WO2018077703A1

WO2018077703A1 - Device for improving aerosol-generating article environmental conditions

Info

Publication number: WO2018077703A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/076646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Poh Yoke TRITZ; David PITTON
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2016-10-25
Filing date: 2017-10-18
Publication date: 2018-05-03

Abstract

A computer system (8) for providing aerosol-generating article information to improve aerosol-generating article environmental conditions. The computer system (8) comprises: a computer device (10) comprising: a locator (16,18) for providing a location of the computer device (10); a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information; and a server computer system (24) comprising a computer data store of environmental conditions at different locations separate from the computer device (10). The computer system (8) is configured to: use the location of the computer device (10) provided from the locator (16,18) to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device (10) at the location from the remote server computer system; and provide to the computer device (10) aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the obtained environmental conditions.

Description

DEVICE FOR IMPROVING AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The present invention relates to a device for improving aerosol-generating article environmental conditions.

There are various types of smoking articles including some smoking articles in which smoking material is combusted and other non-combustion smoking articles in which no combustion occurs. As an example of a combustion smoking article, filter cigarettes typically comprise a rod of tobacco cut filler surrounded by a paper wrapper and a mouthpiece axially aligned in an abutting end-to-end relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod. The mouthpiece typically comprises a segment of filtration material circumscribed by a paper plug wrap. Smoking articles having a cavity at the mouth end of their mouthpiece section have also been proposed. Conventionally, the wrapped tobacco rod and the mouthpiece are joined by a band of tipping wrapper, normally formed of a paper material that circumscribes the entire length of the mouthpiece and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod. A filter cigarette is employed by a consumer by lighting the tobacco rod end thereof to burn the shredded tobacco rod. The consumer receives mainstream smoke by drawing on the mouth end of the cigarette.

A number of smoking articles in which tobacco is heated rather than combusted have also been proposed in the art. In heated smoking articles, an aerosol is generated by heating an aerosol generating substrate, such as tobacco. Known heated smoking articles include, for example, smoking articles in which an aerosol is generated by electrical heating or by the transfer of heat from a combustible fuel element or heat source to an aerosol forming substrate. During smoking, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol forming substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and entrained in air drawn through the smoking article. As the released compounds cool they condense to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the consumer. Also known are smoking articles in which a nicotine-containing aerosol is generated from a tobacco material, tobacco extract or other nicotine source, without combustion and in some cases without heating, for example through a chemical reaction.

A number of prior art documents disclose aerosol-generating devices for consuming or smoking heated aerosol-generating articles. Such devices include, for example, electrically heated aerosol-generating devices in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from one or more electrical heating elements of the aerosol-generating device to the aerosol- forming substrate of a heated aerosol-generating article. One advantage of such electrical smoking systems is that they significantly reduce sidestream smoke, while permitting a user to selectively suspend and reinitiate smoking. An example of an aerosol-generating article, in the form of an electrically heated cigarette, for use in electrically operated aerosol-generating system is disclosed in US 2005/0172976 A1. The aerosol-generating article is constructed to be inserted into a cigarette receiver of an aerosol-generating device of the aerosol-generating system. The aerosol-generating device includes a power source that supplies energy to a heater fixture including a plurality of electrically resistive heating elements, which are arranged to slidingly receive the aerosol- generating article such that the heating elements are positioned alongside the aerosol- generating article.

The system disclosed in US 2005/0172976 A1 utilizes an aerosol-generating device comprising a plurality of external heating elements. Aerosol-generating devices with internal heating elements are also known. In use, the internal heating elements of such aerosol- generating devices are inserted into the aerosol-forming substrate of a heated aerosol- generating article such that the internal heating elements are in direct contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.

Direct contact between an internal heating element of an aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article can provide an efficient means for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form an inhalable aerosol. In such a configuration, heat from the internal heating element may be conveyed almost instantaneously to at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate when the internal heating element is actuated, and this may facilitate the rapid generation of an aerosol. Furthermore, the overall heating energy required to generate an aerosol may be lower than would be the case in an aerosol-generating system comprising an external heater element where the aerosol-forming substrate does not directly contact the external heating element and initial heating of the aerosol-forming substrate occurs primarily by convection or radiation. Where an internal heating element of an aerosol-generating device is in direct contact with an aerosol-forming substrate, initial heating of portions of the aerosol-forming substrate that are in direct contact with the internal heating element will be effected primarily by conduction.

A system involving an aerosol-generating device having an internal heating element is disclosed in WO2013102614. In this system a heating element is brought into contact with an aerosol-forming substrate, the heating element undergoes a thermal cycle during which it is heated and then cooled.

Prior art aerosol-delivery systems are known, which comprise an aerosol-forming substrate and an inductive heating device. The inductive heating device comprises an induction source, which produces an alternating electromagnetic field that induces a heat generating eddy current in a susceptor material. The susceptor material is in thermal proximity of the aerosol-forming substrate. The heated susceptor material in turn heats the aerosol-forming substrate which comprises a material which is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. An example of this type of system is disclosed in WO 95/2741 1. A number of embodiments for aerosol-forming substrates have been described in the art which are provided with diverse configurations for the susceptor material in order to ascertain an adequate heating of the aerosol-forming substrate. Thus, an operating temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is strived for at which the release of volatile compounds that can form an aerosol is satisfactory.

It is known to package aerosol-generating articles in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. Elongate aerosol-generating articles, such as cigarettes, heat sticks and cigars, are commonly sold in hinge-lid packs having a box for housing the aerosol-generating articles and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. The hinge-lid pack may also comprise an inner frame secured to an inner surface of the box, the inner frame having front and side walls against which the lid closes. Such packs are typically constructed from laminar cardboard blanks. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack and so gain access to the aerosol-generating articles held in the box. These packs may include identifiers common to a plurality of packs such as a brand name or logo as well unique identifiers unique to each pack such as a machine-readable label, for example, a one or two dimensional bar code such as a QR code. These packs may include an identifier that uses electromagnetic fields to identify a pack such as a near field communication (NFC) device or radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. These types of device may be used to provide an identifier common to a plurality of packs or an identifier unique to the pack.

Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, heat sticks and cigars, are best enjoyed by consumers in particular environmental conditions such as at a particular temperature range and humidity range which may be dependent on a consumer's preferences. For example, if the air is too dry, moisture is drawn from the tobacco rod or tobacco material and the paper wrapper of a combustion smoking article, such as a cigarette or cigar, or from the tobacco rod or tobacco material and the paper wrapper of a heated smoking article, such as a heat stick. This drier paper wrapper, tobacco rod, tobacco material or tobacco may have an impaired flavour for at least some consumers when the smoking article is consumed compared to a moister paper wrapper, tobacco rod, tobacco material or tobacco in more humid environmental conditions. If the air is too hot, the tobacco rod, tobacco material or tobacco may lose its flavour faster than in cooler conditions. The flavour may only be impaired very slightly, but consumers are discerning and can notice even the slightest differences in flavour. Different consumers may prefer slightly different flavours that result at different environmental conditions. Different smoking articles may be differently affected by different environmental conditions. It would be desirable to provide aerosol-generating articles for example smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and heat sticks that are provided at or recently stored or located in beneficial environmental conditions.

The inventors of the present patent application have appreciated that it would be desirable to provide a consumer with aerosol-generating article information dependent on environmental conditions obtained at the location of the consumer of the aerosol-generating article. In this way, the consumer can readily take action to improve the environmental conditions, such as temperature or humidity, of the smoking article they intend to smoke, for example, by putting the smoking article in a refrigerator.

Consumers typically have a computer device, such as a mobile device, smart phone, phone, laptop computer, tablet computer, wearable computer device or desktop computer on their person or nearby and in the same environmental conditions of a smoking article they intend to smoke. However, these computer devices do not typically have a sensor or sensors for measuring environmental conditions, such as a humidity or a temperature sensor.

The inventors of the present patent application have appreciated that it would be desirable to provide environmental condition information, such as humidity and temperature, to a computer device that does not have at least one environmental condition sensor, such as a humidity or temperature sensor. A technical solution to this technical problem is disclosed herein in the form of a computer system that can conveniently and quickly provide such information. The computer system described herein addresses the technical or technological problem particular to implementation on a computer that is specific to this technological environment.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention take the form of a computer system for providing aerosol-generating article information. The computer system comprises a computer device, such a smart phone; a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information; and an electrical device separate from the computer device, such as a computer server system, a thermostat or an air conditioning controller comprising information on at least one environmental condition. The computer system is configured to use the information on at least one environmental condition to provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition. In more detail, embodiments of the present invention take the form of a computer system including a plurality of computers on a network. These computers include a computer device such as a mobile computer, tablet, smart phone or wearable computer that is located near a consumer or on a consumer's person so that the environmental conditions of the computer device can be assumed to be the same or very similar to that of an aerosol generating article to be consumed by the consumer. The computer device includes a sensor for sensing an indication of an aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating article container, and a locator for providing a location of the computer device. One or more of the computers on the network include a computer data store of aerosol-generating article recognition information. One or more of the computers on the network include a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information. One or more of the computers on the network takes the form of a server computer system. The server computer system is physically separate, in a different location or remote from the computer device such as in the Cloud. The server computer system comprises a computer data store of environmental conditions at different locations. The computer system is configured to use the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from the remote server computer system; and provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store. This is dependent on the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol-generating article recognition information as well as the obtained environmental conditions.

The arrangements described provide a technical solution to the technical problem of readily providing a consumer with aerosol-generating article information dependent on environmental conditions obtained at the location of the consumer of the aerosol-generating article even when environmental condition sensors are not available near to the consumer. The aerosol-generating article information may be provided to improve aerosol-generating article environmental conditions.

In one aspect there is provided a computer system for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer system comprising: a computer device comprising: a locator for providing a location of the computer device; a computer data store of aerosol- generating article information; and a server computer system comprising a computer data store of environmental conditions at different locations separate from the computer device; wherein the computer system is configured to: use the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from the remote server computer system; and provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the obtained environmental conditions.

This provides a technical solution to the technical problem of readily providing a consumer with aerosol-generating article information dependent on environmental conditions obtained at the location of the consumer of the aerosol-generating article even when environmental condition sensors are not available near to the consumer. In this way, aerosol- generating article environmental conditions can be improved. The technical solution is computationally efficient. The bandwidth requirements are low and therefore the system can successfully operate even when the bandwidth available for the computer device to communicate is low. The computer device is configured to provide an input for a user to enter data in relation to the user's environment; wherein the aerosol-generating article information provided to the computer device is dependent on the entered data in relation to the user's environment.

This provides a technical solution to the technical problem of how to take into account a user's specific environment such as a whether the user is inside or outside and whether their environment is heated or cooled, such as air conditioned.

The locator may provide location from one or more of: a satellite navigation receiver such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a cell tower location system, a wireless local area network system such as WiFi (registered trade mark), a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth (registered trade mark) beacon, or user input. As a result, advantageously, location may be reliably provided to the computer device.

The computer data store of aerosol-generating article information may be located in memory of the computer device and/or located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device. If aerosol-generating article information is located in memory of the computer device, such information can be quickly provided. If aerosol-generating article information is located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device, advantageously, memory requirements of the computer device are low and the information may readily be kept up-to-date. By having both aerosol-generating article information located in memory of the computer device and located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device, advantageously, information may be provided quickly and the information can also be readily updated.

The computer device may communicate with the or each server computer system using an application layer protocol, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The computer device may communicates with the or each server computer system using data formatted into one of the following formats: XML, JSON or RESTful. Advantageously, such arrangements are easy to implement and there is good compatibility for different computer devices. Advantageously, XML or Extensible Markup Language defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both readable by humans and by machines or computers. It is a markup language. JSON or JavaScript Object Notation is advantageously a language-independent data format that uses human-readable text. RESTful systems (REST is representational state transfer) typically use the same human-readable HTTP verbs that web browsers use.

The sensor may be for reading a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code. The sensor may be for radio frequency communications such as for sensing RFID tags or near field communication (NFC). The computer system may further comprise a computer data store of aerosol- generating article recognition information and the computer system may be further configured to: provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store dependent on: the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol-generating article recognition information, and the obtained environmental conditions. The computer data store may be provided on the computer device or on electronic storage separate from the computer device such as on a server computer system. If aerosol-generating article recognition information is located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device, advantageously, memory requirements of the computer device are low and the information may readily be kept up-to-date. By having both aerosol-generating article recognition information located in memory of the computer device and located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device, advantageously, information may be provided quickly and the information can also be readily updated.

The environmental conditions may comprise at least one of: temperature and humidity.

The computer device may not have at least one of: a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor.

The aerosol-generating article information may comprise information on environmental parameters that are desirable for the recognised aerosol-generating article.

The computer device may be configured to provide an indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions are met based on the obtained environmental conditions and on the aerosol-generating article information. The indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions are met may comprise a message being displayed on a display of the computer device or a human audible indication from the computer device.

The computer device may comprise a portable computer, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or a wearable computer, such as a smart watch or in the form of a spectacle frame. Advantageously, these types of device are commonly near or on a consumer's person.

The computer data store of environmental conditions may be part of a weather web server.

In one aspect there is provided a computer system for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer system comprising: a computer device; a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information; and an electrical device separate from the computer device comprising information on at least one environmental condition; wherein the computer system is configured to: use the information on at least one environmental condition to provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition; wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises at least one of: temperature and humidity.

This provides a technical solution to the technical problem of readily providing a consumer with aerosol-generating article information dependent on environmental conditions comprising at least one of: temperature and humidity obtained at the location of the consumer of the aerosol-generating article even when corresponding environmental condition sensors for temperature or humidity are not available near to the consumer. In this way, aerosol- generating article environmental conditions such as in the form of temperature and/or humidity can be improved. Humidity or moisture is considered the most important because there is direct correlation between humidity or moisture and the performance of an aerosol- generating article. A very low moisture can create a harsh, dry taste. A high moisture can lead to poor or non-performance of an aerosol-generating article, for example, a carbon heat source may not work. The technical solution provided is computationally efficient. The bandwidth requirements are low and therefore the system can successfully operate even when the bandwidth available for the computer device to communicate is low.

In one aspect there is provided a computer device for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer device comprises a locator for providing a location of the computer device; the computer device is configured to: use the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from a remote server computer system; and provide aerosol-generating article information dependent on the obtained environmental conditions.

The locator may provide the location from one or more of: a satellite navigation receiver such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a cell tower location system, a wireless local area network system such as WiFi (registered trade mark), a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth (registered trade mark) beacon, or user input.

A computer data store of aerosol-generating article information may be located in memory of the computer device and/or located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device to be provided on requested by the computer device.

The computer device may communicate with the or each server computer system using an application layer protocol, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

The computer device may communicate with the or each server computer system using data formatted into one of the following formats: XML, JSON or RESTful.

The computer device may comprise a sensor for sensing an indication of an

aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating article container; the sensor may be for reading a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code, or for radio frequency communications such as for sensing RFID tags or near field communication (NFC). The computer device may comprise a computer data store of aerosol-generating article recognition information.

The computer device may be provided with computer device aerosol-generating article information from a remote computer data store on request or the computer data store of the computer device dependent on: the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol-generating article recognition information, and the obtained environmental conditions.

The computer device may be configured to provide an indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions are met based on the obtained environmental conditions and on the aerosol-generating article information.

The indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions are met may comprise a message being displayed on a display of the computer device or a human audible indication from the computer device.

The computer device may comprise a portable computer, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or a wearable computer, such as a smart watch or in the form of a spectacle frame.

In one aspect there is provided a computer device for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer device comprises a locator for providing a location of the computer device; the computer device is configured to: use the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from a remote server computer system; and provide aerosol-generating article information dependent on the obtained environmental conditions; wherein the environmental conditions comprise at least one of: temperature and humidity.

In one aspect there is provided a computerized method for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computerized method comprising: a locator of a computer device providing a location of the computer device; using the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from a remote server computer system; and providing to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the obtained environmental conditions. The locator may provide the location from one or more of: a satellite navigation receiver such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a cell tower location system, a wireless local area network system such as WiFi (registered trade mark), a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth (registered trade mark) beacon, or user input.

The computer data store of aerosol-generating article information may be located in memory of the computer device and/or is located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device.

The computerized method may further comprise the computer device communicating with the or each server computer system using an application layer protocol, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

The computerized method may further comprise the computer device communicating with the or each server computer system using data formatted into one of the following formats: XML, JSON or RESTful.

The computerized method may further comprise the a sensor of the computer device sensing an indication of an aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating article container; such as by reading a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code, or communicating via radio frequency communications such as sensing RFID tags or near field communication (NFC).

The computerized method may further comprise the computer system providing to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on: the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol- generating article recognition information, and the obtained environmental conditions.

The environmental conditions may comprise at least one of: temperature and humidity. The computer device may not have at least one of: a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor.

The computerized method may further comprise the computer device providing an indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions are met based on the obtained environmental conditions and on the aerosol-generating article information.

The indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions are met may comprise a message being displayed on a display of the computer device or a human audible indication from the computer device

The computer device may comprise a portable computer, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or a wearable computer, such as a smart watch or in the form of a spectacle frame. The computer data store of environmental conditions may be part of a weather web server.

In one aspect there is provided a computerized method for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computerized method comprising: a locator of a computer device providing a location of the computer device; using the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from a remote server computer system; and providing to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the obtained environmental conditions; wherein the environmental conditions comprise at least one of: temperature and humidity.

In one aspect there is provided a computer system for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer system comprising: a computer device; a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information; and an electrical device separate from the computer device comprising information on at least one environmental condition; wherein the computer system is configured to: use the information on at least one environmental condition to provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition.

This provides a technical solution to the technical problem of readily providing a consumer with aerosol-generating article information dependent on environmental conditions obtained at the location of the consumer of the aerosol-generating article even when environmental condition sensors are not provided by a consumer or user's computer device, such as their smart phone. In this way, aerosol-generating article environmental conditions can be improved. The technical solution is computationally efficient. The bandwidth requirements are low and therefore the system can successfully operate even when the bandwidth available for the computer device to communicate is low.

The computer device may be configured to provide an input for a user to enter data in relation to the user's environment; wherein the aerosol-generating article information provided to the computer device is dependent on the entered data in relation to the user's environment.

The computer device may comprise a sensor for sensing an indication of an

aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating article container; the sensor may be for reading a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code, or for radio frequency communications such as for sensing RFID tags or near field communication (NFC).

The computer system may further comprise a computer data store of aerosol- generating article recognition information and the computer system may be further configured to: provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store dependent on: the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol- generating article recognition information, and the obtained at least one environmental condition.

The aerosol-generating article information may comprise information on at least one environmental parameter that are desirable for the recognised aerosol-generating article.

The computer device may be configured to provide an indication of whether the at least one environmental parameter that is desirable is met based on the obtained at least one environmental condition and on the aerosol-generating article information.

The indication of whether the desirable at least one environmental condition is met may comprise a message being displayed on a display of the computer device or a human audible indication from the computer device.

The at least one environmental condition may comprise at least one of: temperature and humidity.

The electrical device may comprise a computer data store of environmental conditions which may be on remote server computer system, such as part of a weather web server.

The computer device may communicate with the or each server computer system using an application layer protocol, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), and wherein the computer device may communicate with the or each server computer system using data formatted into one of the following formats: XML, JSON or RESTful.

The computer device may comprise a locator for providing a location of the computer device; wherein the computer system is configured to use the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain the information on the at least one environmental condition from the remote server computer system.

The locator may provide location from one or more of: a satellite navigation receiver such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a cell tower location system, a wireless local area network system such as WiFi (registered trade mark), a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth (registered trade mark) beacon, or user input.

In one aspect there is provided a computer device for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer device is configured to: use information on at least one environmental condition provided from a separate electrical device to provide aerosol- generating article information from a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition.

The computer device may comprise a sensor for sensing an indication of an aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating article container; the sensor may be for reading a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code, or for radio frequency communications such as for sensing RFID tags or near field communication (NFC).

The computer device mat be configured to receive aerosol-generating article information from a computer data store dependent on: the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol- generating article recognition information, and the obtained at least one environmental condition.

The computer device may not have at least one of: a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor. The computer device may comprise a portable computer, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or a wearable computer, such as a smart watch or in the form of a spectacle frame.

In one aspect there is provided a computer device for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer device is configured to: use information on at least one environmental condition provided from a separate electrical device to provide aerosol- generating article information from a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition; wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises at least one of: temperature and humidity.

In one aspect there is provided a computerized method for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computerized method carried out on a computer system comprising: a computer device; a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information; and an electrical device separate from the computer device; the computerized method comprising: providing information on at least one environmental condition from the electrical device to the computer device; and the computer system using the information on at least one environmental condition provided from the electrical device to provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol- generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition.

The computerized method may further comprise providing an input for a user to enter data in relation to the user's environment; and providing the aerosol-generating article information to the computer device dependent on the entered data in relation to the user's environment.

The computerized method may comprise a sensor sensing an indication of an aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating article container; for example, by reading a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code, or by using radio frequency communications such as by sensing RFID tags or near field communication (NFC).

The computerized method may further comprise the computer system providing to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store dependent on: the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol-generating article recognition information, and the obtained at least one environmental condition.

The computerized method may comprise the computer device to providing an indication of whether the at least one environmental parameter that is desirable is met based on the obtained at least one environmental condition and on the aerosol-generating article information.

The indication of whether the desirable at least one environmental condition is met may comprise displaying a message on a display of the computer device or providing a human audible indication from the computer device.

The computerized method may further comprise the computer device communicating with the or each server computer system using an application layer protocol, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), and the computer device may communicate with the or each server computer system using data formatted into one of the following formats: XML, JSON or RESTful.

The computerized method may further comprise a locator of the computer device providing a location of the computer device; and the computer system using the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain the information on the at least one environmental condition from the remote server computer system.

The computerized method may further comprise the locator providing location from one or more of: a satellite navigation receiver such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a cell tower location system, a wireless local area network system such as WiFi (registered trade mark), a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth (registered trade mark) beacon, or user input.

In one aspect there is provided a computerized method for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computerized method carried out on a computer system comprising: a computer device; a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information; and an electrical device separate from the computer device; the computerized method comprising: providing information on at least one environmental condition from the electrical device to the computer device; and the computer system using the information on at least one environmental condition provided from the electrical device to provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol- generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition;

wherein the at least one environmental condition may comprise at least one of:

temperature and humidity.

A computer program for controlling the computerized methods described above may be provided. A computer program product containing a set of instructions that causes a computer device to control the computerized method may be provided. The computer program product may comprise a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions being configured, when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to carry out the

computerized method as described above. The computer program product may be a CD- ROM, DVD-ROM, hard-disk drive or solid-state memory, such as a flash drive or USB memory stick.

Aerosol-generating article information is, for example, data or information on environmental parameters or conditions, such as temperature and humidity, that are desirable for an aerosol-generating article, such as a combustion smoking article, for example, a cigarette or cigar, or non-combustion smoking article, for example a heat stick, to be consumed in.

Aerosol-generating article recognition information is, for example, information or data that allows an aerosol-generating article, such as a combustion smoking article, for example, a cigarette or cigar, or non-combustion smoking article, for example a heat stick, to be recognised. Aerosol-generating article recognition information is, for example, a mapping between retrieved information or data and a specific aerosol-generating article or a type of aerosol-generating article. The retrieved information or data may be, for example, related to the container or pack of an aerosol-generating article. The container or pack may include identifiers common to a plurality of packs such as a brand name or logo as well unique identifiers unique to each pack such as a machine-readable label, for example, a one or two dimensional bar code such as a QR code. These packs may include an identifier that uses electromagnetic fields to identify a pack such as a near field

communication (NFC) device or radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. These types of device may be used to provide an identifier common to a plurality of packs or an identifier unique to the pack.

A computer data store is, for example, a store or memory. It includes computer components and one or more recording media that retain or hold digital data or information. This may include, for example, semiconductor storage or memory such as read-write random-access memory (RAM) or a hard disk drive or optical disc drive, such as a CD- ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive and appropriate discs.

An electrical device or electrical equipment may be, for example, a server computer system, a thermostat, such as a smart thermostat that can communicate over WiFi, or an air conditioning controller, such as a smart air conditioning controller that can communicate over WiFi.

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

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a computer system for providing aerosol- generating article information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the method carried out by the computer system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a computer system for providing aerosol- generating article information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the method carried out by the computer system of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a computer system for providing aerosol- generating article information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the method carried out by the computer system of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a computer system for providing aerosol- generating article information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the method carried out by the computer system of Figure 1 ; and Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of a computer device forming part of a computer system for providing aerosol-generating article information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates an example computer system 8 for providing aerosol-generating article information to a computer device of the computer system. A consumer can use this information to improve aerosol-generating article or smoking article environmental conditions. The computer system 8 of Figure 1 includes a computer device 10. In this example, the computer device is a portable computer in the form of a smart phone. The computer device houses a sensor for sensing an indication of an aerosol-generating article container or smoking article in the form of an NFC reader (not shown) for reading data from an NFC tag attached to an elongate aerosol-generating article container or smoking article container 14. The computer device is a so-called NFC-enabled device. The computer device 14 also includes a locator for providing a location of the computer device. In this example, the computer device has a plurality (two) locators. One locator takes the form of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver 16 that receives signals from a plurality of satellites to determine the precise position or location of the GPS receiver and thus the computer device. The other locator takes the form of a wireless local area network (WLAN) receiver 18 in this example a WiFi (registered trade mark) receiver. This receiver receives signals from nearby wireless access points or WiFi hotspots, which are used by the computer device as part of a WiFi positioning system (WPS) to determine the precise position or location of the WiFi receiver and thus the computer device. The WPS is used when the GPS is inadequate, such as there is a signal blockage because the computer device is indoors. The computer device includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 12 and a loudspeaker (not shown). The LCD provides or displays aerosol-generating article information. The computer device also provides an indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions for consuming an aerosol-generating article are met. This may be by displaying an appropriate message on the LCD of the computer device or by providing a human audible indication from the loudspeaker of the computer device, such as a beep or pre-recorded spoken words.

In this example, as mentioned above, the computer device 10 is a smart phone. As is normal for a smart phone, it does not have a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor.

The computer device 10 includes memory, in particular solid state memory, and a processor (both not shown). Appropriate software in the form of an application or app is stored in the memory.

The computer system 8 includes a computer data store of aerosol-generating article recognition information in the form of a product database server 20. This server has a store or electronic storage in the form of a hard disk drive (not shown) that includes a relationship, typically in the form of a table, between data received from an NFC tag attached to an elongate aerosol-generating article container 14 and a type of elongate aerosol-generating article container, such as the brand or type of elongate aerosol-generating article in the container.

The computer system 8 includes a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information in the form of a product information database server 22. This server has a store or electronic storage in the form of a hard disk drive (not shown) that includes a relationship, typically in the form of a table, between a type of elongate aerosol-generating article container, such as the brand or type of elongate aerosol-generating article in the container and information on environmental conditions in which it can be best consumed, such as temperature and humidity.

The computer system 8 includes a server computer system in the form of a weather database server 24 or weather web server that includes a computer data store or electronic storage in the form of a hard disk drive of environmental conditions at different locations. The environmental conditions include, for example, the air temperature and humidity at different locations. The locations may be quite broad such as covering a 1 km to 100km radius or quite narrow such as covering a 10m to 100m radius. The locations may be defined by a place such as a particular village, town or city. Significantly, the weather database server is separate from the computer device. It is at another physical location, which may be in a different city or even a different country to the computer device 10.

The computer device 10, product database server 20, product information database server 22 and weather database server 24 are each one of a plurality of computers on a network, in this example, the Internet. The computer device communicates over the network to the product database server 20 and the weather database server 24 using an application layer protocol, in this example, hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). In this example, data is formatted in the JSON format. However, data may be formatted in other formats such as XML or RESTful.

Broadly, in use, the computer system 8 is configured to use the location of the computer device 10 provided from the locator 16,18 to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from the remote server computer system or weather database server 24 and, provide to the computer device, aerosol-generating article information from the store or product information database server 22 dependent on the aerosol-generating article container 14 sensed by the sensor of the computer device and recognised by the aerosol-generating article recognition information and the obtained environmental conditions.

A flow chart 50 in Figure 2 illustrates the computer system 8 of Figure 1 in use. First, as illustrated at step 52, an indication of the smoking article container 14 is sensed or detected by the NFC reader of the computer device or smart phone 10 being placed near an NFC tag of the smoking article container 14. The contents of the NFC tag are read off it by the NFC reader of the smart phone and processed by the processor of the smart phone under the control of the app stored in the memory. These contents include an indication of the smoking article container such as the brand or type. The indication of the smoking article container is then stored in the memory of the smart phone (step 54). The indication of the smoking article container is formatted into JSON format by the app and then transmitted using HTTP to the first external server or product database server (step 56). The product database server then processes the data received from the NFC tag using data stored in its hard disk drive to determine the relationship between the data received from the NFC tag attached to the smoking article container and the type of smoking article container (step 58). Thus, the type of smoking article that can be expected to be found in the container is determined. The type of smoking article is represented in JSON format. The identity of the expected type of smoking article is then transmitted in JSON format using HTTP over the network to the third external server or product information database server (step 60).

The NFC reader of the smart phone reading off the NFC tag (step 52) triggers the smart phone to also ascertain or determine the location of the smart phone either using GPS or WPS (step 62) as described above. The location of the smart phone is then stored in the memory of the smart phone (step 64). An indication of the location of the smart phone is formatted into JSON format by the app and then transmitted using HTTP to the second external server or weather database server (step 66). The weather database server then processes the location of the smart phone (that acts as a proxy for the location of the consumer of the smoking article and the smoking article) using data stored in its hard disk drive to determine the environmental conditions or parameters at the location (step 68). In this example, the environmental conditions include the temperature and humidity. An indication of the environmental conditions formatted into JSON format by the weather database server is then transmitted using HTTP over the network to the third external server or product information database server (step 70).

As illustrated at step 72 of Figure 2, the product information database server then determines smoking article information dependent on the identified smoking article container and the local environmental conditions or parameters. The smoking article information may be, for example, information on environmental parameters that are desirable for the recognised smoking article or a suggested action to take or products to use to improve the consumer's experience of the smoking article or an indication of whether the desirable environmental conditions are met. This may take the form of, for example, that the temperature is too high and the humidity is too high at the location of the smoking article and it is recommended to put the smoking article in a refrigerator for a time period, such as 10 minutes, before consuming the smoking article. This may take the form of an indication that the smoking article is within a range of optimal temperature and humidity values for consumption by the consumer. The smoking article information is formatted into JSON format then transmitted using HTTP over the network to the smart phone (step 74). When the smart phone receives the smoking article information, the processor of the smart phone processes it so that the LCD of the smart phone displays the smoking article information (step 76).

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of a computer system 100 to the computer system 8 of Figures 1 and 2 and like features of the two embodiments have been given like reference numerals. In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, while the weather database server 24 is separate, at a different location or remote from the smart phone, the smart phone itself carries out the functions of the product database server 20 and product information database server 22 of the embodiment of Figure 1 . The data stored in the hard disk drives of the product database server and product information database server of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 is stored in the memory of the smart phone. The embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 has the technical advantage that small amounts of data need to be received by the smart phone and, as such, it is more reliable in areas where there is poor data reception. Significantly, environmental conditions data is obtained from the separate weather server. This is because the smart phone does not have its own environmental conditions sensors such as for measuring temperature and humidity and as environmental conditions are constantly changing it is more reliable to obtain this data from a constantly updated remote server rather than data stored on the smart phone that might be less frequently updated.

Referring to Figure 3, the computer system 100 is the same as the computer system

8 of Figure 1 except that in the embodiment of Figure 3, the computer data store of aerosol- generating article recognition information is formed by the memory of the smart phone rather than the separate product database server 20 of Figure 1 ; and the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information is also formed by the memory of the smart phone rather than the separate product information database server 22 of Figure 1 .

As illustrated in Figure 4, in this embodiment of the computer system 100, the type of smoking article that can be expected to be found in the container is determined by the processor of the smart phone processing the data received from the NFC tag using data stored in its memory to determine the relationship between the data received from the NFC tag attached to the smoking article container and the type of smoking article container (step 102). The local environmental conditions or parameters are transmitted over the network in JSON format directly from the separate weather database server to the smart phone (step 104). Similarly, as illustrated by step 106 of Figure 4, the processor of the smart phone determines the smoking article information dependent on the identified smoking article container and the local environmental conditions or parameters rather than the product information database server of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. This information is not formatted into JSON format as there is no transmission of it over the network. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a computer system 200 that is similar to the computer systems 8 and 100 of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 3 and 4 respectively and like features of the embodiments have been given like reference numerals. Like the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, in the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, while the weather database server 24 is separate, at a different location or remote from the smart phone, the smart phone itself carries out the functions of the product information database server 20. Like the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, a product database server 22 is provided and the functionality of this is not provided by the smart phone.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the local environmental parameters to the smart phone are transmitted in JSON format over the network using HTTP directly from the weather database server 24 to the smart phone 10 (step 202). As illustrated by step 204 of Figure 6, the processor of the smart phone determines the smoking article information dependent on: the identified smoking article container that is received from an external server in the form of the product database server 20 in JSON format over the network; and the local environmental conditions or parameters received from the weather database server in JSON format over the network using HTTP.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of a computer system 300 that is similar to the computer systems 8, 100 and 200 of Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4, and Figures 5 and 6 respectively and like features of the embodiments have been given like reference numerals. In the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8, while the weather database server 24 is separate, at a different location or remote from the smart phone, the smart phone itself carries out the functions of the product database server 20 and there is a remote or separate product information database server 22. A product database server is not provided and this functionality is provided by the smart phone.

As illustrated in Figure 8, at step 102 the processor of the smart phone is used to identify the smoking article container based on data stored in the memory of the smart phone. As illustrated at step 202, the identity of the smoking article is then formatted into XML format and transmitted over the network using HTTP to the product information database server 22. The product information database server then determines smoking article information dependent on the identified smoking article container and the local environmental conditions or parameters (step 204). Like the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the smoking article information is then formatted into JSON format then transmitted using HTTP over the network to the smart phone (step 74). When the smart phone receives the smoking article information, the processor of the smart phone processes it so that the LCD of the smart phone displays the smoking article information (step 76).

While the illustrated embodiments all include sensing an indication of the smoking article, in an embodiment this step is not provided. In this embodiment, the app on the smartphone would be provided only for a single type of smoking article such as a single brand. A consumer would simply select an icon representing the app on the display of their smart phone and the steps described above to obtain the environmental conditions for the location of the smartphone would be carried out and smoking article information for the single brand would be provided, such as that the temperature is too low and the humidity is too low at the location of the smoking article and it is recommended to put the smoking article in a warm place before consuming the smoking article.

Rather than the environmental conditions stored on the weather database server only being retrieved following a request for product information from a computer device or smart phone, the environmental conditions stored on the weather database may be automatically periodically transmitted to the computer device or smart phone where they are stored typically replacing previously stored environmental conditions. In other words, the environmental conditions may be stored on the computer device and periodically updated from updated environmental conditions stored on the weather database server. The environmental conditions may be transmitted from the weather database at the request of the computer device or smart phone, for example, by an appropriate signal being transmitted from the smart phone to the weather database The environmental conditions may be transmitted from the weather database automatically without request from the smart phone such as periods throughout a day, for example hourly.

Figure 9 illustrates an example computer device 400 for the computer system that provides an additional feature that may be provided by a computer device of any of the example computer systems described above. In many respects it is the same as the computer devices 10,100, 200, 300 described above and like features have been given like reference numerals. In this example, the computer device has an input for a user to enter data in relation to the user's environment and the aerosol-generating article information provided to the computer device is dependent on the entered data in relation to the user's environment.

In this example, the computer device allows a user to enter or input such data by providing at least one question 402 to a user in relation to the user's environment and to allow the user to provide at least one answer to the at least one question. In this example, the question is displayed on the display 12 of the computer device. However, alternatively or additionally the question may be human audible in the form of spoken words and provided from the integral loudspeaker (not shown) of the computer device or from head phones connected to the computer device (not shown). The user answers the question by selecting appropriate virtual buttons 404, 406 displayed on the display of the computer device by pressing a predetermined portion of the display, which, in this example, is a touch sensitive display. In this example, two buttons are displayed. One button is for answering "Yes" to the question that is provided. One button is for answering "No" to the question that is provided. A question may be, for example, "Are you inside?". If that is answered with an input of "Yes", then another question may be provided dependent on this answer, such as, "Is the room air conditioned?". How this question is answered, such as by the user selecting "Yes" or "No", determines the aerosol-generating article information that is provided. In other words, the aerosol-generating article information is then provided to the computer device that is dependent on the user's at least one answer to the at least one question. The aerosol- generating article information is then provided based on both the obtained environmental conditions, for example, an indication of the temperature and humidity outside as well as the environmental conditions inside. So, for example, the aerosol-generating article information provided may be that the smoking article will be best enjoyed if it is left outside for a period of time (if the answer to the question is that the room is not air conditioned) or that the smoking article is in ideal environmental conditions (if the answer to the question is that the room is air conditioned). In this way, a user's specific environment is taken into consideration by the computer system.

Answers to questions may be provided with free text entered using a virtual keyboard displayed on the display of the computer device and the computer device may be provided with artificial intelligence (Al) to interpret the answer. For example, a question might be "How would you describe your local environmental conditions?" and answers entered by the user such as "Quite stuffy" would be interpreted by the Al of the computer device such that aerosol-generating article information is provided based on both the obtained environmental conditions and those entered by the user. As an alternative to asking a question, a request may be made for the user to enter certain data such as "Please enter the temperature of the room in degrees centigrade". The user may then enter the room temperature using numeral keys of the virtual keyboard of the computer device. This data is used to provide aerosol- generating article information such as "To best enjoy your smoking article, we suggest that you leave the smoking article outside for a few minutes" based on both the obtained environmental conditions and those entered by the user.The features described above are provided by software, a computer program or an app on the computer device. However, they could be provided by an external or remote server separate from the computer device (not illustrated).

In a yet further embodiment, environmental conditions specific to a user may be provided from electrical equipment or an electrical device separate from the computer device measuring or controlling the environmental conditions of the user to the computer device. For example, the electrical equipment may be in the form of a room thermostat for controlling a room heating system or an air conditioning controller. The electrical equipment may communicate directly with the computer device to provide at least one environmental condition to the user. In this example, the electrical equipment communicates with the computer device over a wireless local area network in the form of WiFi. In this example, the electrical device may communicate either automatically or manually (requiring user input) with the electrical equipment, such as over WiFi, based on the aerosol-generating article information to change at least one of the user's environmental conditions such as the temperature or humidity to provide better or optimal environmental conditions for consuming a smoking article. This is a technically simple solution that is also very reliable.

Alternatively, a camera (not shown) of the computer device may be used to capture an image of a display of the electrical equipment separate or remote from the computer device, for example, displaying the room temperature, to provide at least one environmental condition to the computer device.

Embodiments have been described in which the locator of the computer device provides location from a GPS receiver or a wireless local area network system such as WiFi (registered trade mark). The location may be provided from, for example, a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth (registered trade mark) beacon, user input, or a cell tower location system.

The sensor of the computer device has been described as reading an indication of the smoking article in the form of an NFC tag. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor may read a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code or a device for radio frequency communications such as for sensing RFID tags.

In the examples described, the computer device takes the form or a portable computer in the form of a smart phone. Alternatively, the computer device may be a tablet computer, or a wearable computer, such as a smart watch or in the form of a spectacle frame.

The exemplary embodiments described above illustrate but are not limiting. In view of the above discussed exemplary embodiments, other embodiments consistent with the above exemplary embodiments will now be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

A computer system for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computer system comprising:

a computer device;

a computer data store of aerosol-generating article information; and

an electrical device separate from the computer device comprising information on at least one environmental condition;

wherein the computer system is configured to:

use the information on at least one environmental condition to provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information dependent on the at least one environmental condition; wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises at least one of: temperature and humidity.

A computer system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer device is configured to provide an input for a user to enter data in relation to the user's environment; wherein the aerosol-generating article information provided to the computer device is dependent on the entered data in relation to the user's environment. A computer system according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer device comprises a sensor for sensing an indication of an aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating article container; the sensor may be for reading a computer readable symbol such as a QR code or a bar code, or for radio frequency communications such as for sensing RFID tags or near field communication (NFC). A computer system according to claim 3, wherein the computer system further comprises a computer data store of aerosol-generating article recognition information and the computer system is further configured to:

provide to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from the computer data store dependent on: the aerosol-generating article or the

aerosol-generating article container sensed by the sensor and recognised by the aerosol-generating article recognition information, and the obtained at least one environmental condition.

A computer system according to claim 4, wherein the aerosol-generating article information comprises information on at least one environmental parameter that are desirable for the recognised aerosol-generating article.

A computer system according to claim 5, wherein the computer device is configured to provide an indication of whether the at least one environmental parameter that is desirable is met based on the obtained at least one environmental condition and on the aerosol-generating article information.

7. A computer system according to claim 6, wherein the indication of whether the

desirable at least one environmental condition is met comprises a message being displayed on a display of the computer device or a human audible indication from the computer device.

8. A computer system according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer device does not have at least one of: a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor.

9. A computer system according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer device comprises a portable computer, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or a wearable computer, such as a smart watch or in the form of a spectacle frame.

10. A computer system according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrical device comprises a computer data store of environmental conditions which may be on remote server computer system, such as part of a weather web server.

1 1 . A computer system according to claim 1 1 , wherein the computer device

communicates with the or each server computer system using an application layer protocol, such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), and wherein the computer device may communicate with the or each server computer system using data formatted into one of the following formats: XML, JSON or RESTful.

12. A computer system according to claim 1 1 or claim 12, wherein the computer device comprises a locator for providing a location of the computer device; wherein the computer system is configured to use the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain the information on the at least one environmental condition from the remote server computer system.

13. A computer system according to claim 13, wherein the locator provides location from one or more of: a satellite navigation receiver such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a cell tower location system, a wireless local area network system such as WiFi (registered trade mark), a wireless personal area network such as a Bluetooth (registered trade mark) beacon, or user input.

14. A computer system according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer data store of aerosol-generating article information is located in memory of the computer device and/or is located in electronic storage of a server computer system separate from the computer device.

15. A computerized method for providing aerosol-generating article information, the computerized method comprising: a locator of a computer device providing a location of the computer device; using the location of the computer device provided from the locator to obtain environmental conditions of the computer device at the location from a remote server computer system; and providing to the computer device aerosol-generating article information from a computer data store of aerosol- generating article information dependent on the obtained environmental conditions; wherein the environmental conditions comprise at least one of: temperature and humidity.