Information processing device, and information processing method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a mechanism capable of further improving the quality of user experience. [Solution] This information processing device comprises: a communication unit that sends control information to be used by an inhalation device and receives a use history which is information indicating the history of use of the control information by the inhalation device, the inhalation device heating an aerosol source to generate aerosol, wherein the control information defines a parameter relating to a temperature at which the aerosol source is heated; a storage unit that stores the control information sent by the communication unit and the use history received by the communication unit; and a control unit that calculates, on the basis of the use history stored in the storage unit, a reward given to a user having contributed to the generation of the control information.

Description

Information processing device and information processing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device and an information processing method.

[0002] Inhalation devices, such as electronic cigarettes and nebulizers, that generate substances to be inhaled by users are widely used. For example, inhalation devices generate aerosols containing flavor components using a substrate containing an aerosol source for generating aerosols and a flavor source for imparting flavor components to the generated aerosol. Users can enjoy the flavor by inhaling the flavor-imparted aerosol generated by the inhalation device. The action of a user inhaling an aerosol is hereinafter also referred to as a puff or a puffing action.

[0003] Preferences for flavors enjoyed upon puffing (hereinafter also referred to as smoking taste) vary from user to user. Therefore, it is preferable that the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated, which directly affects the smoking taste, be customizable by the user. Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a technology that allows the user to customize the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated.

[0004] International Publication No. 2019 / 104227

[0005] However, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user is limited to personal use by customizing the temperature to which the aerosol source is heated.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mechanism that can further improve the quality of the user experience.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, an information processing device is provided that includes: a communication unit that transmits control information used by an inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, the control information specifying parameters related to the temperature at which an aerosol source is heated, and receives a usage history that is information indicating the history of the inhalation device's use of the control information; a memory unit that stores the control information transmitted by the communication unit and the usage history received by the communication unit; and a control unit that calculates a reward to be awarded to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the usage history stored in the memory unit.

[0008] The usage history may include at least one of the number of substrates containing the aerosol source heated based on the control information, the number of puffs performed during heating based on the control information, the timing of the puffs, or the duration of the puffs performed during heating based on the control information.

[0009] The control unit may calculate a reward to be given to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on a ranking given to the control information from a predetermined perspective.

[0010] The control unit may determine the ranking of the control information based on at least one of the usage history of the control information, the transmission / reception history of the control information, and an evaluation of the control information.

[0011] The memory unit may store a transmission / reception history indicating a history of transmission and reception of the control information, and the control unit may calculate a reward to be granted to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the transmission / reception history of the control information stored in the memory unit.

[0012] The transmission / reception history of the control information may include at least one of the number of times the control information has been transmitted and received, or the number of users who use devices that have received the control information.

[0013] The control unit may calculate a reward to be granted to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the authority for generating the control information granted to the user who contributed to the generation of the control information.

[0014] The control unit may calculate a reward to be given to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the total sales amount of the control information.

[0015] The control unit may determine the selling price of the control information based on a ranking assigned to the control information from a predetermined perspective, a user who contributed to the generation of the control information, or a user who uses a device that received the control information.

[0016] The suction device may use the control information received from a device used by another user, and the control unit may calculate a reward to be given to the other user who uses the device that sent the control information.

[0017] The storage unit may store the control information, first identification information for identifying a user who contributed to generation of the control information, and second identification information for identifying the control information in association with each other.

[0018] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, an information processing method is provided, which includes storing control information used by an inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, specifying parameters related to the temperature at which an aerosol source is heated, transmitting the stored control information, receiving a usage history that is information indicating the history of the inhalation device's use of the control information, storing the received usage history, and calculating by a control unit a reward to be awarded to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the stored usage history.

[0019] As described above, the present disclosure provides a mechanism that can further improve the quality of the user experience.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system according to the present embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a suction device; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a terminal device according to the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a server according to the present embodiment; FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating an example of a heating profile; FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overall flow of processing executed by the system according to the present embodiment; FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a reward granting process executed by the server according to the present embodiment; FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overall flow of processing executed by a system according to a first modified example; FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of authority granted to a user.

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0022] Furthermore, in this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished by adding different letters after the same reference numeral. For example, multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished as necessary, such as suction device 100A and suction device 100B. However, if there is no need to particularly distinguish between multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numeral may be used. For example, if there is no need to particularly distinguish between suction device 100A and suction device 100B, they will simply be referred to as suction device 100.

[0023] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the system 1 includes a plurality of suction devices 100 (100A and 100B), a plurality of terminal devices 200 (200A and 200B), and a server 300.

[0024] The inhalation device 100 is a device that generates a substance to be inhaled by a user. In the following description, the substance generated by the inhalation device 100 is assumed to be an aerosol. The inhalation device 100 is an example of an aerosol generation device that generates an aerosol. Alternatively, the substance generated by the inhalation device 100 may be a gas. The inhalation device 100 can accommodate a stick-type substrate 150. The inhalation device 100 generates an aerosol using the accommodated stick-type substrate 150. The stick-type substrate 150 is an example of a substrate that contributes to the generation of an aerosol. The stick-type substrate 150 contains an aerosol source. The inhalation device 100 generates an aerosol by heating the accommodated stick-type substrate 150.

[0025] The terminal device 200 is a device used by a user of the suction device 100. The terminal device 200 is associated with the suction device 100. The suction device 100 and the terminal device 200 may be paired in advance for wireless communication, or it may be registered in advance in the server 300 that the users of the suction device 100 and the terminal device 200 are the same. The terminal device 200 may be any device, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a wearable device, or a PC (Personal Computer). Alternatively, the terminal device 200 may be a charger for charging the suction device 100.

[0026] The server 300 is a control device that manages information about each device included in the system 1. The server 300 communicates with the terminal device 200 via the network 900. In particular, the server 300 indirectly communicates with the suction device 100 via the terminal device 200. The server 300 may perform various processes based on information collected from the suction device 100 via the terminal device 200. Alternatively, the server 300 may perform various processes based on user operations performed on the terminal device 200.

[0027] The system 1 includes a plurality of suction devices 100 and a plurality of terminal devices 200 used by a plurality of users. As an example, a user who uses the suction device 100A and the terminal device 200A will also be referred to as user A. A user who uses the suction device 100B and the terminal device 200B will also be referred to as user B.

[0028] (1) Configuration Example of Suction Device Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the suction device 100. As shown in Fig. 2, the suction device 100 according to this configuration example includes a power supply unit 111, a sensor unit 112, a notification unit 113, a storage unit 114, a communication unit 115, a control unit 116, a heating unit 121, a storage unit 140, and a heat insulating unit 144.

[0029] The power supply unit 111 stores electric power and supplies electric power to each component of the suction device 100 under the control of the control unit 116. The power supply unit 111 may be configured by, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery.

[0030] The sensor unit 112 acquires various types of information related to the suction device 100. As one example, the sensor unit 112 is configured with a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like, and acquires values ​​associated with suction by the user. As another example, the sensor unit 112 is configured with an input device such as a button or a switch that accepts information input from the user.

[0031] The notification unit 113 notifies the user of information. The notification unit 113 is configured by, for example, a light emitting device that emits light, a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that outputs sound, or a vibration device that vibrates.

[0032] The storage unit 114 stores various types of information for the operation of the suction device 100. The storage unit 114 is configured by a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory, for example.

[0033] The communication unit 115 is a communication interface capable of performing communication conforming to any wired or wireless communication standard, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark)), NFC (Near Field Communication), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0034] The control unit 116 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a control unit, and controls the overall operation of the suction device 100 in accordance with various programs. The control unit 116 is realized by an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor.

[0035] The storage unit 140 has an internal space 141 and holds the stick-shaped substrate 150 while accommodating a portion of the stick-shaped substrate 150 in the internal space 141. The storage unit 140 has an opening 142 that connects the internal space 141 to the outside and accommodates the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 through the opening 142. For example, the storage unit 140 is a cylindrical body with the opening 142 and a bottom 143 as its bottom surface, and defines a columnar internal space 141. An air flow path that supplies air to the internal space 141 is connected to the storage unit 140. An air inlet, which is an air inlet to the air flow path, is arranged, for example, on a side surface of the suction device 100. An air outlet, which is an air outlet from the air flow path to the internal space 141, is arranged, for example, on the bottom 143.

[0036] The stick-shaped substrate 150 includes a substrate portion 151 and a mouthpiece portion 152. The substrate portion 151 includes an aerosol source. The aerosol source includes a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component. When the inhalation device 100 is a medical inhaler such as a nebulizer, the aerosol source may include a medicament. The aerosol source may be, for example, a liquid such as a polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or water, containing a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component, or a solid containing a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component. When the stick-shaped substrate 150 is held in the storage portion 140, at least a portion of the substrate portion 151 is housed in the internal space 141, and at least a portion of the mouthpiece portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142. When a user holds the mouthpiece portion 152 protruding from the opening 142 in their mouth and inhales, air flows into the internal space 141 via an air flow path (not shown) and reaches the user's mouth along with the aerosol generated from the substrate portion 151.

[0037] The heating unit 121 generates aerosol by heating the aerosol source and atomizing the aerosol source. In the example shown in FIG. 2 , the heating unit 121 is configured in a film shape and is arranged to cover the outer periphery of the storage unit 140. When the heating unit 121 generates heat, the substrate unit 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 is heated from the outer periphery, generating aerosol. The heating unit 121 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111. As an example, power may be supplied when the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has started inhaling and / or that predetermined information has been input. Power supply may be stopped when the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has stopped inhaling and / or that predetermined information has been input.

[0038] The heat insulating section 144 prevents heat transfer from the heating section 121 to other components. For example, the heat insulating section 144 is made of a vacuum heat insulating material, an aerogel heat insulating material, or the like.

[0039] The above describes an example of the configuration of the suction device 100. Of course, the configuration of the suction device 100 is not limited to the above, and various configurations such as those exemplified below may be used.

[0040] As one example, the heating unit 121 may be configured in a blade shape and disposed so as to protrude from the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140 into the internal space 141. In this case, the blade-shaped heating unit 121 is inserted into the substrate 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 and heats the substrate 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 from the inside. As another example, the heating unit 121 may be disposed so as to cover the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140. Furthermore, the heating unit 121 may be configured as a combination of two or more of a first heating unit covering the outer periphery of the storage unit 140, a blade-shaped second heating unit, and a third heating unit covering the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140.

[0041] As another example, the storage unit 140 may include an opening / closing mechanism such as a hinge that opens and closes a portion of the outer shell that forms the internal space 141. The storage unit 140 may then open and close the outer shell to hold and store the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141. In this case, the heating unit 121 may be provided at the holding location in the storage unit 140, and may heat the stick-shaped substrate 150 while pressing it.

[0042] Furthermore, the means for atomizing the aerosol source is not limited to heating by the heating unit 121. For example, the means for atomizing the aerosol source may be induction heating. In that case, the suction device 100 has at least an electromagnetic induction source such as a coil that generates a magnetic field, instead of the heating unit 121. A susceptor that generates heat by induction heating may be provided in the suction device 100 or may be included in the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0043] The inhalation device 100 generates an aerosol to be inhaled by a user in cooperation with the stick-type substrate 150. Therefore, the combination of the inhalation device 100 and the stick-type substrate 150 may be considered as an aerosol generating system.

[0044] (2) Example of the Configuration of the Terminal Device Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the terminal device 200 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the terminal device 200 includes an input unit 210, an output unit 220, a detection unit 230, a communication unit 240, a storage unit 250, and a control unit 260.

[0045] The input unit 210 has a function of accepting input of various information. The input unit 210 may include an input device that accepts input of information from a user. Examples of the input device include a button, a keyboard, a touch panel, and a microphone. The input unit 210 may also include various sensors such as an image sensor.

[0046] The output unit 220 has a function of outputting information. The output unit 220 may include an output device that outputs information to a user. Examples of the output device include a display device that displays information, a light-emitting device that emits light, a vibration device that vibrates, and a sound output device that outputs sound. An example of a display device is a display. An example of a light-emitting device is an LED (Light Emitting Diode). An example of a vibration device is an eccentric motor. An example of a sound output device is a speaker. The output unit 220 notifies the user of the information by outputting information input from the control unit 260.

[0047] The detection unit 230 has a function of detecting information related to the terminal device 200. The detection unit 230 may detect position information of the terminal device 200. For example, the detection unit 230 receives GNSS signals from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites (for example, GPS signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites) to detect position information consisting of the latitude and longitude of the device. The detection unit 230 may detect the movement of the terminal device 200. For example, the detection unit 230 includes a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor to detect angular velocity and acceleration.

[0048] The communication unit 240 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving information between the terminal device 200 and other devices. The communication unit 240 performs communication in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard. Examples of such a communication standard include standards using USB (Universal Serial Bus), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0049] The storage unit 250 stores various types of information and is configured by a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory.

[0050] The control unit 260 functions as an arithmetic processing unit or control device and controls the overall operation of the terminal device 200 in accordance with various programs. The control unit 260 is realized by an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor. The control unit 260 may also include a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs to be used, arithmetic parameters, etc., and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores parameters that change as needed. The terminal device 200 executes various processes under the control of the control unit 260. Examples of processes controlled by the control unit 260 include processing of information input by the input unit 210, output of information by the output unit 220, detection of information by the detection unit 230, transmission and reception of information by the communication unit 240, and storage and reading of information by the memory unit 250. Other processes executed by the terminal device 200, such as input of information to each component and processing based on information output from each component, are also controlled by the control unit 260.

[0051] The functions of the control unit 260 may be realized using an application. The application may be pre-installed or may be downloaded. The functions of the control unit 260 may also be realized by PWA (Progressive Web Apps).

[0052] 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server 300 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the server 300 includes a communication unit 310, a storage unit 320, and a control unit 330.

[0053] The communication unit 310 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving information between the server 300 and other devices. The communication unit 310 performs communication in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard.

[0054] The storage unit 320 stores various types of information for the operation of the server 300. The storage unit 320 is configured by a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).

[0055] The control unit 330 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a control device, and controls the overall operation of the server 300 in accordance with various programs. The control unit 330 is realized by electronic circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a microprocessor. The control unit 330 may also include a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the programs to be used, calculation parameters, etc., and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores parameters that change as needed. The server 300 executes various processes under the control of the control unit 330. The transmission and reception of information by the communication unit 310 and the storage and reading of information by the memory unit 320 are examples of processes controlled by the control unit 330. Other processes executed by the server 300, such as input of information to each component and processing based on information output from each component, are also controlled by the control unit 330.

[0056] 2. Technical Features (1) Heating Profile The control unit 116 controls the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the heating profile. The control of the operation of the heating unit 121 is achieved by controlling the power supply from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121. The heating unit 121 heats the stick-shaped substrate 150 using the power supplied from the power supply unit 111.

[0057] The heating profile is control information for controlling the temperature to which the aerosol source is heated. The heating profile defines parameters related to the temperature to which the aerosol source is heated. An example of the temperature to which the aerosol source is heated is the temperature of the heating unit 121. An example of the parameter related to the temperature to which the aerosol source is heated is the target temperature of the heating unit 121 (hereinafter also referred to as the target temperature). The temperature of the heating unit 121 may be controlled to change according to the elapsed time since the start of heating. In this case, the heating profile includes information defining the time series progression of the target temperature. As another example, the heating profile may include parameters (hereinafter also referred to as power supply parameters) defining the method of supplying power to the heating unit 121. The power supply parameters include, for example, the voltage applied to the heating unit 121, ON / OFF of power supply to the heating unit 121, or the feedback control method to be adopted. The ON / OFF of power supply to the heating unit 121 may be regarded as ON / OFF of the heating unit 121.

[0058] The control unit 116 controls the operation of the heating unit 121 so that the temperature of the heating unit 121 (hereinafter also referred to as the actual temperature) changes in the same manner as the target temperature defined in the heating profile. The heating profile is typically designed to optimize the flavor that the user experiences when inhaling the aerosol generated from the stick-shaped substrate 150. Therefore, by controlling the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the heating profile, the flavor that the user experiences can be optimized.

[0059] The temperature control of the heating unit 121 can be achieved, for example, by known feedback control. The feedback control may be, for example, a proportional-integral-differential (PID) control. The control unit 116 may supply power from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121 in the form of pulses generated by pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM). In this case, the control unit 116 may control the temperature of the heating unit 121 by adjusting the duty ratio or frequency of the power pulses in the feedback control. Alternatively, the control unit 116 may perform simple on / off control in the feedback control. For example, the control unit 116 may perform heating by the heating unit 121 until the actual temperature reaches a target temperature, suspend heating by the heating unit 121 when the actual temperature reaches the target temperature, and resume heating by the heating unit 121 when the actual temperature falls below the target temperature.

[0060] The temperature of the heating unit 121 can be quantified, for example, by measuring or estimating the electrical resistance of the heating unit 121 (more precisely, the heating resistor that constitutes the heating unit 121). This is because the electrical resistance of the heating resistor changes depending on the temperature. The electrical resistance of the heating resistor can be estimated, for example, by measuring the amount of voltage drop across the heating resistor. The amount of voltage drop across the heating resistor can be measured by a voltage sensor that measures the potential difference applied to the heating resistor. In another example, the temperature of the heating unit 121 can be measured by a temperature sensor such as a thermistor installed near the heating unit 121.

[0061] The period from the start to the end of the process of generating aerosol using the stick-shaped substrate 150 is also referred to as a heating session below. In other words, a heating session is a period during which power supply to the heating unit 121 is controlled based on the heating profile. The start of a heating session is the timing when heating based on the heating profile starts. The end of a heating session is the timing when a sufficient amount of aerosol is no longer generated. A heating session includes a pre-heating period in the first half and a puffable period in the second half. The puffable period is a period during which a sufficient amount of aerosol is expected to be generated. The pre-heating period is the period from the start of heating to the start of the puffable period. Heating performed during the pre-heating period is also referred to as pre-heating.

[0062] The notification unit 113 may notify the user of information indicating the timing at which preheating will end. For example, the notification unit 113 may notify the user of information predicting the end of preheating before the end of preheating, or may notify the user of information indicating the end of preheating at the timing at which preheating ends. The notification to the user may be performed, for example, by lighting up an LED or vibrating. The user can refer to such a notification and start puffing immediately after the end of preheating.

[0063] Similarly, the notification unit 113 may notify the user of information indicating the timing when the puffing period will end. For example, the notification unit 113 may notify the user of information predicting the end of the puffing period before the end of the puffing period, or may notify the user of information indicating the end of the puffing period at the timing when the puffing period ends. The notification to the user may be performed, for example, by lighting up an LED or vibrating. The user can refer to such a notification and continue puffing until the puffing period ends.

[0064] An example of a heating profile will be described with reference to FIG. 5 . FIG. 5 is a graph schematically illustrating an example of a heating profile. The horizontal axis of graph 20 represents time. The vertical axis of graph 20 represents temperature. Line 21 indicates the time series progression of the target temperature. As shown in FIG. 5 , a heating session may include, in order, an initial heating period, an intermediate temperature drop period, and a re-heating period. The initial heating period is a period during which the temperature of the heating unit 121 rapidly increases and is maintained at a high temperature after heating begins. The intermediate temperature drop period is a period during which the temperature of the heating unit 121 decreases after the initial heating period. The re-heating period is a period during which the temperature of the heating unit 121 increases again after the intermediate temperature drop period. In the example shown in FIG. 5 , the target temperature rapidly increases to approximately 300°C during the initial heating period, then decreases to approximately 230°C during the intermediate temperature drop period, and then gradually increases to approximately 260°C during the re-heating period. During the intermediate temperature drop period, power supply to the heating unit 121 may be interrupted, and heating may be turned off. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the period from the start of heating to the middle of the initial temperature rise period is the pre-heating period, and the period from the middle of the initial temperature rise period to the end of the re-heating period is the puffable period.

[0065] (2) Customization of Heating Profile The terminal device 200 controls the customization process. The customization process is a process for customizing the heating profile used by the inhalation device 100. Customizing a heating profile refers to generating a heating profile that achieves a preferred smoking taste by making changes to an existing heating profile. The user repeatedly customizes the heating profile and tries out the customized heating profile to confirm the smoking taste. The terminal device 200 repeatedly executes the customization process until a heating profile that achieves the user's desired smoking taste is generated. By repeating the customization process, the heating profile can gradually approach an ideal heating profile that achieves the user's desired smoking taste.

[0066] The customization process includes the terminal device 200 receiving a target temperature setting from the user. As an example, the terminal device 200 may receive a target temperature setting for each puff timing. The terminal device 200 generates a customized heating profile by changing the target temperature of the heating profile before customization based on the user setting.

[0067] The customization process includes the terminal device 200 transmitting the customized heating profile to the suction device 100. The suction device 100 stores the received heating profile and uses it for the next heating.

[0068] The customization process may include the terminal device 200 receiving from the user a setting for evaluating the smoking taste. In particular, the terminal device 200 may receive a setting for evaluating the aerosol generated based on the customized heating profile. This allows the user to evaluate how their customization has affected the smoking taste.

[0069] For example, the terminal device 200 accepts the user's setting of a smoking taste evaluation during a heating session, i.e., while the inhalation device 100 is performing heating based on a heating profile. In this case, the user puffs each time a puff timing arrives and sets the smoking taste evaluation in the terminal device 200. Then, after the heating session ends, the terminal device 200 accepts the setting of a target temperature while displaying the smoking taste evaluation. This allows the user to set the target temperature while referring to the smoking taste evaluation set during the heating session.

[0070] In the following, for ease of explanation, an operation performed by the inhalation device 100 or the terminal device 200 may be described as a subject using a user who uses the inhalation device 100 or the terminal device 200. As an example, the generation of a heating profile by the terminal device 200 based on a user operation is also referred to as a "user generating a heating profile." As another example, the use of a heating profile by the inhalation device 100 is also referred to as a "user using a heating profile." Furthermore, a user who contributed to the generation of a heating profile by setting a target temperature or evaluating the smoking taste is also referred to simply as a "user who generated the heating profile."

[0071] (3) Heating Profile Ecosystem The system 1 builds an ecosystem that allows other users to use heating profiles created by a user.

[0072] As an example, server 300 accepts the upload of heating profiles created by users. Server 300 then operates a web page that makes the heating profiles uploaded by users available for download. Users can download and use heating profiles created by other users from the web page. Server 300 may accept evaluations from users who have downloaded and used the heating profiles on the web page and display them as word-of-mouth reviews. Furthermore, server 300 may sell heating profiles created by users and return a fee based on the sales to the users who created the heating profiles.

[0073] This configuration allows excellent heating profiles created by users to be disseminated to many users. Furthermore, it motivates more users to create their own heating profiles, and as a result, it becomes possible to provide more excellent heating profiles to users. In this way, it becomes possible to improve overall user satisfaction.

[0074] (4) Uploading a Heating Profile The user uploads the generated heating profile to the server 300. Specifically, the terminal device 200 transmits the generated heating profile to the server 300. The server 300 receives the heating profile from the terminal device 200 and stores the received heating profile. At that time, the server 300 adds meta information to the heating profile and stores it.

[0075] The meta-information assigned to the heating profile by the server 300 during uploading includes identification information (corresponding to the first identification information) for identifying the user who created the heating profile. Hereinafter, the identification information for identifying the user will also be referred to as a user ID. The user ID of the user who created the heating profile will also be referred to as a creating user ID.

[0076] The meta-information assigned to the heating profile by the server 300 during uploading includes identification information (corresponding to the second identification information) for identifying the heating profile. The identification information for identifying the heating profile will hereinafter also be referred to as a profile ID.

[0077] In this way, the server 300 stores the heating profile, the generating user ID as meta information, and the profile ID as meta information in association with each other. This makes it possible to award a reward to the user who generated the heating profile, as will be described later.

[0078] In the following, a user who contributes to uploading a heating profile, such as by operating the terminal device 200 to upload the heating profile, will also be simply referred to as a user who uploaded the heating profile.

[0079] (5) Downloading a Heating Profile A user downloads a heating profile created by another user from the server 300. In detail, first, the server 300 transmits the heating profile to the terminal device 200. Upon receiving the heating profile, the terminal device 200 transmits the received heating profile to the suction device 100. The suction device 100 stores the received heating profile and uses it for subsequent heating of the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0080] When the suction device 100 uses a heating profile, it generates a usage history. Then, the suction device 100 transmits the usage history to the terminal device 200. When the terminal device 200 receives the usage history, it transmits the received usage history to the server 300. When the server 300 receives the usage history, it stores the received usage history. This allows the server 300 to understand how the downloaded heating profile was used.

[0081] The usage history of the heating profile includes the user ID of the user of the suction device 100 who used the heating profile. For example, the suction device 100 adds a user ID that is preset in the suction device 100 to the usage history.

[0082] The usage history of a heating profile includes the profile ID of the heating profile. For example, the suction device 100 obtains the profile ID of the heating profile from the meta information assigned to the heating profile and adds the profile ID to the usage history.

[0083] The usage history of a heating profile may include the number of stick-shaped substrates 150 heated based on the heating profile (hereinafter also referred to as the number of consumed sticks). For example, the suction device 100 detects the number of times heating based on the heating profile has been performed as the number of consumed sticks and adds this to the usage history.

[0084] The usage history of a heating profile may include the number of puffs performed during heating based on the heating profile (hereinafter also referred to as the number of puffs). For example, inhalation device 100 detects the number of times a value associated with a puff is detected by a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like included in sensor unit 112 during a heating session as the number of puffs and adds it to the usage history.

[0085] The usage history of a heating profile may include information indicating the timing of puffs performed during heating based on the heating profile. For example, during a heating session, inhalation device 100 detects a value associated with a puff detected by a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like included in sensor unit 112 as the timing of a puff, and adds the information indicating the timing of the puff to the usage history. The information indicating the timing of the puff may be information that identifies the timing of the puff based on the elapsed time since the start of heating.

[0086] The usage history of a heating profile may include the duration of puffing performed during heating based on the heating profile (hereinafter also referred to as puff duration). For example, inhalation device 100 detects the duration of a period during which a value associated with puffing is detected by a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like included in sensor unit 112 during a heating session as the puff duration and adds it to the usage history.

[0087] The suction device 100 may transmit the usage history to the terminal device 200 every time heating based on the heating profile is performed. Alternatively, the suction device 100 may accumulate the usage history and transmit it to the terminal device 200 at a predetermined timing. Examples of the predetermined timing include the timing when communication between the suction device 100 and the terminal device 200 is established, and the timing when a request to transmit the usage history is received from the terminal device 200.

[0088] Each time terminal device 200 receives a usage history from suction device 100, it may transfer the received usage history to server 300. Alternatively, terminal device 200 may store the usage history received from suction device 100 and transmit it to server 300 at a predetermined timing. Examples of the predetermined timing include the timing when communication between terminal device 200 and server 300 is established, and the timing when server 300 requests that the terminal device 200 transmit the usage history.

[0089] In the following, a user who contributes to the downloading of a heating profile, such as by operating the terminal device 200 to download the heating profile, will also be simply referred to as a user who downloaded the heating profile.

[0090] (6) Granting Rewards to Users Who Create Heating Profiles The server 300 grants rewards to users who create heating profiles. As an example, the server 300 calculates a reward to be granted to a user who creates a heating profile based on the stored usage history. The server 300 then grants the calculated reward to the user. An example of a reward is points that can be used to purchase a heating profile published on a webpage. For example, the server 300 stores a user ID and reward points in association with each other. This allows the user to pay for the purchase when downloading a heating profile from a webpage using the granted points.

[0091] For example, the server 300 may calculate the reward to be given to the user by multiplying the number indicated by the usage history by the unit price. The method for calculating the reward will be described in detail below.

[0092] First, the server 300 calculates the reward for each heating profile. As one example, the server 300 may collect usage histories including the same profile ID, tally the number of consumed sticks, and calculate the reward for each heating profile by multiplying the sum of the total number of consumed sticks by a unit price. As another example, the server 300 may collect usage histories including the same profile ID, tally the number of puffs, and calculate the reward for each heating profile by multiplying the sum of the total number of puffs by a unit price. As another example, the server 300 may collect usage histories including the same profile ID, tally the puff duration, and calculate the reward for each heating profile by multiplying the sum of the total puff duration by a unit price. Of course, these calculation methods may be combined. For example, the reward for each heating profile may be calculated by adding up the rewards calculated by each calculation method.

[0093] Next, the server 300 calculates a reward for each user. For example, the server 300 may calculate a value obtained by aggregating rewards for heating profiles that include the same generating user ID in the meta information, as the reward to be given to the user corresponding to the generating user ID.

[0094] With this configuration, a user who creates a heating profile that is frequently used by other users can be given a large reward. This can motivate users to create heating profiles that are frequently used. As a result, it is expected that many better heating profiles will be uploaded and made available for download. In this way, it is possible to improve the quality of the user experience for all users.

[0095] (7) Processing Flow—Overall Processing Figure 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow executed by the system 1 according to this embodiment. This sequence involves the suction devices 100A and 100B, the terminal devices 200A and 200B, and the server 300. Here, it is assumed that user A generates a heating profile, and user B uses the heating profile generated by user A.

[0096] 6, first, the suction device 100A and the terminal device 200A generate a heating profile (step S102). For example, the suction device 100A and the terminal device 200A generate a heating profile by repeatedly changing the target temperature and heating the stick-shaped substrate 150 based on a heating profile that reflects the changed target temperature.

[0097] Next, the terminal device 200A transmits the generated heating profile to the server 300 (step S104).

[0098] Server 300 adds meta-information to the received heating profile and stores it (step S106). For example, server 300 adds user A's user ID as a generating user ID to the received heating profile, and assigns a profile ID. Note that from this step onwards, it is assumed that meta-information is added to heating profiles sent and received.

[0099] Next, the server 300 transmits the heating profile to the terminal device 200B (step S108). For example, the terminal device 200B downloads the heating profile created by the user A from a web page operated by the server 300.

[0100] Next, terminal device 200B transmits the received heating profile to suction device 100B (step S110).

[0101] Next, the inhalation device 100B generates and stores a usage history using the received heating profile (step S112). For example, the inhalation device 100B generates and stores a usage history including the number of sticks consumed, the number of puffs, and the puff duration.

[0102] Next, suction device 100B transmits the usage history to terminal device 200B (step S114).

[0103] Next, the terminal device 200B transmits the received usage history to the server 300 (step S116).

[0104] The server 300 stores the received usage history (step S118).

[0105] Then, server 300 awards a reward to the user who created the heating profile (step S120). For example, server 300 awards a reward to user A based on the usage history collected from suction device 100B. Of course, server 300 may also receive usage history of the heating profile created by user A from a source other than suction device 100B. In this case, server 300 awards a reward to user A based on the collected usage history.

[0106] - Reward Granting Process FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the reward granting process executed by the server 300 according to this embodiment.

[0107] 7 , first, the server 300 calculates a reward for each heating profile (step S202). For example, the server 300 tallyes usage histories that include the same profile ID to obtain the total number of sticks consumed, the total number of puffs, and the total puff duration. The server 300 then multiplies the total number of sticks consumed, the total number of puffs, and the total puff duration by the unit price, and adds them together to calculate the reward for each heating profile.

[0108] Next, the server 300 calculates a reward for each user (step S204). For example, the server 300 calculates the total value of the rewards for each heating profile for which the same generating user ID is included in the meta information, as the reward to be given to the user corresponding to the generating user ID.

[0109] Then, the server 300 gives the reward calculated for each user in step S204 to the user (step S206).

[0110] <3. Modifications> (1) First Modification In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the terminal device 200 downloads a heating profile from the server 300, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. Heating profiles may be downloaded directly between users. That is, a user may directly download a heating profile from another user without going through the server 300. In a use case in which a user recommends a favorite heating profile to other users, it is expected that heating profiles will be downloaded directly between users.

[0111] - Uploading a Heating Profile As described above in the above embodiment, the terminal device 200 uploads the generated heating profile to the server 300. The server 300 adds meta information to the heating profile uploaded from the terminal device 200 and stores it.

[0112] Furthermore, the server 300 transmits the heating profile with the meta information attached to the upload source terminal device 200. In this case, the terminal device 200 stores the heating profile with the meta information attached. Alternatively, the server 300 may transmit the meta information to the upload source terminal device 200. In this case, the terminal device 200 attaches the received meta information to the heating profile and stores it.

[0113] - Downloading a Heating Profile A user downloads and uses a heating profile from another user. As an example, the terminal device 200B may download a heating profile from the terminal device 200A. In this case, the terminal device 200B transmits the heating profile downloaded from the terminal device 200A to the suction device 100B. The suction device 100B stores the received heating profile and uses it for subsequent heating of the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0114] The suction device 100 generates a usage history when using a heating profile downloaded from another user, just as when the suction device 100 downloads a heating profile from the server 300. The generated usage history is transmitted from the suction device 100 to the server 300 via the terminal device 200 and stored by the server 300. This allows the server 300 to understand how the downloaded heating profile was used between users.

[0115] Here, the heating profile downloaded by a user from another user is provided with meta information including a profile ID. This allows the suction device 100 to generate a usage history including the profile ID. This allows the usage history to be compiled based on the profile ID.

[0116] The heating profile transmitted by the terminal device 200 is not limited to a heating profile generated by the user of the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 may transmit a heating profile downloaded from the server 300, or a heating profile downloaded from another user.

[0117] Furthermore, the path for downloading the heating profile is not limited to between terminal devices 200. As one example, terminal device 200B may download the heating profile from suction device 100A. As another example, suction device 100B may download the heating profile from terminal device 200A. As another example, suction device 100B may download the heating profile from suction device 100A.

[0118] - Granting rewards to users who create heating profiles The server 300 grants rewards to users who create heating profiles. As described in the above embodiment, the server 300 grants rewards to users who create heating profiles based on the collected usage history. In particular, the server 300 calculates the reward to be granted to a user based on the usage history of heating profiles downloaded from the server 300 as well as the usage history of heating profiles downloaded between users. This configuration makes it possible to grant a large reward to a user who creates a heating profile that is frequently used by other users, regardless of the route by which the heating profile was downloaded.

[0119] - Providing a reward to a user who spreads a heating profile Furthermore, when a user downloads a heating profile from another user, the server 300 may provide a reward to the other user who uses the device that transmitted the heating profile. As an example, when the terminal device 200B downloads a heating profile from the terminal device 200A, the server 300 may provide a reward to the user A who uses the terminal device 200A. In this case, the server 300 may calculate the reward to be provided to the user A by multiplying the number of times that the user A was the transmission source by a unit price.

[0120] With this configuration, users who contribute to the spread of heating profiles are rewarded. This motivates users to spread their favorite heating profiles, allowing many users to enjoy excellent heating profiles. In this way, it is possible to improve the overall satisfaction of users.

[0121] 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow executed by system 1 according to the first modified example. This sequence involves suction devices 100A and 100B, terminal devices 200A and 200B, and server 300. Here, it is assumed that user A generates a heating profile, and user B uses the heating profile generated by user A.

[0122] The processing in steps S302 to S306 is the same as the processing in steps S102 to S106 described above with reference to FIG.

[0123] After step S306, the server 300 transmits the heating profile with the meta-information attached to the terminal device 200A (step S308). The terminal device 200A stores the received heating profile.

[0124] Thereafter, terminal device 200A transmits the heating profile to terminal device 200B (step S310). As an example, it is assumed that user A has a conversation with user B in which user A recommends the heating profile he or she created, and then the heating profile is transmitted from terminal device 200A to terminal device 200B.

[0125] The subsequent processing in steps S312 to S322 is similar to the processing in steps S110 to S120 described above with reference to FIG.

[0126] (2) Second Modification In the above embodiment, an example in which a reward is granted based on the usage history of a heating profile has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. In addition to or instead of the usage history of a heating profile, a reward may be granted based on a transmission / reception history indicating the history of transmission and reception of the heating profile. The transmission and reception of a heating profile here is a concept that includes downloading a heating profile from the server 300 and downloading a heating profile from a device used by another user (e.g., the terminal device 200). The transmission and reception history of a heating profile is also referred to as a download history hereinafter.

[0127] The download history of a heating profile may include the number of times a heating profile has been transmitted and received (i.e., downloaded) (hereinafter also referred to as the number of downloads). The server 300 counts the number of times a heating profile has been downloaded from the server 300 as the number of downloads. Furthermore, the server 300 counts and stores the number of times a heating profile has been downloaded between users as the number of downloads. As an example, when the server 300 receives a usage history from a terminal device 200 that has not downloaded a heating profile from the server 300, the server 300 may determine that the terminal device 200 has downloaded a heating profile from another user and count the number of downloads.

[0128] The download history of a heating profile may include the number of users (hereinafter also referred to as the number of download users) who use the device (e.g., terminal device 200) that downloaded the heating profile. A maximum number of times that the heating profile can be used may be set, and the heating profile may become unusable when the maximum number of times is reached. If a user wants to continue using a heating profile, they will need to download the same heating profile again. As such, the number of downloads and the number of download users may not match.

[0129] The server 300 stores the download history of a heating profile in association with the heating profile. The server 300 then awards a reward to the user who created the heating profile based on the download history of the heating profile. For example, the server 300 may calculate the reward to be awarded to the user by multiplying the number indicated by the download history of the heating profile by a unit price. The method for calculating the reward will be described in detail below.

[0130] First, the server 300 calculates a reward for each heating profile. As one example, the server 300 may calculate the reward for each heating profile by multiplying the number of times the heating profile has been downloaded by a unit price. As another example, the server 300 may calculate the reward for each heating profile by multiplying the number of times the heating profile has been downloaded by a unit price. Of course, these calculation methods may be combined. For example, the reward for each heating profile may be calculated by adding up the rewards calculated by each calculation method.

[0131] Next, the server 300 calculates a reward for each user. For example, the server 300 may calculate a value obtained by aggregating rewards for heating profiles that include the same generating user ID in the meta information, as the reward to be given to the user corresponding to the generating user ID.

[0132] According to this configuration, a high reward is given to a user who generates a heating profile that is downloaded more frequently. Therefore, it is possible to motivate users to generate heating profiles that are downloaded more frequently. As a result, it is expected that better heating profiles will be generated, improving the quality of the overall user experience.

[0133] (3) Third Modification In the above example, the reward to be given to the user is calculated by multiplying the number of heating profile usage histories or download histories by a unit price. The unit price may be set to a fixed value or may be variable.

[0134] As an example, the server 300 may set a unit price when calculating a reward to be awarded to a user who created a heating profile based on the usage history of the heating profile. For example, the server 300 may set a higher unit price the more sticks consumed, the more puffs, or the longer the puff duration. Specifically, the server 300 may increase the unit price by 1.5 times the default when the number of sticks consumed exceeds 5,000, and by 2.0 times the default when the number of sticks consumed exceeds 10,000. This configuration can motivate users to create heating profiles that are downloaded more frequently, i.e., that are preferred by more users. As a result, better heating profiles are generated, which is expected to improve the overall quality of the user experience.

[0135] As another example, the server 300 may set a unit price when calculating a reward to be awarded to a user who created a heating profile based on the download history of the heating profile. For example, the server 300 may set a higher unit price the more downloads or the more users who have downloaded the heating profile. Specifically, the server 300 may increase the unit price by 1.5 times the default price when the number of downloads exceeds 5,000, and by 2.0 times when the number of downloads exceeds 10,000. This configuration can motivate users to create heating profiles that will be downloaded by more users, i.e., that are preferred by more users. As a result, better heating profiles can be generated, which is expected to improve the overall quality of the user experience.

[0136] (4) Fourth Modification In the above embodiment, an example in which the terminal device 200 generates the heating profile has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. The server 300 may generate the heating profile.

[0137] As an example, in the customization process, the terminal device 200 may accept a setting for an evaluation of the smoking taste and transmit the accepted evaluation of the smoking taste to the server 300. In this case, the server 300 customizes a heating profile based on the received evaluation of the smoking taste and transmits the customized heating profile to the terminal device 200.

[0138] As another example, in the customization process, after accepting the setting of the smoking taste evaluation, the terminal device 200 may accept a user operation to instruct the user to increase, decrease, or maintain the target temperature, and transmit such an instruction to the server 300. In this case, the server 300 customizes the heating profile based on the received instruction, and transmits the customized heating profile to the terminal device 200.

[0139] The server 300 may accumulate and learn the correspondence between the target temperature and the smoking taste evaluation set by the user. Then, the server 300 may change the target temperature based on the learned correspondence so as to improve the smoking taste evaluation. With this configuration, even a user who is unfamiliar with customizing heating profiles can easily generate a heating profile that achieves the user's desired smoking taste. Machine learning techniques such as deep learning or SVM (Support Vector Machine) may be used to learn the correspondence.

[0140] (5) Fifth Modification: A user may be granted authority regarding heating profiles. A user with stronger authority may enjoy greater freedom regarding the use or creation of heating profiles. The authority granted to a user will be described with reference to FIG. 9 .

[0141] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of authority granted to a user. As shown in FIG. 9, users are classified into a general user, a selected user, a customized user, and a master user, in order of the least authorized user. Authority granted to a general user is also referred to as general authority. Authority granted to a selected user is also referred to as selection authority. Authority granted to a customized user is also referred to as customization authority. Authority granted to a master user is also referred to as master authority. The server 300 may grant authority to a user based on various information such as the user's usage history of the suction device 100, the user's history of generating heating profiles, or a request from the user.

[0142] A general user is a user who has the authority to use a default heating profile. The default heating profile is, for example, a heating profile pre-installed in the suction device 100. A selected user is a user who, in addition to the authority of a general user, has the authority to use a heating profile created by another user. A customized user and a master user are users who, in addition to the authority of a selected user, have the authority to customize (i.e., create) a heating profile.

[0143] General users and selected users can easily enjoy the taste of their favorite vaping experience by using existing heating profiles. On the other hand, customized users and master users can enjoy the pleasure of creating heating profiles that realize their favorite vaping experience. In this way, by granting different privileges to each user, it is possible to provide each user with the experience they desire.

[0144] Here, master users are given preferential treatment over customized users in various respects, such as being able to generate heating profiles with a higher degree of freedom than customized users. Master users are users with good taste who are recognized by other users as generating particularly excellent heating profiles among users who customize heating profiles. It can also be said that master users are users who are more skilled at generating heating profiles than customized users. By giving preferential treatment to master users in various respects, users can be motivated to generate many excellent heating profiles. As a result, better heating profiles are generated, which is expected to improve the quality of the overall user experience.

[0145] The server 300 stores a user and an authority granted to the user in association with each other. For example, the server 300 stores a user ID of the user in association with the authority granted to the user. The terminal device 200 may also store the authority granted to the user of the terminal device 200.

[0146] At least one of the terminal device 200 or the server 300 performs processing related to the generation of a heating profile according to the authority granted to the user of the terminal device 200. Specifically, at least one of the terminal device 200 or the server 300 performs different processing depending on whether the user generating the heating profile is a master user or a customized user. For example, the terminal device 200 or the server 300 may provide a customization method with a high degree of freedom to the master user and a customization method with a low degree of freedom to the customized user. As an example, the master user may be able to set a target temperature, and the terminal device 200 may generate a heating profile based on the target temperature setting by the master user. On the other hand, the customized user may be able to set a smoking taste rating, and the server 300 may generate a heating profile based on the smoking taste rating setting by the customized user. The burden imposed on the user when customizing a heating profile is greater for a customization method with a higher degree of freedom and less for a customization method with a lower degree of freedom. In this regard, this configuration allows the customized user to easily customize the heating profile. On the other hand, the master user may be able to pursue their ideal heating profile while enjoying the high burden of customizing the heating profile. The master user may also make available special information useful for creating a heating profile. As an example, the master user may make available evaluation results of other users for a heating profile created by the master user himself / herself. The evaluation results may be, for example, evaluation results for each evaluation item or evaluation results for each brand of stick-type substrate 150 in which the heating profile is used. The master user may also make available the timing of puffs taken by other users when using a heating profile created by the master user himself / herself. The master user may also make available information about brands of stick-type substrates 150 that have not yet been released, or heating profiles for such stick-type substrates 150, in advance. The master user may also make it possible to attach special information to the heating profile created.For example, the master user may be able to attach information regarding recommended puff timing in the created heating profile, or comments for each puff, etc. In this way, by providing a customization method according to the granted authority, it is possible to provide a customized experience that is suitable for each user.

[0147] The server 300 may calculate the reward to be given to the user who created the heating profile based on the authority for generating the heating profile granted to the user who created the heating profile. As an example, the server 300 may set a unit price when calculating the reward to be given to the user who created the heating profile based on whether the user who created the heating profile is a master user or a customized user. Specifically, the server 300 may set a higher unit price if the user who created the heating profile is a master user, and a lower unit price if the user who created the heating profile is a customized user. This configuration can motivate customized users to rank up to master users. As a result, better heating profiles are generated, which is expected to improve the quality of the overall user experience.

[0148] (6) Sixth Modification The server 300 may assign a ranking to the heating profiles from a predetermined viewpoint. That is, the server 300 may rank the heating profiles created and uploaded by users.

[0149] The server 300 may rank the heating profiles based on the usage history of the heating profiles. For example, the server 300 may rank the heating profiles in descending order of the number of sticks consumed, the number of puffs, and / or the length of puffing time.

[0150] The server 300 may determine the ranking of the heating profiles based on the download history of the heating profiles. For example, the server 300 may assign higher rankings to heating profiles that have been downloaded more frequently and / or by more users.

[0151] The server 300 may determine the ranking of heating profiles based on evaluations of the heating profiles. The server 300 may accept evaluations from users who have downloaded and used heating profiles on a web page that makes the heating profiles available for download, and display the evaluations as word-of-mouth reviews. The server 300 may then rank the heating profiles in descending order of the evaluations.

[0152] The above describes an example of the evaluation criteria for determining the ranking. The server 300 may combine two or more of these evaluation criteria to rank the heating profiles.

[0153] The server 300 may display the heating profiles in the assigned ranking on a web page that publishes the heating profiles so that they can be downloaded. In this case, the higher the ranking of the heating profile, the more likely it is to be downloaded.

[0154] The server 300 may calculate the reward to be given to a user who creates a heating profile based on the ranking of the heating profile. As an example, the server 300 may set a higher unit price for a heating profile that is ranked higher. Specifically, the server 300 may set the unit price 5.0 times the default if the heating profile is ranked within the top 10 in terms of download count. This configuration can motivate users to create heating profiles that are ranked higher, i.e., that are preferred by more users. As a result, better heating profiles can be generated, which is expected to improve the quality of the overall user experience.

[0155] (7) Seventh Modification Example: A sales price may be set for the heating profile. In this case, the terminal device 200 can download the heating profile after payment of the purchase price equivalent to the set sales price is completed.

[0156] The server 300 may set the selling price according to a predetermined standard.

[0157] The server 300 may set a selling price for a heating profile based on the ranking of the heating profile. For example, the server 300 may set a higher selling price for a heating profile with a higher ranking.

[0158] Server 300 may set a selling price for the heating profile based on the user who created the heating profile. For example, server 300 may set a higher selling price if the user who created the heating profile is a master user, and may set a lower selling price if the user who created the heating profile is a customized user.

[0159] The server 300 may set a selling price for the heating profile based on the user who downloads the heating profile. For example, the server 300 may set a lower selling price for a user who downloads the heating profile frequently.

[0160] The above describes an example of criteria for setting a selling price. The server 300 may set the selling price of a heating profile by combining two or more of these criteria.

[0161] Of course, the server 300 may set a fixed selling price. For example, the server 300 may set a uniform selling price to the same amount for all heating profiles.

[0162] The server 300 may calculate a reward to be awarded to the user who created the heating profile based on the total sales amount of the heating profile, together with or instead of the usage history and download history of the heating profile. For example, the server 300 may first calculate the total sales amount by accumulating the sales price for the number of downloads. The server 300 may then award a percentage of the total sales amount of the heating profile to the user who created the heating profile. This configuration can motivate users to create heating profiles that sell better, i.e., that are preferred by more users. As a result, better heating profiles can be generated, which is expected to improve the quality of the overall user experience.

[0163] <4. Supplementary Information> Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can conceive of various modified or altered examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0164] In the above embodiment, an example in which the generating user ID is included in the meta information has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. Instead of including the generating user ID in the meta information, the server 300 may store the profile ID and the generating user ID in association with each other. In this case, the server 300 calculates the reward for each user by referring to the correspondence between the profile ID and the generating user ID. Specifically, the server 300 calculates the total value of the reward for each heating profile corresponding to the profile ID stored in association with the same generating user ID as the reward to be granted to the user corresponding to the generating user ID.

[0165] As mentioned in the above embodiment, the means for heating the aerosol source may be induction heating. In this case, the temperature to which the aerosol source is heated, which is controlled based on the heating profile, is the temperature of the susceptor. The temperature of the susceptor can be estimated based on the electrical resistance value of the electromagnetic induction source.

[0166] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the parameter related to the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated, which is specified in the heating profile, is the target temperature of the heating unit 121. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. Examples of parameters related to the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated include the temperature itself of the heating unit 121 described in the above embodiment, as well as the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 121. Furthermore, when the means for heating the aerosol source is induction heating, examples of parameters related to the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated, which are specified in the heating profile, include target values ​​such as the temperature of the susceptor or the electrical resistance value of the electromagnetic induction source.

[0167] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the inhalation device 100 generates an aerosol by heating the stick-shaped substrate 150, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. The inhalation device 100 may be configured as a so-called liquid atomization aerosol generator that generates an aerosol by heating and atomizing an aerosol source in the form of a liquid. The technology according to the present disclosure can also be applied to a liquid atomization aerosol generator.

[0168] As described above, the heating profile may be generated by the terminal device 200. Here, the terminal device 200 generating the heating profile may refer to a native application installed on the terminal device 200 generating the heating profile. Furthermore, the terminal device 200 generating the heating profile may refer to a PWA (Progressive Web App) provided for the terminal device 200 generating the heating profile. Here, the PWA may be provided by the server 300. In other words, the server 300 generating the heating profile may refer to a PWA (Progressive Web App) provided for the terminal device 200 generating the heating profile.

[0169] The series of processes performed by each device described herein may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The software programs may be stored in advance, for example, on a recording medium (more specifically, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) internal or external to each device. Each program is then loaded into RAM and executed by a processing circuit such as a CPU when executed by a computer controlling each device described herein. The recording medium may be, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory. The computer program may also be distributed, for example, via a network, without using a recording medium. The computer may be, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a general-purpose processor that executes functions by loading a software program, or a computer on a server used in cloud computing. The series of processes performed by each device described herein may also be distributed among multiple computers.

[0170] Furthermore, the processes described herein using flowcharts and sequence diagrams do not necessarily have to be performed in the order shown. Some process steps may be performed in parallel. Furthermore, additional process steps may be employed, and some process steps may be omitted.

[0171] Note that the following configurations also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. (1) An information processing device comprising: a communication unit that transmits control information used by an inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating the aerosol source, the control information defining parameters related to the temperature at which an aerosol source is heated, and receives a usage history that is information indicating a history of use of the control information by the inhalation device; a storage unit that stores the control information transmitted by the communication unit and the usage history received by the communication unit; and a control unit that calculates a reward to be awarded to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the usage history stored in the storage unit. (2) The information processing device described in (1), wherein the usage history includes at least one of the number of substrates including the aerosol source heated based on the control information, the number of puffs performed during heating based on the control information, the timing of the puffs, or the duration of the puffs performed during heating based on the control information. (3) The information processing device described in (1) or (2), wherein the control unit calculates a reward to be awarded to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on a ranking assigned to the control information from a predetermined perspective. (4) The information processing device according to (3), wherein the control unit determines the ranking of the control information based on at least one of the use history of the control information, the transmission and reception history of the control information, or an evaluation of the control information. (5) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the storage unit stores a transmission and reception history indicating a history of transmission and reception of the control information, and the control unit calculates a reward to be granted to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the transmission and reception history of the control information stored in the storage unit. (6) The information processing device according to (5), wherein the transmission and reception history of the control information includes at least one of the number of times the control information was transmitted and received or the number of users who use a device that received the control information. (7) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the control unit calculates a reward to be granted to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on an authority for generation of the control information granted to the user who contributed to the generation of the control information.(8) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the control unit calculates a reward to be granted to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on a total sales amount of the control information. (9) The information processing device according to (8), wherein the control unit determines a sales price of the control information based on a ranking assigned to the control information from a predetermined perspective, a user who contributed to the generation of the control information, or a user who uses a device that received the control information. (10) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the suction device uses the control information received from a device used by another user, and the control unit calculates a reward to be granted to the other user who uses a device that is a sender of the control information. (11) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the storage unit stores the control information, first identification information for identifying a user who contributed to the generation of the control information, and second identification information for identifying the control information, in association with each other. (12) An information processing method including: storing control information used by an inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, the control information specifying parameters related to the temperature at which an aerosol source is heated; transmitting the stored control information; receiving a usage history that is information indicating a history of the inhalation device's use of the control information; storing the received usage history; and calculating, by a control unit, a reward to be awarded to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the stored usage history.

[0172] 1 System 100 Suction device 111 Power supply unit 112 Sensor unit 113 Notification unit 114 Memory unit 115 Communication unit 116 Control unit 121 Heating unit 140 Storage unit 141 Internal space 142 Opening 143 Bottom 144 Heat insulating unit 150 Stick-shaped substrate 151 Substrate unit 152 Suction nozzle unit 200 Terminal device 210 Input unit 220 Output unit 230 Detection unit 240 Communication unit 250 Memory unit 260 Control unit 300 Server 310 Communication unit 320 Memory unit 330 Control unit 900 Network

Claims

1. a communication unit that transmits control information, which is used by an inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source and defines parameters related to the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated, and receives a usage history that indicates a history of the inhalation device using the control information; a storage unit that stores the control information transmitted by the communication unit and the usage history received by the communication unit; a control unit that calculates a reward to be given to a user who contributed to generation of the control information based on the usage history stored in the storage unit; An information processing device comprising:

2. the usage history includes at least one of the number of substrates including the aerosol source heated based on the control information, the number of puffs performed during heating based on the control information, the timing of puffs, or the duration of puffs performed during heating based on the control information; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit calculates a reward to be given to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on a ranking given to the control information from a predetermined perspective. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. the control unit determines the ranking of the control information based on at least one of the use history of the control information, the transmission / reception history of the control information, and an evaluation of the control information. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

5. the storage unit stores a transmission / reception history indicating a history of transmission / reception of the control information; the control unit calculates a reward to be given to a user who contributed to generation of the control information based on the transmission and reception history of the control information stored in the storage unit. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The transmission and reception history of the control information includes at least one of the number of times the control information has been transmitted and received, or the number of users who use devices that have received the control information. The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. the control unit calculates a reward to be granted to the user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the authority related to the generation of the control information granted to the user who contributed to the generation of the control information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. the control unit calculates a reward to be given to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the total sales amount of the control information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. the control unit determines the selling price of the control information based on a ranking assigned to the control information from a predetermined viewpoint, a user who contributed to the generation of the control information, or a user who uses a device that received the control information. The information processing device according to claim 8 .

10. the suction device uses the control information received from a device used by another user; the control unit calculates a reward to be given to the other user who uses the device that is the source of the control information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. the storage unit stores the control information, first identification information for identifying a user who contributed to generation of the control information, and second identification information for identifying the control information, in association with each other; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. storing control information for use by an inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating the aerosol source, the control information defining parameters related to the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated; transmitting the stored control information; receiving a usage history indicating a history of use of the control information by the suction device; storing the received usage history; calculating, by a control unit, a reward to be given to a user who contributed to the generation of the control information based on the stored usage history; An information processing method including: