Flavor component generation control device, flavor component generation device, control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a mechanism that makes it possible to further improve the quality of the inhalation experience provided by a flavor component generation device, a flavor component generation control device for controlling a flavor component generation device includes an attachment section that has detachably attached thereto an element configured so as to consume stored contents and thereby contribute to the generation of a gas to which a flavor component is added. The flavor component generation control device includes a controller that controls processing in which, for each of a plurality of the elements that have been attached to the attachment section in the past, identification information for the element is associated with a parameter indicating the consumption amount of the contents consumed in generation of the gas to which the flavor component is added. The result is stored in a storage.

1 . A flavor component generation control device for controlling a flavor component generation device comprising an attaching part to which an element, which is constructed to contribute to generation of flavor-component-added gas by consuming flavor components included in a stored flavor source, is attached in an attachable/detachable manner, said flavor component generation control device comprising
 a controller which controls a process for associating, with respect to each of plural elements which have been attached to the attaching part, identification information of the element with a parameter representing a quantity of consumption of the flavor component, which has been consumed for generating the flavor-component-added gas, and storing the information and the parameter in a storage.   
     
     
         2 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls, in the case that the parameter stored in association with the identification information of the element has reached a threshold value, a process for providing information that informs that timing of replacement of the element has come. 
     
     
         3 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls, in the case that the parameter stored in association with the identification information of the element has reached a threshold value, a process for stopping supplying of electric power to a gas generator which generates gas to which the flavor component is added by the element. 
     
     
         4 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls, in the case that the parameter stored in association with the identification information of the element has reached a threshold value, a process for dissolving a state that the element is being attached to the attaching part. 
     
     
         5 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls, in the case that the parameter stored in association with the identification information of the element has reached a threshold value, a process for opening an electric circuit included in the element. 
     
     
         6 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller deletes, in the case that the parameter stored in association with the identification information of the element has reached a threshold value, the identification information and the parameter, that have been stored in relation to the element, from the storage. 
     
     
         7 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the controller deletes the identification information and the parameter, that have been stored in relation to the element, from the storage after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a point in time when the parameter, that has been stored in association with the identification information of the element, has reached the threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller associates, in the case that the parameter stored in association with the identification information of the element has reached a threshold value, the identification information of the element with information representing a state that the element has been spent, and makes the information be stored in the storage. 
     
     
         9 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the controller
 sets the threshold value, based on the time elapsed since a point in time when the flavor component is first consumed in such a manner that the value becomes smaller as the elapsed time becomes longer.   
     
     
         10 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the controller controls the degree of reduction of the threshold value per unit time, based on history of environment surrounding the element. 
     
     
         11 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of an information code and information stored in a storage medium is added to the element, and   the controller obtains the identification information of the element, based on result of reading of at least one of the information code and the information stored in the storage medium.   
     
     
         12 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller obtains the identification information of the element, based on result of detection of at least one of the shape of the element and a component included in the element. 
     
     
         13 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller obtains the identification information of the element, based on result of detection of the flavor component included in the flavor source in the element. 
     
     
         14 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is an accumulated number of times of consumption of the flavor component or accumulated length of time spent for consumption of the flavor components. 
     
     
         15 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the parameter represents a sum of quantities of consumption of the flavor component which has been consumed for generating flavor-component-added gas during the state that the element is being attached to the flavor component generation device and the state that the element is being attached to a different flavor component generation device. 
     
     
         16 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the storage is included in an external device which is connected to the flavor component generation control device via a network. 
     
     
         17 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the storage is included in the element. 
     
     
         18 . The flavor component generation control device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 plurality elements can be attached to the attaching part, and   the controller makes a selected part of the elements in the plural elements, which are being attached to the attaching part, contribute to the generation of the flavor-component-added gas.   
     
     
         19 . A flavor component generation device, wherein
 an attaching part to which an element is attached in an attachable/detachable manner, wherein the element is constructed to contribute to generation of flavor-component-added gas by consuming flavor components included in a stored flavor source, and   a controller which controls a process for associating, with respect to each of plural elements which have been attached to the attaching part, identification information of the element with a parameter representing the quantity of consumption of the flavor component, which has been consumed for generating the flavor-component-added gas, and storing the information and the parameter in a storage.   
     
     
         20 . A control method for controlling a flavor component generation device which comprises an attaching part to which an element is attached in an attachable/detachable manner, wherein the element is constructed to contribute to generation of flavor-component-added gas by consuming flavor components included in a stored flavor source, said control method including:
 associating, with respect to each of plural elements which have been attached to the attaching part, identification information of the element with a parameter representing the quantity of consumption of the flavor component, which has been consumed for generating the flavor-component-added gas; and   storing the information and the parameter in a storage.