Abstract: A replacement abstract is included on the final page of this document.

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating article including at least one component incorporating a taggant within a material of the component, the taggant including an identifiable spectroscopic signature; a cavity configured to at least partially receive the aerosol-generating article; at least one heating element; a power supply configured to supply power to the at least one heating element; electrical hardware connected to the power supply and the at least one heating element; and a detector configured to detect a presence of the aerosol-generating article in the cavity and to distinguish the aerosol-generating article from other articles configured for use with the aerosol-generating system, based on the taggant incorporated within the material of the aerosol-generating article, in which the electrical hardware is configured to establish a heating protocol for the heating element based on the particular aerosol-generating article distinguished by the

Abstract: A charger may be used as a social recharge hub that charges aerosol-generating devices and facilitate social connections. The charger may be able to charge a plurality of batteries concurrently or simultaneously. The charger may capable of associating a battery identifier of one or more batteries to a user. The user may also be associated with an aerosol-generating device and to a mobile user device. The charger may establish a connection with the mobile user device and communicate to the mobile user device using a communication interface. User data, such as preferences, interests, and even music, may be communicated from the mobile user device to the charger and may be used to facilitate social opportunities for the user, particularly in a public or social space with other users, or to make the space around the user more comfortable.

Abstract: A method of controlling an aerosol-generating system, and the associated system, are provided. The system includes an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device having a detector configured to detect the presence of the article and to distinguish the article from other articles configured for use with the system, based on a spectroscopic signature of a taggant incorporated within a material of the article. The method includes detecting the presence of the article; determining whether the article includes a taggant; comparing the spectroscopic signature of the detected taggant with a look-up table of taggant spectroscopic signatures corresponding to articles configured for use with the system; preventing activation of the device, including preventing the supply of power to a heating element unless the detected taggant spectroscopic signature corresponds to an article configured for use with the system; and activating the device if the detected signature corresponds to the article.

Abstract: A charger may be used as a social recharge hub that charges aerosol-generating devices and facilitate social connections. The charger may be able to charge a plurality of batteries concurrently or simultaneously. The charger may capable of associating a battery identifier of one or more batteries to a user. The user may also be associated with an aerosol-generating device and to a mobile user device. The charger may establish a connection with the mobile user device and communicate to the mobile user device using a communication interface. User data, such as preferences, interests, and even music, may be communicated from the mobile user device to the charger and may be used to facilitate social opportunities for the user, particularly in a public or social space with other users, or to make the space around the user more comfortable.

Abstract: A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array. The elongate array has a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension. The array is arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol. The third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension. An electrically heated aerosol generating system can include the heater.

Abstract: A method of providing maintenance services to at least one user of an electrically operated smoking device using an automatic testing apparatus is provided, the method including: making the automatic testing apparatus publicly accessible; determining a connection of the electrically operated smoking device to the automatic testing apparatus; performing automatic electrical testing of the electrically operated smoking device; automatically extracting usage data from the electrically operated smoking device; and performing a software update or a software reset of the electrically operated smoking device; and/or automatically generating an electrical test report based on the performed automatic electrical testing, automatically providing the electrical test report together with a recommended action to the at least one user, and automatically sending or saving the electrical test report together with the automatically extracted usage data to a data store.

Abstract: A shisha device article includes a vessel and an aerosol-generating element. The vessel defines an interior configured to contain a volume of liquid. The vessel also includes a head space outlet. The aerosol-generating element is in fluid connection with the vessel. The aerosol-generating element includes (i) a cartridge receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substrate; (ii) a heating element defining at least two surfaces of the cartridge receptacle; and (iii) an aerosol outlet in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle and a fresh air inlet channel in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle. The fresh air inlet channel is arranged to preheat air prior to the air entering the cartridge receptacle.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form the aerosol and a power supply for supplying power to the at least one healing element. The power supply includes a voltage source, two or more supercapacitors, and switches between the voltage source and the two or more supercapacitors. The switches are arranged so that, during a charging mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to be charged by the voltage source and, during a heating mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to discharge through the at least one heating element.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate is provided, including one or more electric aerosol-generating elements; one or more hybrid capacitors configured to supply power to the one or more electric aerosol-generating elements; and a voltage source configured to supply power to the one or more hybrid capacitors to charge the one or more hybrid capacitors.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form the aerosol and a power supply for supplying power to the at least one heating element. The power supply includes a voltage source, two or more supercapacitors, and switches between the voltage source and the two or more supercapacitors. The switches are arranged so that, during a charging mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to be charged by the voltage source and, during a heating mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to discharge through the at least one heating element.

Abstract: A shisha consumable cartridge includes a housing having an exterior surface sized and shaped for operable insertion into a shisha device. The cartridge further includes a first chamber in the housing; a first aerosol-generating substrate in the first chamber; a second chamber in the housing and adjacent to the first chamber. A second aerosol-generating substrate in the second chamber. The compositions of the first aerosol-generating substrate and the second aerosol-generating substrate may be the same or different. The first chamber defines a first fresh air inlet and an opposing first aerosol outlet, such that, in use, fresh air entering the first fresh air inlet carries aerosol generated from through the first aerosol outlet. The second chamber defines a second fresh air inlet and an opposing second aerosol outlet, such that, in use, fresh air entering the second fresh air inlet carries aerosol generated from through the second aerosol outlet.

Abstract: A method for supplying products for electrically operated smoking systems is provided, including: delivering to a remote user device from a central server over a network connection order option information associated with a vending machine; receiving an order from the remote user device, the order including an indication of a product available from the vending machine, and user identification information; retrieving registered user information, including user authentication information associated with user identification information; receiving user authentication information from a user; and if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, delivering the product to the user at the vending machine.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.

Abstract: A device (100) for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a heater (160), a receptacle inlet (143) and outlet (147), and an air inlet channel (170). The heater includes a heating element, an internal surface, and an external surface. The internal surface defines at least a portion of a receptacle (140) configured to receive the aerosol-forming substrate or a cartridge comprising the aerosol-forming substrate. The receptacle inlet is in communication with, and upstream of, the receptacle. The receptacle outlet is in communication with, and downstream of, the receptacle. The air inlet channel is in communication with an ambient environment and the receptacle inlet. The air inlet channel defines a tortuous path between the ambient environment and the receptacle inlet. The air inlet channel is positioned relative to the heater to cause air in the tortuous path to be heated by the heater.

Abstract: A shisha cartridge comprises a body defining a cavity. An aerosol-forming substrate is disposed in the cavity. The cartridge also comprises a heatable surface area. The ratio of the heatable surface area of the cartridge to the volume of the cavity is in a range from about 1 cm?1 to about 4 cm?1. The maximum inner width of the cavity may be 4 cm. The height of the cavity may be 3 cm or greater.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form an aerosol, a power supply for supplying power to the heating element, electrical hardware connected to the power supply and the heating element, and an interface for establishing a communications link with a host. The communications link may be a USB link and the host may be a personal computer.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form an aerosol, a power supply for supplying power to the heating element, electrical hardware connected to the power supply and the heating element, and an interface for establishing a communications link with a host. The communications link can be a USB link and the host can be a personal computer.

Abstract: A smoking article includes identification information encoded on the smoking article. The smoking article can be used with an electrically heated smoking system having a detector for detecting the smoking article and distinguishing the smoking article from other articles based on the identification information. A cleaning article includes identification information encoded on the cleaning article. The cleaning article cleans an electrically heated smoking system having a detector for detecting the cleaning article and distinguishing the cleaning article from other articles based on the identification information.