WIRELESS UPDATING OF HEARING DEVICES

• US 20110188684A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Spieler, Ivo, Frank, Oliver, Eichmann, Rino, Aerne, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 8,712,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• 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 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The method of manufacturing a firmware-updated programmable hearing device comprising at least one processor and a memory unit (7) in which hearing device firmware (8a) is stored, comprises the step of executing an update application (9) in said processor installing an updated version (81b) of at least a portion (81a) of the hearing device firmware (8a) in said memory unit (7).

The system for updating the firmware of a programmable hearing device as described above comprises: an update apparatus comprising a communication interface for communication via a wireless communication link and a storage unit (13) in which an update application (9) is stored, which is designed to be executed in said processor installing an updated version (81b) of at least a portion of the hearing device firmware in said memory unit (7).

The invention allows, in a memory space saving way, to update in a wireless manner the firmware of a hearing device including that portion (81a) of the firmware which is required for the wireless communication.

Claims

1. Method of manufacturing a firmware-updated programmable hearing device (2) comprising at least one processor (6) and a memory unit (7) in which hearing device firmware (8a) is stored, said method comprising the step of

a) executing an update application (9) in said processor (6) installing an updated version (81b) of at least a portion (81a) of the hearing device firmware (8a) in said memory unit (7).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said hearing device (2) comprises a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), said method comprising, before step a), the step of

b) loading said update application (9) into said hearing device (2) via said wireless communication link (23).

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said hearing device (2) comprises a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), said method comprising, before step a), the step of

c) loading said updated version (81b) of said portion (81a) of the hearing device firmware (8a) into said hearing device (2) via said wireless communication link (23).

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said hearing device (2) comprises a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), wherein said portion (81b) of the hearing device firmware comprises at least a portion of those data (81b) which are required for or related to said communication via said wireless communication link (23).

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising, before step a), the step of

d) creating a copy of data (12) stored in said memory unit (7) in an external storage unit (13).

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising, after step a), the step of

e) loading at least a portion of said data (12) stored in said external storage unit (13) back into said memory unit (7).

7. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said hearing device (2) comprises a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), and wherein said portion (81b) of the hearing device firmware is less than the complete hearing device firmware (8b) and comprises at least a portion of those data (81b) which are required for or related to said communication via said wireless communication link (23), said method comprising, after step a), the step of

f) establishing said wireless link (23) using said updated version (81b) of said portion of the hearing device firmware;

and

g) loading an updated version (82b) of at least a portion of not-yet updated hearing device firmware (82a) into said hearing device (2) via said wireless communication link (23).

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein both, the original (81a) and the updated version (81b) of said portion of the hearing device firmware is comprised in said memory unit (8) during step a).

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising, after step a), the step of

h) storing in said memory unit (7) indicative data (14), if said portion (81b) of said hearing device firmware has been successfully installed;

and comprising the steps of

i) checking whether or not said indicative data (14) are stored in said memory unit (7);

j) if said indicative data (14) are not stored in said memory unit (7);

attempting to carry out step a) again.

10. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said hearing device (2) comprises a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), said method comprising, before step a), the step of

k) checking whether or not an update is required of that portion (81a) of the hearing device firmware (8a) which is related to or required for said communication via said wireless communication link (23);

and

l) carrying out step a) only if the result of the checking mentioned in step k) is positive.

11. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hearing device (2) comprises a detachable module (2b), and wherein said portion (81a) of said hearing device firmware is related to or required for the operation of said detachable module (2b).

12. System (1) for updating the firmware of a programmable hearing device (2) comprising at least one processor (6), a memory unit (7) in which hearing device firmware (8a) is stored and a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), said system (1) comprising an update apparatus (3) comprising a communication interface (11) for communication via a wireless communication link (23) and a storage unit (13) in which an update application (9) is stored, which update application (9) is designed to be executed in said processor (6) installing an updated version (81b) of at least a portion of the hearing device firmware in said memory unit (7).

13. The system (1) according to claim 12, wherein said update apparatus (3) comprises an update device (4) comprising said communication interface (11) of the update apparatus (3) and an update station (5) operationally connectable to said update device (4).

14. The system (1) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the system (1) comprises said hearing device (2), and wherein said hearing device (2) comprises no socket or plug for electrically connecting the hearing device.

15. Hearing device (2) comprising at least one processor (6), a memory unit (7) in which hearing device firmware (8a) is stored and a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), wherein at least a portion (81a) of that portion (81a) of the firmware (8a) which is required for or related to said communication via said wireless communication link (23) is stored in writable non-volatile memory (7) in said memory unit (7) and is updateable by means of an update application (9) that is executable in said processor (6).

16. Computer program product comprising program code for causing a computer comprising a communication interface (11) for communication via a wireless communication link to perform the steps of

P) establishing said wireless communication link (23) with a hearing device (2) comprising a communication interface (10) for communication via a wireless communication link (23), a processor (6) and a memory unit (7);

Q) loading an update application (9) executable in said processor (6) into said hearing device (2) via said wireless communication link (23);

wherein said update application (9) is designed to install an updated version (81b) of at least a portion of the hearing device firmware in said memory unit (7).

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein said program code is adapted to causing said computer to perform the step of

R) loading said updated version (81b) of said portion of the hearing device firmware into said hearing device (2) via said wireless communication link (23).

18. Computer-readable medium comprising program code as pt forward in claim 16 or claim 17.