Method and system for remotely upgrading a hearing aid device

• US 7,200,237 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ototronix, LLC
• Original Assignee: Apherma Corporation
• Inventors: Hou, Zezhang, Zhang, Chaoying
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US10/037,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 381/58, 381/60, 381/314, 381/323, 381/313, 381/312, 379/102.1, 379/52, 700/65, 700 86- 87, 709/217, 709/219, 709/218, 717168-178, 600/559, 735/85
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

Improved approaches are disclosed to update existing hearing devices by downloading software resources over a network from a remote server to a local client. The software resources are then stored in the existing hearing devices, thereby upgrading the functionality or operation of the existing hearing devices. Accordingly, existing hearing devices are able to be upgraded at convenient locations in a largely automated fashion. The invention is particularly useful for hearing aids or other sound systems for the hearing impaired.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading a hearing aid device, said method comprising:

(a) reading device information from the hearing aid device, the device information including at least a model indication and a serial number;

(b) sending the device information to a hearing aid upgrade server via a network;

(c) subsequently receiving upgrade data from the hearing aid upgrade server via the network, the upgrade data being obtained at the hearing aid upgrade sewer based on the device information; and

(d) upgrading the hearing aid device based on the upgrade data.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said upgrading (d) comprises programming the hearing aid device in accordance with the upgrade data.

3. A method as recited in claim 2,

wherein said method is performed by a local programming station that operatively connects to the hearing aid upgrade sewer via the network, and

wherein the local programming station is operatively connected to the hearing aid device.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the local programming station is provided at a hearing aid dispensing office.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hearing aid device comprises a reprogrammable memory, and

wherein said upgrading (d) comprises programming the reprogrammable memory of the hearing aid device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said programming of the reprogrammable memory operates to store an algorithm in the hearing aid device, the algorithm being used to enhance sound signals for a user of the bearing aid device.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the network is the Internet and wherein said method is implemented by a computer.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method is implemented by a computer.

10. A method for upgrading a hearing aid device, said method comprising:

connecting the hearing aid device to a bearing aid programming system;

electronically reading device information from the hearing aid device to the hearing aid programming system, the device information including at least a model indication and a serial number;

coupling the hearing aid programming system to a remote hearing aid upgrade server through a network;

requesting upgraded software for the hearing aid device from the remote hearing aid upgrade server based on the device information;

receiving, at the hearing aid programming system, upgraded software for the hearing aid device from the remote hearing aid upgrade server through the network; and

installing the upgraded software for the hearing aid device in the hearing aid device, whereby the hearing aid device thereafter operates in accordance with the upgraded software.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether the hearing aid device is suitable for upgrade based on die device information.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises

entering at least a password into the bearing aid programming system;

and

validating the password at the remote hearing aid upgrade server.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said validating of the password must be successful in order for said receiving of the upgraded software to be performed.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the hearing aid device comprises a reprogrammable memory, and

wherein said installing comprises programming the reprogrammable memory of the hearing aid device in accordance with the upgraded software.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said programming of the reprogrammable memory operates to store the upgraded software in the hearing aid device, the upgraded software being used to enhance sound signals for a user of the hearing aid device.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the network is the Internet.

17. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said reading is performed by electronically reading the device information.

18. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said requesting of the upgraded software sends the device information to the remote hearing aid upgrade server.

19. A method as recited in claim 18,

wherein said receiving comprises receiving returned device information from the remote hearing aid upgrade server through the network, and

wherein said installing operates to install the upgraded software in the bearing aid device only when the device information obtained by said reading matches the returned device information.

20. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying a notification message that the hearing aid device has been modified such that refitting is needed.

21. A method for providing software to upgrade a hearing aid device from a remote hearing aid server, said method comprising:

receiving a request from a requesting machine to upgrade software for the hearing aid device;

receiving device information for the hearing aid device from the requesting machine;

determining appropriate upgraded software for the hearing aid device based on the device information;

sending the appropriate upgraded software to the requesting device;

sending returned device information to the requesting device;

comparing the returned device information with the device information for the heating aid device available from said receiving of the device information; and

thereafter upgrading the hearing aid device in accordance with the appropriate upgraded software provided to the requesting device when said comparing indicates that the returned device information matches the device information for the hearing aid device.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the device information is electronically read from the hearing aid device.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the device information comprises at least a model indication and a serial number.

24. A method as recited in claim 21,

wherein said comparing is performed at the requesting device, and

wherein said updating of the hearing aid device is prevented when said comparing indicates that the returned device information does not match the device information for the hearing aid device available from said receiving of the device information.

25. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a password provided by a requestor at the requesting device and validating the requestor based on the received password.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said method further comprises:

preventing said sending of the appropriate upgraded software to the requesting device when said validating indicates that the requestor is not validated.

27. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for upgrading a hearing aid device, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for reading device information from the hearing aid device, the device information including at least a model indication and a serial number;

computer program code for sending die device information to a hearing aid upgrade server via a network;

computer program code for subsequently receiving upgrade data from the hearing aid upgrade server via the network, the upgrade data being obtained at the hearing aid upgrade server based on the device information;

computer program code for sending returned device information to the requesting device;

computer program code for comparing the returned device information with the device information for the hearing aid device available from said receiving of the device information; and

computer program code for upgrading the hearing aid device based on the upgrade data provided that said comparing indicates that the returned device information matches the device information for the hearing aid device.

28. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for upgrading a hearing aid device, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for connecting the hearing aid device to a hearing aid programming system;

computer program code for electronically reading device information from the hearing aid device to the hearing aid programming system, the device information including at least a model indication and a serial number;

computer program code for coupling the hearing aid programming system to a remote hearing aid upgrade server through a network;

computer program code for requesting upgraded software for the hearing aid device from the remote hearing aid upgrade server based on the device information;

computer program code for receiving, at the hearing aid programming system, upgraded software for the hearing aid device from the remote hearing aid upgrade server through the network; and

computer program code for installing the upgraded software for the hearing aid device in the hearing aid device, whereby the hearing aid device thereafter operates in accordance with the upgraded software.

29. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for upgrading a hearing aid device from a remotely located hearing aid server, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving a request from a requesting machine to upgrade the hearing aid device;

computer program code for receiving device information for the hearing aid device from the requesting machine, the received device information including at least a model indication and a serial number;

computer program code for determining appropriate upgrade data for the hearing aid device based on the device information; and

computer program code for sending the appropriate upgrade data to the requesting device;

computer program code for sending returned device information to the requesting device;

computer program code for comparing the returned device information with the received device information for the hearing aid device; and

computer program code for thereafter upgrading the hearing aid device in accordance with the appropriate upgraded software provided to the requesting device when the returned device information matches the received device information for the hearing aid device.

30. A hearing aid upgrade server apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a requesting machine to upgrade software for the hearing aid device;

means for receiving device information for the hearing aid device from the requesting machine, the device information including at least a model indication and a serial number;

means for determining appropriate upgraded software for the hearing aid device based on the device information; and

means for sending the appropriate upgraded software to the requesting device, whereby the appropriate upgraded software is thereafter installed on the hearing aid device.

31. A hearing aid upgrade server apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said apparatus further comprises:

means for authenticating a requestor initiating the request from the requesting machine.