DE102020132218A1 - Device for an electronic smoking system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for an electronic smoking system (2) with a short-range radio interface (3) for short-range communication with an electronic cigarette (5) arranged in a short-range radio range (4) and with a control unit (6) for controlling the device ( 1). According to the invention, the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that when the electronic cigarette (5) is found, in particular passively, in the local radio range (4), it establishes a local radio connection (7) by means of the local radio interface (3) to the electronic cigarette (5) builds. The invention also relates to a method for operating the device (1) and an electronic smoking system (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for an electronic smoking system with a short-range radio interface for short-range communication with an electronic cigarette arranged in a short-range radio range and with a control unit for controlling the device.

In the US 2015/0327596 A1 discloses an electronic cigarette capable of communicating with an electronic cigarette pack.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the prior art.

The object is solved by the subject matter having the features of the independent patent claims.

A device for an electronic smoking system is proposed. The device includes a short-range radio interface for short-range communication with an electronic cigarette arranged in a short-range radio range.

The device also includes a control unit for controlling the device.

According to the invention, the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that when the electronic cigarette is found in the local radio range, it establishes a local radio connection to the electronic cigarette using the local radio interface. The connection is thus established by the device, with the device first finding the electronic cigarette in the local radio range. The short-range radio connection has a range that, for example, has a range of a few meters to a few tens of meters.

Such local radio links can also be referred to as local links.

The device can thus be a communication device for communication with the electronic cigarette. Furthermore, the device can be mobile or stationary. As a stationary device, it can be arranged in an apartment, for example, so that the device establishes a connection to the electronic cigarette at home.

The device is also used to exchange data with the electronic cigarette. As a result, the electronic cigarette can be made simpler and therefore more cost-effective. The device can thus be used to configure and/or operate the electronic cigarette.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it can search for the electronic cigarette in the local radio range. The device thus actively searches for the electronic cigarette. This means that the connection is established from the device.

In addition or as an alternative, it is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it can recognize an identification signal transmitted by the electronic cigarette in order to find it. The control unit and/or the device is thus designed in such a way that it can detect, for example, a frequency and/or strength of the identification signal of the electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette can be recognized via this.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it can use the short-range radio interface to receive and/or evaluate identification data for an electronic cigarette arranged in the short-range radio range. Different electronic cigarettes can be distinguished from one another with the aid of the identification data. For example, a serial number or a name of the electronic cigarette is contained in the identification data. For example, the name is embodied as “user 1's electronic cigarette”.

In order to be able to store data, it is advantageous if the device has a memory unit.

It is advantageous if the identification data of already registered electronic cigarettes are stored in the memory unit and the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it establishes the local radio link to the electronic cigarette using the local radio interface when the electronic cigarette is registered. The device only establishes a connection to the electronic cigarette if the electronic cigarette has already been registered. This prevents unregistered electronic cigarettes from being connected.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that an electronic cigarette can be registered. In this way, a connection can also be established to electronic cigarettes that are still unknown.

It is advantageous if the device has a long-distance radio interface for setting up a long-distance radio connection for long-range communication. The long-distance radio connection has a greater range than the local radio connection. For example, using the long-distance radio link, a connection to a higher-level Network, such as the Internet, are established.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that the local radio connection or the long-distance radio connection to at least one external device can be established using the local radio interface and/or the long-distance radio interface. Such external devices are, for example, a smartphone, a PC or a tablet. In addition or as an alternative, the long-distance radio connection can also be established to an Internet server and/or a cloud. In addition or as an alternative, communication can also take place via the local radio link to an Internet server and/or a cloud if the device connects to the external device, for example a smartphone as a hotspot or a router. This allows data to be exchanged with the external device and/or the Internet or the cloud.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it can mediate between the electronic cigarette and the at least one external device, in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet, the Internet server and/or the cloud. The device is thus a switching device. This means that the device acts as an intermediary between the electronic cigarette and the internet, the cloud or the external device. This is advantageous if the electronic cigarette is incompatible with the Internet or the external device. The control unit and/or the device can also be designed in such a way that it can translate between the electronic cigarette and the at least external device, in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet, the Internet server and/or the cloud, if, for example, the operating systems of the respective communication partners or the communication protocols are incompatible.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it can query data stored on the electronic cigarette, in particular consumption and/or use data, by means of the local radio link. This causes the device to query or transmit the data from the electronic cigarette.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it can evaluate the data received from the electronic cigarette. The control unit can, for example, generate statistics on consumption and/or usage data for the electronic cigarette. The device can thus prepare the statistics for a user.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that it can transmit the generated statistics to the at least one external device, in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet, and/or to the internet server and/or the cloud. For example, the device can transmit the statistics to the smartphone of the user associated with the electronic cigarette. For example, the user is informed about the consumption of smoking substances or the number of puffs.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that web applications can be run on the device. As a result, the device can be accessed, for example, with a web browser on the smartphone, tablet or PC, for example to register an electronic cigarette, to request statistics and/or to change settings. The device can also be accessed via the Internet using the web application.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device is designed in such a way that artificial intelligence is operated, which preferably evaluates the data received from the electronic cigarette. With the help of artificial intelligence, for example, the behavior of the user of the electronic cigarette can be analyzed and future behavior can also be predicted. Artificial intelligence can be used, for example, to predict or forecast when the smoking agent in the electronic cigarette will be exhausted and must be replaced. The artificial intelligence can then issue a message or transmit it to the user's external device. The artificial intelligence can also arrange for the consumables to be reordered from an appropriate dealer.

It is advantageous if the local radio interface is designed using Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Wifi and/or ZigBee and/or if the long-distance radio interface is designed using a mobile network (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE), a mobile radio standard and/or Wifi is.

It is advantageous if the device comprises at least one display and/or operating element. For example, the statistics can be shown directly on the device via a display and/or a status can only be shown by means of LEDs. A connection to the electronic cigarette can be established manually, for example, by means of the operating element. Additionally or alternatively, the device can include an energy store and/or an energy interface.

A method for operating a device for an electronic smoking system is also proposed. The device can preferably be designed according to at least one feature of the preceding and/or following description.

The device can also be designed in such a way that it can carry out the method of the preceding and/or following description.

In the method, a short-range radio interface of the device is used to communicate with an electronic cigarette arranged in a short-range radio range. In addition, the device is controlled by a control unit. The local radio range has, for example, a range of a few meters or a few tens of meters. The local radio area is, for example, a local area in a house.

According to the invention, when an electronic cigarette is found in the local radio range, a local radio connection is set up using the local radio interface to the electronic cigarette. As a result, the connection is established by the device, so that the electronic cigarette can be passive in relation to the connection establishment.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device searches for the electronic cigarette. This allows the electronic cigarette to remain passive.

It is advantageous if, when an identification signal transmitted by the electronic cigarette is found, the control unit recognizes it and the short-range radio link to the electronic cigarette is set up. The identification signal of the electronic cigarette is a beacon signal, i.e. a light that the electronic cigarette can send. Using this signal, the device can find the electronic cigarette and then initialize the connection.

It is advantageous if the short-range radio interface is permanently active or is activated in phases. Due to the permanent activation, the electronic cigarette can be constantly searched for or constantly communicated with. Energy can be saved by activating in phases.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device recognizes the electronic cigarette using an identification number contained in the identification signal. The identification signal can include, for example, a serial number or a name of the electronic cigarette.

It is advantageous if the control unit establishes the short-range radio connection to the electronic cigarette when it is registered. This can prevent unregistered electronic cigarettes from being connected. In addition or as an alternative, it is advantageous if the electronic cigarette is registered on the device when it is used for the first time.

It is advantageous if data, in particular consumption and/or use data, from the electronic cigarette are queried by the control unit and/or the device. This allows the data to be transferred to the device.

It is advantageous if the control unit evaluates the data transmitted by the electronic cigarette and preferably creates statistics from it. The statistics can be consumption statistics, for example, so that the user can be informed about them.

It is advantageous if the device establishes at least one local radio connection to an external device, in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet, and preferably transmits the statistics. The external device, for example the smartphone, can be assigned to the user of the electronic cigarette, so that the data is transmitted to the relevant user and the latter is informed.

It is advantageous if the device establishes a long-distance radio connection with a long-distance radio interface to the external device in the local radio range and/or in a long-distance radio range, with the evaluated data and/or the statistics being transmitted to the external device. The long-distance radio connection can be used to set up connections beyond the range of the local radio range.

In addition or as an alternative, it is advantageous if the electronic cigarette can be configured by the external device via the device and/or can be registered on the device. The external device, for example the smartphone, can be used to access the device and configure and/or register the electronic cigarette.

It is advantageous if the device mediates between the electronic cigarette and an external device, in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet and/or an Internet server. The device is thus a switching center or a switching device for communication between the electronic cigarette and the external device or the Internet. As a result, the electronic cigarette can also communicate with the external device and/or the Internet if these are incompatible, for example due to different operating conditions systems or communication protocols may be the case. The device can thus be a translation device.

It is advantageous if artificial intelligence is operated on the device, which evaluates the data received from the electronic cigarette. The artificial intelligence can, for example, evaluate consumption and make predictions as to when the smoking substance will be used up, for example.

It is advantageous if the control unit and/or the device evaluates consumption and/or usage data and independently, in particular the artificial intelligence, reorders consumables for the electronic cigarette. As a result, the user does not have to worry about it. As a result, consumables are always available.

An electronic smoking system with a device and an electronic cigarette is also proposed.

According to the invention, the device is designed according to one or more features of the preceding and/or following description. Additionally or alternatively, the device is operated according to one or more method steps of the preceding and/or following description.

It is advantageous if the electronic cigarette can emit an identification signal which can be detected by the device in order to find the electronic cigarette.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht eines elektronischen Rauchersystems mit einem Gerät und einer elektronischen Zigarette.

Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. It shows:

• 1 a schematic view of an electronic smoking system with a device and an electronic cigarette.

1 shows a schematic view of an electronic smoking system 2 with a device 1 and an electronic cigarette 5. The electronic cigarette 5 burns a smoking agent by means of an electronic heating element, so that smoke, which can contain flavorings and nicotine, is formed. The electronic cigarette 5 serves as a replacement for conventional cigarettes in which tobacco is burned.

The device 1, which is arranged in a mobile or stationary manner, for example in a house or apartment, is used for communication with the electronic cigarette 5. The device 1 is therefore a communication device, for example.

The device 1 includes a short-range radio interface 3 for short-range communication with the electronic cigarette 5 arranged in a short-range radio range 4. The short-range radio range 4 has a range of a few meters to a few tens of meters. The local radio area 4 is a local environment around the device 1. The local radio area 4 is comparable, for example, to a local radio network, such as a WLAN network.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a control unit 6 for controlling the device 1.

The control unit 6 is designed in such a way that when the electronic cigarette 5 is found in the short-range radio range 4 , it sets up a short-range radio link 7 to the electronic cigarette 5 by means of the short-range radio interface 3 . Additionally or alternatively, the device 1 can also be designed in such a way that it establishes the local radio link 7 when the electronic cigarette 5 is found. The device 1 looks for the electronic cigarette 5 and forms the local radio link 7 . The device 1 can initiate or cause the establishment of the short-range radio link 7 . As a result, the electronic cigarette 5 can remain passive when the short-range radio link 7 is established.

In order to be able to locate the electronic cigarette 5 , it can send an identification signal which can be detected by the device 1 via the short-range radio interface 3 . The electronic cigarette 5 is operated as a beacon. That is, the electronic cigarette 5 transmits the detection signal without knowing whether the device 1 is in the short range 4 .

The electronic cigarette 5 also has a radio interface (not shown here) and a controller in order to be able to set up the short-range radio link 7 with the device.

After the device 1 has established the short-range radio connection 7 to the electronic cigarette 5, the device 1 can request data from the electronic cigarette 5, for example consumption and/or usage data, or these can be sent, in particular automatically, from the electronic cigarette 5 to the device 1 transferred.

The device 1 can evaluate, analyze and/or generate statistics from this data. The statistics can include, for example, the number of trains per day, per week or per month. It is also possible, for example, to evaluate how high the consumption per type of smoking agent is. In addition, a large number of other statistics can also be created.

In order to evaluate, analyze and/or create the statistics from the data, an artificial intelligence can be operated on the device 1, for example, or the device 1 can be designed in such a way that the artificial intelligence can be operated. The artificial intelligence can also determine, for example, at what point in time the smoking agent has been used up and, preferably independently, reorder new smoking agent or other consumables for the electronic cigarette 5 from a retailer.

Furthermore, the device 1 can have a memory unit 8 in which the data originating from the electronic cigarette 5 is stored and/or the statistics and/or an operating system for the device 1 is stored.

In addition, the device 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment has a remote radio interface 9, by means of which a remote radio connection 10 to an Internet server 11 shown here can be established. With the help of the long-distance radio connection 10, of course, a connection to the Internet can also be established, so that the connection to the Internet server 11 or a cloud is established. The long-distance radio link 10 has a range that is greater than that of the local radio link 7. The long-distance radio link 10 extends beyond the local radio range 4.

As shown here, the electronic cigarette 5 has no direct connection to the internet or the internet server 11 . The device 1 has the local radio connection 7 with the electronic cigarette 5 and the long-distance radio connection 10 with the Internet server 11 . The device 1 thus serves as a communication device or as a switching device, the device 1 switching between the electronic cigarette 5 and the Internet server 11 or the Internet. This is advantageous if the electronic cigarette 5 and the Internet or the Internet server 11 are incompatible with one another.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the device 1 has a further short-range radio link 12 to a smartphone 14 and a short-range radio link 13 to a laptop or PC. The smartphone 14 and the laptop 15 are examples of external devices with which the device 1 can establish a connection. According to this exemplary embodiment, the device 1 is also used for the external devices 14, 15 shown here as a communication device or as a switching device or switching center. For example, the device 1 can transmit the evaluated statistics to the external device 14, 15, for example the smartphone 14, so that the user receives the statistics.

The device 1 can also include a web application, so that the external device 14 , 15 can be used to access the device 1 and a web browser on the external device 14 , 15 can display the data from the device 1 .

The device 1 can also transmit a message to the external device 14, 15 that the consumables of the electronic cigarette 5 are exhausted or will be exhausted in the foreseeable future. When this occurs, the device 1 can also order the consumable. Alternatively, the device can also prepare the order and transmit a request for the order to the external device 14, 15, so that the user has the option of releasing the order. The device 1 transmits the order for the consumables to a corresponding provider.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the device 1 has a display element 16, which is a display, for example. This allows the data to be displayed on device 1. Additionally or alternatively, the device 1 can also have an operating element 17 shown here. This can be used, for example, to activate or deactivate the local radio connection 7, 12, 13. The device 1 can also be switched on or off via this.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the patent claims are just as possible as a combination of the features, even if they are shown and described in different exemplary embodiments.

Reference List

1

device

2

electronic smoking system

3

near radio interface

4

short range

5

electronic cigarette

6

control unit

7

local radio connection

8th

storage unit

9

remote radio interface

10

remote radio link

11

internet server

12

local radio connection

13

local radio connection

14

smartphone

15

Laptop

16

display element

17

control element

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US 2015/0327596 A1 [0002]

Claims (31)

Device (1) for an electronic smoking system (2) with a short-range radio interface (3) for short-range communication with an electronic cigarette (5) arranged in a short-range radio range (4) and with a control unit (6) for controlling the device (1), thereby characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that when the electronic cigarette (5) is found, in particular passively, in the local radio range (4), it establishes a local radio connection (7) by means of the local radio interface (3) to the electronic cigarette (5). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that it can search for the electronic cigarette (5) in the local radio range (4) and/or a from the electronic cigarette (5) can recognize transmitting identification signal to find. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that, by means of the short-range radio interface (3), identification data of an electronic Cigarette (5) can receive and / or evaluate. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a memory unit (8). Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification data of already registered electronic cigarettes (5) are stored in the storage unit (8) and the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) are designed in this way is that this establishes the local radio connection (7) by means of the local radio interface (3) to the electronic cigarette (5) when the electronic cigarette (5) is registered. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that an electronic cigarette (5) can be registered. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a long-distance radio interface (9) for setting up a long-distance radio connection (10) for long-range communication. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that by means of the local radio interface (3) and/or the long-distance radio interface (9) the local radio connection (7) or the long-distance radio connection (10) to at least one external device (14, 15), in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet, and/or to an Internet server (11) and/or cloud. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that it is located between the electronic cigarette (5) and the at least one external device (14 , 15), in particular smartphone, PC, tablet, the internet server (11) and/or the cloud. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that these data are stored on the electronic cigarette (5) by means of the local radio link (7). , in particular consumption and/or usage data. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and / or the device (1) is designed such that it can evaluate the data obtained from the electronic cigarette (5), wherein the Control unit (6) can preferably generate statistics on consumption and/or usage data for the electronic cigarette (5). Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that it transmits the generated statistics to the at least external device (14, 15), in particular smartphone, PC, tablet, and/or to the internet server (11) and/or the cloud. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that web applications can be run on the device (1). Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) is designed in such a way that artificial intelligence is operated, which is preferably that of the electronic cigarette (5) evaluates the data received. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the short-range radio interface (3) is designed using Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Wifi and/or ZigBee and/or that the long-distance radio interface (9) uses a mobile network (2G , 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE), a mobile radio standard and/or Wifi. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) comprises at least one display and / or control element (16, 17) and / or that the device (1) an energy store and / or Includes energy interface. Method for operating a device (1) for an electronic smoking system (2), wherein the device (1) is preferably designed according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which by means of a short-range radio interface (3) of the device (1) for short-range communication with an electronic cigarette (5) arranged in a local radio range (4) and in which the device (1) is controlled by means of a control unit (6), characterized in that when an electronic cigarette (5) is found, in particular passively, in the local radio range (4) a short-range radio connection (7) is set up using the short-range radio interface (3) to the electronic cigarette (5). Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) searches for the electronic cigarette (5). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that when an identification signal transmitted by the electronic cigarette (5) is found, the control unit (6) recognizes it and the short-range radio connection (7) to the electronic cigarette (5) is set up. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the short-range radio interface (3) is permanently active or is activated in phases. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) recognizes the electronic cigarette (5) using an identification number contained in the identification signal. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) establishes the local radio connection (7) to the electronic cigarette (5) when this is registered and/or that when the electronic cigarette (5) is used for the first time this is registered on the device (1). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that data, in particular consumption and/or use data, from the electronic cigarette (5) are queried by the control unit (6) and/or by the device (1). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) evaluates the data transmitted by the electronic cigarette (5) and preferably creates statistics therefrom. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) establishes at least one local radio connection (12, 13) to an external device (14, 15), in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet, and preferably transmits the statistics. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) establishes a long-distance radio connection (10) with a long-distance radio interface (9) to the external device (14, 15) in the local radio range (4) and/or in a long-distance radio range, wherein the evaluated data and/or the statistics are transmitted to the external device (14, 15) and/or wherein the electronic cigarette (5) can be configured by the external device (14, 15) via the device (1) and/or on Device (1) can be registered. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) between the electronic cigarette (5) and an external device (14, 15), in particular a smartphone, PC, tablet and/or an Internet server (11) conveyed. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an artificial intelligence is operated on the device (1) which evaluates the data received from the electronic cigarette (5). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) and/or the device (1) evaluates consumption and/or use data and independently, in particular the artificial intelligence, reorders consumables for the electronic cigarette (5). . Electronic smoking system (2) with a device (1) and an electronic cigarette (5), characterized in that the device (1) is designed and/or operable according to one or more of the preceding claims. Electronic smoking system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electronic cigarette (5) can emit an identification signal which can be detected by the device (1) in order to find the electronic cigarette (5).

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