Digital marketing applications for electronic cigarette users

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11517042-B2
Application number	US-201313949988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2013
Priority date	Apr 25, 2012
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

An electronic cigarette (“e-Cig”) may include functionality for targeted marketing. The marketing may be through communications with a computing device, such as a smartphone. For example, a smartphone application may be used for monitoring e-Cig usage and collecting data regarding the user and the usage. That data may result in targeted marketing. In another example, location information may also be used for targeted advertisements from a retailer.

First claim

We claim:

1. An electronic vaping device comprising:
a cartridge including a first liquid container configured to retain a first liquid and a second liquid container configured to contain a second liquid;
a communications interface configured to communicate with a mobile device; and
a controller coupled to the communications interface, the controller configured to indicate, to the mobile device, when the electronic vaping device is activated, the electronic vaping device being activated in response to a pressure difference resulting from airflow through the electronic vaping device, and the controller being further configured to monitor vaping metrics for the electronic vaping device and to determine whether to draw from one or more of the first liquid container or the second liquid container based on the vaping metrics;
wherein the mobile device is configured to provide targeted marketing communications in response to the controller indicating the electronic vaping device is activated;
wherein the targeted marketing communications are based on whether the cartridge is added to the electronic vaping device or removed from the electronic vaping device, and the vaping metrics for the electronic vaping device; and
wherein the vaping metrics include a vaping frequency, a type of the liquid, nicotine levels, strength of draw, length of draw, a time of vaping, or any combination thereof.

2. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises:
a heating element configured to heat liquid drawn from the first liquid container; and
a wick configured to draw the liquid from the first liquid container.

3. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the targeted marketing communications include an upsell based on a liquid or a cross-sell for a related cartridge.

4. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the targeted marketing communications include coupons.

5. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein
the mobile device is further configured to receive locations of nearby retailers, and to determine a proximity of the mobile device to the locations of nearby retailers based on the location of the mobile device; and
the targeted marketing communications include offers for the nearby retailers.

6. The electronic vaping device of claim 5 , wherein the electronic vaping device stores a retail location where the cartridge was sold, and the mobile device is further configured to provide targeted marketing communications for the retail location.

7. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein
the mobile device is further configured to track vaping patterns associated with the electronic vaping device when the controller indicates the electronic vaping device is activated, the vaping patterns being based on the vaping metrics for the electronic vaping device; and
the targeted marketing communications are further based on the vaping patterns associated with the electronic vaping device.

8. The electronic vaping device of claim 7 , wherein the vaping patterns include patterns associated with the vaping frequency, the type of liquid, the nicotine levels, the strength of draw, the length of draw, the time of vaping, or any combination thereof.

9. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to
determine vaping patterns associated with the electronic vaping device based on the vaping metrics; and wherein
the targeted marketing communications are based on the vaping patterns associated with the electronic vaping device.

10. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the communications interface is configured to provide the targeted marketing communications at the mobile device.

11. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is configured to adjust settings associated with the electronic vaping device.

12. The electronic vaping device of claim 11 , wherein the settings include temperature, vapor preference, droplet size, nicotine content, taste, degree of liquid depletion, vapor generation, vaping limits, or any combination thereof.

13. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with a controller of another electronic vaping device and with another mobile device.

14. The electronic vaping device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first section including the cartridge;
a second section including the communications interface and the controller, the first section configured to be removably coupled to the second section; and
an identification code on an exterior surface of the first section;
wherein the mobile device is configured to read the identification code and determine a type and a taste of the cartridge.

15. The electronic vaping device of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the electronic vaping device in response to the mobile device reading the identification code.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Gorelick Joseph G
• Peleg Eyal
• Levy Dorron
• Levitz Robert
• Juster Bernard G

Classifications

• A24F40/65

  Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. wireless communication means · CPC title

• A24F40/00

  Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A24F13/02 Primary

  Cigar or cigarette holders (mouthpieces A24F7/00; producing tubular cigar or cigarette holders from plastics or from substances in a plastic state B29D23/14) · CPC title

• A24F40/30

  Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges · CPC title

• A24F40/53

  Monitoring, e.g. fault detection · CPC title