CN-122028821-A - Apparatus and method for access control to an aerosol provision device

Abstract

An apparatus for access control to an aerosol provision device is provided. The device includes a housing, a communication interface, and a processing circuit. The housing is configured to engage the aerosol provision device such that the aerosol provision device engages the apparatus. The communication interface is configured to enable a data connection with the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus. The processing circuitry is configured to send an unlock signal to the aerosol provision device over the data connection to unlock the aerosol provision device, thereby enabling the aerosol generator to be powered using the aerosol provision device to excite aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user.

Inventors

• Sean Alan Doherty
• Sean lucan

Assignees

• 莱战略控股公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240717

Priority Date

20230815

Claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus for access control to an aerosol provision device, the apparatus comprising: A housing configured to engage the aerosol provision apparatus such that the aerosol provision apparatus engages the device; A communication interface configured to enable a data connection with the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus, and A processing circuit configured to send an unlock signal to the aerosol provision device over the data connection to unlock the aerosol provision device, thereby enabling the aerosol provision device to be used to power an aerosol generator to excite aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is activated for use by a user, and the activation of the apparatus comprises verifying that the user is at an age that allows use of the aerosol provision device, and Wherein the processing circuit is configured to send an unlocking signal comprising authentication information interpretable by the aerosol provision device to indicate that the user has been authenticated.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to enable the data connection if and only if the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a user interface configured to receive an input uniquely identifying the user, and Wherein the processing circuitry is configured to process the input to authenticate the user and to send the unlock signal when the user passes authentication.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a receptacle configured to receive a portion of the aerosol provision device to engage the aerosol provision device with the apparatus.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is embodied as a sleeve for the aerosol provision device and the receptacle is formed in the housing and is sized to fit the portion of the aerosol provision device that is receivable in the receptacle.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication interface comprises an optical transmitter disposed in the receiving portion, the optical transmitter configured to enable a data connection with an optical receiver disposed on the portion of the aerosol provision device, wherein the receiving portion is configured to receive the portion.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a port configured to receive a cable connected to the aerosol provision device to engage the aerosol provision device with the apparatus.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises a power source, the cable is configured to provide a power connection between the apparatus and the aerosol provision device, and the apparatus further comprises: built-in power supply, and A discharge circuit configured to discharge the built-in power supply to charge a power supply of the aerosol provision device through the cable.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to automatically lock in response to a low voltage condition that the voltage level of the power supply is below a specified cutoff voltage, and Wherein the processing circuitry is configured to send the unlock signal to unlock the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus to charge a power source of the aerosol provision device.
11. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to automatically lock periodically, and the processing circuit is configured to continuously send the unlock signal to unlock the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus.
12. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second communication interface configured to enable a second wireless data connection separate and distinct from the data connection of the aerosol provision device, and Wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: activating a timer to measure elapsed time, and And stopping sending the unlocking signal to the aerosol provision device to allow the aerosol provision device to automatically lock and remain locked in response to a timeout condition, wherein the timeout condition is that no computer on the whitelist of one or more computers is within wireless range of the second communication interface when the elapsed time reaches a specified period of time.
13. 13. A method for access control to an aerosol provision device, the method comprising: Engaging the aerosol provision apparatus with a device comprising a communication interface enabling a data connection with the aerosol provision apparatus when the aerosol provision apparatus is engaged with the device, and An unlock signal is sent from the apparatus to the aerosol provision device over the data connection to unlock the aerosol provision device, thereby enabling the aerosol generator to be powered using the aerosol provision device to excite aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user.
14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is activated for use by a user, and the activation of the device includes verifying that the user is at an age that allows use of the aerosol provision device, and Wherein the transmitted unlocking signal comprises authentication information interpretable by the aerosol provision device to indicate that the user has been authenticated.
15. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication interface enables the data connection if and only if the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus.
16. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises a user interface that receives input that uniquely identifies the user, and the method further comprises the apparatus: Receiving said input uniquely identifying said user, and The input is processed to authenticate the user and the unlock signal is sent when the user is authenticated.
17. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a receiving portion, and engaging the aerosol provision device with the apparatus comprises receiving a portion of the aerosol provision device into the receiving portion.
18. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is implemented as a sleeve for the aerosol provision device and the receiving portion is formed in the apparatus and is sized to fit the portion of the aerosol provision device received in the receiving portion.
19. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the communication interface comprises an optical transmitter disposed in the receiving portion, and the optical transmitter enables a data connection with an optical receiver disposed on the portion of the aerosol provision device that is received in the receiving portion.
20. 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a port, and engaging the aerosol supply device with the apparatus comprises receiving a cable connected to the aerosol supply device into the port.

Description

Apparatus and method for access control to an aerosol provision device Cross Reference to Related Applications The application claims the benefit of U.S. non-provisional application No. 18/234,192, filed 8/15 of 2023, incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems, such as smoking articles designed to deliver at least one substance to a user. Background For many years, as an improvement or alternative to smoking products requiring the use of combusted tobacco for use, a number of aerosol supply systems have been proposed, particularly non-combustible aerosol supply systems. These systems are typically designed to deliver at least one substance to a user, for example to meet a particular "consumer moment". To this end, the substance may comprise a component that produces a physiological effect, a sensory effect, or both, to the user. The substance may typically be present in an aerosol-generating material which may comprise one or more of a range of ingredients, such as active substances, flavourants, aerosol former materials and other functional materials (e.g. fillers). Aerosol delivery systems include, for example, atomized products commonly referred to as "electronic cigarettes," "electronic cigarettes," or electronic nicotine delivery systems (end), as well as heat-non-burn products, including Tobacco Heating Products (THP) and carbon-tip tobacco heating products (CTHP). Many of these products take the form of systems that include equipment and consumables, and it is the consumable that contains the source material of the substance to be delivered. Typically, the device is reusable, while the consumable is single-use (although some consumables are refillable). Thus, in many cases, the consumable is sold separately from the device and is typically packaged in multiple pieces. In addition, the subsystems and individual components of the device or consumable may come from a specialized manufacturer. Disclosure of Invention Many aerosol supply systems may suffer from certain limitations, including age limitations, wherein the use of the aerosol supply system is limited by the age of the user. Any of a variety of authentication methods may be employed in order to meet the need for access control of the aerosol provision system. Many of these authentication methods may require significant changes to the structure and operation of existing aerosol supply systems, resulting in additional costs and may also introduce regulatory limitations. It may therefore be desirable to introduce a way of providing access control to an aerosol supply system by means of a separate device that can be engaged with the aerosol supply system. The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for access control to an aerosol provision system. According to various exemplary embodiments, the apparatus includes a housing configured to engage an aerosol supply device. For example, this may include a receiving portion configured to receive a portion of the aerosol supply device, or a port configured to receive a cable connected to the aerosol supply device. The apparatus includes a communication interface for enabling a data connection with an aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus, and a processing circuit for sending an unlock signal to the aerosol provision device over the data connection to unlock the aerosol provision device. And in various examples, the unlock signal includes authentication information interpretable by the aerosol provision device to indicate that the user is at an age that allows use of the aerosol provision device. The present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following exemplary embodiments. Some example embodiments provide an apparatus for access control of an aerosol provision device, the apparatus comprising a housing configured to engage the aerosol provision device to thereby engage the aerosol provision device with the apparatus, a communication interface configured to enable a data connection with the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus, and processing circuitry configured to send an unlock signal to the aerosol provision device over the data connection to unlock the aerosol provision device to thereby enable the aerosol generator to be powered using the aerosol provision device to excite an aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user. Some example embodiments provide a method of access control of an aerosol provision device comprising engaging the aerosol provision device with an apparatus comprising a communication interface capable of enabling a data connection with the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is engaged with the apparatus, and transmitting an unlock signal from the apparatus to the aerosol provision device over the data connection to unlock the aerosol