Method and system for adjusting a hearing device

• US 20070230711A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Baechler, Patrick, Waldmann, Bernd, Lechner, Hubert, Menzl, Stefan, Hasler, Ivo, Brunner, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method for wirelessly adjusting one or more hearing devices (1, . . . , 3) with a central unit (4) is presented, the method comprising the steps of:

• • establishing a wireless network (6) wirelessly connecting the central unit (4) to hearing devices (1, . . . , 3), which are responsive to said wireless network (6),
  • detecting said hearing devices (1, . . . , 3),
  • identifying one or more of the detected hearing devices (1, . . . , 3,
  • selecting one or more of the identified hearing devices (1, . . . , 3),
  • establishing a wireless link from the central unit (4) to at least one of the identified hearing devices (1, . . . , 3), and
  • adjusting the at least one identified hearing device (1, . . . , 3).

Therewith, an audiologist is able to unambiguously assign one or two hearing devices (1, . . . , 3) in a fitting session, even if multiple hearing devices are within the range of the wireless network (6) or wireless transmitter, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly adjusting one or more hearing devices with a central unit, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless network wirelessly connecting the central unit to hearing devices, which are responsive to said wireless network,

detecting said hearing devices,

identifying one or more of the detected hearing devices,

selecting one or more of the identified hearing devices,

establishing a wireless link from the central unit to at least one of the identified hearing devices, and

adjusting the at least one identified hearing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying the detected hearing devices, preferably with additional identifier such as a model identifier or a serial number pertaining to the detected hearing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a detected hearing device comprises the steps of:

instructing, via the central unit, a detected hearing device to emit a signal, which preferably is an acoustic signal, and

assigning the instructed hearing device to the physical hearing device that emitted said signal.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of identifying a detected hearing device comprises the steps of:

stimulating a radio frequency identification tag provided at each detected hearing device to emit a radio frequency response containing an identification code,

receiving the radio frequency response, and

assigning the stimulated hearing device to the corresponding physical hearing device to which the identification code belongs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a detected hearing device comprises the steps of:

stimulating one of the detected hearing devices,

monitoring the detected hearing devices in the central unit for a response of the stimulation,

determining the hearing device in the central unit, for which hearing device a response has been detected, and

assigning the stimulated hearing device to the determined hearing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the hearing device is stimulated in one or more of the following manners:

provoking a feedback,

operating a remote control,

actuating volume control,

actuating program select switch,

inserting a battery,

closing a battery door.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network has a limited range such that only one hearing device is detected at the same time.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of identifying a detected hearing device comprises the steps of:

displaying an additional identifier of the detected hearing devices, said additional identifier being indicated on the hearing device housings,

comparing one or more displayed identifier to the ones indicated on the hearing device housings,

assigning a displayed detected hearing device to the physical hearing device having identical additional identifiers.

9. A system for wirelessly adjusting one or more hearing devices with a central unit, the system comprising:

a central unit,

one or more hearing devices,

means for establishing a wireless network wirelessly connecting the central unit to hearing devices, which are responsive to said wireless network,

means for detecting said hearing devices,

means for identifying one or more of the detected hearing devices,

means for selecting one or more of the identified hearing devices,

means for establishing a wireless link from the central unit to at least one of the identified hearing devices, and

means for adjusting the at least one identified hearing device.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for displaying the detected hearing devices, preferably with additional identifier such as a model identifier or a serial number pertaining to the detected hearing device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for identifying a detected hearing device comprise:

means for instructing, via the central unit, a detected hearing device to emit a signal, which preferably is an acoustic signal, and

means for assigning the instructed hearing device to the physical hearing device that emitted said signal.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for identifying a detected hearing device comprise:

means for stimulating a radio frequency identification tag provided at each detected hearing device to emit a radio frequency response containing an identification code,

means for receiving the radio frequency response, and

means for assigning the stimulated hearing device to the corresponding physical hearing device to which the identification code belongs.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for identifying a detected hearing device comprise:

means for stimulating one of the detected hearing devices,

means for monitoring the detected hearing devices in the central unit for a response of the stimulation,

means for determining the hearing device in the central unit, for which hearing device a response has been detected, and

means for assigning the stimulated hearing device to the determined hearing device.

14. The system of claim 13, characterized in that the means for stimulating the hearing device stimulate the hearing device in one or more of the following manners:

provoking a feedback,

operating a remote control,

actuating volume control,

actuating program select switch,

inserting a battery,

closing a battery door.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless network has a limited range such that only one hearing device is detectable at the same time.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for identifying a detected hearing device comprise:

means for displaying an additional identifier of the detected hearing devices, said additional identifier being indicated on the hearing device housings,

means for comparing one or more displayed identifier to the ones indicated on the hearing device housings, and

means for assigning a displayed detected hearing device to the physical hearing device having identical additional identifiers.