Refilling apparatus

A refillable article for use with an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material stored within the refillable article, the refillable article comprising:

• a storage area for storing aerosol-generating material;
• a readable element for storing information corresponding to the article;
• and
• an indication of usage of the article stored in the readable element,
• wherein the indication of usage is indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material aerosolised by the article since a previous filling or refilling operation in which the article is supplied with aerosol-generating material.

An aerosol provision device for use with a refillable article for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material stored within the article, the device comprising:

• a power source for supplying power to cause aerosolisation of aerosol-generating material within the article;
• and
• a controller for controlling aspects of operation of the aerosol provision device,
• wherein the controller is configured to update an indication of usage of the article indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material aerosolised by the article since a previous filling or refilling operation in which the article is supplied with aerosol-generating material stored by a readable element of the article.

A method for refilling a refillable article for use with an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material stored within the refillable article using a refilling unit, the method comprising:

• determining or obtaining an actual usage of the article based on information from the article;
• determining or obtaining an expected usage of the article;
• and
• comparing the actual usage with the expected usage and, if the actual usage is within a predetermined range of the expected usage, permitting the refilling unit to refill the article with aerosol-generating material.

A refilling means for refilling a refillable article for use with an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material stored within the refillable article, the refilling means comprising:

• receiving means for receiving at least the article;
• reading means configured to read a readable element for storing information corresponding to the article;
• and
• controller means for controlling operations of the refilling means,
• wherein the controller means is configured to:
• determine or obtain an actual usage of the article based on an indication of usage of the article read from the readable element of the article;
• determine or obtain an expected usage of the article;
• and
• compare the actual usage with the expected usage and, if the actual usage is within a predetermined range of the expected usage, permit the refilling unit to refill the article with aerosol-generating material.

A system comprising:

• an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material;
• a docking unit for engaging with the aerosol provision device, the docking unit arranged to at least one of:
• refill an article containing aerosol generating material for use with the aerosol provision device, and recharge a power source of the aerosol provision device, and
• a controller arranged to obtain status information regarding the status of the docking unit, wherein
• the aerosol provision device comprises a feedback mechanism arranged to provide feedback to a user;
• and
• the controller is configured to cause the feedback mechanism of the aerosol provision device to provide feedback to the user indicative of the status of the docking unit.

A method of displaying feedback to a user, the feedback indicative of a status of a docking unit configured to engage with an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material, the docking unit arranged to at least one of:

• refill an article containing aerosol generating material for use with the aerosol provision device, and recharge a power source of the aerosol provision device, the method comprising:
• engaging the aerosol provision device with the docking unit;
• obtaining status information regarding the status of the docking unit;
• and
• causing a feedback mechanism of the aerosol provision device to provide feedback to the user indicative of the status of the docking unit.

A system comprising an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material and a docking unit for engaging with the aerosol provision device, the docking unit arranged to at least refill an article containing aerosol generating material for use with the aerosol provision device and/or recharge a power source of the aerosol provision device, wherein:

• the aerosol provision device comprises a docking unit engagement mechanism for engaging with the docking unit;
• the docking unit comprises an aerosol provision device engagement mechanism for engaging with the aerosol provision device;
• and
• at least one of the docking unit engagement mechanism and aerosol provision device engagement mechanism are configured to enable the aerosol provision device to be engaged with the docking unit in a single orientation.

A system comprising:

• aerosol provision means for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material;
• docking means for engaging with the aerosol provision means, the docking means arranged to at least one of:
• refill an article containing aerosol generating material for use with the aerosol provision means, and recharge a power source of the aerosol provision means, and
• controller means arranged to obtain status information regarding the status of the docking means, wherein
• the aerosol provision means comprises feedback means arranged to provide feedback to a user;
• and
• the controller means is configured to cause the feedback means of the aerosol provision means to provide feedback to the user indicative of the status of the docking means.