Aerosol Payment Device With Genuine Article Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for an aerosol generating device that can facilitate the payment of tobacco articles used in aerosol generating devices, while ensuring that only genuine tobacco articles are purchased and that unauthorized users, such as minors, are prevented from making payments.

Innovation Solution

The aerosol generating device includes a heater, a battery, a communication unit, and a controller. The controller receives payment target tobacco article information, determines if the tobacco article is genuine, and transmits payment information to the seller terminal only if the article is genuine. Additionally, user authentication is required to activate the device and enable payments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a payment system is implemented for tobacco articles, then purchase tracking and user authentication can be achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional communication and control functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment securityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aerosol generating device is designed to perform multiple functions: heating tobacco articles to generate aerosols, authenticating users through biometric or input verification, communicating with seller terminals for payment processing, and verifying tobacco article authenticity. By integrating these diverse functions into a single device, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining payment security and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the payment processing functionality directly within the aerosol generating device by integrating a communication unit that interfaces with seller terminals. This merging of payment functions into the existing device structure avoids the need for separate payment devices, thereby managing complexity while achieving reliable payment tracking and authentication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If authentication functions are added to verify user identity, then unauthorized access by minors can be prevented, but the ease of operation decreases due to additional authentication steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser authenticationVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual authentication methods with biometric authentication technology. Instead of requiring users to manually input identification information or present physical ID documents, the device uses biometric sensors to automatically verify user identity. This substitution maintains high authentication reliability while significantly improving ease of operation, as biometric verification is quick and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If communication functions are integrated for payment processing, then payment tracking and genuine article verification are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional communication units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment information transmissionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication unit within the aerosol generating device is designed to handle multiple communication tasks simultaneously: transmitting payment information to seller terminals, receiving authentication data, verifying tobacco article authenticity through encoded information, and maintaining device settings. This multi-functional communication capability improves information transmission efficiency while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate communication modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures that only genuine tobacco articles are paid for, preventing the purchase of non-genuine articles and restricting payments to authorized users, thereby addressing concerns related to age restrictions and article compatibility.

Implementation Method 1

a heater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250113873A1Aerosol generating device and payment system including the same

Publication Date: 2025.04.10 KT&G CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device used for payment of tobacco articles for aerosol generating devices, and a payment system using the same. An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment includes a heater, a battery configured to supply power to the heater, a communication unit configured to communicate with a seller terminal, and a controller configured to receive payment target tobacco article information from the communication unit, determine whether a payment target tobacco article is genuine based on the payment target tobacco article information, and transmit payment information to the seller terminal through the communication unit based on the payment target tobacco article being determined to be genuine.