Trigger-based wireless broadcasting for aerosol delivery devices

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device comprising a control component and a communication interface is provided. The control component controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device in instances in which a flow of air through at least a portion of the at least one housing is detected. The communication interface is coupled to the control component and enables wireless communication. The control component further detects a predefined trigger, and automatically in response thereto, causes the communication interface to broadcast availability of the aerosol delivery device for connection with a capable wireless device. The predefined trigger includes at least one instance in which the flow of air is detected, and excludes user-actuation of any button on the aerosol delivery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 at least one housing; and contained within the at least one housing,   a control component configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device in instances in which a flow of air through at least a portion of the at least one housing is detected; and   a communication interface coupled to the control component and configured to enable wireless communication,   wherein the control component is further configured to detect a predefined trigger, and automatically in response thereto, cause the communication interface to broadcast availability of the aerosol delivery device for connection with a capable wireless device, the predefined trigger including at least one instance in which the flow of air is detected, and excluding user-actuation of any button on the aerosol delivery device.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger includes a predefined length of time between at least two instances in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the predefined length of time is no more than approximately 1,250 milliseconds between the at least two instances in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger includes a predefined duration of an instance in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 4 , wherein the predefined duration is between approximately 70 and 750 milliseconds. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger includes a predefined number of instances in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1  comprising a control body including the at least one housing, control component and communication interface, the control body being coupleable to a charging component and a cartridge, wherein the trigger further includes coupling of the control body to the charging component or cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 7 , wherein the trigger further includes coupling of the control body to the cartridge, and the at least one instance is the first instance in which the flow of air is detected after the coupling of the control body to the cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is a Bluetooth communication interface, and
 wherein the communication interface being caused to broadcast availability includes the Bluetooth communication interface being caused to transmit an advertisement that includes information for connecting the Bluetooth communication interface with a capable Bluetooth-enabled device, and in at least one instance, bond with the capable Bluetooth-enabled device upon connection.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 9  comprising a control body including the at least one housing, control component and Bluetooth communication interface,
 wherein the trigger further includes coupling of the control body to a cartridge, and the at least one instance is the first instance in which the flow of air is detected after the coupling of the control body to the cartridge, and 
 wherein the Bluetooth communication interface being caused to transmit the advertisement includes being caused to transmit the advertisement for a length of time no longer than a predetermined length of time after the first instance, and thereafter cease transmission of the advertisement. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of operation of an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising at the aerosol delivery device:
 a control component controlling operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device in instances in which a flow of air through at least a portion of the at least one housing is detected;   a communication interface enabling wireless communication; and   the control component further detecting a predefined trigger, and automatically in response thereto, causing the communication interface to broadcast availability of the aerosol delivery device for connection with a capable wireless device, the predefined trigger including at least one instance in which the flow of air is detected, and excluding user-actuation of any button on the aerosol delivery device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the trigger includes a predefined length of time between at least two instances in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined length of time is no more than approximately 1,250 milliseconds between the at least two instances in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the trigger includes a predefined duration of an instance in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predefined duration is between approximately 70 and 750 milliseconds. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the trigger includes a predefined number of instances in which the flow of air is detected. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises a control body coupleable to a charging component and a cartridge, and wherein the trigger further includes coupling of the control body to the charging component or cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the trigger further includes coupling of the control body to the cartridge, and the at least one instance is the first instance in which the flow of air is detected after the coupling of the control body to the cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the communication interface is a Bluetooth communication interface, and
 wherein the communication interface broadcasting availability includes the Bluetooth communication interface transmitting an advertisement that includes information for connecting the Bluetooth communication interface with a capable Bluetooth-enabled device, and in at least one instance, bonding with the capable Bluetooth-enabled device upon connection.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises a control body including the control component and Bluetooth communication interface, wherein the trigger further includes coupling of the control body to a cartridge, and the at least one instance is the first instance in which the flow of air is detected after the coupling of the control body to the cartridge, and
 wherein the Bluetooth communication interface transmitting the advertisement includes transmitting the advertisement for a length of time no longer than a predetermined length of time after the first instance, and thereafter cease transmission of the advertisement.