add new liquid feedstock. Article 30 also includes an aerosol generator 5, which in this example constitutes an aerosol-generating component, and may take the form of an electrically powered heating element or heater 4 and an aerosol-generating material transfer component 6. The heater 4 is located external to the reservoir 3 and is operable to generate an aerosol by heating and vaporizing a source liquid. The aerosol-generating material transfer component 6 is a transfer or delivery device configured to transfer the aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 3 to the heater 4. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material transfer component 6 may take the form of a wick or other porous element. The wick 6 may have one or more portions located within the reservoir 3 or may otherwise be in fluid communication with the liquid in the reservoir 3, thereby absorbing the source liquid and transferring it by wicking or capillary action to other portions of the wick 6 adjacent to or in contact with the heater 4. The liquid is then heated and vaporized, and replacement liquid is drawn from the reservoir 3 by the wick 6 via continued capillary action and transferred to the heater 4.The wick can be thought of as a conduit between the reservoir 3 and the heater 4 that delivers or transfers liquid from the reservoir to the heater. In some designs, the heater 4 and the aerosol-generating material transfer component 6 are unitary or monolithic and formed from the same material that can be used for both liquid transfer and heating, such as a material that is both porous and conductive. In still other cases, the aerosol-generating material transfer component can operate by other than capillary action, such as by including an arrangement of one or more valves that allow liquid to enter the reservoir 3 and proceed to the heater 4.

[0020] The combination of heater and wick (or similar), referred to herein as aerosol generator 5, may be referred to as an atomizer or atomizer assembly, and the atomizer, together with the reservoir containing the feed liquid, may be collectively referred to as an aerosol source. Various designs are possible, and these parts may be arranged differently compared to the highly schematic representation in FIG. 1 . For example, as noted above, wick 6 may be a completely separate element from heater 4, or heater 4 may be porous and configured to perform at least part of the wicking function directly (e.g., a metal mesh). If the system is electronic, heater 4 may comprise one or more electric heating elements operating by ohmic / resistive (Joule) heating, although induction heating may also be used, in which case the heater comprises a susceptor within an induction heating device. Thus, generally, in this context, an atomizer or aerosol generator can be considered to be one or more elements that implement the functions of a vapor-generating element capable of generating vapor by heating a source liquid (or other aerosol-generating material) delivered thereto, and a liquid transport or delivery element capable of delivering or transporting liquid from a reservoir or similar liquid store to the vapor-generating element by wicking / capillary forces or otherwise. The aerosol generator is typically housed within article 30 of the aerosol generation system, as in FIG. 1 , although in some examples, at least the heater portion can also be housed within device 20. Embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to any such configuration consistent with the examples and descriptions herein.

[0021] Referring again to FIG. 1, article 30 also includes a mouthpiece or mouthpiece portion 35 having an opening or air outlet through which a user can inhale the aerosol produced by heater 4 .

[0022] The device 20 includes a cell or battery 7 (hereafter referred to as the battery, which may or may not be rechargeable) to provide power to the electrical components of the e-cigarette 10, particularly to operate the heater 4. Additionally, there is a controller 8, such as a printed circuit board and / or other electronics or circuitry, for controlling the e-cigarette as a whole. The controller may include a processor programmed with software, which may be modifiable by a user of the system. The control electronics / circuitry 8 uses power from the battery 7 to operate the heater 4 when vapor is needed. At this point, the user inhales on the system 10 through the mouthpiece 35, with air A entering through one or more air inlets 9 in the wall of the device 20 (alternatively, or in addition, the air inlets may be located in the article 30). When the heater 4 is operated, it vaporizes the feedstock liquid delivered from the reservoir 3 by the aerosol-generating material delivery component 6, generating an aerosol by entraining the vapor in the air flowing through the system, which is then inhaled by the user through an opening in the mouthpiece 35. When the user inhales into the mouthpiece 35, the aerosol is transported from the aerosol generator 5 to the mouthpiece 35 along one or more air channels (not shown) connecting the air inlet 9 to the aerosol generator 5 and then to the air outlet.

[0023] More generally, controller 8 is suitably configured / programmed to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments and examples of the present disclosure described further herein, as well as to provide conventional operational functions of the aerosol delivery system in accordance with established techniques for controlling such devices. Controller 8 can be thought of as logically comprising various subunits / circuit elements associated with different aspects of the operation of the aerosol delivery system in accordance with the principles described herein, such as display driver circuitry for the system, which may include a user display such as a screen or indicator lights, and detection of user input via one or more user-actuable controls 12, as well as other conventional operational aspects of the aerosol delivery system. It will be appreciated that the functionality of controller 8 can be provided in a variety of different ways, for example, using one or more suitably programmed programmable computers configured to provide the desired functionality and / or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuits / circuits / chips / chipsets.

[0024] Device 20 and article 30 are separate, connectable parts that are detachable from one another by separation in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axes, as indicated by the double-headed arrow in FIG. 1 . Components 20, 30 are joined together by cooperating engaging elements 21, 31 (e.g., screws or bayonet fittings) that provide a mechanical and possibly electrical connection between device 20 and article 30 when device 20 is in use. The electrical connection is required when heater 4 operates by ohmic heating, so that current can be passed through heater 4 when connected to battery 5. In systems using induction heating, the electrical connection can be omitted if the power-requiring parts are not located within article 30. An induction workcoil can be housed within device 20 and powered by battery 5, with article 30 and device 20 being shaped so that heater 4 is appropriately exposed to the magnetic flux generated by the coil when connected, for the purpose of generating current flow within the heater material. The design of FIG. 1 is merely an exemplary arrangement, and various portions and features may be distributed differently between device 20 and article 30 and may include other components and elements. The two sections may be connected end-to-end in a longitudinal configuration, as in FIG. 1 , or may be connected in a different configuration, such as a parallel side-by-side arrangement. The system may or may not be generally cylindrical and / or have a generally longitudinal shape. One or both sections or components may be intended to be disposed of and replaced when depleted (e.g., when the reservoir is empty or the battery is dead), or may be intended to be enabled for multiple uses by actions such as refilling the reservoir and recharging the battery. In other examples, system 10 may be unitary in that portions of device 20 and article 30 are contained within a single housing and cannot be separated. The embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are applicable to any of these configurations and others recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0025] According to the present disclosure, an aerosol delivery system, in addition to being configured to generate aerosol, is configured with the capability to enable a user to conduct financial transactions. A user typically carries the aerosol delivery system with them all or most of the time and is likely to have it in hand when making purchases at a retail store. Therefore, to facilitate payments for the user, it is proposed to configure the aerosol delivery system to retain information related to payment entities belonging to the user or authorized for use or access by the user and enable the system to exchange information with a point-of-sale system. In this way, the user does not need to carry other items or devices to facilitate payments, such as credit and debit cards, mobile phones enabled with a payment app, or cash. Such devices, which store information related to cards or financial accounts and thereby enable electronic devices to conduct financial transactions instead of physical payment cards, can be referred to as “electronic wallets” or “e-wallets.”

[0026] In particular, it is proposed that the aerosol delivery system be configured to enable financial transactions through the use of audio signals, and that the aerosol delivery system communicates with a point-of-sale system installed, for example, in a retail store, through audio signals. Traditionally, payment cards, such as debit and credit cards, must be physically contacted with a point-of-sale terminal to enable the point-of-sale system to "read" or obtain relevant information stored therein. The point-of-sale system then uses this information to carry out the necessary financial transaction to enable the purchase, in other words, to deduct the purchase price of the goods purchased by the user from financial assets (credit or debit balances) associated with the user and held by a bank or other financial institution. More recently, this payment process has been complemented by so-called "contactless payments," in which the user simply holds the payment card near the point-of-sale terminal to enable the terminal to obtain the required information and enable the purchase. As well as offering advantages such as ease, speed and simplicity over physical contact card readers, contactless payment has allowed the payment mechanism to be separated from the actual payment card and instead implemented in an electronic device which holds the same relevant information and can exchange that information with a point-of-sale terminal when the device is held near the terminal. Mobile phones are commonly used for this purpose.

[0027] Near Field Communication (NFC) is a technology standard commonly used to enable contactless payments. NFC includes a set of communication protocols for enabling communication between two NFC-enabled entities via radio frequencies over very small distances of 4 cm or less. In the case of contactless payments, a point-of-sale terminal is configured as an NFC entity capable of reading information from an NFC tag on a payment card that stores relevant information needed for a payment, or communicating with an NFC-enabled electronic device, such as a mobile phone, to receive relevant information from a contactless payment app on the electronic device. NFC does not use encryption for the communication channel between the two entities, as the extreme physical proximity required is considered to provide sufficient security. However, any unencrypted communication is necessarily subject to some risk of interception. Furthermore, appropriate compatibility, software drivers, etc. are required for a mobile phone to be used for this purpose.

[0028] An alternative technology for contactless payments is Bluetooth®, a wireless technology standard that uses ultra-high frequency waves to exchange data, such as payment data, between two paired devices, such as mobile phones and point-of-sale terminals, over distances of up to approximately 10 meters. The significantly longer range compared to NFC means that various channel encryptions are used to protect Bluetooth communications, which is obviously important when financial data needs to be exchanged. Encryption can consume a significant amount of power and therefore can affect the battery life of portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones. Electronic devices must also be configured to be Bluetooth compatible in this way.

[0029] If the aerosol delivery device is configured to enable payment transactions via these standards in the same way as a mobile phone, various requirements of NFC and / or Bluetooth will need to be met by the aerosol delivery device.

[0030] The use of voice signals instead of NFC or Bluetooth for contactless payment with an aerosol delivery device offers various advantages and avoids several potential problems. Generating and receiving voice signals is a straightforward technique that can be implemented using simple components that are readily available and inexpensive, and can be small so as not to take up too much valuable space within a handheld portable device. The software required to operate via voice signal communication can also be simple and compact, so it does not require large storage space within the device's memory or large power requirements to run. This is important in portable devices where maximum battery life is an important characteristic for users. The more complex software and operating system compatibility required to enable a device to use NFC or Bluetooth is avoided.

[0031] For security reasons, which are important for applications involving the exchange of financial data, the voice signal (or voice transmission channel) can be simply encrypted using existing established encryption methods, for example asymmetric cryptography. This is attractive compared to the unencrypted communication of NFC. Compared to the more complex encryption techniques required for Bluetooth, power consumption and associated battery consumption can be much smaller, eliminating the need for compatibility with more detailed encryption. Because aerosol generation can consume relatively large amounts of power and battery capacity is necessarily limited in portable devices, providing a low-power contactless payment technique is particularly attractive for aerosol delivery systems.

[0032] As discussed above, an aerosol delivery system can include device components housing a power supply (battery) and a controller or processor for controlling the system coupled to an article, cartridge, or consumable component containing a source of aerosol-generating substrate material that is vaporized to generate the required aerosol. For practical, cost, and environmental reasons, longer-lasting parts of the system tend to be housed within the device for multiple uses over a long operational life, while shorter-lasting parts are housed within consumables that are periodically replaced. According to the present disclosure, parts related to audio signal communication are proposed to be located within the device for long-term use and security, since sensitive data is required. However, this is not a limiting arrangement; some or all of these parts could be located within the consumable in a two-part system, or the system could be a one-part design in which the cartridge cannot be removed from the device. Therefore, the following description showing audio components within an aerosol generation system device is exemplary and not limiting; various parts can be otherwise distributed within the system.

[0033] 2 shows a highly schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary device or device component for an aerosol delivery system configured for audio signal communication for the purpose of effecting a transaction. It should be noted that in this disclosure, the terms "audio" and "acoustic" can be used interchangeably to refer to the use of sound and sound waves, and the terms "audio signal" and "acoustic signal" refer to sound waves (sound waves shaped in some way to encode information) purposefully configured to carry specified information from an audio or sound source or transmitter to an audio or sound detector or receiver over a specified communication channel.

[0034] In FIG. 2, device 20 includes a housing 20a having a coupling arrangement 21 to allow for joining or connecting items or consumable components to device 20 to create a complete aerosol delivery system, as previously described in FIG. 1. Located within housing 20a are battery 7 and controller 8, with controller 8 configured to control operation of the aerosol generation system, including providing power from battery 7 to the system's electrical components as needed. Other elements of the device that are not relevant to this disclosure but may be present are omitted for clarity. Associated with controller 8 is memory or data storage element 14. Memory 14 stores software executed by the controller to operate the aerosol delivery system and also stores various data or information representing values ​​required for the execution of the software, such as power level settings for running the heating elements. In some cases, these may be preset values ​​provided during manufacture for the controller to access when needed. In other cases, data may be entered by the device user to customize or personalize the system. Such data may be entered directly into the device via a user input interface (not shown), such as a touchscreen, or may be communicated to the device from an external device, such as a computer or smartphone, via a wired or wireless communication connection (the device is enabled with an appropriate connection, also not shown). In particular, according to the present disclosure, the memory stores payment entity information 15 relating to payment entities associated with users of the system.

[0035] A payment entity can be any physical or abstract item that allows a financial institution or organization or other facility enabled to oversee financial transactions to control or access a financial balance or asset associated with a user and that the user expects or intends to utilize or use for a purchase. Examples of payment entities include debit cards, credit cards, other payment cards such as gift cards or vouchers, or prepaid cards, bank or building society accounts (current or savings accounts), credit or debit balances, or other designated capital or monetary funds. Payment entity information related to a payment entity is data or information that allows a financial institution to identify or locate the payment entity in order to deduct the purchase price associated with the purchase from the financial balance associated with the user. By way of example, in the case of a debit card, credit card, or other card type, payment entity information includes the card number. In the case of a bank account, payment entity information includes the account number and bank routing number for the account.

[0036] The device also includes a speaker 16 operable in a conventional manner to emit an acoustic signal 22 when provided with an appropriate electrical drive signal via control line 18. The speaker is a passive electrical element operated solely by the drive signal and does not require an additional power supply. It is therefore a useful component for enabling the aerosol delivery system to emit communication signals, and it is generally desirable to conserve battery power where possible. Depending on the amplitude (volume) and frequency of the emitted acoustic signal, the speaker 16 can be mounted behind a suitable opening or window (not shown) in the housing 20a so that the housing material does not attenuate the acoustic signal. In other cases, the acoustic signal 22 is strong enough to transmit through the housing 20a so that a window is not required, simplifying construction and protecting the speaker 22 from physical damage. While the speaker 16 can be located anywhere convenient within the housing 20a, it is useful to give some consideration to its location so that a user holding the device is less likely to block the emitted acoustic signal 22 with their hand and more likely to emit the acoustic signal in the direction of a receiver (microphone) within the point-of-sale terminal.

[0037] A drive signal for speaker 16 is generated by controller 8, the drive signal being a conventional electrical signal for driving a speaker comprising a voltage / current applied to the speaker to move a diaphragm therein and cause it to emit sound. Controller 8 retrieves payment entity information 15 stored in memory 14 and encodes it in the drive signal, such that when driven by the drive signal, speaker 16 emits a varying acoustic signal with payment entity information 15 embedded therein, from which a receiving entity with knowledge of the encoding scheme used can determine or extract the payment entity information 15. Acoustic signal 22 thus carries payment entity information and enables it to be transmitted from the aerosol generating system to the point-of-sale terminal.

[0038] The controller 8 can read the payment entity information 15 when it is first stored in the memory 14 (or when it first needs to be transmitted), generate the associated drive signal, and then store the drive signal in the memory 14. In this way, the drive signal is immediately available when it needs to be transmitted to conduct a transaction. The drive signal itself can then be thought of as stored payment entity information relating to the payment entity associated with the user. Alternatively, the controller 8 can read the payment entity information 15 each time a transaction is to be conducted and generate the drive signal on demand. This is computationally more expensive, but allows other information to be included in the drive signal and acoustic signal if and when needed.

[0039] The payment entity information 15 can be encoded in the drive signal, and thus in the audio signal, in any manner. Amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, or a combination of the two can be used, so that the audio signal varies in volume and / or pitch to reflect the embedded payment entity information. The overall frequency range can also be selected according to preference, e.g., to make the audio signal more or less perceptible to a listener. For example, one or more frequencies within the range of human hearing, generally defined as 20 Hz to 20 kHz, can be used. The use of audio frequencies, particularly in the central portion of this range (e.g., 200 Hz to 2 kHz), allows the user to perceive that the payment entity information has been transmitted—in other words, that the aerosol delivery system is functioning correctly and the transaction should therefore be completed. However, in busy retail environments, multiple audible audio signals may be considered undesirable or distracting. Therefore, the audio signal can be pitched within an inaudible frequency range, such as below 20 Hz (infrasound or infrasound) or above 20 kHz (ultrasonic frequency or ultrasound).

[0040] To achieve this, the controller 8 is provided with details of a suitable acoustic encoding scheme which it applies to embed the payment entity information into the drive signal for operating the speaker 16. The point of sale system is also provided with details of the scheme so that it can extract the payment entity information from the received acoustic signal.

[0041] As mentioned above, encryption can also be applied to the actuation signal, so that the transmitted acoustic signal cannot be easily read, even if it is intercepted en route to the point-of-sale terminal. This helps protect the personal financial data represented by the payment entity information. Known asymmetric encryption techniques are suitable for this and are attractive as they are established, straightforward, and therefore do not impose a computational burden and therefore do not consume battery power. However, other encryption techniques can be used if preferred. The controller uses a key for encryption that is known to or derivable / obtainable by the point-of-sale system so that the received acoustic signal can be decoded. Note that encryption can be applied to the payment entity information, so that the encrypted form of the payment entity information is then encoded or converted into the actuation signal and, consequently, into the acoustic signal. Alternatively, encryption can be applied to the actuation signal after it is generated to reflect the unencrypted payment entity information. Either approach can be used when convenient or practical, or considered most secure. For example, encryption of the actuation signal may be preferred if an encryption scheme with a constantly updated key is utilized. This is because this allows a pre-generated and stored form of the drive signal to be retrieved from memory each time a transaction is made and then encrypted using the current key. As the key structure evolves, the controller can be provided with new keys via software updates or with software that can create new keys as needed. Any convenient encryption scheme can be used to protect the payment entity information if desired, and those skilled in the art will be able to implement suitable techniques.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an overall apparatus for implementing a transaction using an aerosol delivery system configured as described herein. The apparatus includes an aerosol delivery system 10 configured to transmit audio signals and a terminal 40 of a point-of-sale transaction system S. The terminal 40 and transaction system S can be configured in a variety of ways, such as a dedicated commercial system in a store, restaurant, entertainment venue, or the like, where the terminal 40 is configured exclusively or primarily to enable transactions, or a smaller system where a second user's electronic device, such as a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop computer, provides the terminal functionality and possibly some of the transaction system capabilities as well. The terminal effectively corresponds to, for example, a card reader terminal in a conventional contact and / or contactless payment system using NFC. In practice, the terminal 40 can be further configured for conventional contact and contactless payment, directly reading an inserted payment card and / or obtaining payment entity information via NFC from a presented card or electronic device, such as a mobile phone. This increases the flexibility of the payment system and the number of payment options available to users. Terminal 40 is connected in the usual way (wirelessly or via a wired connection) to a financial transaction system configured to implement payments made by users of the system. The financial value of the transaction is entered into terminal 40 (e.g., by a payment operator or by transmission from a till system), and terminal 40 also receives the user's payment entity information, in this case from the user's aerosol delivery system 10. These two pieces of data are communicated to transaction system S, which implements the appropriate debit from the user's financial assets. The amount to be debited is passed to an account, balance, or financial asset of the payee of the transaction, typically the entity (shop, restaurant, etc.) also operating point-of-sale terminal 40, so that the payee's identity and account details are known to transaction system S. Otherwise, payee information can also be entered into terminal 40 for communication to the transaction system.

[0043] Terminal 40 may include a display screen 42 for presenting information related to the transaction to the user. This information may include, for example, the value of the transaction so that the user can verify its accuracy before making the payment, instructions on how to implement the payment, including how to implement the payment using the aerosol delivery system using voice communication, and an indication of whether the transaction was successfully completed. Terminal 40 also includes an acoustic receiver or sensor 44 (typically a microphone) capable of detecting acoustic signals 22 emitted by aerosol delivery system 10. Terminal 40 includes a processor or controller (not shown) configured to process the received and detected acoustic signals 22. This may include decrypting and decoding the acoustic signals 22 to extract payment entity information, which is then transmitted to system S for transaction implementation. Alternatively, only one of encryption or decryption may be performed at the terminal, or neither may be performed; the acoustic signals may be transmitted to system S in a partially processed or entirely unprocessed form, with processing to obtain the payment entity information being performed by the system itself, typically located on a server remote from the retail store where terminal 40 is located.

[0044] System operation is discussed next. When a user desires to conduct a payment transaction, the operator of the payment / sales system activates the terminal so that the terminal is ready to receive or accept input of payment entity information to effectuate the payment. The user operates aerosol delivery system 10 to emit the required acoustic signal. This can be done, for example, by activating, operating, or actuating user input element 12 on aerosol delivery system 10, thereby sending a signal to the controller of aerosol delivery system 10 indicating that payment entity information is required. User input element 12 can be a button, switch, touch control, voice input, or any other convenient element, as desired. User input element 12 can be a user input element 12 dedicated to effecting the payment or can be a multi-function user input element configured for other user input interactions with aerosol delivery system 10. Other techniques can also be used to trigger the emission of the acoustic signal. For example, aerosol delivery system 10 may be configured to receive a signal (acoustic or otherwise) from terminal 40 that instructs aerosol delivery system 10 to begin emitting an acoustic signal, or aerosol delivery system 10 may include a proximity sensor (not shown) that is capable of detecting when the aerosol delivery system is within a certain distance range of terminal 40 when it is deemed appropriate to emit an acoustic signal. Other methods apparent to those skilled in the art may also be used.

[0045] After aerosol delivery system 10 receives an instruction that an acoustic signal is required to validate a payment transaction, the controller functions to provide a drive signal, encoded with payment entity information, to the speaker of aerosol delivery system 10. Accordingly, the speaker is caused to emit acoustic signal 22. As discussed above, if the payment entity information is stored in memory within the aerosol delivery system, the drive signal can be generated on demand. The controller retrieves the payment entity information from memory in response to a payment transaction instruction and encodes it into a drive signal to generate the required drive signal. Alternatively, this generation can be performed in advance, with the drive signal also stored in memory. In this case, the controller retrieves the drive signal from memory and provides it to the speaker. In another alternative, rather than the payment entity information being stored in the aerosol delivery system, the drive signal itself can be generated externally, provided to the aerosol delivery system, and stored for use as needed. For example, a user's mobile phone, computing device, or other electronic device can be configured to access payment entity information, generate a drive signal from the payment entity information, and then deliver the drive signal to the aerosol delivery system as part of configuring the aerosol delivery system to conduct a payment transaction. This can simplify the computational processing that needs to be performed by the aerosol delivery system itself. The drive signal can be delivered wired or wirelessly (e.g., Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi, mobile telecommunications) via any communication device that requires the aerosol delivery system. As another example, the aerosol delivery system can be configured to receive acoustic signals in addition to transmitting them. In this case, the acoustic signal itself can be transmitted from an external device detected by the aerosol delivery system (such as a mobile phone inherently configured with its own speaker) and converted back into the original drive signal for storage and future delivery to the aerosol delivery system's speaker. Any device that creates and delivers the drive signal to the speaker can utilize encryption, if desired, as described above.

[0046] The acoustic signal 22 is emitted by a speaker in the aerosol delivery system, propagates to the terminal 40, and is detected by a microphone or other audio detector 44 at the terminal 40. Because the user is present and initially initiates the transaction, the aerosol delivery system 10 is expected to be relatively close to the terminal. For example, the aerosol delivery system 10 is likely to be within 1 meter or 50 cm of the terminal. Therefore, the acoustic signal 22 does not need to have a high volume to be recognized by the audio detector 44. However, to avoid confusion or interference with other sounds propagating near the terminal, the acoustic signal can be configured to include, for example, identifying information that indicates that the acoustic signal encodes payment entity information. Such information can be included, for example, in a header portion of the acoustic signal. The processor of the terminal 40 is then configured to find the header and thus know that the later detected sound contains the required acoustic signal. Similarly, the acoustic signal can include a footer portion with a signal indicating that the relevant portion of the acoustic signal carrying payment entity information has ended.

[0047] Alternatively, or in addition, the acoustic signal may occupy only a single frequency or a narrow frequency band, and the terminal may include one or more acoustic filters configured to separate the detected acoustic signal of this one or more frequencies from other detected sounds, such as background noise. Filtering may be achieved by dedicated filtering components or may be achieved during processing of the detected signal.

[0048] After the acoustic signal 22 is received by the terminal 40, the payment entity information encoded within the acoustic signal 22, along with other information needed to conduct the transaction, such as the financial value of the transaction, is passed by the terminal 40 to a main part of the payment system S. This can be done in accordance with existing methods used to implement payment transactions electronically. As discussed above, the payment entity information can be fully or partially extracted by the terminal 40 from the acoustic signal 22 and transmitted to a main part of the system S, or the raw acoustic signal data can be transmitted to the system S for remote processing and retrieval of the payment entity information.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of steps in an exemplary method for effecting a transaction according to the present disclosure. In step S1, a drive signal for a speaker within the aerosol delivery system is generated, the drive signal encoding payment entity information related to a payment entity associated with a user. As discussed above, generation of the drive signal can be performed on demand when a transaction is requested, or can be performed in advance, with the drive signal stored for later use. The drive signal can be generated by the aerosol delivery system itself, or can be generated externally and delivered to the aerosol delivery system for immediate or later use. In a second step S2, the drive signal is provided to the speaker within the aerosol delivery system in response to a transaction request. This request can be indicated to the aerosol delivery system, for example, by user action of a user input element or by receipt of a transaction trigger or initiation signal sent to the aerosol delivery system. In a next step S3, the speaker emits an acoustic signal conveying the payment entity information in response to the drive signal. In step S4, the acoustic signal is detected by a point of sale terminal of an electronic payment or transaction system operable to transmit a payment from the user's financial assets to the financial assets of the transaction's payee. Finally, in step S5, payment entity information is extracted from the acoustic signal. This can be done either by the point of sale terminal or the transaction system itself, or shared between the two. The retrieved payment entity information is then obtained by the transaction system in order to carry out the transaction.

[0050] The primary purpose of the acoustic signal is to deliver payment entity information to the transaction system. Thus, the acoustic signal encodes payment entity information. However, the acoustic signal is not so limited and may also encode other data or information related to the transaction that is available to the aerosol delivery system (either by itself or in the form of an already encoded speaker drive signal generated externally and provided to the aerosol delivery system). Such data may include, for example, the value of the transaction, other information about the user or payment entity, or information about the payee and the financial entity or assets of the payee. The data to be included may be selected according to the transaction procedures utilized by the transaction system.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of further exemplary device components, and as mentioned above, elements not relevant to the present disclosure have been omitted for clarity. Similar to the example of FIG. 2, device components 20 include a housing 20a within which are located a battery 7, a controller 8 having associated data storage 14 that stores payment entity information 15, and a speaker 16 connected to the controller to receive a drive signal to cause the speaker 16 to emit an acoustic signal 22. In addition, device components also include an acoustic detector 17, such as a microphone, also housed within housing 20a and connected to the controller. This enables device 20 to engage in two-way acoustic communication, as microphone 17 can detect an incoming acoustic signal 23 transmitted from an external entity and transmit the detected acoustic signal to controller 8 for processing. The detected acoustic signal can carry encoded data or information, and processing by controller 8 can extract the information and use it to control the aerosol delivery system. Usefully, the same coding scheme used to encode the payment entity information 15 into the outgoing acoustic signal 22 can be used for the incoming acoustic signal. This provides simplicity and reduces the amount of coding instructions required by the controller 8. However, if preferred, different schemes can be used for the outgoing and incoming communication channels. Similarly, the incoming acoustic signals 23 can be encrypted, as discussed with respect to the outgoing signal 22, and the controller 8 can be configured to decode them.

[0052] In this example, the speaker 16 and microphone 17 are each positioned behind a window 25 in the wall of the housing 20a, which reduces attenuation of the acoustic signals 22, 23. These windows may, for example, be simple openings, or may be covered with a grill, mesh, etc., or may include multiple holes.

[0053] When used to conduct or prepare a transaction, or configured for a transaction capability, the aerosol delivery system can receive an acoustic signal from an external electronic device, such as a mobile phone. The aerosol delivery system can also receive an acoustic signal from a point-of-sale terminal when a transaction is being conducted. For example, the point-of-sale terminal can emit a start or commencement signal when a transaction is set up and the terminal is ready to receive an acoustic signal carrying payment entity information. When the aerosol delivery system receives the start signal, it prepares the speaker to emit the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information by providing a drive signal to the speaker. As another example, the point-of-sale terminal can send an acoustic acknowledgment signal to the aerosol delivery device to notify it that it has successfully received the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information. In addition, the point-of-sale terminal can send a negative acknowledgment signal to the aerosol delivery device if the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information is not successfully received within the expected time frame, for example, if it is not received at all, if it is only partially received, or if it cannot be decoded, decrypted, or is otherwise corrupted. In response, the aerosol delivery system controller can cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal conveying the payment entity information a second or additional time. Additionally, the point of sale terminal can receive a message from the transaction system indicating the overall success or failure of the transaction. The point of sale terminal can emit a corresponding acoustic signal to communicate an indication of success or failure to the aerosol delivery device, which acoustic signal is detected by microphone 17 and passed to controller 8 for decoding. Device 20 can further include a user output element 27 that can be activated by the controller to communicate the outcome of the transaction to the user. For example, the user output element can include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light sources that can be illuminated to indicate the outcome, e.g., a green (or first color) LED is illuminated to indicate success and a red (or second color) LED is illuminated to indicate failure.Alternatively, a single LED may be illuminated to indicate success and left unilluminated to indicate failure, or a different sequence of pulses or flashes may be used. The user output element may alternatively be a screen capable of displaying information for presentation to the user. In another example, an external electronic device, such as the user's mobile phone, may be utilized as the user output element, with device 20 transmitting a wireless signal (such as via Bluetooth) to the external electronic device to cause the external electronic device to indicate or communicate the outcome of the transaction to the user.

[0054] Alternatively, if speaker 16 is used for this purpose, the need for a separate user output element may be eliminated. The controller may generate, or provide to, a suitable drive signal (e.g., stored in memory 14) to cause the speaker to emit a sound indicating the outcome of the transaction to the user. Such a sound may be a series of one or more tones or beeps traditionally associated with success and failure, or a simple melody, or noise (e.g., a "fanfare" and a "buzz"), or spoken words. This may also be implemented in response to a notification of success or failure from the point-of-sale terminal upon initial receipt and processing of the acoustic signal.

[0055] The aerosol delivery system may be configured to alternatively receive information regarding the transaction from a point of sale terminal by other means, while still using various options for the user output elements described above.

[0056] Additionally, the speaker can be used to transmit spoken commands, instructions, and information to the user, which can be used to guide the user through the transaction, for example, when an audio signal carrying payment entity information has been successfully transmitted, how to optimally present the aerosol delivery system at the point of sale terminal, and to inform the user whether the transaction was successfully completed.

[0057] 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 intended to be exhaustive and / or exclusive. It is understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered limitations on the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims, or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and 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.

Claims

1. 1. A device component for an aerosol delivery system, comprising: a speaker operable to emit an acoustic signal; Controller and wherein the controller: a device component configured to provide a drive signal to the speaker, the drive signal being encoded with payment entity information relating to a payment entity associated with a user, causing the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information for detection by a point-of-sale payment transaction system.

2. Further comprising a data storage for storing the payment entity information; 2. The device component for an aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the drive signal by encoding the payment entity information into the drive signal.

3. 3. A device component for an aerosol generation system as described in claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to store the drive signal in the data storage for later supply to the speaker.

4. 4. A device component for an aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller is further configured to encrypt the drive signal using a key associated with the point of sale system before providing the drive signal to the speaker.

5. 4. A device component for an aerosol delivery system as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the controller is further configured to encrypt the payment entity information before encoding the payment entity information into the drive signal.

6. 6. A device component for an aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drive signal is configured to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information in an ultrasonic frequency range.

7. A device component for an aerosol delivery system described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drive signal is configured to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information within an audible frequency range.

8. A device component for an aerosol delivery system described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device component further comprises a user input element, and in response to activation of the user input element by the user, the controller causes the speaker to emit the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information.

9. 9. A device component for an aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the device component further comprises a microphone operable to detect an acoustic signal and deliver the detected acoustic signal to the controller.

10. 10. The device component for an aerosol delivery system of claim 9, wherein the microphone is operable to detect and deliver an acoustic signal carrying information emitted by a point-of-sale system.

11. 11. The device component for an aerosol delivery system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the speaker to emit the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information in response to detecting an acoustic signal from the point of sale system.

12. 12. A device component for an aerosol delivery system as described in claim 10 or 11, wherein the controller is further configured to recognize detection of an acoustic signal from the point of sale system carrying information regarding the outcome of a payment transaction.

13. 13. The device component for an aerosol delivery system of claim 12, wherein the information regarding the outcome of the payment transaction includes any of an indication that the point of sale system successfully received the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information, an indication that the point of sale system failed to receive the acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information, an indication that the payment transaction was successfully matched, and an indication that the payment transaction was not successfully completed.

14. 14. A device component for an aerosol delivery system as described in claim 12 or 13, further comprising a user output element, wherein the controller is configured to activate the user output element to indicate the information regarding the result of the payment transaction carried in the acoustic signal received from the point of sale system, thereby notifying the user of the information regarding the result of the payment transaction.

15. 15. The device component for an aerosol delivery system of claim 14, wherein the speaker is configured as the user output element.

16. An aerosol delivery system comprising a device component according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. 17. The aerosol delivery system of claim 16, comprising an article comprising an aerosol generator, the controller further configured to control the aerosol generator in response to a user request for aerosol to generate aerosol for consumption by the user.

18. 18. The aerosol delivery system of claim 17, wherein the device component and the article are separably connectable to one another to form the aerosol generation system.

19. 1. A method for effecting a payment transaction, comprising: generating a drive signal for a speaker within the aerosol delivery system that is encoded with payment entity information related to a payment entity associated with a user; providing the drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the payment entity information; detecting said acoustic signal at a point of sale system; extracting the payment entity information from the acoustic signal; A method comprising:

20. storing the payment entity information in a data storage device included within the aerosol delivery system; retrieving the payment entity information from the data storage for generating the drive signal; 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

21. 21. The method of claim 19 or 20, further comprising storing the drive signal in data storage included within the aerosol delivery system for later delivery to the speaker.

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