System Comprising an Aerosol Delivery System and a Computer

Abstract

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

Description

[Technical Field]

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

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

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

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

[0005] The amount of aerosol and aerosol-generating material delivered to a user depends, at least in part, on the duration and depth of the user's inhalation, as well as how frequently the user inhales over a period of time. These user behaviors, in turn, may be affected by the user's mood. Currently, there is no way to consider how such user behaviors and their changes affect a user's preferences and choices regarding use and interaction with an aerosol delivery device.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0022] 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 the sake of brevity, will not be discussed / described in detail. Accordingly, it will be understood that aspects and features of articles and systems discussed herein but not described in detail can be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

[0023] 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 the sake of brevity, will not be discussed / described in detail. Accordingly, it will be understood that aspects and features of articles and systems discussed herein but not described in detail can be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

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

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

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

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

[0028] Consumable product 30 is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-forming material 38, some or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. Consumable product 30 may also comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-forming material storage area, an aerosol-forming material transfer component 37, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece 35, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

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

[0030] The aerosol-generating material 38 is a material capable of generating an aerosol when, for example, heated, irradiated, or otherwise energized. The aerosol-generating material 38 may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not contain an active substance and / or flavoring. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 38 may comprise an “amorphous solid,” which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can retain some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, about 50%, 60%, or 70% amorphous solid by weight to about 90%, 95%, or 100% amorphous solid by weight.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claims

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. The system described in claim 1, wherein the default user behavior includes typical behavior of a user that is variable depending on changes in the acquired user behavior data.

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

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

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user behavior data includes at least one of device operating parameters, concentrations of ingredients in the aerosol-forming material, and an indication of flavorings present in the aerosol-forming material.

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

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

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

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

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

20. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the proposed adjustments include at least one of a different aerosol-forming material, a different concentration of an ingredient, and a different flavoring in the aerosol-forming material.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is provided by the aerosol delivery system.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

30. acquiring user behavior data relating to amounts of components delivered from an aerosol-generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; Identifying whether one or more conditions for delivering a notification to the user are met based on the acquired user behavior, wherein the notification informs the user of the user's current behavior regarding the amount of an ingredient to be delivered, and the fulfillment of at least some of the conditions is identified by comparing the user's current behavior regarding the amount of an ingredient to be delivered with the default user behavior; 10. A method for delivering an aerosol comprising:

31. When executed by a processor, acquiring user behavior data relating to amounts of components delivered from an aerosol-generating material of an aerosol delivery system to a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior regarding the amount of active ingredient to be delivered based on the obtained user behavior data; Identifying whether one or more conditions for delivering a notification to the user are met based on the acquired user behavior, wherein the notification informs the user of the user's current behavior regarding the amount of an ingredient to be delivered, and the fulfillment of at least some of the conditions is identified by comparing the user's current behavior regarding the amount of an ingredient to be delivered with the default user behavior; 10. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for performing a method comprising:

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