Customizable aerosol generator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for operating an aerosol generating device, the method including the steps of retrieving a user's aerosol delivery profile stored on the aerosol generating device or a personal computing device, obtaining the user's schedule from a server or a calendar application on the personal computing device, customizing the retrieved aerosol delivery profile for the user based at least on the user's schedule, and controlling operation of the aerosol generating device based on the customized aerosol delivery profile.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device that can be customized according to user preferences. In particular, the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device such as an electronic cigarette or a heat-not-burn device that can provide an improved user experience.

Background Art

[0002] Inhalers or aerosol generating devices such as electronic cigarettes or vaping devices are becoming increasingly popular. In contrast to burning tobacco as in conventional tobacco products, they generally heat or warm an aerosolizable substance to produce an inhalable aerosol. The generated aerosol may contain flavors and / or stimulants (e.g., nicotine or other active ingredients). Users of such inhalers may desire to control the amount of flavor or stimulant released based on their preferences or other factors.

[0003] Most aerosol generating devices typically incorporate some form of electronic control circuit that includes a simple computer processor, and the user can control the operation of the aerosol generating device. Some vaping devices also enable the device to be wirelessly connected to a computing device to exchange data regarding the function of certain components of the vaping device. However, these devices are often designed to provide a standardized user experience and do not meet individual needs or affect aerosol delivery depending on manual adjustment by the user.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a device that can be adapted to the user and customized according to the user's preferences.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method for operating an aerosol generating device, the method comprising: retrieving a user's aerosol delivery profile stored on the aerosol generating device or a personal computing device; obtaining a user schedule from a calendar application on a server or a personal computing device; customizing the retrieved aerosol delivery profile for the user based at least on the user schedule; and controlling the operation of the aerosol generating device based on the customized aerosol delivery profile.

[0006] Advantageously, it is possible to create a customizable user-specific vaping profile taking into account the user's vaping history, preferences, and schedule. The profile can be automatically modified based on the reservations and tasks in the user's calendar. Controlling the vaping device with such a customized vaping profile improves the user experience and provides the user with better control over his or her vaping habits.

[0007] Preferably, the aerosol delivery profile includes information regarding the amount of substance delivered to the user in the aerosol. Thus, the amount of substance such as nicotine delivered to the user can be adjusted based on the user's vaping profile.

[0008] Preferably, the aerosol delivery profile comprises a workday profile and a non-workday profile. Thus, the user's vaping profile can be customized based on different requirements for different days of the week.

[0009] Preferably, the method includes receiving an input from a user on a personal computing device to set recurring events for each day of the week, and restricting the use of the aerosol generator during the recurring events. Accordingly, vaping can be restricted to certain times of the day, such as at bedtime, for the benefit of the user.

[0010] Preferably, the method also includes establishing a communication pairing between the aerosol generator and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generator to obtain a user schedule from the personal computing device, where the user schedule is also periodically obtained by the aerosol generator. Accordingly, the user schedule can be easily fetched by the vaping device from the user's personal computing device, such as a smartphone, without much effort from the user.

[0011] Preferably, the method also includes establishing a communication pairing between the aerosol generator and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generator to receive a control command, where the control command is generated by the personal computing device based on a customized aerosol delivery profile and includes controlling the operation of the aerosol generator based on the received control command. Accordingly, the vaping device can be easily controlled by the user's personal computing device, such as a smartphone.

[0012] Preferably, the method also includes monitoring the use of the aerosol generator over a period of time and modifying the aerosol delivery profile based on the use. Accordingly, the vaping device can continuously learn from the user's habits and routines and modify the vaping profile accordingly.

[0013] Preferably, the method also includes exchanging an aerosol delivery profile and / or a user schedule with other aerosol generating devices connected on the network or their respective other personal computing devices. Thus, it is possible to connect with like-minded users of the vaping device and participate in a social network based on common preferences.

[0014] Preferably, the method also includes searching for other aerosol generating devices or their respective personal computing devices having an aerosol generating device control application in a predetermined area to identify candidate devices, and identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices to exchange an aerosol delivery profile and / or a user schedule. Thus, it is possible to search only for other users within a limited area for the convenience of arranging opportunities for meetings.

[0015] Preferably, the method also includes comparing the device ID of the candidate device with a previously stored device ID, and identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices based on the comparison. Thus, it is possible to identify known users who have trusted devices with whom the user has previously communicated.

[0016] Preferably, the method also includes sending a list of candidate devices to a server that stores user profiles and configurable rules, and having the server identify one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices based on the user profiles and configurable rules associated with the candidate devices. Thus, it is possible to find other users based on one or more user attributes, such as working for the same employer, from profiles stored on a remote server.

[0017] Preferably, the method also includes identifying time slots based on the exchanged user schedules and displaying, on the user computing device, a message indicating one or more matching users, each associated with at least one reliable device having a matching user profile that can accommodate the identified time slots. Thus, it is possible to exchange messages with reliable users who share the same preferences as the user and can accommodate the same time, and to arrange the opportunity for a meeting.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for exchanging aerosol delivery profiles is provided. The method includes searching for other aerosol generating devices or other personal computing devices having an aerosol generator control application in a predetermined area to identify candidate devices, identifying one or more of the candidate devices as reliable devices to exchange aerosol delivery profiles and / or user schedules, identifying time slots based on the exchanged user schedules, and displaying, on the user computing device, a message indicating one or more matching users, each associated with at least one reliable device having a matching user profile that can accommodate the identified time slots.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a data processing system for generating a customizable aerosol delivery profile for a user is provided. The system includes means for performing the method as described above.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores, thereon, instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method as described above.

[0021] Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 5C

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Next, various aspects of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. It should also be noted that the drawings are schematic diagrams and the ratios of their respective sizes are different from the actual ones. Therefore, specific sizes and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description.

[0024] Figure 1A shows a non-combustible aerosol generating device 100, which is a device for inhaling an aerosol by heating or vaporizing without combustion. The device 100 has a rod shape with a body 101 extending from a non-mouthpiece end 102 to a mouthpiece end 103. An air channel or passage is defined within the body 100 between the opposing ends 102, 103. The aerosol generating device 100 in this embodiment is an electronic cigarette or vaping device, hereinafter referred to as e-cig 100. The e-cig 100 functions by vaporizing or heating an aerosol source inserted within the e-cig 100 to release a flavor or stimulant for the user to inhale through the mouthpiece end 103. The configuration and operation of such a device for generating an aerosol are well-known in the art, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be applicable to aerosol generating devices of any shape configured by any aerosol generating technique not limited to the embodiments.

[0025] The e-cig 100 may include an activation switch 104 configured to perform at least one of turning on and off the power of the e-cig 100. The activation switch 104 may be a push button or a touch button disposed at any convenient position on the surface of the body 101 of the e-cig 100. Alternatively, the e-cig 100 does not rely on a switch button to activate the power supply to the heater, but depends on a puff sensor to detect an air flow and trigger the device to start generating an aerosol.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a system 200 comprising an e-cig 100 and other related entities connected via a network 202. In this embodiment, the e-cig 100 is configured to communicate with a personal computing device 201 owned by a user. The personal computing device 201 may be a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop. For simplicity, the personal computing device 201 is hereinafter referred to as the smartphone 201. The e-cig 100 is preferably configured to be wirelessly communicatively connected or paired with the smartphone 201 using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless communication standards. The smartphone 201 preferably runs a mobile application (commonly referred to as an app) that enables the user to interact with the e-cig 100 via a user-friendly interface. The app may be hosted by the manufacturer of the e-cig 100 and may be compatible with different mobile platforms such as iOS (trademark) and Android (trademark).

[0027] The e-cig 100 and / or the smartphone 201 may also be configured to connect to a network 202. The network 202 may be a public network such as the Internet and may enable the e-cig 100 and the smartphone 201 to connect to other entities within the system 200. It will be correctly recognized that the e-cig 100 and the app on the smartphone 201 preferably have built-in security protocols to prevent unauthorized access by any malicious entity connected via the network 202.

[0028] The e-cig 100 is also configured to communicate with other similar aerosol generating devices such as e-cigs 203a, 203b, 203c (hereinafter collectively referred to as e-cigs 203) that are similarly connected to the network 202. The e-cigs 203 are similar to the e-cig 100 and preferably have the same components and functions as the e-cig 100. The e-cigs 203 may also be associated with their respective personal computing devices (not shown) similar to the smartphone 201. The interaction between the e-cig 100 and the other e-cigs 203 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 4B.

[0029] The e-cigs 100, 203 and / or their respective smartphones may be connected to the server 204 by the network 202. The server 204 is preferably a central controller managed or authorized by the manufacturers of the e-cigs 100, 203 and is preferably configured to remotely manage the e-cigs 100, 203. The server 204 manages and monitors the operation of the e-cigs 100, 203 and may also execute a machine learning algorithm or an artificial intelligence program to learn from the habits of the users of these devices. The app on the smartphone 201 preferably interacts with the server 204 to share the status of the e-cig 100 and receive any updates and suggestions for the user from the server 204. The user may also be able to order refills and other flavors for the e-cig 100 from the server 204 using the app.

[0030] A user profile indicating the preferences of the user can be stored in the server 204, the smartphone 201, or the e-cig 100. These preferences may be calculated from usage data or selected by the user on the smartphone 201 or the e-cig 100. For example, the user profile may include personal data such as name, age, address, etc., as well as performance records and / or event records or suitable usage periods or non-usable periods.

[0031] System 200 may also include a tracking device 205 configured to communicate with smartphone 201 and communicate with e-cig 100 either directly or indirectly (via the smartphone). The tracking device 205 is preferably a wearable device such as an Apple (trademark) Watch or a Fitbit (trademark) fitness tracker. The tracking device 205 can record user health data such as heart rate, number of steps, distance traveled, stress level, sleep pattern, etc., and transmit this data to smartphone 201 and / or e-cig 100.

[0032] It goes without saying that system 200 is implemented using known communication technologies and standards. System 200 may include some other entities well known to those skilled in the art that are not illustrated or described for the sake of brevity.

[0033] FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing various components or modules of e-cig 100. In one embodiment, e-cig 100 includes a consumable module 301a and a heating element 302 that vaporizes a consumable 301b received by the consumable module 301a and releases an aerosol containing flavor and / or stimulant for the user to inhale. In this embodiment, the consumable 301b is a nicotine-containing substance. The presence of the consumable 301b in the consumable module 301a may be detected by a detector 301c. The consumable 301b may be in solid or liquid form and is heated by the heating element 302 to release an aerosol without combustion. If the consumable 301b is a liquid reservoir, two or more consumables can be received in the consumable module 301a. The heating element 302 may be powered by a power source 303.

[0034] The power source 303 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The power source 303 supplies the power required for the operation of e-cig 100. For example, the power source 303 supplies power to all other components or modules included in e-cig 100.

[0035] For the purposes of this description, the terms vapor and aerosol will be understood to be interchangeable. In some embodiments, the heating element is disposed within a capsule or cigarette-shaped aerosol-generating material and is connectable to the aerosol-generating device rather than being a component of the aerosol-generating device itself.

[0036] In one embodiment, the flavorant is present within the consumable 301b. The flavorant may include ethyl vanillin (vanilla), menthol, isoamyl acetate (banana oil), or the like. In another embodiment, the consumable 301b may include an additional flavor source (not shown) provided on the side of the mouthpiece end 103 beyond the consumable module 301a, generating a flavor that is inhaled by the user along with the aerosol generated from the consumable 301b. In yet another embodiment, the e-cig 100 is provided with two or more consumables, each containing a flavorant and / or a certain level of an active ingredient (nicotine). In this case, each consumable can be heated separately to generate an aerosol.

[0037] The e-cig 100 also includes a controller 304 configured to control various components within the e-cig. For example, the controller 304 may control a timing unit 305, a communication unit 306, a memory 307, and a sensor 308 included in the e-cig 100. The timing unit 305 is configured to provide time information (e.g., time), and generate a timestamp for performance data or event data useful for analyzing the user's vaping preferences. The timing unit 305 is further configured to schedule an aerosol delivery profile (also referred to as a vaping profile) customized for the user, and provide this customized vaping profile to the controller 304 to monitor and restrict the use of the user of the e-cig 100. For example, the timing unit 305 may identify the day of the week to enable either a weekday or weekend vaping profile, or identify the time to enable a strong vaping profile (e.g., higher nicotine needs) or a weak vaping profile (e.g., lower nicotine needs). The timing unit 305 may also disable the device at a set time, such as at bedtime, daily, or on certain specific days as set by the user. Alternatively, the function of the timing unit 305 can be integrated into the controller 304, in which case the controller 304 receives time information from the timing unit 305 and enables the vaping profile or disables the device.

[0038] The communication unit 306 is configured to manage communication with a smartphone 201, a server 204, a tracking device 205, a network 202, and other e-cigs 203. The memory 307 is configured to store different vaping profiles and information such as user settings and preferences.

[0039] The e-cig 100 may also include various sensors 308 (such as puff sensors, biometric sensors, etc.) configured to record usage data regarding each inhalation or puff when the user uses the e-cig 100. The recorded usage data may include puff duration (i.e., the length of the puff), puff interval (i.e., the time between consecutive puffs), and fluid and / or nicotine consumption. The usage data may also include the user's heart rate data and any suitable metric for analyzing consumer behavior such as that obtained from the tracking device 205. The timing unit 305 is configured to generate a time stamp for the usage data, and the time stamp is stored together with the usage data for analysis and for constructing a vaping profile customized for the user. In one embodiment, the puff detector can identify the number of puff operations of inhaling aerosol. The puff detector can also detect the time required for one puff operation of inhaling aerosol.

[0040] The e-cig 100 may also include an input / output (I / O) or user interface 309 configured to provide instructions to the user and receive input from the user. The I / O interface 309 preferably includes a display device and an input device. The indicating device may include a visible light emitting element including one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), a screen display, or an acoustic emitter, or any other suitable means for providing instructions to the user. A visible light emitting element such as an LED may be disposed at the tip of the non-mouthpiece end 102 or on the side surface of the e-cig 100. Such an LED may indicate various light emitting modes so as to provide the user with information regarding the puff state in which aerosol is being inhaled, the non-puff state in which no aerosol is being inhaled, the preheating state when the heater is heating, the vape ready state when the heater operates at a target temperature to generate aerosol, the depletion state in which the LED bar indicates the depletion level of the aerosol source, and any other information regarding the operating state of the e-cig. The input device can be one or more user-operable buttons or a perceptible touch panel that responds to pressing, toggling, or touching.

[0041] All of the elements described above transmit and / or receive commands and / or data via the communication bus 310.

[0042] Figure 3B is a block diagram of various components in a personal computing device or smartphone 201. The smartphone 201 includes a processor 311 for controlling various operations of the smartphone, a memory 312 for storing system and user data, an operating system 313 such as Android™ or iOS™, and a power supply 314 such as a lithium-ion battery for powering the device. The smartphone 201 also includes a communication unit 315 including modules such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC for connecting to various entities existing within the system 200. Further, the smartphone 201 includes an I / O interface 316 for interacting with the user. The I / O interface 316 preferably includes a touch screen capable of receiving input from the user via touch operations and displaying content to the user on the screen. However, it goes without saying that the I / O interface may alternatively include keys for receiving input and a non-touch screen for displaying content.

[0043] In addition, the smartphone 201 has an e-cig control app 317 that is downloaded and operates on the smartphone 201 by the user. The e-cig control app 317 preferably enables the user to set his vaping preferences on the e-cig 100. The e-cig control app 317 may also enable the user to view vaping history and other useful statistics. The smartphone 201 preferably also has a calendar app 318 (which may be built-in or downloadable from the app store) that the user may use to record his or her daily schedule and appointments. The smartphone 201 may also have other apps 319 that the user may use in conjunction with the e-cig control app 317 and calendar apps 318 such as a clock app, or apps associated with a Fitbit (trademark) fitness tracker.

[0044] All of the elements described above transmit and / or receive commands and / or data via the communication bus 320.

[0045] FIG. 4A shows a flowchart for a process 400a for managing a user vaping profile on the e-cig 100. Note that the steps in process 400a need not be executed in the same order. Also, some steps may be optional and may be omitted.

[0046] In step 401, aerosol generation obtains the user's aerosol delivery profile from the user history. In this embodiment, the e-cig 100 is configured to obtain the vaping profile for the user from the user history stored in the memory 307, or connect to the e-cig app 317 on the smartphone 201 and obtain it from the memory 312 of the smartphone 201. The user vaping history may also include preferences previously set by the user. The obtaining step may be triggered by the user pressing the switch 104, or shaking the e-cig 100, or by using the e-cig app 317.

[0047] In step 402, the day of the week is identified. In this embodiment, the controller 304 is configured to identify the day of the week with the help of the timing unit 305. The user may set the date and time on the e-cig 100 at the first use. Alternatively, the e-cig 100 may directly connect to the network 202 or automatically identify the correct date and time by way of the smartphone 201.

[0048] In step 403, it is identified whether it is a working day. In this embodiment, the controller 304 compares the identified day of the week with the user's schedule to check whether it is a working day for the user. The user's typical one-week schedule may be stored in the memory 307 of the e-cig 100, or the e-cig 100 may simply fetch the user's schedule from any of the calendar apps 318 on the smartphone 201. If the user schedule is not set, by default, it is preferable for the controller 304 to set Monday to Friday as working days and Saturday to Sunday as non-working days. The user can change these settings at any time, and / or the e-cig 100 may periodically check the user's schedule on the calendar app 318 and update the settings accordingly. If the controller 304 determines that the current day is a working day, it proceeds to step 404; otherwise, it proceeds to step 405.

[0049] In step 404, the aerosol delivery profile is customized according to the workday schedule. In this embodiment, when it is identified that it is a workday, the controller 304 customizes the aerosol delivery profile for the e-cig 100. In the workday aerosol delivery profile, the amount, flavor, and timing of aerosol release from the e-cig 100 are preferably set to provide the user with different amounts and types of aerosol during different times. It is well known that by ingesting an appropriate amount of nicotine during the day, an awake state can be obtained, which may help improve concentration and performance during work. However, at night, the same amount of nicotine may interfere with sleep, but a small amount may help calm the user. The need for nicotine completely depends on the user's personal lifestyle and varies from time to time. Therefore, by setting the workday aerosol delivery profile, the controller 304 ensures that the correct amount of nicotine is delivered to the user to meet the user's needs. The e-cig 100 may be a multi-tank device that can be selectively activated and has different concentrations of nicotine and flavors. For example, in the morning, the controller 304 may activate a tank containing light nicotine and a fruity flavor, in the afternoon, a tank containing strong nicotine and a coffee flavor, and at night, a tank containing a chamomile flavor.

[0050] The controller 304 may also learn from the user's vaping habits over a period of time to adjust or modify the aerosol delivery profile. For example, if the user vapes and takes longer or more frequent puffs during a specific time of the day, as identified by a puff sensor, the controller 304 preferably modifies the profile to deliver an increased amount of nicotine during that time every day during the working week.

[0051] In step 405, the aerosol delivery profile is customized according to the non-working day schedule. In this embodiment, when it is determined that it is not a working day, the controller 304 customizes the aerosol delivery profile for the e-cig 100 based on the non-working day schedule and preferences. In the non-working day aerosol delivery profile, the amount, flavor, and timing of aerosol release from the e-cig 100 are different from those in the working day profile. As described above, the user may change these settings, or the controller 304 may adapt the profile according to changes in the user's schedule fetched from the calendar app 318 on the smartphone 201. For example, the user may be working from home or performing some tasks that require increased alertness.

[0052] In step 406, the time is determined. In this embodiment, using the timing unit 305, the controller 304 determines what time of day it is. If the user is traveling and is in a different time zone from their home location, it should be correctly recognized that the timing unit 305 may automatically adjust to the new time zone either by connecting directly to the network 202 or via the smartphone 201.

[0053] In step 407, it is determined whether it is a preset event time. In this embodiment, the user can preferably set the daily bedtime using the e-cig control app 318. The controller 304 determines whether the current time is within a specific time (for example, within 8 hours of the preset bedtime) of the preset bedtime. The bedtime may be fetched from the memory 307 of the e-cig 100 or obtained from the smartphone 201. If it is determined that it is the user's bedtime, the process proceeds to step 408; otherwise, it proceeds to step 409. It goes without saying that the preset event time can be related to any recurring event, including the bedtime, set by the user separately for each day of the week or for weekdays and non-weekdays. For example, it can be a time set for exercise or meditation, playing with children, daily meetings at work, etc.

[0054] In step 408, the device is disabled. In this embodiment, when it is identified that it is the user's bedtime, the controller 304 preferably disables the use of the e-cig 100 so as to limit the user from vaping at night. This may be done in many ways. In one embodiment, as soon as the controller 304 identifies that it is bedtime, it automatically disables or locks the e-cig 100. In another preferred embodiment, before automatically disabling the device, the controller 304 sends a warning message to the user for a predetermined period (e.g., 15 - 30 seconds). This may be done by lighting the LED in a certain way, or by making a sound on the I / O interface 309, and / or by displaying a pop-up message on the e-cig app 317 on the smartphone 201. During this time, the user may choose to reject the automatic disabling and continue to use the e-cig 100. However, if no input is received from the user, the controller 304 automatically disables the e-cig 100. In yet another embodiment, the controller 304 sends a warning message to the user at bedtime but does not automatically disable the device. Instead, it relies on the user to manually lock or disable the device.

[0055] In step 409, the device is controlled according to a customized profile. In this embodiment, if it is identified that it is not the set limit time (such as bedtime), either the weekday or weekend vaping profile becomes effective on the e-cig100. The vaping prediction is made considering the time and the user's schedule. The e-cig100 can also propose flavors to the user at different times of the day, for example, proposing a mint flavor after lunch and a coffee flavor in the afternoon. Additionally, smart charging can be pre-planned to prepare the e-cig100 in good condition to meet the predicted vaping needs. For example, if it is predicted that Tuesday is a high vaping day under the vaping profile, the predicted user vaping profile can be shared with a charger associated with controlling a full charge, or proposed to the user to charge in advance on Monday night, for example.

[0056] It should be noted that the profile activation may be performed directly on the e-cig100 or via the smartphone 201. The communication pairing between the e-cig100 and the smartphone 201 enables the e-cig100 to receive control commands generated by the smartphone 201 based on a customized aerosol delivery profile. The operation of the e-cig100 is thus controlled based on the received control commands.

[0057] In step 410, it is determined whether additional user data is available. In this embodiment, e-cig 100 can also receive additional user data from smartphone 201 and / or tracking device 205. The tracking device 205 can monitor, for example, the user's heart rate, daily step count, stress level, etc., and supply it either directly to e-cig 100 or via smartphone 201. Such user data is not always available, for example, when the user is not wearing the tracking device. It will be correctly recognized that such data is also available from sensor 308 on e-cig 100. If no additional data is available, e-cig 100 continues with the activated profile. However, if additional data is available, the process proceeds to step 411.

[0058] In step 411, the customized profile is modified according to the additional user data. In this embodiment, according to the user data obtained from smartphone 201, tracking device 205, or sensor 308, controller 304 preferably modifies the user's activated vaping profile. For example, if it is determined based on the available data that the user's heart rate exceeds the normal range, the intensity and frequency of vaping may be reduced to limit the user from vaping, or e-cig 100 may be completely deactivated. The user may also be notified of the modification of the vaping profile based on the additional data via I / O interface 309 on smartphone 201 and / or e-cig app 317.

[0059] In the embodiment described above, method 400a is executed by e-cig 100. In an alternative embodiment, method 400a can also be executed by smartphone 201. When the method is executed by smartphone 201, access to all user data recorded by e-cig 100 and / or tracking device 205 is obtained. Smartphone 201 stores user data in memory 312. Since smartphone 201 is communicatively connected to e-cig 100, it can control various functions of e-cig 100, such as activation of the vaping profile, activation of the heating element, deactivation of the device, etc. In yet another embodiment, some steps are executed by e-cig 100 and some are executed by smartphone 201.

[0060] Figure 4B shows a flowchart of method 400b that enables a user of aerosol-generating device 100 to connect with users of other similar devices 203. It goes without saying that method 400b may be executed together with, or separately from, method 400a.

[0061] In step 412, other devices in the vicinity of the user of the aerosol generator are searched. In this embodiment, the user of the e-cig100 may desire to connect with other users who use the e-cigs203 within the system 200. In one embodiment, the e-cig100 has a Bluetooth communicator included in the communication unit 306 so that it can search for other similar e-cigs203 in the vicinity of the e-cig100. Needless to say, only the e-cigs with their Bluetooth communicators enabled can be found. Alternatively, the e-cig100 has a GPS sensor that can identify other e-cigs203 present in the vicinity of the e-cig100 through a GPS tracking app. In another embodiment, the user uses an e-cig app 317 that engages with the Bluetooth module or GPS sensor of the smartphone 201 to search for other similar e-cigs203 via each personal computing device that runs a control application similar to the e-cig control app 317. In an alternative embodiment, the e-cig100 or the smartphone 201 uses a GPS sensor to identify the user's location, uploads the location information to the server 204, where all the e-cigs 100, 203 are grouped according to their respective locations. The grouping information including the list of nearby e-cigs is notified to the e-cig100 so that the e-cig100 can identify other nearby e-cigs203. Alternatively, the grouping information is notified to the smartphone 201 paired with the e-cig100 (belonging to the same user) so that the smartphone 201 can identify other nearby e-cig203 or other smartphones respectively paired with other e-cig203. Note that in a Bluetooth scan, the area to be searched is automatically set by the Bluetooth range. However, in GPS sensing, the user may define a predetermined area to be searched, for example, restricting the search for other users within an area within a radius of 100 meters of the user.

[0062] In step 413, it is determined whether other devices are available. In this embodiment, the controller 304 or the e-cig app 317 analyzes the result obtained in step 412 to determine whether there are other devices in the vicinity of the user of the e-cig 100. In other words, the candidate devices are identified from the search results. If no other users are found, the process returns to step 412 and preferably continues to search for other devices periodically. However, if candidate devices are found, the process proceeds to step 414.

[0063] In step 414, it is determined whether the candidate devices are reliable devices. In this embodiment, the e-cig 100 may store in the memory 307 the device IDs of other users' devices that were previously connected to the e-cig 100. Alternatively, this may be stored in the memory 312 of the smartphone 201 via the e-cig app 317. The controller 304 compares the available user device IDs with the device IDs stored in the memory to determine whether they are reliable devices. These reliable devices in the vicinity of the user are preferably friends, peers, or colleagues of the user who share a workspace with the user. If reliable devices are found, the process proceeds to step 416. However, for other users, the process proceeds to step 415.

[0064] In step 415, additional information about other candidate devices is requested. In this embodiment, the controller 304 of the e-cig 100 or the e-cig app 317 running on the smartphone 201 searches for additional information about candidate devices that cannot be found in the memory and have not yet been regarded as trustworthy devices. The e-cig 100 or the smartphone 201 may send a request to the server 204 where the comprehensive user profiles of all connected users of the e-cigs 203 are stored. The comprehensive user profile may include information such as the user name, employer name, workplace, contact information, etc. In this way, the user can identify other users who are recognizable and verified. In another embodiment, the controller 304 may also directly request additional information from other users. The user may also find other candidate devices by sending a list of candidate devices to the server 204 together with configurable rules. The configurable rules are criteria or filters based on one or more user attributes such as the employer's name, age, occupation, etc. For example, the user may want to find only users who work for the same employer as the user. In another example, the user may set configurable rules by combining the employer name with another attribute such as flavor preference. The controller 304 may also present some security questions to ensure that other users are not malicious entities.

[0065] In step 416, one or more candidate devices are added as new trustworthy devices based on mutual consent. In this embodiment, if the user is confident about these other candidate devices and the candidate devices provide their consent to connect with the users of the e-cig 100, these devices are added as trustworthy devices. The e-cig and / or smartphone device IDs of these new trustworthy devices may then be stored in the memory 312. For some reason, if one or more other users are not verified or do not agree with each other, they are not connected to the e-cig 100.

[0066] In step 417, the user's aerosol delivery profile and / or user schedule are exchanged with the users of the trusted devices. In this embodiment, the user is connected via network 202 to one or more e-cigs 203 or a trusted device such as their respective smartphones. The user's vaping profile shared with the users of these trusted devices may include information about the user's lunch breaks, free time, and their nicotine and flavor preferences. The profile may be shared with each of the other users' respective devices that also have the connected app via the e-cig app 317 on smartphone 201. Additionally, the vaping profiles of the users of the trusted devices are received. In this embodiment, e-cig 100 or smartphone 201 may search for and receive the profiles of the users of the trusted devices. These users' profiles may also include their availability and vaping preferences.

[0067] In step 418, a user of a reliable device having a profile matching the user is identified. In this embodiment, the e-cig 100 via the controller 304 or preferably the smartphone 201 via the e-cig control app 317 compares the profiles received from one or more reliable devices of the e-cigs 203 and checks which one matches the user's profile at that day and a specific time slot. For example, if the user is free at 4:00 PM and usually takes a vaping break at that time (as specified from the user's schedule), and another user, for example, A is also free at the same time, the controller 304 identifies A as a good match. In other embodiments, the user may have a set preference for a specific flavor within his or her profile, and another user, for example, B may also have a preference for the same flavor, and thus the controller 304 also identifies B as a good match. When one or more reliable devices having matching profiles are identified, the smartphone 201 may display on the I / O interface 316 a message indicating one or more matching users available at the specified time slot (each being associated with at least one of the reliable devices having a matching user profile).

[0068] In step 419, the message is exchanged with a reliable device. In the present invention, based on a match identified by the smartphone 201 via the controller 304 or preferably via the e-cig control app 317 of the e-cig 100, the communication unit 315 of the smartphone 201 may send a message to those matching users to schedule a vaping break. For example, the smartphone 201 may send a message to A's smartphone to meet at that time. It may also propose a preferred place such as a nearby smoking area. The smartphone 201 may also send a message to B to synchronize vaping breaks based on the shared preferences. To avoid exchanging too many messages and save device / network resources, the smartphone 201 may limit message exchange to only reliable devices and / or limit it based on their proximity to the user.

[0069] According to the above description, the present invention enables profiling the user's vaping needs and preferences according to his or her schedule and delivering aerosol to the user accordingly. Moreover, by sharing the user's profile with other users, the user can interact with like-minded people during vaping breaks.

[0070] Figures 5A - 5C show graphs 500a, 500b, and 500c respectively, which represent a user's vaping history for a typical week, a typical workday, and a typical non - workday. In the graphs, the height of the bars indicates the usage frequency of the e - cig100 or the total amount of aerosol inhaled by the user on a particular day. In this embodiment, the user works only during the day from Monday to Friday. As can be seen from graph 500a, the user vapes more on workdays and less on weekends. On workdays, as can be seen from graph 500b, the user generally vapes more around noon and in the afternoon, but relatively less in the morning. On non - workdays, as can be seen from graph 500c, the user may vape more at night and late at night for social events and less during the day. Usage profiles based on history statistics are useful for predicting a user's usage on a particular day. However, considering the user's real - life schedule, the user may not vape as much on Monday if they plan to take a day off that day. If the user has to stay up late and needs to maintain wakefulness, the user may need to vape more. Therefore, a customized and well - planned user profile is advantageous.

[0071] For the user's benefit, the e - cig100 may automatically lower the nicotine level if it exceeds a predetermined threshold level. Also, the e - cig100 may automatically turn off after a preset time, restricting the user from vaping late at night or during work (except during breaks and lunch). Moreover, the e - cig100 may also track the total amount of nicotine consumed by the user in a day and, if it reaches the recommended level for that day, restrict further intake. Preferably, such settings are hard - coded into the e - cig100 to control the maximum usage. However, this is completely optional, and the e - cig100 may allow the user to change these settings.

[0072] The controller 304 may also adjust the aerosol delivery to increase or decrease the substances in the aerosol and / or add flavor to the aerosol according to the user's preference. The amount of substances in the aerosol can be modified (increased or decreased) in many ways. In one embodiment, the amount of aerosol released from the consumable 301b may be varied, thereby affecting the amount of substances inhaled by the user. In another embodiment, a multi-tank vaping device including two or more liquid reservoirs each containing a liquid having a different concentration of substances may be used. By switching the supply to the reservoirs containing liquids of different concentrations, it is possible to adjust the substance intake while maintaining the same amount of aerosol. In yet another embodiment, the substance delivery can be modified by controlling the heating operation in a heat-not-burn and vapor-based device (e.g., by controlling the energy supplied to the heater), or by controlling the pressurized liquid source in a vapor-based device.

[0073] The processing steps described herein, which are executed by the main control unit, i.e., the controller, may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or storage associated with the main control unit. The computer-readable medium can include non-volatile media and volatile media. Volatile media can particularly include semiconductor memory and dynamic memory. Non-volatile media can particularly include optical disks and magnetic disks.

[0074] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments was presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the exact form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments.

[0075] As used herein, the term "non-transitory computer-readable medium" is intended to represent any tangible computer-based device implemented in any method or technology for short-term and long-term storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and sub-modules, or other data in any device. Thus, the methods described herein may be encoded as executable instructions embodied in a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium including, but not limited to, a storage device and / or a memory device. When executed by a processor, such instructions cause the processor to perform at least a portion of the methods described herein. Moreover, as used herein, the term "non-transitory computer-readable medium" includes, but is not limited to, non-transitory computer storage devices, firmware, physical and virtual storage, removable and non-removable media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and all tangible computer-readable media including any other digital source such as a network or the Internet, with the sole exception of a transitory propagating signal, and including undeveloped digital means.

[0076] As would be correctly appreciated based on the foregoing specification, the embodiments described above in the present disclosure may be implemented using computer programming or engineering techniques including computer software, firmware, hardware, or any combination or subset thereof. Any resulting program having computer-readable code means may be embodied or provided within one or more computer-readable media, thereby creating a computer program product, i.e., a manufactured article, according to the embodiments contemplated by the present disclosure. A manufactured article containing computer code may be created and / or used by directly executing the code from one medium, by copying the code from one medium to another medium, or by transmitting the code over a network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating an aerosol generating device, comprising: searching for a user's aerosol delivery profile stored in the aerosol generating device or a personal computing device, the aerosol delivery profile comprising a workday aerosol delivery profile and a non-workday aerosol delivery profile; obtaining a user schedule from a server or a calendar application on the personal computing device; customizing one of the workday aerosol delivery profile and the non-workday aerosol delivery profile within the retrieved aerosol delivery profile for the user, based at least on the user schedule; controlling the operation of the aerosol generating device based on the customized aerosol delivery profile. A method.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery profile includes information regarding the amount of substance delivered to the user in the aerosol.

3. Furthermore, receiving an input from the user on the personal computing device to set recurring events for each day of the week; restricting the use of the aerosol generating device during the recurring events. The method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Furthermore, establishing a communication pairing between the aerosol generating device and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generating device to obtain the user schedule from the personal computing device, wherein the user schedule is periodically obtained by the aerosol generating device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Furthermore, establishing a communication pairing between the aerosol generating device and the personal computing device to enable the aerosol generating device to receive a control command, the control command being generated by the personal computing device based on the customized aerosol delivery profile. Controlling the operation of the aerosol generator based on the received control command, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. Furthermore, Monitoring the use of the aerosol generator over a period of time, Modifying the aerosol delivery profile based on the use, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Furthermore, including exchanging the aerosol delivery profile and / or the user schedule with other aerosol generators connected on the network or their respective other personal computing devices, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Furthermore, Searching for the other aerosol generators or their respective personal computing devices having the aerosol generator control application in a predetermined area to identify candidate devices, Identifying one or more of the candidate devices as reliable devices to exchange the aerosol delivery profile and / or the user schedule, The method according to claim 7.

9. Said identifying one or more of the candidate devices as reliable devices comprises, Comparing the device ID of the candidate device with a previously stored device ID, Based on the comparison, identifying one or more of the candidate devices as reliable devices, The method according to claim 8.

10. Said identifying one or more of the candidate devices as reliable devices comprises, Sending the list of the candidate devices to a server storing user profiles and configurable rules, The server identifying one or more of the candidate devices as reliable devices based on the user profiles and the configurable rules associated with the candidate devices, The method according to claim 8.

11. Furthermore, Identifying time slots based on the exchanged user schedule, Displaying on the user computing device a message indicating at least one matching user associated with each of at least one of the reliable devices having a matching user profile capable of corresponding in the identified time slots, The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. A computer-implemented method for exchanging aerosol delivery profiles, comprising: searching for other aerosol generating devices or other personal computing devices having an aerosol generator control application in a predetermined area to identify candidate devices; identifying one or more of the candidate devices as trusted devices to exchange aerosol delivery profiles and user schedules; identifying time slots based on the exchanged user schedules; displaying on the user computing device a message indicating at least one matching user associated with each of at least one of the trusted devices having a matching user profile that can be accommodated in the identified time slot; A method.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising sending a message to the one or more matching users to schedule a meeting at the identified time slot.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the message further includes a location for the meeting.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the message is sent only to the at least one trusted device in proximity to the user computing device.

16. A data processing system for generating a customizable aerosol delivery profile for a user, comprising means for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

Images