JP2023533654A - Aerosol generator with user authentication - Google Patents

Abstract

Aerosol generator. The device includes a verification control circuit configured to permit use of the aerosol generating device, at least one behavioral sensor for measuring at least one behavioral aspect from the user, and at least one physiological behavior from the user. and at least one physiological sensor for measuring a physical aspect. The verification control circuit is configured to unlock the aerosol generating device by verifying at least one behavioral aspect and at least one physiological aspect. [Selection drawing] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to aerosol generating devices, such as electronic cigarettes, and methods for user authentication of such devices.

Electronic cigarettes often have locking mechanisms to prevent misuse or unauthorized use. Such mechanisms may be implemented in electronic cigarettes by utilizing physiological biometric information such as fingerprints or facial recognition data and providing the electronic cigarette with appropriate sensors to detect the biometric information. Other locking mechanisms employ behavioral techniques that may require the user to physically unlock the device before use by performing an action such as pressing or swiping a button to unlock.

Known authentication techniques can lead to false negatives or false positives, and the reliability of known methods can lead to authorized users not being able to access and use the device, or even being unauthorized. It has been found that a person may face detection problems that can successfully unlock an electronic cigarette device.

So, for example, it is likely to be successful in detecting authorized users, less likely to be successfully unlocked by unauthorized users, is simple, easy to use, cheap to implement, and reliable. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol generating device with a high authentication mechanism.

According to a first aspect, an aerosol generating device comprising: a verification control circuit configured to authorize use of the aerosol generating device; a behavioral sensor and at least one physiological sensor for measuring at least one physiological aspect from the user, the verification control circuit verifying the at least one behavioral aspect and the at least one physiological aspect; provides an aerosol generator configured to unlock the aerosol generator.

It has been found that the use of a mixed-modal biometric detection system in an aerosol generating device that combines the results of behavioral and physiological discrimination to determine authentication greatly enhances the accuracy of authentication. The result is a much safer aerosol generating device that maintains ease of use and reduces implementation costs, while increasing reliability of authentication. Advantageously, the present invention improves detection and verification methods without relying on auxiliary devices such as smartphones or wireless networks for detection. It should be understood that more than two aspects are also possible, and that more aspects may provide potential accuracy improvements.

At least one behavioral aspect and at least one physiological aspect can be verified by processing the measurement results. To this end, the apparatus may include a processor for performing corresponding data processing operations. Alternatively, the device may include a transmitter and the measurement results may be transmitted to an external device such as a server for remote processing and verification of the measured aspects.

Preferably, the device may further include a memory containing a set of reference data, the reference data including a set of reference behavioral data and a set of reference physiological data. Validation control circuitry of the device may be configured to validate the at least one behavioral aspect and the at least one physiological aspect by comparing them against the reference behavioral data and the reference physiological data, respectively. In one exemplary method of comparing the measured aspect to reference data, verification is achieved when a value representing the measured aspect (or aspects) is equal to a value representing the reference data stored in memory. can be Such a verification technique provides a simple and easily implemented method of verifying the authenticity of a user's attempt to unlock a device.

Preferably, the reference data set is based on a predefined user profile. Preferably, the aerosol generating device may further comprise a switch configured to select a predetermined user profile from a plurality of user profiles in the aerosol generating device, the predetermined user profile determining the reference data set. Thus, the aerosol generating device allows multiple users to access the device, each with their own behavioral and physiological modalities, to ensure valid authentication. In some examples, behavioral aspects may be shared between multiple profiles with different physiological aspects such that different users may unlock using the same behavioral aspect. A user profile provides a predetermined data set of behavioral and physiological attributes for unlocking the device. In some examples, measurements of physiological aspects may trigger actuation of a stored user profile. That is, if the perceived physiological aspect is due to a stored user profile associated with a particular behavioral aspect, the device waits for the particular associated behavioral aspect and waits for all other Input behavioral aspects may be ignored.

The aerosol-generating device may include an activation button configured to activate the at least one behavioral sensor and/or the at least one physiological sensor for the measurement. In this way, erroneous measurements and/or false unlocking of the device can be minimized. The activation button may also provide a resource saving technique to the device to reduce battery power wasted on erroneous or undesired movement/action measurements.

The verification control circuit may be configured to calculate, store and/or output a passing score, which represents the accuracy of each verification of the behavioral and physiological aspects. The accuracy of each verification can be obtained from a calculation of the closeness of agreement between the measured aspect and the reference data. For example, a measurement may be considered a high passing score due to a large overlap or identity with reference data. Such a passing score is an indication of how well each verification satisfies the requirements to unlock the device. This passing score is particularly important, for example, in maintaining a record of the device's security history. For example, a low score may alert the user that a potentially fraudulent unlock has been activated. Alternatively, the user can know which login attempts were more or less successful than others. In examples where memory is provided within the device, passing scores may be stored in on-board memory.

An important feature of the invention is that the control circuit is configured to verify at least one behavioral aspect and at least one physiological aspect to provide a mixed-aspect authentication mechanism for unlocking the device. is. Typically, the verification control circuit may be configured to sequentially verify at least one behavioral aspect and at least one physiological aspect. An advantage of sequential verification is that each measurement is independent of other measurements, and another advantage is that verification is easier to set up. In theory, any sequence can be performed, but typically at least one physiological aspect is validated first, and then at least one behavioral aspect is validated, and then at least one physiological aspect is validated. to be verified later. Such an arrangement ensures that each measurement is independent and more robust. If the measurements are performed sequentially, the control circuitry may be further configured to output and/or store a signal identifying that the verifications were performed sequentially.

Alternatively, the verification control circuit may be configured to simultaneously verify at least one physiological aspect and at least one behavioral aspect. If the measurements are made concurrently, the verification control circuit may be further configured to output and/or store a signal identifying that the verifications were made concurrently. In this way, at least two aspects can be detected simultaneously, thus providing a more efficient verification method. The aerosol-generating device may further include a timer for determining the period or time period over which behavioral and physiological aspects are measured so that it can be determined that such aspects are measured simultaneously.

Alternatively, the validation control circuit may be configured to validate at least one physiological aspect and at least one behavioral aspect within a predetermined period of time. Such measurements can be made sequentially or simultaneously, so long as they are made within a predetermined period of time. If the measurement occurs within the predetermined period of time, the verification control circuit may be further configured to output and/or store a signal identifying that the verification occurred within the predetermined period of time. The aerosol-generating device may further include a timer for determining the time period over which the behavioral and physiological aspects are measured, i.

Behavioral aspects can be defined as human behavioral biometrics, which can be defined as essentially what the body "does." The at least one behavioral sensor of the aerosol generating device may include one or more sensors from the group consisting of motion sensors, gravity sensors, pressure sensors, momentary switches, touch screen sensors, timing devices, light sensitive switches and impedance sensors. .

In particular, examples of sensors capable of detecting behavioral aspects in an aerosol generating device include:
• Motion sensors, such as accelerometers, gravity sensors or motion sensors, to detect movement of the device. These can measure both large movements of the device or are used to detect small movements and impacts, such as taps.
• Gravity or position sensors for detecting absolute position measurements to determine the position of the device in space.
- A pressure sensor for interacting with the user's hand and/or fingers to measure the pressure on the sensor.
• Momentary switches or touch sensors for detecting touch actuation.
• A touch screen sensor to measure all known input characteristics such as position/motion within the touch area. A pressure sensor may also be incorporated into the touch screen sensor.
• Timing devices that can be used in conjunction with other sensors, such as motion sensors or switches.
- A light-sensitive switch, for example to detect a specific area of the device that is covered by the hand.
• Impedance sensors: These can be used to determine how the device is being gripped. Note that these sensors are not suitable for measuring bioimpedance (which is a physiological biometric property).

Examples of behaviors that can be measured using the device of the invention:
- movement of the device while in the user's hand;
- button pressing force by the user's finger when the button is pressed;
• The gripping pressure applied to the device when handling the device, and • A fixed pattern of taps on the touch screen display.

Physiological aspects may be defined as physiological biometrics of a person, which may be defined as a substantially "naked" appearance of the body. The at least one physiological sensor within the aerosol generating device may include at least one of a fingerprint scanner, a blood vessel scanner, a visible light camera, an infrared or ultraviolet camera, a portable DNA test, and a bioimpedance sensor.

Examples of physiological biometrics that can be recognized by the physiological sensors of the present invention include:
• Fingerprint recognition, including blood vessel recognition (eg on the fingertip).
• Facial recognition, including partial facial recognition (eg, partial recognition of facial features such as mouth shape) and iris scanning.
• Hand shape recognition, for example by optical detection on one or more cameras.
- For example, DNA testing using a portable DNA testing device or a handheld DNA testing device.
• Bioimpedance measurements of the resistance of the body or parts of the body.

It should be noted that in some examples, the same set of sensors, eg, motion sensors, may be used to detect multiple aspects. This applies to both behavioral and physiological sensors. That is, at least one of the at least one behavioral sensor may be configured to measure multiple behavioral aspects and/or at least one of the physiological sensors may be configured to measure multiple physiological aspects. can be In such an arrangement the measurements may need to be processed to isolate individual aspects. This could be, for example, a global hand gesture combined with a tap. Two measurements can be generated from the same data set, with small tap impulses separated from larger movements of the whole device. This advantageously reduces the number of sensors used, but possibly at the expense of efficiency in terms of data processing power.

According to a second aspect, a method for authenticating an aerosol generating device, wherein in an aerosol generating device comprising at least one behavioral sensor and at least one physiological sensor, at least one behavioral aspect of a user and at least measuring one physiological aspect; validating a behavioral and physiological aspect with a validation control circuit of the aerosol generating device; and unlocking the aerosol generator.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is a computer-readable storage medium which, when executed by the aerosol-generating device, comprises at least one behavioral sensor and at least one physiological sensor, in which a user's measuring at least one behavioral aspect and at least one physiological aspect of the user; verifying the behavioral and physiological aspects with a validation control circuit of the aerosol generating device; unlocking the aerosol generating device for use in accordance with a physiological aspect.

It will be appreciated that the features described above with respect to the first aspect are equally applicable to the second or third aspects with corresponding advantages and advantages.

The steps of measuring physiological and behavioral aspects may be performed simultaneously or sequentially. These can be done within a predetermined period of time. Where the steps of measuring the behavioral and physiological aspects, respectively, are performed sequentially, typically the step of measuring the behavioral and physiological aspect comprises measuring at least one physiological aspect of the user by means of at least one physiological sensor. and thereafter measuring at least one behavioral aspect of the user with at least one behavior sensor.

The method comprises the steps of: storing at least one physiological aspect as a set of measured physiological data at the aerosol generating device; and storing as a set.

Thus, when the measured physiological data and the measured behavioral data are stored in the aerosol generating device, the method comprises processing the measured physiological data with the aerosol generating device; and combining the measured physiological data and the measured behavioral data by the aerosol generating device.

Further, verifying the behavioral and physiological aspects includes comparing the measured physiological data and the measured behavioral data to a set of reference data, or comparing the combined measured and physiological data to a set of reference data. It can include comparing with a set.

The method may further comprise initiating, at the aerosol generating device, an identification sequence for defining physiological and behavioral aspects for the verification control circuit.

Exemplary aerosol generating devices will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 schematically illustrates an exemplary aerosol generating device in an assembled configuration; 4 schematically illustrates the steps performed in an exemplary aerosol generator authentication method;

FIG. 1 shows an electronic cigarette 2 having a body 4 with a battery 6 and electronic components 8 provided therein. A mouthpiece 10 containing a capsule 12 or pod can be inserted into the body 4 . Capsule 12 includes a heater element configured to heat the aerosol-generating medium within capsule 12 to generate an aerosol for inhalation by the user. Electronic components 8 include electrical circuitry for transferring electrical energy from battery 6 to the heater element to generate heat.

Electronic cigarettes are aerosol-generating devices that can be equivalently referred to as "heated tobacco devices," "heated non-combustion tobacco devices," "devices for vaporizing tobacco products," etc., and are suitable for achieving these effects. It should be understood to be interpreted as a device. The features disclosed herein are equally applicable to devices designed to vaporize any aerosol-generating medium.

An aerosol-generating medium is to be understood as a component suitable for delivering a medium within a device so as to generate an aerosol. For example, capsule 12 may include a liquid reservoir that can vaporize liquid when heated. Another example may be a tobacco rod, stick, or other shaped consumable that is configured to be heated to release vapor without burning the aerosol-generating medium.

Electronic cigarette 2 includes a behavior sensor configured to measure and detect at least one behavioral aspect of the user. In this case the activity sensor is an acceleration sensor 16 that can detect the relative movement of the device. The device also includes a button 14 provided on the outer surface of body 4 . The button 14 is configured to be pressed or pressed by the user, and the acceleration sensor 16 is positioned below the button 14 to detect the overall movement of the electronic cigarette 2 and downward movement of the electronic cigarette 2 when the button 14 is pressed. is configured to detect motion of the Thus, it will be appreciated that the sensor 16 may detect a user swinging the electronic cigarette 2 in a large sweeping motion, and may also detect small jolts or tapping motions when the button 14 is pressed or tapped. should. In other examples, multiple buttons may be provided on the body 4 and multiple activity sensors may be provided to detect different behavioral aspects/user actions. For example, the pressure sensor may also incorporate an acceleration sensor 16 to provide additional force data regarding the pressing of the button 14 .

Cigarette 2 further includes a physiological sensor configured to measure and detect at least one physiological aspect of the user. In this case the physiological sensor is a fingerprint scanner 15 . Fingerprint scanner 15 can detect when a user places a finger on scanner 15 and take measurements to verify features of the user's fingerprint. In some examples, fingerprint scanner 15 may include a switch and may be depressible so that a user can activate scanner 15 by depressing it with a finger.

It will be appreciated that FIG. 1 presents a schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus, and thus the relative positions of each of the included features may vary. For example, in some instances the fingerprint scanner may be integral with button 14 so that the user presses button 14 to activate both fingerprint scanner 15 and accelerometer 16 at the same time. can be done.

Electronic component 8 further includes memory 18 and processor 20 . Memory 18 is configured to store verification data, such as movement data and fingerprint data, processed by processor 20 relating to at least one behavioral aspect and/or at least one physiological aspect. The verification data also includes the speed of movement of the device and the timing of button presses relative to the movement of the device. Validation data is thus used as a reference data set against which user actions are compared. The memory 18 is also configured to store measurement data as well as verification data, the measurement data relating to physiological and behavioral aspects performed by a user who wishes to unlock the electronic cigarette 2 . After recording the measurement data, processor 20 compares the measurement data with the verification data and determines whether to unlock the device for use or to keep it locked.

The electronic component 8 further includes a control panel 22 that allows the user to select a user profile, which defines the desired verification data. User profile information is also stored in memory 18 . In some examples, multiple user profiles are provided on electronic cigarette 2 .

The electronic cigarette 2 further includes a switch 24 for activating the physiological sensor 15 and the behavioral sensor 16, which the user can press to initiate measurement detection of the sensors 15,16. In another example, switch 24 incorporates button 14 and a first depression of button 14 activates activity sensor 16 for measurement recording. Alternatively, button 14 or switch 24 may also be used to end a measurement cycle, ie a measurement period. The end/end of the measurement cycle may provide an indication that the user's behavioral and/or physiological aspects for measurement and verification are complete, thereby beginning processing of the measurement data.

Another exemplary process may be as follows. A motion sensor system is provided within the aerosol generating device or electronic cigarette to detect motion associated with the push button. A user profile identification sequence is activated on the first button press. This initiates motion measurement by the sensor. Four more button presses are made by the user. These button presses are counted by the device and the measurement cycle ends with the fifth button press. The measured data are then evaluated as described above. In this example, the first aspect is the movement of the device and the second aspect is the number of button presses. Additional aspects may also be included, such as button press interval and/or button press force (if additional pressure sensors may be utilized).

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the sequence of steps performed in a method of authenticating an electronic cigarette 2. As shown in FIG. At step 50, a predefined user profile is initiated. This can be accomplished by selecting a user profile on control panel 22 and/or pressing switch 24 . By starting the user profile, the sensors 15, 16 are activated and ready to measure behavioral and/or physiological aspects of the user. In some examples, actuation/initiation also initiates a timer.

In steps 52 and 54, the user performs physiological and behavioral aspects measured by physiological sensors 15 and behavioral sensors 16, respectively. The physiological and behavioral aspects are performed redundantly so that the sensors 15, 16 measure the aspects simultaneously or within a predetermined period of time. The time period may be determined from initiation of a timing device or detection of a physiological aspect. In another example, physiological and behavioral aspects may be performed in rapid succession to each other and within a predetermined period of time.

In step 56, the measured physiological and behavioral aspects are stored in memory 18 as measurement data.

At step 58, the measurement data set from the measured physiological and behavioral aspects can be processed to normalize and remove measurement errors. This processing may be done to remove possible background noise. Filtering involves identifying different aspects in the measured data, such as identifying repeated rapid events (e.g., repeated acceleration/deceleration) and grouping the repeated events as a second aspect. there is a possibility. The data processing steps 58 can be performed in different orders, for example before or after storing the raw measurement data in the memory 18 .

At step 60 the measurement data set is compared to a reference data set in memory 18 . For example, if physiological sensor 15 includes a fingerprint sensor and behavior sensor 16 includes an accelerometer, the measured fingerprint data and measured motion data are compared to a preloaded set of fingerprint data and motion data. . The measured fingerprint data is compared to preloaded fingerprints to calculate how closely the data match. This comparison can be done as a visual comparison, ie an exposure comparison or a mathematical comparison. In this example, a pass score is calculated at step 60 that characterizes the strength of the data match. A passing score can include a single value that represents the closeness of agreement for both behavioral and physiological aspects, or it can include multiple values for each of these aspects. The passing score is displayed on the control panel or stored in memory 18 and may include verification status (e.g., login attempt number, date, time, location, login Attempt ID). Behavioral aspects are compared in a similar manner, so in the example of accelerometer 16, measured motion data is compared to preloaded motion data to provide (or contribute to) a passing score. be compared.

At step 62, it is determined whether the verification was successful. In the example above where a passing score was calculated in step 60, verification may involve comparing the passing score to a threshold. If the passing score is higher than the threshold, a signal can be generated indicating successful verification. In other examples, the passing score may not be used directly for verification, but only as a record of the closeness of the match. In such instances, verification can be integrated into step 60, where comparisons between data sets can directly generate a signal indicating whether the verification was successful.

If the verification of the verification data set is positive, processor 20 unlocks the electronic cigarette for use at step 64 . This unlocking may involve allowing electrical energy to flow from the battery 6 to the capsule 12 for aerosol generation. As will be appreciated, positive verification can be a match between a verification data set associated with measured behavioral aspects and verification information in a given user profile.

In some instances, the accuracy and method of verification can affect the operation of the e-cigarette. For example, the passing score can be used to adjust the amount of electrical energy or signal allowed to flow from the battery 6 to the capsule 12 for aerosol generation. In some examples, parameters used for verification, such as pass scores, can be proportional to the electrical behavior of the tobacco device. That is, weak validation can lead to weak generation of aerosol (ie, a low passing score resulting in low power allowed to flow from the battery to the capsule), and strong validation can lead to strong generation. Another implementation may be that a weak validation (low pass score) leads to a limited operating time of the e-cigarette, ie a low pass score results in short electrical pulses from battery 6 to capsule 12 .

The above example has been described where the physiological sensor 15 is a fingerprint detector and the behavioral sensor 16 is an accelerometer. The device comprises a fingerprint scanner and a motion sensor. The detected fingerprint is compared to a reference fingerprint, during which the motion sensor detects the intrinsic motion of the hand and compares it to the reference motion profile. For example, it should be noted that in this case pressing on the fingerprint sensor will cause some movement, so that subsequent motion detection will yield more accurate measurement results.

Other examples incorporating different combinations of different physiological sensors and behavioral sensors are also possible. For example, physiological sensors 15 may include face recognition detectors and activity sensors 16 may include button press detectors. Such devices may include optical detectors for measuring the user's facial features. The button press sensor 16 may test behavioral aspects, for example, by measuring button press intervals and/or pressure on the button. In such instances, multiple sensors can be combined to measure one aspect. For example, a button press sensor can be combined with a pressure sensor to provide a reliable measurement of pressure on the button.

Claims (15)

An aerosol generator,
a verification control circuit configured to authorize use of the aerosol generator;
at least one behavior sensor for measuring at least one behavioral aspect from a user;
at least one physiological sensor for measuring at least one physiological aspect from a user;
including
The aerosol generating device, wherein the verification control circuit is configured to unlock the aerosol generating device by verifying the at least one behavioral aspect and the at least one physiological aspect. further comprising a memory containing a set of reference data, said reference data including a set of reference behavioral data and a set of reference physiological data;
3. The validation control circuit is configured to validate the at least one behavioral aspect and the at least one physiological aspect by comparing them against the reference behavioral data and reference physiological data, respectively. 1. The aerosol generator according to 1. 3. The verification control circuit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the verification control circuit is configured to calculate, store and/or output a passing score, the passing score representing the accuracy of verification of each of the behavioral and physiological aspects. The aerosol generator described. said validation control circuit is configured to sequentially validate said at least one behavioral aspect and said at least one physiological aspect, preferably said at least one physiological aspect is validated first, and thereafter: The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said at least one behavioral aspect is verified after said at least one physiological aspect is verified. The validation control circuit is configured to simultaneously validate the at least one physiological aspect and the at least one behavioral aspect, and the validation control circuit is adapted to identify that the validations occurred simultaneously. further configured to output and/or store a signal; or the verification control circuit is configured to verify the at least one physiological aspect and the at least one behavioral aspect within a predetermined period of time. , and the verification control circuit is further configured to output and/or store a signal specifying that the verification has been performed within the predetermined period of time. The aerosol generator according to the item. 6. The at least one activity sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, a gravity sensor, a pressure sensor, a momentary switch, a touch screen sensor, a timing device, a light sensitive switch and an impedance sensor. The aerosol generator according to . The at least one behavioral aspect provides an indication of at least one of movement of the device due to the user, pressure applied to the device by the user, and tap patterns made on the device by the user. , the aerosol generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The at least one physiological sensor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one of a fingerprint scanner, a blood vessel scanner, a visible light camera, an infrared or ultraviolet camera, a portable DNA test and a bioimpedance sensor. The aerosol generator described. 9. Any of claims 1-8, wherein the at least one physiological aspect provides an indication of at least one of fingerprint recognition, blood vessel recognition, facial feature recognition, global face recognition, iris recognition, hand shape recognition, DNA recognition. or the aerosol generator according to claim 1. at least one of the at least one behavioral sensor is configured to measure multiple behavioral aspects and/or at least one of the physiological sensors is configured to measure multiple physiological aspects The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An aerosol generator authentication method comprising:
measuring at least one behavioral aspect of a user and at least one physiological aspect of the user in an aerosol generating device comprising at least one behavioral sensor and at least one physiological sensor;
verifying the behavioral and physiological aspects with a verification control circuit of the aerosol generating device;
unlocking, by the verification control circuit, the aerosol generating device for use according to the behavioral and physiological aspects;
an aerosol generator authentication method comprising: 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the physiological and behavioral aspects are measured simultaneously or within a predetermined period of time. The step of measuring the behavioral and physiological aspects comprises:
measuring at least one physiological aspect of the user with the at least one physiological sensor; and thereafter
measuring at least one behavioral aspect of the user with the at least one behavior sensor;
12. The method of claim 11, comprising: 14. The method of any one of claims 11-13, further comprising initiating, in the aerosol generating device, an identification sequence for defining the physiological and behavioral aspects for the verification control circuit. A computer readable storage medium, which, when executed by the aerosol generating device, comprises:
measuring at least one behavioral aspect of a user and at least one physiological aspect of the user in an aerosol generating device comprising at least one behavioral sensor and at least one physiological sensor;
verifying the behavioral and physiological aspects with a verification control circuit of the aerosol generating device;
unlocking the aerosol generating device for use according to the behavioral and physiological aspects by the verification control circuit;
A computer readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon that cause the aerosol generator to perform the steps comprising: