U.S. patent application number 14/587117 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-02 for electronic vaping device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Martin Tremblay. Invention is credited to Martin Tremblay.
Application Number | 20150181945 14/587117 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53480372 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150181945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tremblay; Martin |
July 2, 2015 |
ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICE
Abstract
An electronic vaping device may be designed to enhance or
facilitate its use. For example, the electronic vaping device may:
allow a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor
to be altered (e.g., disabled, reduced, enabled, or increased) in
some situations (e.g., to prevent unauthorized vaping by a child,
teenager or other individual); be able to communicate with an
external communication device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer,
etc.) to convey a notification of potential unauthorized use of the
electronic vaping device (e.g., by a child, teenager or other
unauthorized user); implement a physical deterrent to its
unauthorized use; be able to visually convey information (e.g.,
advertisements, notifications, etc.); and/or be able to capture
images and/or sounds (e.g., record pictures and/or video, speech,
music, etc.).
Inventors: |
Tremblay; Martin; (Montreal,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tremblay; Martin |
Montreal |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
53480372 |
Appl. No.: |
14/587117 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61922091 |
Dec 31, 2013 |
|
|
|
62035436 |
Aug 10, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
131/328 ;
131/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 47/008
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Claims
1. An electronic vaping device comprising: an outlet; a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth; and a controller configured to cause
a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor
through the outlet to be altered in response to a condition being
met.
2. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the condition
comprises receipt of an external command to alter the capability of
the electronic vaping device to provide vapor.
3. The electronic vaping device of claim 2, comprising a user
interface for allowing the user to interact with the electronic
vaping device, wherein the external command is received via the
user interface.
4. The electronic vaping device of claim 2, comprising a
communication interface for communicating with a communication
device external to the electronic vaping device over a
communication link, wherein the external command is received via
the communication interface.
5. The electronic vaping device of claim 4, wherein the
communication device is a mobile communication device and the
communication interface is configured to pair the electronic vaping
device with the mobile communication device over the communication
link.
6. The electronic vaping device of claim 4, wherein the electronic
vaping device has an address and the external command is received
at the address of the electronic vaping device.
7. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the controller
being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller
being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor to be disabled.
8. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the controller
being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller
being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor to be enabled.
9. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the controller
being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller
being configured to cause a composition of vapor provided by the
electronic vaping device to be altered.
10. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the condition
relates to an identity of the user.
11. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the condition
relates to a location of the electronic vaping device.
12. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the condition
relates to time.
13. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the condition
relates to a manner in which the user draws on the outlet.
14. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the condition
relates to a refilling of a depletable resource of the electronic
vaping device.
15. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, comprising a
fluid-drawing detector configured to issue a signal for providing
vapor through the outlet when the user draws on the outlet, wherein
the controller being configured to cause the capability of the
electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises
the controller being configured to disable the fluid-drawing
detector.
16. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, comprising a
fluid-drawing detector configured to issue a signal for providing
vapor through the outlet when the user draws on the outlet, wherein
the controller being configured to cause the capability of the
electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises
the controller being configured to ignore the signal from the
fluid-drawing detector.
17. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the controller
being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller
being configured to cut off power to at least part of the vapor
producer.
18. The electronic vaping device of claim 1, wherein the controller
being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller
being configured to prevent flow of vapor through the outlet.
19. An apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device, the
electronic vaping device comprising an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth, the apparatus comprising: a memory portion;
and a processing portion configured to: determine that a condition
is met; and cause a capability of the electronic vaping device to
provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in response to the
condition being met.
20. A method for controlling an electronic vaping device, the
electronic vaping device comprising an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth, the method comprising: determining that a
condition is met; and causing a capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in
response to the condition being met.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/922,091 filed on Dec. 31,
2013 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed on 62/035,436
filed on Aug. 10, 2014, which are hereby incorporated by reference
herein.
FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to electronic vaping devices usable by
users to "vape", i.e., draw (e.g., inhale, puff, etc.) vapor from
the electronic vaping devices using their mouth.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electronic vaping devices, which are sometimes referred to
as "electronic cigarettes", "e-cigarettes" or "personal
vaporizers", are becoming increasingly popular. For instance,
electronic cigarettes may be used by various people to simulate
smoking (e.g., tobacco smoking), including current or past smokers
of tobacco cigarettes (e.g., who are trying to quit or may have
previously quit tobacco smoking) and individuals who never were
smokers of tobacco cigarettes.
[0004] While they are certainly useful to various people,
electronic cigarettes may sometimes bring about some additional
considerations. For example, in some cases, it may undesirable for
certain persons to readily use electronic cigarettes, such as a
child or teenager who may not be allowed to vape or someone who may
have stolen or found an electronic cigarette belonging to somebody
else. As another example, in some situations, it may be undesirable
for electronic cigarettes to be vaped at certain places and/or
times.
[0005] As yet another example, in some cases, it may be desirable
for an electronic cigarette to be useful for purposes other than
vaping.
[0006] For these and/or other reasons, there is a need for
improvements directed to electronic vaping devices.
SUMMARY
[0007] In various embodiments of the invention, an electronic
vaping device may be designed to enhance or facilitate its use. For
example, in some embodiments, the electronic vaping device may:
allow a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor
to be altered (e.g., disabled, reduced, enabled, or increased) in
some situations (e.g., to prevent unauthorized vaping by a child,
teenager or other individual); be able to communicate with an
external communication device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer,
etc.) to convey a notification of potential unauthorized use of the
electronic vaping device (e.g., by a child, teenager or other
unauthorized user); implement a physical deterrent to its
unauthorized use; be able to visually convey information (e.g.,
advertisements, notifications, etc.); and/or be able to capture
images and/or sounds (e.g., record pictures and/or video, speech,
music, etc.).
[0008] For example, according to an aspect of the invention, there
is provided an electronic vaping device. The electronic vaping
device comprises: an outlet; a vapor producer configured to produce
vapor drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth;
and a controller configured to cause a capability of the electronic
vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in
response to a condition being met.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for controlling an electronic vaping device. The
electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth. The method comprises: determining that a
condition is met; and causing a capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in
response to the condition being met.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device.
The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth. The apparatus comprises a memory
portion and a processing portion which is configured to: determine
that a condition is met; and cause a capability of the electronic
vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in
response to the condition being met.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions
which, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing
entity to implement a method for controlling an electronic vaping
device. The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a
vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user
through the outlet using the user's mouth. The method comprises:
determining that a condition is met; and causing a capability of
the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to
be altered in response to the condition being met.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electronic vaping device. The electronic vaping device
comprises: an outlet; a vapor producer configured to produce vapor
drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth; and a
controller configured to cause a capability of the electronic
vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be disabled in
response to an event other than a manual shutdown of the electronic
vaping device.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for controlling an electronic vaping device. The
electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth. The method comprises: determining that an
event other than a manual shutdown of the electronic vaping device
occurred; and causing a capability of the electronic vaping device
to provide vapor through the outlet to be disabled in response to
the event.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device.
The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth. The apparatus comprises a memory
portion and a processing portion which is configured to: determine
that an event other than a manual shutdown of the electronic vaping
device occurred; and cause a capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor through the outlet to be disabled in
response to the event.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions
which, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing
entity to implement a method for controlling an electronic vaping
device. The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a
vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user
through the outlet using the user's mouth. The method comprises:
determining that an event other than a manual shutdown of the
electronic vaping device occurred; and causing a capability of the
electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be
disabled in response to the event.
[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electronic vaping device. The electronic vaping device
comprises: an outlet; a vapor producer configured to produce vapor
drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth; and a
controller configured to cause a capability of the electronic
vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be disabled in
response to an external command from a communication device that is
external to the electronic vaping device.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for controlling an electronic vaping device. The
electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth. The method comprises: receiving an external
command from a communication device that is external to the
electronic vaping device; and causing a capability of the
electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be
disabled in response to the external command.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device.
The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth. The apparatus comprises a memory
portion and a processing portion which is configured to: receive an
external command from a communication device that is external to
the electronic vaping device; and cause a capability of the
electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be
disabled in response to the external command.
[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions
which, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing
entity to implement a method for controlling an electronic vaping
device. The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a
vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user
through the outlet using the user's mouth. The method comprises:
receiving an external command from a communication device that is
external to the electronic vaping device; and causing a capability
of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet
to be disabled in response to the external command.
[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electronic vaping device. The electronic vaping device
comprises: an outlet; a vapor producer configured to produce vapor
drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth; and a
controller configured to cause a capability of the electronic
vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in
response to a condition independent of user input being met.
[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for controlling an electronic vaping device. The
electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth. The method comprises: determining that a
condition independent of user input is met; and causing a
capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through
the outlet to be altered in response to the condition independent
of user input being met.
[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device.
The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth. The apparatus comprises a memory
portion and a processing portion which is configured to: determine
that a condition independent of user input is met; and cause a
capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through
the outlet to be altered in response to the condition independent
of user input being met.
[0023] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions
which, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing
entity to implement a method for controlling an electronic vaping
device. The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a
vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user
through the outlet using the user's mouth. The method comprises:
determining that a condition independent of user input is met; and
causing a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide
vapor through the outlet to be altered in response to the condition
independent of user input being met.
[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device.
The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth. The apparatus comprises a memory
portion and a processing portion which is configured to: determine
that a condition is met; and in response to the condition being
met, issuing a command to the electronic vaping device to alter a
capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through
the outlet.
[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions
which, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing
entity to implement a method for controlling an electronic vaping
device. The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a
vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user
through the outlet using the user's mouth. The method comprises:
determining that a condition is met; and in response to the
condition being met, issuing a command to the electronic vaping
device to alter a capability of the electronic vaping device to
provide vapor through the outlet.
[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a communication device for interacting with an electronic
vaping device over a communication link. The electronic vaping
device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer configured to
produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet using the
user's mouth. The communication device comprises a memory portion
and a processing portion which is configured to: determine that a
condition is met; and in response to the condition being met,
transmitting a command to the electronic vaping device via the
communication link to alter a capability of the electronic vaping
device to provide vapor through the outlet.
[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for controlling an electronic vaping device. The
electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth. The method comprises: determining that a
condition is met; and in response to the condition being met,
issuing a command to the electronic vaping device to alter a
capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through
the outlet.
[0028] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device.
The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth. The apparatus comprises a memory
portion and a processing portion which is configured to: receive
first data indicative of a user's desire to enable vaping of the
electronic vaping device; verify whether authorization criteria are
met; and in case the authorization criteria are met, send second
data over a communication link to enable vaping of the electronic
vaping device.
[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions
which, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing
entity to implement a method for controlling an electronic vaping
device. The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a
vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user
through the outlet using the user's mouth. The method comprises:
receiving first data indicative of a user's desire to enable vaping
of the electronic vaping device; verifying whether authorization
criteria are met; and in case the authorization criteria are met,
sending second data over a communication link to enable vaping of
the electronic vaping device.
[0030] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for controlling an electronic vaping device. The
electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth. The method comprises: receiving first data
indicative of a user's desire to enable vaping of the electronic
vaping device; verifying whether authorization criteria are met;
and in case the authorization criteria are met, sending second data
over a communication link to enable vaping of the electronic vaping
device.
[0031] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device.
The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor
producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the
outlet using the user's mouth. The apparatus comprises a memory
portion and a processing portion which is configured to: detect
potential unauthorized use of the electronic vaping device; and
cause a notification to be issued in response to the potential
unauthorized use of the electronic vaping device.
[0032] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions
which, when executed by a computing entity, cause the computing
entity to implement a method for controlling an electronic vaping
device. The electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a
vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user
through the outlet using the user's mouth. The method comprises:
detecting potential unauthorized use of the electronic vaping
device; and causing a notification to be issued in response to the
detecting.
[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for controlling an electronic vaping device. The
electronic vaping device comprises an outlet and a vapor producer
configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet
using the user's mouth. The method comprises: detecting potential
unauthorized use of the electronic vaping device; and causing a
notification to be issued in response to the detecting.
[0034] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electronic vaping device. The electronic vaping device
comprises: an outlet; a vapor producer configured to produce vapor
drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth; and a
visual output device configured to visually convey information.
[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electronic vaping device. The electronic vaping device
comprises: an outlet; a vapor producer configured to produce vapor
drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth; and a
media-capturing device configured to capture media.
[0036] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electronic vaping device. The electronic vaping device
comprises an outlet and a vapor producer configured to produce
vapor drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth.
The electronic vaping device implements a physical deterrent to
unauthorized use of the electronic vaping device.
[0037] These and other aspects of the invention will now become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the
following description of embodiments of the invention in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] A detailed description of embodiments of the invention is
provided below, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0039] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of an electronic vaping device
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0040] FIGS. 3 to 6 show examples of components of the electronic
vaping device;
[0041] FIG. 7 shows an example of a communication device connected
to the electronic vaping device;
[0042] FIGS. 8 to 10 show examples of components of the electronic
vaping device to alter a vapor-providing capability of the
electronic vaping device;
[0043] FIG. 11 shows an example of a process for altering the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic vaping device;
[0044] FIGS. 12 to 28 show various examples of embodiments in which
the vapor-providing capability of the electronic vaping device can
be altered;
[0045] FIG. 29 shows an example of a notification of potential
unauthorized use of the electronic vaping device;
[0046] FIG. 30 shows an example of a physical deterrent implemented
by the electronic vaping device to deter its unauthorized use;
[0047] FIGS. 31 and 32 show an example of visual conveyance of
information by the electronic vaping device;
[0048] FIGS. 33 and 34 show an example of capturing of images
and/or sounds by the electronic vaping device; and
[0049] FIG. 35 shows an example of an embodiment of a computing
apparatus that may implement a given component mentioned
herein.
[0050] It is to be expressly understood that the description and
drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating certain
embodiments of the invention and are an aid for understanding. They
are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0051] FIGS. 1 to 5 show an example of an electronic vaping device
100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The
electronic vaping device 100, which may be referred to as an
"electronic cigarette", "e-cigarette", or "personal vaporizer", is
usable by a user to "vape", i.e., draw (e.g., inhale, puff, etc.)
vapor through an outlet 152 of the electronic vaping device 100
using his/her mouth, such as, for instance, to simulate smoking
(e.g., tobacco smoking). In various cases, the user may inhale the
vapor drawn from the electronic cigarette 100 (i.e., inspire the
vapor into his/her lungs) or may hold the vapor drawn from the
electronic cigarette 100 in his/her mouth and/or throat without
necessarily inspiring it into his/her lungs.
[0052] The electronic cigarette 100 comprises a housing 115, a
power source 110 to supply power for the electronic cigarette 100,
a vapor producer 120 configured to produce vapor drawable (e.g.,
inhalable) by the user through the outlet 152, and a control system
130 to control operation of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0053] As further discussed below, in various embodiments, the
electronic cigarette 100 may be designed to enhance or facilitate
its use, such as, for example, by: [0054] allowing a capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 to provide vapor through the outlet
152 to be altered (e.g., disabled, reduced, enabled, or increased)
in some situations (e.g., to prevent unauthorized vaping by a
child, teenager or other individual); [0055] being able to
communicate with an external communication device (e.g., a
smartphone, a computer, etc.) to convey a notification of potential
unauthorized use of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., by a child,
teenager or other unauthorized user); [0056] implementing a
physical deterrent to its unauthorized use (e.g., by a child,
teenager or other unauthorized user) [0057] being able to visually
convey information (e.g., advertisements, notifications, etc.);
and/or [0058] being able to capture images and/or sounds (e.g.,
record pictures and/or video, speech, music, etc.).
[0059] The vapor producer 120 comprises a container 124 to store a
substance to provide the vapor drawable (e.g., inhalable) by the
user. For example, in this embodiment, the substance includes a
liquid that is vaporizable. In some cases, the liquid may contain
nicotine. Additionally or alternatively, the liquid may be flavored
so that the vapor it produces is flavored. In other embodiments,
the container 124 may include dry herbs and/or other non-liquid
content, or any other suitable content (e.g., alcohol without
liquid (AWOL) (e.g., Vaportini.TM. manufactured by Vaportini Inc.,
Chicago, Ill., 60618 or Palcohol.TM. manufactured by Lipsmark LLC,
Tempe, Ariz., 85283)). In some embodiments, the electronic
cigarette 100 may be disposable such that it can be discarded after
the substance stored in the vapor producer 120 has been completely
consumed. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the electronic
cigarette 100 may be reusable such that the vapor producer 120 may
be replenished with an additional amount of the substance (e.g., in
a cartridge) to keep producing vapor.
[0060] In addition, in this embodiment, the vapor producer 120
comprises a vaporizer 126, sometimes referred to as an "atomizer",
to vaporize the liquid stored in the container 124. To that end,
the vaporizer 126 may comprise a heater to heat the liquid for
vaporizing it. In other embodiments, a system other than a heater
may be used. When combined with a cartridge containing the
substance to be vaporized, the atomizer may be referred to as a
"cartomizer".
[0061] The power source 110 is connected to other components of the
electronic cigarette 100, including the vapor producer 120 and the
control system 130, to power them. To that end, the power source
110 comprises a battery 112. In some cases, the battery 112 may be
rechargeable (e.g., where the electronic cigarette 100 is
reusable).
[0062] The control system 130 comprises various components to
control operation of the electronic cigarette 100, including, in
this embodiment, a user interface 150 and a controller 160.
[0063] The user interface 150 interfaces with the user in order to
process inputs received from the user. For example, the user
interface 150 comprises the outlet 152 over which the user can
place his/her mouth to vape.
[0064] In this embodiment, with additional reference to FIG. 6, the
user interface 150 comprises a fluid-drawing detector 154 which
detects when the user has drawn (e.g., puffed, inhaled, etc.) fluid
through the outlet 152. Fluid that can be drawn (e.g., puffed,
inhaled, etc.) though the outlet 152 may include vapor produced by
the vapor producer 120 and/or air or another gas or liquid
contained within the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, in
some cases, the fluid-drawing detector 154, which can sometimes be
referred to as an "inhaling detector" even though the user may
sometimes merely puff without actually involving the lungs, may
comprise a flow sensor (e.g., an airflow sensor) to sense a flow of
fluid when the user draws (e.g., puffs, inhales, etc.) the fluid
through the outlet 152. The fluid-drawing detector 154 outputs a
signal to the controller 160, which processes this signal and
consequently activates the vaporizer 126 (e.g., turns on a heater
therein). Activation of the vaporizer 126 can be done by issuing a
signal (e.g., a "vaporize enable" signal) to the vaporizer 126. The
vaporizer 126 responds by vaporizing a portion of the liquid (that
may have been drawn from the container 124, e.g., using a wicking
material), producing vapor which can be brought into the user's
mouth by continuing to draw (e.g., puff, inhale, etc.) through the
outlet 152. Should drawing (e.g., puffing, inhaling, etc.) of the
vapor cease, this may be detected by the fluid-drawing detector 154
and the controller 160 may responsively control the vaporizer 126
(e.g., by causing the heater to cease heating). The fluid-drawing
detector 154 may be at or near the outlet 152, or it may be
disposed further along the housing 115, closer to the vaporizer
126.
[0065] The user interface 150 may be configured to interact in
various additional ways with the user. For example, in some
embodiments, the user interface 150 may be configured to process
(e.g., detect, decrypt and/or decode) data received from the user
via an input device 156 that may include one or more buttons or
other input elements, which may be physical or graphical (e.g., a
touch-sensitive screen) and embedded into the housing 115 of the
electronic cigarette 100. As another example, in some embodiments,
the user interface 150 may include suitable circuitry and/or
software for controllably illuminating a tip of the electronic
cigarette 100 as specified by the controller 160 (such as when
vaping is in progress). As yet another example, in some
embodiments, the user interface 150 may be configured for
outputting of information, including possible textual and/or
graphical and/or video data, via a screen or other visual output
device. As yet another example, in some embodiments, the user
interface 150 may include a biometric sensor to sense a biometric
feature of the user (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) in order to
identify and/or authenticate the user.
[0066] The controller 160 comprises suitable circuitry and/or
software for sending signals to and receiving signals from other
components of the electronic cigarette 100 to which it is
connected, including, in this embodiment, the user interface 150,
the power source 110, and the vapor producer 120, in order to
control operation of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0067] In some embodiments, the control system 130 may also include
a communication interface 170 that may be connected to the
controller 160 and may include suitable circuitry and/or software
for interacting with one or more external communication devices
over one or more communication links. Thus, certain inputs received
by the controller 160, rather than being received via the user
interface 150, can be received via the communication interface
170.
[0068] For instance, with additional reference to FIG. 7, a
communication device 400 that is external to the electronic
cigarette 100 may interact with the electronic cigarette 100 over a
communication link 440, which may be wireless, wired, or partly
wireless and partly wired (e.g., Bluetooth or other short-range or
near-field wireless connection, WiFi or other wireless LAN, WiMAX
or other wireless WAN, cellular, Universal Serial Bus (USB), etc.).
For example, in some embodiments, the communication device 400 may
be: [0069] a smartphone or other wireless phone; a tablet computer;
a head-mounted display, smartwatch or other wearable device; or any
other communication device carried, worn or otherwise associated
with the user of the electronic cigarette 100 or another individual
proximate to the electronic cigarette 100; [0070] a server or other
computing apparatus (e.g., implementing a website) associated with:
a manufacturer of the electronic cigarette 100; a government
authority; a retailer/distributor/vendor of the electronic
cigarette 100; a physician or other medical professional authorized
to regulate vaping on behalf of the user; a pharmacist or other
dispensing entity authorized to regulate vaping on behalf of the
user; a telecommunications provider (telco) or Internet Service
Provider (ISP) authorized to communicate with the electronic
cigarette 100; or any other party who may have an interest in the
electronic cigarette 100 and/or its use; [0071] another electronic
cigarette with communication capabilities; [0072] etc.
[0073] In some cases, such as where the communication device 400 is
a smartphone, tablet, head-mounted display, smartwatch, or other
communication device carried or worn by the user of the electronic
cigarette 100, or even another electronic cigarette, communication
between the electronic cigarette 100 and the communication device
400 may be direct, i.e., without any intermediate device. For
instance, in some embodiments, this can be achieved by pairing
(e.g., Bluetooth pairing) the electronic cigarette 100 with the
communication device 400.
[0074] In other cases, such as where the communication device 400
is a server remote from the electronic cigarette 100, communication
between the electronic cigarette 100 and the communication device
400 may be indirect, e.g., through one or more networks and/or one
or more additional communication devices. For example, in some
embodiments, the electronic cigarette 100 may communicate with a
WiFi hotspot or cellular base station, which may provide access to
a service provider and ultimately the Internet or another network,
thereby allowing the electronic cigarette 100 and the communication
device 400 to communicate (e.g., exchange information). As another
example, in some embodiments, communication between the electronic
cigarette 100 and the communication device 400 may take place
through a smartphone, tablet, head-mounted display, smartwatch, or
other communication device which is carried or worn by the user of
the electronic cigarette 100 and which itself may have established
communication with a WiFi hotspot or cellular base station.
[0075] The electronic cigarette 100, including certain components
mentioned herein, may be implemented in various ways. For example,
in some embodiments, certain components of the electronic cigarette
100 may be implemented as in a commercially available electronic
cigarette such as V2cigs.TM. electronic cigarettes, which are
described, for instance, on web pages available at
http://www.v2cigs.com/ and incorporated by reference herein, or as
Blu.TM. electronic cigarettes, which are described, for instance,
on web pages available at http://www.blucigs.com/blu-starter-pack
and hereby incorporated by reference herein, or as Smokio.TM.
electronic cigarettes, which are described, for instance, on web
pages available at http://www.smokio.com and hereby incorporated by
reference herein. As another example, in some embodiments, certain
components of the electronic cigarette 100 may be implemented as
described in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0265806,
which is incorporated by reference herein.
I. Altering of Vapor-Providing Capability
[0076] In some embodiments, the controller 160 is configured to
cause a vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100,
i.e., a capability of the electronic cigarette 100 to provide vapor
through the outlet 152, to be altered in response to one or more
events.
[0077] An event in response to which the controller 160 causes the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 to be
altered, which will be referred to as a "local vapor-providing
capability alteration (VCA) event", may include one or more
conditions being met (e.g., one or more circumstances having
arisen) at the electronic cigarette 100. Any or all of these one or
more conditions may be predefined or otherwise specified such that,
when the one or more conditions are met, the event is deemed to
have occurred.
[0078] Detection that the one or more conditions are met at the
electronic cigarette 100, and therefore detection of a local VCA
event, may be carried out by the controller 160. This may be
achieved based on processing of one or more inputs that may be
received by the controller 160. Examples of such inputs may include
external inputs received via the user interface 150 and/or the
communication interface 170 and/or internal inputs from various
internal components (e.g., a clock, a GPS locator, a battery, etc.)
of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0079] When a local VCA event is detected, the controller 160
responds by effecting a control action to alter the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0080] For example, in some embodiments, the controller 160 may be
configured to cause the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 to be disabled in response to a local VCA
event other than (i.e., different from) a manual shutdown of the
electronic cigarette 100. The manual shutdown of the electronic
cigarette 100 is a process by which an individual touches the
electronic cigarette 100 in order to shut down the electronic
cigarette 100. This involves touching the user interface 150 (e.g.,
a power button or one or more other control elements of the user
interface 150) at a predefined location or in accordance with a
predefined technique that will cause the electronic cigarette 100
to shut down, or removing the battery 112 from the electronic
cigarette 100 to shut down the electronic cigarette 100.
[0081] For instance, in various embodiments, the controller 160 may
be configured to cause the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 to be disabled in response to an external
control signal from the communication device 400 that is external
to the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., a "remote" disablement), or
in response to one or more conditions independent of user input,
such as a time- and/or location-dependent condition, having arisen
(e.g., an "automatic" disablement), as will be further discussed
later.
[0082] Accordingly, when its vapor-providing capability is disabled
by the controller 160, the electronic cigarette 100 will not
provide vapor drawable through the outlet 152, even during a
person's attempt to draw (e.g., puff, inhale, etc.) vapor through
the outlet 152 while the electronic cigarette 100 is powered
on.
[0083] Causing the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100 to be disabled (even during an attempt to draw (e.g.,
puff, inhale, etc.) vapor through the outlet 152 while the
electronic cigarette 100 is turned on) may be useful, for example:
[0084] to prevent or limit vaping by an individual (i.e., the user
or another person) who may not be authorized to vape the electronic
cigarette 100 or who may be subject to certain vaping limitations.
For instance, this may be useful to prevent a child, teenager or
other under-aged individual (e.g., who may not be legally allowed
to purchase or consume conventional tobacco products or electronic
cigarettes) from vaping the electronic cigarette 100; [0085] to
prevent or limit vaping of the electronic cigarette 100 by
individuals in certain locations, at certain times, abiding to a
smoking cessation program, afflicted by a known medical condition,
and/or exhibiting an abnormal vaping pattern; [0086] to notify the
user of a status of the vapor producer 120 (e.g., almost empty,
lacks nicotine, etc.); and/or [0087] to notify the user of a
context-dependent occurrence, which is an occurrence whose meaning
would be implicitly understood by virtue of the user noticing that
the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 has
been disabled.
[0088] The control action that can be effected by the controller
160 in order to disable the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 in response to a local VCA event may be
implemented in several ways in various embodiments. For instance,
the control action effected by the controller 160 in response to a
local VCA event can be a signaling action, such as transmission or
non-transmission of an internal control signal to another component
of the electronic cigarette 160. For example, in some embodiments,
the control action effected by the controller 160 in response to a
local VCA event may include: [0089] Disabling the fluid-drawing
detector 154. This would prevent the issuance of a signal that
would otherwise indicate that the user has drawn (e.g., puffed,
inhaled, etc.) through the outlet 152. For instance, in some
embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, this may be accomplished by way of
a regulator 140 including an electronic circuit device 142 which
cuts off power to (i.e., disables) the fluid-drawing detector 154
when desired. Thus, instead of being connected directly to the
power source 110, the fluid-drawing detector 154 is connected
through the regulator 140. In some embodiments, the electrical
circuit device 142 may be an electrical switch, relay, fuse,
circuit breaker, etc. for altering supply of power from the power
source 110 to one or more components of the fluid-drawing detector
154. Other electrical, mechanical, electromechanical,
piezoelectric, magnetic, electromagnetic or other suitable devices
can be used to disable the fluid-drawing detector 154; [0090]
Ignoring the signal received from the fluid-drawing detector 154.
Equivalently, this amounts to refraining from sending a vaporize
enable signal to the vapor producer 120 during the relevant
circumstances, even if the controller 160 were to detect from the
fluid-drawing detector 154 that the user has drawn (e.g., puffed,
inhaled, etc.) through the outlet 152; [0091] Cutting off power to
one or more elements of the vapor producer 120. This would inhibit
operation of the vapor producer 120 (and prevent production of
vapor), even if during this time the controller 160 detects from
the fluid-drawing detector 154 that the user has drawn (e.g.,
puffed, inhaled, etc.) through the outlet 152 and sends or attempts
to send the vaporize enable signal to the vapor producer 120. In
this way, even if a vaporize enable signal is sent to the vapor
producer 120, no vapor will be produced. For instance, as shown in
FIG. 9, in some embodiments, instead of being connected directly to
the power source 110, the vapor producer 120 is connected through a
regulator 141 including an electrical circuit device 143 which cuts
off power to one or more components (e.g., a heater) of the vapor
producer 120. Other electrical, mechanical, electromechanical,
piezoelectric, magnetic, electromagnetic or other suitable devices
can be used to disable the vapor producer 120; [0092] Preventing
flow of vapor out through the outlet 152. This would prevent vapor
produced by the vapor producer 120 from flowing out via the outlet
152 to the user, even if during this time the controller 160
detects from the fluid-drawing detector 154 that the user has drawn
(e.g., puffed, inhaled, etc.) through the outlet 152 and sends the
vaporize enable signal to the vapor producer 120. For instance, in
some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, a regulator 144 may include
a valve 145 (e.g., an electrically-controlled valve) to prevent
fluid flow within the electronic cigarette 100, such as flow of the
substance from the container 124 and/or flow of vapor produced by
the vapor producer 120 out via the outlet 152; and/or [0093]
etc.
[0094] While in examples considered above an alteration of the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 in
response to a local VCA event is a disablement of this
vapor-providing capability, in other embodiments, the controller
160 may be configured to cause the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 to be altered in other ways (e.g.,
reduced, enabled or increased) in response to a local VCA
event.
[0095] In some embodiments, the controller 160 implements an
algorithm (e.g., a program) to effect a control action to alter the
vapor-producing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 in
response to a local VCA event. The algorithm can be encoded in a
set of computer-readable instructions executed by the controller
160 (e.g., by a processor of the controller 160). The
computer-readable instructions may be stored in a memory embedded
in the controller 160 or located externally thereto. The algorithm
takes into account one or more stimuli, which can include external
inputs received via the user interface 150, external inputs
received via the communication interface 170, and/or internal
inputs from various internal components such as a clock, a GPS
locator, a battery, etc.
[0096] For example, in some embodiments, the controller 160
implements an algorithm now described with additional reference to
FIG. 11. Specifically, at step 910, the controller 160 is attentive
to receipt of one or more inputs (e.g., external inputs received
via the user interface 150, external inputs received via the
communication interface 170, and/or internal inputs from various
internal components such as a clock, a GPS locator, a battery,
etc.). At step 920, the controller 160 determines, based on one or
more inputs that may (or may no longer) be received, whether one or
more conditions (e.g., circumstances) indicative of a local VCA
event have arisen. In the negative, the controller 160 returns to
step 910. If it determines that one or more conditions (e.g.,
circumstances) indicative of a local VCA event have arisen (e.g.,
one or more particular inputs or combinations of inputs have been
received), the controller 160 proceeds to step 930, in which case
the controller 160 effects the control action.
[0097] It should be appreciated that more than one set of one or
more conditions (e.g., circumstances) may be indicative of a local
VCA event having arisen, each causing the controller 160 to execute
step 930 and effect the control action.
[0098] In some cases, a local VCA event involves receipt of an
explicit command to alter the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100. Specifically, as part of step 920, the
controller 160 may verify whether an external input received at
step 910 via the user interface 150 and/or the communication
interface 170 is an "external VCA command". As such, at step 920,
the controller 160 processes and interprets the external inputs
received via the user interface 150 and/or the communication
interface 170 and, if it is found that an external VCA command has
been received and that the receipt of the external VCA command
(possibly along with one or more other circumstances having arisen
at the electronic cigarette 100) is such that a local VCA event is
deemed to have occurred, proceeds to step 930 to effect the control
action.
[0099] The external VCA command may in some cases be received via
the user interface 150 and in other cases via the communication
interface 170. In the case where the external VCA command is
received via the user interface 150, this may occur by the user
manipulating a screen or via certain dedicated buttons (e.g., other
than a power switch). As such, the user's desire to alter the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 is
effectively translated into a VCA command.
[0100] In the case where the external VCA command is received via
the communication interface 170, the external VCA command may in
some cases originate from the communication device 400, which
issues the VCA command in response to detection of a "remote VCA
event". The remote VCA event may include one or more conditions
being met (e.g., one or more circumstances having arisen) outside
the electronic cigarette 100, namely at the communication device
400.
[0101] Detection that the one or more conditions are met at the
communication device 400, and therefore detection of a remote VCA
event, may be carried out by processing circuitry at the
communication device 400 running a program. The program may include
a set of computer-readable instructions stored in a memory embedded
in the communication device 400 or located externally thereto. The
program takes into account one or more stimuli. Examples of such
stimuli may include external inputs received via a user interface
and/or a communication interface of the communication device 400
and/or internal inputs from various internal components (e.g., a
clock, a GPS locator, a battery, etc.) of the communication device
400.
[0102] Thus, when the communication device 400 detects a remote VCA
event, the communication device 400 responds by sending an external
VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100. Upon receipt at the
electronic cigarette 100, the external VCA command is interpreted
by the controller 160 and, assuming that the receipt of the
external VCA command (possibly along with one or more other
circumstances having arisen at the electronic cigarette 100) is
such that a local VCA event is deemed to have occurred, the
controller 160 effects a control action to alter the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0103] Various techniques exist for providing the external VCA
command via the user interface 150 and/or the communication
interface 170 including, for example, those discussed below.
1--Direct
[0104] In the direct technique, the input device 156 of the user
interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., including one
or more buttons, a touch screen and/or any other input mechanism)
allows the user to directly enter the external VCA command into the
electronic cigarette 100. The input device 156 may in some cases
allow the user to indicate: whether vaping is to be enabled;
whether vaping is to be disabled, a degree of vaping to be
permitted; and/or an increase or decrease in allowable vaping
intensity. Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the user
may use the input device 156 in respect of a particular constituent
(e.g., nicotine, AWOL) that may be contained in the vapor, such as
to indicate: whether the particular constituent is to be contained
or not contained in the vapor; a degree of the particular
constituent to be contained in the vapor; and/or an increase or
decrease in an amount of the particular constituent. Where multiple
flavors are provided, and where the electronic cigarette 100
includes a mechanism for individually dispensing these flavors,
flavorings may similarly be combined in different ratios on a
customized basis.
2--Paired
[0105] In the paired technique, a specific communication device (or
a group of specific communication devices) is paired with the
electronic cigarette 100, such that only signals received from the
specific communication device (or the group of specific
communication devices) are recognized as valid. The specific
communication device can be a smartphone or other mobile phone, a
tablet, a smart watch, head-mounted display or other wearable
device, etc., or even another electronic cigarette.
[0106] For example, in some embodiments, the user may download an
application (app) from a repository (e.g., Apple's App Store,
iTunes, Google Play, Android Market, etc.) onto the specific
communication device that is paired with the electronic cigarette
100. Upon activation of the app on the specific communication
device, the user may access certain features to control certain
aspects of the electronic cigarette 100 (including the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100) locally
on the specific communication device. This can be achieved by
sending an external VCA command from the specific communication
device to the electronic cigarette 100. In addition, a data
connection can be established over the Internet with a server of
which executes a complementary server-side application interacting
with the app on the specific communication device.
3--Addressed
[0107] In the addressed technique, the electronic cigarette 100 is
assigned a network identifier, such as an IP address, and is able
to communicate over a network with other devices having IP
addresses. As such, knowledge of the electronic cigarette's IP
address allows other networked devices to communicate with the
electronic cigarette 100. Such communication may include
transmission of the external VCA command to the electronic
cigarette 100.
4--Out-of-Band
[0108] In the out-of-band technique, a communication channel is
reserved for emergency or administrative use rather than data
communication with other networked devices. For example, this could
include a reserved frequency (in the case of an FDMA system), a
reserved multiplexing code (in the case of a CDMA system), a
reserved time slot (in the case of a TDMA system), a reserved
encryption key (in the case of a digital system) or a reserved
network identifier (e.g., IP address). This can allow operational
control of the electronic cigarette 100 to be overridden and
controlled by an external entity, such as in an emergency or where
mandated by law. Thus, the external VCA command could be sent over
the reserved communication channel.
[0109] In case 1 identified above, the external VCA command is
provided by the user at an instant chosen by the user.
[0110] In each of cases 2, 3 and 4 identified above, the external
VCA command is issued by a communication device that is external to
the electronic cigarette 100 and conveyed via a communication link,
which may be wireless, wired, or partly wireless and partly wired
(e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi or other wireless LAN, WiMAX or other
wireless WAN, cellular, USB, etc.), such as the communication
device 400 and the communication link 440 discussed above in
connection with FIG. 7. For example: in the paired technique, the
communication device 400 may be a smartphone or other mobile phone,
a tablet, a smart watch, head-mounted display or other wearable
device, or any other communication device that may be carried by
the user, and the communication link 440 may a short-range wireless
link (e.g., Bluetooth) or a wired link (e.g., USB); in the
addressed technique, the communication device 400 may be a server
or other computing apparatus or a smartphone or other mobile phone,
a tablet, a smart watch, head-mounted display or other wearable
device, or any other communication device that may be carried by
the user and the communication link 440 may be implemented by a
data network such as the Internet over a wired connection and/or a
wireless connection (e.g., WiFi, WiMAX, cellular, etc.); and, in
the out-of-band technique, the communication device 400 may be a
server or other computing apparatus and the communication link 440
may be implemented over a wireless connection using, for instance,
dedicated short-range communication (DSRC), IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth
and CALM (Communications Access for Land Mobiles), RFID, etc.
[0111] VCA events (whether local or remote) may be defined by one
or more conditions (e.g., circumstances) that may involve various
factors, including, for example, one or more of: [0112] an
indication of a desire of the user to alter (e.g., enable, disable,
increase or decrease) the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100; [0113] an identity of the user (e.g., to
prevent any other individual or any person not authorized to vape
to use the electronic cigarette 100); [0114] a location of the
electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., to prevent or limit vaping in
restaurants, movie theatres, hospitals and other medical
establishments, and other public places; airplanes, trains, cars
and other vehicles; etc.; and/or to prevent or limit vaping when
the electronic cigarette 100 is deemed to be located not in
proximity to the user); [0115] time (e.g., to prevent or limit
vaping at certain times of day or other specified moments; and/or
to prevent vaping after a predetermined period has lapsed since the
electronic cigarette 100 was last used to vape); [0116] a smoking
cessation program of the user (e.g., to prevent the user from
vaping more frequently, longer, etc. than permitted under the
smoking cessation program); [0117] a medical condition of the user
(e.g., to prevent or limit vaping that could detrimentally affect
the user's heath); [0118] a manner in which the user draws on the
outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100, such as an abnormal
vaping pattern (e.g., vape inhalation duration or frequency);
[0119] a status of the container 124 of the vapor producer 120,
such as fill level (e.g., full, empty, remaining quantity, etc.) of
the container 124 (e.g., if almost empty, a first vape in a new
series of vapes can be restricted to remind the user that he/she
soon will need to change or replenish the container 124); [0120] a
refilling of a depletable resource of the electronic cigarette 100
(e.g., a recharging of the battery 112, a replacement of the
container 124 of the vapor producer 120, or a replenishing of the
substance contained in the container 124); and/or [0121] a result
or progression of game play on a game station in a vicinity of the
electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., to allow, enable or facilitate
vaping in an arcade or a casino in response to game play, thereby
to encourage customers to stay and continue to play in the arcade
or casino); [0122] etc.
[0123] Examples of embodiments in which the controller 160 can
cause the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100 to be disabled or otherwise altered in response to a local VCA
event will now be discussed. In particular, most of these examples
will focus on detection of remote VCA events by the communication
device 400, followed by issuance of an external VCA command,
followed by detection of a local VCA event (i.e., receipt of the
external VCA command, possibly along with one or more other
circumstances having arisen at the electronic cigarette 100),
followed by altering of the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100. However, it should be understood that a
similar description could be provided if, instead of detecting
remote VCA events at the communication device 400, one were to
describe detecting equivalent local VCA events at the controller
160.
Example 1
[0124] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the communication
device 400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or
other wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application (e.g., a mobile app) that relates to the
electronic cigarette 100 and monitors user input through the user
interface of the mobile communication device 400. The user input
may indicate a desire of the user to alter (e.g., enable, increase,
disable, or decrease) the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100. The software application translates the
user input into an external VCA command and transmits the external
VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100 over the communication
link 440, which is a wireless connection.
[0125] Upon receipt of the external VCA command by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to alter the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 in accordance with the user's desire.
For instance, the controller 160 may send or refrain from sending
an internal control signal to the vapor producer 120, the
fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to disable or otherwise alter the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 in
accordance with the user's desire.
[0126] For instance, in various examples of situations, this may be
useful for the user to: enable the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 when he/she wants to vape; disable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 when
he/she does not want to or cannot vape; disable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 when he/she wants no one
else to use the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., if the electronic
cigarette 100 is not with him/her, is near a child, etc.); decrease
or increase an amount of a constituent (e.g., nicotine) of the
vapor that can be vaped; etc.
Example 2
[0127] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, the communication
device 400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or
other wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application that relates to the electronic cigarette 100
and monitors a time of day to disable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 during one or more
predetermined periods (e.g., during normal work hours or sleep
hours of the user). When the software application determines that a
predetermined period during which the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 is to be disabled has arrived, it
transmits an external VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100
over the communication link 440, which is a wireless
connection.
[0128] Upon receipt of the external VCA command by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to disable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160
may send or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the
vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100.
[0129] Conversely, when the software application determines that
the predetermined period during which the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 is to be disabled is
over, it transmits another external VCA command to the electronic
cigarette 100 over the wireless connection 440. In response to this
external VCA command, the controller 160 effects a control action
in order to enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160 may send an
internal control signal to the vapor producer 120, the
fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to enable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0130] In a variant, in some embodiments, the software application
running on the mobile communication device 400 may send an external
VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100 to enable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 when it
determines that a predetermined period during which the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 is to be
enabled has arrived.
[0131] For instance, in various examples of situations, this may be
useful to prevent vaping of the electronic cigarette 100 by the
user during periods that the user cannot or should not vape,
prevent vaping of the electronic cigarette 100 by an individual
(e.g., a child) not authorized to vape the electronic cigarette 100
during periods of time when the user is unlikely to be in a
position to be able to prevent such unauthorized vaping; etc.
Example 3
[0132] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14, the communication
device 400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or
other wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application that relates to the electronic cigarette 100
and that monitors a proximity of the mobile communication device
400 to the electronic cigarette 100 in order to disable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 when the
electronic cigarette 100 is deemed to no longer be proximate enough
to the mobile communication device 400, which is presumed to be
with the user. It should be appreciated that proximity may be
assessed in various ways, such as by comparing the actual location
of the mobile communication device 400 to that of the electronic
cigarette 100, or by detecting a distance (e.g., based on signal
strength, signal travel time, etc.) between the mobile
communication device 400 and the electronic cigarette 100, to name
a few possibilities. Thus, when the software application determines
that the mobile communication device 400 and the electronic
cigarette 100 are not within a specified distance (e.g., 1 or 2 m)
from one another, the mobile communication device 400 sends an
external VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100 over the
communication link 440, which is a wireless connection, in order to
disable vaping.
[0133] Upon receipt of the external VCA command by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to disable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160
may send or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the
vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100.
[0134] In a variant, in some embodiments, the software application
running on the mobile communication device 400 may send an external
VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100 to enable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 when it
determines that the mobile communication device 400 and the
electronic cigarette 100 are within a specified distance from one
another.
[0135] For instance, in various examples of situations, this may be
useful to prevent vaping of the electronic cigarette 100 by any
individual when the electronic cigarette 100 is presumably not near
the user (assuming that the mobile communication device 400 is
carried by the user), which may deter unauthorized use (e.g., by a
child) or theft of the electronic cigarette 100. In other
situations, if the user experiences a sudden inability to draw
vapor, this may alert the user to the potential that he/she has
misplaced the mobile communication device 400 or that it has been
stolen.
Example 4
[0136] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 15, the communication
device 400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or
other wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application that monitors usage of the electronic
cigarette 100 (e.g., a vaping pattern) and disables the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 when a
certain amount of time (e.g., 2 minutes) has elapsed since the last
vape. To that end, the controller 160 of the electronic cigarette
100 may monitor vaping activity (e.g., maintain a vaping log noting
times at which vapes occur based on inputs from the fluid-drawing
detector 154) and the communication interface 170 may repeatedly
(e.g., periodically) transmit a signal indicative of the vaping
activity to the mobile communication device 400 over the
communication link 440, which is a wireless connection. Based on
the received signal indicative of the vaping activity, when the
software application running on the mobile communication device 400
determines that a certain amount of time has elapsed since the last
vape, the mobile communication device 400 sends an external VCA
command to the electronic cigarette 100 over the wireless
connection 440 in order to disable vaping.
[0137] Upon receipt of the external VCA command by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to disable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160
may send or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the
vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100.
[0138] When the user desires to once again vape the electronic
cigarette 100, he/she may interact with the user interface of the
mobile communication device 400 in order to provide user input to
enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100. For instance, in some embodiments, the software application
running on the mobile communication device may provide an option
(e.g., via a button or other control element) selectable by the
user to enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100. In some cases, the user may be required to input
credentials (e.g., a password) to authenticate himself/herself. In
response to receiving user input indicative of the user's desire to
enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100, the mobile communication device 400 sends an external VCA
command to the electronic cigarette 100 over the wireless
connection 440 in order to enable vaping.
[0139] Upon receipt of the external VCA command by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to enable the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160 may
send an internal control signal to the vapor producer 120, the
fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to enable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0140] For instance, in various examples of situations, this may be
useful to prevent vaping of the electronic cigarette 100 by any
individual when the electronic cigarette 100 has not been vaped by
the user for some time, which may deter unauthorized use (e.g., by
a child) or theft of the electronic cigarette 100.
Example 5
[0141] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 16, the communication
device 400 is a server associated with a vaping-prohibited area 600
of a particular site, such as an airport, airplane, hospital,
restaurant, school, movie theater, train, subway, bus, rental car,
or other public place or vehicle, etc. and issues an external VCA
command to disable the vapor-providing capability of any electronic
cigarette in range of a wireless transmitter 420 located in or near
the vaping-prohibited area 600 and implementing part of the
communication link 440, which includes a wireless connection. To
that end, controllers of electronic cigarettes such as the
controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100 are configured to
recognize the external VCA command as a command to disable vaping
of the electronic cigarette. The external VCA command may be
repeatedly or continually issued so as to ensure that electronic
cigarettes that newly enter the vicinity of the vaping-prohibited
area 600 will receive the external VCA command. In some cases, the
server 400 may be located at the vaping-prohibited area 600, along
with the wireless transmitter 420 (e.g., which may be part of the
server 400 or physically separate from and connected to the server
400). In other cases, the server 400 may be located remotely from
the vaping-prohibited area 600 and connected to the wireless
transmitter 420 over the communication link 440.
[0142] Thus, when the electronic cigarette 100 enters the
vaping-prohibited area 600 and becomes within range of the wireless
transmitter 420, the external VCA command is received by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100. The
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to disable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160
may send or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the
vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100. As long as the electronic cigarette 100 continues to receive
the external VCA command from the wireless transmitter 420, the
controller 160 maintains the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 disabled.
[0143] Conversely, when the electronic cigarette 100 subsequently
leaves the vaping-prohibited area 600 and becomes out of range of
the wireless transmitter 420, the external VCA command ceases to be
received by the communication interface 170 of the electronic
cigarette 100. The controller 160 detects this absence of receipt
of the external VCA command (e.g., the external VCA command has not
been received for a predetermined period of time, such as 30
seconds for instance) and effects a control action in order to
enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100. For instance, the controller 160 may send an internal control
signal to the vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154,
etc., to enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100.
[0144] For instance, in various examples of situations, this may be
useful to prevent vaping of any electronic cigarette such as the
electronic cigarette 100 where vaping is not permitted. In various
other examples of situations, this may be useful to prevent vaping
of any electronic cigarette such as the electronic cigarette 100
where vaping is undesirable (e.g., to avoid inconveniencing or
adversely affecting other individuals who are or could subsequently
be located there).
Example 6
[0145] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 17, the communication
device 400 is a server which runs a software application that
monitors locations of electronic cigarettes and issues an external
VCA command to disable the vapor-providing capability of any
electronic cigarette found within a certain distance of a
vaping-prohibited area 610 whose location is known, such as a
recorded landmark (e.g., an airport, hospital, restaurant, school,
etc.), a vehicle whose location is tracked (e.g., an airplane,
public transit vehicle, rental car, etc.), etc., via the
communication link 440, which includes a wireless connection. In
some examples, the electronic cigarettes may be equipped with an
addressing scheme (e.g., an IP address) to allow them to respond to
commands directed specifically to them.
[0146] The location of the electronic cigarette 100 may be
determined by the server 400 in any suitable way.
[0147] For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 18, the
location of the electronic cigarette 100 may be derived from a
signal transmitted by the electronic cigarette 100 itself. For
instance, the electronic cigarette 100 may comprise a locator 180
(e.g., a GPS locator) which emits a wireless signal allowing the
location of the electronic cigarette 100 to be identified.
[0148] As another example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS.
19 and 20, the electronic cigarette 100 may be paired with a mobile
communication device 450 (e.g., a smartphone or other wireless
phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display, smartwatch or
other wearable device; etc.) that is carried or worn by the user of
the electronic cigarette 100 and that includes a locator (e.g., a
GPS locator) which emits a wireless signal allowing a location of
the mobile communication device 450 to be identified, thereby
allowing the location of the electronic cigarette 100 to be
inferred (assuming the electronic cigarette 100 is in the vicinity
of the mobile communication device 450). In some cases, as shown in
FIG. 19, the mobile communication device 450 may be used only for
locating the electronic cigarette 100, without being used to convey
the external VCA command from the server 400 to the electronic
cigarette 100 (i.e., the mobile communication device 450 is not
part of the communication link 440). In other cases, as shown in
FIG. 20, the mobile communication device 450 may be used both to
locate the electronic cigarette 100 and to convey the external VCA
command from the server 400 to the electronic cigarette 100 (i.e.,
the mobile communication device 450 is part of the communication
link 440, basically acting as a relay). In these cases, the mobile
communication device 450 may execute a software application to
interact with the server 400 over a communication link, which may
be implemented by the communication link 440 or a different
communication link, and the server 400 maintains an association
between the mobile communication device 450 and the electronic
cigarette 100 (e.g., in a database associating identifiers (e.g.,
serial numbers, IP addresses, etc.) of electronic cigarettes with
corresponding identifiers (e.g., serial numbers, IP addresses,
phone numbers, etc.) of mobile communication devices).
[0149] The location of the vaping-prohibited area 610 may be known
to the server 400 in any suitable way. For example, the server 400
may have access to a database maintaining locations of
vaping-prohibited areas, which may be derived from maps,
vehicle-tracking systems, etc.
[0150] Thus, when the server 400 determines, based on the location
of the electronic cigarette 100 and the location of the
vaping-prohibited area 610, that the electronic cigarette 100
enters the vaping-prohibited area 610, the external VCA command is
transmitted by the server 400 and received by the communication
interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100. The controller 160
processes the external VCA command and effects a control action in
order to disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160 may send or refrain
from sending an internal control signal to the vapor producer 120,
the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to disable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100. As long
as the location of the electronic cigarette 100 and the location of
the vaping-prohibited area 610 indicates that the electronic
cigarette 100 is located at the vaping-prohibited area 610, the
controller 160 maintains the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 disabled.
[0151] Conversely, when the server 400 determines, based on the
location of the electronic cigarette 100 and the location of the
vaping-prohibited area 610, that the electronic cigarette 100
leaves the vaping-prohibited area 610, the server 400 transmits an
external VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100 in order to
enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100. Once the external VCA command is received by the communication
interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the controller 160
processes this external VCA command and effects a control action in
order to enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160 may send an
internal control signal to the vapor producer 120, the
fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to enable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0152] For instance, in various examples of situations, this may be
useful to prevent vaping of any electronic cigarette such as the
electronic cigarette 100 where vaping is not permitted or is
undesirable (e.g., to avoid inconveniencing or adversely affecting
other individuals who are or could subsequently be located there),
and where the location and/or size of the vaping-prohibited area
610 can be configured.
Example 7
[0153] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 21, the communication
device 400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or
other wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application that relates to the electronic cigarette 100
and that monitors a location of the mobile communication device
400, and thus a location of the electronic cigarette 100 (assuming
the electronic cigarette 100 is in the vicinity of the mobile
communication device 400), in order to disable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 when the electronic
cigarette 100 is deemed to be within a certain distance of a
vaping-prohibited area 620 whose location is known, such as a
recorded landmark (e.g., an airport, hospital, restaurant, school,
etc.), a vehicle whose location is tracked (e.g., an airplane,
public transit vehicle, rental car, etc.), etc.
[0154] The mobile communication device 400 includes a locator
(e.g., a GPS locator) which emits a wireless signal allowing the
location of the mobile communication device 400 to be identified,
thereby allowing the location of the electronic cigarette 100 to be
inferred (assuming the electronic cigarette 100 is in the vicinity
of the mobile communication device 400).
[0155] The location of the vaping-prohibited area 620 may be known
to the mobile communication device 400 in any suitable way. For
example, the software application running on the mobile
communication device 400 may have access to a database maintaining
locations of vaping-prohibited areas, which may be derived from
maps, vehicle-tracking systems, etc.
[0156] When the mobile communication device 400 determines, based
on the location of the electronic cigarette 100 and the location of
the vaping-prohibited area 620, that the electronic cigarette 100
enters the vaping-prohibited area 620, the mobile communication
device 400 transmits an external VCA command to the electronic
cigarette 100 over the communication link 440, which includes a
wireless connection, to disable the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100.
[0157] Upon the external VCA command being received by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to disable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160
may send or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the
vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100. As long as the location of the electronic cigarette 100 and
the location of the vaping-prohibited area 620 indicates that the
electronic cigarette 100 is located at the vaping-prohibited area
620, the controller 160 maintains the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 disabled.
[0158] Conversely, when the software application running on the
mobile communication device 400 determines, based on the location
of the electronic cigarette 100 and the location of the
vaping-prohibited area 620, that the electronic cigarette 100
leaves the vaping-prohibited area 620, the mobile communication
device 400 transmits an external VCA command to the electronic
cigarette 100 in order to enable the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100. Once the external VCA command is
received by the communication interface 170 of the electronic
cigarette 100, the controller 160 processes this external VCA
command and effects a control action in order to enable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100. For
instance, the controller 160 may send an internal control signal to
the vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100.
[0159] For instance, in various examples of situations, this may be
useful to prevent vaping of any electronic cigarette such as the
electronic cigarette 100 where vaping is not permitted or
undesirable (e.g., to avoid inconveniencing or adversely affecting
other individuals who are or could subsequently be located
there).
Example 8
[0160] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 22, the communication
device 400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or
other wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application that relates to the electronic cigarette 100
and that obtains authorization information 700 from the user and
enables the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100 if it determines that the authorization information 700 is
valid and indicative of the user being authorized to vape. The user
can interact with the user interface of the mobile communication
device 400 to provide the authorization information 700 and, if the
software application determines that the authorization information
700 is valid, the mobile communication device 400 issues an
external VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100 over the
communication link 440, which includes a wireless connection, in
order to enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100.
[0161] For example, in some embodiments, the authorization
information 700 may comprise an identifier, such as an alphanumeric
identifier (e.g., a passcode) or a biometric identifier. As another
example, in other embodiments, the authorization information 700
may comprise any other information that is deemed to establish that
the user is authorized to vape the electronic cigarette 100. For
instance, in some cases, the authorization information 700 may
include an indication of the user's age (e.g., a response to a
request presented on the user interface of the mobile communication
device 400 and prompting the user to indicate his/her age or
confirm that he/she is at least of a certain age; an answer to a
question presented on the user interface of the mobile
communication device 400 to verify the user's age, etc.).
[0162] Of course, the mobile communication device 400 may provide
the requisite confirmations/authentications by comparing the
authentication information 700 provided by the user to
previously-collected information stored in a memory. Alternatively,
the mobile communication device 400 may send the authentication
information 700 (or a subset thereof) to a remote server (e.g., a
web server) for authentication, which may be particularly useful
when a third party is to have an influence on the user's ability to
vape.
Example 9
[0163] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the communication
device 400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or
other wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application (e.g., a mobile app) that relates to the
electronic cigarette 100. The software application may interface
with various communication utilities (including social
networking/media accounts) for the user installed on the mobile
communication device 400. The software application may be
responsive to one or more messages (e.g., received from specific
individuals and/or having specific content) to send an external VCA
command to the electronic cigarette 100 over the communication link
440, which is a wireless connection. Accordingly, the external VCA
command may specify whether the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 is to be disabled, enabled, increased (and
possibly also by how much), decreased (and possibly also by how
much), etc.
[0164] Upon receipt of the external VCA command by the
communication interface 170 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 processes the external VCA command and effects a
control action in order to alter the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 in accordance with what was specified
in the external VCA command. As a result, the controller 160 may
send or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the
vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
disable or otherwise alter the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100.
[0165] In some embodiments, this degree of alteration of the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 may be
related to, for example, the originator or content of the received
message(s). Thus, for example, the user may specify in the mobile
app that when an email is received from John Smith, the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 is to be
disabled. Consequently, when the user is attempting to vape the
electronic cigarette 100 and is unsuccessful in drawing vapor
despite seemingly normal operation of the electronic cigarette 100,
the surprise absence of vapor may signal to the user the
possibility that a message from John Smith may have been
received.
Example 10
[0166] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 23, the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 may be
altered (e.g., disabled) upon refilling a depletable resource 184
of the electronic cigarette 100, such as upon recharging the
battery 112 or upon replacing the container 124 of the vapor
producer 120 or replenishing the substance contained in the
container 124. To that end, the controller 160 of the electronic
cigarette 100 may monitor the depletable resource 184 of the
electronic cigarette 100 and, when it determines that the
depletable resource 184 is being refilled, may effect a control
action to alter (e.g., disable) the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100. The controller 160 may then, upon
detecting a local VCA event (i.e., receipt of an external VCA
command and/or one or more other circumstances having arisen at the
electronic cigarette 100), effect another control action to once
again alter (e.g., enable) the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100. This may be useful, for instance, to
reduce a potential for prolonged unauthorized use of the electronic
cigarette 100 without burdening an authorized user with having to
take steps (e.g., provide a password or other identifier) to
establish his/her authorized use of the electronic cigarette 100
every time the electronic cigarette 100 is used.
[0167] For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 24, the
depletable resource 184 of the electronic cigarette 100 may be the
battery 184 such that the controller 160 of the electronic
cigarette 100 monitors the battery 112 and, when it determines that
the battery 112 is being recharged, effects a control action to
disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100. The battery 184 may be recharged using a charge source 192.
For instance, in this embodiment, the charge source 192 may be
implemented by a computer 194 to which the power source 110 of the
electronic cigarette 100 may be connected via a cable 198 (e.g., a
USB cable). The charge source 192 may be implemented in any other
suitable way in other embodiments (e.g., by an electric outlet of a
wall, by an inductive charging device, etc.).
[0168] When connected to the computer 194, the electronic cigarette
100 recharges the battery 184 and, upon detecting this recharging
operation, the controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100
effects a control action in order to disable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the
controller 160 may send or refrain from sending an internal control
signal to the vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154,
etc., to disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100.
[0169] The controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100 may then
be attentive to detection of a local VCA event in order to enable
the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100. In
various embodiments, the controller 100 may be attentive to receipt
of one or more inputs received via the user interface 150 and/or
the communication interface 170 and/or internal inputs from various
internal components (e.g., a clock, a GPS locator, a battery, etc.)
of the electronic cigarette 100 in order to detect a local VCA
event indicating that the vapor-producing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 is to be enabled.
[0170] For instance, in some embodiments, the controller 160 of the
electronic cigarette 100 may be attentive to receipt of an external
VCA command from the computer 194 to which the electronic cigarette
100 is connected in order to enable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0171] For example, in some embodiments, while the electronic
cigarette 100 is connected to it, the computer 194 may prompt the
user to input authorization information 750 to establish that the
user is authorized to use the electronic cigarette 100. The
computer 194 may run a software application that relates to the
electronic cigarette 100 and that displays a message prompting the
user to input the authorization information 750 via a user
interface of the computer 194. As an example, the authorization
information 750 may comprise an identifier, such as an alphanumeric
identifier (e.g., a passcode) or a biometric identifier. As another
example, the authorization information 750 may comprise any other
information that is deemed to establish that the user is authorized
to vape the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, in some cases,
the authorization information 750 may include an indication of the
user's age (e.g., a response to a request presented on the user
interface of the computer 194 and prompting the user to indicate
his/her age or confirm that he/she is at least of a certain age; an
answer to a question presented on the user interface of the
computer 194 to verify the user's age, etc.).
[0172] If the software application running on the computer 194
determines that the authorization information 750 provided by the
user is valid, the computer 194 issues an external VCA command to
the electronic cigarette 100 in order to enable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100. The external VCA
command may be transmitted from the computer 194 to the electronic
cigarette 100 via the cable 198 interconnecting them or a wireless
connection (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless connection)
interconnecting them. In some cases, the computer 194 may validate
the authorization information 750 by comparing it to
previously-collected information stored in a memory. In other
cases, the computer 194 may send the authentication information 750
to a remote server (e.g., a web server) for validation.
[0173] In response to the external VCA command issued by the
computer 194, the controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100
effects a control action in order to enable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the
controller 160 may send an internal control signal to the vapor
producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to enable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0174] In a variant, in some embodiments, instead of itself
validating the authorization information 750 provided by the user,
the computer 194 may relay the authorization information 750 to the
controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., via the cable
198 or wireless connection interconnecting them) and the controller
160 can determine whether the authorization information 750 is
valid and, if so, effect a control action in order to enable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0175] In other embodiments, the authorization information 750 to
establish that the user is authorized to use the electronic
cigarette 100 may be provided in any other suitable way upon
recharging of the battery 112 with the charge source 192, including
without using the charge source 192 itself.
[0176] For example, in some embodiments, the authorization
information 750 may be provided via the user interface 150 of the
electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., using one or more buttons or other
input elements of the input device 156, a particular pattern of
drawing on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100, a
biometric sensor, etc.), while the electronic cigarette 100 is
connected to the charge source 192 or after the electronic
cigarette 100 has been disconnected from the charge source 192. The
controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100 may, upon validating
the authorization information 750 provided by the user via the user
interface 150, effect a control action in order to enable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0177] As another example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG.
25, the authorization information 750 may be provided via the
mobile communication device 400 (e.g., a smartphone or other
wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the user which runs a
software application (e.g., a mobile app) that relates to the
electronic cigarette 100, while the electronic cigarette 100 is
connected to the charge source 192 or after the electronic
cigarette 100 has been disconnected from the charge source 192.
This may be useful in situations where an individual recharging the
electronic cigarette 100 is not authorized to vape the electronic
cigarette 100 since, although he/she may have access to the
electronic cigarette 100 and the charge source 192, this individual
may not have access to the mobile communication device 400.
[0178] For instance, while the electronic cigarette 100 is
connected to the charge source 192 or upon disconnection of the
electronic cigarette 100 from the charge source 192, the controller
160 of the electronic cigarette 100 may send a wireless signal to
the mobile communication device 400 to cause the mobile
communication device 400 to prompt the user to input the
authorization information via the mobile communication device 400.
If the software application running on the mobile communication
device 400 determines that the authorization information provided
by the user is valid, the mobile communication device 400 issues an
external VCA command to the electronic cigarette 100 in order to
enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100. Upon receipt of this external VCA command, the controller 160
of the electronic cigarette 100 can effect a control action in
order to enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100.
[0179] Similar to what is discussed above in respect of recharging
the battery 112 of the electronic cigarette 100, in other
embodiments, the depletable resource 184 of the electronic
cigarette 100 may be the container 124 of the vapor producer 120 or
the substance contained in the container 124 such that the
controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100 monitors the
container 124 or the substance contained in the container 124 and,
when it determines that the container 124 is being replaced or the
substance contained in the container 124 is being replenished,
effects a control action to disable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. The controller 160 may then be
attentive to detection of a local VCA event (e.g., receipt of an
external VCA command or the authorization information 750 from the
user interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 or the mobile
communication device 400) in order to enable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
Example 11
[0180] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 26, the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 may be
altered (e.g., enabled, disabled, etc.) based on a detectable
pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100 by the user, i.e., a detectable manner in which the
user draws on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0181] For example, in some embodiments, the controller 160 of the
electronic cigarette 100 may be responsive to the detectable
pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100 to enable the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100. The vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 may be disabled by default (e.g., after a
period of time such as 5 or 10 minutes following a last time it was
used for vaping) and enabled when the controller 160 detects the
detectable pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100. The user may thus perform the detectable
pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100 to "unlock" the electronic cigarette 100. In that
sense, the detectable pattern of drawing 820 can be viewed as a
fluid-drawing (e.g., inhalation) "passcode" to be carried out by
the user in order to be able to vape the electronic cigarette
100.
[0182] The detectable pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of
the electronic cigarette 100 constituting the fluid-drawing
passcode refers to a pattern of puffs or other draws on the outlet
152 of the electronic cigarette 100 that is detectable by the
controller 160 to cause the controller 160 to enable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100. For
instance, the detectable pattern of drawing 820 constituting the
fluid-drawing passcode may be a series of rapid draws within a
short period of time (e.g., three quick puffs within one second), a
sequence of longer and shorter puffs within a given period of time
(e.g., one long puff followed by two quick puffs within two
seconds), or any other suitable detectable pattern of puffs or
other draws on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0183] The controller 160 monitors inputs received from the
fluid-drawing detector 154, which detects when the user draws
(e.g., puffs, inhales, etc.) fluid through the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100, in order to detect the detectable pattern
of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100
constituting the fluid-drawing passcode if and when it is
performed. These inputs may be indicative of parameters of each
draw on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100, such as a
duration of the draw (e.g., how long a pressure differential is
sensed by the fluid-drawing detector 154), an intensity of the draw
(e.g., a magnitude of the pressure differential sensed by the
fluid-drawing detector 154 during the draw), a variation of the
intensity of the draw over the duration of the draw (e.g., a
pressure vs. time function for the draw), etc. The controller 160
may compare this to information stored in a memory that defines the
detectable pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100 which is to be recognized by the
controller 160 in order to unlock the electronic cigarette 100.
[0184] Upon detecting the detectable pattern of drawing on the
outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100 constituting the
fluid-drawing passcode, the controller 160 effects a control action
in order to enable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160 may send an
internal control signal to the vapor producer 120, the
fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to enable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0185] Once the user is done vaping the electronic cigarette 100,
the controller 160 may determine, based on its monitoring of the
fluid-drawing detector 154, that no draw (e.g., inhalation, etc.)
on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100 has occurred in a
certain period of time (e.g., 5 or 10 minutes) and may thus effect
a control action to disable the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160 may send
or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the vapor
producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to disable the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0186] The detectable pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of
the electronic cigarette 100 constituting the fluid-drawing
passcode that is used to unlock the electronic cigarette 100 may be
specified in any suitable way.
[0187] For example, in some embodiments, the detectable pattern of
drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100
constituting the fluid-drawing passcode may be specified by a
legitimate user (e.g., an owner) of the electronic cigarette 100.
In other words, the fluid-drawing passcode to unlock the electronic
cigarette 100 may be chosen by the electronic cigarette's
legitimate user, which may allow personalization or customization
of this passcode. For instance, the legitimate user may interact
with the user interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g.,
using one or more buttons or other input elements of the input
device 156) to put the controller 160 in a mode in which it
observes inputs received from the fluid-drawing detector 164 while
the legitimate user draws on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100 in a way that defines the detectable pattern of
drawing 820 to be subsequently recognized by the controller 160 as
the fluid-drawing passcode to unlock the electronic cigarette 100.
These inputs may be indicative of parameters of each draw on the
outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100, such as a duration of
the draw (e.g., how long a pressure differential is sensed by the
fluid-drawing detector 154), an intensity of the draw (e.g., a
magnitude of the pressure differential sensed by the fluid-drawing
detector 154 during the draw), a variation of the intensity of the
draw over the duration of the draw (e.g., a pressure vs. time
function for the draw), etc., that defines the detectable pattern
of drawing 820 to be subsequently recognized by the controller
160.
[0188] As another example, in some embodiments, the detectable
pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100 constituting the fluid-drawing passcode that is used
to unlock the electronic cigarette 100 may be specified by a
manufacturer of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the
detectable pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100 that is to be recognized by the controller
820 may be defined in terms of parameters of each draw that are
stored in memory (e.g., a duration of the draw, an intensity of the
draw, a variation of the intensity of the draw over the duration of
the draw, etc.) by the manufacturer. The detectable pattern of
drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100 may
be conveyed to an owner of the electronic cigarette 100, such as by
providing a description of the detectable pattern of drawing 820 to
be performed to the owner (e.g., as part of documentation provided
in packaging of the electronic cigarette 100, by directing the
owner to a webpage which provides the description upon entering a
serial number or other identifier associated with the electronic
cigarette 100, etc.).
[0189] In other embodiments, the detectable pattern of drawing 820
on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100 that is
detectable by the controller 160 to alter (e.g., enable, disable,
etc.) the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100 may be a vaping "signature" that identifies a legitimate user
(e.g., an owner) of the electronic cigarette 100. When it
determines that a manner of drawing on the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100 does not correspond to the vaping
signature, i.e., does not correspond to the detectable pattern of
drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100, the
controller 160 proceeds to disable the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. In other words, the controller 160
maintains the electronic cigarette 100 "unlocked" for vaping as
long as it detects the vaping signature but "locks" the electronic
cigarette 100 to prevent further vaping when it ceases to or
otherwise does not detect the vaping signature. An individual who
is not the legitimate user identified by the vaping signature
recognized by the controller 160 is therefore unlikely to be able
to enjoy a prolonged use of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0190] The detectable pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of
the electronic cigarette 100 constituting the vaping signature
refers to a pattern of puffs or other draws on the outlet 152 of
the electronic cigarette 100 that is detectable by the controller
160 to cause the controller 160 to maintain the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 enabled. For instance,
the detectable pattern of drawing 820 constituting the vaping
signature may be a series of draws of certain durations and/or
intensities within a given period of time (e.g., 20 puffs each
between 0.6 and 1.2 seconds within an interval of three minutes), a
sequence of longer and shorter puffs within a given period of time
(e.g., one long puff followed by a shorter puffs within an interval
of 30 seconds), or any other suitable detectable pattern of puffs
or other draws on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette
100.
[0191] The controller 160 monitors inputs received from the
fluid-drawing detector 154, which detects when the user draws
(e.g., puffs, inhales, etc.) fluid through the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100, in order to detect the detectable pattern
of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100
constituting the vaping signature if and when it is performed.
These inputs may be indicative of parameters of each draw on the
outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100, such as a duration of
the draw (e.g., how long a pressure differential is sensed by the
fluid-drawing detector 154), an intensity of the draw (e.g., a
magnitude of the pressure differential sensed by the fluid-drawing
detector 154 during the draw), a variation of the intensity of the
draw over the duration of the draw (e.g., a pressure vs. time
function for the draw), etc. The controller 160 may compare this to
information stored in a memory that defines the detectable pattern
of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100
which is to be recognized by the controller 160 in order to
maintain the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100 enabled.
[0192] When it detects the detectable pattern of drawing on the
outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100 constituting the vaping
signature, the controller 160 effects a control action in order to
maintain the vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette
100 enabled. For instance, the controller 160 may send or continue
sending an internal control signal to the vapor producer 120, the
fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to maintain the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 enabled.
[0193] However, when it ceases to or otherwise does not detect the
detectable pattern of drawing on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100 constituting the vaping signature, the controller 160
effects a control action in order to disable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the
controller 160 may send or refrain from sending an internal control
signal to the vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154,
etc., to disable the vapor-providing capability of the electronic
cigarette 100.
[0194] The detectable pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of
the electronic cigarette 100 constituting the vaping signature that
is used to maintain the electronic cigarette 100 unlocked may be
specified in any suitable way.
[0195] For example, in some embodiments, the detectable pattern of
drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100
constituting the vaping signature may be expressly specified by a
legitimate user (e.g., an owner) of the electronic cigarette 100.
For instance, the legitimate user may interact with the user
interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., using one or
more buttons or other input elements of the input device 156) to
put the controller 160 in a mode in which it observes inputs
received from the fluid-drawing detector 164 while the legitimate
user vapes the electronic cigarette 100 in a way that defines the
detectable pattern of drawing 820 to be subsequently recognized by
the controller 160 as the vaping signature to maintain the
electronic cigarette 100 unlocked. These inputs may be indicative
of parameters of each draw on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100, such as a duration of the draw (e.g., how long a
pressure differential is sensed by the fluid-drawing detector 154),
an intensity of the draw (e.g., a magnitude of the pressure
differential sensed by the fluid-drawing detector 154 during the
draw), a variation of the intensity of the draw over the duration
of the draw (e.g., a pressure vs. time function for the draw),
etc., that defines the detectable pattern of drawing 820 to be
subsequently recognized by the controller 160 as the vaping
signature of the legitimate user. The parameters defining the
vaping signature to be recognized by the controller 160 are stored
in a memory of the controller 160.
[0196] As another example, in some embodiments, the detectable
pattern of drawing 820 on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100 constituting the vaping signature of a legitimate
user (e.g., an owner) of the electronic cigarette 100 may be
autonomously learned by the controller 160 of the electronic
cigarette 100 by observing how the legitimate user vapes the
electronic cigarette 100 over time. For instance, during a
predetermined period of time (e.g., a week or month starting from
an initial use of the electronic cigarette 100), the controller 160
may observe inputs received from the fluid-drawing detector 164
every time the legitimate user vapes the electronic cigarette 100
and, based on these inputs, identify the detectable pattern of
drawing 820 to be subsequently recognized by the controller 160 as
the vaping signature to maintain the electronic cigarette 100
unlocked. These inputs may be indicative of parameters of each draw
on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100, such as a
duration of the draw (e.g., how long a pressure differential is
sensed by the fluid-drawing detector 154), an intensity of the draw
(e.g., a magnitude of the pressure differential sensed by the
fluid-drawing detector 154 during the draw), a variation of the
intensity of the draw over the duration of the draw (e.g., a
pressure vs. time function for the draw), etc. For example, based
on these inputs, the controller 160 may determine that a particular
series of draws on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100
with certain durations and/or intensities occurs every time the
legitimate user vapes the electronic cigarette 100 and may thus
define the vaping signature of the legitimate user as being this
particular series of draws. The parameters defining the vaping
signature to be recognized by the controller 160 are stored in a
memory of the controller 160.
Example 12
[0197] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 27, the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 may be
altered (e.g., enabled, disabled, etc.) based on buccal biometrics
of the user as he/she draws on the outlet 152 of the electronic
cigarette 100
[0198] To that end, the controller 160 of the electronic cigarette
100 may run a process for acquiring a buccal biometric input 520,
comparing the buccal biometric input to a stored buccal biometric
reference associated with an authorized user 530, and effecting a
control action to alter (e.g., disable) the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 based on a result of the
comparing 540. This may be useful, for instance, to reduce a
potential for unauthorized use of the electronic cigarette 100,
such as would occur if there were an attempted use of the
electronic cigarette 100 by someone who is unable to supply
recognized buccal biometrics of an authorized user.
[0199] Examples of buccal biometric inputs that may be obtained
during step 520 include one or more measured features of one or
more parts of the user's mouth. Such features may include, for
instance: characteristics (e.g., pH, viscosity, hormone levels,
DNA, etc.) of biological fluid (e.g., saliva) in the user's mouth;
characteristics (e.g., number, position, etc.) of teeth of the
user; and/or characteristics (e.g., texture, shape, etc.) of lips
of the user, to name a few possibilities. To acquire the buccal
biometric input, the electronic cigarette 100 may need to perform
measurements on a physical substance (e.g., saliva, jaw, lips,
teeth) and thus the electronic cigarette 100 may include components
that implement additional functionality.
[0200] In one example, the additional functionality for acquiring
the buccal biometric input may be provided by an imaging device
(e.g., a digital camera) that is mounted to the housing 115 of the
electronic cigarette 100 (for taking a picture of the interior of
the user's mouth), in combination with image processing software,
firmware or hardware, which counts the number and/or position of
the user's teeth. There may also be provided a sensor that monitors
proximity of the user's mouth so as to trigger the taking of the
picture, or the picture may be triggered as soon as the
fluid-drawing detector 154 detects that the user is drawing on the
outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100. In another example, the
additional functionality for acquiring the buccal biometric input
may be provided by a test system that is mounted to the housing 115
of the electronic cigarette 100 and that enters into contact with
fluids in the user's mouth. The test system may be configured to
detect a level of one or more hormones present in saliva or another
chemical characteristic of the saliva, for example. In yet another
example, the additional functionality for acquiring the buccal
biometric input may be provided by a pressure sensor that detects a
pressure applied by the user's lips.
[0201] The buccal biometric reference associated with the
authorized user may be obtained during a programming phase 510,
during which the controller 160 is programmed to take one or more
samples of the buccal biometric input (as described above, for
example) and to utilize these samples (or an average thereof) as
the buccal biometric reference. In an example, the buccal biometric
reference may be reprogrammed by re-entering the programming phase
at a later time. During the programming phase, the user of the
electronic cigarette 100 is assumed to be the authorized user, and
thus it may be of interest to prevent the programming phase from
being entered (or re-entered) by an unauthorized user. To this end,
a passcode may need to be entered by the user that is attempting to
enter (or re-enter) the programming phase.
[0202] During the comparing step 530, the buccal biometric input is
compared to the buccal biometric reference. In some embodiments,
the comparing may be such that the outcome is positive (i.e., a
match is declared) only if there is an exact match between the
buccal biometric input and the buccal biometric reference. However,
in other embodiments, the comparing may produce a positive outcome
not only when there is an exact match, but also when there is
sufficient similarity between the buccal biometric input and the
buccal biometric reference. Similarity may be measured in a variety
of ways, such as when the input and reference values are to within
a threshold band (e.g., 5%, 10% or 20%) of one another. Other
techniques for assessing similarity are possible. For example, a
plurality of buccal biometric inputs may be collected and their
average may be compared to the buccal biometric reference;
alternatively, the one closest to the reference may be the one
selected for comparison.
[0203] In one example application, where the authorized user is a
woman and the woman resides with male children, the mere detection
that the saliva of the user is from a male could be a sufficient
discriminant to limit the ability of the electronic cigarette 100
to produce vapor and thereby achieve the goal of preventing the
children from vaping the electronic cigarette 100.
[0204] In another example application, where the authorized user
has a certain dentition (including holes, fillings, crowns, etc.),
the detection that the user's teeth are different (e.g., lack a
crown or filling in an expected position) from those of the
authorized user could be used as a trigger to limit the ability of
the electronic cigarette 100 to produce vapor, thereby achieving
the goal of preventing the user from vaping the electronic
cigarette 100.
Example 13
[0205] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 28, the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 may be
altered (e.g., enabled, disabled, etc.) based on a result or
progression of game play on a game station in a vicinity of the
electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., to allow, enable or facilitate
vaping in an arcade or a casino in response to game play).
[0206] For example, in some embodiments, upon entry to a casino,
patrons are provided with a complimentary "casino cartridge" 212
(e.g., filled with an e-liquid of their choice, flavored or plain,
with or without nicotine, alcohol, etc.). The casino cartridge 212
is recognized by the controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100
as being a casino cartridge and therefore regulated (e.g.,
requiring a code to operate). As such, the ability of vapor to be
produced will only be allowed under certain circumstances. A casino
server 442, meanwhile, registers in a database 446 the electronic
cigarette 100, the user thereof and the casino cartridge 212. This
information may be linked in the form of a database record, for
example. As the user plays different games within the casino, the
user is recognized by a game station 452, such as a game machine
(e.g., slot machine) or a game table (e.g., blackjack table), being
played and, depending on the bets placed by the user (either on a
single machine or table or cumulatively), the casino server 442
instructs the electronic cigarette 100 (associated with that user)
to unblock/enable the casino cartridge 212 and allow vaping (e.g.,
a limited number of vapes and/or for a limited duration). This can
be done by providing a digital key (which may be variable) to the
electronic cigarette 100 wirelessly via a nearby gaming apparatus
(e.g., game machine or game table). As long as the user keeps up a
certain level of betting per unit time (e.g., $100/hr), vaping of
the casino cartridge 212 is allowed. However, if the user ceases to
bet or slows down, vaping becomes restricted.
[0207] The aforementioned technique therefore encourages patrons to
continue to play in the casino and indeed bet higher amounts.
Different thresholds (of $ bet per unit time so as to enable
vaping) can also be applied depending on individuals' gaming
profiles. A similar approach can also be used in a video lottery
terminal setting or in a traditional arcade, wherein continued
spend on machines will lead to authorized access to a complimentary
source of vaping.
[0208] Other venues for controllably encouraging vaping of e-fluid
based on consumer behavior may include department stores,
restaurants, shopping malls, grocery stores and other locations
where prolonged user presence is linked with increased consumer
spend.
[0209] In some embodiments, certain functionality implemented by
the communication device 400 in the examples considered above, such
as, for instance, monitoring the location of the electronic
cigarette 100, monitoring a time of day, monitoring the vaping
activity, knowing the location of a vaping-prohibited area, etc.,
may instead be implemented by the electronic cigarette 100 itself.
That is, the controller 160 of the electronic cigarette 100 may
interact with other components of the electronic cigarette 100
(e.g., a GPS locator, a clock, a memory storing locations of
vaping-prohibited areas, etc.) in order to implement this
functionality.
[0210] Alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments, the user
interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 may implement a
graphical user interface providing a function for allowing the user
to input an external VCA command, which causes the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100 to be altered without
shutting down the electronic cigarette 100.
II. Conveyance of a Notification of Potential Unauthorized Use
[0211] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 29, the electronic
cigarette 100 may communicate with the communication device 400
(e.g., a smartphone, a computer, etc.) that is external to the
electronic cigarette 100 to convey a notification 860 of potential
unauthorized use of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., by a child,
teenager or other unauthorized user). This notification 860, which
will be referred to as a "potential unauthorized use (PUU)
notification", may be useful, for instance, to notify an authorized
user (e.g., an owner) of the electronic cigarette 100 that the
electronic cigarette 100 may potentially be used by an unauthorized
user, such as a child or teenager who is not allowed to vape or an
individual who may have stolen the electronic cigarette 100 or have
found the electronic cigarette 100 if forgotten or misplaced by the
authorized user.
[0212] For example, in this embodiment, the communication device
400 is a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone or other
wireless phone; a tablet computer; a head-mounted display,
smartwatch or other wearable device; etc.) of the authorized user
who is an owner of the electronic cigarette 100. In this case, the
mobile communication device 400 runs a software application (e.g.,
a mobile app) that is related to the electronic cigarette 100 and
that can deliver the PUU notification 860. In other cases, the
mobile communication device 400 may be able to deliver the PUU
notification 860 without running any software application related
to the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., the PUU notification 860 may
be delivered as a text message (e.g., SMS message) or an email
message presentable by the mobile communication device 400).
[0213] The PUU notification 860 may be implemented in any suitable
way. For example, in some embodiments, the PUU notification 860 may
include a visual element displayed on a display of the mobile
communication device 400 (e.g., a pop-up window conveying a textual
message, an email message, a text message, etc.). As another
example, in some embodiments, the PUU notification 860 may include
an audible element emitted by a speaker of the mobile communication
device 400 (e.g., an audio warning). As yet another example, in
some embodiments, the PUU notification 860 may include both a
visual element and an audible element.
[0214] The PUU notification 860 is issued in response to an event
indicative of potential unauthorized use of the electronic
cigarette 100. This event, which will be referred to as a "PUU
event", may include one or more conditions being met (e.g., one or
more circumstances having arisen) in respect of the electronic
cigarette 100. Any or all of these one or more conditions may be
predefined or otherwise specified such that, when the one or more
conditions are met, the PUU event is deemed to have occurred.
[0215] Detection that the one or more conditions are met in respect
of the electronic cigarette 100, and therefore detection of a PUU
event, may be carried out by the electronic cigarette 100 and/or by
a communication device external to the electronic cigarette 100
such as the mobile communication device 400. At the electronic
cigarette 100, this may be achieved based on processing of one or
more inputs that may be received by the controller 160 of the
electronic cigarette 100. Examples of such inputs may include
external inputs received via the user interface 150 and/or the
communication interface 170 and/or internal inputs from various
internal components (e.g., a clock, a GPS locator, a battery, etc.)
of the electronic cigarette 100. At a communication device external
to the electronic cigarette 100 such as the mobile communication
device 400, this may be carried out by processing circuitry at the
external communication device that takes into account one or more
stimuli. Examples of such stimuli may include external inputs
received via a user interface and/or a communication interface of
the external communication device and/or internal inputs from
various internal components (e.g., a clock, a GPS locator, a
battery, etc.) of the external communication device.
[0216] The PUU event which triggers issuance of the PUU
notification 860 may be defined by one or more conditions (e.g.,
circumstances) that may involve various factors, including, for
example, one or more of: [0217] a location of the electronic
cigarette 100 (e.g., to notify of potential authorized use when
there is a lack of proximity of the electronic cigarette 100 to its
owner, when the electronic cigarette 100 is no longer located in a
home, workplace, or other site associated with its owner, etc.);
[0218] time (e.g., to notify of potential authorized use when the
electronic cigarette 100 is activated at certain times of day or
other specified moments during which the owner of the electronic
cigarette 100 is not expected to vape the electronic cigarette
100); and/or [0219] an indication of a desire of the owner of the
electronic cigarette 100 to be notified of an upcoming use of the
electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., within a certain period of time,
such as an upcoming day, week or month to learn of any authorized
use of the electronic cigarette 100 that may occur during that
period of time); [0220] etc.
[0221] For instance, in some embodiments, the owner of the
electronic cigarette 100 may specify one or more conditions (e.g.,
circumstances) under which he/she wishes to receive the PUU
notification 860 via his/her mobile communication device 400. This
may be achieved by the owner of the electronic cigarette 100
providing user input defining these one or more conditions via the
input device 156 of the user interface 150 of the electronic
cigarette 100 and/or via the user input of the mobile communication
device 400.
[0222] As an example, the owner of the electronic cigarette 100 may
specify that he/she wishes to be notified when the electronic
cigarette 100 ceases to be in proximity of the mobile communication
device 400. For instance, the software application running on the
mobile communication device 400 may monitor a proximity of the
mobile communication device 400 to the electronic cigarette 100 in
order to issue the PUU notification 860 when the electronic
cigarette 100 is deemed to no longer be proximate enough to the
mobile communication device 400, which is presumed to be with the
owner of the electronic cigarette 100. It should be appreciated
that proximity may be assessed in various ways, such as by
comparing the actual location of the mobile communication device
400 to that of the electronic cigarette 100, or by detecting a
distance (e.g., based on signal strength, signal travel time, etc.)
between the mobile communication device 400 and the electronic
cigarette 100, to name a few possibilities. Thus, when the software
application determines that the mobile communication device 400 and
the electronic cigarette 100 are not within a specified distance
(e.g., 1 or 2 m) from one another, the mobile communication device
400 issues the PUU notification 860 which can notify the owner of
the electronic cigarette 100 of this situation.
[0223] As another example, the owner of the electronic cigarette
100 may specify that he/she wishes to be notified when the
electronic cigarette 100 is being vaped while not in proximity of
the mobile communication device 400, which is presumed to be with
him/her. For instance, the controller 160 of the electronic
cigarette 100 may monitor a proximity of the electronic cigarette
100 to the mobile communication device 400 and, when the electronic
cigarette 100 is deemed by the controller 160 to no longer be
proximate enough to the mobile communication device 400, the
controller 160 monitors inputs received from the fluid-drawing
detector 154 to determine whether someone has drawn (e.g., puffed,
inhaled, etc.) on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100.
If the controller 160 detects that someone has drawn on the outlet
152 of the electronic cigarette 100 while it is not in proximity to
the mobile communication device 400, the controller 160 causes
transmission of a signal over the communication link 440 to issue
the PUU notification 860 at the mobile communication device 400 in
order to notify the owner of the electronic cigarette 100 of this
situation.
[0224] As yet another example, the owner of the electronic
cigarette 100 may specify that he/she wishes to be notified when
the electronic cigarette 100 is being vaped during a predetermined
period of time, say between 12 PM and 6 AM during which time he/she
normally sleeps. For instance, the controller 160 of the electronic
cigarette 100 may monitor a time of day and inputs received from
the fluid-drawing detector 154 to determine whether someone has
drawn (e.g., puffed, inhaled, etc.) on the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100 between 12 PM and 6 AM. If the controller
160 detects that someone has drawn on the outlet 152 of the
electronic cigarette 100 during that time, the controller 160
causes transmission of a signal over the communication link 440 to
issue the PUU notification 860 at the mobile communication device
400 in order to notify the owner of the electronic cigarette 100 of
this situation.
[0225] In some embodiments, the PUU notification 860 may be
conveyed via the mobile communication device 400 in conjunction
with an alteration (e.g., a disabling, a reduction, etc.) of the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 as
discussed above in section I. Thus, the owner of the electronic
cigarette 100 may, in addition to being notified of the potential
unauthorized use of the electronic cigarette 100, know that the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 is being
disabled, reduced or otherwise altered such that it cannot be used
normally.
[0226] In some examples, the alteration (e.g., disabling,
reduction, etc.) of the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 as discussed above in section I may be
effected automatically along with issuance of the PUU notification
860 via the mobile communication device 400. For instance, in some
cases, in conjunction with issuance of the PUU notification 860 via
the mobile communication device 400, the controller 160 of the
electronic cigarette 100 may send or refrain from sending an
internal control signal to the vapor producer 120, the
fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to disable the vapor-providing
capability of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0227] In other examples, the alteration (e.g., disabling,
reduction, etc.) of the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 as discussed above in section I may be
effected in response to the owner of the electronic cigarette 100
inputting a command to effect this alteration via the user
interface of the mobile communication device 400 upon having
received the PUU notification 860 conveyed via the mobile
communication device 400. For instance, the software application
running on the mobile communication device 400 may, upon receiving
the PUU notification 860, provide an option for the owner of the
electronic cigarette 100 to alter (e.g., disable, reduce, etc.) the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100. The
option may be provided by displaying a message or other graphical
element on the display of the communication device 400 that prompts
the owner of the electronic cigarette 100 to indicate whether
he/she would like to disable, reduce or otherwise alter the
vapor-providing capability of the electronic cigarette 100 and that
can be acted upon by the owner of the electronic cigarette 100
(e.g., by clicking on a button or other actionable element) of the
user interface of the mobile communication device 400. The owner of
the electronic cigarette 100 may thus interact with the mobile
communication device 100 to specify that he/she wants to disable,
reduce or otherwise alter the vapor-providing capability of the
electronic cigarette 100 and cause the mobile communication device
100 to send an external VCA command towards the electronic
cigarette 100 over the communication link 440 such that, upon
receiving this external VCA command, the controller 160 of the
electronic cigarette 100 effects a control action in order to
disable, reduce or otherwise alter the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100. For instance, the controller 160
may send or refrain from sending an internal control signal to the
vapor producer 120, the fluid-drawing detector 154, etc., to
disable, reduce or otherwise alter the vapor-providing capability
of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0228] In other embodiments, the PUU notification 860 may be
conveyed via the mobile communication device 400 without altering
(e.g., disabling, reducing, etc.) the vapor-providing capability of
the electronic cigarette 100 as discussed above in section I.
III. Physical Deterrence to Unauthorized Use
[0229] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 30, the electronic
cigarette 100 may implement a physical deterrent 756 to its
unauthorized use (e.g., by a child, teenager or other unauthorized
user)
[0230] For example, in this embodiment, the physical deterrent 756
constitutes emission of a sensory artefact 766 (e.g., sound, odor,
light) that certain users other than an authorized user (e.g., an
owner) of the electronic cigarette 100 would likely find
unpleasant. In this embodiment, the ability of the electronic
cigarette 100 to produce vapor is not limited.
[0231] To that end, the electronic cigarette 100 may be equipped
with an artefact producer 776 which is activated by the controller
160 of the electronic cigarette 100. Activation of the artefact
producer 776 may be continuous or in response to an event, such as
drawing on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100 after a
prolonged period (e.g., 15, 30 or 60 minutes, or more) of not
having drawn on the outlet 152. The artefact producer 776 may
produce the sensory artefact 766 that certain users other than the
authorized user would likely find unpleasant. For example, when the
authorized user is hard of hearing, producing a shrill or
high-pitched sound, or playing overplayed Christmas music, may
discourage unauthorized users who begin to use the electronic
cigarette 100 from continuing to use the electronic cigarette 100.
Similarly, when the authorized user is an adult above 25 years of
age, producing sounds above 17.4 kHz would be inaudible to the
authorized user, yet audible by individuals younger than 24 and
certainly children. In this way, a continuous or variable sound in
a desired frequency range that is produced in response to, say,
drawing on the electronic cigarette 100 (as detected by the
fluid-drawing detector 154), may discourage unauthorized users from
using the electronic cigarette 100. Of course, other frequencies
may be applicable to other age groups, where individuals in the age
group of an authorized user may be unaffected by sounds audible by
individuals in a different age group to which unauthorized users
belong.
[0232] In yet another example, the artefact producer 776 may
produce other sensory artefacts such as customized scents to which
the authorized user is unlikely to object, yet would be found
repulsive by unauthorized users. Examples of scents include those
arising from various secretions of sweat or pubic glands, or
gaseous emissions from the mouth. Such scents may be obtained from
natural concentrations or they may chemically synthesized.
[0233] In still another example, the artefact producer 776 may
produce light patterns or signals that would be found annoying or
unpleasant by an unauthorized user. For example, a visual output
device (e.g., a visual output device 190 in FIGS. 31 and 32,
described in greater detail later) built into the housing 150 of
the electronic cigarette 100 may display a certain color or message
(e.g., "unauthorized user") when the user is an unauthorized user.
Thus, although use of the electronic cigarette 100 may not be
physically prevented or inhibited, it is discouraged indirectly
through the discomfort that the user would be led to feel when
those around him or her are alerted to the fact that the use is
unauthorized.
[0234] This embodiment may therefore be useful in reducing the
potential for unauthorized use of the electronic cigarette 100,
such as would occur if there were an attempted use of the
electronic cigarette 100 by someone who lacks the stamina to endure
the emitted sensory artefacts.
IV. Visual Conveyance of Information
[0235] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the user
interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 may comprise a visual
output device 190 to convey information visually to the user and/or
one or more other individuals in the vicinity of the electronic
cigarette 100 who can see the electronic cigarette 100. For
example, in some embodiments, the visual output device 190 may
include a controllably-illuminated tip of the electronic cigarette
100 (e.g., an LED or other light source whose light emission is
controllable). As another example, in some embodiments, the visual
output device 190 may include an electronic display (e.g., a LCD
screen, an OLED screen, etc.), which may be configured for
displaying text, graphics and/or video. In some cases, the
electronic display may be curved and/or flexible, and may appear on
a side of the housing 115 of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0236] Causing the electronic cigarette 100 to visually convey
information may be useful, for instance, to: [0237] present
information entered by the user in real-time to individuals in the
vicinity of the electronic cigarette 100; [0238] present
advertisements (e.g., for companies or other organizations,
products, services, etc.) or other messages to people who can see
the electronic cigarette 100; [0239] notify people in the vicinity
of the electronic cigarette 100 that it is not a conventional
cigarette (e.g., by blinking or otherwise controlling illumination
of a tip of the electronic cigarette 100 to indicate that it is not
something burning, by flashing or otherwise altering any data on a
display of the electronic cigarette 100, etc.); [0240] present
personal information (e.g., name, social/relationship status, etc.)
of the user or other information stored in a database or profile
(e.g., which may be online, such as a social media account); [0241]
show electronic messages (e.g., text messages or email messages)
received on a communication device of the user; and/or [0242]
notify people in the vicinity of the electronic cigarette 100 that
a current use of the electronic cigarette 100 is unauthorized
(e.g., if the electronic cigarette 100 is used by someone who is
unauthorized to use it, such as a child or someone who stole or
found the electronic cigarette 100); [0243] etc.
[0244] The information visually conveyed by the visual output
device 190 may include (1) information received by the electronic
cigarette 100 from an external source ("externally received
information") and/or (2) information inherent to the electronic
cigarette 100 (e.g., the fact that the electronic cigarette 100 is
not a traditional cigarette).
[0245] In the case of externally received information that is to be
conveyed by the electronic cigarette 100, this information may be
received in various ways, including, for example, those discussed
below.
1--Direct
[0246] In the direct technique, the input device 156 of the user
interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., including one
or more buttons, a touch screen and/or any other input mechanism)
allows the user to directly enter (e.g., select or input) the
information to be visually conveyed by the visual output device 190
of the electronic cigarette 100.
2--Paired
[0247] In the paired technique, a specific communication device (or
a group of specific communication devices) is paired with the
electronic cigarette 100, such that only signals received from the
specific communication device (or the group of specific
communication devices) are recognized as valid. The specific
communication device can be a smartphone or other mobile phone, a
tablet, a smart watch, head-mounted display or other wearable
device, etc., or even another electronic cigarette.
[0248] For example, in some embodiments, the user may download an
application (app) from a repository (e.g., Apple's App Store,
iTunes, Google Play, Android Market, etc.) onto the specific
communication device that is paired with the electronic cigarette
100. Upon activation of the app on the specific communication
device, the user may access certain features to control certain
aspects of the electronic cigarette 100 (including output of
information by the visual output device 190 of the electronic
cigarette 100) locally on the specific communication device. This
can be achieved by sending a command from the specific
communication device to the electronic cigarette 100. In addition,
a data connection can be established over the Internet with a
server of which executes a complementary server-side application
interacting with the app on the specific communication device.
3--Addressed
[0249] In the addressed technique, the electronic cigarette 100 is
assigned a network identifier, such as an IP address, and is able
to communicate over a network with other devices having IP
addresses. As such, knowledge of the electronic cigarette's IP
address allows other networked devices to communicate with the
electronic cigarette 100. Such communication may include
transmission of information to be visually conveyed by the visual
output device 190 of the electronic cigarette 100.
4--Out-of-Band
[0250] In the out-of-band technique, a communication channel is
reserved for emergency or administrative use rather than data
communication with other networked devices. For example, this could
include a reserved frequency (in the case of an FDMA system), a
reserved multiplexing code (in the case of a CDMA system), a
reserved time slot (in the case of a TDMA system), a reserved
encryption key (in the case of a digital system) or a reserved
network identifier (e.g., IP address). This can allow operational
control of the electronic cigarette 100 to be overridden and
controlled by an external entity, such as in an emergency or where
mandated by law.
[0251] In case 1 identified above, the information to be visually
conveyed by the electronic cigarette 100 is provided by the
user.
[0252] In each of cases 2, 3 and 4 identified above, the
information to be visually conveyed by the electronic cigarette 100
is issued by a communication device that is external to the
electronic cigarette 100 and conveyed via a communication link,
which may be wireless, wired, or partly wireless and partly wired
(e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi or other wireless LAN, WiMAX or other
wireless WAN, cellular, USB, etc.), such as the communication
device 400 and the communication link 440 discussed above in
connection with FIG. 7. For example: in the paired technique, the
communication device 400 may be a smartphone or other mobile phone,
a tablet, a smart watch, head-mounted display or other wearable
device, or any other communication device that may be carried by
the user, and the communication link 440 may a short-range wireless
link (e.g., Bluetooth) or a wired link (e.g., USB); in the
addressed technique, the communication device 400 may be a server
or other computing apparatus or a smartphone or other mobile phone,
a tablet, a smart watch, head-mounted display or other wearable
device, or any other communication device that may be carried by
the user and the communication link 440 may be implemented by a
data network such as the Internet over a wired connection and/or a
wireless connection (e.g., WiFi, WiMAX, cellular, etc.); and, in
the out-of-band technique, the communication device 400 may be a
server or other computing apparatus and the communication link 440
may be implemented over a wireless connection using, for instance,
dedicated short-range communication (DSRC), IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth
and CALM (Communications Access for Land Mobiles), RFID, etc.
[0253] Release of the information to be visually conveyed by the
electronic cigarette 100 may be caused by a program (e.g., a
software application) executing on the communication device 400.
The program may include a set of computer-readable instructions
executed by a processor of the communication device 400. The
computer-readable instructions may be stored in a memory embedded
in the communication device 400 or located externally thereto. The
algorithm takes into one or more stimuli, which can include
external inputs received via a user interface of the communication
device 400, external inputs received via a communication interface
of the communication device 400 and/or internal inputs from various
internal components of the communication device 400 (e.g., a clock,
a GPS locator, a battery, etc.).
[0254] The program executing on the communication device 400 may
determine what information is to be visually conveyed by the
electronic cigarette 100 based on various factors, such as, for
example: [0255] input from the user of the electronic cigarette 100
or another individual (e.g., a person who may interact with the
communication device 400 in cases where the communication device
400 is not under control of the user of the electronic cigarette
100); [0256] a state of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g.,
currently or not currently being used to vape); [0257] an identity
of the user (e.g., an age of the user); [0258] a location of the
electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., to display advertisements for
nearby stores, restaurants, or other merchants in a targeted
manner); [0259] time; [0260] etc.
[0261] In some embodiments, the controller 160 of the electronic
cigarette 100 may cause the visual output device 190 to visually
convey information by the electronic cigarette 100 upon determining
that the electronic cigarette 100 is currently being used to vape
or otherwise positioned such that the information is viewable by
the user and/or individuals in the vicinity of the electronic
cigarette 100. For example, in some cases, the controller 160 may
monitor the fluid-drawing detector 154 to make this determination.
As another example, in some cases, the electronic cigarette 100 may
comprise a motion sensor (e.g., including a gyroscope or
accelerometer) to sense motion of the electronic cigarette 100 and
the controller 160 may monitor the motion sensor to assess whether
the electronic cigarette 100 is positioned (e.g., oriented) in a
way that it is viewable by the user and/or individuals in the
vicinity of the electronic cigarette 100.
[0262] In examples where the information visually conveyed by the
electronic cigarette 100 includes an advertisement (e.g., for a
company or other organization, a product, or a service), this may
be subsidized by an advertiser who may compensate the user of the
electronic cigarette 100 for allowing the advertisement to be
presented via the electronic cigarette 100.
[0263] For example, in some embodiments, the user may have
subscribed to or registered for an advertisement service provided
by the advertiser or otherwise have given his/her consent to the
advertiser to convey the advertisement via the electronic cigarette
100. In some embodiments, this may be achieved, for example, by the
user interacting (e.g., using the electronic cigarette 100 itself,
or using his/her smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, etc.) with a
server (e.g., implementing a website) that is associated with the
advertiser and allows the user to consent to presentation of
advertisements on the electronic cigarette 100. The server may
maintain a record (e.g., an account) for the electronic cigarette
100 and keep track of advertisements presented on the electronic
cigarette 100.
[0264] Compensation to the user of the electronic cigarette 100 for
allowing the advertisement to be conveyed on the electronic
cigarette 100 may be in any suitable form. For example, in some
embodiments, the user may receive a financial compensation (e.g.,
an amount of money deposited in a bank account, a credit applicable
towards a purchase, a rebate on a product or service advertised,
etc.). This compensation may be managed by the server associated
with the advertiser.
V. Capturing of Images and/or Sounds
[0265] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the
electronic cigarette 100 may comprise one or more media-capturing
devices to capture media, i.e., images and/or sounds (e.g., of
surroundings of the electronic cigarette 100). For instance, the
electronic cigarette 100 may comprise a camera 220 to capture
images. In some cases, the images captured by the camera 220 may
include pictures (i.e., still images). In other cases, the camera
220 may have video capability such that the images it captures
include moving images constituting video. The electronic cigarette
100 may also comprises a microphone 230 to capture sounds (e.g.,
particularly in cases where the camera 220 has video
capability).
[0266] This ability of the electronic cigarette 100 to capture
images and/or sounds may be useful, for instance, to: [0267] allow
the user of the electronic cigarette 100 to conveniently and
discreetly take pictures or videos when desired (e.g., when vaping,
without having to simultaneously handle or manipulate his/her
smartphone or digital camera, etc.); [0268] allow automatic upload
of pictures or videos taken by the electronic cigarette 100 to a
third-party site via a wireless connection (e.g., a site associated
with a manufacturer of the electronic cigarette 100 for a
promotional campaign (e.g., "show us where you vape" campaign),
distributed on social media, etc.); [0269] allow continuous
surveillance around the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., a security
feature for a woman in a bar who wants to record potentially
predatory behaviour); and/or [0270] etc.
[0271] Images and/or sounds may be captured by the electronic
cigarette 100 in various ways in various embodiments, including
those discussed below.
1--Direct
[0272] In the direct technique, the input device 156 of the user
interface 150 of the electronic cigarette 100 (e.g., including one
or more buttons, a touch screen and/or any other input mechanism)
allows the user to directly input a command to take a picture or
video. In response to such a command from the user, the controller
160 causes the camera 220 to capture a picture or video. In cases
where a video is taken, the microphone 230 is caused by the
controller 160 to capture associated audio content.
2--Paired
[0273] In the paired technique, a specific communication device (or
a group of specific communication devices) is paired with the
electronic cigarette 100, such that only signals received from the
specific communication device (or the group of specific
communication devices) are recognized as valid. The specific
communication device can be a smartphone or other mobile phone, a
tablet, a smart watch, head-mounted display or other wearable
device, etc., or even another electronic cigarette.
[0274] For example, in some embodiments, the user may download an
application (app) from a repository (e.g., Apple's App Store,
iTunes, Google Play, Android Market, etc.) onto the specific
communication device that is paired with the electronic cigarette
100. Upon activation of the app on the specific communication
device, the user may access certain features to control certain
aspects of the electronic cigarette 100 (including taking a picture
or video with the camera 220) locally on the specific communication
device. This can be achieved by sending a command from the specific
communication device to the electronic cigarette 100. In addition,
a data connection can be established over the Internet with a
server of which executes a complementary server-side application
interacting with the app on the specific communication device.
3--Addressed
[0275] In the addressed technique, the electronic cigarette 100 is
assigned a network identifier, such as an IP address, and is able
to communicate over a network with other devices having IP
addresses. As such, knowledge of the electronic cigarette's IP
address allows other networked devices to communicate with the
electronic cigarette 100. Such communication may include
transmission of a command to take a picture or video with the
camera 220 of the electronic cigarette 100.
4--Out-of-Band
[0276] In the out-of-band technique, a communication channel is
reserved for emergency or administrative use rather than data
communication with other networked devices. For example, this could
include a reserved frequency (in the case of an FDMA system), a
reserved multiplexing code (in the case of a CDMA system), a
reserved time slot (in the case of a TDMA system), a reserved
encryption key (in the case of a digital system) or a reserved
network identifier (e.g., IP address). This can allow operational
control of the electronic cigarette 100 to be overridden and
controlled by an external entity, such as in an emergency or where
mandated by law.
5--Vape-Activated
[0277] In the vape-activated technique, the electronic cigarette
100 can take a picture or video in response to a vaping action of
the user. More particularly, the electronic cigarette 100 may
autonomously take a picture or video in response to the user
drawing on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100. For
example, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette 100 may take
a picture or video at each draw (e.g., inhalation or puff) made by
the user on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100. As
another example, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette 100
may take a picture or video in response to a triggering pattern of
drawing by the user on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette
100 (e.g., a series of rapid draws within a short period of time,
such as 3 quick puffs within 2 seconds). The controller 160 may
interact with the fluid-drawing detector 154 to detect when the
user draws on the outlet 152 of the electronic cigarette 100 and
cause the camera 220 to take a picture or video accordingly.
[0278] In case 1 identified above, the command to take a picture or
video with the electronic cigarette 100 is provided by the
user.
[0279] In each of cases 2, 3 and 4 identified above, the command to
take a picture or video with the electronic cigarette 100 is issued
by a communication device that is external to the electronic
cigarette 100 and conveyed via a communication link, which may be
wireless, wired, or partly wireless and partly wired (e.g.,
Bluetooth, WiFi or other wireless LAN, WiMAX or other wireless WAN,
cellular, USB, etc.), such as the communication device 400 and the
communication link 440 discussed above in connection with FIG. 7.
For example: in the paired technique, the communication device 400
may be a smartphone or other mobile phone, a tablet, a smart watch,
head-mounted display or other wearable device, or any other
communication device that may be carried by the user, and the
communication link 440 may a short-range wireless link (e.g.,
Bluetooth) or a wired link (e.g., USB); in the addressed technique,
the communication device 400 may be a server or other computing
apparatus or a smartphone or other mobile phone, a tablet, a smart
watch, head-mounted display or other wearable device, or any other
communication device that may be carried by the user and the
communication link 440 may be implemented by a data network such as
the Internet over a wired connection and/or a wireless connection
(e.g., WiFi, WiMAX, cellular, etc.); and, in the out-of-band
technique, the communication device 400 may be a server or other
computing apparatus and the communication link 440 may be
implemented over a wireless connection using, for instance,
dedicated short-range communication (DSRC), IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth
and CALM (Communications Access for Land Mobiles), RFID, etc.
[0280] Release of the command to take a picture or video with the
electronic cigarette 100 may be caused by a program (e.g., a
software application) executing on the communication device 400.
The program may include a set of computer-readable instructions
executed by a processor of the communication device 400. The
computer-readable instructions may be stored in a memory embedded
in the communication device 400 or located externally thereto. The
algorithm takes into one or more stimuli, which can include
external inputs received via a user interface of the communication
device 400, external inputs received via a communication interface
of the communication device 400 and/or internal inputs from various
internal components of the communication device 400 (e.g., a clock,
a GPS locator, a battery, etc.).
[0281] The images and/or sounds captured by the electronic
cigarette 100 may be stored in a memory of the electronic cigarette
100. Alternatively or additionally, the images and/or sounds
captured by the electronic cigarette 100 may be transmitted to one
or more external communication devices (e.g., the communication
device 400 and/or one or more additional communication devices,
such as a server managing a social media account of the user,
etc.).
VI. Usage Monitoring
[0282] In some embodiments, usage of the electronic cigarette 100
may be monitored by a software application. This may include
monitoring vaping of the electronic cigarette 100 and/or monitoring
of replacement of the container 124 of the vapor producer 120 or
replenishment of the substance contained in the container 124.
Information derived from this monitoring may then be used for
various purposes in various embodiments, such as, for example, to:
[0283] a) monitor overall vaping (e.g., consumption, habits, etc.)
across the electronic cigarette 100 and one or more other
electronic cigarettes registered to the same user; [0284] b)
transfer data stored in association with the electronic cigarette
100 from a previously-used electronic cigarette and/or to a new
electronic cigarette; [0285] c) detect tampering with the
electronic cigarette 100, such as by logging the times at which the
electronic cigarette 100 was opened and/or closed and then advising
the user of these times, since the user who knows when they last
opened the electronic cigarette 100 (to replace the container 124
or replenish the substance it contains) could therefore know
whether the electronic cigarette 100 was opened by someone else,
which could signal tampering; [0286] d) determine the user's usage
rate by logging the time instants at which the electronic cigarette
100 was vaped (e.g., this may be transmitted to a server which
computes rate of vaping and rewards the "high score" (daily or
monthly) with cash or prizes); [0287] e) determine the user's true
loyalty to a brand by logging the brand of each new cartridge that
is installed in the electronic cigarette 100, and, if loyal to a
particular brand of cartridge, the user may be rewarded.
[0288] In various embodiments, a communications link mentioned
herein may be implemented by a data network (e.g., the Internet), a
public telephony network (e.g., the PSTN), and/or a wireless
network (e.g., a cellular network, a satellite network link). Also,
in some cases, while two or more communications networks may be
referred to, identified or shown separately, they may be
implemented by a common network infrastructure.
[0289] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 35, a given component
mentioned herein (e.g., the controller 160 and/or another part of
the control system 130 of the electronic cigarette 100; a component
of the communication device 400, etc.) may comprise a computing
apparatus 1500 comprising suitable hardware and/or software (e.g.,
firmware) configured to implement functionality of that given
component. The computing apparatus 1500 comprises an interface
1520, a processing portion 1540, and a memory portion 1560.
[0290] The interface 1520 comprises one or more inputs and outputs
allowing the computing apparatus 1500 to receive signals from and
send signals to other components to which the computing apparatus
1500 is connected (i.e., directly or indirectly connected);
[0291] The processing portion 1540 comprises one or more processors
for performing processing operations that implement functionality
of the computing apparatus 1500. A processor of the processing
portion 1540 may be a general-purpose processor executing program
code stored in the memory portion 1560. Alternatively, a processor
of the processing portion 1540 may be a specific-purpose processor
comprising one or more preprogrammed hardware or firmware elements
(e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs),
electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs),
etc.) or other related elements).
[0292] The memory portion 1560 comprises one or more memories for
storing program code executed by the processing portion 1540 and/or
data used during operation of the processing portion 1540. A memory
of the memory portion 1560 may be a semiconductor medium
(including, e.g., a solid state memory), a magnetic storage medium,
an optical storage medium, and/or any other suitable type of
memory. A memory of the memory portion 1560 may be read-only memory
(ROM) and/or random-access memory (RAM), for example.
[0293] In some embodiments, two or more elements of the computing
apparatus 1500 may be implemented by devices that are physically
distinct from one another (e.g., located in a common site or in
remote sites) and may be connected to one another via a bus (e.g.,
one or more electrical conductors or any other suitable bus) or via
a communication link which may be wired, wireless, or both and
which may traverse one or more networks (e.g., the Internet or any
other computer network such as a local-area network (LAN) or
wide-area network (WAN), a cellular network, etc.). In other
embodiments, two or more elements of the computing apparatus of the
vehicle 10 may be implemented by a single device.
[0294] Any feature of any embodiment discussed herein may be
combined with any feature of any other embodiment discussed herein
in some examples of implementation.
[0295] Certain additional elements that may be needed for operation
of certain embodiments have not been described or illustrated as
they are assumed to be within the purview of those of ordinary
skill in the art. Moreover, certain embodiments may be free of, may
lack and/or may function without one or more elements that are not
specifically disclosed herein.
[0296] Although various embodiments and examples have been
presented, this was for the purpose of describing, but not
limiting, the invention. Various modifications and enhancements
will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and are
within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *
References