Refillable article and method

A refillable article for use with a refilling unit to refill the article with aerosol-generating material, and for use with an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the article comprising:

• a storage area for storing aerosol-generating material;
• an aerosol generator for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating material;
• and
• a data storing element configured to:
• store a cumulative operation value based on the cumulative operation of the aerosol generator of the article;
• and
• store information indicative of user inhalation characteristics when using the article for generating aerosol from the stored aerosol-generating material.

An aerosol provision device for use with an article comprising an aerosol generator, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises:

• a power source configured to couple to an aerosol generator of the article when the article is engaged with the aerosol provision device;
• a controller configured to control operations of the aerosol provision device, wherein the controller is configured to:
• identify a cumulative operation value based on the cumulative operation of the aerosol generator of the article;
• compare the cumulative operation value with a lifetime threshold;
• and
• determine that the article reaches a determined lifetime when the cumulative operation value equals or surpasses the lifetime threshold,
• wherein at least one of the cumulative operation value and the lifetime threshold is based, in part, on the information indicative of user inhalation characteristics when using the article for generating aerosol from the stored aerosol-generating material.

A refilling unit for refilling an article comprising an aerosol generator for use with an aerosol provision device, wherein the refilling unit comprises:

• an article port for receiving at least a refillable article;
• an aerosol transfer mechanism for transferring aerosol-generating material to the refillable article received in the article port;
• and
• a controller configured to control operations of the refilling unit, wherein the controller is configured to:
• identify a cumulative operation value based on the cumulative operation of the aerosol generator of the article;
• compare the cumulative operation value with a lifetime threshold;
• and
• determine that the article reaches a determined lifetime when the cumulative operation value equals or surpasses the lifetime threshold,
• wherein at least one of the cumulative operation value and the lifetime threshold is based, in part, on information indicative of user inhalation characteristics when using the article for generating aerosol from the stored aerosol-generating material.

A refillable article for use with refilling means to refill the article with aerosol-generating material, and for use with an aerosol provision means for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the article comprising:

• storage means for storing aerosol-generating material;
• aerosol generator means for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating material;
• and
• data storing means configured to:
• store a cumulative operation value based on the cumulative operation of the aerosol generator of the article;
• and
• store information indicative of user inhalation characteristics when using the article for generating aerosol from the stored aerosol-generating material.

Aerosol provision means for use with an article comprising aerosol generator means, wherein the aerosol provision means comprises:

• power means configured to couple to aerosol generator means of the article when the article is engaged with the aerosol provision means;
• controller means configured to control operations of the aerosol provision means, wherein the controller means is configured to:
• identify a cumulative operation value based on the cumulative operation of the aerosol generator means of the article;
• compare the cumulative operation value with a lifetime threshold;
• and
• determine that the article reaches a determined lifetime when the cumulative operation value equals or surpasses the lifetime threshold,
• wherein at least one of the cumulative operation value and the lifetime threshold is based, in part, on information indicative of user inhalation characteristics when using the article for generating aerosol from the stored aerosol-generating material.

Refilling means for refilling an article comprising aerosol generator means for use with aerosol provision means, wherein the refilling means comprises:

• receiving means for receiving at least a refillable article;
• aerosol transfer means for transferring aerosol-generating material to the refillable article received in the receiving means;
• and
• controller means configured to control operations of the refilling means, wherein the controller means is configured to:
• identify a cumulative operation value based on the cumulative operation of the aerosol generator of the article;
• compare the cumulative operation value with a lifetime threshold;
• and
• determine that the article reaches a determined lifetime when the cumulative operation value equals or surpasses the lifetime threshold,
• wherein at least one of the cumulative operation value and the lifetime threshold is based, in part, on information indicative of user inhalation characteristics when using the article for generating aerosol from the stored aerosol-generating material.