SUBSCRIPTION-CONTROLLED CHARGING OF A HEARING DEVICE

• US 20160100261A1
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: iHEAR Medical, Inc. (Innerscope Hearing Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan
• Granted Patent: US 10,097,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries

Abstract

Examples of a subscription-based rechargeable hearing device system and methods are described. An exemplary system includes a hearing device and a charging device to charge the hearing device according to a subscription status. In some examples, a charging station automatically disengages the rechargeable battery cell upon insertion of the hearing device partially into a receptacle cavity of the charging station. The subscription may be verified using a remote server in communication with a subscription database.

Claims

1. A rechargeable hearing device system comprising:

a hearing device comprising;

a main section for positioning in the ear, the main section comprising a speaker; and

a lateral section coupled to the main section and incorporating a rechargeable battery cell therein; and

a charging device comprising a charging port configured to be electrically coupled to the hearing device, the charging device configured to provide electrical energy to the rechargeable battery cell of the hearing device upon a validation of a subscription of the hearing device.

2. The rechargeable hearing device system of claim 1, wherein the charging device is configured to receive subscription data from a remote server and is further configured to enable the charging port to provide electrical energy to the hearing device in accordance with the subscription data.

3. The rechargeable hearing device system of claim 1, wherein the charging device is a computing device configured to be coupled to the hearing device via a wired connection.

4. The rechargeable hearing device system of claim 1, further comprising a remote server communicatively coupled to a storage device comprising subscription data, and wherein the charging device is configured to determine a subscription status of the hearing device using subscription data received from the remote server.

5. The rechargeable hearing device system of claim 1, wherein the charging device is a charging station, wherein the charging port is integrated within the charging station, and wherein the charging station is configured to be coupled to a computing device.

6. A rechargeable hearing device comprising:

a main module for positioning in the ear, the main module comprising a speaker;

a lateral module incorporating a rechargeable battery therein, the lateral module configured for partial disengagement from the main module; and

a memory comprising identification data,

wherein the rechargeable hearing device is configured to couple to a charging device and receive electrical charge from the charging device based, at least in part, on the identification data.

7. The rechargeable hearing device of claim 6, wherein the rechargeable hearing device is configured to transmit the identification data to the charging device for validation of a subscription of the rechargeable hearing device based on the identification data and subscription data stored on a remote server.

8. A subscription-based hearing device system comprising:

a hearing device comprising a rechargeable battery cell within; and

a charging device comprising a charging port configured to selectively charge the rechargeable battery cell when the hearing device is coupled thereto; and

a remote server configured to access subscription data stored on a remote subscription database,

wherein the charging device is configured to be communicatively coupled to the remote server, and wherein the charging device further comprises charging circuitry configured to selectively provide electrical charge to the rechargeable battery cell in accordance with the subscription data.

9. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 8, wherein the charging port is incorporated within a charging station, wherein the rechargeable battery cell is configured to at least partially disengage from the hearing device when coupled to the charging port.

10. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 8, wherein the hearing device comprises wireless circuitry.

11. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 8, wherein the charging device is a charging station, the system further comprising a computing device configured to couple to the charging station.

12. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is communicatively coupled to the charging station using USB interface.

13. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is communicatively coupled to the remote server, wherein the computing device is configured to request subscription data or a subscription validity determination from the remote server.

14. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 8, wherein the remote server is configured to perform a subscription validity determination, and wherein the subscription data comprises the subscription validity determination.

15. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 8, wherein the charging station is configured to perform a subscription validity determination using the subscription data.

16. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 8, wherein charging device is a computing device configured to perform a subscription validity determination using the subscription data.

17. A subscription-based hearing device system comprising:

a hearing device comprising a rechargeable battery cell within;

a charging circuitry for charging of the rechargeable battery cell;

a computing device configured to provide electrical charge to the charging circuitry;

a remote server accessible to the computing device, the remote server configured to access subscription data on a remote subscription database; and

a software program configured to control the charging circuitry responsive to a determination of a valid subscription.

18. A subscription-based hearing device system comprising:

a programmable hearing device comprising a rechargeable battery cell within;

a programming interface configured to deliver a programming signal to the programmable hearing device;

a computing device configured to access subscription data associated with the programmable hearing device; and

a charging circuitry configured to charge the rechargeable battery cell if a subscription of the programmable hearing device is determined to be valid according to the subscription data.

19. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 18, further comprising a remote server in communication with a remote subscription database storing the subscription data.

20. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 18, wherein the computing device is configured to determine a valid subscription using the subscription data.

21. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 18, further comprising a charging station incorporating the charging circuitry, wherein the charging station is configured to communicatively couple to the computing device.

22. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 18, wherein the charging circuitry is integrated within the programmable hearing device.

23. The subscription-based hearing device of claim 21, wherein the charging station is configured to determine a valid subscription using the subscription data.

24. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 18, wherein the remote server is configured to determine a valid subscription using the subscription data.

25. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 22, wherein the charging circuitry is configured to enable or disable charging of the programmable hearing device according to the subscription data.

26. A method for charging a rechargeable battery cell of a hearing device, the method comprising:

coupling a hearing device to a charging device, wherein the charging device is configured to selectively provide electrical charge to a rechargeable battery cell of the hearing device;

transmitting identification data from memory of the hearing device to the charging device;

determining a status of the hearing device based, at least in part, on the identification data; and

providing electrical charge to the rechargeable battery cell following validation of the status of the hearing device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising executing a software application on the charging device including functions for receiving the identification data from the hearing device, transmitting a validation request to a remote server, receiving verification data from the remote server, and determining the status of the hearing device based on the identification data and the verification data.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein determining a status of the hearing device comprises determining a validity of a subscription of the hearing device, the method further comprising receiving subscription data from a remote server to determine the validity of the subscription.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein determining a status of the hearing device comprises determining a validity of a subscription of the hearing device, the determining a validity of a subscription comprising transmitting the identification data to a remote server communicatively coupled to a storage device comprising subscription data associated with the hearing device, and enabling charging circuitry of the charging device upon validation of the subscription of the hearing device.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the charging device is a charging station configured to be communicatively coupled to a remote server, wherein the remote server is configured to perform the validation of the status of the hearing device by accessing a remote subscription database storing subscription data.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein providing electrical charge to the rechargeable battery cell includes coupling the rechargeable battery cell to a source of electrical charge via direct electrical connection with electrical contacts of the charging device or via a wireless connection with an inductive coil of the charging device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a status of the hearing device comprises determining a validity of a subscription of the hearing device, the method further comprising selectively enabling a function of the hearing device according to the validity of the subscription of the hearing device.

33. A method for a subscription-based charging of a hearing device comprising:

inserting a lateral end of the hearing device into a receptacle cavity of a charging station, the receptacle cavity configured to automatically electrically disengage a rechargeable battery cell provided within the hearing device;

applying an insertion force to disengage the rechargeable battery cell from the hearing device and to electrically engage the hearing device with the charging station for charging the hearing device;

determining a subscription status of the hearing device by a software application; and

controlling charging of the hearing device by the software application according to the subscription status determination.

34. A subscription-based hearing device system comprising:

a hearing device comprising a wireless circuitry;

a charging circuitry for charging of the hearing device; and

a remote server accessible through a network, wherein the remote server is configured to retrieve subscription data associated with a subscription status from a subscription database,

wherein the charging circuitry is configured to enable or disable charging of the hearing device or a wireless service provided by the hearing device in accordance with the subscription status.

35. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 34, wherein the charging circuitry is configured to enable or disable charging of the hearing device in-situ.

36. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 34 wherein the subscription status comprises a valid subscription condition and an invalid subscription condition, wherein the subscription status is determined by comparing the subscription data to identification data of the hearing device.

37. The subscription-based hearing device system of claim 34, wherein the charging circuitry is integrated within any of a computing device, a charging station, and the hearing device.