WO2022008347A1

WO2022008347A1 - Aerosol generation device with user authentication

Info

Publication number: WO2022008347A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/068228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Theodorus VERLAAN
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2020-07-09
Filing date: 2021-07-01
Publication date: 2022-01-13
Also published as: JP2023533151A; EP4178379A1

Abstract

An aerosol generation device (2) is provided, the device comprising: at least one sensor (16) configured to measure at least two behavioural modes; a memory (18) configured to store the measured behavioural modes; and verification control circuitry (20) configured to process and verify the measured behavioural modes by separating the measured data, combining the separated data into a verification dataset, and unlocking the aerosol generation device (2) cigarette for use following successful authentication.

Description

AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE WITH USER AUTHENTICATION

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device, such as an electronic cigarette, and methods for user authentication.

Background

Electronic cigarettes often have locking mechanisms in order to prevent accidental or unauthorised use. Such mechanisms may utilise physiological biometric information such as fingerprint or facial recognition data, and be implemented on an electronic cigarette by providing an appropriate sensor on the electronic cigarette to detect the biometric information. Other locking mechanisms employ behavioural techniques where a user may have to physically unlock a device before use. It has been found that known authorisation techniques can encounter problems with detection, where the reliability of the known methods can lead to false negatives or false positives such that an authorised user is unable to access and use the device, or even an unauthorised person successfully unlocking the electronic cigarette device.

In view of the above-mentioned drawback, it is an object of the invention to provide a more secure and reliable user authentication method.

Summary

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an aerosol generation device, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure at least two behavioural modes from a user; a memory configured to store the measured behavioural modes as a measurement dataset; and verification control circuitry configured to: separate the measurement dataset into at least two individual data streams, where each individual data stream corresponds to a single behavioural mode; combine the at least two individual data streams into a verification dataset of the at least two behavioural modes; and unlock the aerosol generation device cigarette for use by verifying the verification dataset. In this way a more accurate and secure multi-modal behavioural biometric detection aerosol generation device and method is provided. In the present disclosure a behavioural mode is defined as the action performed by a user which can be registered or detected as a human biometric behaviour. By measuring more than one behavioural mode at the same time, the reliability of the authorisation or verification process is improved. In other words the number of false negatives or false positives is reduced. Advantageously the present invention improves detection and verification methods without relying on ancillary devices such as smartphones or wireless networks. It should be understood that more than two modes are also possible, where more modes may result in an increased potential accuracy.

The at least one sensor may be configured to take measurements of the at least two behavioural modes in an alternating fashion. For example the sensor(s) may switch between measuring a first behavioural mode and a second behavioural mode every 1 to 10 microseconds. In this way a more energy efficient measurement technique is provided whilst still “simultaneously” measuring the at least two behavioural modes. Separating measurement data allows two behavioural modes to be effectively detected by a single sensor, thereby improving manufacturability and reducing costs, and the likelihood of malfunction. It has been found that this separating function improves the derivation of two measurement types, or behavioural modes, from a user’s actions. For example, an overall hand gesture, such as a waving gesture, may be combined with tapping to provide the measurement data of two behavioural modes; this may be achieved using only a single sensor such as an accelerometer or other inertial device. The smaller tapping pulses can be separated out from the larger overall device movement so that two individual measurements, or data streams, can be derived from the same measurement dataset. This example uses a hand movement detection combined with pressing a button on the device. For the hand movement, the movement sensors detect the movement of the device, while the button detector measures the time between actuations of the button. Alternatively, or additionally, the force exerted over time could also be measured. Advantageously it should be understood that performing the separation and combination of data ensures a more reliable and accurate verification process.

In another example, a sequence of button presses may be combined with a force measurement, such as a gripping force or pressure exerted on a force/pressure sensor of the device. In this example the number and timings between button presses is determined together with a force sensor during the presses. The force sensor measures the pressure exerted on the button and/or on the device. The pressure sensor is accordingly provided on the device.

It should also be understood that the modal behaviours performed by a user may interact with each other. In the examples above, the button pressing may influence the pressure exerted or the movement of the device. This interaction between modal behaviours may result in a combined measurement dataset which can be specific to an individual user, where the combined behavioural measurements of at least two modes can therefore provide more information than the testing behavioural mode individually / separately.

Preferably the at least two behavioural modes are measured at substantially the same time. The at least two behavioural modes may be measured within a predetermined time period. In this way a more efficient verification method is provided since at least two modes may be detected simultaneously. Since at least two behavioural modes are being detected, it should be understood that the two modes overlap one another. For instance the time taken to pressure a certain number of button presses may be measured within the time of movement of the device by a user’s hand. This advantageously allows an aerosol generation device to be unlocked more quickly in addition to the more reliable authentication process described above. Furthermore the at least two behavioural modes can be combined to provide a single behavioural test, thereby improving usability of the aerosol generation device. As will be apparent to the skilled person, the aerosol generation device may further comprise a timer to determine the time period, or time cycle, in which the behavioural modes are measured. Preferably separating the measurement dataset comprises normalising and filtering the measurement dataset. In this way the individual data streams can be more effectively extracted from the stored measurement data. In particular where the aerosol generation device comprises only one sensor, the measurement data may require additional data processing in order to derive the multiple behavioural modes measured from the single sensor. As indicated above the modal behaviours performed by a user may interact with one another, and therefore the separation process may have to take into account overlapping modal information from two behavioural modes. The normalising and/or filtering functions may include extrapolation or amplification techniques to separate and better extract the individual data streams.

Preferably the verification control circuitry comprises a reference dataset against which the verification dataset is compared. In this way the verification dataset determined from the measured at least two behavioural modes can be verified against a reference dataset to ensure valid authentication. Preferably the reference dataset comprises verification information defining at least two behavioural modes. It should be understood that a valid authentication would require the verification dataset to match or substantially correspond with the verification information of the reference dataset. Since the detection process relies on user behavioural modes, which may present a degree of imprecision and inconsistency in user actions, the verification process may allow for a margin of error between the reference dataset and the verification dataset.

Preferably the reference dataset is based on a predetermined user profile. Preferably the aerosol generation device may further comprise a switch configured to select the predetermined user profile from a plurality of user profiles in the aerosol generation device, the predetermined user profile determining the reference dataset. In this way the aerosol generation device allows multiple users to access the device, each with their own unique way or behavioural modes to ensure valid authentication. In other words a user profile provides a predefined dataset of modal behaviour to unlock the device. This is particularly important since the same actions or behavioural modes (e.g. pressing a button three times whilst waving a device from right to left) performed by different users may result in different measurement data for verification due to different applied forces or timings for example.

The aerosol generation device may comprise an activation button configured to activate the at least one sensor for measurements. In this way accidental measurements and / or unlocking of the device may be minimised. An activation button may also provide a resource saving technique to the device to reduce battery power being wasted on the measurements accidental or undesired movements / actions.

Preferably the at least one sensor is configured to measure the at least two behavioural modes from a same user action. In this way a secure and more reliable authentication process is provided that maintains good usability. This means that a user only requires to perform a single action, such as a button press, and where the aerosol generation device can measure, store, and verify two modes from the same action. Taking the example of a button pressing event, the one or more sensors may be configured to detect at least two different aspects of behaviour relating to the event, such as pressing frequency, pressing speed and pressing force.

The aerosol generation device may comprise a single sensor. In this way a simple device construction is provided, which reduces costs and simplifies manufacturability. It should be understood that a single sensor, as also explained above, that a single sensor can be configured to detect multiple behavioural modes. For example an accelerometer can detect slow sweeping movements as well as fast tapping movements. The aerosol generation device of the present invention then stores and separates the measurements taken from the single sensor to distinguish the information relating to the at least two different behavioural modes for verification.

The aerosol generation device may comprise at least two sensors, wherein a first sensor is configured to measure a first behavioural mode and a second sensor is configured to measure a second behavioural mode. In this way measurement data can be more easily separated by directing and storing the measured behavioural modes from the two sensors separately within the stored measurement data. The use of two sensors may also increase the types of behavioural modes that may be measured, for example a pressure sensor and a touch sensor may work synergistically to provide complex measurement data. The one or more sensors may comprise: a gravity sensor, a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, a touch screen sensor, and/or an impedance sensor. It will be apparent to the skilled person to effectively use the one or more sensors to implement the present invention.

Examples of sensors capable to detect behavioural modes on an aerosol generation device include:

• Motion sensors, such as accelerometers, gravity or motion sensors to detect the movement of the device. These can measure both large movements of the device, or used to detect smaller movements and impacts like for instance tapping.

• Gravity or position sensors to detect absolute positioning measurements in order to determine the position of the device in space.

• Pressure sensors to interact with the hand and or fingers of the user to measure pressure exerted on the sensor.

• Momentary switches or touch sensors to detect touch activation.

• Touch screen sensors to measure all the known input features, such as position/movement within the touch areas. Touch screen sensors may also be incorporated with pressure sensors.

• Timing devices which can be used in tandem with other sensors, like the movement sensor or switches.

• Light sensitive switches to detect certain areas of the device being covered by a hand, for example.

• Impedance sensors: these can be used to determine how the device is being gripped. Note that these sensors are not suitable to measure bio-impedance (that would be physiological biometric property).

Examples of behaviours measurable with a device of the present invention: · Movement of the device while in the hand of the user;

• Button pressure by users’ fingers when pressing buttons;

• Grip pressure on the device while handling the device; and

• Tapping a fixed pattern on a touch screen display. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an aerosol generation device authorisation method, comprising: measuring, on an aerosol generation device comprising at least one sensor, a first behavioural mode from a user; measuring, on the aerosol generation device, a second behaviour mode from the user; storing the first and second behavioural modes as a measurement dataset on a memory of the aerosol generation device; separating, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the measurement dataset into at least two individual data streams, where each individual data stream corresponds to a single behavioural mode; combining, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the at least two individual data streams into a verification dataset of the at least two behavioural modes; verifying, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the verification dataset; and unlocking, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the aerosol generation device cigarette for use.

The first and second behavioural modes may be measured at substantially the same time or within a predetermined time period. Preferably separating the measurement dataset comprises normalising and filtering the measurement dataset. Preferably verifying the verification dataset comprises comparing the verification dataset against a reference dataset in the verification control circuitry. Preferably the reference dataset comprises verification information defining at least two behavioural modes. Preferably the reference dataset is based on a predetermined user profile. Preferably the method further comprises: selecting, on the aerosol generation device, a predetermined user profile from a plurality of user profiles in the aerosol generation device, the predetermined user profile determining the reference dataset. The at least one sensor may be configured to measure the at least two behavioural modes from a same user action.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer readable memory medium comprising executable instructions stored thereon which when executed by an aerosol generation device causes the aerosol generation device to perform steps including: measuring, on an aerosol generation device comprising at least one sensor, a first behavioural mode from a user; measuring, on the aerosol generation device, a second behaviour mode from the user; storing the first and second behavioural modes as a measurement dataset on a memory of the aerosol generation device; separating, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the measurement dataset into at least two individual data streams, where each individual data stream corresponds to a single behavioural mode; combining, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the at least two individual data streams into a verification dataset of the at least two behavioural modes; verifying, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the verification dataset; and unlocking, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the aerosol generation device cigarette for use.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol generation device according an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a flow diagram showing steps taken in a method of authorising an aerosol generation device for use in an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows an electronic cigarette 2 having a main body 4 with a battery 6 and electronic components 8 provided within. A mouthpiece 10 comprising a capsule 12, or pod, can be inserted into the main body 4. The capsule 12 comprises a heater element configured to heat aerosol generating medium in the capsule 12 in order to generate aerosol for user inhalation. The electronic components 8 include electrical circuitry to transfer electrical energy from the battery 6 to the heater element in order to generate heat. It should be understood that the electronic cigarette is an aerosol generation device which could equally be referred to as a “heated tobacco device”, a “heat- not-burn tobacco device”, a “device for vaporising tobacco products”, and the like, with this being interpreted as a device suitable for achieving these effects. The features disclosed herein are equally applicable to devices which are designed to vaporise any aerosol generating medium.

The aerosol generating medium should be understood as a component suitable for delivering the medium into the device such that an aerosol may be generated. For example the capsule 12 may comprise a liquid reservoir, where the liquid can be vaporised when heated. Another example may be a tobacco rod, stick or other shaped consumable which is configured to be heated to release a vapour without burning the aerosol generating medium.

The electronic cigarette 2 also includes a button 14 provided on the outer surface of the main body 4. The button 14 is configured to be depressed, or pushed, by a user, and an accelerometer sensor 16 is arranged below the button 14 which is configured to detect the overall movement of the electronic cigarette 2 as well as downward movements as the button 14 is depressed. Therefore it should be understood that the sensor 16 can detect a user waving the electronic cigarette 2 in a large sweeping movement and also smaller impact or tapping movements when the button 14 is pushed or tapped. In other examples, multiple buttons can be provided on the main body 4 and multiple sensors can be provided to detect different behavioural modes / user actions. For example a pressure sensor may also be incorporated with the accelerometer sensor 16 to provide additional force data relating to the pressing of the button 14.

The electronic components 8 further comprise a memory 18 and a processor 20. The memory 18 is configured to store verification data, for example movement data, processed by the processor 20, relating to two behavioural modes such as a combination of movement of the electronic cigarette 2 and three presses of the button 14. The verification data also includes the speed of the device movement and the timing of the button presses in relation to the device movement. The verification data is therefore used a reference dataset against which a user’s actions is compared. The memory 18 is also configured to store measurement data in a similar way to the verification data, the measurement data relating to behavioural modes performed by the user wishing to unlock the electronic cigarette 2. After recording the measurement data, the processor 20 compares the measurement data against the verification data, and determines whether to unlock the device for use, or to remain locked.

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

The electronic cigarette 2 further comprises a switch 24 to activate the sensor 16, where a user must press the switch 24 in order to initiate the measurement detection of the sensor 16. In another example the switch 24 is incorporated with the button 14 and a first depression of the button 14 activates the sensor for measurement recordal. In another example, the button 14 or the switch 24 may also be used to end a measurement cycle, or period. The ending/termination of a measurement cycle may provide an indication that a user’s behavioural modes for measurements and verification is complete, and thereby start the measurement data processing.

Another example process may be as follows: a motion sensor system is provided in the aerosol generation device, or electronic cigarette, to detect movement together with a press button. A user profile identification sequence is activated with a first button press. This starts the measurement of the movements 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 a fifth button press. The measured data is then evaluated as described above. In this example the first mode is device movement and the second mode is number of button presses. Additional modes could also be included, for instance the time between button presses, and/or button pressure (where an additional pressure sensor may be utilised).

Figure 2 is a flow diagram showing a sequence of steps undertaken in an authentication method of the electronic cigarette 2. At step 50 a predetermined user profile is initiated. This may be achieved by selecting the user profile on the control panel 22, and/or by depressing the switch 24. By initiating the user profile, the sensor 16 is activated and prepared for measuring a user’s behavioural modes. In some examples, the activation / initiation also starts a timing device.

At steps 52 and 54 the user performs a first behavioural mode and a second behavioural mode respectively, which are measured by the sensor 16. The two behavioural modes are performed in an overlapping manner such that the sensor 16 measures the behavioural modes at the same time, or within a predefined time period. The time period may be determined from the initiation of the timing device or from the detection of a first behavioural mode. In this example, the overlapping manner of the two behavioural modes causes the two modes to influence one another. As an example, the measurement data relating to a first behavioural mode from an accelerometer or other inertial sensor may show an acceleration followed by a steady speed followed by a deceleration over the course of one or two seconds. This first behavioural mode can be attributed to a single wave gesture/action. The measurement data relating to the second behavioural mode, which can be layered on top of (i.e. overlapping with), the measurements of the first behavioural mode may show three short bursts of rapid acceleration and deceleration, each burst lasting a few milliseconds. This second behavioural mode can be attributed to three button presses or taps on the device.

In another example the first and the second behavioural modes are performed in quick succession to one another, and may be performed within the predefined time period. At step 56 the measured behavioural modes are stored in the memory 18 as measurement data. At step 58 the stored measurement data is separated, or split, into two individual data streams. It should be understood that the number of individual data streams corresponds with the number of behavioural modes in the predetermined user profile. This means that if the user profile requires three behavioural modes to be verified by the processor 20, then the stored measurement data should be separated into three individual data streams. In separating the stored measurement data, the processor 20 may use normalising and data filtering techniques known in the art. Continuing with the above example of a first wave gesture overlapped with a second tapping action, the processor may first require the measurement data to be normalised in order to remove possible background noise, such as removing movement or inertia relating a user walking for instance. The filtering may involve identifying different modes in the measurement data, such as identifying repeated rapid acceleration/decelerations and grouping the repeated events as the second button pressing mode. The wave gesture mode may be derived as a result of the second mode being extracted, or similarly may be identified and filtered as a slower acceleration and deceleration event over a measurement time cycle.

In another example, a sequence of button presses may be measured alongside a force measurement. In this example two sensors may be used, a touch sensor and a pressure/force sensor. The touch sensor, and timing device, may record the number and timings between button presses, and the pressure sensor can measure the force associated with each press. The touch sensor may be an impedance sensor, but the same behavioural modes may also be measured with a single pressure sensor for example. In this example the processor may therefore separate the two behavioural modes in the measurement data to identify a first button pressing mode and a second ‘pushing’ mode (i.e. the pressure or force of the press).

The separating step extracts and identifies the behavioural modes performed by a user, in order to create individual, or separate, data entities relating to each user action. In other words one data stream relating to the wave gesture and another data stream relating to the button pressing action. At step 60 the individual data streams, i.e. the two identified action modes, are combined to form a verification dataset. This means that the two behavioural modes separated/identified from the measurement data by the processor are in effect recombined to provide a single dataset. This combination ensures that the data relating to the two behavioural modes (which in fact were performed simultaneously) are correctly grouped together for authentication. Therefore it should be understood that the verification dataset in effect represents the user key for authentication. At step 62 the verification dataset is compared against verification information in the predetermined user profile. In this example the verification information is a reference dataset which was previously recorded by the user and associated with the predetermined user profile. The reference dataset can therefore also be understood as the corresponding lock to the user key.

If there is a positive verification of the verification dataset, the processor 20 unlocks the electronic cigarette for use at step 64. This may involve permitting electrical energy to flow from the battery 6 to the capsule 12 for aerosol generation. As will be understood a positive verification may be a match between the verification dataset associated with the measured behavioural modes and the verification information in the predetermined user profile.

Claims

1. An aerosol generation device, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure at least two behavioural modes from a user; a memory configured to store the measured behavioural modes as a measurement dataset; and verification control circuitry configured to: separate the measurement dataset into at least two individual data streams, where each individual data stream corresponds to a single behavioural mode; combine the at least two individual data streams into a verification dataset of the at least two behavioural modes; and unlock the aerosol generation device cigarette for use by verifying the verification dataset.

2. The aerosol generation device of claim 1, wherein the at least two behavioural modes are measured at substantially the same time.

3. The aerosol generation device of claim 1, wherein the at least two behavioural modes are measured within a predetermined time period.

4. The aerosol generation device of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein separating the measurement dataset comprises normalising and filtering the measurement dataset.

5. The aerosol generation device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the verification control circuitry comprises a reference dataset against which the verification dataset is compared.

6. The aerosol generation device of claim 5, wherein the reference dataset comprises verification information defining at least two behavioural modes.

7. The aerosol generation device of claims 5 or 6, wherein the reference dataset is based on a predetermined user profile.

8. The aerosol generation device of claim 7 further comprising a switch configured to select the predetermined user profile from a plurality of user profiles in the aerosol generation device, the predetermined user profile determining the reference dataset.

9. The aerosol generation device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure the at least two behavioural modes from a same user action.

10. The aerosol generation device of any of the preceding claims comprising a single sensor.

11. The aerosol generation device of any of claims 1 to 9 comprising at least two sensors, wherein a first sensor is configured to measure a first behavioural mode and a second sensor is configured to measure a second behavioural mode.

12. The aerosol generation device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more sensors comprises: a gravity sensor, a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, a touch screen sensor, and/or an impedance sensor.

13. An aerosol generation device authorisation method, comprising: measuring, on an aerosol generation device comprising at least one sensor, a first behavioural mode from a user; measuring, on the aerosol generation device, a second behaviour mode from the user; storing the first and second behavioural modes as a measurement dataset on a memory of the aerosol generation device; separating, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the measurement dataset into at least two individual data streams, where each individual data stream corresponds to a single behavioural mode; combining, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the at least two individual data streams into a verification dataset of the at least two behavioural modes; verifying, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the verification dataset; and unlocking, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the aerosol generation device cigarette for use.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second behavioural modes are measured at substantially the same time or within a predetermined time period.

15. A computer readable memory medium comprising executable instructions stored thereon which when executed by an aerosol generation device causes the aerosol generation device to perform steps including: measuring, on an aerosol generation device comprising at least one sensor, a first behavioural mode from a user; measuring, on the aerosol generation device, a second behaviour mode from the user; storing the first and second behavioural modes as a measurement dataset on a memory of the aerosol generation device; separating, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the measurement dataset into at least two individual data streams, where each individual data stream corresponds to a single behavioural mode; combining, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the at least two individual data streams into a verification dataset of the at least two behavioural modes; verifying, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the verification dataset; and unlocking, by verification control circuitry on the aerosol generation device, the aerosol generation device cigarette for use.