METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING MORE THAN ONE HEARING DEVICES

• US 20130010653A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Gehring, Stephan, Maksyagin, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,025,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/276
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The method for configuring at least two devices of a hearing system (10) using a communication channel comprises the steps of

• • a1) providing, using said communication channel, a first (11) of said devices with a request (R1) for the execution (E1) of at least one first configuring command in said first device (11);
  • b1) executing (E1) said at least one first configuring command in said first device (11);
  • a2) providing, using said communication channel, a second (12) of said devices with a request (R2) for the execution of at least one second configuring command in said second device (12);
    wherein step a2) is started before step b1) is completed, in particular wherein step a2) is completed before step b1) is completed. This way, time can be saved in configuring two or more devices (11;12;13) of a hearing system (10).

Claims

1. Method for configuring N≧

2 devices (11;

12;

13) of a hearing system (10) using a communication channel, said method comprising the steps of

a1) providing, using said communication channel, a first (11) of said N devices with a request (R1) for the execution of at least one first configuring command in said first device (11);

b1) executing (E1) said at least one first configuring command in said first device (11);

a2) providing, using said communication channel, a second (12) of said N devices with a request (R2) for the execution in said second device (12) of at least one second configuring command;

wherein step a2) is started before step b1) is completed, in particular wherein step a2) is completed before step b1) is completed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first configuring command is not identical with said at least one second configuring command.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one of said first (11) and second devices (12) is a hearing device.

4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of said first (11) and second (12) devices is a hearing-aid device.

5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said communication channel is operated in duplex or half duplex operation, said method comprising, after step al) has been completed, the step of

c1) transmitting, from said first device (11) and using said communication channel, a first response message (S1).

6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said communication channel is operated in half duplex operation, and said request (R1) mentioned in step al) is sent as a unicast message, and said request (R2) mentioned in step a2) is sent as a unicast message, and wherein said method comprises, upon detecting in said first device (11) that step b1) is finished, the step of

c1′

) transmitting, from said first device (11) and using said communication channel, a first response message (S1) indicative of a termination of step b1).

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first response message (S1) is indicative of at least one of the group consisting of

a reception in said first device (11) of said request (R1) mentioned in step a1), in particular a successful reception thereof;

a termination of said step b1), in particular a successful termination thereof;

a time at which step b1) is expected to be finished.

8. The method according to claim 5 or claim 7, wherein step c1) is carried out automatically, and in particular independent of receiving in said first device (1) a polling message (P).

9. The method according to claim 5 or claim 7, wherein step c1) is carried out upon reception in said first device (11) of a polling message (P).

10. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said request (R1) mentioned in step a1) is sent as a unicast message or as a multicast message.

11. Hearing system configuration system for configuring N≧

2 devices of a hearing system (10), comprising a first (11) and a second (12) device of said hearing system (10) and a configuration unit comprising a communication unit (1), wherein said configuration unit (1) is structured and configured for operating a network (5) with said first (11) and a second (12) devices and said communication unit(3) as network members, said network (5) comprising a communication channel, and wherein said configuration unit (1) is structured and configured for

a1′

) providing, using said communication channel, said first device (11) with a request (R1) for the execution in said first device (11) of at least one first configuring command; and

for

a2′

) providing, using said communication channel, said second device (12) with a request for the execution in said second device (12) of at least one second configuring command; and

wherein said configuration unit (1) is structured and configured for starting step a2′

), in particular for completing step a2′

), before an execution (E1) said at least one first configuring command in said first device (11) is completed.

12. Hearing system configuration system according to claim 11, comprising a computer (2) with a hearing device fitting software.

13. Computer program product comprising program code for causing a computer (2) to perform the steps of

D) operating a network (5) comprising a network channel, with a first (11) and a second (12) device of a hearing system (10) and a communication unit (3) as network members;

A1′

) instructing said communication unit (3) to provide, using said communication channel, said first device (11) with a request (R1) for the execution in said first device (11) of at least one first configuring command;

A2′

) instructing said communication unit (3) to provide, using said communication channel, said second device (12) with a request (R2) for the execution in said second device (12) of at least one second configuring command; and

wherein said program code is configured to cause said computer (2) to carry out steps A1′

) and A2′

) in such a way that said providing said second device (12) with said request (R2) mentioned in step A2′

) is started, in particular is completed, before an execution (E2) in said first device of said at least one first configuring command is completed.

14. Computer-readable medium comprising program code as described in claim 13.