Distributed Optical Code for Aerosol Consumable Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol generating apparatuses are vulnerable to using non-genuine consumable assemblies, which can lead to unauthorized aerosol production, as they replicate the mechanical properties of genuine consumables, making it difficult to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit products.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a machine-readable optical code, such as a QR code, on the consumable that is distributed across multiple discrete code-portions, requiring specific software to stitch together and verify the data, which includes verification steps for authenticity, age, and location, to enable or disable the aerosol generation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simple mechanical authentication is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability is worsened due to vulnerability to counterfeiting
Solution Approach 1:
The optical code is divided into multiple discrete code-portions distributed across different locations on the consumable assembly. Each code-portion contains a segment of the authentication data, and all portions must be successfully read and combined to verify authenticity. This segmentation makes counterfeiting more difficult while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
An optical code reading device acts as an intermediary between the consumable assembly and the consumer unit. The device reads the distributed optical code portions, stitches them together to reconstruct the full authentication data, and communicates with the consumer unit to verify authenticity. This intermediary layer enhances security without requiring complex manufacturing changes.
2Reliability
If distributed optical code is used, then reliability is improved through enhanced authentication, but device complexity is worsened due to software stitching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing camera or optical sensor in the consumer unit or external device to read the optical code, eliminating the need for specialized expensive reading hardware. The software stitching and verification processes are handled automatically by the device's existing processing capabilities, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high authentication reliability.
3Reliability
If verification steps are implemented, then reliability is improved by preventing unauthorized use, but ease of operation is worsened due to additional verification procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The optical code authentication is performed automatically as a preliminary step before the consumer unit is activated or the consumable is recognized. The verification process occurs in the background during the connection or initialization phase, so the user experiences minimal additional steps. The system proactively verifies authenticity before allowing operation, maintaining ease of use while ensuring security.
Data Source
AI summary
A consumable for forming an aerosol generating apparatus that comprises an aerosol forming precursor and data pertaining to the consumable encoded in machine-readable code. In some embodiments, the machine-readable code is optical code. Here, the machine readable optical code is provided on a surface of the consumable. The optical code suitably comprises a plurality of discrete code-portions provided at respective positions on said surface, and said data is distributed across said code-portions. By distributing the data across the plurality of discrete code-portions, the optical code can be read by a device and the data pertaining to the consumable stitched back together in software.