WO2025056553A1

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Publication number: WO2025056553A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/075265
Authority: WO
Inventors: Najeeb YOUNOSSI
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2023-09-11
Filing date: 2024-09-10
Publication date: 2025-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-11
Also published as: GB202313830D0

Abstract

A one-piece aerosol provision device, which is not configured to receive a consumable comprising aerosol material, the aerosol provision device comprising: a controller configured to control operation of the aerosol provision device; and a control interface configured to receive an input and provide input data to the controller corresponding to the input, wherein the controller is configured to: receive the input data responsive to receipt of the input data, determine whether the input passes a predetermined test that information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol provision device, wherein passing the predetermined test indicates that verification of a user as an appropriate user has occurred; and responsive to determining that the input passes the predetermined test, switch from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to a first mode, in which functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material is disabled, to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to a second mode, in which the functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material is enabled.

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol provision system, an aerosol provision device, and a method of generating vapour.

BACKGROUND

The operation of delivery systems, such as aerosol provision systems, may be controlled by a controller. A delivery system may comprise an outer housing, a memory, a controller configured to control operation of the delivery system, a control interface for receiving inputs to the delivery system and providing outputs from the delivery system, and a power source configured to supply electrical power for operation of the delivery system. The delivery system may also comprise an aerosol generator, configured to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material, which may be in the form of a liquid, solid, or gel. The operation of the delivery system may be controlled by the controller comprised in the delivery system, or by a controller of a further device which communication circuitry of the control interface of the delivery system is configured to connect to and communicate data with. For example, the further device may send data comprising instructions to perform a control action to the communication circuitry of the delivery system. The operation of the delivery system may be controlled by a distributed system, comprising the delivery system and one or more further devices, such as an external power source device, and/or a computing device, which together control the operation of the delivery system.

SUMMARY

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device is a one-piece disposable aerosol provision device which is not configured to be refillable with aerosol generating material.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device is a non-rechargeable one-piece aerosol provision device, not comprising a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises comprising a heating assembly, the heating assembly comprising a heating element for heating the aerosol generating material.

In embodiments, the heating assembly is configured to cause the heating element to become heated by resistive heating.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises a reservoir configured to store aerosol generating material.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises aerosol generating material stored in the reservoir.

In embodiments, the aerosol generating material is liquid aerosol generating material.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises a transfer arrangement configured to deliver aerosol generating material from the reservoir to the heating element.

In embodiments, the control interface comprises one or more input components for receiving inputs from a user.

In embodiments, the one or more input components comprise one or more of: i) a button configured to be pressed by a user; ii) a switch configured to be pushed by a user; and ii) a dial configured to be rotated by a user.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device does not comprise communication circuitry configured to communicate data with one or more further devices which comprises a wireless communication module or wired communication module. In embodiments, the control interface comprises communication circuitry configured to communicate data with one or more further devices.

In embodiments, the communication circuitry comprises a wireless communication module.

In embodiments, the wireless communication module comprises a Bluetooth module.

In embodiments, the communication circuitry comprises a wired communication module.

In embodiments, the wired communication module comprises a USB interface.

In embodiments, to determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated using the identifier of the aerosol provision device.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated using the identifier of the aerosol provision device by determining whether the information was generated by applying a predetermined software function to the identifier.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated using the identifier of the aerosol provision device by testing whether a first key of the aerosol provision device matches a second key which is a pass key comprised in the information in the input.

In embodiments, to determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by testing whether the information has a cryptographic association with a first key of the aerosol provision device.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by using the first key of the aerosol provision device which is a public key to test whether a corresponding second key of the authorized computing device which is a private key was used to generate the information.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by using the first key of the aerosol provision device which is a private key to test whether the information comprises a corresponding second key of the authorized computing device that matches the first key.

In embodiments, the control interface is configured to provide outputs, and wherein the controller is configured to, when controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode, and responsive to the receipt of input data from the control interface corresponding to instructions to perform a control action which is disabled in the first mode, cause the control interface to provide an alert output indicating that verification of the user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device is required.

In embodiments,, after switching to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode, the controller is configured to either: i) continue controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode; or ii) switch back from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode responsive to the passing of a period of time or the receipt of input data from the control interface corresponding to an instruction to switch from the first mode to the second mode, wherein, after switching back to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode, the controller is configured to again switch to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode responsive to determining that an input passes the predetermined test, each input which passes the predetermined test being different to the previous input which passed the predetermined test.

In embodiments, the identifier is a unique identifier of the aerosol provision device.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises a memory, wherein the unique identifier is stored in the memory.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises an identifier portion which represents the identifier.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises an outer housing, wherein the identifier portion is arranged on the outer housing, and wherein: i) the identifier portion comprises an optical code within which the unique identifier is encoded; or ii) the identifier portion comprises text, wherein the identifier is readable to the user from the text.

According to an aspect there is provided a system comprising: the aerosol provision device of any preceding claim; and a further device, wherein the further device is configured to provide i) an input to the one or more input components of the aerosol provision device, or ii) instructions to a user to provide an input to the one or more input components of the aerosol provision device, wherein the input indicates that verification of a user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device has occurred.

In embodiments, the further device is a local computing device.

In embodiments, the system further comprises an authorized computing device, wherein the authorized computing device is configured to generate the input responsive to the receipt of a mode switch request comprising the identifier of the aerosol provision device, and send the input to the further device.

In embodiments, the aerosol provision device is a non-rechargeable one-piece aerosol provision device, not comprising a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source. In embodiments, the method comprises comprising sending, by a local computing device, material for verification of a user as an appropriate user of an aerosol provision device, to an authorized computing device; and assessing, using the authorized computing device, the material to determine one or more characteristics of the user.

In embodiments, the method comprises sending, by a local computing device, a mode switch request to an or the authorized computing device, the mode switch request being a request to switch, by the controller, from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode, and comprising an identifier of the aerosol provision device.

In embodiments, the method comprises, responsive to the receipt of the mode switch request, verifying, by the authorized computing device, whether the user of the aerosol provision device is an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device.

In embodiments, the method comprises generating, by an or the authorized computing device, an input to provide to the aerosol provision device indicating that verification of a user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device has occurred, if verification that the user is an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device has occurred, and sending, by the authorized computing device, the input to an or the local computing device.

In embodiments, generating the input comprises, by the authorized computing device, generating the input using the identifier of the aerosol provision device, such that information in the input has a testable association with the identifier of the aerosol provision device.

In embodiments, generating the input, by the authorized computing device, comprises applying a predetermined software function to the identifier.

In embodiments, generating the input comprises, by the authorized computing device, generating the input such that it can be determined, by the controller, that information in the input was generated by the authorized computing device.

In embodiments, generating the input, by the authorized computing device, comprises generating the input such that information in the input has a cryptographic association with a first key of the aerosol provision device. In embodiments, generating the input, by the authorized computing device, comprises generating the input using a second key of the authorized computing device which is a private key, the first key of the aerosol provision device being a public key which corresponds to the private key.

In embodiments, generating the input, by the authorized computing device, comprises selecting a pass key associated with the identifier of the aerosol provision device in a memory of the authorized computing device, and generating the input such that information in the input comprises the pass key.

In embodiments, providing the input to the control interface comprises sending, by a further device, data to communication circuitry of the control interface.

In embodiments, providing the input to the control interface comprises providing, by a user, a sequence of manipulations to one or more input components of the control interface.

According to an aspect there is provided a method of manufacturing a one-piece aerosol provision device, which is not configured to receive a consumable comprising aerosol material, comprising: generating an identifier for the aerosol provision device; providing the aerosol provision device with the identifier, and storing the identifier in a memory of an authorized computing device; generating a first key for the aerosol provision device; storing the first key in the memory of the aerosol provision device; generating a second key for the authorized computing device, wherein the second key has a cryptographic association with the first key; storing the second key in the memory of the authorized computing device.

In embodiments, providing the aerosol provision device with the identifier comprises storing the identifier in a memory of the aerosol provision device.

In embodiments, providing the aerosol provision device with the identifier comprises providing the aerosol provision device with an identifier portion which represents the identifier.

In embodiments, the first key is a public key, and the second key is a private key.

In embodiments, the first key is a private key, and the second key is a pass key which matches the first key. In embodiments, storing the second key in the memory of the authorized computing device comprises storing the second key in the memory of the authorized computing device in association with the identifier.

According to an aspect there is provided a controller configured to control operation of a one-piece aerosol provision device, which is not configured to receive a consumable comprising aerosol material, wherein the controller is configured to: receive input data from a control interface of the aerosol provision device corresponding to an input received by the control interface; responsive to receipt of the input, determine whether the input passes a predetermined test that information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol provision device; and responsive to determining that the data passes the predetermined test, switching from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to a first mode, in which functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material is disabled, to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to a second mode, in which the functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material is enabled.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by testing whether the information has a cryptographic association with a first key of the aerosol provision device. In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by using a first key of the aerosol provision device which is a public key to test whether a corresponding second key of the authorized computing device which is a private key was used to generate the information.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by using a first key of the aerosol provision device which is a private key to test whether the information comprises a corresponding second key of the authorized computing device that matches the first key.

Each of the embodiments discussed above may be applied to any of the aspects, and likewise may be combined with any other embodiments.

FIGURES

Aspects of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a schematic representation of an aerosol provision system in accordance with certain embodiments.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of system comprising an aerosol provision device, an external power source device, a local computing device, and a remote computing device, in accordance with certain embodiments.

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart representation a method for an aerosol provision system, in accordance with certain embodiments.

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart representation of a method of manufacturing an aerosol provision system, in accordance with certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed or described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed/described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features. The present application is generally directed to the field of “delivery systems”, i.e. systems that deliver at least one substance to a user. Generally, the aim of delivering that substance to a user will be to satisfy a particular “consumer moment”. To this end, the substance may comprise constituents which impart a physiological effect on the user, a sensorial effect on the user, or both. In this context, the substance will generally be present in an aerosol-generating material or another material that is not intended to be aerosolised. The material itself (whether for aerosolisation or not) will typically contain a range of constituents. These are generally broken down as active substances, flavours, aerosol-former materials and other functional materials like fillers. An active substance, when delivered to a user, may result in some form of psychological effect on the user.

The delivery systems take many forms. According to the present disclosure, a “combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

Exemplary combustible aerosol provision systems include cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material). Exemplary non-combustible aerosol provision systems include heat-not-burn aerosol provision systems (such as Tobacco Heating Products (THPs) and Carbon-tipped Tobacco Heating Products (CTHPs)) in which a solid material is heated to generate aerosol without combusting the material, vapour aerosol provision systems (commonly known as “electronic cigarettes” or “e-cigarettes”) in which liquid material is heated to generate aerosol, and hybrid aerosol provision systems that are similar to vapour aerosol provision systems except that the aerosol generated from the liquid material passes through a second material (such as tobacco) to pick up additional constituents before reaching the user. Exemplary aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

While various techniques will be described herein with regard to non-combustible aerosol provision systems, these may readily be applied in the context of any of the aforementioned delivery systems, for example by implementation within a delivery system where feasible, or in a “smart” container for delivery systems, e.g. for storing delivery systems. The delivery system described herein can be implemented as a combustible aerosol provision system, a non-combustible aerosol provision system or an aerosol-free delivery system.

An aerosol provision system is used to generate aerosol from an aerosol generating material. Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or semisolid (such as a gel) which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material. The aerosol-generating material may comprise a binder, such as a gelling agent, and an aerosol former. Optionally, a substance to be delivered and/or filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent, such as water, is also present and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free from botanical material. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be an “amorphous solid”. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating materiel comprises an aerosol-generating film that is an amorphous solid. The amorphous solid may be a “monolithic solid”. The amorphous solid may be substantially non-fibrous. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may, for example, comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid. The amorphous solid may be substantially free from botanical material. The amorphous solid may be substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

As is common in the technical field, the terms "vapour" and "aerosol", and related terms such as "vaporise", "volatilise" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably. In use, an inhalation on the aerosol provision system occurs when a user inhales aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material. A sequence of inhalations can be considered a “session”. A sequence may correspond to a characteristic pattern of inhalations. A sequence may correspond to a predetermined number, or range, or inhalations on the aerosol provision system by the user. For example, a session may be defined as 10 inhalations, or between 8 to 12 inhalations. Additionally or alternatively, a session may be defined by a predetermined time from an initial inhalation on the aerosol provision system (for example, with aerosol generating material being heated to a target temperature for the predetermined time). For example the predetermined time may be under 4 four minutes, under 6 minutes, or under 10 minutes. Hence, a session can be defined when the total number inhalations reaches a predetermined number, or range, of inhalations and/or when the time elapsed from the initial inhalation reaches the predetermined time. It should be appreciate that the values for the predetermined number of inhalations and predetermined time have been given purely as an example, and other numbers and times may be used in other implementations as appropriate.

Additionally or alternatively, in an embodiment a session corresponds to a sequence of inhalations, the sequence separated from another session by a pause of more than a threshold duration. The threshold duration may be selected for ease of comprehension by the user (e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or 55 minutes, or more preferably a period in the range 5-45 minutes, or more preferably a period in the range 10-30 minutes, or still more preferably a period in the range 15-20 minutes), or it may be selected on a pharmokinetic basis, such as the so-called half-life of nicotine in the body (approximately 2 hours) or a physiological basis, such as a perceived drop in brain stimulation by the nicotine (for example in the order of 15-25 minutes, averaging around 18-20 minutes). Optionally this half- life may in turn be individualised, e.g. on the basis of sex, build (size, weight etc), ethnicity and the like. A look-up table of half-life values, and/or a scaling value for one or more physiological factors of the user may be used to refine an otherwise generic half-life value. Hence an inhalation session may comprise a characteristic pattern and/or may be separated from another session by a threshold duration of non-use.

In such exemplary two-piece aerosol provision systems, the consumable and aerosol provision device are able to engage with one another. For example, the consumable may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the aerosol provision device, using an engagement interface of the aerosol provision device and a corresponding engagement interface of the consumable. The engagement interface of the aerosol provision device may comprise mechanical engagement means for mechanical coupling with the consumable, e.g. with corresponding mechanical engagement means of the consumable. The engagement interface may comprise an electrical engagement interface for electrically connecting with the consumable, e.g. with a corresponding electrical engagement interface of the consumable. The electrical engagement interface of the aerosol provision device may be configured to supply electrical power to the consumable, for example to an aerosol generator of the consumable (as will be discussed in more detail herein).

While an exemplary consumable commonly comprises a single portion of aerosol generating material, in some cases the consumable may comprise a plurality of portions of aerosol generating material, each of which may be different. In such cases, the consumable may be received by an aerosol provision device which is configured to generate aerosol from one or more of the plurality of portions of aerosol generating material. For example, the aerosol provision device may be configured to generate aerosol independently from each of the portions of aerosol generating material. Each portion of aerosol generating material may be a discrete portion, wherein the plurality of discrete potions are separate from one another such that each of the discrete portions may be energised (e.g. heated) individually, and/or may be energised (e.g. heated) independently, to generate an aerosol.

In some examples, the aerosol provision device may be configured to receive a plurality of consumables, which may each comprise different aerosol generating material respectively. In use, the plurality of consumables are received by the aerosol provision device, and the aerosol provision device is configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol generating material of one or more of the consumables, each of which aerosol may be generated from independently. Devices conforming to this type of configuration may generally be referred to as multi-consumable devices, which together with the plurality of consumables may generally be referred to as multi-consumable systems. Multi-consumable devices and systems such as these may use any of the features used in a two-piece aerosol provision devices and systems, such as, but not limited to the aerosol generating material, aerosol generator, power source, control interface, controller, and memory (as will be discussed in more detail herein). Likewise, these components may be enclosed at least partly within an outer housing which may be formed from any suitable material, for example a plastics material or a metal.

However, the present invention applies to arrangements in which the aerosol provision device is a one-piece aerosol provision device, which is not configured to receive a removable consumable, and instead the aerosol provision device itself comprises the aerosol generating material. The one-piece aerosol provision device may be configured to be refillable, such that when at least a portion of the (initial) aerosol generating material of the aerosol provision device is exhausted, it can be refilled with (new) aerosol generating material. Alternatively, the one-piece aerosol provision device may be a disposable one-piece aerosol provision device, which the user can dispose of once the aerosol generating material has been exhausted (for example, after a predetermined number of inhalations), and for example is not configured to be refillable by the user. Further, the one-piece aerosol provision device may be a non-rechargeable one-piece aerosol provision device, not comprising a charging interface (as will be discussed in more detail herein) for receiving power from an external power source. A one-piece aerosol provision device such as these (either refillable or disposable) may use any of the features used in two-piece (and/or multi-consumable) aerosol provision systems, such as, but not limited to, the aerosol generating material, aerosol generator, power source, control interface, controller, and memory (as will be discussed in more detail herein). Likewise, these components may be enclosed at least partly within an outer housing which may be formed from any suitable material, for example a plastics material or a metal.

The aerosol provision system comprises a mouthpiece, through which the user can draw aerosol that has been generated from the aerosol generating material. The mouthpiece may comprise a material that feels comfortable to the lips of the user, for example a plastic or rubber material. As a user inhales on the mouthpiece, air is drawn through the aerosol provision system, which combines with the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material. The user can then inhale this combination of air and aerosol, such that substance of the aerosol can be delivered to the user. An aerosol provision system may comprise one or more air inlets, which can be located away from a mouthpiece of the system. When a user sucks on the mouthpiece, air is drawn in through the one or more air inlets, and past the location where the aerosol is generated. There may be a flow path connecting between this location and an opening in the mouthpiece, so that the air drawn in through the one or more air inlets continues along the flow path to the opening, carrying the aerosol with it. The aerosol then exits the aerosol provision system through the mouthpiece, e.g. the opening thereof, for inhalation by the user. The mouthpiece may be a part of the aerosol provision device, or may be a separate component which forms a part of the aerosol provision system in addition to the aerosol provision device.

The construction of the aerosol provision system (and aerosol provision device thereof) may change depending upon the form of the aerosol generating material which it is configured to generate aerosol from. However, while examples will be discussed below with regard to various different forms of aerosol generating material, and correspondingly different aerosol provision device constructions, the techniques discussed herein may be applied in all forms of the aerosol generating material.

The aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) comprises an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol generating material, the aerosol being generated at an aerosol generation area of the aerosol provision system. The aerosol generator often, but not always, comprises a heating assembly configured to heat the aerosol generating material and cause it to volatise, thereby generating aerosol which can be inhaled by the user. While many features will be discussed herein with regard to an aerosol generator which comprises a heating assembly, we note that these features may likewise be applied to an aerosol generator which does not necessarily comprise a heating assembly.

The aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) often comprises a heating chamber, which the heating assembly is configured to heat, such that aerosol generating material in the heating chamber is heated. In such arrangements, the heating chamber may correspond to the aerosol generation area. The heating chamber is configured to receive aerosol generating material.

The heating assembly may comprise a heating element, and the heating assembly is configured to heat the heating element. The heating element is for heating the aerosol generating material, e.g. by being configured to heat the heating chamber. The heating element may be a part of the aerosol provision device, or may be a separate component which is a part of the aerosol provision system in addition to the aerosol provision device. A plurality of corresponding heating elements may be used, which the heating assembly may be configured to heat independently, e.g. such that they can heat individually or in combination. In the case of a system comprising a plurality of portions of aerosol generating material, a plurality of corresponding heating elements may be used, each being configured to heat a corresponding portion of aerosol generating material. A plurality of heating elements may also be configured to heat different regions of the same portion of aerosol generating material.

In some arrangements the heating assembly is configured to cause the heating element to become heated by resistive heating, wherein a current is passed through the heating element in order to cause heating to occur as a result of the electrical resistance of the heating element. In some arrangements the heating assembly is configured to cause a heating element to become heated by inductive heating, in which case a magnetic field generator of the heating assembly is configured to generate a varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating element, and causes susceptor material within the heating element to become heated. In other words, the susceptor material is configured to be heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The magnetic field generator may comprise a coil, such as a helical coil, which may encircle at least part of the heating chamber.

The heating element may become heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field because the susceptor material comprises electrically conductive material, and the varying magnetic field causes the induction of eddy currents within the susceptor material that cause heating to occur. This may, in alternative or in addition, be because the susceptor material comprises magnetic material, and the varying magnetic field causes the heating of the susceptor material by the mechanism of magnetic hysteresis. In embodiments, the susceptor material may comprise material which is both electrically conductive and magnetic.

The heating element, e.g. the susceptor material thereof (when present), may comprise one or more materials selected from the group comprising a metallic material such as aluminium, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze, or a non-metallic material such as conductive carbon or graphite.

Arrangements are contemplated in which the heating assembly comprises a radiation heating component configured to generate radiation for heating the aerosol generating material, e.g. for heating the heating chamber. The radiation may comprise electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared radiation or microwave radiation, or sonic radiation, such as ultrasonic radiation. In such arrangements, as with arrangements discussed above with regard to a heating element, the heating assembly may be configured to heat independently different portions of aerosol generating material, or different regions of the same portion of aerosol generating material. Generally, this may be enabled by the heating assembly being configured to heat independently different regions of the heating chamber. Each of these heating techniques may be applied to any of the aerosol generating materials discussed above, or any other form of delivery system which uses heating to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material.

In arrangements where the aerosol generating material is a liquid, the aerosol generating can be stored within a reservoir comprised in the aerosol provision system. The reservoir may a part of the aerosol provision device, particularly in the case that the aerosol provision device is a one-piece aerosol provision device

The reservoir may have the form of a storage tank, being a container or receptacle in which aerosol generating material can be stored such that the liquid is free to move and flow within the confines of the tank. A transfer arrangement which may comprise a wick or other porous element may be provided to deliver aerosol generating material from the reservoir to the heating element. The transfer arrangement may have one or more parts located inside the reservoir, or otherwise be in fluid communication with the aerosol generating material in the reservoir, so as to be able to absorb aerosol generating material and transfer it, e.g. by wicking or capillary action, to other parts of the transfer arrangement that are adjacent or in contact with the heating element. This aerosol generating material is thereby heated and vaporised, to be replaced by new aerosol generating material from the reservoir for transfer to the heating element by the wick transfer arrangement. The transfer arrangement may be thought of as a conduit between the reservoir and the heating element that transfers aerosol generating material from the reservoir to the heating element.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source. The power source may, for example, comprise an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the power source comprises a battery, such as a rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery. The power source is connected to the heating assembly and configured to supply power to the heating assembly, such that the power source is configured to supply power to the heating assembly, and the heating assembly is configured to use power supplied by the power source to heat aerosol generating material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) comprises a controller configured to control operation of the aerosol provision system. It will be appreciated the functionality of the controller can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and I or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry I chip(s) I chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. It will be appreciated the controller may comprise a microcontroller (MCU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a central processing unit (CPU), and/or a micro-processor. The controller may be considered to be processing circuitry. The operations of the controller are generally controlled at least in part by software programs executed on the controller. Generally, the aerosol provision device of the aerosol provision system comprises the controller, but this need not always be the case.

The controller may be configured to control operation of the aerosol generator, e.g. the heating assembly thereof. While many arrangements will be discussed with regard to the controller being configured to control operation of the heating assembly of the aerosol generator, these may be more generally applied to an aerosol generator which may or may not comprise a heating assembly. The controller is connected to the power source and the aerosol generator, and is configured to control the supply of power from the power source to the aerosol generator. As such, the controller may be configured to control the heating of aerosol generating material by the heating assembly.

The controller may be configured to heat aerosol generating material in accordance with a heating profile, e.g. by causing the heating assembly to heat the aerosol generating material in accordance with the heating profile. A heating profile refers to the variation of temperature of a material over time. For example, the varying temperature of a heating element measured at the heating element for the duration of a session of use may be referred to as the heating profile of that heating element (or equally as the heating profile of the heating assembly unit comprising that heating element). The heating element provides heat to the aerosol generating material during use, to generate an aerosol. The heating profile of the heating element therefore induces the heating profile of aerosol-generating material, e.g. which is disposed near the heating element.

The aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) may also comprise a memory. The memory may comprise volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) or flash memory, and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable read only memory (EEROM), or electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). In embodiments, this memory comprises controller memory which is a part of the controller, and which may be integrated in the controller. The memory may additionally or alternatively comprise external memory, connected to the controller, and external to the controller. The external memory may be removable from the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof), and may comprise an SD card or a microSD card. Software programs for execution by the controller may be stored on the memory.

The aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) may also comprise a control interface for receiving inputs and/or providing outputs. For instance, the control interface may be configured to receive inputs, and provide input data to the controller corresponding to the received inputs. The control interface may be configured to receive output data from the controller, and provide outputs corresponding to the output data received from the controller.

The control interface may comprise a user interface comprising one or more input components for receiving inputs from a user, and one or more output components for providing outputs to a user. The one or more input components are configured to receive inputs from a user, and provide corresponding input data to the controller. The one or more input components may be configured to receive the inputs from a user in the form of physical manipulation by the user. The one or more input components may comprise a button (such as a rolling button), a switch, a dial, a microphone, a camera, an accelerometer, a touchscreen, or any plurality or combination thereof. The one or more input components may be assigned to functions such as switching the aerosol provision device on and off, and selecting an operating mode of the aerosol provision system (as will be discussed in more detail herein). The one or more output components are configured to receive output data from the controller, and provide corresponding outputs to a user. The one or more output components may comprise a light, such as an LED, a speaker, a haptic component, a display, such as a screen, or any plurality or combination thereof. The controller may be configured to cause the one or more output components to provide an output indicating a property of the aerosol provision system, for example a property of the aerosol generating material, or the remaining power of the power source, and so forth. The control interface may comprise one or more sensors for detecting one or more properties relating to the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof), which may be configured to provide input data to the controller comprising sensor data relating to the detected one or more properties. The one or more sensors may comprise a puff sensor configured to detect a user inhalation on the aerosol provision system. The one or more sensor may comprise a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature relating to the aerosol provision system, e.g. the temperature of the heating assembly, the heating element, the aerosol generating material, the environment surrounding the aerosol provision system. The one or more sensors may comprise a biometric sensor configured to detect a biometric property relating to the user, e.g. a fingerprint, a heart rate, a breathing property.

The communication circuitry may be configured to receive inputs, comprising data, from a further device, and provide (e.g. send) outputs, comprising data, to a further device. The communication circuitry may be configured to provide input data to the controller corresponding to inputs, comprising data, received from a further device, and configured to provide (e.g. send) outputs, comprising data, to a further device corresponding to output data provided by the controller. As such, the controller may receive (via the communication circuitry) data sent to the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) by a further device, and the controller may send (via the communication circuitry) data from the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) to a further device. The data received from the further device may comprise instructions for the controller of the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) to perform one or more control actions. The data provided to (e.g. sent to) the further device may comprise instructions for the further device to perform one or more control actions. Reference to a device sending data to a further device may be understood to correspond to the controller of the device causing communication circuitry of the device to send data to be received by control circuitry of the further device, corresponding input data to which is then received by the controller of the further device from the control circuitry of the further device.

The communication circuitry may comprise a wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless data connection with one or more further devices, and/or communicate data with one or more further devices using a wireless data connection. For example, the wireless communication module may comprise a Bluetooth module (e.g. a Bluetooth Low Energy module), a ZigBee module, a WiFi module (e.g. a Wifi Direct module), a 2G module, a 3G module, a 4G module, a 5G module, an LTE module, an NFC module, an RFID module, an optical communication module configured to communicate data using optical signals, an audio communication module configured to communicate data using audio signals, or other wireless communication module. As a result, the wireless data connection may correspondingly be a Bluetooth connection (e.g. a Bluetooth Low Energy connection), a ZigBee connection, a WiFi connection (e.g. a WiFi Direct connection), a 2G connection, a 3G connection, a 4G connection, a 5G connection, an LTE connection, and NFC connection, and RFID connection, an optical data connection, and audio data connection, or other wireless data connection. More generally, it will be appreciated that any wireless protocol can in principle be used for the wireless data connection.

The communication circuitry may also or alternatively comprise a wired communication module configured to establish a wired data connection with one or more further devices, and/or communicate data with one or more further devices using a wired data connection. For example, the wired communication module may comprise a wired interface such as a USB interface (e.g. a USB-A interface, a USB-B interface, a mini- USB interface, a micro-USB interface, a USB-C interface, or a USB-3 interface), a Thunderbolt interface, or other wired data interface. As a result, the wired data connection may correspondingly be a USB connection (e.g. a USB-A connection, a USB- B connection, a mini-USB connection, a micro-USB connection, USB-C connection, or a USB-3 connection), a Thunderbolt connection, or other wired data connection. More generally, it will be appreciated the wired module may comprise any wired interface using a wired protocol which enables the transfer of data, according to, for example, a packet data transfer protocol, and may comprise pin or contact pad arrangements configured to engage cooperating pins or contact pads on a further device which can be connected to the aerosol provision system (e.g. aerosol provision device thereof).

The controller may be configured to control operation of the aerosol provision system in dependence of input data received from the control interface. This input data may comprise input data provided from the one or more input components of the user interface, input data provided from the one or more sensors comprising sensor data, and input data provided from the communication circuitry corresponding to data received from a further device. In dependence of an event (e.g. responsive to the event) such as the receipt of input data, the controller may be configured to perform a control action, such as initiate functionality of a component of the aerosol provision system (e.g. cause the heating assembly to begin heating, cause the one or more output components to provide outputs to a user, or cause the communication circuitry to provide outputs to further device), change the parameters associated with functionality of a component of the aerosol provision system, enable or disable functionality of a component of the aerosol provision system.

The controller may be configured to perform a control action in dependence of an event, in which case the controller will determine whether and how to perform the control action depending on the occurrence or not of the event, and e.g. depending on the properties of the event. However, while this control action may be performed directly after the event, i.e. as triggered by the event, this need not be the case, and the control action may be performed at a later time. The controller may be configured to perform a control action responsive to an event, in which case the controller will then perform the action (directly after or at a later time), i.e. the performance of the action is triggered by the event. For example, the controller may cause a heating assembly to heat aerosol generating material responsive to a puff sensor detecting a user inhalation, directly after the inhalation is detected.

The aerosol provision device may comprise a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source. For example, the charging interface may be for receiving power from an external power source comprising a charging cable. Also provided as part of a system comprising the aerosol provision system may be an external power source device configured to connect to the aerosol provision device, for example the charging interface thereof, and supply power to the aerosol provision device. The external power source device may comprise an electrical power source, comprising a battery, such as a rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery. The external power source device may be configured to provide power to charge the electrical power source of the aerosol provision device. The external power source device may be a “charging case”, comprising a recess configured to receive at least part of the aerosol provision device, wherein the external power source device is configured to connect to the charging interface when the aerosol provision device is received in the recess.

The external power source device may comprise either or both of a controller and memory. The controller and memory of the external power source device may use any of the features discussed with regard to the controller and memory discussed above in regard to the aerosol provision system. The controller of the external power source device may be configured to control the supply of power to the aerosol provision device. The external power source device may also likewise comprise a control interface for receiving inputs and/or providing outputs, which may use any of the features of the control interface discussed above in regard to the aerosol provision system. For instance, the control interface may comprise communication circuitry configured to connect to one or more further devices, and enable a data connection to be established with one or more further devices. In this context, a further device to the external power source device may be the aerosol provision device, another external power source device, or (as described further herein) a computing device.

The charging interface of the external power source device may also be configured to communicate data with the external power source, when connected. In such arrangements, the charging interface corresponds to a wired communication component (i.e. of the communication circuitry of the external power source device) configured to communicate data using a wired data connection. The charging interface may comprise a wired interface such as a USB interface (e.g. a USB-A interface, USB-B interface, mini-USB interface, micro-USB interface, USB-C interface, or USB-3 interface), Thunderbolt interface, or other wired interface.

A system comprising the aerosol provision system may also comprise one or more computing devices, configured to connect to the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof), and communicate with the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) using a data connection (e.g. wired or wireless). The one or more computing devices may comprise a local computing device which may be controlled or owned by the user, which may comprise a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), a wearable device (e.g. a smart watch), a refilling device for refilling an aerosol provision device with aerosol generating material, or a connectivity hub. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more computing devices may comprise a remote computing device, which may be not controlled or owned by the user, such as a server.

The computing device may comprise either or both of a controller and memory. The controller and memory of the computing device may use any of the features discussed with regard to the controller and memory discussed above in regard to the aerosol provision system. The computing device may also likewise comprise a control interface for receiving inputs (e.g. from a user) and/or providing outputs (e.g. to a user), which may use any of the features of the control interface discussed above in regard to the aerosol provision system. The control interface may comprise communication circuitry configured to connect to a further device, and communicate data with a further device. In this context, a further device to the computing device may be the aerosol provision device, the external power source device, or another computing device.

The aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) may establish communication with a remote computing device directly, using one of the wireless protocols described above, for example by connecting with a communication node (such as a telecommunications “base station”) which provides connectivity with the remote computing device. Alternatively or in addition, the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof) may establish communication with the remote computing device via a local computing device, for example using a wired or wireless communication protocol to communicate with a local computing device, which then communicates with the remote communication device. The local computing devices may also communicate indirectly with the remote computing device via a relay device (which may be a further computing device), either to fulfil an aspect of their own functionality, or on behalf of the aerosol provision system (for example as a relay or co-processing unit).

The computing devices may also send data to each other, either directly or indirectly via any of the wired or wireless communication protocols set out above. Thus, in embodiments, a given first device and second device (e.g. any of the aerosol provision device, external power source device, and computing devices) may generally be in either a connected or unconnected state with respect to each other. The unconnected state may also be referred to as an idle state, and in such a state a given first device may not be detectable by other second devices (i.e. the first device is not transmitting any signalling enabling its existence and/or identity to be determined), or it may be available for establishing a data connection with a second device (i.e. it may be advertising its existence and/or identity using advertisement signalling). In a connected state, the first and second devices are configured such that data may be transferred from the first to the second device (e.g. ‘uplink’ transmission) and/or transferred from the second to the first device (e.g. ‘downlink’ transmission). Accordingly, establishment of a data connection between a first and second device may be considered to comprise the establishment of any state wherein the two devices can exchange data, regardless of the direction of data transfer. Non-limiting examples of connected states are the establishment of an RRC connected state according to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, or a connected state according to the Bluetooth (e.g. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)) standard.

When a first and second device are configured to communicate wirelessly, a transition from an unconnected to a connected state will generally follow a procedure such as the following. In an initial enquiry step, a first device (for example, an aerosol provision device, although this may be applied to any aforementioned device) establishes the existence of a second device (for example, a computing device, although this may be applied to any aforementioned device) by receiving a beacon signal or other identifying signal from the second device. In an authentication step, the first and second devices exchange messaging to establish information relating to the data transfer protocol to be used for exchanging data (for example comprising coding and encryption parameters to be used when exchanging data). In a data transfer step, the first and second devices transfer data over a wireless interface established in accordance with an agreed data transfer protocol. This data transmission may be bi- or uni-directional. The data communication process for wired communications may be broadly similar with the difference that data is sent over a wired interface as opposed to a wireless interface.

A system comprising any aerosol provision system and any combination of an external power source device and computing devices, as described further herein, may be used to support functions of the aerosol provision system. These functions may be referred to as “connected” functions, in that they relate to the transmission of data between the aerosol provision system and other connected devices (e.g. one or more computing devices). Such an arrangement may be considered advantageous for enhancing aspects of the operation of an aerosol provision system. For example, an aerosol provision device enabled to receive data from further devices may be able to receive software updates or updated parameters (e.g. relating to the generating of aerosol by an aerosol generator) from a computing device. Determination of suitable parameters may entail significant processing overheats which are more efficiently carried out on computing devices, having higher processing capability than is typically provided on an aerosol provision system, where low energy consumption (for extended battery life) and reduced complexity (for cost reduction) are generally considered advantageous.

A computing device (such as a smartphone) may also be used by a user to provide inputs to the control interface of the aerosol provision system, which may be particularly advantageous where motivations exist to keep input components or output components on an aerosol provision system to a minimum, for example to reduce complexity and cost. Thus an application (“app”) running on a computing device may support what are in effect offloaded or relayed functions for an aerosol provision device which has a direct or indirect (e.g. relayed) data connection with the computing device according to the approaches described above. Hence, the aerosol provision system may, via its communication circuitry, send data to a computing device (e.g. data based on sensor data received by the controller of the aerosol provision system, relating to the usage of the aerosol provision system), and the computing device may provide information relating to the aerosol provision system to the user via the app. Alternatively, or in addition, the user may select a control action via the app, and data relating to the control action may be sent by the computing device to the aerosol provision system, whereupon the controller of the aerosol provision system performs the control action.

Herein will be described various methods of operating an aerosol provision system. While these methods may be described in the context of control of an aerosol provision system by a controller of the aerosol provision system (e.g. the aerosol provision device thereof), it is recognised that these methods may be performed by any of the controllers of a broader system comprising any combination of one or more aerosol provision devices, one or more external power source devices, and one or more computing devices, or by any of these controllers in combination. In particular, as each of these controllers may be able to communicate with some or any of the other controllers in a system comprising any of an aerosol provision device, an external power source, and a computing device, data such as instructions to perform one or more control actions may be communicated between any of these, either directly or indirectly. As such, a method of operating an aerosol provision system may be performed by a “distributed” aerosol provision system comprising any combination of the aerosol provision device, the external power source device, and the computing device discussed above, for example performed by any one or more controllers of these. Accordingly, even though particular method steps may be described in the context of the controller of a particular device, it is anticipated that such control actions may be, where feasible, in alternative arrangements be performed by another of these controllers, and that various method steps may be performed by various corresponding different controllers. Various embodiments will now be described in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a schematic representation of a one- piece aerosol provision system 1 in accordance with certain embodiments.

However, while the device 100 of Figure 1 is presented in the context of aerosol generating material 170 which is a liquid aerosol generating material 170, it is noted that the techniques discussed herein may equally be applied to a one-piece aerosol provision device which is configured to store or comprises aerosol generating material which is not a liquid, and which may be in the form of a solid or a gel.

A one-piece aerosol provision device 100 may have a limited period of use, for instance because the heating assembly 160 (including the heating element) may become degraded over time, and the aerosol generating material 170 may be exhausted. Furthermore, the aerosol provision device 100 may be non-rechargeable, such that the aerosol provision device 100 does not comprise a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source. This may be because the power source 140 is not a rechargeable battery, and instead is a non-rechargeable power source which is of a reduced cost. Accordingly, it is advantageous if the one-piece aerosol provision device 100 can be manufactured with a reduced number of components and complexity, in order to keep the power consumption and costs associated with the device low for a user. Even if the power source 140 is rechargeable, a reduction in the number and complexity of electrical components may still be advantageous for enabling a smaller dimension and lighter power source 140 to be used.

As a result, the one-piece aerosol provision device 100 may be without communication circuitry configured to communicate data with one or more further devices, which comprises a wireless communication module or wired communication module. In other words, the one-piece aerosol provision device 100 may be without a wireless communication module (e.g. a Bluetooth module, or any other wireless communication module described above), or without a wired communication module (e.g. a USB interface, or any other wired communication module described above). Further, the one-piece aerosol provision device 100 may be without a biometric sensor configured to detect a biometric property relating to the user. Instead, the control interface 130 of the aerosol provision device 100 may comprise one or more input components for receiving inputs from a user. The one or more input components may be configured to receive physical inputs comprising a sequence of physical manipulations by a user. In such cases, the one or more input components may comprise one or more buttons configured to be pressed by a user, to receive physical inputs comprising a sequence of presses. Likewise, the one or more input components may comprise one or more switches configured to be pushed by a user, to receive physical inputs comprising a sequence of switches. Further, the one or more input components may comprise one or more dials configured to be rotated by a user.

However, it is noted that in other arrangements, the control interface 130 does comprise communication circuitry configured to communicate data with one or more further devices. For instance, the communication circuitry may comprise a wireless communication module, (e.g. a Bluetooth module, or any other wireless communication module described above), or a wired communication module (e.g. a USB interface, or any other wired communication module described above).

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a system, comprising an aerosol provision system 2 which is an aerosol provision device 2, an external power source device 260, local computing devices 271, 272, 273, and a remote computing device 280. The aerosol provision device 200 may have any of the properties of the aerosol provision device 100, discussed above.

In this arrangement, the remote computing device 280 is a server, which exists on the cloud 290. Each of the local computing devices 271, 272, 271 are connected to each other, as well as being connected to each further device. Various data connections 20 between each of these devices is depicted, illustrating how data may be sent between any given first and second device. In use, when these data connections 20 are established (either using wired or wireless protocols), data can be sent from a first device, such as the aerosol provision device 200, to a second device, such as the remote computing device 280, either directly via the direct data connection between these two devices (if it exists), or indirectly, relayed by another device or multiple other devices.

In the case of the aerosol provision device 200 and the remote computing device 280, data such as usage data collected by the aerosol provision device can be sent to the remote computing device 280 by sending the data to the external power source device 260 through a wired data connection. Then, the external power source device sends the data to first local computing device 271, which is a smartphone 271 , through a wireless data connection. The wireless data connection between the smartphone 271 and the external power source device 260 is a Bluetooth connection, established using a Bluetooth module of the smartphone 271 and a Bluetooth module of the external power source device 260.

The smartphone 271 then sends the data to the remote computing device 280 through a wireless data connection. The wireless data connection between the smartphone 271 and the remote computing device 280 is a 3G wireless connection, established using a 3G module of the local computing device, connected with a corresponding communication node (such as a telecommunications “base station”) which provides connectivity with the remote computing device 280.

A user may also use this network of data connections 20 to cause control actions to be performed on the aerosol provision device 200 by the controller thereof. Using an app on second local computing device 272 such as a smartphone or a personal computer, the user can select a control action, and the personal computer 272 then sends data relating to the control action to the remote computing device 280 through a wired data connection. The remote computing device 280 then sends data relating to the control action to the smartphone 271, using the 3G wireless connection discussed above.

The smartphone 271 then sends data relating to the control action to the external power source device 260 using the Bluetooth connection discussed above, and the external power source device 260 then sends data relating to the control action to the aerosol provision device 200 through the wired data connection between the aerosol provision device 200 and the external power source device 260. The data relating to the control action is received by the controller of the aerosol provision device 200, and the controller causes the aerosol provision device 400 to perform the control action.

For an aerosol provision device, such as aerosol provision devices 100, 200, it is desirable to ensure that the aerosol provision device is operated by an appropriate user. This may be because particular functionality of the aerosol provision device may only be appropriate for use by an appropriate user, or, in a given jurisdiction, may only be permitted for an appropriate user having particular characteristics (for example, being older than an age threshold).

For example, in the first mode functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from an aerosol generating material may be disabled. In arrangements such as the aerosol provision device 100 this may be because functionality of the aerosol generator, e.g. the heating assembly 220, 320, is disabled. In other arrangements, this may be because functionality of the aerosol provision device to supply power to an aerosol generator is disabled. In whichever case, this functionality is disabled in the first mode, and enabled in the second mode.

All functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from any aerosol generating material may be disabled, or particular functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material having particular properties may be disabled. Functionality of the aerosol provision device to cause an aerosol generator to generate aerosol in particular manners may be disabled in the first mode. For example, functionality of the aerosol provision device to cause a heating assembly of an aerosol generator to heat aerosol generating material according to one or more heating profiles may be disabled. Furthermore, functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate, store, or send usage data relating to a user’s usage of the aerosol provision device may be disabled in the first mode. Each of these aspects of functionality, or any others, may be enabled in the first mode, and disabled in the second mode.

In the case of a one-piece aerosol provision device such as one-piece aerosol provision device 100, it may be advantageous to have a device of reduced complexity as discussed above. Accordingly, the present application is directed to an approach for switching from the first mode to the second mode following verification of a user as an appropriate user, which is advantageous in the context of a one-piece aerosol provision device.

A method for providing an input to cause the aerosol provision device 100 to switch mode will now be described with regard to the flow diagram of Figure 3, which shows a flow chart representation of this method, in accordance with certain embodiments. In step S1-1 , a user in the possession of, or intending to purchase, an aerosol provision device in the first mode, logs in to or creates a (digital) user profile, using a local computing device. Although any appropriate further device discussed above may be used, this local computing device may be a smartphone or computer, such as any of the local computing devices 471 , 472, 473, or any other type of local computing device to which the user may input the data necessary to log in to or create the user profile. In particular, the user may use an app on the local computing device to log in to their user profile by submitting a username and password, or to create a user profile by submitting the information of the user, such as their name, email address, postage address, and a password.

This user account is associated with the aforementioned verification of the user as an appropriate user, and is stored on an authorised computing device. The authorised computing device may be a remote computing device, such as remote computing device 280 on the cloud 290. The authorised computing device may, in arrangements, comprise a plurality of computing devices, for example a network of computing devices. The authorised computing device is controlled by the manufacturer of the aerosol provision device 100, or an entity operating with or on behalf of the manufacturer to perform verification of users as appropriate users. The authorised computing device has the authority to indicate that the verification has occurred, and generate the necessary input to be provided to the aerosol provision device 100 which can cause the controller 120 to switch from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode to the second mode.

The local computing device may communicate data with the authorised computing device using any of the data connections discussed above, such as the approaches discussed in regard to Figure 2. For example, in the case that the local computing device is a smartphone, and the authorised computing device is a remote computing device such as a server, the local computing device may communicate data with the authorised computing device through a wireless data connection such as a 3G , 4G, or 5G wireless data connection, established using a 3G, 4G, or 5G module of the local computing device, connected with a corresponding communication node (such as a telecommunications “base station”) which provides connectivity with the remote computing device. As another example, the local computing device may connect to the internet through a wireless data connection which is a WiFi data connection, established using a WiFi module of the local computing device, and communicate with the authorised computing device though the internet.

In step S1-2, the user uses the local computing device to submit material, via their user profile, for their verification as an appropriate user of an aerosol provision device, to be sent to the authorised computing device. This material may include an image or video of the user and/or one or more user identification documents such as a passport or identity card. For example, the user may use a camera of the local computing device to capture the image or video of themselves, as well as images of the one or more user identification documents, or alternatively may upload images captured in advance and stored on the local computing device. Once the user has submitted this material for their verification as an appropriate user on the local computing device, via their profile, the local computing device then sends this material to the authorised computing device.

Although steps S1-1 and S1-2 are discussed above in regard to an approach in which a user uses a local computing device to create or log in to a user account, and submit material for their verification as an appropriate user, other approaches are also contemplated. For example, in the case that the authorised computing device is operated by an authorised person such as a retailer of the aerosol provision device, or an employee of the manufacturer of the aerosol provision device, the user may in step S1-1 provide details to the authorised person so that they may create or log in to a user account of the authorised computing device, and the user may provide the authorised person with the materials for their verification directly in step S1-2, either with a physical copy from which an image or video can be obtained by the authorised person, or with a digital copy.

In step S1-3, the authorised computing device assesses the material in order to determine one or more characteristics of the user, or may provide the material to an authorised person in order to determine one or more characteristics of the user. These one or more characteristics may include the user’s age, or other medical or non-medical characteristics of the user. The one or more characteristics can be stored by the authorised computing device, associated with the user profile of the user. The one or more characteristics can then be used by the authorised computing device to verify that the user is an appropriate user for particular functionality of the aerosol provision device 100, such as functionality of the aerosol provision device 100 to generate aerosol, or any of the other functionality discussed above. In some approaches, the one or more characteristics can be used to verify that the user is an appropriate user for a set of aerosol provision devices in a particular jurisdiction.

We note that while steps S1-1, S1-2, and S1-3 may be performed before the user comes into possession of an aerosol provision device, they may also be performed after the user comes into possession of an aerosol provision device. In particular, the user may be prompted by attempting to use an aerosol provision device which is in the first mode to verify themselves as an appropriate user, by performing these steps. For example, the user of aerosol provision device 100 who attempts to use functionality which is disabled may receive an output from the control interface. In other words, the controller 120 may be configured to, when controlling operation of the aerosol provision device 100 according the first mode, and when input data is received from the control interface 130 which corresponds to an instruction to perform a control action comprising functionality which is disabled in the first mode, cause the control interface 130 to provide an alert output indicating that verification of the user as an appropriate user is required. This alert output may be provided using communication circuitry of the control interface 130, by sending the alert output to a further device (e.g. a local computing device, such as a smartphone), or may be provided using one or more output components of the control interface, such as a haptic component or one or more lights.

Next, in step S2-1 , the user uses the local computing device to submit a mode switch request, via the user profile, to switch from the aerosol provision device 100 being in the first mode to the second mode. The local computing device sends a mode switch request to the authorised computing device for an input to provide to the aerosol provision device 100 to switch from the first mode to the second mode, and indicating that verification of the user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device has occurred. While this request may be made using the same local computing device as discussed in regard to steps S1-1 , S1-2, S1-3, this need not be the case, and the local computing device used for this and subsequent steps may be different. However, all of the same options for the selection of the local computing device and the communication of data between the local computing device and the remote device may still apply to S2- 1 , and the subsequent steps.

This mode switch request comprises an identifier of the aerosol provision device 100, which is submitted to the local computing device. This identifier may be a unique identifier of the aerosol provision device 100 which is stored in the memory 110, for example a unique code. This identifier may be generated during the manufacture of the aerosol provision device 100, as will be discussed in further detail with regard to Figure 4 and may be stored in the memory 110, and in memory of the authorised computing device.

The aerosol provision device 100 may comprise an identifier portion which represents the identifier. This identifier portion may be visible to the user, and visually represent the identifier, and may, for example, be arranged on the outer housing 105. For example, the identifier portion may comprise an optical code such as a barcode or a QR code, within which the identifier is encoded, which can be read by the local computing device (or other computing device) in order to submit the identifier to the local computing device. In other approaches, the identifier portion may comprise a readable representation of the identifier, such as text, wherein the identifier is readable to the user from the text, and thus can be submitted to the local computing device. In other approaches, the identifier portion may be an RFID tag from which the identifier is readable by interrogation with the local computing device (or other computing device) in order to submit the identifier to the local computing device. Along with the identifier, the mode switch request may comprise information regarding the user, and may comprise a timestamp for the time at which the request was sent by the local computing device.

Arrangements are also contemplated in which one or more input components of the control interface 130 are provided on an input component portion of the aerosol provision device 100. The input component portion of the aerosol provision device 100 may have been manufactured separately, and connected to the remainder of the aerosol provision device 100 after separate manufacture. In such cases, at least a portion of the memory 110 may be arranged in the input component portion, and at least a portion of the controller 120 may likewise be arranged in the input component portion. The one or more input components may also have a respective input component identifier, which may have the same properties of the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100, but which may have a different value, and acts as an identifier of the one or more input components. This input component identifier may be stored in the portion of the memory 110 arranged in the input component portion, and may have been generated during the manufacture of the input component portion.

In other approaches, in which the control interface 130 of the aerosol provision device 100 comprises communication circuitry for communication data with one or more further devices, the controller 120 may read the identifier (if stored in the memory 110), and cause the communication circuitry to send the identifier to the local computing device via a data connection. For example, the communication circuitry may comprise a wireless communication module, in which case a wireless data connection is established with the local computing device, and the identifier is sent to the local computing device using the wireless data connection. Likewise, the communication circuitry may comprise a wired communication module, in which case a wired data connection is established with the local computing device, and the identifier is sent to the local computing device using the wired data connection.

In step S2-2, the authorised computing device receives the mode switch request from the local computing device, and generates an input to be provided to the aerosol provision device 100 indicating that the verification of the user in S1-3 has occurred. In order to ensure that the input is applicable to the aerosol provision device 100, and not other unintended aerosol provision devices, this input can be generated by the authorised computing device to be associated with the identifier. For example, the input can be generated by the authorised computing device such that the input has a testable association with the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100. In order to avoid the aerosol provision device 100 switching from the first mode to the second mode as a result of a counterfeit input generated by a non-authorised computing device, the authorised computing device may also generate the input in a manner that it can be determined by the controller 120 of the aerosol provision device 100 as being generated by the authorised computing device (rather than a different, non-authorised computing device).

Various techniques can be used by the authorised computing device in order to generate an input which is associated with the identifier, and likewise various techniques can be used in order to generate the input in a manner which is identifiable to the controller 120 as being generated by the authorised computing device. Approaches which can achieve one or both of these aims of authenticating that the input is associated with the identifier and from the authorised computing device, which can be used in step S2-2, will now be discussed.

In order to generate an input which is associated with the identifier, the authorized computing device can generate the input having information in the input (e.g. encoded in the input) by applying a predetermined software function to the identifier received in the mode switch request. This can be done on the understanding that the controller 120 is also provided with a corresponding predetermined software function, which may be applied to information in the input in order to determine whether it was generated by the authorised computing device using the identifier. In other words, the controller 120 may be configured to apply a corresponding predetermined software function to the information in the input in order to determine whether the information was generated by applying a predetermined software function to the identifier. In some cases, this approach may have the controller 120 configured to “reverse engineer” the identifier from the information in the input received, and compare this to the identifier stored in memory 110.

These approaches of authentication can involve the use of a first key of the aerosol provision device 100, stored in the memory 110, and a second key stored in memory of the authorized computing device. Both the first key and the second key are cryptographic keys, the term “cryptographic key” with regard to the present invention referring to a piece of information (usually a string of characters comprising letters and/or numbers), to which a software function can be applied for authentication. Each of the first key and the second key may be a string of characters (e.g. a code) of as few as three digits, although in most cases more digits are used, such as more than five, or more than ten. The first key and the second key are cryptographically associated with one another, such that each key corresponds to the other, and one key may be used to test whether the other has been used to generate information (e.g. the information comprises the other key). In techniques which use the first key and second key, the input can generally be generated by the authorised computing device using the second key. Once the input is received by the aerosol provision device 100, the controller 120 can use the first key to test whether the corresponding second key of the authorised computing device was used to generate the input. In approaches where the first key of the aerosol provision device 100 can be used to test whether the input was generated by the authorised computing device, it can be said that information in the input has a cryptographic association with the first key of the aerosol provision device 100.

In an approach known as “asymmetric” (or “public key”) cryptography, the first key of the aerosol provision device 100 is a public key, and the second key of the authorised computing device is a corresponding private key. A public key may be generally available to the public without impacting the integrity of the cryptography technique, while a private key remains confidential. In this case, the input is generated by the authorised computing device using the private key. For example, the input may be generated by applying a software function to the private key, as a result of which the input may be considered to be cryptographically “signed” by the private key. Once the input is received by the aerosol provision device 100, the controller 120 can use the first key which is the public key to test whether the private key (i.e. the second key) of the authorised computing device was used to generate information in the input. If it is determined by the test that the second key was used, then the controller 120 can be considered to have authenticated that the input is from the authorised computing device (rather than from a different, non-authorised source).

With this technique alone, it is noted that the same second key which is a private key may be used by the authorised computing device to generate inputs for various different aerosol provision devices, each of which may use the same public key as the first key to check this. In such cases as these, where the same private key is used to generate inputs for various different aerosol provision devices, it may not be possible with this technique alone to confirm that the input is associated with the identifier of the particular aerosol provision device 100. As such, this technique may be combined with the technique above for authenticating that that the input is associated with the identifier, in which the input is generated by applying a predetermined software function the identifier. As a result, in such an approach the input may be generated by the authorised computing device by applying a predetermined software function to both the identifier and the private key, to generate an input which is depends both on the identifier and the private key of the authorised computing device.

In another approach known as “symmetric” (or “secret key”) cryptography, the first key of the aerosol provision device 100 is a private key, and the second key of the authorised computing device is a corresponding pass key, which is associated in memory of the authorised computing device with the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100. The authorised computing device may therefore store in memory a library of pass keys, each associated with an identifier of a corresponding aerosol provision device, each pass key matching a private key of the corresponding aerosol provision device. It is noted that the term “matching” here does not necessarily mean that the private key is the same as the corresponding pass key (although in approaches they may be the same), but rather that there may be a functional (e.g. mathematical) correspondence, such as a one-to-one correspondence, between the pass key and the private key that is testable, e.g. by the controller 120. In this approach, to generate the input the authorised computing device uses the identifier in the mode switch request to select the pass key associated in the memory with the identifier, and generates an input comprising the pass key. When the input is then received by the aerosol provision device 100, the controller 120 may be configured to test whether the pass key contained in information in the input meets predetermined criteria, by using the first key of the aerosol provision device 100 to test that the pass key matches the first key.

In approaches in which the aerosol provision device 100 comprises an input component portion, the authorised computing device may store an association between the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100, the input component identifier, and the second key. Additionally, the first key of the aerosol provision device 100 may be stored in the portion of memory 110 in the input component portion. When the mode switch request is received, comprising the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100, the authorised computing device then identifies the associated input component identifier, and the associated second key. Using this associated second key, the authorised computing device can generate an input which corresponds to the first key, and which, after being received by the one or more input components of the input component portion, can be assessed by the portion of the controller 120 in the input component portion, for example using the predetermined test as discussed in detail below.

Next, in step S2-3, once the input has been generated by the authorised computing device (using the above approaches or any others) the authorised computing device sends the input to the local computing device. This may be sent using any of the connections between the authorised computing device and the local computing device discussed above, and the local computing device may be configured to alert the user to the receipt of this input responsive to receiving it.

Then, in step S2-4, once the input has been received by the local computing device, the input can be provided to the one or more input components of the control interface 130 of the aerosol provision device 100. The process of actually providing the input to the aerosol provision device 100 may vary depending on whether the control interface 130 comprises one or more input components for receiving an input from the user, or communication circuitry for communicating with one or more further devices (or, in embodiments in which both are present, either of these may be used). In the case that the control interface 130 comprises communication circuitry for communicating with one or more further devices, the input may be in the form of data sent by the local computing device to the communication circuitry of the control interface 130, such as a wired or wireless communication module of the communication circuitry.

In the case that the control interface 130 comprises one or more input components, the step S2-4 involves the presenting of instructions, by the local computing device, for the user to provide the input to the one or more input components. The local computing device may visually and/or audibly instruct the user how to provide the input to the one or more input components of the aerosol provision device 100, the input comprising a sequence of manipulations to be provided by the user to the one or more input components. The structure of the sequence of manipulations is encoded with information, which will allow the user to provide the information to the aerosol provision device 100, and which can be decoded by the controller 120 in order to decode the information in the input with which to perform the predetermined test.

In step S3-1 , the aerosol provision device receives, at the control interface 130, the input, and provides input data corresponding to the input to the controller 120. The controller 120 is then configured to decode information which is encoded in the input, which may involve different approaches depending on the manner in which the input was provided as discussed below. Once the information in the input has been identified by the controller, the controller is configured to determine whether the input passes a predetermined test, that the information is associated with the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100. The test is passed if this is determined to be the case, and it can be considered concluded that the input is intended for the aerosol provision device 100, rather than another aerosol provision device. Further, passing the predetermined test indicates that verification of a user as an appropriate user has occurred, and so the aerosol provision device 100 may switch from the first mode to the second mode. More generally, passing the test indicates that verification of a user as an appropriate user has occurred.

In an approach, the predetermined test may comprise determining whether the information in the input was generated by applying a particular predetermined software function to the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100. This is on the understanding that a software function applied by to generate the information in the input was known at the time of manufacturing the aerosol provision device 100, and so a corresponding predetermined software function was likewise implemented in the controller 120. In such cases, by applying a predetermined software function by the controller 120 of the aerosol provision device 100 to information in the input, the controller 120 can determined whether the input was generated (e.g. by the authorised computing device) using the identifier. As discussed above, with regard to step S2-2, this may involve the controller 120 “reverse engineering” an identifier from the information in the input, to check that it is the same as the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100, although this need not always be the case.

As discussed above, it may also be desired to confirm that the input is from the authorised computing device (i.e. generated by the authorised computing device), rather than a different non-authorised source. In this case, the predetermined test may be passed if it is determined that the information in the input was generated by the authorised computing device. In other words, to determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller 120 may also be configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device. In order to do this, the controller 120 may be configured to determine whether the information was generated by the authorized computing device by testing whether the information has a cryptographic association with the first key of the aerosol provision device, which may only be possible if the information was generated using a corresponding cryptographic second key of the authorized computing device.

In an approach, the “asymmetric” cryptography technique discussed above may be applied here, in which case the input is generated by the authorized computing device using a second key of the authorised computing device which is a private key. In such an approach, a first key which is a public key corresponding to the private key is stored in the memory 110 of the aerosol provision device 100. As discussed above, information in the input may be generated using this private key (e.g. the information may be “signed” using the private key), and the first key which is a public key can be used to test this. As such, the controller 120 is configured to use the first key which is a public key to test whether a corresponding private key of the authorised computing device was used to generate the information in the input. If it is determined by the testing that the corresponding private key was used, then it can be considered authenticated that the input is from the authorised computing device. This approach can also be combined with the approach discussed above for determining whether the information in the input is associated with the identifier, in which case the predetermined test comprises the controller both applying a predetermined software function to the information in the input to determine whether the information was generated by applying a corresponding predetermined software function to the identifier, and using the public key to test whether the private key was used to generate the information in the input.

In an approach the predetermined test comprises determining whether the information in the input comprises a pass key (i.e. a second key of the authorised computing device) which meets certain criteria. This may generally involve the application of a software function to the pass key by the controller 120, and a determination whether the result indicates that the pass key matches a first key (e.g. a private key) stored in the memory 110 of the aerosol provision device 100. If the controller 120 does determine that the pass key in the input matches the first key of the aerosol provision device 100, then it can be considered authenticated both that the input was generated using the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100 (i.e. the input is associated with the aerosol provision device 100), and that the input was generated by the authorised computing device. In a particular version of this approach, both the first key (i.e. the private key) and the second key (i.e. the pass key) are the same, and as such the controller can be configured to test that the pass key of the input is the same as the first key of the aerosol provision device 100. In such an approach, the processing requirements for the controller 120 may be reduced.

As such, while the predetermined test may authenticate that the information in the input is associated with the identifier, and may also to authenticate that the information in the input was generated by an authorised computing device; there are also approaches contemplated in which the predetermined test authenticates that the information in the input was generated by an authorised computing device, without necessarily authenticating the information is associated with the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100. Each of these authentications by the controller 120 provide a degree of security regarding the verification of the user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device 100, and depending on the implementation it may be advantageous to use one or both of these authentications.

Whichever approach is used, once it is determined that the information in the input passes the predetermined test, step S3-2 occurs. In step S3-2, the controller 120 switches from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device 100 according to the first mode, to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device 10 according to the second mode. As discussed above, this switching of modes may involve the enabling of particular functionality, which is disabled in the first mode, and which is enabled in the second mode.

After switching back to the first mode from the second mode, it may be necessary to perform some or all of the steps discussed above again. For instance, the user may have to perform steps S1-1 to S3-2, or in approaches steps S2-1 to S3-2. Regardless, it will be necessary to send another mode switch request to the authorised computing device, after which another input will be generated and sent from the authorised computing device. However, the generation of the input by the authorised computing device may be time dependent, such that each input generated is different to the last, for example all previous inputs generated for the user profile in question. The controller 120 may also require that, in order to pass the predetermined test, a different input is needed on each occasion, to ensure that the user has re-verified themselves as an appropriate user. This may be particularly advantageous, as it will cater for changes to the characteristics of the user, as well as changes in regulatory requirements for a jurisdiction.

Figure 4 shows a flow chart representation of a method of manufacturing the aerosol provision device 100, in accordance with certain embodiments. While it is noted that this method may involve the physical construction and modification of components of the aerosol provision device 100, this is not necessarily the case, and instead the manufacture may pertain to the creation of data-based structures only. Further, while this method is discussed in the context of aerosol provision device 100, it may likewise be applied to any other one-piece aerosol provision device.

In step S1 , an identifier for the aerosol provision device 100 is generated. This may be generated as a unique identifier, which is for example a serial number that increments for each new aerosol provision device being manufactured. In other approaches, this may be a randomly generated identifier, for example having a sufficiently high degree of randomness to render the likelihood of multiple aerosol provision devices having the same identifier to be unlikely.

Then, in step S2, the aerosol provision device 100 is provided with the identifier. As discussed above, this may be stored in the memory 110 of the aerosol provision device 100. Alternatively, as in embodiments the controller 120 does not require access to the identifier, the identifier may not be stored in the memory 110. The identifier may be provided by providing the aerosol provision device 100 with an identifier portion which represents the identifier, as discussed above. The identifier portion may be configured such that a user or computing device can read the identifier from the identifier portion.

In step S3, a first key, which is a cryptographic key, is generated. As discussed above, this may be a short string of characters, and may be a private key or a public key. Then, in step S4, the first key is stored in the memory 110 of the aerosol provision device 100, for later use in authenticating an input as discussed above.

In step S5, a second key, which is a cryptographic key, is then generated, having a cryptographic association with the first key, and in step S6 this second key is stored in the memory of the authorised computing device. As discussed above, this second key may likewise be a short string of characters. In some approaches, such as when the first key is a public key, this second key is a private key which can be used by the authorised computing device to generate inputs (e.g. for a variety of different aerosol provision devices), and which use is testable by the controller using the public key. In some approaches, such as when the first key is a private key, this second key is a pass key specifically for the first key of the aerosol provision device 100, and which matches the first key of the aerosol provision device 100. In such cases as these, the second key is stored in memory of the authorised computing device in association with the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100, such that it can be selected from a library of pass keys by the authorised computing device. In arrangements in which the one or more input components are arranged in an identifier component portion of the aerosol provision device 100, the identifier component portion comprise a respective input component identifier. As such, step S1 may also comprise the generating of an input component identifier for the one or more input components of the aerosol provision device, which in step S2 is provided to a portion of the memory 110 in the identifier component portion. In such cases, in step S4, the first key is also stored in the portion of the memory 110 in the identifier component portion. Then, in step S5, the second key is stored in the memory of the authorised computing device in association with the input component identifier, and when, subsequently, the input component portion is connected to the remainder of the aerosol provision device 100, the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100 can be associated in the memory of the authorised computing device with the input component identifier, and as a result can then be associated also with the second key.

Accordingly, in this approach using an (e.g. separately manufactured) input component portion, when the input component portion is connected to the remainder of the aerosol provision device 100, and the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100 is associated with the input component identifier, there is no requirement for any person to have visibility of the second key in the memory of the authorised computing device. As a result, no one person may have knowledge both of the identifier of the aerosol provision device 100 and the second key, which may provide additional security.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

2. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol provision device is a one-piece disposable aerosol provision device which is not configured to be refillable with aerosol generating material.

3. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol provision device is a non-rechargeable one-piece aerosol provision device, not comprising a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source.

4. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, comprising a heating assembly, the heating assembly comprising a heating element for heating the aerosol generating material.

5. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, wherein the control interface comprises one or more input components for receiving inputs from a user.

6. The aerosol provision device of claim 5, wherein the aerosol provision device does not comprise communication circuitry configured to communicate data with one or more further devices which comprises a wireless communication module or wired communication module.

7. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control interface comprises communication circuitry configured to communicate data with one or more further devices.

8. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, wherein to determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated using the identifier of the aerosol provision device.

9. The aerosol provision device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated using the identifier of the aerosol provision device by determining whether the information was generated by applying a predetermined software function to the identifier.

10. The aerosol provision device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated using the identifier of the aerosol provision device by testing whether a first key of the aerosol provision device matches a second key which is a pass key comprised in the information in the input.

11. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, wherein to determine whether the input passes the predetermined test, the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device.

12. The aerosol provision device of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the information was generated by an authorized computing device by testing whether the information has a cryptographic association with a first key of the aerosol provision device.

13. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, wherein the control interface is configured to provide outputs, and wherein the controller is configured to, when controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode, and responsive to the receipt of input data from the control interface corresponding to instructions to perform a control action which is disabled in the first mode, cause the control interface to provide an alert output indicating that verification of the user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device is required.

14. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, wherein, after switching to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode, the controller is configured to either: i) continue controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode; or ii) switch back from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode responsive to the passing of a period of time or the receipt of input data from the control interface corresponding to an instruction to switch from the first mode to the second mode, wherein, after switching back to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the first mode, the controller is configured to again switch to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to the second mode responsive to determining that an input passes the predetermined test, each input which passes the predetermined test being different to the previous input which passed the predetermined test.

15. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, comprising an identifier portion which represents the identifier.

16. The aerosol provision device of claim 16, comprising an outer housing, wherein the identifier portion is arranged on the outer housing, and wherein: i) the identifier portion comprises an optical code within which the unique identifier is encoded; or ii) the identifier portion comprises text, wherein the identifier is readable to the user from the text.

17. The aerosol provision device of any preceding claim, comprising a reservoir configured to store aerosol generating material.

18. A system comprising: the aerosol provision device of any preceding claim; and a further device, wherein the further device is configured to provide i) an input to the one or more input components of the aerosol provision device, or ii) instructions to a user to provide an input to the one or more input components of the aerosol provision device, wherein the input indicates that verification of a user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device has occurred.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising an authorized computing device, wherein the authorized computing device is configured to generate the input responsive to the receipt of a mode switch request comprising the identifier of the aerosol provision device, and send the input to the further device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the aerosol provision device is a one-piece disposable aerosol provision device which is not configured to be refillable with aerosol generating material.

22. The method of claim 20 or 21 , wherein the aerosol provision device is a non- rechargeable one-piece aerosol provision device, not comprising a charging interface for receiving power from an external power source.

23. The method of any of claims 20 to 22, comprising generating, by an authorized computing device, an input to provide to the aerosol provision device indicating that verification of a user as an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device has occurred, if verification that the user is an appropriate user of the aerosol provision device has occurred, and sending, by the authorized computing device, the input to an or the local computing device.

24. A method of manufacturing a one-piece aerosol provision device, which is not configured to receive a consumable comprising aerosol material, comprising: generating an identifier for the aerosol provision device; providing the aerosol provision device with the identifier, and storing the identifier in a memory of an authorized computing device; generating a first key for the aerosol provision device; storing the first key in the memory of the aerosol provision device; generating a second key for the authorized computing device, wherein the second key has a cryptographic association with the first key; storing the second key in the memory of the authorized computing device.

25. A controller configured to control operation of a one-piece aerosol provision device, which is not configured to receive a consumable comprising aerosol material, wherein the controller is configured to: receive input data from a control interface of the aerosol provision device corresponding to an input received by the control interface; responsive to receipt of the input, determine whether the input passes a predetermined test that information in the input is associated with an identifier of the aerosol provision device; and responsive to determining that the data passes the predetermined test, switching from controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to a first mode, in which functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material is disabled, to controlling operation of the aerosol provision device according to a second mode, in which the functionality of the aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material is enabled.