Aerosol provision system with controller functionality

Abstract

A device component for an aerosol generating system comprises: a speaker operable to emit acoustic signals; a user input element configured to receive a user input corresponding to a control command for controlling an external electronic entity having a microphone; and a controller configured to: generate a drive signal representing the control command for the speaker; and supply the drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the control command for detection by the external electronic entity.

1 . A device component for an aerosol generating system, the device component comprising:
 a speaker operable to emit acoustic signals;   a user input element configured to receive a user input corresponding to a control command for controlling an external electronic entity having a microphone; and   a controller configured to:
 generate a drive signal representing the control command for the speaker; and 
 supply the drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the control command for detection by the external electronic entity. 
   
     
     
         2 . A device component according to  claim 1 ; wherein the controller is configured to generate the drive signal by encoding data representing the control command into the drive signal in response to receipt of the user input. 
     
     
         3 . A device component according to  claim 1 , further comprising data storage storing drive signals representing one or more control commands, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the drive signal by retrieving from the data storage the drive signal representing the control command corresponding to the user input, in response to receipt of the user input. 
     
     
         4 . A device component according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive signal is configured to cause the speaker to emit the acoustic signal carrying the control command in an ultrasonic frequency range. 
     
     
         5 . A device component according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive signal is configured to cause the speaker to emit the acoustic signal carrying the control command in an audible frequency range. 
     
     
         6 . A device component according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive signal is configured to cause the speaker to emit the acoustic signal carrying the control command at a frequency or in a frequency range associated with the external electronic entity. 
     
     
         7 . A device component according to  claim 6 , configured for emitting control commands to two or more external electronic entities each having an associated frequency or frequency range, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the drive signal by determining for which of the external electronic entities the control command is intended, and configuring the drive signal to cause the speaker to emit the acoustic signal at or in the associated frequency or frequency range. 
     
     
         8 . A device component according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the drive signal by encrypting the control command using a key associated with the external electronic entity. 
     
     
         9 . A device component according to  claim 8 , configured for emitting control commands to two or more external electronic entities each having an associated encryption key, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the drive signal by determining for which of
 the external entities the control command is intended, and generating the drive signal by encrypting the control command using the associated encryption key.   
     
     
         10 . A device component according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the drive signal by including identifier information with the control command which is associated with the external electronic entity. 
     
     
         11 . A device component according to  claim 10 , configured for emitting control commands to two or more external electronic entities each having associated identifier information, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the drive signal by determining for which of the external entities the control command is intended, and generating the drive signal by including the associated identifier information with the control command. 
     
     
         12 . A device component according to  claim 1 , wherein the user input element comprises one or more of a touch screen, one or more buttons, one or more switches, or one or more dials. 
     
     
         13 . A device component according to  claim 1 , further comprising a microphone operable to detect acoustic signals carrying information emitted by one or more external electronic entities, and deliver detected acoustic signals to the controller. 
     
     
         14 . A device component according to  claim 1 , wherein the external electronic entity comprises a television, an audio system, a radio, a lamp, a lighting system, a computing device, a heating appliance, a heating system, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an oven, a hob, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, or an entertainment system. 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol provision system comprising a device component according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol provision system according to  claim 15 , comprising an article comprising an aerosol generator, the controller of the device component further configured to control the aerosol generator to generate aerosol for consumption by a user. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling an electronic entity comprising:
 receiving, via a user input element comprised in an aerosol generating system, a user input corresponding to a control command for controlling the electronic entity;
 generating in the aerosol generating system a drive signal for a speaker comprised in 
   the aerosol generating system, the drive signal representing the control command;   supplying the drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal carrying the control command; and
 detecting the acoustic signal via a microphone comprised in the electronic entity. 
   
     
     
         18 - 27 . (canceled)