EP1653775B1 - Method to adapt the transmission characteristics of an hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves selecting and reproducing an object, representing in a display area, on a graphical user interface with a pointer device. A blue print (17) is shifted and discarded under usage of the pointer device in another display area. The transmission characteristic of a hearing aid device is changeable by the discarded object. The object comprises an adjustable parameter, which is represented by numerical value.

Description

The invention relates to a method for adapting a transmission characteristic of a hearing aid device determined by hearing aid-specific parameters by means of a data processing device comprising a screen and a pointing device.

The adaptation of hearing aids to the respective hearing loss of a user confronts a hearing aid acoustician due to the various hearing aid manufacturers, the variety of offered hearing aid types and many, by changing actuators or by programming variable hearing aid device parameters, such as frequency response (eg edge shift / slope steepness in the low - and high-frequency range), amplification, starting point of the AGC, peak-cliping, etc. with such a number of different programming options that it is no longer justifiable in terms of time to play through all these possibilities in order to arrive at an optimal adaptation. Moreover, such a lengthy adaptation would not be reasonable for the user.

Therefore, automated fitting methods have already been proposed (eg US 4,953,112 ). Nevertheless, the hearing aid acoustician is still confronted with programmable hearing aids with a variety of different control options, which affect the acoustic behavior of the hearing aid.

From the DE 44 18 203 C2 A method for adjusting the transmission characteristic of a hearing aid by means of a personal computer defined by hearing aid-specific parameters is known, in which a memory for base values of a hearing aid setting in conjunction with an algorithm and a data memory provides a transmission characteristic of the hearing aid and brings to a screen of the personal computer as a graphical curve for display. As a pointer device for the fitting method, a computer mouse with a pointer positionable on the display is used, so that points to be changed or sections of a graphical curve can be clicked and moved, whereby the transfer curve is changed in shape. This procedure is repeated until, after receipt of the desired curve, the parameters for the desired curve are transmitted by wire or by remote control to the hearing aid.

Graphical user interfaces of known computer applications often offer a functionality known as drag-and-drop. An object in the graphical user interface is clicked and held with the left mouse button of a computer mouse, after which the computer mouse moves this object to another position in the user interface ("drag") and the left mouse button is released again ("drop"). ), whereby the relevant object is stored at this other point of the user interface and overwrites the original content of the user interface at this point. This allows a relatively fast and easy manipulation of complex data.

The Microsoft Windows operating system for personal computers knows how to use a clipboard to copy individual characters or strings. The characters to be copied are marked by pressing keys on a computer keyboard or using a computer mouse and stored in the clipboard. Later, the contents of this clipboard can be inserted at selected points of a graphical user interface.

1. a) Aktivieren von Aufzeichnungsmitteln,
2. b) Durchführung eines Bedienschrittes an dem Programmiergerät
3. c) Aufzeichnen des Bedienschrittes und/oder wenigstens einer durch den Bedienschritt hervorgerufenen, absoluten oder relativen Parameteränderung durch die Aufzeichnungsmittel,
4. d) Wiederholen der Schritte b) und c) so lange, bis eine Bediensequenz abgeschlossen ist,
5. e) Deaktivieren der Aufzeichnungsmittel,
6. f) Ausführen von in den Schritten a) bis e) aufgezeichneten Bedienschritten und/oder von durch die Bedienschritte hervorgerufenen, relativen oder absoluten Parameteränderungen.

From the DE 101 52 197 A1 a method for operating a programming device for a hearing aid is known, by means of the programming device parameters for controlling the signal processing in the hearing aid and features and functions of the hearing aid are set, with the following steps:

1. a) activation of recording means,
2. b) performing an operating step on the programming device
3. c) recording the operating step and / or at least one absolute or relative parameter change caused by the operating step by the recording means,
4. d) repeating steps b) and c) until an operating sequence is completed,
5. e) deactivating the recording means,
6. f) carrying out operating steps recorded in steps a) to e) and / or relative or absolute parameter changes caused by the operating steps.

The EP 1 142 451 B1 discloses a method for binaurally adapting transmission characteristics of left and right ear device hearing aids by means of a data processing system to which a pointing device and a display unit are connectable, the pointer device being used to change parameters of the transmission characteristics, and wherein the parameters of the one hearing aid part are adjustable independently of the parameters of the other hearing device part as well as simultaneously with the parameters of the other hearing device part.

From the US 2004/007134 A1 For example, a method for adjusting a transmission characteristic of a hearing aid by means of a data processing device comprising a screen and a pointing device is known, wherein virtual sliders are selected on the screen with the pointing device and shifted along its sliding path for setting hearing aid parameters.

Object of the present invention is to further simplify the adaptation of a hearing aid by means of a data processing system with a graphical user interface.

This object is achieved by a method for adjusting a transmission characteristic of a hearing aid according to claim 1 defined by hearing aid-specific parameters. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method according to claim 2 thereby.

The basic idea of the invention is to use the drag-and-drop functionality or the use of a clipboard also in the adaptation of hearing aids. The electronic data processing device used for the adjustment is usually implemented as an ordinary personal computer (PC) which includes a screen and a pointing device (e.g., computer mouse) and on which special fitting software is installed.

In principle, a large number of different objects can be considered in the hearing aid adaptation, which can be copied by means of "drag-and-drop". An object within the meaning of the invention is understood quite generally to mean a specific first screen section which is copied into a second screen section and thus overwrites the original content of this second screen section, as a result of which settings or parameters of a hearing aid device can be changed. The span of these screens is to be understood very broadly. Examples of this are: a numerical value, a specific transfer characteristic, a diagram which shows one or more transfer characteristics includes, a bar chart, settings of graphical control elements (push buttons, controls, etc.), selection elements (on-off markers), certain strings (file names), etc. An object in the context of the invention can also be any combination of such individual elements include. Furthermore, in connection with the invention, graphical objects are also relevant, which differ from the abovementioned objects in that a graphic object is not understood to mean only a character that can be entered via a computer keyboard or a sequence of such characters.

An object according to the invention is preferably a single parameter or group of parameters to be copied. The parameters can be represented either by their numerical value or by a specific graphical symbol. For example, this symbol illustrates whether a particular function (eg filter, output limiter) is on or off. With a larger value range of the parameter, the graphic symbol can also roughly illustrate the set value, eg the volume setting or the gain in the form of a bar chart. According to the invention, the numerical value or graphic symbol representing the concrete setting is then copied to another area of the graphical user interface. In addition, the object may also be at least one transmission curve or at least a portion of a transmission curve. Transfer curves are often selected means in the hearing aid fitting for graphically illustrating the transmission behavior of the hearing aid in question. This transmission behavior is usually strongly frequency-dependent. The corresponding transmission curves can be quickly and easily copied by the invention. In addition, in the context of the invention, a specific control element can be copied as such in the user interface. As an example, here is a graphic symbol for an actuator for Setting the overall gain of a hearing aid system for binaural care are called, which can be adjusted by copying the overall gain of the binaural hearing aid system then both hearing aids.

In order to be able to use a once made hearing aid adjustment again and again, the settings made during the fitting session and parameter values are stored. Usually, the stored data is provided with a file name for easy retrieval. Also, the copying of certain memory contents, and in particular the copying of file names by means of the graphical user interface is included in the invention.

In a fitting method according to the invention, the graphical user interface is divided into at least two areas, wherein a setting is copied from the first area to the second area. By the two areas can be distinguished, for example, between the adaptation of different hearing programs one and the same hearing aid. Hearing programs generally serve to adapt the signal processing of a hearing aid to certain listening situations, such as e.g. "Conversation in silence", "conversation with noise", "driving in the car", "telephone", etc. In many of these different hearing programs, the total unit of the setting parameters is very similar. The invention offers the advantage that the settings and parameters selected in connection with a specific hearing program can be transferred quickly and easily to a second hearing program. In this case, only the changes compared to the first hearing program must be carried out.

Of course, by means of the invention, the order of the individual hearing programs can be changed quickly and easily by means of the graphical user interface. This is particularly important because hearing aids often as Control element for program switching only have a push-button switch, which only increments the program number or jumps from the highest program number to the hearing program 1 with each actuation. By means of the invention, for example, the parameters and settings of a specific hearing program can thus be easily transferred to the hearing program with the program number 1.

However, the invention not only offers advantages in the setting of a single hearing aid, but also in particular when several hearing aids, for example, for the binaural care of a user to be set. Thus, advantageously, the first area of the graphical user interface for setting a first, for example, the left hearing aid and the second area of the graphical user interface for adjusting the right hearing aid can be provided. Since the two ears of a user often have a similar hearing loss, it makes sense to first take over the settings selected for the supply of an ear on the hearing aid for the second hearing aid and then perform only a fine adjustment in the hearing aid for supplying the second ear. In addition, the copied parameters and settings of an object library according to the invention may arise, which in particular includes standard settings for frequently occurring hearing losses. Particularly in the selection of such standard settings, which can serve as a starting point for an individual adaptation, the presetting can be carried out by means of the invention starting from a high level of abstraction. Advantageously, it is not necessary to copy a large number of individual settings and parameter values, but merely a specific memory area within the data processing device, which can only be carried out by copying a specific file and storing this file in a region of the graphical user interface provided for setting the relevant hearing aid device is.

The practical implementation of the drag-and-drop functionality preferably takes place on the basis of the procedure known from "Microsoft Windows". Thus, the selection of an object to be copied by positioning the mouse pointer on the object and pressing the left mouse button. In this case, an object to be copied can also contain a plurality of graphic elements, e.g. several transfer characteristics, which can be selected together in the manner described. In addition, by means of the computer mouse, a window can also be defined on the graphical user interface, so that the object to be copied contains a plurality of graphic elements, all of which lie within the defined window. In particular, in the simultaneous selection of multiple graphic elements, it may be useful that in addition to the operation of the left mouse button and certain keys of a keyboard of the data processing device must be pressed.

A selected object is advantageous to distinguish clearly from a non-selected object, eg by a special coloring, the choice of special line types, flashing, etc. In addition, the user can also recognize in a preferred embodiment of the invention, when a copied object just above a target area of the copied object, where it could be stored in principle. For example, it does not make sense to store numerical values of a specific parameter in a diagram of a transfer function. The fitting software should therefore be designed so that this is not possible. Conversely, however, the user should recognize when the copied object, eg a transfer characteristic, is now above a target area, eg a diagram, in which it can be meaningfully stored. For graphical illustration, either the copied object or the target area can change so that the user is signaled that he can now release the left mouse button and thus save the object meaningful.

Figur 1

eine Datenverarbeitungseinrichtung zur Anpassung eines Hörhilfegerätes,

Figur 2

die Übertragung von für ein rechtes Hörhilfegerät eingestellten Übertragungskurven auf ein linkes Hörhilfegerät,

Figur 3

die Übertragung einer einzelnen, für ein rechtes Hörhilfegerät eingestellten Übertragungskurve auf ein linkes Hörhilfegerät,

Figur 4

die Übertragung von Einstellungen und Parameter-Werten von einem rechten Hörhilfegerät auf ein linkes Hörhilfegerät,

Figur 5

die Übertragung von in einer Objekt-Bibliothek gespeicherten Einstellungen auf ein linkes Hörhilfegerät, und

Figur 6

die Übertragung von Übertragungskennlinien eines ersten Hörprogrammes auf ein zweites Hörprogramm bei ein und demselben Hörhilfegerät.

The invention will be explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments. Show it:

FIG. 1

a data processing device for adapting a hearing aid device,

FIG. 2

the transmission of transfer curves set for a right hearing aid to a left hearing aid;

FIG. 3

the transmission of a single transmission curve set for a right hearing aid to a left hearing aid;

FIG. 4

the transmission of settings and parameter values from a right hearing aid to a left hearing aid;

FIG. 5

the transmission of settings stored in an object library to a left hearing aid, and

FIG. 6

the transmission of transmission characteristics of a first hearing program to a second hearing program in one and the same hearing aid device.

FIG. 1 shows in a schematic representation and with different scales, a data processing device in the form of a personal computer 1 with a pointing device in the form of a computer mouse 2 and connectable, for example via a not shown interface and a cable 3 programmable hearing aid 4. A via switching means in the form of mouse buttons 5A and 5B operable pointer 6 is indicated on a screen 7 of the data processing device. The data processing device comprises in a known manner and also not shown data storage and Computing devices. On the data processing device a specially adapted for the adaptation of hearing aids software is installed.

FIG. 2 shows a graphical user interface for customization of a left and a right hearing aid to the hearing loss of a user. In this case, the screen content 10 is subdivided into a left-hand screen area and a right-hand screen area, wherein settings can be made on the right-hand hearing aid device in the left-hand screen area and settings can be made on the left-hand hearing aid device of the user. This is indicated by the two graphic symbols 11 and 12. Transfer characteristics 13A, 13B, 13C and 14A, 14B, 14C can be seen for both the right hearing aid and the left hearing aid. These illustrate the gain versus frequency for low, medium and high signal level input signals. It can also be seen that the transfer functions for the right and left hearing aids are different. If now the same functions as for the right hearing aid device are to be set for the left hearing aid device, this adjustment according to the invention can be carried out simply and quickly by means of the graphical user interface in conjunction with the computer mouse. To do this, first select the settings of the right hearing aid that you want to copy. The selection can take place, for example, in that a frame is drawn up by means of the computer mouse, which in the exemplary embodiment includes all three transfer characteristics 13A, 13B, 13C of the right-hand hearing aid. This is possible, for example, in that a mouse pointer 15 is first positioned to the left above the transfer characteristics 13A, 13B and 13C and subsequently pulled under the action of the left mouse button to a position right below the transfer characteristics, wherein the marked area is indicated by a rectangle on the screen becomes. It should be noted that this type of marking represents one possibility among many, so that the invention is not limited to this particular, described for the embodiment type. For example, the three transfer characteristics 13A, 13B and 13C may also be clicked in order to mark them together. The marked area is then copied to the right half of the screen, for example by positioning the mouse pointer in the marked area and then dragging it over the diagram in the right half of the screen by pressing the left mouse button. This process is in FIG. 2 indicated by the arrow 16, which is intended to illustrate only the copying process and is not part of the screen content. While dragging, a copy 17 of the marked area remains visible, allowing the user to accurately track the instantaneous position of the copied area. Furthermore, it can be seen in the copy 17, if it is located over an area over which it can be stored meaningful, for example, above the diagram shown in the right half of the screen, so that the characteristics shown there 14A, 14B and 14C by releasing the mouse button through the characteristics 13A, 13B and 13C are overwritten. For example, the copy 17 of the marked area may change or blink its line color or line style to indicate to the user that settings are being overridden when the mouse button is released.

Another embodiment of the invention shows FIG. 3 , In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 For example, in this embodiment, only one of the three transfer characteristics 13A, 13B, 13C has been marked so that in the embodiment only the transfer characteristic 13C of the gain is copied over the frequency for a low signal level of the input signal and applied to the left hearing aid. It should be noted that this transfer characteristic 13C does not necessarily have to replace the transfer characteristic 14C of the left hearing aid, but may also replace the characteristic 14A or 14B, depending on which of the three characteristics 14A to 14C the characteristic 13C is pulled. Thus, for example, the characteristic curve 14B can be replaced by a characteristic curve with the basic curve of the characteristic curve 13C, wherein the absolute values of the gain can be set graphically by shifting this characteristic parallel.

FIG. 4 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which non-transmission characteristics but other hearing aid settings, such as the gain-determining numerical values 20, 21, or settings made by means of graphical selection elements 22A, 22B, 22C or 23A, 23B, 23C, are copied and adopted for the left hearing aid , The procedure is basically the same as in connection with the Figures 2 and 3 described. As a special note is only that here, as already in connection with FIG. 3 only a part of the settings selected in the current screen mask of the graphic user interface for the right hearing aid device are selected and copied. Specifically, in the copying operation in the embodiment, the settings regarding the noise reduction set for the right hearing aid by the selection elements 24A and 24B and for the left hearing aid by the selection elements 25A and 25B are not transmitted to the left hearing aid. After copying, the numerical value 21 (18dB) is overwritten by the numerical value 20 (10dB) of the right hearing aid. The same applies to the selection elements 23A to 23C of the left hearing aid, which are overwritten by the corresponding settings of the right hearing aid. Unaffected by the copying process, the settings 25A and 25B remain with regard to the noise suppression of the left hearing aid since they were not selected for copying. The copied area is displayed to the user when dragging through the copied screen section 26, which, in contrast to the original section, however, is only shown in dotted line form.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5 The graphical representation of the settings that are to be transferred from one hearing aid device to another takes place, sometimes at a higher level of abstraction. Thus, the settings relating to the right hearing aid device are merely symbolized by a file name 28D, wherein a file can be directly selected from a plurality of files of a file folder 28 and dragged over a diagram for the left hearing aid device, so that the copying process associated therewith results in the File 28D stored settings in the displayed diagram for the left hearing aid device and there after the copying process also be graphically illustrated. Of course, the same level of abstraction as for the right hearing aid can be selected for the left hearing aid.

In contrast to the preceding embodiments, the serves FIG. 6 apparent screen mask only for setting a single (in the embodiment of the right) hearing aid. This is indicated by the identical graphic symbols 11 on the left and the right side of the upper screen edge. However, the screen mask simultaneously shows settings for different hearing programs, namely for the program 1 and the program 2. These hearing programs are set via the pull-down menus 31 and 32. By means of the same operating steps as in the copying of settings between two different hearing aid devices, in this embodiment as well, settings that relate only to different hearing programs of a hearing aid device are selected by a hearing program (program 1), copied and transmitted to the second hearing program (program 2).

In addition to the exemplified in the exemplary embodiments, purely graphic copying operations, the same copying operations are also using a known from Microsoft Windows clipboard feasible. It will be for The Hearing Aid Adjustment selects relevant objects such as individual numerical values, transfer characteristics or other settings and copies them to the clipboard first. Then the destination area is selected and the contents of the clipboard are copied to the destination area, overwriting the original settings there with the copied settings. Even with this procedure, selected settings of a hearing aid device can be transferred quickly and efficiently to another hearing aid device or another hearing program of the same hearing aid device. The advantage of this method is that it makes it easy to switch between different screens, which transfers a copy of settings from one screen to another screen. This procedure is particularly advantageous if not only a single numerical value, but a variety of settings is copied at the same time or when graphical objects such as a transfer characteristic or a diagram are copied, whereby the user many steps in the otherwise required single entry of these settings spared.

Since the procedure using the clipboard is very similar to the method described as "drag-and-drop", reference is also made here to the exemplary embodiments described above. Also using the clipboard, a specific area of a graphical user interface is first marked with the help of the computer mouse, which is to be copied. Furthermore, also preferably by means of the computer mouse a "target areas" is specified, in which the previously copied settings, transfer characteristics, etc. are to be transmitted. The only difference between the two methods is that the copy process can be traced directly on the graphical user interface with "drag-and-drop", whereas the copied screen area when using the clipboard is initially used for the User invisible in just this clipboard disappears to emerge from it again if necessary.

Claims (11)

1. Method for adjusting a transmission characteristic of a hearing aid device (4) defined by hearing aid device-specific parameters by means of a data processing device (1), which comprises a screen (7) and a pointer device (2), characterised in that on a graphical user interface an object shown in a first area of the screen is selected and copied with the pointer device (2), and that the copy is moved using the pointer device (2) into a second area of the screen and stored there, with the first area of the screen being provided for adjusting a first hearing program and the second area of the screen being provided for adjusting a second adjusting hearing program of the hearing aid device (4) and the second hearing program of the hearing aid device (4) being changed by the stored object.
2. Method for adjusting a transmission characteristic of a hearing aid device from a hearing aid device system with a first and a second hearing aid device defined by hearing aid device-specific parameters by means of a data processing device, which comprises a screen (7) and a pointer device (2), characterised in that on a graphical user interface an object shown in a first area of the screen is selected and copied with the pointer device (2), and that the copy is moved, using the pointer device (2), into a second area of the screen and stored there, with the first area of the screen being provided for adjusting the first hearing aid device and the second area of the screen being provided for adjusting the second hearing aid device and with the transmission characteristic of the second hearing aid device being changed by the stored object.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, with the object comprising at least one selectable parameter which is represented in particular by a numerical value (20, 21) or a graphical symbol.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, with the object comprising at least one characteristic transmission curve (13A, 13B, 13C) or at least one section of a characteristic transmission curve.
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, with the object comprising at least one setting or selection object (22A, 22B, 22C) displayed on the screen.
6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, with the object comprising at least one symbol of a memory content displayed on the screen and especially a file name (28D).
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, with the first area being embodied as an object library (28).
8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, with the first area being embodied as a file folder (28).
9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, with the copied object or an object emanating from it remaining visible as it is moved on the screen.
10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, with the copied object and/or a destination area for the copied object changing graphically during movement such that a user can recognise whether the copied object is currently located over a permissible destination area within a second area.
11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, with the object changing graphically when selected such that it can be clearly distinguished from an object not selected.

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