WO2024194265A1

WO2024194265A1 - An aerosol generation device comprising a communication module to determine positional information

Info

Publication number: WO2024194265A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/057175
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Groiss; Tilen CEGLAR; Jaakko MCEVOY
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2023-03-21
Filing date: 2024-03-18
Publication date: 2024-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-21

Abstract

An aerosol generation device comprising: a communication module configured to: communicate, using a first signal, with a first communication device; and communicate, using a second signal, with a second communication device; wherein positional information of the aerosol generation device is determined based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal.

Description

AN AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE COMPRISING A COMMUNICATION MODULE TO DETERMINE POSITIONAL INFORMATION

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generation device, a system for determining positional information of an aerosol generation device, a method of determining positional information of an aerosol generation device and a device for communicating with an aerosol generation device.

Background

The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers, vapour provision devices or aerosol generation devices) has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm aerosol precursor material as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products. Many kinds of electric smoking devices are available on the market.

A commonly available aerosol generation device is a heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable vaporizable material to a temperature typically in the range 150°C to 350°C. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not the toxic and carcinogenic by-products of combustion and burning. Furthermore, the aerosol produced by heating the tobacco or other aerosol precursor material does not typically comprise the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning that can be unpleasant for the user and so the substrate does not therefore require the sugars and other additives that are typically added to such materials to make the aerosol more palatable for the user.

Another commonly available aerosol generation device is an e-cigarette. The e- cigarette generates an aerosol from an aerosol precursor material, typically in liquid form. The e-cigarette often comprises a wicking material, for example cotton or ceramic, combined with a heater material, such as a wire or heater track. The aerosol generation device and/or consumable typically comprise reservoirs which retain the aerosol precursor material before the aerosol precursor material moves to the wicking material for aerosolisation. Aerosol generation devices are portable and relatively small being and are configured to be easily carried by a user.

It is the object of the invention to overcome at least some of the above referenced problems and improve the ease in which a user may locate an aerosol generation device.

Summary

According to the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol generation device including the features as set out in the claims.

In one example, there is provided an aerosol generation device comprising: a communication module configured to: communicate, using a first signal, with a first communication device; and communicate, using a second signal, with a second communication device; wherein positional information of the aerosol generation device is determined based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal.

Aerosol generation devices are portable, relatively small, and may often become lost if a user. The above-described device provides a means for determining accurate positional information of the aerosol generation device as it utilises a combination of two signals, rather than a single signal, which may be relatively inaccurate alone. This arrangement obviates the need for the aerosol generation device itself to include a positional module, such as a GPS tracker, or the like as instead, the position of the aerosol generation device can be determined based on the communication with the first communication device and the second communication device.

In one example the first signal comprises data indicative of a first distance between the first communication device and the aerosol generation device, the second signal comprises data indicative of a second distance between the second communication device and the aerosol generation device, wherein the positional information of the aerosol generation device is determined based on a combination of the data indicative of the first distance and the data indicative of the second distance. Combining data indicative of a first distance from a first communication device and data indicative of a second distance from a second communication device provides much more accurate positional information of the aerosol generation device compared with just using data indicative of a distance from one communication device. For example, a position of the aerosol generation device may be determined via triangulation.

In one example, the data indicative of the first distance is determined based on the signal strength of the first signal. In this example, metadata associated with the first signal may be used to determine the distance from between the first communication device and the aerosol generation device. That is to say that the first signal does not need to include separate data specifically relating to the distance information, but rather, the distance can be determined based on the properties of the first signal itself. In one example, the data indicative of the second distance is determined based on the signal strength of the second signal.

In one example, the positional information comprises a direction relative to one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device. Providing a direction in addition to the approximate distance would assist the user in locating the aerosol generation device and provide a significant advantage over merely providing a distance.

In one example, the positional information comprises a range of possible locations. That is to say that the positional information may be provided to within a certain limit (e.g. 0.1 m, 1 m or the like) or the positional information would be a common region bound by two circles. Providing a range of possible locations for a user would aid the user in locating the aerosol generation device.

In one example, the aerosol generation device is configured to transmit the determined positional information to one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device. In this way, the positional information would be easily accessible to the user via the first communication device or the second communication device. For example, the first communication device and/or the second communication device may comprise a display and the positional information may be displayed to a user. Alternatively, or in addition, the first communication device or the second communication device may comprise a speaker configured to inform the user of the positional information (e.g. 2m to the East of the first communication device). In one example, the first communication device and the second communication device are configured to communicate with the aerosol generation device (100) using wireless communication. In one example, the wireless communication is short-range wireless communication. In one example, the communication comprises one or more of: RFID; Bluetooth; Bluetooth Mesh; and/or Wi-Fi. These are established communication interfaces and are reliable.

In one example, the aerosol generation device comprises a data storage module configured to store the positional information of the aerosol generation device. Storing positional information on the aerosol generation device means that a user is able to access recent positional information of the aerosol generation device easily.

In one example, the aerosol generation device is configured to determine positional information of the aerosol generation device upon receiving a location request from a user. That is to say that a user may provide an input to the first communication device, the second communication device or aerosol generation device in order in order to initiate the determination of the positional information of the aerosol generation device. For example, if the first communication device is a mobile communication device then a user could provide an input to an application or the like to start the determination. In other examples, the first communication device and or the aerosol generation device may include a microphone and a user’s input may be an audible request to carry out the determination. This makes it easy for a user to start the determination process.

In one example, there is provided a system for determining positional information of an aerosol generation device, the system comprising: an aerosol generation device comprising a communication module; a first communication device for communicating a first signal with the aerosol generation device; a second communication device for communicating a second signal with the aerosol generation device; wherein the system is configured to determine positional information of the aerosol generation device based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal. Aerosol generation devices are portable, relatively small, and may often become lost if a user. The above-described system provides a means for determining accurate positional information of the aerosol generation device as it utilises a combination of two signals, rather than a single signal, which may be relatively inaccurate alone. In one example, the one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device comprises or is one or more of: an internet router; a mobile communication device; and/or a communication enabled speaker. These are common in households and so would be readily available to work with aerosol generation device.

In one example, there is provided a method of determining positional information of an aerosol generation device comprising a communication module, the method comprising: processing a first signal from a first communication device for communicating with the aerosol generation device; processing a second signal from a second communication device for communicating with the aerosol generation device; determining positional information of the aerosol generation device based on a combination of the first signal and second signal. Aerosol generation devices are portable, relatively small, and may often become lost if a user. The above-described method provides a means for determining accurate positional information of the aerosol generation device as it utilises a combination of two signals, rather than a single signal, which may be relatively inaccurate alone. In this example, processing includes either receiving the first signal and second signal or determining the first signal and second signal.

In one example, the first signal comprises data indicative of a first distance between the first communication device and the aerosol generation device, wherein the second signal comprises data indicative of a second distance between the second communication device and the aerosol generation device, wherein the positional information of the aerosol generation device is determined based on a combination of the data indicative of the first distance and the data indicative of the second distance. Combining data indicative of a first distance from a first communication device and data indicative of a second distance from a second communication device provides much more accurate positional information of the aerosol generation device compared with just using data indicative of a distance from one communication device.

In one example, the method includes the step of receiving an input from a user to locate the aerosol generation device; and providing an indication of the positional information to aid a user in locating the aerosol generation device. This makes it easy for a user to start the determination process. In one example, there is provided a first communication device for communicating with an aerosol generation device comprising: a communication module configured to communicate, using a first signal, with said aerosol generation device; and receive a second signal indicative of a distance between a second communication device and said aerosol generation device; wherein positional information of said aerosol generation device is determined based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal. The communication device provides an efficient way of a user being able to accurately determine positional information of the aerosol generation device.

The above features all relate to the problem of efficiently locating an aerosol generation device.

The above features may be combined in various combinations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic example of an aerosol generation device comprising a communication module;

Figure 2 shows a schematic example of a device for communicating with an aerosol generation device;

Figure 3 shows a schematic example of an aerosol generation device, a first communication device and a second communication device;

Figure 4 shows a schematic example of an aerosol generation device, a first communication device and a second communication device; and

Figure 5 shows an example of a flow chart of a method for determining positional information of an aerosol generation device.

Detailed Description

As used herein, the term “aerosol precursor material”, “vapour precursor material” or “vaporizable material” are used synonymously and may refer to a material and/or composition, which may for example comprise nicotine or tobacco and a vaporising agent. The aerosol precursor material is configured to release an aerosol when heated or otherwise mechanically stimulated (such as by vibrations). Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco. Nicotine may be in the form of nicotine salts. Suitable vaporising agents include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin. In some examples, the aerosol precursor material is substantially a liquid that holds or comprises one or more solid particles, such as tobacco. An aerosol generation device is configured to aerosolise an aerosol precursor material without combustion in order to facilitate delivery of an aerosol to a user. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms “vapour” and “aerosol”, and related terms such as “vaporize”, “volatilize” and “aerosolise”, may generally be used interchangeably.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generation device” is synonymous with “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a device configured to heat an aerosol precursor material and deliver an aerosol to a user. The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, which can be controlled by a user input.

Figure 1 shows a schematic example of an aerosol generation device 100. The aerosol generation device may include a heater/vibrator/electrode 102 configured to deliver energy to an aerosol precursor material 104 located therein to generate aerosol for a user to inhale. The aerosol generation device 100 includes a communication module 106 configured to transmit and receive signals with compatible devices.

In one example, the communication module 106 comprises a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver used to establish a communicative interaction with a corresponding Bluetooth transmitter/receiver. The communication module 106 may comprise a Wi-Fi antenna used to establish a Wi-Fi connection with a Wi-Fi access point. The communication module 106 may include other communication antennas to establish a wireless connection with compatible devices. In one example, the communication module 106 is configured to establish a communication connection between a network and the aerosol generation device 100. The aerosol generation device 100 may be communicatively coupled with a server (not shown) via the network.

In one example, the aerosol generation device 100 comprises a data storage module 108 configured to store the positional information of the aerosol generation device 100.

Figure 2 shows a schematic example of a mobile device 200 for communicating with an aerosol generation device 100. The mobile device 200 includes a communication module 206. The communication module 206 may be similar or identical to the communication module 106 described above in relation to the aerosol generation device 100. That is to say that it may comprise a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver, Wi-Fi antenna, or other similar communications interface configured to connect with a network and/or communication device. In one example, the mobile device 200 is a “smartphone”, but other devices such as laptops/tablets are envisaged.

Figure 3 shows a schematic example of system including an aerosol generation device 100, a first communication device 300a and a second communication device 300b. In examples, more than two communication devices may be present in the system.

The first and second communication devices 300a, 300b may be any “smart” device configured to electronically communication the aerosol generation device 100 and/or mobile device 200 via the communication module 106 or communication module 206 respectively. For example, the first and second communication devices 300a, 300b may include or be any loT device that is capable of communicatively connecting with one or more of the aerosol generation device 100 and the mobile device 200. For example, there are many communication devices in the home that are suitable for connecting to the Wi-Fi or have a Bluetooth connection. For example, lightbulbs, light switches, speakers, laptops, tablets, alarm systems, smart thermostats, computing devices amongst others may all be considered to be communication devices within the definition of the specification.

In the example shown in Figure 3, the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device 100 establishes a connection with the first communication device 300a and a connection with the second communication device 300b. In other words, a first signal is established between the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device 100 and the first communication device 300a and a second signal is established between the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device 100 and the second communication device 300b.

The location of the first communication device 300a and the second communication device 300b may be known to a reasonable degree of accuracy. For example, they may both have a positional module, such as a GPS module, or the like, configured to provide location information. Alternatively, or in addition, the first communication device 300a and the second communication device 300b may be set in predetermined positions at a location. That is to say that they may be installed at fixed, known positions.

Positional information of the aerosol generation device 100 is determined based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal.

In one example, the first signal comprises data indicative of a first distance between the first communication device 300a and the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device 100. The second signal may comprise data indicative of a second distance between the second communication device 300b and the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device100. In one example, the data may be metadata of the signal itself, such as a strength of the signal. In some examples, the power or strength at which the signal is transmitted from the first communication device 300a is included in the first signal itself and so the communication module can determine the attenuation of the signal (and hence distance) based on the received first signal. The second signal may also include power or strength at which the signal is transmitted from the second communication device 300b in the same way.

In some examples, the metadata may comprise time of flight information of the signal. Transmitting the data using Wi-Fi provides possibilities for using this function. In one example, the signal could comprise a light or sound component that from which the time of flight could be determined.

In these examples, positional information of the aerosol generation device 100 is determined based on a combination of the data indicative of the first distance and the data indicative of the second distance. That is to say that the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device may determine a distance to the first communication device 300a based on the first signal. The communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device 100 may determine a distance to the second communication device 300b based on the second signal. For example, the first signal may indicate that the aerosol generation module 100 is located within a first radius, as shown by the first circle 302a in Figure 3. The second signal may indicate that the aerosol generation module 100 is located within a second radius, as shown by the second circle 302b in Figure 3. This arrangement obviates the need for the aerosol generation device itself to include a positional module, such as a GPS tracker, or the like as instead, the position of the aerosol generation device 100 can be approximately determined based on the communication with the first communication device 300a and the second communication device.

In one example, the communication module 106 comprises multiple antennas. Using multiple antennas can assist that the communication module 106 can determine the direction from which a signal is received. For example, a first antenna positioned at a first location on the aerosol generation device 100 may receive a signal before the signal is received at a second antenna at a second location on the aerosol generation device indicating that the first antenna is closer to the source of the signal compared with the second antenna. Including more antennas as part of the communication module 106 will increase the accuracy of the determined direction.

In the example shown in Figure 3, the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device 100 will determine that the aerosol generation device 100 is located in the common region of the first circle 302a and the second circle 302b. In other words, the positional information may comprise a range of possible locations of the aerosol generation device 100.

In one example, the positional information comprises a direction relative to one or more of the first communication device 300a and the second communication device 300b. For example, in Figure 3, the aerosol generation device 100 is located approximately to the East of the first communication device 300a. As such, the positional information may include details of the direction from one of the first communication device 300a or the second communication device 300b. In one example, the communication module 106 may share the positional information with one or more of the first communication device 300a and the second communication device 300b. For example, the communication module 106 may transmit the positional information of the aerosol generation device to the first communication device 300a and/or the second communication device 300b. In this case, a user looking for their aerosol generation device 100 may acquire positional information from the first communication device 300a or second communication device 300b. For example, the first communication device 300a may comprise a speaker, display or other communications means to communicate with a user to provide the positional information. The display may show a map similar to that shown in Figure 2 or 3 along. The display could also show approximate directions to the aerosol generation device 100 (e.g. approximately 2 metres east to North East of the first communication device and 2 metres West to Southwest of the second communication device. A speaker could list these directions to the user.

The first communication device 300a and the second communication device 300b may be configured to communicate with the aerosol generation device 100 using various forms of communications. For example, the communication may be wireless. In some examples, the communication may be short-range wireless. In some examples, the communication may include one or more of, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Mesh; RFID and/or Wi-Fi. Bluetooth is a viable technology and many communication devices includes this functionality. Bluetooth mesh is over an extended range, provides resilience through multiple paths, is power efficient and can work on existing Bluetooth 4.0 hardware or above. RFID is a viable technology and can be used over large distance and many devices include this technology.

Figure 4 shows an example of a similar system shown in Figure 3. In this example, the first communication device 300a is in the form of a mobile device 200, such as a smart phone or tablet. That is to say that in examples, the first communication device 300a and/or the second communication device 300b may be in the form of a mobile device 200 as described above in relation to Figure 2. The mobile device 200 would typically comprise a positional tracker, such a GPS tracker or the like, to determine a position of the mobile device 200.

In this example, an accurate location of the aerosol generation device 100 may be determined in a similar manner to that described in Figure 3. In one example, the first communication device 300a and/or the second communication device 300b comprises one or more of: an internet router, a smart mobile device 200, a communication enabled speaker, smart light switch, smart thermostat, smart LED, smart coffee machines, smart toaster, smart oven, smart microwaves, smart TV, smart radio, smart home assistants etc and/or any other communication enabled device. Many of these devices are set up at specific spots in the home.

In one example, the aerosol generation device 100 is configured to determine positional information of the aerosol generation device 100 upon receiving an input or location request from a user. For example, a user may indicate to one of the aerosol generation device 100, the first communication device 300a and/or the second communication device 300b that the aerosol generation device 300 needs locating, which may initiate the procedure to determine the positional information.

In the example shown in Figure 4, the determination of positional information may occur at the aerosol generation device 100 or the mobile device 200. In some examples, the processing may occur outside of either of these devices. For example, the aerosol generation device 100 may comprise a controller configured to receive information from the communication module 106 and process the received information to determine the positional information of the aerosol generation device 100. Alternatively, the first communication device or second communication device 100 may comprise a controller configured to receive information from the communication module 206 and process the received information to determine the positional information of the aerosol generation device 100.

For example, in Figure 4, the mobile device 200 may establish a communicative connection, using a first signal, with the aerosol generation device 100 using one of the above-described communication methods (e.g. Bluetooth, Bluetooth mesh, Wi-Fi, RFID, etc.). The communication module 206 of the mobile device 200 may establish this communication with the communication module 106 of the aerosol generation device.

In addition, the aerosol generation device 100 may establish a communicative connection, using a second signal, with a second communication device 300b. As described above, the second signal comprises data indicative of a distance between the aerosol generation device 100 and the second communication device 300b. In some examples, the second signal may be transmitted to the mobile device 200 and/or data indicative of a distance between the aerosol generation device 100 and the second communication device 300b may be transmitted to the mobile device 200 either from the second communication device 300b or the aerosol generation device 100.

Using similar techniques as described above, the mobile device 200 may then determine positional information of the aerosol generation device based on a combination of the first signal and second signal. In this example, the mobile device 200 performs the processing.

In one example, the aerosol generation device 100 may be in a low power “sleep state” in which the communication module 106 is not operational and therefore, it would not be able to establish a communication with the first communication device 300a and the second communication device 300b.

The aerosol generation device 100 may be configured to briefly change to a higher power mode after a period of time in order to check if a user has attempted to determine positional information of the aerosol generation device 100. That is to say that the aerosol generation device 100 may briefly “wake-up” and check with a “friendly” device such as the first communication device 300a and/or the second communication device 300b if they have attempted to contact the aerosol generation device 100 in the period in which the aerosol generation device 100 was in the low power mode and forward the messages to the aerosol generation device 100 if so. This function may save energy as it enables the aerosol generation device 100 to occasionally operate in a low power “sleep state”.

In some examples, the communication module 106 on the aerosol generation device 100 may default to be switched off when the aerosol generation device 100 is not in active use. In this example, the aerosol generation device may comprise a secondary communication module which may draw less power compared with the communication module 106. The secondary communication module may be configured to detect received “location request” communication from the first communication device 300a and/or second communication device 300b and activate the communication module 106 in response to the location request communication being detected. This feature enables positional information of the aerosol generation device 100 to be determined even when the communication module 106 is in an off or lower power state.

Figure 5 shows an example of a flow chart of method steps for determining positional information of an aerosol generation device 100 comprising a communication module 106.

Step 400 relates to the step of receiving or determining a first signal from a first communication device 300a for communicating with the aerosol generation device 100.

For example, if the processing is carried out at the aerosol generation device 100 or the first communication device 300a then they will both have access to the first signal between them. As described above, the first signal may comprise data indicative of a distance between first communication device 300a and the aerosol generation device 100.

Step 402 relates to the step of receiving or determining a second signal from a second communication device 300b for communicating with the aerosol generation device 100.

In this example, if the processing is carried out at the aerosol generation device 100, then it will have access to the second signal already. If the processing is carried out by the first communication device 300a then the second signal will need to be transmitted to the first communication device 300a by the aerosol generation device 100 or the second communication device 300b. As described above, the second signal may comprise data indicative of a distance between second communication device 300a and the aerosol generation device 100.

Step 404 relates to the step of determining positional information of the aerosol generation device 100 based on a combination of the first signal and second signal.

The method may also include the steps of receiving an input from a user to locate the aerosol generation device. The input may be received via a microphone or user interface or the like. The microphone/user interface may be located on the first communication device 300a, the second communication device 300b or the aerosol generation device 100. Upon receipt of the indication, a speaker/display/user interface may be configured to provide an indication of the positional information to aid a user in locating the aerosol generation device 100.

Although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims and as described above.

Claims

1. An aerosol generation device (100) comprising: a communication module (106) configured to: communicate, using a first signal, with a first communication device (300a); and communicate, using a second signal, with a second communication device (300b); wherein positional information of the aerosol generation device (100) is determined based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal.

2. The aerosol generation device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first signal comprises data indicative of a first distance between the first communication device (300a) and the aerosol generation device (100), wherein the second signal comprises data indicative of a second distance between the second communication device and the aerosol generation device (100), wherein the positional information of the aerosol generation device (100) is determined based on a combination of the data indicative of the first distance and the data indicative of the second distance.

3. The aerosol generation device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the data indicative of the first distance is determined based on the signal strength of the first signal.

4. The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the positional information comprises a direction relative to one or more of the first communication device (300a) and the second communication device (300b).

5. The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the positional information comprises a range of possible locations.

6. The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generation device (100) is configured to transmit the determined positional information to one or more of the first communication device (300a) and the second communication device (300b).

7. The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are configured to communicate with the aerosol generation device (100) using one or more of:

RFID;

Bluetooth;

Bluetooth Mesh; and/or Wi-Fi.

8. The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a data storage module (108) configured to store the positional information of the aerosol generation device (100).

9. The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generation device (100) is configured to determine positional information of the aerosol generation device (100) upon receiving a location request from a user.

10. A system for determining positional information of an aerosol generation device (100), the system comprising: an aerosol generation device (100) comprising a communication module (106); a first communication device (300a) for communicating a first signal with the aerosol generation device (100); a second communication device (300b) for communicating a second signal with the aerosol generation device (100); wherein the system is configured to determine positional information of the aerosol generation device (100) based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein one or more of the first communication device (300a) and the second communication device (300b) comprises or is one or more of: an internet router; a mobile communication device; and/or a communication enabled speaker.

12. A method of determining positional information of an aerosol generation device (100) comprising a communication module (106), the method comprising: processing a first signal from a first communication device (300a) for communicating with the aerosol generation device (100); processing a second signal from a second communication device (300b) for communicating with the aerosol generation device (100); determining positional information of the aerosol generation device (100) based on a combination of the first signal and second signal.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising: wherein the first signal comprises data indicative of a first distance between the first communication device (300a) and the aerosol generation device (100), wherein the second signal comprises data indicative of a second distance between the second communication device (300b) and the aerosol generation device (100), wherein the positional information of the aerosol generation device (100) is determined based on a combination of the data indicative of the first distance and the data indicative of the second distance.

14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, the method comprising: receiving an input from a user to locate the aerosol generation device (100); and providing an indication of the positional information to aid a user in locating the aerosol generation device (100).

15. A first communication device (300a) for communicating with an aerosol generation device (100) comprising: a communication module (206) configured to: communicate, using a first signal, with said aerosol generation device (100); and receive a second signal indicative of a distance between a second communication device (300b) and said aerosol generation device (100); wherein positional information of said aerosol generation device (100) is determined based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal.