Configurable hearing device for use with an assistive listening system

• US 10,271,149 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Solum, Jeffrey Paul, Haubrich, Greg, Flood, Stephen Paul, Burwinkel, Justin R., Sacha, Michael Karl, Mesfin, Yezihalem, Mustiere, Fred, Harianwala, Jumana, Reynolds, Donald James, Gandhi, Swapan
• Primary Examiner(s): Etesam, Amir H
• Application Number:
  US15/342,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20180124526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/72 in cryptographic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• 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 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/77 Graphical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A hearing device adapted for use by a wearer comprises an audio streaming circuit configured to receive electromagnetic audio streaming via a first communication link. A configuration circuit is configured to receive configuration parameters via a second communication link different from the first communication link for configuring the hearing device to receive the electromagnetic audio streaming. Control circuitry of the hearing device configures the hearing device to enable reception of the electromagnetic audio streaming in accordance with the received configuration parameters.

Claims

1. A hearing device adapted for use by a wearer, the hearing device comprising:

an audio streaming circuit configured to establish wireless connectivity with an electromagnetic audio streaming source via a first communication link, the audio streaming circuit configured to receive stream identifiers for a plurality of electromagnetic audio streams;

a configuration circuit configured to receive configuration parameters comprising a predetermined stream identifier via a second communication link different from the first communication link for configuring the hearing device to receive electromagnetic audio streaming from the electromagnetic audio streaming source, the configuration circuit configured to select an electromagnetic audio stream from the plurality of electromagnetic audio streams that includes the predetermined stream identifier; and

control circuitry that configures the hearing device to enable reception of the selected electromagnetic audio stream in accordance with the received configuration parameters and to play the selected audio stream to the wearer'"'"'s ear.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the second communication link is an out of band link.

3. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the first communication link comprises a long-range communication link configured to communicatively couple the electromagnetic audio streaming source and the hearing device; and

the second communication link comprises a short-range communication link configured to communicatively couple a source of the configuration parameters and the hearing device.

4. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the audio streaming circuit comprises a Bluetooth®

Low Energy transceiver for establishing the first communication link; and

the hearing device comprises a second communication device configured to establish an out of band link as the second communication link.

5. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the hearing device comprises a magnetic or optical sensor; and

the second communication link comprises a link between a source of the configuration parameters and the magnetic or optical sensor.

6. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the configuration parameters are encoded in an acoustic or ultrasonic signal; and

the second communication link comprises a link between a source of the acoustic or ultrasonic signal and a microphone of the hearing device.

7. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the hearing device comprises a demodulator;

the configuration parameters are encoded in a modulated signal received by the hearing device via the second communication link; and

the demodulator is configured to demodulate the modulated signal to extract the configuration parameters.

8. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the second communication link comprises a link between the hearing device and a portable communication device; and

the configuration parameters received by the hearing device from the portable communication device are determined based on configuration information received by the portable communication device.

9. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the configuration circuit is configured to receive configuration parameters via the second communication link established between the hearing device and a beacon when the hearing device is within a predetermined distance from the beacon.

10. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the hearing device is communicatively coupled to an audio streaming source that outputs the selected audio stream without pairing with the audio streaming source.

11. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to modify operation of the hearing device in response to a triggering event associated with communicative coupling between the hearing device and an audio streaming source that outputs the selected audio stream.

12. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein:

the hearing device comprises a decryption circuit; and

the configuration parameters comprise a key usable by the decryption circuit to enable decryption of an encrypted audio stream received by the audio streaming circuit.

13. The hearing device of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is configured to disable the key in response to a predetermined event.

14. A method of communications for a hearing device configured for use by a wearer, comprising:

establishing wireless connectivity between an electromagnetic audio streaming source and the hearing device via a first communication link;

receiving configuration parameters by the hearing device via a second communication link different from the first communication link, the configuration parameters comprising a predetermined stream identifier;

receiving stream identifiers for a plurality of electromagnetic audio streams;

selecting an electromagnetic audio stream from the plurality of electromagnetic audio streams that includes the predetermined stream identifier;

configuring the hearing device to enable reception of the selected electromagnetic audio stream from the electromagnetic audio streaming source in accordance with the received configuration parameters; and

playing the selected electromagnetic audio stream to the wearer'"'"'s ear.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first communication link comprises a long-range communication link configured to communicatively couple the electromagnetic audio streaming source and the hearing device; and

the second communication link comprises a short-range out of band communication link configured to communicatively couple a source of the configuration parameters and the hearing device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected electromagnetic audio stream is received by the hearing device without being paired to the electromagnetic audio streaming source.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the configuration parameters comprise a decryption key; and

the method comprises decrypting the received audio streaming using the key.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising disabling the key in response to a predetermined event.