Biometric Receiving Dock for Locked Aerosol Generator Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aerosol-generating systems face challenges in securely authenticating users without complicating the device design, particularly in ensuring that only authorized individuals, such as adults or system proprietors, can use the device for aerosol consumption.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol-generating system with a receiving device that includes a biometric sensor for user authentication, transmitting an authentication signal to an aerosol-generating device to switch it into a locked or unlocked state based on user verification, allowing secure user authorization without modifying the aerosol-generating device's geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fingerprint sensor is arranged on the hand-held aerosol-generating device for user authentication, then user authorization can be ensured, but the device design becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is divided into two separate components: the receiving device (charging case) contains the biometric sensor for authentication, while the aerosol-generating device only executes locking/unlocking commands. This segmentation moves the complex authentication hardware away from the handheld device, simplifying its design while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving device acts as an intermediary between the user and the aerosol-generating device. It performs the biometric authentication and communicates the result to the aerosol-generating device via wireless communication, eliminating the need for the aerosol-generating device to have built-in authentication hardware.
2Reliability
If authentication means are integrated into the aerosol-generating device, then user verification can be performed, but the device geometry and design are modified
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication functionality is segmented from the aerosol-generating device and placed in the receiving device. This allows the aerosol-generating device to maintain its original geometry and design while still achieving user verification through the separate authentication system.
3Reliability
If biometric authentication is implemented in the receiving device, then unauthorized use is prohibited, but additional components are added to the system
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving device is designed to serve multiple functions: it charges the aerosol-generating device wirelessly and performs biometric authentication. By making the receiving device multi-functional, no additional dedicated authentication device is needed, thus preventing unauthorized use without significantly increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating device having a locked state in which the aerosol-generating device is prohibited from generating aerosol and an unlocked state in which the aerosol-generating device is permitted to generate aerosol; and a receiving device to at least partially receive the aerosol-generating device, each of the aerosol-generating and the receiving devices includes a communication interface to communicatively couple the aerosol-generating device with the receiving device, the receiving device including a control arrangement with at least one biometric sensor to authenticate a user of the system based on sensing at least one biometric feature of the user, and the control arrangement being configured to transmit an authentication signal to the aerosol-generating device to configure the aerosol-generating device into the locked state or into the unlocked state, the authentication signal being indicative of a successful or an unsuccessful authentication of the user at the receiving device.