EP4625067A1

EP4625067A1 - Verifying a device time value by satellite signal

Info

Publication number: EP4625067A1
Application number: EP24166793.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Karl Baumgartner; Andrew James MCLAUCHLAN
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2024-03-27
Filing date: 2024-03-27
Publication date: 2025-10-01

Abstract

An electronic device, comprising a controller and/or a processor, a timekeeping device, and a GNSS receiver, wherein the electronic device is an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, wherein the electronic device is configured to: receive a satellite signal from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, satellite; determine a satellite time value from the satellite signal; and selectively adjust the device time value using the satellite time value.

Description

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy. The present disclosure also relates to a computer-implemented method, a computer program and a computer-readable medium.
Aerosol-generating devices are typically designed as handheld devices that can be used by a user for consuming or experiencing, for instance in one or more usage sessions, aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating substrate or an aerosol-generating article, for example by heating. The aerosol-generating devices the present disclosure pertains to are mainly directed to the field of tobacco and tobacco-substitute products, as well as e-vapor devices, for example heated tobacco products (HTP), heat-not-burn devices, electronic cigarettes, e-vapor devices, and/or vaporizers. The aerosol-generating devices of the present disclosure may also pertain to other types of inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers, for example inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers for medical applications.
Exemplary aerosol-generating substrates can comprise solid substrate material, such as tobacco material or tobacco cast leaves (TCL) material. The substrate material can, for example, be assembled, often with other elements or components, to form a substantially stick-shaped aerosol-generating article. Such a stick or aerosol-generating article can be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element or heater device for heating the aerosol-generating article and/or the aerosol-generating substrate. The heating element or heater device may be part of the aerosol-generating article and/or the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively or additionally, aerosol-generating substrates can comprise one or more liquids and/or solids, which can, for example, be supplied to the aerosol-generating device in the form of a cartridge or container. Corresponding exemplary aerosol-generating articles can, for example, comprise a cartridge containing or fillable with the liquid and/or solid substrate, which can be vaporized during aerosol consumption by the user based on heating the substrate and/or liquid. Usually, such cartridge or container can be coupled to, attached to or at least partially inserted into the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the cartridge may be fixedly mounted to the aerosol-generating device and refilled by inserting liquid and/or solid into the cartridge. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate or article may comprise or include one or more of nicotine, aroma, sugar, moisturizing agent, botanicals, preservative, flavoring, for example cocoa, liquorice, menthol and lactic acid or other additives. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate or article may additionally or alternatively comprise one or more pharmaceutical agents or drugs and may include one or more adjuvants.
For generating the aerosol during use or consumption, heat can be supplied by a heating element, heater device or heat source to heat at least a portion or part of the aerosol-generating substrate. The heating element, heater device or heat source can be arranged in the handheld device or a handheld part of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively or additionally, at least a part of or the entire heating element or heater device or heat source can be fixedly associated with or arranged within an aerosol-generating article, for instance in the form of a stick or cartridge, which can be attached to and/or powered by the handheld device or handheld part of the aerosol-generating device.
Exemplary heating elements or heater devices can be based on one or more of resistive heating, inductive heating and microwave heating using electrical energy supplied via, drawn from or stored in an energy storage or battery of the aerosol-generating device. As used herein, a battery of the aerosol-generating device can generally refer to an energy storage of the aerosol-generating device configured to store electrical energy. Accordingly, the term energy storage can include one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, one or more accumulators or other types of energy storage. Also, any reference to a battery herein can include a plurality of batteries.
Typically, aerosol-generating devices comprise an energy storage, for example a battery, providing the electrical energy needed to operate the aerosol-generating device and especially for heating the aerosol-generating substrate and/or article, for example to generate aerosol in one or more usage sessions using one or more aerosol-generating articles. The battery may, for example, be a lithium-ion battery.
As used herein, a usage session may refer to a period of time, during which a user may use the device to generate, consume, experience or inhale aerosol using the aerosol-generating device. Therein, a usage session may be finite. In other words, a usage session may have a start, an end and a duration. The duration of the usage session as measured by time may be influenced by use during the usage session. The duration of the usage session may have a maximum duration determined by a maximum time from the start of the usage session. The duration of the usage session may be less than the maximum time if one or more monitored parameters reaches a predetermined threshold before the maximum time from the start of the usage session. By way of example, the one or more monitored parameters may comprise one or more of: i) a cumulative puff count of a series of puffs drawn by a user since the start of the usage session, and ii) a cumulative volume of aerosol evolved from the aerosol-forming substrate since the start of the usage session.
Electronic devices, for example aerosol-generating devices or companion devices configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, may be able to collect data during their lifetime. Example data may relate to consumer or user habits and device functionalities, operations or activations. From the collected data, usage patterns may emerge. In other words, the collected data may indicate certain patterns or habits of the user's usage of the device. Such data may be used to acquire better understanding of the usage habits of the user. This may be interesting both to the users themselves as well as the manufacturer of the device. For example, the user may use this data to adjust their practice or usage, which may contribute to improved health or an improved user experience. Additionally, collected data may be used to refine control of the device. For example, different functions or elements of the device may be controlled differently based on the collected data or an analysis of the collected data. In the example of an aerosol-generating device, the heating algorithm may be adjusted or updated based on the collected data. Location and/or time data may be indicative of an environmental humidity, which is a key factor for heater control in aerosol-generating devices. In this way, usage of the device in different locations and/or at different times of day or times of year may be used for improving user experience.
In order for the collected data to provide the best possible value, it may be necessary for the collected data, for example each data point, to be correctly timestamped. The collected data may therefore comprise the date and/or time of day the data, for example the specific data point, pertains to. Each and every data point of the collected data may be timestamped in this way. An accurate analysis of the collected data in terms of usage patterns or habits may depend on the data being timestamped correctly.
The electronic device may therefore comprise a timekeeping device. The timekeeping device may provide a device time value, which may comprise both the current date and the current time of day, and which may be used for timestamping the collected data. Such timekeeping devices may measure the passage of time and may be provided with an alternate power source, different from the main power source of the electronic device, to also cover situations in which the main power source may be depleted. However, timekeeping devices comprised in electronic devices may be of unsatisfactory accuracy, for example because high-accuracy timekeeping devices may be costly and therefore may be inappropriate for use in many applications. The timekeeping device comprised in the electronic device may drift, which means that the passage of time measured by the timekeeping device is inaccurate. The passage of time measured by the timekeeping device may continuously drift apart from the actual passage of time such that there exists a continuously increasing difference between the date and time of day provided by the timekeeping device and the actual date and time of day. As an example, such drift may accumulate a time inaccuracy of a couple of minutes per day, for example of 30 minutes per day. Additionally, whenever the electronic device may be reset or whenever the alternate power source of the timekeeping device is depleted, the timekeeping device may revert to an arbitrary point in time, for example a point in time in the past, from which the measurement of the passage of time started. Both the drift of the timekeeping device and such a reset may be sources of inaccurate timekeeping and inaccurate or unsatisfactory timestamping of the collected data.
An external means may be used to retrieve a time information which may be used in case of failure of the timekeeping device. However, retrieving a time information, for example a timestamp, from a peripheral apparatus (for instance an electric charger or a computer) with which the electronic device may be connected, may not be fully secure as the quality of the clock of the peripheral apparatus could be altered or inaccurate itself. Relying on internet connectivity to correct or update the electronic device's time (by connecting the device to the internet or to an internet connected apparatus) may not be suitable either, as the electronic device may be infrequently or perhaps never connected to the internet, or because the device may be in a location where an internet connection is not available. In general, for electronic devices that may often be used daily and which may be small handheld devices that may easily be carried (for instance when travelling in remote locations), an external means to secure the device internal time should have world coverage. For this reason, it is also unsuitable to rely on a time information carried in a radio signal, which may only be available in certain geographical locations. Therefore, keeping accurate time in an electronic device may be problematic.
It may therefore be desirable to provide timekeeping of desired accuracy in an electronic device, for example an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy. The desired solution should be able to be implemented worldwide and should be cost-effective.
These advantages may be achieved by the features described herein.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device, comprising a controller and/or a processor, a timekeeping device, wherein the timekeeping device may be a real-time clock, RTC, and a GNSS receiver, wherein the electronic device is an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, wherein the electronic device is configured to:

receive a satellite signal from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, satellite;
determine a satellite time value from the satellite signal; and
selectively adjust the device time value using the satellite time value.

While the present disclosure uses the specific example of an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, the invention also pertains to electronic devices in general, particularly handheld electronic devices and/or wearable electronic devices.
The present disclosure pertains both to the electronic device and a computer-implemented method which may be performed by the electronic device, for example by a computing device comprised by the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may comprise processing circuitry or control circuitry, particularly comprising at least one controller and/or at least one processor. The electronic device may be running a software application, for example a firmware, which may be configured to perform steps, particularly all of the steps, of the method according to the present disclosure. To this end, a computer program comprising instructions implementing steps, particularly all of the steps, of the method according to the present disclosure may be used and/or run on the electronic device. The program may, for example, be part of the software application or firmware.
The device time value of the electronic device may be the date and/or time of day as indicated by a timekeeping device of the electronic device. The device time value may be provided as a period of time that has elapsed since the beginning of the measurement of the passage of time by the timekeeping device. The device time value may therefore be provided as a period of time that has elapsed since an arbitrary point of time which may be defined in the timekeeping device, for example during manufacturing of the electronic device and/or the timekeeping device. From this period of time and the starting point, the current date and/or the current time of day according to the timekeeping device may be calculated. Therefore, the device time value may also be provided as a current date and/or current time of day. In this way, the device time value may be used for timestamping collected data, for example a collected data point.
The satellite time value may be the date and/or time of day as indicated in a satellite signal provided by a GNSS satellite. For geolocation purposes, GNSS satellites periodically include such a satellite time value in their broadcasted signal. The satellite time value may be provided as a period of time that has elapsed since the beginning of the measurement of the passage of time by a timekeeping device comprised in the satellite. The satellite time value may therefore be provided as a period of time that has elapsed since an arbitrary point of time which may be defined in the timekeeping device of the satellite. From this period of time and the starting point, the current date and/or the current time of day according to the timekeeping device of the satellite may be calculated. Therefore, the satellite time value may also be provided as a current date and/or current time of day. The timekeeping device comprised in a GNSS satellite may be of a much higher accuracy than the timekeeping device comprised in the electronic device. An accurate satellite time value may be necessary for geolocation using the satellite signal. As this is the main purpose of GNSS satellites, the satellite time value may be trusted to be as accurate as technically possible.
The satellite time value comprised in the satellite signal of a GNSS satellite may therefore be used for verifying and/or selectively adjusting the device time value of the electronic device. Verifying the device time value as described in the present disclosure may mean that steps are implemented to ensure that the device time value is as close to the correct date and/or the correct time of day as provided by the satellite time value as necessary for getting the most value from the collected and timestamped data. Verifying the device time value may therefore be represented by or comprise selectively adjusting the device time value. These terms may be used synonymously herein. Verifying the device time value and/or selectively adjusting the device time value may therefore comprise comparing the device time value with the satellite time value. Such a comparison may provide the result that the device time value is close enough to the satellite time value so that no further steps are necessary. Alternatively, such a comparison may provide the result that the device time value deviates from the satellite time value so that collected data timestamped with the device time value may not be valuable anymore. In this case, the device time value has to be corrected. This may be achieved by adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value. For example, the device time value may be overwritten by the satellite time value. Such an adjustment of the device time value using the satellite time value may also be implemented without prior comparison. For example, the device time value may simply be overwritten by the satellite time value. This may be of interest if a trigger event occurs, for example a reset of the electronic device. As the satellite time value may be trustworthy, it may not be of interest by how much the device time value deviates from the satellite time value. Therefore, also the step of merely overwriting the device time value with the satellite time value leads to the verifying of the device time value because afterwards, the device time value has been corrected and may therefore be verified. In summary, therefore, verifying the device time value as used herein may comprise comparing the device time value with the satellite time value and/or adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value. This may also be meant by selectively adjusting the device time value, which may comprise comparing the device time value with the satellite time value and/or adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value. Selectively adjusting the device time value may therefore also comprise leaving the device time value as it is, for example, when the comparison determines that the device time value is accurate.
The electronic device according to the present application may be configured to collect the data to be timestamped using the device time value. For example, the electronic device may be configured to collect data relating to at least one operational or usage parameter of the electronic device; and timestamping the collected data using the device time value. In particular, the collected data may be timestamped using a verified or adjusted device time value. The verified device time value may be the device time value after the step of verifying or selectively adjusting the device time value. The verified device time value may therefore be the same as the device time value previous to the step of verifying or selectively adjusting the device time value in case that the device time value did not deviate substantially from the satellite time value. The verified device time value may alternatively be the device time value as provided by the timekeeping device of the electronic device after adjustment using the satellite time value. In other words, the verified device time value may be the device time value provided by the timekeeping device after resetting the device time value to the satellite time value. The present disclosure therefore ensures that the collected data, particularly every data point, is timestamped using a date and/or time of day, provided by the device time value, particularly the verified device time value, which is as accurate as possible.
The at least one operational or usage parameter of the electronic device may be any parameter or any data pertaining to any parameter or aspect of the usage of the electronic device which may be of interest to the user and/or the manufacturer of the electronic device. The at least one usage parameter may be selected from the parameters: a beginning of a usage session, a duration of a usage session, an end of a usage session, an energy consumption of a usage session, a number of usage sessions the aerosol-generating device has been operated to generate aerosol, preferably in a predefined time interval, a resting time between consecutive usage sessions, an occurrence of at least two usage sessions in a row, in particular without recharging of the aerosol-generating device in between, an ambient temperature during a usage session, an ambient air pressure during a usage session, an ambient humidity during a usage session, a beginning of a recharge event, a duration of a recharge event, an end of a recharge event, an ambient temperature during recharging of a battery of the aerosol-generating device, a temperature of a battery of the aerosol-generating device during a usage session, a temperature of a heating element or heater device of the aerosol-generating device within a predefined period of time before start of a usage session, a number of puffs of a usage session, a puff volume, a puff duration, a puff frequency, a puff rhythm, a time of initiation of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device, a time of termination of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device, a duration of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device, a resting time after recharging the aerosol-generating device, a resting time with a battery state of charge of less than 10 %, a resting time with a battery state of charge of more than 90 %, a density of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol, a weight of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol, a type of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol, a humidity of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used in the aerosol-generating device, and/or a temperature profile selected by a user. Apart from a single operational or usage parameter, any combination of any number of the parameters mentioned may be used. Depending on the particular use case, any of the mentioned parameters or any combination of the mentioned parameters may be of interest.
Additionally or alternatively to timestamping collected data, an accurate device time value, for example the verified or adjusted device time value, may be used to improve control of the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may have specific functions which may advantageously be differently controlled depending on the date and/or the time of day. Therefore, the electronic device may further be configured to adjust a function or functions of the electronic device using the device time value, in particular the verified or adjusted device time value. For instance, again using the example of an aerosol-generating device, functions of the device used during a usage session may be differently controlled depending on the time of day. It may be, for example, that the user prefers quick or short usage sessions in the morning, but more extended usage sessions in the evening. This may also apply to working days and weekends, for example. To realize this, the electronic device may be differently controlled, for example by controlling the maximum temperature of the heater used to provide the aerosol. Such preferences of the user may be input by the user, for example by configuring the electronic device through a software application or by pressing a button or by providing a specific series of inputs. Such preferences of the user may alternatively also be inferred from the collected and timestamped data. For example, the electronic device may automatically implement control options benefiting quick or short usage sessions in the morning and/or more extended usage sessions in the evening when such habits are indicated by the collected and timestamped data. The electronic device may therefore be configured to analyze the collected and timestamped data for usage patterns indicating a habit of the user pertaining to different dates and/or times of day and then adjusting functions of the electronic device in dependence of the device time value, for example the current or verified device time value. This adjusting may be specific to accommodate the habit of the user and therefore improve user experience.
The satellite time value is periodically broadcast by GNSS satellites in a satellite signal which may typically be used for geolocation. For the purpose of the present disclosure, a satellite signal may be the broadcast signal of one single satellite. However, for geolocation, a minimum of four different satellite signals of four different GNSS satellites may be necessary. These signals may be used to triangulate the location of a GNSS receiver. Because of the necessity of receiving four different satellite signals, the circumstances for reception of these signals have to be very good. For the purposes of the present invention, in contrast, is not necessary that the electronic device receives that many satellite signals simultaneously. In fact, as the satellite time value is broadcast in each satellite signal, even a single satellite signal from a single GNSS satellite may be sufficient. Therefore, it may be provided that the satellite time value is determined from a maximum of three satellite signals or from a maximum of two satellite signals. It may even be provided that the satellite time value is determined exclusively from one single satellite signal, which may be received from one single GNSS satellite. This means that, for accurately verifying the device time value using the satellite time value, it is sufficient to receive one single satellite signal. While the electronic device may receive more than one satellite signals, it is sufficient that only one of them is identified and that only the information comprised in that single satellite signal is processed according to the present disclosure. The reception circumstances, for example an antenna used for reception of the satellite signal, may therefore be simpler in build and/or operation than the ones necessary for geolocation. This means that the electronic device according to the invention may be produced very cost-effectively and still be in receipt of the one single satellite signal necessary for receiving the satellite time value continuously or at least nearly all of the time.
One of the main advantages of the present disclosure lies in the fact that it provides a simple yet effective solution using a chip/circuit to extract a satellite time signal only (without requiring a full GNSS or GPS module), at not too frequent intervals, in an aerosol-generating device which typically has very limited space for electronics. The fact that less satellite signals need to be received simultaneously allows for much smaller electronics, for example a much smaller GNSS or GPS receiver, which may be suitably arranged in an aerosol-generating device or other small, portable or handheld devices.
In general, most or all GNSS use satellite signals comprising a satellite time value. The invention may therefore be implemented using any suitable GNSS. A very tried and true GNSS is the global positioning system, GPS. Additionally, the satellite signal may be a GPS legacy signal L1 C/A. In the so-called GPS legacy signal, L1 denotes the frequency used, which is 1575.42 MHz, and C/A denotes the "Coarse/Acquisition"-code. This part of the GPS signal is provided for civilian use. While GPS satellites may also broadcast other, more modern, signals, the legacy signal L1 C/A provides the best coverage because it is broadcast by all GPS satellites regardless of their age, while more modern signals may not be broadcast by older GPS satellites.
The satellite signal of a GPS satellite is made up of a series of frames. Each frame comprises five subframes. Each subframe comprises ten words. The first word of each subframe contains telemetry, TLM, data, which enables the receiver of the satellite signal to detect the beginning of a subframe. The second word of each subframe is a handover word, HOW, which comprises a specific value of the GPS time. Specifically, the point in GPS time included in the HOW is the time when the first bit of the next subframe will be transmitted. The third to tenth words of the first subframe comprise GPS time information to a very high degree of accuracy. The third to tenth words of the second and third subframes comprise information about the satellite orbit (called "ephemeris"), and the third to tenth words of the fourth and fifth subframes contain orbit and status information for the other GPS satellites (called "almanac"). Therefore, from each first subframe, a very precise satellite time value may be extracted from the third to tenth words. Each of the five subframes of a frame of the GPS signal comprises 300 bits, which means that one frame comprises a total of 1500 bits. As the GPS signal is broadcast at a bit rate of 50 bits per second, the first subframe comprising the precise GPS time is only repeated every 30 seconds. However, the HOW is broadcast at the beginning of each subframe, meaning the HOW is repeated every 6 seconds. In comparison to the GPS time broadcast in the third to tenth words of the first subframe, the GPS time broadcast in the HOW is less accurate. Despite this, the accuracy of the GPS time broadcast in the HOW may be sufficient for the use case of the present invention. For instance, an accuracy of plus or minus a few seconds may be sufficient, in particular also for electronic devices which might be used frequently, for example with at least several minutes between uses. Therefore, the higher frequency of broadcasting the HOW may outweigh the reduced accuracy in comparison to the GPS time broadcast in the third to tenth words of the first subframe. It may therefore be provided that the satellite time value is determined from a handover word, HOW, of any subframe of the satellite signal. In this way, the satellite time value may be determined faster and more reliably than when using the less frequently broadcast GPS time comprised in the third to tenth words of the first subframe. This may also differentiate the present invention from other use cases, in which geolocation or time information is provided from GPS signals, as these services conventionally use the time information comprised in the third to tenth words of the first subframe for greatest accuracy.
Another difference between the invention and conventional uses of GNSS signals may lie in the fact that the invention may verify or selectively adjust the device time value without determining and/or considering the transfer time needed for the satellite signal to travel the distance from the satellite to the electronic device as the receiver. As a rough example, GPS satellites are about 20,000 kilometers above the surface of the earth. A satellite signal traveling at the speed of light of about 300,000 kilometers per second therefore needs about 0.067 seconds to reach the surface of the earth. This transfer time, for example, is used for triangulation of the receiver in a geolocation process. Without this transfer time, geolocation is impossible. However, as the invention does not aim at or need geolocation, this transfer time may be ignored. As the invention only needs an accuracy of plus or minus a few seconds, the travel time of about 0.067 seconds does not have any impact and is therefore negligible. It may therefore be provided that selectively adjusting or verifying the device time value is performed without considering the time delay between the broadcast of the satellite signal and the receiving of the satellite signal at the electronic device. This time delay may therefore be neither determined nor used in the present disclosure.
However, there are some modifications of the satellite time value which may be beneficial because they increase the accuracy of the determined satellite time value in the order of seconds. Therefore, the electronic device may be configured to modify the satellite time value before selectively adjusting or verifying the device time value using the satellite time value. For selectively adjusting or verifying the device time value using the satellite time value, the modified satellite time value may then be used. Some possible example modifications of the satellite time value are given below. The given examples may not be used at all or may be used alone or may be used in any combination. It may also be provided that all of the examples given below are used.
For example, modifying the satellite time value may comprise subtracting a time value corresponding to a period of the satellite signal or a period of the broadcasting of the satellite time value in the satellite signal from the satellite time value. The period of the satellite signal may pertain to the period in which the satellite time value used in the invention is repeated in the satellite signal. For example, the GPS time value in the HOW of any or each subframe is repeated every 6 seconds. Additionally, the GPS time value in the HOW indicates the time at which the transmission of the next subframe starts. Therefore, this value indicates a time that is 6 seconds in the future at the time of receipt of the HOW at the electronic device. In this case, the period is 6 seconds. Thus, modifying the satellite time value may comprise subtracting 6 seconds from the satellite time value. This modification therefore calculates the time at which the HOW is received from the value in the HOW, which denotes a point in time 6 seconds in the future.
As another example, modifying the satellite time value may comprise adding a time value used for determining the satellite time value from the satellite signal to the satellite time value. In other words, modifying the satellite time value may comprise adding a length of time elapsing during determining the satellite time value from the satellite signal to the satellite time value. For example, each word of the GPS legacy signal is 30 bits long. Therefore, the first two words of each subframe, comprising TLM and HOW, are 60 bits long. The bits have to be received or read to know which time value is comprised in the HOW. As the GPS signal is broadcast at 50 bits per second, receiving these 60 bits comprising the satellite time value takes 1.2 seconds. The point in time at which this receiving or reading of the signal is completed is therefore 1.2 seconds later than the time recorded in the signal, which was the time of transmission of the HOW by the satellite. Again, transmission time from the satellite to the electronic device may be ignored. Thus, modifying the satellite time value may comprise adding 1.2 seconds to the satellite time value.
As a further example, modifying the satellite time value may comprise subtracting a time value corresponding to a number of leap seconds differentiating GPS time from Coordinated Universal Time, UTC. GPS time is expressed as a week number and a time of week count from a zero point. The zero point is defined to be 1980-01-06T00:00Z. GPS time is a continuous time scale in that it does not include leap seconds. Therefore, GPS time may differ from UTC by a number of seconds, called leap seconds, because of irregularities and long-term slowdown of the Earth's rotation, which are ignored in GPS time, but taken into account in UTC. It cannot be accurately predicted when leap seconds need to be introduced. At the time of writing, 18 leap seconds have been introduced since 1980 so that GPS time at the moment differs from UTC by 18 seconds. Thus, modifying the satellite time value may comprise subtracting 18 s from the satellite time value.
However, it is clear that additional leap seconds will have to be added in the future. As mentioned, this may not be accurately predicted, which means that one cannot provide a static table in which the accurate number of seconds for any time in the future is provided. Therefore, the electronic device may be configured to retrieve a current amount of leap seconds differentiating GPS time from UTC, for example from the internet. Responsibility for announcing leap seconds lies with the "International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service", publications of which may be referenced for the current amount of leap seconds. Another option may be that the user enters the current amount of leap seconds into the electronic device. Modifying the satellite time value may therefore comprise subtracting a time value corresponding to the current amount of leap seconds differentiating GPS time from UTC from the satellite time value.
The method according to the present disclosure may be repeatedly performed to keep the device time value as accurate as possible. For example, the electronic device may be configured to recurrently perform receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite, determining of the satellite time value and selectively adjusting or verifying the device time value using the satellite time value after a predefined period of time has elapsed. The predefined period of time may be in the range of several hours or in the range of one or several days. For example, the predefined period of time may be 3 hours or 6 hours or 12 hours or 24 hours or 2 days or 3 days or 4 days or 5 days or 6 days or 7 days. In this way, no separate trigger may be necessary to begin the adjusting or verifying of the device time value.
Additionally or alternatively, the electronic device may be configured to determine circumstances in which the selective adjustment or the verifying of the device time value is necessary. For example, the electronic device may be configured to detect a triggering event, wherein detection of the triggering event triggers receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite, determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value. An example of a trigger event may be an input of a control command by a user. A user may start the process of verifying or selectively adjusting the device time value manually by inputting a command at the electronic device or another device which may relay the command to the electronic device. Another trigger event may be, for example, when the timekeeping device of the electronic device is reset and reverts the device time value back to some arbitrary starting point. From the actual current point in time, this starting point may lie in the past. However, it may be assumed that before the reset, at least one data point may have been collected and accurately timestamped. Any timestamp made at some point in the past may be called a historical timestamp. If the electronic device determines that the device time value is smaller than the latest historical timestamp, then it is clear that the device time value has to have been reset to a starting point lying in the past. It may then be necessary to correct the device time value using the satellite time value. A time value being smaller than another time value means that the time value indicates an earlier point in time than the other time value. Therefore, the electronic device may be configured to determine whether a current device time value is smaller than a latest historical timestamp that uses the device time value, wherein receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite and determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value is performed in response to the determination that the current device time value is smaller than the latest historical timestamp. In other words, the electronic device may be configured to compare the current device time value with the latest historical timestamp made using the device time value; and perform the receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite, the determining of the satellite time value and the verifying of the device time value using the satellite time value, in particular the selectively adjusting of the device time value using the satellite time value, when it is determined that the current device time value is smaller than the latest historical timestamp. The latest historical timestamp may be the timestamp with the latest or greatest or most advanced date and time. By using this trigger condition for verifying the device time value, a reset of the device time value, for example caused by a depletion of the power source of a timekeeping device, is reliably detected and corrected so that timestamping of collected data can continue normally.
To potentially save computation power, it may be provided that the adjustment of the device time value using the satellite time value is only performed when a difference between the two reaches a certain order. As already explained, an accuracy in the order of seconds is sufficient for the present invention. Therefore, not every difference between the device time value and the satellite time value needs to be immediately corrected. The electronic device may therefore be configured to determine a difference between the device time value and the satellite time value; and perform the selectively adjusting of the device time value using the satellite time value when it is determined that the difference between the device time value and the satellite time value is greater than a predetermined threshold. This may also mean that the adjusting of the device time value using the satellite time value is not performed when it is determined that the difference between the device time value on the satellite time value is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
The predetermined threshold may be in the order of seconds, so as not to negatively influence accuracy. For example, the threshold may be 1 second or the threshold may be 2 seconds or the threshold may be 3 seconds or the threshold may be 4 seconds or the threshold may be 5 seconds or the threshold may be 6 seconds.
The timekeeping device may be configured to provide the device time value. In particular, the timekeeping device may comprise a timing circuit, a processor clock and/or a crystal oscillator. For example, the timekeeping device may be a real-time clock, RTC. It may be configured to measure the passage of time and to provide a date and time of day value, which may then be used as the device time value.
The GNSS receiver may be any suitable device configured to receive a GNSS signal comprising a satellite time value. For example, the GNSS receiver may be a GPS receiver configured to receive a GPS legacy signal L1 C/A from a GPS satellite. The GNSS receiver may be configured to only or exclusively receive one single satellite signal, for example one single GPS legacy signal. In other words, the GNSS receiver may be configured to receive no more than one satellite signal. Therefore, the GNSS receiver may be of less complexity than in standard geolocation applications.
The electronic device may further comprise an aerosol-generating article or substrate, preferably wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate or article.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method of selectively adjusting a device time value of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device may be an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, and wherein the electronic device is configured to perform the method according to the present disclosure.
The method may comprise receiving a satellite signal from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, satellite; determining a satellite time value from the satellite signal; and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value. All of the features, functions and advantages of the electronic device according to the present disclosure are also applicable to the method and vice versa.
As previously mentioned, the electronic device may be any electronic device in general, particularly a handheld electronic device and/or a wearable electronic device. A specific example of an electronic device may be an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program, which when executed by processing circuitry of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the steps of the method according to the present disclosure, particularly all of the steps of the method. All of the features, functions and advantages of the method and/or the electronic device according to the present disclosure are also applicable to the computer program and vice versa. The electronic device may, in particular, be an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to the present disclosure. All of the features, functions and advantages of the method and/or the electronic device and/or the computer program according to the present disclosure are also applicable to the computer-readable medium and vice versa.
The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.
Example 1. An electronic device, comprising a controller and/or a processor, a timekeeping device, and a GNSS receiver, wherein the electronic device is an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, wherein the electronic device is configured to:

Example 2. The electronic device according to Example 1, wherein
selectively adjusting the device time value comprises comparing the device time value with the satellite time value and/or adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value.
Example 3. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is further configured to

collect data relating to at least one operational parameter of the electronic device; and
timestamping the collected data using the device time value.

Example 4. The electronic device according to the previous Example, wherein the at least one operational parameter comprises one or more of the following parameters:

a beginning of a usage session,
a duration of a usage session,
an end of a usage session,
an energy consumption of a usage session,
a number of usage sessions the aerosol-generating device has been operated to generate aerosol, preferably in a predefined time interval,
a resting time between consecutive usage sessions,
an occurrence of at least two usage sessions in a row, in particular without recharging of the aerosol-generating device in between,
an ambient temperature during a usage session,
an ambient air pressure during a usage session,
an ambient humidity during a usage session,
a beginning of a recharge event,
a duration of a recharge event,
an end of a recharge event,
an ambient temperature during recharging of a battery of the aerosol-generating device,
a temperature of a battery of the aerosol-generating device during a usage session,
a temperature of a heating element or heater device of the aerosol-generating device within a predefined period of time before start of a usage session,
a number of puffs of a usage session,
a puff volume,
a puff duration,
a puff frequency,
a puff rhythm,
a time of initiation of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
a time of termination of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
a duration of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
a resting time after recharging the aerosol-generating device,
a resting time with a battery state of charge of less than 10 %,
a resting time with a battery state of charge of more than 90 %,
a density of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
a weight of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
a type of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
a humidity of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used in the aerosol-generating device,
a temperature profile selected by a user.

Example 5. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is further configured to adjust a function of the electronic device using the device time value.
Example 6. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is configured to determine the satellite time value from a maximum of three satellite signals or from a maximum of two satellite signals.
Example 7. The electronic device according to any one of Examples 1-5, wherein the electronic device is configured to
determine the satellite time value exclusively from one single satellite signal.
Example 8. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein
the GNSS receiver is a global positioning system, GPS, receiver, the GNSS satellite is a GPS satellite and the satellite signal is a GPS legacy signal L1 C/A.
Example 9. The electronic device according to the previous Example, wherein

the GPS legacy signal L1 C/A comprises a plurality of frames, wherein each frame comprises a plurality of subframes,
and wherein the electronic device is configured to determine the satellite time value from a handover word, HOW, of any subframe of the satellite signal.

Example 10. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is configured to
selectively adjust the device time value without considering a time delay between the broadcast of the satellite signal and the receiving the satellite signal at the electronic device.
Example 11. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
modify the satellite time value before selectively adjusting the device time value.
Example 12. The electronic device according to the previous Example, wherein

modifying the satellite time value comprises
subtracting a time value corresponding to a period of the satellite signal from the satellite time value, for example subtracting 6 seconds from the satellite time value.

Example 13. The electronic device according to any one of Examples 11-12, wherein

modifying the satellite time value comprises
adding a length of time elapsing during determining the satellite time value from the satellite signal to the satellite time value, for example adding 1.2 seconds to the satellite time value.

Example 14. The electronic device according to any one of Examples 11-13, wherein

modifying the satellite time value comprises
subtracting a time value corresponding to a number of leap seconds differentiating GPS time from Coordinated Universal Time, UTC, from the satellite time value, for example subtracting 18 seconds from the satellite time value.

Example 15. The electronic device according to the previous Example, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
retrieve a current amount of leap seconds differentiating GPS time from UTC, for example from the internet.
Example 16. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is further configured to recurrently perform receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite, determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value after a predefined period of time has elapsed.
Example 17. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
detect a triggering event, wherein detection of the triggering event triggers receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite, determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value.
Example 18. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the electronic device is further configured to

determine whether a current device time value is smaller than a latest historical timestamp that uses the device time value,
wherein receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite and determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value is performed in response to the determination that the current device time value is smaller than the latest historical timestamp.

Example 19. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein selectively adjusting comprises

determining a difference between the device time value and the satellite time value; and
adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value when it is determined that the difference between the device time value and the satellite time value is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Example 20. The electronic device according to the previous Example, wherein
the threshold is 1 second or the threshold is 2 seconds or the threshold is 3 seconds or the threshold is 4 seconds or the threshold is 5 seconds or the threshold is 6 seconds.
Example 21. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the timekeeping device is configured to provide the device time value.
Example 22. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein wherein the timekeeping device is a real-time clock, RTC.
Example 23. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein
the GNSS receiver is a GPS receiver configured to receive a GPS legacy signal L1 C/A from a GPS satellite.
Example 24. The electronic device according to any one of the previous Examples, further comprising
an aerosol-generating article or substrate, preferably wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate or article.
Example 25. A computer-implemented method of selectively adjusting a device time value of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, comprising:

receiving a satellite signal from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, satellite;
determining a satellite time value from the satellite signal; and
selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value.

Example 26. A computer program, which when executed by processing circuitry of an electronic device, for example an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, causes the electronic device, for example the aerosol-generating device or the companion device, to perform the steps of the method according to the previous Example.
Example 27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to the previous Example.
Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

Figure 1 shows exemplary electronic devices, particularly an aerosol-generating device and a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy;
Figure 2 shows a GPS message encoding scheme;
Figure 3 shows a GPS signal generation scheme;
Figure 4 shows an overview of frequencies used in GPS message encoding and signal generation;
Figure 5 shows an overview of Gold Code selective message encoding and reception in GPS;
Figure 6 shows a more detailed overview of Gold Code selective message encoding and reception in GPS;
Figure 7 shows a GPS message decoding scheme; and
Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of the method.

The figures are schematic only and not to scale.
Figure 1 shows examples of electronic devices which may be configured to perform the method according to the present disclosure. Specifically, Figure 1 shows an aerosol-generating system 1 for generating aerosol, for example for consumption or inhalation by a user in one or more usage sessions. The system 1 may comprise at least one of an aerosol-generating device 2 for generating aerosol, a companion device 3 for at least partially receiving the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or an energy storage 15. The companion device 3 may be a charging device for charging the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or an energy storage 15 or battery thereof. While the invention is described using these specific electronic devices as examples, the invention is not limited to implementation on these devices. Any other electronic devices, particularly handheld or wearable devices, may be used in the present invention and/or may be configured to perform the inventive method.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise an insertion opening 4 for at least partially inserting an aerosol-generating article 17. The aerosol-generating article 17 may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco containing substrate, and/or a cartridge comprising a liquid, for example a liquid that can be aerosolized for inhalation.
The aerosol-generating device 2 and/or the companion device 3 may further include processing circuitry 18 or control circuitry 18 with at least one controller 5 and one or more processors 6. For generating the aerosol during use or consumption of the aerosol-generating article 17, the aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise at least one heating element 7 or heater device for applying heat to at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 17. Instead of the heating element 7, an ultrasonic device (not shown) may also be used to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article 17. The processing circuitry 18 and/or the controller 5 may be configured to control actuation, activation and/or deactivation of at least one heating element 7 or ultrasonic device.
The aerosol-generating device 2 and/or the companion device 3 may further include a timekeeping device 32, which may be part of the processing circuitry 18. The timekeeping device 32 may be any kind of suitable device for providing the electronic device with a device time value, i.e. a date and a time of day that may be regarded as the present by the electronic device. As an example, the timekeeping device 32 may be an RTC. The timekeeping device 32 may comprise a crystal oscillator to provide for an accurate measurement of the passage of time. Alternatively, the timekeeping device 32 may comprise any other suitable means for this purpose.
For powering the at least one heating element 7 with electrical power, the aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise the at least one energy storage 15, for example in the form of a battery, for storing electrical energy or power. In Figure 1, both the aerosol-generating device 2 and the companion device 3 each comprise an energy storage 15 and the energy storage 15 is electrically coupled to the respective device 2, 3. In particular, energy storage 15 may be removably couplable to the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or the companion device 3. In other words, energy storage 15 may be a replaceable energy storage or battery. The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise at least one electrical connector 12 for coupling to a corresponding at least one electrical connector 13 of the companion device 3 and/or an electrical connector of an external power supply (not shown), e.g., a USB charger. For example, when the aerosol-generating device 2 is at least partially inserted into the opening 14 of the companion device 3, the one or more electrical connectors 12 of the aerosol-generating device 2 may be coupled with the one or more electrical connectors 13 of the companion device 3 to charge the at least one energy storage 15 of the aerosol-generating device 2, for example from the energy storage 15 of the companion device 3.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise a communications arrangement 9 or communication circuitry 9 with one or more communications interfaces 10 for communicatively coupling the aerosol-generating device 2 with the companion device 3, for example, via an Internet connection, a wireless LAN connection, a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile phone network, a mobile data connection for example but not limited to a 3G/4G/5G connection, an edge connection, an LTE connection, a BUS connection, a wireless connection, a wired connection, an optical data connection such as but not limited to IrDa, a radio connection, a near field connection, and/or an loT connection.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise a data storage 11 for storing information, program code or data. Data storage 11 may also store collected values of sensors and/or one or more mathematical functions or formulas, software and computer instructions that can be executed by the controller 5 and/or processing circuitry 18. One or more sensors 16 may be arranged on, at or in the aerosol-generating device 2 or the companion device 3 to collect data. One or more of the sensors 16 may for example be temperature sensors, strain sensors, accelerometers or any other suitable sensors.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise user interface components, for example comprising an input element or input device 8, for example in the form of a pushbutton or a capacitive button. The input device 8 may be used as a power button to activate or deactivate the heating element 7 or ultrasonic device for aerosol generation thereby to activate or deactivate the aerosol-generating device 2. Upon activation of the aerosol-generating device 2, the heating element 7 may be activated and heat may be applied to at least a part of the aerosol-generating article 17, such that aerosol can be generated for consumption or inhalation by the user, for example in a usage session. The aerosol generating device 2 and/or the companion device 3 may each comprise a user interface comprising one or more output elements, such as a display and/or one or more LEDs, for outputting a signal and/or displaying information to a user, or haptic and acoustic data output devices.
Further, the aerosol-generating device 2 or the companion device 3 may comprise a GNSS receiver 19, which may be configured to receive a GNSS signal, particularly a satellite signal. For example, GNSS receiver 19 may be a GPS receiver and may be configured to receive a GPS satellite signal. For this purpose, GNSS receiver 19 may comprise an antenna and circuitry necessary to receive and process the received signal. The processed signal may then be transmitted to processing circuitry 18 of the aerosol-generating device 2 or the companion device 3. Instead of processing the signal itself, GNSS receiver 19 may also be configured to transmit the received raw data to processing circuitry 18 for further processing.
In the following, Figures 2-7 are referred to for an illustration of how satellite time information or a satellite time value may be determined from a GNSS signal using the example of GPS. However, other GNSS may be employed instead of GPS and the referral to GPS is merely an example to provide a deeper understanding and not intended to limit the present disclosure.
A GPS message sent using the L1 C/A GPS signal of a GPS satellite comprises a continuous series of frames. Each frame comprises 5 subframes which are each made of 10 words of 30 bits each, i.e., 300 bits per subframe. Each subframe begins with 60 bits which are the telemetry (TLM) and the handover word (HOW) and then contains additional information.
The TLM is an indicator of the beginning of a subframe helping the receiver to identify when a subframe begins. The HOW contains the most significant 17 bits of a time of week count (TOW) pointing to the time of the beginning of the broadcast of the next subframe. The TOW indicates the week number and the time of week since the arbitrarily defined zero point, which is January 6th, 1980, at 00:00 UTC time. The GPS message is sent at a rate of 50 bps (bits per seconds). Accordingly, a subframe is sent in 300 bits / 50 bps = 6 seconds. The time indicated in the HOW accurately points to the time of the broadcasting of the next subframe. Accordingly, retrieving the HOW data is sufficient to determine an exact time of the broadcasting of the next subframe.
A possible satellite signal which may be used in the present disclosure is the GPS legacy signal L1 C/A. This GPS signal encodes the GPS message detailed above. The GPS signal uses what is called Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) in a Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) environment to encode the GPS message. The principle of DSSS is to associate the 0-1 bits of the message with a sequence of "chips". A chip has a value of either 1 or -1, and a series of chips is called a chip sequence. The message is modulated by the chip sequence by XOR.
This is shown in Figure 2, which shows a message comprising a series of bit values (0 or 1) at the top. In the middle, Figure 2 shows am exemplary periodic ship sequence with values 1 and -1. The brackets indicate the periodicity. The generated chip signal on the bottom of Figure 2 is the result of combining the message and the chip sequence by XOR as outlined above. As shown in Figure 2, the chip sequence and therefore also the generated chip signal have a higher frequency than the message.
In the L1 C/A signal, the GPS message frequency is 50 bps. The chips of the chip sequence have a frequency of 1.023 MHz. For each bit of the message, there are 20 chip values. The generated chip signal is then used to modulate a carrier having a frequency of 1575.42 MHz. The modulation used for L1 C/A is Binary Phase-Shift Keying (BPSK).
The modulation of the carrier is shown in Figure 3. At the top, there is the unmodulated carrier wave. The middle part represents the generated chip signal, and the bottom shows the modulated carrier which results from modulating the carrier with the generated chip signal.
Figure 4 illustrates how the L1 signal sent by a satellite is generated and shows the data rate of its three main components. As already mentioned, these are the message at 50 bps shown at the top of Figure 4, the chip sequence at 1.023 MHz shown in the middle and the L1 carrier at 1575.42 MHz shown at the bottom. All of these components are combined in the L1 signal. The satellite broadcasts the resulting modulated carrier.
All satellites broadcasting the L1 C/A signal are using the same carrier and are therefore broadcasting on the same frequency, obscuring the signal among the other satellite signals. To recover each satellite signal individually, GPS uses CDMA which is a process using chip sequences known as "Gold Codes". The chip sequences are orthogonal to each other, which means that the dot product of two different Gold Codes is 0 (or close to), i.e., two different Gold Codes are perpendicular vectors. At the moment, there are 32 GPS satellites in the constellation, and each is assigned a unique and distinct Gold Code to be used for the L1 C/A signal.
The advantage of using CDMA in a DSSS environment is that, when receiving multiple signals of GPS satellites, the receiver will be able to use the dot product to extract the specific signal of each satellite from the "summed" signals that it receives. By testing all the 32 Gold Codes on the received "summed" signal a receiver can decode/extract the message sent by the satellite. The Gold Code having a dot product significantly not zero with the received signal is the one used by the satellite to send the signal.
Figure 5 is an illustration of CDMA in a DSSS environment. In this environment, different satellites 20 are broadcasting L1 C/A signals 21. These signals are generated by associating a Gold Code / chip sequence, unique per satellite (for example U1 or U2), with the message to be sent by the satellite (for example Msg1 or Msg2 in Figure 5), and then by modulating a carrier C with the result. The receiver 22 may be the electronic device as disclosed herein, for example the aerosol-generating device 2 or the companion device 3.
In order to extract each of the messages sent by the satellites, the receiver 22 synchronizes a local carrier to the incoming summed signal, and then uses the Gold Codes to extract the message of each satellite from the received signal. In Figure 5, the receiver 22 extracts Msg1 by using the Gold Code U1.
Figure 6 also illustrates the overall process of CDMA in a DSSS environment from the generation of a message by a satellite down to the GPS time acquisition by a receiver included in an electronic device according to the present disclosure.
To receive a satellite GPS legacy signal (L1 C/A), and to extract from it a satellite time information or satellite time value ("GPS time"), the electronic device may acquire a L1 signal by searching for a carrier wave around the expected frequency of 1575.42 MHz. The receiver, knowing the carrier frequency used by the satellites, may generate a similar carrier and then synchronize and multiply this carrier to the signal it is receiving. This multiplication results in a series of high values (when the generated carrier and the signal are both high) and low values (when the generated carrier and the signal are off phase, revealing a phase opposition between both, indicating a BPSK modulation). This series of values may be denoted as "multiplied carriers".
The receiver then tries to find at least one Gold Code / chip sequence in the multiplied carriers. To do so, the receiver samples the internally generated series of high and low values (multiplied carriers) and correlates it with locally generated chip sequences (the receiver knows the 32 chip sequences/Gold Codes used by the GPS satellites), using the chip rate of 1.023 MHz.
The receiver tests each of the Gold Codes and accounts for shifted values. When the receiver identifies at least one Gold Code / chip sequence (and phase) that produces a high correlation value, indicating a correct alignment of the chip sequence, the receiver may then extract the corresponding message from the satellite signal.
This decoding process is illustrated in Figure 7. Once a chip sequence U as shown in the middle of Figure 7 has been identified (high correlation), the receiver can decode the incoming signal and retrieve the message sent by the satellite using this chip sequence U. This demodulation process is essentially the reverse of the modulation process illustrated in Figure 2. The signal resulting from the local carrier and the incoming signal (the multiplied carriers as shown at the top of Figure 7) is multiplied by the Gold Code / chip sequence U having a high correlation value, and the result is the message sent by the satellite using the chip sequence U, as shown at the bottom of Figure 7.
Through the above process, the electronic device may determine a satellite time value from the satellite signal, particularly from the HOW of one single satellite signal. This satellite time value may be employed in the method according to the present disclosure.
Figure 8 shows a flowchart of the method 23 according to the present disclosure. The method 23 may be performed by an electronic device, for example one of the electronic devices shown in Figure 1. The method 23 may begin in step 24 with receiving a satellite signal from a GNSS satellite, for example a GPS satellite. As explained above, the satellite signal may comprise a satellite time value, for example in words three to ten of the first subframe of a frame of a GPS L1 C/A signal or in the HOW of each subframe. Thus, the method may continue in step 25 with determining the satellite time value from the satellite signal previously received in step 24. How the satellite time value may be decoded from the satellite signal has been outlined above in detail. To determine the satellite time value, only one single satellite signal is necessary. It may therefore be unnecessary to decode more than one satellite signal using more than one Gold Code, even if more than one signal is received. Whenever one satellite signal and the corresponding Gold Code has been identified, the satellite time value may be determined. Decoding more than one satellite signal may therefore be omitted. After the satellite time value has been determined in step 25, method 23 may continue in step 26 with selectively adjusting or verifying the device time value. This may be achieved either by comparing the device time value with the satellite time value or by adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value or by a combination of the two. Either way, step 26 results in a verified or adjusted device time value, which is either accurate or deviates from the actual time (for example given by the satellite time value) within acceptable limits.
Further optional features of the method 23 are shown in the boxes with dashed lines in Figure 8. For instance, method 23 may comprise step 30 of collecting data relating to at least one usage parameter or operational parameter of the electronic device and timestamping the collected data using the device time value. The usage parameter or operational parameter may be any parameter indicating information about operations of the device and/or usage patterns and/or habits of the user when using the electronic device. For example, the parameter may be one of or a combination of the parameters mentioned herein. The timestamping may be performed after step 26 and may be performed using the verified or adjusted device time value. In this way, method 23 ensures accurate timestamping of the collected data, thereby increasing the usefulness and value of the collected data, any analysis based on the collected data, and any adjustment of the control of the electronic device based on the collected data.
Additionally or alternatively, method 23 may comprise step 31 of adjusting or altering functions of the electronic device in dependence of the device time value. A function of the electronic device may be adjusted using the device time value. Additionally or alternatively, a function of the electronic device may be activated based on the device time value, for example a timed function. For example, functions of the electronic device may be differently controlled and/or activated during different times of day according to the device time value, for instance the verified device time value. In this way, for example, a heating element 7 of an aerosol-generating device 2 may, for example, be controlled to reach different temperatures or maximum temperatures depending on the time of day. A user may therefore be provided with shorter or more prolonged usage sessions at different times of day, for example early in the morning or in the evening. Another example may be an adjustment of the charging speed of the energy storage 15 of the electronic device. The charging speed may be adjusted to be as fast as possible during times of day at which another usage session is to be expected soon. On the other hand, the charging speed may be adjusted to be slow and less detrimental to energy storage 15 health when no usage session is to be expected for a substantial amount of time, for example at night. Other functions of the electronic device may also be altered or adjusted in this way.
In principle, method 23 may simply be performed repeatedly or periodically, for example after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the last time the method 23 was performed. Alternatively or in addition, method 23 may comprise step 29, in which a trigger condition or event for activating the method 23 may be detected. Specifically, step 29 may comprise comparing the current device time value with the latest historical timestamp made using the device time value. The latest historical timestamp may be a timestamp on any collected data or collected data point having the greatest value. The greatest value in this case may mean that the timestamp comprises the most advanced date and time of day of all available timestamps. Assuming that the device time value or verified or adjusted device time value used to create this timestamp was sufficiently accurate, if the result of the comparison is that the current device time value is smaller or less advanced than the historical timestamp, this means that for some reason, the device time value has been reset to a point in the past, for example an original starting point or zero point. This may happen in cases in which the electronic device loses all power or in cases in which the electronic device is reset to factory settings. Of course, this result also indicates that the device time value is inaccurate or wrong and may therefore indicate that performance of the method 23 is necessary to adjust the device time value. Therefore, this result of the comparison may be used as a trigger condition or event for activating the method 23, even at times when a periodic performance of the method 23 was not yet due. In this way, method 23 ensures the device time value to be accurate and verified in event of total power loss, factory reset or other faulty conditions which may lead to a reset of the timekeeping device 32 of the electronic device. Another triggering event may be a user input. In this way, a user may manually start the method 23 by directly or indirectly inputting a command to the electronic device.
To increase the accuracy of the satellite time value used in the method 23, and particularly in step 26 of verifying the device time value, the method 23 may comprise step 27 of modifying the satellite time value. Step 27 may be performed before step 26. Step 26 may then be performed using the modified satellite time value resulting from step 27. For example, the satellite time value comprised in the satellite signal may pertain to a point of time lying in the future of the moment in which the satellite time value is broadcast in the satellite signal. As a specific example, the HOW comprised in each subframe of each frame of the GPS signal includes a satellite time value which indicates the time at which the next subframe will be broadcast. At the moment that the HOW is broadcast, the time value in the HOW therefore points to a time point 6 seconds in the future. Therefore, when the satellite time value is determined from the HOW, these 6 seconds, representing the time value corresponding to a period of the satellite signal or the broadcast of the satellite time value in the satellite signal, may be subtracted from the satellite time value determined from the HOW. As another example, the satellite time value may be modified by adding a time value which elapses during the determination of the satellite time value from the satellite signal. The part of the satellite signal comprising the satellite time value needs to be fully received by the electronic device to be able to determine the satellite time value. This delay therefore may be added to the received time value. Again using the example of GPS, 60 bits need to be received to determine the satellite time value from the HOW. As the GPS signal is broadcast at 50 bps, this means 1.2 seconds may be added to the satellite time value to compensate. Furthermore, the satellite time value may not conform to UTC. For example, the satellite time value may not consider leap seconds, as is the case with GPS. Therefore, modifying the satellite time value may also comprise compensating for leap seconds. For example, the time value corresponding to the current number of leap seconds may be subtracted from the satellite time value. How many leap seconds there are may be, for example, retrieved from an online resource through the internet.
Further, method 23 may comprise step 28 of determining a difference between the device time value and the satellite time value, for example the modified satellite time value resulting from step 27. The resulting difference may then be compared to a predetermined threshold. Step 26 of selectively adjusting or verifying the device time value, particularly adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value, may then be performed when it is determined that the difference between the device time value and the satellite time value is greater than the predetermined threshold. In other words, the device time value may only be corrected when its inaccuracy in comparison to the satellite time value has reached or exceeded a value represented by the threshold.
All in all, the present disclosure offers quick acquisition, reliability, low electronics complexity and a dense, worldwide coverage for ensuring the device time value of an electronic device to have a desired accuracy.
For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 10% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

An electronic device, comprising
a controller and/or a processor,

a timekeeping device, wherein the timekeeping device may be a real-time clock, RTC, and

a GNSS receiver,

wherein the electronic device is an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy,

wherein the electronic device is configured to:
receive a satellite signal from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, satellite;

determine a satellite time value from the satellite signal; and

selectively adjust the device time value using the satellite time value.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
selectively adjusting the device time value comprises comparing the device time value with the satellite time value and/or adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
collect data relating to at least one operational parameter of the electronic device; and timestamping the collected data using the device time value.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
adjust a function of the electronic device using the device time value.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the electronic device is configured to
determine the satellite time value exclusively from one single satellite signal.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein
the GNSS receiver is a global positioning system, GPS, receiver, the GNSS satellite is a GPS satellite and the satellite signal is a GPS legacy signal L1 C/A.
The electronic device according to the previous claim, wherein
the GPS legacy signal L1 C/A comprises a plurality of frames, wherein each frame comprises a plurality of subframes,

and wherein the electronic device is configured to determine the satellite time value from a handover word, HOW, of any subframe of the satellite signal.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
modify the satellite time value before selectively adjusting the device time value, wherein modifying the satellite time value may comprise

subtracting a time value corresponding to a period of the satellite signal from the satellite time value, and/or

adding a length of time elapsing during determining the satellite time value from the satellite signal to the satellite time value, and/or

subtracting a time value corresponding to a number of leap seconds differentiating GPS time from Coordinated Universal Time, UTC, from the satellite time value.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
recurrently perform receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite, determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value after a predefined period of time has elapsed.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
detect a triggering event, wherein detection of the triggering event triggers receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite, determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the electronic device is further configured to
determine whether a current device time value is smaller than a latest historical timestamp that uses the device time value,

wherein receiving the satellite signal from the GNSS satellite and determining the satellite time value and selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value is performed in response to the determination that the current device time value is smaller than the latest historical timestamp.
The electronic device according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising
an aerosol-generating article or substrate, preferably wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate or article.
A computer-implemented method of selectively adjusting a device time value of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, comprising:
receiving a satellite signal from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, satellite;

determining a satellite time value from the satellite signal; and

selectively adjusting the device time value using the satellite time value.
A computer program, which when executed by processing circuitry of an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, causes the aerosol-generating device or the companion device to perform the steps of the method according to the previous claim.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to the previous claim.