EP3349482B1 - Hearing aid and method for operating a hearing aid - Google Patents

Hearing aid and method for operating a hearing aid Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3349482B1
EP3349482B1 EP17210490.3A EP17210490A EP3349482B1 EP 3349482 B1 EP3349482 B1 EP 3349482B1 EP 17210490 A EP17210490 A EP 17210490A EP 3349482 B1 EP3349482 B1 EP 3349482B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
noise
situation
time
location
hearing aid
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EP17210490.3A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3349482A1 (en
Inventor
Frank Naumann
Benedikt HEUER
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Sivantos Pte Ltd
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Sivantos Pte Ltd
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Publication of EP3349482A1 publication Critical patent/EP3349482A1/en
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/50—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
    • H04R25/505—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics using digital signal processing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/50—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/554—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/41—Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/43—Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/55—Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2460/07—Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for operating a hearing device and to such a hearing device.
  • a hearing aid usually serves to care for a hearing-impaired or hearing-impaired user in order to enable him to improve hearing.
  • the user of a hearing aid wears it regularly in or on the ear.
  • the hearing aid takes noise, i.e. all types of sound or sound signals, from the environment, amplifies them and outputs them to the user as amplified audio signals.
  • processing is often carried out, e.g. a filtering.
  • the hearing aid thus has a number of operating parameters which are usually set individually for the user in order to suitably modify a recorded noise.
  • a hearing aid which automatically detects a noise situation and sets the operating parameters depending on the detected noise situation.
  • the geographic position of the user ie the location at which the user is located, is included in the detection of the noise situation. This takes advantage of the fact that the noise situation at a certain location remains the same over a longer period of time.
  • a GPS system is used to determine the location. If the location cannot be determined directly in this way, other information will alternatively be provided evaluated, for example a calendar of the user, which is then taken from where the user is presumably.
  • EP 2 884 766 A1 describes a hearing aid in which a noise environment detector determines a category of the present noise environment based on an acoustic input signal and a location.
  • the method is used to operate a hearing aid and is preferably also used for this.
  • the hearing aid can be worn by a user.
  • the method is carried out when the hearing aid is also worn by the user.
  • the user is regularly a person with impaired hearing.
  • the hearing aid has a number of programs, each of which is assigned to a noise situation or noise environment.
  • the programs are in each case in particular a collection of specific settings for a number of operating parameters of the hearing aid.
  • One example of an operating parameter is gain.
  • the hearing aid in particular at least one microphone to record noises, and a receiver to output modified noises.
  • “Noise” is generally understood to mean "sound” or "sound signal”.
  • the hearing aid also has a control unit that sets the programs.
  • the hearing aid regularly has one or two hearing aid units and, in the latter variant, is in particular a binaural hearing aid.
  • the hearing aid can be switched between different programs in order to ensure an optimal setting of the operating parameters of the hearing aid in different noise situations.
  • a respective noise situation is characterized by a number of situation parameters, usually at least one volume level.
  • Each program takes into account at least one specific noise situation in order to ensure optimal compensation of the hearing impairment of the user in the respective noise situation.
  • a program has certain specifications for the operating parameters, so that when it is activated, i.e. Setting an appropriate program, the operating parameters are set accordingly.
  • a current noise situation is recognized both as a function of location and as a function of time, and that of the programs which is assigned to the current noise situation is selected and set.
  • the noise situation is determined in that both location and time are determined, which are two parameters which are used to identify which noise situation is present.
  • a location determination and a time determination are therefore carried out and a specific noise situation is assumed on the basis of the result.
  • the optimal program for this noise situation is then selected and set.
  • the selection and in particular also the setting are preferably carried out automatically.
  • the place is, for example, a restaurant, an apartment, a street or a workplace.
  • the time is, for example, the time of day, for example characterized by the current hour or additionally by the current minute, the current day of the week, the current month or a date, for example characterized by day and month or additionally by the current year.
  • An advantage of the invention is, in particular, that the optimal program is selected and set immediately at a certain location without having to carry out a possibly time-consuming analysis beforehand.
  • a noise situation by analyzing the existing noise, i.e. Sound signals to be recognized.
  • an analysis first requires the recording of noises and subsequent processing. This is correspondingly time-consuming.
  • the location and time are determined in the present case in order to infer the current noise situation.
  • no recording of noises or ambient noises is done, i.e. the noise situation is only determined based on location and time.
  • a location and a time are determined and the noise situation is recognized only on the basis of the location and the time.
  • a classification of ambient noise is preferably omitted, in particular when determining the location and time.
  • an additional classification in particular of ambient noise, is carried out in order to determine the location or the time or both more reliably.
  • a further advantage is in particular that the selection and setting is not only dependent on the location, but also time-dependent. It was recognized in the present case that the noise situation at a specific location is not necessarily constant and that a location-dependent setting of the hearing aid is not always expedient, but that the noise situation at a location often also changes over time. For example, a restaurant is visited differently at different times of the day, so that the volume level at this location varies depending on the time. The same applies to a road which is driven at different times at different times and is therefore differently loud. A program that takes a high noise level into account at lunchtime, for example, is unsuitable in the afternoon, for example, when it is quieter. In general, the additional time dependence of the noise situation at the same location can lead to unfavorable circumstances Settings. In the present case, this is avoided by the additional time-dependent detection of the noise situation.
  • the location-dependent selection of the program is therefore advantageously improved by an additional time-dependent selection at a specific location.
  • the program is therefore selected in two stages, so to speak. First of all, a location is determined, in particular the location of the user. A time is then determined, in particular the current time, and then one of several programs is selected for the location depending on the time, thereby refining the selection for this location. It is assumed that different programs are more suitable for a given location at different times.
  • the program is therefore selected on the basis of two parameters, namely time and location, and not only on the basis of one parameter.
  • the method described here also differs from those methods in which a parameter, e.g. a program is selected for the location and then an adaptation to a possibly changed noise situation occurs dynamically in operation and over time. Rather, a program is selected here directly on the basis of two parameters, i.e. an initial selection is made, which is more precise from the outset, since both location and time are taken into account.
  • the current noise situation is preferably detected in a location-dependent manner by determining at which location the user is currently, preferably by means of a GPS system. As a result, exactly that noise situation is recognized which is relevant for the user with regard to his location.
  • a location sensor is used for this, preferably a GPS system. This is integrated into the hearing aid, for example.
  • the location sensor is integrated in an external device which the user also expediently carries with him, suitably a smartphone.
  • the external device is then connected to the hearing aid, for example wirelessly, in order to transmit the location, ie the location information.
  • a transmitter is set up at the location, which transmits the current location.
  • the current noise situation is determined depending on the location and time by means of a noise map.
  • the noise map is also referred to as a parameter map or a sound map.
  • the noise map therefore generally contains the noise situation at a specific location as a function of time and is therefore in particular a data record or a catalog. In the present case, “function” is also to be understood as a tabular assignment.
  • the noise situation itself does not have to be stored directly in the noise map, rather it is essential that the noise map contains information for determining the noise situation for a given location and for a given time, i.e. a parameter that is related to the noise situation.
  • the parameter is also referred to as a situation parameter, which can be used to determine the associated noise situation on the basis of the concrete value of the parameter.
  • the noise situation itself is contained as information in the noise map, depending on the location and time.
  • the noise map By means of the noise map, the noise situation is stored at different, in particular at any time, directly or indirectly at the corresponding location and is therefore known in advance.
  • the noise situation can then be determined from the noise map with knowledge of the current time. For this purpose, experiences gained previously are preferably used, i.e. the knowledge of what noise situation occurs at what time at which location. This knowledge then enables an immediate optimal program selection, in particular even if the user has never entered a certain place at a certain time before.
  • the location is determined by coordinates, so that the program is selected depending on the location based on the specific location of the user.
  • the location is characterized in particular by two coordinates, preferably longitude and latitude.
  • the location is additionally characterized by a height and thus by a total of three coordinates.
  • the coordinates are preferably GPS coordinates or the like.
  • the location is a location type, so that the program is then selected depending on the type or type of location.
  • the specific coordinates are not essential. Rather, similar locations are advantageously also recognized as identical, i.e. as the same location type, and the same program is selected accordingly for such similar locations. Examples of such types of locations are a street, a small room, a church, a theater, a vehicle interior, a workplace, an open space, etc.
  • Various types of locations differ in at least one situation parameter and are therefore delimitable from one another.
  • the noise situation is then determined in a location-dependent manner by first performing a location typing in which a current location type is determined, i.e. at which the current location is typed. The noise situation is then determined as a function of time in a noise map for the current location type.
  • the situation parameter is suitably map information, reverberation time, noise, a frequency spectrum or a quantity derived from these.
  • Other situation parameters are also conceivable and suitable.
  • the location type is determined on a map, on which special locations, e.g. Sights, streets, etc. are already marked. The location type is then determined using the map in combination with the location of the user.
  • the reverberation time the location type is determined based on the reverberation time of the location, which is either measured or specified, e.g. through an information system on site. In particular in public places or in public buildings, the local reverberation time is regularly provided by an information system, with which the hearing aid can be connected in particular via a wireless connection.
  • Locations can also be distinguished by background noise, e.g. by a noise level, i.e. the volume of noise on site, or by a noise frequency.
  • the location is then generally determined by determining what type of noise is present. The same applies to the determination of the location on the basis of a frequency spectrum.
  • a plurality of noise maps from a plurality of locations jointly form a map, that is to say a data record of noise maps.
  • the map is preferably multidimensional.
  • the noise situation is parameterized by the two parameters time and location.
  • the location is preferably two-dimensional or, in a variant which is also suitable, three-dimensional.
  • the time is preferably one-dimensional, but in a likewise suitable variant it is multi-dimensional.
  • the map is accordingly three or four-dimensional, the dimension of the noise situation not being counted.
  • the noise situation is therefore stored in a multi-dimensional map and parameterized by time and location. This results in a comprehensive database from which the program for the hearing aid that is suitable at a specific location and at a specific time is selected with high accuracy.
  • the determination of the location on the basis of the current location of the user is not necessarily clearly possible. For example, when determining the location using GPS, it is difficult to distinguish between locations located one above the other.
  • "superimposed locations” is understood to mean that several locations have the same or similar, in particular two-dimensional coordinates, but are arranged at different heights. At such locations, however, different noise situations may exist which require different programs for the hearing aid. For example, a building, for example a church, is arranged above a subway station or in a high-rise building rooms with different functions are arranged on different floors, for example a bedroom and a study.
  • the current noise situation is then recognized in a location-dependent manner in that a location of the user is determined in a two-dimensional space, in particular by means of GPS, and by additionally using an auxiliary variable by means of which different locations at the location are distinguished.
  • the auxiliary variable is also referred to as the auxiliary parameter.
  • the location detection is therefore advantageously supported by using the auxiliary variable. Above all, this serves to determine the location more precisely, which may not be clearly determinable.
  • the auxiliary variable is preferably a parameter as described above in connection with the determination of the location type, e.g. a map information, a reverberation time, a noise, a frequency spectrum or a quantity derived from these.
  • the auxiliary variable is determined in particular in operation and in particular as required.
  • the auxiliary variable represents additional information which advantageously enables decision-making in the event of insufficient or ambiguous location information. Such decision-making is expediently also carried out, preferably when several locations or types of locations are possible.
  • a further development is particularly suitable in which a location is assigned to the noise map and in which this same noise map is used to identify the noise situation when the user is at the location which is assigned to the noise map.
  • a separate noise map is stored for each location, which is used when the user enters the corresponding location.
  • the location is first determined and then the corresponding noise map is selected depending on the location.
  • the time is determined and then the noise situation which is assigned to the determined time is determined in the selected noise map, i.e. which is saved for the determined time.
  • the noise map is preferably provided by an external device.
  • the noise map is stored outside the hearing aid and on an external device.
  • the external device is preferably a server or a smartphone.
  • An external device has the particular advantage that it has significantly more storage space than the hearing aid and also has a higher computing capacity and also has a more extensive power supply. This advantageously relieves the hearing aid with regard to storage space and energy consumption.
  • the external device merely serves as a memory for one or more noise maps and then transfers this / these to the hearing aid. The transmission takes place in particular when required, for example when entering that location, the noise map is then transferred. For example, a restaurant has a noise map on its own server and transmits this to users as soon as they enter the restaurant.
  • a cloud solution with a centralized server, which then stores noise maps for several locations, is also suitable. Several users can then query the required noise maps from this server, as required.
  • the hearing aid is connected directly to the server, for example via the Internet, or indirectly, for example via a smartphone. In this way it is also advantageously possible for the user to determine in advance those locations which are particularly quiet or which meet other user-specific requirements, using the noise maps.
  • An external device which is connected to the hearing aid for data exchange, is suitably used to determine the location, to determine the time, to recognize the current noise situation or for a combination thereof.
  • the external device is in particular the external device described above.
  • the noise map is suitably transmitted to the hearing aid or time and location are transmitted to the external device, which then determines the current noise situation and transmits it to the hearing aid.
  • the external device is, in particular, a smartphone, particularly for determining location.
  • the external device is a server. This is particularly suitable for time determination and for recognizing the noise situation.
  • the noise map has been determined in particular in advance, for example by the user himself, by regularly determining the noise situation with his hearing aid, for example using a noise analysis as mentioned above, and then providing and storing this noise situation with a location stamp and a time stamp. This is expediently carried out automatically by the hearing aid. Several such measurements then become a noise map put together and are available for later retrieval.
  • the noise situation is generally stored in the noise map.
  • the noise situation is stored here in the form of a situation parameter depending on the location and time. More precisely, several values of the situation parameter are stored in the noise map at different locations and at different times, that is to say location and time-dependent. In particular, exactly one value is stored for a given location and time.
  • the noise map thus contains a specific parameter which is relevant for the selection of the optimal program.
  • the noise situation is then determined by first determining the location and time, then looking up the situation parameters in a location-dependent and time-dependent manner in the noise map and then determining the noise situation on the basis of the situation parameters. Accordingly, the noise situation is parameterized depending on the location and time.
  • the situation parameter is a noise situation or a program for the hearing aid, i.e.
  • the location and time-dependent noise situation or the suitable program is stored directly in the noise map.
  • this configuration is not mandatory, rather a single parameter is often sufficient to characterize the noise situation.
  • the situation parameter is therefore a specific property of noise situations in general and noises or locations in particular. Such properties are in particular volume, i.e. Level, frequency spectrum, transitivity, i.e. Duration, reverberation time, noise power and the like.
  • the noise situation is then determined on the basis of the situation parameter and the suitable program is selected.
  • a volume level as a function of time is stored in the noise map as a situation parameter.
  • the volume level or briefly the volume, is stored in the noise map depending on the location and time.
  • the noise map thus shows the time-dependent volume level in a certain place.
  • the location and time-dependent determination of the noise situation then corresponds to a determination of the volume at a given location at a given time using a data set that is known in particular, namely the noise map.
  • a volume measurement on site is not necessary and therefore such a volume measurement for the selection of the program is preferably dispensed with.
  • a suitable program for the hearing aid is then selected and set as a function of the volume level detected, ie determined from the noise map.
  • the situation parameter is stored two-dimensionally with respect to time as a function of the time of day and the day of the week.
  • the noise map then forms a map with two time axes and with the situation parameter on a third axis.
  • the two-dimensional design takes into account in particular the consideration that even a time-dependent detection of the noise situation can still be potentially incorrect.
  • a separate consideration of the time of day and day of the week then significantly improves the detection of the noise situation. For example, this advantageously takes into account the fact that different noise situations prevail at certain locations on weekends than on working days.
  • the hearing aid suitably measures a situation parameter, as a result of which a measured value is generated, and this measured value is provided with a location stamp and a time stamp and stored in one, in particular the noise map.
  • the situation parameter is preferably the volume level. This is measured in particular with a microphone.
  • the microphone is expediently a microphone of the hearing device, so that the noise map is populated with data directly by means of the hearing device.
  • the user continuously contributes to the improvement of the noise map at those locations that he visits as regularly as possible.
  • the time stamp and the location stamp are also each generated by the hearing aid or by an external device or by both.
  • the noise map is composed of several measured values which are obtained from other hearing aids, i.e. in particular hearing aids of other users, and / or from other sources were measured.
  • sources other than the user's hearing aid are also advantageously used and the amount of data in the noise map is thus significantly increased.
  • Other sources are generally devices with a microphone in particular, for example ATMs or traffic lights, and especially smartphones and surveillance cameras. The general aim here is to collect measurement values of the situation parameter as extensively as possible in order to obtain the most accurate possible noise map for a given location.
  • a hearing aid according to the invention can be operated using one of the methods described above and is preferably also operated using such a method.
  • the hearing aid in particular as also already described above, has a control unit which is designed in such a way that a current noise situation is recognized both as a function of location and as a function of time, and that of the programs is selected and set which is associated with the current noise situation.
  • FIG. 1 A hearing device 2 is shown, which is worn by a user (not shown) and which is connected to external devices 4, 6 for data exchange, namely to a smartphone 4 and a server 6.
  • the arrangement and connection of the devices shown here is only one Example.
  • the hearing aid 2 and the smartphone 4 each have a microphone 8.
  • the hearing aid 2 also has a control unit 10 which automatically switches the hearing aid between different programs. A current noise situation is first recognized and then a suitable program is selected and set.
  • the noise situation is determined as a function of time and location using a noise map 12.
  • An exemplary noise map 12 is shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown.
  • this contains a situation parameter S, here the volume level at this location, as a function of the time Z1, Z2.
  • the time Z1, Z2 is shown in two dimensions, namely as the time of day Z1 and as the day of the week Z2. From the noise map 12 it can thus be determined at what time of day Z1 and on which day of the week Z2 it is loud at the corresponding location. This also gives the noise situation, for example as loud or quiet.
  • a suitable program is then selected and set in order to ensure an optimal supply of the user in the specific noise situation.
  • a location determination S1 takes place, in which it is determined at which location the user is located. Based on the location, ie location-dependent, a noise map 12 is selected in a selection step S3, which is assigned to the location and contains its noise situation at different times Z1, Z2.
  • a time determination S2 takes place, in which the current time Z1, Z2 is determined, for example as the time of day Z1 and day of the week Z2. Based on the determined time Z1, Z2, the situation parameter S is determined in a recognition step S4 from the noise map 12 at the given time Z1, Z2 and the current noise situation is thus recognized. Based on this, a suitable program is then selected and set in a setting step S5.
  • a respective noise map 12 is generated in that the situation parameter S is measured repeatedly and provided with a location and time stamp and stored.
  • a noise map 12 is generated, for example, by the user himself, by regularly using his hearing aid 2 to determine the noise situation, for example using a noise analysis, and then providing and storing this noise situation with a location stamp and with a time stamp. Several such measurements are then combined to form a noise map 12 and are then available for later retrieval.
  • the noise map is stored, for example, on the hearing device 2 and / or on an external device 4, 6.
  • the situation parameter S is the volume level. This is measured with a microphone 8, which is a microphone 8 of, for example, the hearing device 2 or the smartphone 4 or another device.
  • the microphone itself of the hearing device 2 continuously contributes to the improvement of the noise map 12 at those locations which he regularly visits.
  • the time stamp and the location stamp are also each generated by the hearing aid 2 and / or by an external device 4, 6.
  • other sources are used than the hearing aid 2 of the user and thus the amount of data in the noise map 12 is significantly increased.
  • other sources are, for example, ATMs, traffic lights or surveillance cameras.
  • the general aim here is to collect measurement values of the situation parameter S as extensively as possible in order to obtain the most accurate possible noise map 12 for a given location.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
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Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Hörgeräts sowie ein solches Hörgerät.The invention relates to a method for operating a hearing device and to such a hearing device.

Ein Hörgerät dient üblicherweise der Versorgung eines gehörgeschädigten oder gehörbeeinträchtigten Nutzers, um diesem ein verbessertes Hören zu ermöglichen. Der Nutzer eines Hörgeräts trägt dieses regelmäßig im oder am Ohr. Das Hörgerät nimmt Geräusche, d.h. alle Arten von Schall oder Schallsignalen, aus der Umgebung auf, verstärkt diese und gibt diese als verstärkte Audiosignale an den Nutzer aus. Zusätzlich oder alternativ zur Verstärkung erfolgt häufig eine Bearbeitung, z.B. eine Filterung. Allgemein weist das Hörgerät somit eine Anzahl von Betriebsparametern auf, welche für den Nutzer üblicherweise individuell eingestellt sind, um ein aufgenommenes Geräusch geeignet zu modifizieren.A hearing aid usually serves to care for a hearing-impaired or hearing-impaired user in order to enable him to improve hearing. The user of a hearing aid wears it regularly in or on the ear. The hearing aid takes noise, i.e. all types of sound or sound signals, from the environment, amplifies them and outputs them to the user as amplified audio signals. In addition or as an alternative to reinforcement, processing is often carried out, e.g. a filtering. In general, the hearing aid thus has a number of operating parameters which are usually set individually for the user in order to suitably modify a recorded noise.

An verschiedenen Orten herrschen oft auch unterschiedliche Geräuschkulissen, weshalb eine Änderung der Betriebsparameter in Abhängigkeit der momentanen Geräuschsituation zweckmäßig ist.There are often different noise levels at different locations, which is why it is advisable to change the operating parameters depending on the current noise situation.

In der US 2015/0003652 A1 wird beispielsweise ein Hörgerät beschrieben, welches automatisch eine Geräuschsituation erkennt und die Betriebsparameter in Abhängigkeit der erkannten Geräuschsituation einstellt. Dabei wird die geographische Position des Nutzers, d.h. der Ort, an welchem dieser sich befindet, mit in die Erkennung der Geräuschsituation einbezogen. Dabei wird ausgenutzt, dass die Geräuschsituation an einem bestimmten Ort über längere Zeit dieselbe bleibt. Zur Bestimmung des Orts wird z.B. ein GPS-System verwendet. Falls der Ort auf diese Weise nicht direkt ermittelt werden kann, werden hilfsweise andere Informationen ausgewertet, z.B. ein Kalender des Nutzers, welchem dann entnommen wird, wo sich der Nutzer vermutlich aufhält.In the US 2015/0003652 A1 For example, a hearing aid is described which automatically detects a noise situation and sets the operating parameters depending on the detected noise situation. The geographic position of the user, ie the location at which the user is located, is included in the detection of the noise situation. This takes advantage of the fact that the noise situation at a certain location remains the same over a longer period of time. For example, a GPS system is used to determine the location. If the location cannot be determined directly in this way, other information will alternatively be provided evaluated, for example a calendar of the user, which is then taken from where the user is presumably.

In der US 2015/0326983 A1 ist ein Verfahren beschrieben, bei welchem ein Eingangssignal empfangen wird, welches ein Signal und ein Störgeräusch enthält. Weiter wird eine Szene bestimmt, welche zu dem Eingangssignal korrespondiert, wobei die Szene abhängig ist von einer Bedingung, welche bezüglich des Signals eine externe Bedingung ist. Von dem Signal wird ein verarbeitetes Signal abgeleitet und letzteres dann ausgegeben.In the US 2015/0326983 A1 describes a method in which an input signal is received which contains a signal and a noise. Furthermore, a scene is determined which corresponds to the input signal, the scene being dependent on a condition which is an external condition with respect to the signal. A processed signal is derived from the signal and the latter is then output.

In der EP 2 884 766 A1 wird ein Hörgerät beschrieben, bei welchem ein Geräuschumgebungsdetektor eine Kategorie der vorliegenden Geräuschumgebung basierend auf einem akustischen Eingangssignal und einem Ort bestimmt.In the EP 2 884 766 A1 describes a hearing aid in which a noise environment detector determines a category of the present noise environment based on an acoustic input signal and a location.

In der EP 2 164 282 A1 wird ein Hörgerät mit verbesserter Genauigkeit bei der Bestimmung der Umgebung beschrieben. Dabei werden Voraussagen bezüglich der Umgebung genutzt.In the EP 2 164 282 A1 describes a hearing aid with improved accuracy in determining the environment. Predictions regarding the environment are used.

Die Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß gelöst durch ein Verfahren mit den Merkmalen gemäß Anspruch 1 sowie durch ein Hörgerät mit den Merkmalen gemäß Anspruch 12.Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen, Weiterbildungen und Varianten sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche. Dabei gelten die Ausführungen im Zusammenhang mit dem Verfahren sinngemäß auch für das Hörgerät und umgekehrt.The object is achieved according to the invention by a method with the features according to claim 1 and by a hearing aid with the features according to claim 12. Advantageous refinements, developments and variants are the subject of the dependent claims. The explanations in connection with the method apply mutatis mutandis to the hearing aid and vice versa.

Das Verfahren dient zum Betrieb eines Hörgeräts und wird vorzugsweise auch hierfür verwendet. Das Hörgerät kann von einem Nutzer getragen werden. Insbesondere wird das Verfahren dann ausgeführt, wenn das Hörgerät auch vom Nutzer getragen wird. Der Nutzer ist regelmäßig eine Person mit beeinträchtigtem Hörvermögen. Das Hörgerät weist eine Anzahl von Programmen auf, welche jeweils einer Geräuschsituation oder Geräuschumgebung zugeordnet sind. Die Programme sind dabei jeweils insbesondere eine Sammlung von bestimmten Einstellungen für eine Anzahl von Betriebsparametern des Hörgeräts. Ein Betriebsparameter ist beispielsweise die Verstärkung. Zudem weist das Hörgerät insbesondere wenigstens ein Mikrofon auf, zur Aufnahme von Geräuschen, sowie einen Hörer, zur Ausgabe von modifizierten Geräuschen. Unter "Geräusch" wird allgemein "Schall" oder "Schallsignal" verstanden. Das Hörgerät weist zudem eine Steuereinheit auf, welche die Programme einstellt. Das Hörgerät weist regelmäßig ein oder zwei Hörgeräteinheiten auf und ist in letzterer Variante insbesondere ein binaurales Hörgerät.The method is used to operate a hearing aid and is preferably also used for this. The hearing aid can be worn by a user. In particular, the method is carried out when the hearing aid is also worn by the user. The user is regularly a person with impaired hearing. The hearing aid has a number of programs, each of which is assigned to a noise situation or noise environment. The programs are in each case in particular a collection of specific settings for a number of operating parameters of the hearing aid. One example of an operating parameter is gain. In addition, the hearing aid in particular at least one microphone to record noises, and a receiver to output modified noises. "Noise" is generally understood to mean "sound" or "sound signal". The hearing aid also has a control unit that sets the programs. The hearing aid regularly has one or two hearing aid units and, in the latter variant, is in particular a binaural hearing aid.

Das Hörgerät ist zwischen verschiedenen Programmen umschaltbar, um eine optimale Einstellung der Betriebsparameter des Hörgeräts in unterschiedlichen Geräuschsituationen zu gewährleisten. Eine jeweilige Geräuschsituation ist charakterisiert durch eine Anzahl an Situationsparametern, üblicherweise zumindest einen Lautstärkepegel. Jedes Programm trägt zumindest einer bestimmten Geräuschsituation Rechnung, um in der jeweiligen Geräuschsituation eine optimale Kompensation der Gehörbeeinträchtigung des Nutzers sicherzustellen. Dazu weist ein Programm bestimmte Vorgaben für die Betriebsparameter auf, sodass beim Aktivieren, d.h. Einstellen eines entsprechenden Programms die Betriebsparameter entsprechend eingestellt werden.The hearing aid can be switched between different programs in order to ensure an optimal setting of the operating parameters of the hearing aid in different noise situations. A respective noise situation is characterized by a number of situation parameters, usually at least one volume level. Each program takes into account at least one specific noise situation in order to ensure optimal compensation of the hearing impairment of the user in the respective noise situation. For this purpose, a program has certain specifications for the operating parameters, so that when it is activated, i.e. Setting an appropriate program, the operating parameters are set accordingly.

Bei dem Verfahren wird eine aktuelle Geräuschsituation sowohl ortsabhängig als auch zeitabhängig erkannt und dasjenige der Programme ausgewählt und eingestellt, welches der aktuellen Geräuschsituation zugeordnet ist. Mit anderen Worten: die Geräuschsituation wird dadurch ermittelt, dass sowohl Ort als auch Zeit ermittelt werden, welche zwei Parameter darstellen, anhand derer erkannt wird, welche Geräuschsituation vorliegt. Es werden also eine Ortbestimmung und eine Zeitbestimmung durchgeführt und anhand des Ergebnisses wird eine bestimmte Geräuschsituation angenommen. Das für diese Geräuschsituation optimale Programm wird dann ausgewählt und eingestellt. Das Auswählen und insbesondere auch das Einstellen erfolgen vorzugsweise automatisch. Der Ort ist beispielsweise ein Restaurant, eine Wohnung, eine Straße oder ein Arbeitsplatz. Die Zeit ist beispielsweise die Tageszeit, beispielsweise charakterisiert durch die aktuelle Stunde oder zusätzlich noch durch die aktuelle Minute, der aktuelle Wochentag, der aktuelle Monat oder ein Datum, beispielsweise durch Tag und Monat charakterisiert oder zusätzlich noch durch das aktuelle Jahr.In the method, a current noise situation is recognized both as a function of location and as a function of time, and that of the programs which is assigned to the current noise situation is selected and set. In other words, the noise situation is determined in that both location and time are determined, which are two parameters which are used to identify which noise situation is present. A location determination and a time determination are therefore carried out and a specific noise situation is assumed on the basis of the result. The optimal program for this noise situation is then selected and set. The selection and in particular also the setting are preferably carried out automatically. The place is, for example, a restaurant, an apartment, a street or a workplace. The time is, for example, the time of day, for example characterized by the current hour or additionally by the current minute, the current day of the week, the current month or a date, for example characterized by day and month or additionally by the current year.

Ein Vorteil der Erfindung besteht insbesondere darin, dass an einem bestimmten Ort sofort das optimale Programm ausgewählt und eingestellt wird, ohne zuvor eine unter Umständen zeitaufwändige Analyse durchführen zu müssen. Grundsätzlich ist es nämlich denkbar, eine Geräuschsituation durch Analyse der vorhandenen Geräusche, d.h. Schallsignale, zu erkennen. Eine solche Analyse bedingt jedoch zunächst das Aufnehmen von Geräuschen und eine anschließende Verarbeitung. Dies ist entsprechend zeitaufwändig. Demgegenüber werden vorliegend Ort und Zeit ermittelt, um auf die aktuelle Geräuschsituation zu schließen. Bei der Erkennung der Geräuschsituation wird insbesondere auf eine Aufnahme von Geräuschen oder Umgebungsgeräuschen verzichtet, d.h. die Geräuschsituation wird ausschließlich orts- und zeitabhängig ermittelt. Mit anderen Worten: es werden ein Ort und eine Zeit bestimmt und die Geräuschsituation wird ausschließlich anhand des Ortes und der Zeit erkannt. Dabei wird vorzugsweise auf eine Klassifizierung von Umgebungsgeräuschen verzichtet, insbesondere bei der Orts- und Zeitbestimmung. In einer Variante wir dagegen eine zusätzliche Klassifizierung insbesondere von Umgebungsgeräuschen vorgenommen, um den Ort oder die Zeit oder beides zuverlässiger zu bestimmen.An advantage of the invention is, in particular, that the optimal program is selected and set immediately at a certain location without having to carry out a possibly time-consuming analysis beforehand. Basically, it is conceivable to analyze a noise situation by analyzing the existing noise, i.e. Sound signals to be recognized. However, such an analysis first requires the recording of noises and subsequent processing. This is correspondingly time-consuming. In contrast, the location and time are determined in the present case in order to infer the current noise situation. When the noise situation is recognized, no recording of noises or ambient noises is done, i.e. the noise situation is only determined based on location and time. In other words: a location and a time are determined and the noise situation is recognized only on the basis of the location and the time. A classification of ambient noise is preferably omitted, in particular when determining the location and time. In a variant, on the other hand, an additional classification, in particular of ambient noise, is carried out in order to determine the location or the time or both more reliably.

Ein weiterer Vorteil ist insbesondere, dass das Auswählen und Einstellen nicht lediglich ortsabhängig erfolgt, sondern gerade auch zeitabhängig. Denn vorliegend wurde erkannt, dass die Geräuschsituation an einem bestimmten Ort nicht zwangsläufig gleichbleibend ist und eine allein ortsabhängige Einstellung des Hörgeräts nicht immer zielführend ist, sondern dass die Geräuschsituation an einem Ort sich häufig auch über die Zeit verändert. Beispielsweise wird ein Restaurant zu unterschiedlichen Tageszeiten auch unterschiedlich stark besucht, sodass der Lautstärkepegel an diesem Ort zeitabhängig variiert. Ähnliches gilt für eine Straße, welche zu unterschiedlichen Zeiten unterschiedlich stark befahren und somit unterschiedlich laut ist. Ein Programm, welches beispielsweise zur Mittagszeit einen hohen Geräuschpegel berücksichtigt, ist dann beispielsweise am Nachmittag, wenn es ruhiger ist, ungeeignet. Allgemein führt also die zusätzliche Zeitabhängigkeit der Geräuschsituation am gleichen Ort unter Umständen zu ungünstigen Einstellungen. Dies wird vorliegend durch die zusätzlich zeitabhängige Erkennung der Geräuschsituation vermieden.A further advantage is in particular that the selection and setting is not only dependent on the location, but also time-dependent. It was recognized in the present case that the noise situation at a specific location is not necessarily constant and that a location-dependent setting of the hearing aid is not always expedient, but that the noise situation at a location often also changes over time. For example, a restaurant is visited differently at different times of the day, so that the volume level at this location varies depending on the time. The same applies to a road which is driven at different times at different times and is therefore differently loud. A program that takes a high noise level into account at lunchtime, for example, is unsuitable in the afternoon, for example, when it is quieter. In general, the additional time dependence of the noise situation at the same location can lead to unfavorable circumstances Settings. In the present case, this is avoided by the additional time-dependent detection of the noise situation.

Die ortsabhängige Auswahl des Programms wird also vorteilhaft durch eine zusätzlich zeitabhängige Auswahl an einem bestimmten Ort verbessert. Das Programm wird somit sozusagen zweistufig ausgewählt. Dabei wird zunächst ein Ort bestimmt, insbesondere der Standort des Nutzers. Anschließend wird eine Zeit bestimmt, insbesondere die aktuelle Zeit, und dann eines von mehreren Programmen für den Ort in Abhängigkeit der Zeit ausgewählt und dadurch die Auswahl für ebendiesen Ort verfeinert. Dabei wird davon ausgegangen, dass für einen gegebenen Ort zu unterschiedlichen Zeiten verschiedene Programme besser geeignet sind. Das Programm wird also insgesamt anhand von zwei Parametern ausgewählt, nämlich Zeit und Ort, und nicht lediglich anhand eines Parameters. Damit unterscheidet sich das hier beschriebene Verfahren auch von solchen Verfahren, bei welchen zunächst anhand eines Parameters, z.B. des Ortes ein Programm ausgewählt wird und dann anschließend eine Anpassung an eine möglicherweise veränderte Geräuschsituation in dynamischer Weise im Betrieb und über die Zeit erfolgt. Vielmehr wird vorliegend direkt ein Programm auf Basis zweier Parameter ausgewählt, d.h. es wird eine initiale Auswahl vorgenommen, welche von vornherein genauer ist, da hierbei sowohl Ort als auch Zeit berücksichtigt werden.The location-dependent selection of the program is therefore advantageously improved by an additional time-dependent selection at a specific location. The program is therefore selected in two stages, so to speak. First of all, a location is determined, in particular the location of the user. A time is then determined, in particular the current time, and then one of several programs is selected for the location depending on the time, thereby refining the selection for this location. It is assumed that different programs are more suitable for a given location at different times. The program is therefore selected on the basis of two parameters, namely time and location, and not only on the basis of one parameter. The method described here also differs from those methods in which a parameter, e.g. a program is selected for the location and then an adaptation to a possibly changed noise situation occurs dynamically in operation and over time. Rather, a program is selected here directly on the basis of two parameters, i.e. an initial selection is made, which is more precise from the outset, since both location and time are taken into account.

Bevorzugterweise wird die aktuelle Geräuschsituation ortsabhängig erkannt, indem ermittelt wird, an welchem Ort sich der Nutzer aktuell aufhält, vorzugsweise mittels eines GPS-Systems. Dadurch wird genau diejenige Geräuschsituation erkannt, welche für den Nutzer hinsichtlich dessen Aufenthaltsortes relevant ist. Dazu wird ein Ortssensor verwendet, vorzugsweise ein GPS-System. Dieser ist beispielsweise in das Hörgerät integriert. Alternativ ist der Ortssensor in ein externes Gerät integriert, welches der Nutzer zweckmäßigerweise ebenfalls bei sich trägt, geeigneterweise ein Smartphone. Das externe Gerät ist dann mit dem Hörgerät beispielsweise drahtlos verbunden, um den Ort, d.h. die Ortsinformation, zu übermitteln. Alternativ oder zusätzlich ist an dem Ort ein Sender aufgestellt, welcher den aktuellen Ort übermittelt.The current noise situation is preferably detected in a location-dependent manner by determining at which location the user is currently, preferably by means of a GPS system. As a result, exactly that noise situation is recognized which is relevant for the user with regard to his location. A location sensor is used for this, preferably a GPS system. This is integrated into the hearing aid, for example. Alternatively, the location sensor is integrated in an external device which the user also expediently carries with him, suitably a smartphone. The external device is then connected to the hearing aid, for example wirelessly, in order to transmit the location, ie the location information. Alternatively or additionally, a transmitter is set up at the location, which transmits the current location.

Die aktuelle Geräuschsituation wird orts- und zeitabhängig mittels eines Geräuschkennfelds ermittelt. Das Geräuschkennfeld wird auch als Parameterkennfeld oder als Sound Map bezeichnet. Das Geräuschkennfeld enthält also allgemein die Geräuschsituation an einem bestimmten Ort als Funktion der Zeit und ist somit insbesondere ein Datensatz oder auch ein Katalog. Unter "Funktion" wird vorliegend auch eine tabellarische Zuordnung verstanden. Die Geräuschsituation selbst muss dabei nicht direkt im Geräuschkennfeld gespeichert sein, wesentlich ist vielmehr, dass das Geräuschkennfeld für einen gegebenen Ort und für eine gegebene Zeit eine Information zur Bestimmung der Geräuschsituation enthält, d.h. einen Parameter, welcher mit der Geräuschsituation in Beziehung steht. Der Parameter wird auch als Situationsparameter bezeichnet, das sich anhand des konkreten Wertes des Parameters die zugehörige Geräuschsituation bestimmen lässt. Alternativ oder zusätzlich ist die Geräuschsituation selbst orts- und zeitabhängig als Information im Geräuschkennfeld enthalten. Durch das Geräuschkennfeld ist an dem entsprechenden Ort die Geräuschsituation zu verschiedenen, insbesondere zu jeder Zeit entsprechend direkt oder indirekt gespeichert und somit vorbekannt. Die Geräuschsituation kann dann in Kenntnis der aktuellen Zeit aus dem Geräuschkennfeld ermittelt werden. Dazu werden vorzugsweise zuvor gesammelte Erfahrungen verwertet, d.h. die Kenntnis, zu welcher Zeit an welchem Ort welche Geräuschsituation vorliegt. Diese Kenntnis ermöglicht dann eine sofortige optimale Programmwahl, insbesondere auch dann, wenn der Nutzer einen bestimmten Ort zu einer bestimmten Zeit noch nie zuvor betreten hat.The current noise situation is determined depending on the location and time by means of a noise map. The noise map is also referred to as a parameter map or a sound map. The noise map therefore generally contains the noise situation at a specific location as a function of time and is therefore in particular a data record or a catalog. In the present case, “function” is also to be understood as a tabular assignment. The noise situation itself does not have to be stored directly in the noise map, rather it is essential that the noise map contains information for determining the noise situation for a given location and for a given time, i.e. a parameter that is related to the noise situation. The parameter is also referred to as a situation parameter, which can be used to determine the associated noise situation on the basis of the concrete value of the parameter. Alternatively or additionally, the noise situation itself is contained as information in the noise map, depending on the location and time. By means of the noise map, the noise situation is stored at different, in particular at any time, directly or indirectly at the corresponding location and is therefore known in advance. The noise situation can then be determined from the noise map with knowledge of the current time. For this purpose, experiences gained previously are preferably used, i.e. the knowledge of what noise situation occurs at what time at which location. This knowledge then enables an immediate optimal program selection, in particular even if the user has never entered a certain place at a certain time before.

In einer besonders bevorzugten Ausgestaltung ist der Ort durch Koordinaten bestimmt, sodass das Programm ortsabhängig anhand des konkreten Standortes des Nutzers ausgewählt wird. Der Ort ist dabei insbesondere durch zwei Koordinaten charakterisiert, vorzugsweise geographische Länge und Breite. In einer Variante ist der Ort zusätzlich noch durch eine Höhe charakterisiert und somit durch insgesamt drei Koordinaten. Die Koordinaten sind vorzugsweise GPS-Koordinaten oder Vergleichbares.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the location is determined by coordinates, so that the program is selected depending on the location based on the specific location of the user. The location is characterized in particular by two coordinates, preferably longitude and latitude. In a variant, the location is additionally characterized by a height and thus by a total of three coordinates. The coordinates are preferably GPS coordinates or the like.

Alternativ oder zusätzlich ist der Ort ein Ortstyp, sodass das Programm dann abhängig vom Typ oder von der Art des Ortes ausgewählt wird. Auf die konkreten Koordinaten kommt es hierbei nicht notwendigerweise an. Vielmehr werden vorteilhaft gleichartige Orte auch als gleichartig erkannt, d.h. als derselbe Ortstyp, und es wird für solche gleichartigen Orte entsprechend dasselbe Programm ausgewählt. Beispiele für solche Ortstypen sind eine Straße, ein kleiner Raum, eine Kirche, ein Theater, ein Fahrzeuginnenraum, ein Arbeitsplatz, eine Freifläche usw. Diverse Typen von Orte unterscheiden sich in zumindest einem Situationsparameter und sind insofern abgrenzbar voneinander. Die Geräuschsituation wird dann in einer zweckmäßigen Ausgestaltung ortsabhängig ermittelt, indem zunächst eine Ortstypisierung durchgeführt wird, bei welcher ein aktueller Ortstyp bestimmt wird, d.h. bei welcher der aktuelle Ort typisiert wird. Die Geräuschsituation wird dann in einem Geräuschkennfeld für den aktuellen Ortstyp zeitabhängig ermittelt.Alternatively or additionally, the location is a location type, so that the program is then selected depending on the type or type of location. The specific coordinates are not essential. Rather, similar locations are advantageously also recognized as identical, i.e. as the same location type, and the same program is selected accordingly for such similar locations. Examples of such types of locations are a street, a small room, a church, a theater, a vehicle interior, a workplace, an open space, etc. Various types of locations differ in at least one situation parameter and are therefore delimitable from one another. In an expedient embodiment, the noise situation is then determined in a location-dependent manner by first performing a location typing in which a current location type is determined, i.e. at which the current location is typed. The noise situation is then determined as a function of time in a noise map for the current location type.

Der Situationsparameter ist geeigneterweise eine Karteninformation, eine Nachhallzeit, ein Störgeräusch, ein Frequenzspektrum oder eine von diesen abgeleitete Größe. Andere Situationsparameter sind ebenfalls denkbar und geeignet. Bei der Karteninformation wird der Ortstyp über eine Karte bestimmt, auf welcher besondere Orte, z.B. Sehenswürdigkeiten, Straßen etc. bereits gekennzeichnet sind. Der Ortstyp wird dann anhand der Karte in Kombination mit dem Standort des Nutzers bestimmt. Bei der Nachhallzeit wird der Ortstyp anhand der Nachhallzeit des Ortes bestimmt, diese wird entweder gemessen oder wird vorgegeben, z.B. durch ein Informationssystem am Ort. Insbesondere an öffentlichen Plätzen oder in öffentlichen Gebäuden wird regelmäßig die lokale Nachhallzeit von einem Informationssystem bereitgestellt, mit welchem das Hörgerät insbesondere über eine Drahtlosverbindung verbindbar ist. Orte lassen sich auch durch Störgeräusche unterscheiden, z.B. durch einen Störgeräuschpegel, d.h. die Lautstärke von Störgeräuschen am Ort, oder durch eine Störgeräuschfrequenz. Der Ort wird dann allgemein bestimmt, indem ermittelt wird, welche Art von Störgeräusch vorliegt. Ähnliches gilt für die Bestimmung des Ortes anhand eines Frequenzspektrums.The situation parameter is suitably map information, reverberation time, noise, a frequency spectrum or a quantity derived from these. Other situation parameters are also conceivable and suitable. With the map information, the location type is determined on a map, on which special locations, e.g. Sights, streets, etc. are already marked. The location type is then determined using the map in combination with the location of the user. In the reverberation time, the location type is determined based on the reverberation time of the location, which is either measured or specified, e.g. through an information system on site. In particular in public places or in public buildings, the local reverberation time is regularly provided by an information system, with which the hearing aid can be connected in particular via a wireless connection. Locations can also be distinguished by background noise, e.g. by a noise level, i.e. the volume of noise on site, or by a noise frequency. The location is then generally determined by determining what type of noise is present. The same applies to the determination of the location on the basis of a frequency spectrum.

In einer besonders bevorzugten Ausgestaltung bilden mehrere Geräuschkennfelder mehrerer Orte gemeinsam eine Kennfeldkarte, d.h. einen Datensatz von Geräuschkennfeldern. Die Kennfeldkarte ist vorzugsweise mehrdimensional. Die Geräuschsituation ist dabei durch die beiden Parameter Zeit und Ort parametrisiert. Der Ort ist vorzugsweise wie oben beschrieben zweidimensional oder in einer ebenfalls geeigneten Variante dreidimensional. Die Zeit ist vorzugsweise eindimensional, in einer ebenfalls geeigneten Variante jedoch mehrdimensional. Insgesamt ist die Kennfeldkarte somit entsprechend drei- oder vierdimensional, wobei die Dimension der Geräuschsituation nicht mitgezählt ist. Die Geräuschsituation ist also in einer mehrdimensionalen Kennfeldkarte gespeichert und durch Zeit und Ort parametrisiert. Dadurch ergibt sich eine umfassende Datenbank, aus welcher mit hoher Genauigkeit das an einem bestimmten Ort und zu einer bestimmten Zeit passende Programm für das Hörgerät ausgewählt wird.In a particularly preferred embodiment, a plurality of noise maps from a plurality of locations jointly form a map, that is to say a data record of noise maps. The map is preferably multidimensional. The noise situation is parameterized by the two parameters time and location. As described above, the location is preferably two-dimensional or, in a variant which is also suitable, three-dimensional. The time is preferably one-dimensional, but in a likewise suitable variant it is multi-dimensional. Overall, the map is accordingly three or four-dimensional, the dimension of the noise situation not being counted. The noise situation is therefore stored in a multi-dimensional map and parameterized by time and location. This results in a comprehensive database from which the program for the hearing aid that is suitable at a specific location and at a specific time is selected with high accuracy.

Die Bestimmung des Ortes anhand des aktuellen Standortes des Nutzers ist nicht unbedingt eindeutig möglich. Beispielsweise ist bei einer Bestimmung des Ortes mittels GPS eine Unterscheidung zwischen übereinanderliegenden Orten schwierig. Dabei wird unter "übereinanderliegenden Orten" verstanden, dass mehrere Orte zwar dieselben oder ähnliche insbesondere zweidimensionale Koordinaten aufweisen, jedoch in unterschiedlicher Höhe angeordnet sind. An solchen Orten können dennoch unterschiedliche Geräuschsituationen vorliegen, welche unterschiedliche Programme für das Hörgerät erfordern. Beispielsweise ist ein Bauwerk, z.B. eine Kirche, oberhalb einer U-Bahn-Station angeordnet oder in einem Hochhaus sind auf unterschiedlichen Stockwerken Räume mit unterschiedlichen Funktionen angeordnet, z.B. ein Schlafzimmer und ein Arbeitszimmer. In einer zweckmäßigen Ausgestaltung wird die aktuelle Geräuschsituation dann ortsabhängig erkannt, indem ein Standort des Nutzers insbesondere mittels GPS in einem zweidimensionalen Raum bestimmt wird und indem zusätzlich eine Hilfsgröße verwendet wird, mittels welcher unterschiedliche Orte an dem Standort unterschieden werden. Die Hilfsgröße wird auch als Hilfsparameter bezeichnet. Die Ortserkennung wird also vorteilhaft durch die Verwendung der Hilfsgröße unterstützt. Diese dient vor Allem der genaueren Bestimmung des Ortes, welcher möglicherweise nicht eindeutig bestimmbar ist.The determination of the location on the basis of the current location of the user is not necessarily clearly possible. For example, when determining the location using GPS, it is difficult to distinguish between locations located one above the other. In this context, "superimposed locations" is understood to mean that several locations have the same or similar, in particular two-dimensional coordinates, but are arranged at different heights. At such locations, however, different noise situations may exist which require different programs for the hearing aid. For example, a building, for example a church, is arranged above a subway station or in a high-rise building rooms with different functions are arranged on different floors, for example a bedroom and a study. In an expedient embodiment, the current noise situation is then recognized in a location-dependent manner in that a location of the user is determined in a two-dimensional space, in particular by means of GPS, and by additionally using an auxiliary variable by means of which different locations at the location are distinguished. The auxiliary variable is also referred to as the auxiliary parameter. The location detection is therefore advantageously supported by using the auxiliary variable. Above all, this serves to determine the location more precisely, which may not be clearly determinable.

Die Hilfsgröße ist vorzugsweise ein Parameter wie oben im Zusammenhang mit der Bestimmung des Ortstyps beschrieben, also z.B. eine Karteninformation, eine Nachhallzeit, ein Störgeräusch, ein Frequenzspektrum oder eine von diesen abgeleitete Größe. Die Hilfsgröße wird insbesondere im Betrieb und insbesondere bedarfsweise bestimmt. Die Hilfsgröße stellt eine Zusatzinformation dar, welche vorteilhaft eine Entscheidungsfindung im Falle unzureichender oder mehrdeutiger Ortsinformationen ermöglicht. Eine solche Entscheidungsfindung wird zweckmäßigerweise auch durchgeführt, vorzugsweise dann, wenn mehrere Orte oder Ortstypen in Frage kommen.The auxiliary variable is preferably a parameter as described above in connection with the determination of the location type, e.g. a map information, a reverberation time, a noise, a frequency spectrum or a quantity derived from these. The auxiliary variable is determined in particular in operation and in particular as required. The auxiliary variable represents additional information which advantageously enables decision-making in the event of insufficient or ambiguous location information. Such decision-making is expediently also carried out, preferably when several locations or types of locations are possible.

Besonders geeignet ist eine Weiterbildung, bei welcher dem Geräuschkennfeld ein Ort zugeordnet ist und bei welcher ebendieses Geräuschkennfeld zur Erkennung der Geräuschsituation verwendet wird, wenn der Nutzer sich an demjenigen Ort aufhält, welcher dem Geräuschkennfeld zugeordnet ist. Mit anderen Worten: für jeden Ort ist ein eigenes Geräuschkennfeld hinterlegt, welches dann verwendet wird, wenn der Nutzer den entsprechenden Ort betritt. Bei dem Verfahren wird dann zunächst der Ort ermittelt und daraufhin in Abhängigkeit des Ortes das entsprechende Geräuschkennfeld ausgewählt. Zusätzlich wird die Zeit ermittelt und dann in dem ausgewählten Geräuschkennfeld die Geräuschsituation ermittelt, welche der ermittelten Zeit zugeordnet ist, d.h. welche für die ermittelte Zeit gespeichert ist.A further development is particularly suitable in which a location is assigned to the noise map and in which this same noise map is used to identify the noise situation when the user is at the location which is assigned to the noise map. In other words, a separate noise map is stored for each location, which is used when the user enters the corresponding location. In the method, the location is first determined and then the corresponding noise map is selected depending on the location. In addition, the time is determined and then the noise situation which is assigned to the determined time is determined in the selected noise map, i.e. which is saved for the determined time.

Vorzugsweise wird das Geräuschkennfeld von einem externen Gerät bereitgestellt. Mit anderen Worten: das Geräuschkennfeld ist außerhalb des Hörgeräts und auf einem externen Gerät gespeichert. Das externe Gerät ist vorzugsweise ein Server oder ein Smartphone. Ein externes Gerät weist insbesondere den Vorteil auf, dass dieses deutlich mehr Speicherplatz aufweist als das Hörgerät und zudem auch eine höhere Rechenkapazität und außerdem über eine umfangreichere Energieversorgung verfügt. Dadurch wird das Hörgerät hinsichtlich Speicherplatz und Energieverbrauch vorteilhaft entlastet. In einer ersten Variante dient das externe Gerät lediglich als Speicher für ein oder mehrere Geräuschkennfelder und überträgt dieses/diese dann an das Hörgerät. Die Übertragung erfolgt insbesondere bei Bedarf, beispielsweise beim Betreten desjenigen Orts, dessen Geräuschkennfeld daraufhin übertragen wird. Beispielsweise hält ein Restaurant ein Geräuschkennfeld auf einem eigenen Server bereit und übermittelt dies an Nutzer, sobald diese das Restaurant betreten. Auch eine Cloud-Lösung mit einem zentralisierten Server, welcher dann Geräuschkennfelder für mehrere Orte gespeichert hält, ist geeignet. Von diesem Server können dann insbesondere mehrere Nutzer je nach Bedarf die jeweils benötigten Geräuschkennfelder abfragen. Dazu ist das Hörgerät beispielsweise über das Internet unmittelbar mit dem Server verbunden oder mittelbar z.B. über ein Smartphone. Auf diese Weise ist es für den Nutzer zudem vorteilhaft möglich, unter Rückgriff auf die Geräuschkennfelder im Voraus solche Orte zu ermitteln, welche besonders ruhig sind oder andere nutzerspezifische Anforderungen erfüllen.The noise map is preferably provided by an external device. In other words: the noise map is stored outside the hearing aid and on an external device. The external device is preferably a server or a smartphone. An external device has the particular advantage that it has significantly more storage space than the hearing aid and also has a higher computing capacity and also has a more extensive power supply. This advantageously relieves the hearing aid with regard to storage space and energy consumption. In a first variant, the external device merely serves as a memory for one or more noise maps and then transfers this / these to the hearing aid. The transmission takes place in particular when required, for example when entering that location, the noise map is then transferred. For example, a restaurant has a noise map on its own server and transmits this to users as soon as they enter the restaurant. A cloud solution with a centralized server, which then stores noise maps for several locations, is also suitable. Several users can then query the required noise maps from this server, as required. For this purpose, the hearing aid is connected directly to the server, for example via the Internet, or indirectly, for example via a smartphone. In this way it is also advantageously possible for the user to determine in advance those locations which are particularly quiet or which meet other user-specific requirements, using the noise maps.

Geeigneterweise wird zum Ermitteln des Ortes, zum Ermitteln der Zeit, zum Erkennen der aktuellen Geräuschsituation oder für eine Kombination hiervon ein externes Gerät verwendet, welches mit dem Hörgerät zum Datenaustausch verbunden ist. Das externe Gerät ist insbesondere das vorgehend beschriebenen externe Gerät. Zur Ermittlung der Geräuschsituation anhand eines Geräuschkennfelds, welches auf einem externen Gerät hinterlegt, gespeichert oder bereitgestellt ist, wird geeigneterweise entweder das Geräuschkennfeld an das Hörgerät übermittelt oder Zeit und Ort werden an das externe Gerät übermittelt und dieses ermittelt dann die aktuelle Geräuschsituation und übermittelt diese an das Hörgerät. Das externe Gerät ist wie oben bereits erwähnt insbesondere ein Smartphone, besonders zur Ortsermittlung. Alternativ oder zusätzlich ist das externe Gerät ein Server. Ein solcher eignet sich besonders zur Zeitermittlung und zur Erkennung der Geräuschsituation.An external device, which is connected to the hearing aid for data exchange, is suitably used to determine the location, to determine the time, to recognize the current noise situation or for a combination thereof. The external device is in particular the external device described above. To determine the noise situation on the basis of a noise map that is stored, stored or provided on an external device, either the noise map is suitably transmitted to the hearing aid or time and location are transmitted to the external device, which then determines the current noise situation and transmits it to the hearing aid. As already mentioned above, the external device is, in particular, a smartphone, particularly for determining location. Alternatively or additionally, the external device is a server. This is particularly suitable for time determination and for recognizing the noise situation.

Das Geräuschkennfeld ist insbesondere im Voraus ermittelt worden, beispielsweise durch den Nutzer selbst, indem dieser mit seinem Hörgerät regelmäßig die Geräuschsituation ermittelt, beispielsweise über eine Geräuschanalyse wie oben erwähnt, und dann diese Geräuschsituation mit einem Ortsstempel und mit einem Zeitstempel versieht und abspeichert. Zweckmäßigerweise erfolgt dies automatisch durch das Hörgerät. Mehrere solcher Messungen werden dann zu einem Geräuschkennfeld zusammengefügt und stehen für einen späteren Abruf zur Verfügung.The noise map has been determined in particular in advance, for example by the user himself, by regularly determining the noise situation with his hearing aid, for example using a noise analysis as mentioned above, and then providing and storing this noise situation with a location stamp and a time stamp. This is expediently carried out automatically by the hearing aid. Several such measurements then become a noise map put together and are available for later retrieval.

In dem Geräuschkennfeld ist allgemein die Geräuschsituation gespeichert. Die Geräuschsituation ist dabei vorliegend in Form eines Situationsparameters orts- und zeitabhängig gespeichert. Genauer gesagt sind in dem Geräuschkennfeld mehrere Werte des Situationsparameters an unterschiedlichen Orten und zu unterschiedlichen Zeiten, also orts- und zeitabhängig, gespeichert. Insbesondere ist für einen gegebenen Ort und eine gegebene Zeit genau ein Wert gespeichert. Das Geräuschkennfeld enthält somit einen spezifischen Parameter, welcher zur Auswahl des optimalen Programms relevant ist. Die Geräuschsituation wird dann ermittelt, indem zunächst Ort und Zeit bestimmt werden, anschließend in dem Geräuschkennfeld der Situationsparameter orts- und zeitabhängig nachgeschlagen wird und dann anhand des Situationsparameters die Geräuschsituation bestimmt wird. Entsprechend ist dann auch die Geräuschsituation orts- und zeitabhängig parametrisiert.The noise situation is generally stored in the noise map. The noise situation is stored here in the form of a situation parameter depending on the location and time. More precisely, several values of the situation parameter are stored in the noise map at different locations and at different times, that is to say location and time-dependent. In particular, exactly one value is stored for a given location and time. The noise map thus contains a specific parameter which is relevant for the selection of the optimal program. The noise situation is then determined by first determining the location and time, then looking up the situation parameters in a location-dependent and time-dependent manner in the noise map and then determining the noise situation on the basis of the situation parameters. Accordingly, the noise situation is parameterized depending on the location and time.

Der Situationsparameter ist in einer geeigneten Ausgestaltung eine Geräuschsituation oder ein Programm für das Hörgerät, d.h. in dem Geräuschkennfeld ist direkt die orts- und zeitabhängige Geräuschsituation oder das hierzu geeignete Programm gespeichert. Diese Ausgestaltung ist jedoch nicht zwingend, vielmehr ist auch ein einzelner Parameter oftmals ausreichend, um die Geräuschsituation zu charakterisieren. In einer geeigneten Variante ist der Situationsparameter daher eine konkrete Eigenschaft von Geräuschsituationen im Allgemeinen und Geräuschen oder Orten im Speziellen. Solche Eigenschaften sind insbesondere Lautstärke, d.h. Pegel, Frequenzspektrum, Transitivität, d.h. Dauer, Nachhallzeit, Rauschleistung und dergleichen. Anhand des Situationsparameters wird dann die Geräuschsituation bestimmt und das geeignete Programm ausgewählt.In a suitable embodiment, the situation parameter is a noise situation or a program for the hearing aid, i.e. The location and time-dependent noise situation or the suitable program is stored directly in the noise map. However, this configuration is not mandatory, rather a single parameter is often sufficient to characterize the noise situation. In a suitable variant, the situation parameter is therefore a specific property of noise situations in general and noises or locations in particular. Such properties are in particular volume, i.e. Level, frequency spectrum, transitivity, i.e. Duration, reverberation time, noise power and the like. The noise situation is then determined on the basis of the situation parameter and the suitable program is selected.

In einer geeigneten Ausgestaltung ist in dem Geräuschkennfeld als Situationsparameter ein Lautstärkepegel als Funktion der Zeit gespeichert. In dem Geräuschkennfeld ist also orts- und zeitabhängig der Lautstärkepegel, kurz die Lautstärke gespeichert. Das Geräuschkennfeld zeigt somit den zeitabhängigen Lautstärkepegel an einem bestimmten Ort. Die orts- und zeitabhängige Ermittlung der Geräuschsituation entspricht dann einer Ermittlung der Lautstärke an einem gegebenen Ort zu einer gegebenen Zeit über einen insbesondere vorbekannten Datensatz, nämlich das Geräuschkennfeld. Eine Lautstärkemessung vor Ort ist nicht notwendig und daher wird auf eine solche Lautstärkemessung zur Auswahl des Programms vorzugsweise verzichtet. In Abhängigkeit des erkannten, d.h. aus dem Geräuschkennfeld ermittelten, Lautstärkepegels wird dann ein geeignetes Programm für das Hörgerät ausgewählt und eingestellt.In a suitable embodiment, a volume level as a function of time is stored in the noise map as a situation parameter. The volume level, or briefly the volume, is stored in the noise map depending on the location and time. The noise map thus shows the time-dependent volume level in a certain place. The location and time-dependent determination of the noise situation then corresponds to a determination of the volume at a given location at a given time using a data set that is known in particular, namely the noise map. A volume measurement on site is not necessary and therefore such a volume measurement for the selection of the program is preferably dispensed with. A suitable program for the hearing aid is then selected and set as a function of the volume level detected, ie determined from the noise map.

Vorliegend ist der Situationsparameter hinsichtlich der Zeit zweidimensional als Funktion der Tageszeit und des Wochentags gespeichert. Das Geräuschkennfeld bildet dann eine Karte mit zwei Zeitachsen und mit dem Situationsparameter auf einer dritten Achse. Insgesamt ergibt sich ein Höhenprofil, in welchem sich auf vorteilhafte Weise auch schon rein visuell durch den Nutzer ruhige Zeiträume von lauten Zeiträumen unterscheiden lassen. Die zweidimensionale Ausgestaltung trägt insbesondere der Überlegung Rechnung, dass selbst eine tageszeitabhängige Erkennung der Geräuschsituation noch potentiell fehlerhaft sein kann. Durch eine separate Berücksichtigung von Tageszeit und Wochentag ist die Erkennung der Geräuschsituation dann deutlich verbessert. Beispielsweise wird dadurch vorteilhaft berücksichtigt, dass an bestimmten Orten an Wochenenden andere Geräuschsituationen herrschen als an Werktagen.In the present case, the situation parameter is stored two-dimensionally with respect to time as a function of the time of day and the day of the week. The noise map then forms a map with two time axes and with the situation parameter on a third axis. Overall, there is a height profile in which quiet periods can be distinguished from loud periods in an advantageous manner even purely visually by the user. The two-dimensional design takes into account in particular the consideration that even a time-dependent detection of the noise situation can still be potentially incorrect. By A separate consideration of the time of day and day of the week then significantly improves the detection of the noise situation. For example, this advantageously takes into account the fact that different noise situations prevail at certain locations on weekends than on working days.

Geeigneterweise misst das Hörgerät einen Situationsparameter, wodurch ein Messwert erzeugt wird, und dieser Messwert wird mit einem Ortsstempel und einem Zeitstempel versehen und in einem, insbesondere dem Geräuschkennfeld gespeichert. Auf diese Weise werden Geräuschkennfelder für eine spätere Nutzung erzeugt. Wie oben erwähnt, ist der Situationsparameter vorzugsweise der Lautstärkepegel. Dieser wird insbesondere mit einem Mikrofon gemessen. Das Mikrofon ist zweckmäßigerweise ein Mikrofon des Hörgeräts, sodass also das Geräuschkennfeld direkt mittels des Hörgeräts mit Daten bestückt wird. Der Nutzer trägt also insbesondere fortlaufend zur Verbesserung des Geräuschkennfelds an denjenigen Orten bei, welche er möglichst regelmäßig besucht. Dabei werden der Zeitstempel und der Ortsstempel jeweils ebenfalls vom Hörgerät erzeugt oder von einem externen Gerät oder von beiden.The hearing aid suitably measures a situation parameter, as a result of which a measured value is generated, and this measured value is provided with a location stamp and a time stamp and stored in one, in particular the noise map. In this way, noise maps are generated for later use. As mentioned above, the situation parameter is preferably the volume level. This is measured in particular with a microphone. The microphone is expediently a microphone of the hearing device, so that the noise map is populated with data directly by means of the hearing device. In particular, the user continuously contributes to the improvement of the noise map at those locations that he visits as regularly as possible. The time stamp and the location stamp are also each generated by the hearing aid or by an external device or by both.

Besonders zweckmäßig ist es, alternativ oder zusätzlich zum Hörgerät andere Quellen zur Messung und zur Bestückung des Geräuschkennfelds heranzuziehen. In einer geeigneten Ausgestaltung ist das Geräuschkennfeld aus mehreren Messwerten zusammengesetzt, welche von anderen Hörgeräten, d.h. insbesondere Hörgeräten anderer Nutzer, und/oder von sonstigen Quellen gemessen wurden. Dabei werden vorteilhaft auch andere Quellen genutzt als das Hörgerät des Nutzers und somit die Datenmenge im Geräuschkennfeld deutlich erhöht. Andere Quellen sind allgemein insbesondere Geräte mit einem Mikrofon, beispielsweise Geldautomaten oder Verkehrsampeln, und speziell Smartphones und Überwachungskameras. Ziel ist dabei allgemein eine möglichst umfangreiche Sammlung von Messwerten des Situationsparameters, um ein möglichst genaues Geräuschkennfeld für einen gegebenen Ort zu erhalten.It is particularly expedient to use other sources for measuring and equipping the noise map as an alternative or in addition to the hearing aid. In a suitable embodiment, the noise map is composed of several measured values which are obtained from other hearing aids, i.e. in particular hearing aids of other users, and / or from other sources were measured. In this case, sources other than the user's hearing aid are also advantageously used and the amount of data in the noise map is thus significantly increased. Other sources are generally devices with a microphone in particular, for example ATMs or traffic lights, and especially smartphones and surveillance cameras. The general aim here is to collect measurement values of the situation parameter as extensively as possible in order to obtain the most accurate possible noise map for a given location.

Ein erfindungsgemäßes Hörgerät ist mittels eines der oben beschriebenen Verfahren betreibbar und wird vorzugsweise auch mit einem solchen Verfahren betrieben. Das Hörgerät, insbesondere wie ebenfalls oben bereits beschrieben, weist eine Steuereinheit auf, welche derart ausgebildet ist, dass eine aktuelle Geräuschsituation sowohl ortsabhängig als auch zeitabhängig erkannt wird, und dasjenige der Programme ausgewählt und eingestellt wird, welches der aktuellen Geräuschsituation zugeordnet ist.A hearing aid according to the invention can be operated using one of the methods described above and is preferably also operated using such a method. The hearing aid, in particular as also already described above, has a control unit which is designed in such a way that a current noise situation is recognized both as a function of location and as a function of time, and that of the programs is selected and set which is associated with the current noise situation.

Nachfolgend werden Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung anhand einer Zeichnung näher erläutert. Darin zeigen jeweils schematisch:

Fig. 1
ein Hörgerät und externe Geräte,
Fig. 2
ein Geräuschkennfeld für einen bestimmten Ort, und
Fig. 3
ein Verfahren zum Betrieb des Hörgeräts.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Each shows schematically:
Fig. 1
a hearing aid and external devices,
Fig. 2
a noise map for a specific location, and
Fig. 3
a method for operating the hearing aid.

In Fig. 1 ist ein Hörgerät 2 gezeigt, welches von einem nicht dargestellten Nutzer getragen wird und welches mit externen Geräten 4, 6 verbunden zum Datenaustausch verbunden ist, nämlich mit einem Smartphone 4 und einem Server 6. Die hier gezeigte Anordnung und Verbindung der Geräte untereinander ist lediglich ein Beispiel. Das Hörgerät 2 und das Smartphone 4 weisen jeweils ein Mikrofon 8 auf.In Fig. 1 A hearing device 2 is shown, which is worn by a user (not shown) and which is connected to external devices 4, 6 for data exchange, namely to a smartphone 4 and a server 6. The arrangement and connection of the devices shown here is only one Example. The hearing aid 2 and the smartphone 4 each have a microphone 8.

Das Hörgerät 2 weist zudem eine Steuereinheit 10 auf, welche das Hörgerät automatisch zwischen verschiedenen Programmen umschaltet. Dabei wird zunächst eine aktuelle Geräuschsituation erkannt und dann ein geeignetes Programm ausgewählt und eingestellt.The hearing aid 2 also has a control unit 10 which automatically switches the hearing aid between different programs. A current noise situation is first recognized and then a suitable program is selected and set.

Die Geräuschsituation wird zeit- und ortsabhängig anhand eines Geräuschkennfelds 12 ermittelt. Ein beispielhaftes Geräuschkennfeld 12 ist in Fig. 2 gezeigt. Dieses enthält für einen bestimmten Ort einen Situationsparameter S, hier den Lautstärkepegel an diesem Ort, als Funktion der Zeit Z1, Z2. In Fig. 2 ist die Zeit Z1, Z2 zweidimensional dargestellt, nämlich als Tageszeit Z1 und als Wochentag Z2. Aus dem Geräuschkennfeld 12 lässt sich somit ermitteln, zu welcher Tageszeit Z1 und an welchem Wochentag Z2 es an dem entsprechenden Ort wie laut ist. Dadurch ist auch die Geräuschsituation gegeben, nämlich z.B. als laut oder leise. Hinsichtlich dieser Geräuschsituation wird dann ein geeignetes Programm ausgewählt und eigestellt, um eine optimale Versorgung des Nutzers in der spezifischen Geräuschsituation zu gewährleisten.The noise situation is determined as a function of time and location using a noise map 12. An exemplary noise map 12 is shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown. For a specific location, this contains a situation parameter S, here the volume level at this location, as a function of the time Z1, Z2. In Fig. 2 the time Z1, Z2 is shown in two dimensions, namely as the time of day Z1 and as the day of the week Z2. From the noise map 12 it can thus be determined at what time of day Z1 and on which day of the week Z2 it is loud at the corresponding location. This also gives the noise situation, for example as loud or quiet. With regard to this noise situation, a suitable program is then selected and set in order to ensure an optimal supply of the user in the specific noise situation.

In Fig. 3 ist schematisch der Verlauf eines Verfahrens zum Betrieb des Hörgeräts 2 dargestellt. Zunächst erfolgt eine Ortsbestimmung S1, bei welcher ermittelt wird, an welchem Ort sich der Nutzer aufhält. Basierend auf dem Ort, d.h. ortsabhängig, wird in einem Auswahlschritt S3 ein Geräuschkennfeld 12 ausgewählt, welches dem Ort zugeordnet ist und dessen Geräuschsituation zu unterschiedlichen Zeiten Z1, Z2 enthält. Zusätzlich erfolgt eine Zeitbestimmung S2, bei welcher die aktuelle Zeit Z1, Z2 ermittelt wird, z.B. als Tageszeit Z1 und Wochentag Z2. Anhand der ermittelten Zeit Z1, Z2 erfolgt wird in einem Erkennungsschritt S4 aus dem Geräuschkennfeld 12 der Situationsparameter S zur gegebenen Zeit Z1, Z2 ermittelt und damit die aktuelle Geräuschsituation erkannt. Anhand dieser wird anschließend in einem Einstellschritt S5 ein geeignetes Programm ausgewählt und eingestellt.In Fig. 3 the course of a method for operating the hearing device 2 is shown schematically. First, a location determination S1 takes place, in which it is determined at which location the user is located. Based on the location, ie location-dependent, a noise map 12 is selected in a selection step S3, which is assigned to the location and contains its noise situation at different times Z1, Z2. In addition, a time determination S2 takes place, in which the current time Z1, Z2 is determined, for example as the time of day Z1 and day of the week Z2. Based on the determined time Z1, Z2, the situation parameter S is determined in a recognition step S4 from the noise map 12 at the given time Z1, Z2 and the current noise situation is thus recognized. Based on this, a suitable program is then selected and set in a setting step S5.

Ein jeweiliges Geräuschkennfeld 12 wird erzeugt, indem der Situationsparameter S wiederholt gemessen wird und mit einem Orts- sowie Zeitstempel versehen und gespeichert wird. Ein Geräuschkennfeld 12 wird beispielsweise durch den Nutzer selbst erzeugt, indem dieser mit seinem Hörgerät 2 regelmäßig die Geräuschsituation ermittelt, beispielsweise über eine Geräuschanalyse, und dann diese Geräuschsituation mit einem Ortsstempel und mit einem Zeitstempel versieht und abspeichert. Mehrere solcher Messungen werden dann zu einem Geräuschkennfeld 12 zusammengefügt und stehen dann für einen späteren Abruf zur Verfügung. Das Geräuschkennfeld wird beispielsweise auf dem Hörgerät 2 und/oder auf einem externen Gerät 4, 6 gespeichert.A respective noise map 12 is generated in that the situation parameter S is measured repeatedly and provided with a location and time stamp and stored. A noise map 12 is generated, for example, by the user himself, by regularly using his hearing aid 2 to determine the noise situation, for example using a noise analysis, and then providing and storing this noise situation with a location stamp and with a time stamp. Several such measurements are then combined to form a noise map 12 and are then available for later retrieval. The noise map is stored, for example, on the hearing device 2 and / or on an external device 4, 6.

Auf diese Weise werden Geräuschkennfelder 12 für eine spätere Nutzung erzeugt. Im gezeigten Beispiel ist der Situationsparameter S der Lautstärkepegel. Dieser wird mit einem Mikrofon 8 gemessen, welches ein Mikrofon 8 z.B. des Hörgeräts 2 oder des Smartphones 4 oder eines anderen Geräts ist. Bei der Verwendung des Mikrofons 8 des Hörgeräts 2 trägt der Nutzer selbst fortlaufend zur Verbesserung des Geräuschkennfelds 12 an denjenigen Orten bei, welche er regelmäßig besucht. Dabei werden der Zeitstempel und der Ortsstempel jeweils ebenfalls vom Hörgerät 2 erzeugt und/oder von einem externen Gerät 4, 6. Bei der Verwendung des Mikrofons 8 des Smartphones 4 oder allgemein einer anderen Quelle zur Messung und zur Bestückung des Geräuschkennfelds 12 werden andere Quellen genutzt als das Hörgerät 2 des Nutzers und somit die Datenmenge im Geräuschkennfeld 12 deutlich erhöht. Alternativ oder zusätzlich zum Smartphone 4 sind andere Quellen beispielsweise Geldautomaten, Verkehrsampeln oder Überwachungskameras. Ziel ist dabei allgemein eine möglichst umfangreiche Sammlung von Messwerten des Situationsparameters S, um ein möglichst genaues Geräuschkennfeld 12 für einen gegebenen Ort zu erhalten.In this way, noise maps 12 are generated for later use. In the example shown, the situation parameter S is the volume level. This is measured with a microphone 8, which is a microphone 8 of, for example, the hearing device 2 or the smartphone 4 or another device. When using the The microphone itself of the hearing device 2 continuously contributes to the improvement of the noise map 12 at those locations which he regularly visits. The time stamp and the location stamp are also each generated by the hearing aid 2 and / or by an external device 4, 6. When using the microphone 8 of the smartphone 4 or in general another source for measuring and populating the noise map 12, other sources are used than the hearing aid 2 of the user and thus the amount of data in the noise map 12 is significantly increased. As an alternative or in addition to the smartphone 4, other sources are, for example, ATMs, traffic lights or surveillance cameras. The general aim here is to collect measurement values of the situation parameter S as extensively as possible in order to obtain the most accurate possible noise map 12 for a given location.

BezugszeichenlisteReference list

22nd
HörgerätHearing aid
44th
SmartphoneSmartphone
66
Serverserver
88th
Mikrofonmicrophone
1010th
SteuereinheitControl unit
1212th
GeräuschkennfeldNoise map
SS
SituationsparameterSituation parameters
S1S1
OrtsbestimmungLocation determination
S2S2
ZeitbestimmungTime determination
S3S3
AuswahlschrittSelection step
S4S4
ErkennungsschrittDetection step
S5S5
EinstellschrittSetting step
Z1Z1
TageszeitTime of day
Z2Z2
Wochentagweekday

Claims (12)

  1. Method for operating a hearing aid (2), which can be worn by a user and which has a number of programs that are respectively associated with a noise situation,
    - wherein a current noise situation is identified in both position-dependent and time-dependent fashion,
    - wherein the current noise situation is ascertained in position-dependent and time-dependent fashion by means of a noise characteristic (12), which contains the noise situation at a certain position as a function of time (Z1, Z2),
    - wherein a situation parameter (S) is stored in the noise characteristic (12) in position-dependent and time-dependent fashion,
    - wherein the noise situation is ascertained by virtue of initially determining position and time (Z1, Z2), subsequently looking up the situation parameter (S) in the noise characteristic (12) in position-dependent and time-dependent fashion and then determining the noise situation on the basis of the situation parameter (S),
    - wherein the situation parameter (S) is stored in two dimensions with respect to time as a function of the time of day (Z1) and the day of the week (Z2), and
    - wherein the respective program associated with the current noise situation is selected and set.
  2. Method according to the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the current noise situation is identified in position-dependent fashion by virtue of ascertaining the current position of the user, preferably by means of a GPS system.
  3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2,
    characterized
    in that the noise situation is ascertained in position-dependent fashion by virtue of performing a position classification, during which a current position type is determined, and
    in that the noise situation is ascertained in a noise characteristic (12) in time-dependent fashion for the current position type.
  4. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3,
    characterized
    in that a plurality of noise characteristics (12) of a plurality of positions together form a characteristic map.
  5. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4,
    characterized
    in that the current noise situation is identified in position-dependent fashion by virtue of a location of the user being determined in a two-dimensional space, in particular by means of GPS, and by virtue of additional use being made of an auxiliary quantity for distinguishing different positions at the location.
  6. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5,
    characterized
    in that a position is associated with the noise characteristic (12) and in that the noise characteristic (12) is used to identify the noise situation when the user is at the respective position associated with the noise characteristic (12) .
  7. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6,
    characterized
    in that the noise characteristic (12) is provided by an external device (4, 6).
  8. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 7,
    characterized
    in that an external device (4, 6) connected to the hearing aid (2) for data interchange purposes is used to ascertain the position, ascertain the time (Z1, Z2), identify the current noise situation or a combination thereof.
  9. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 8,
    characterized
    in that, as a situation parameter (S), a volume level is stored as a function of time (Z1, Z2) in the noise characteristic (12).
  10. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterized
    in that the hearing aid (2) measures a situation parameter (S), preferably a volume level, as a result of which a measured value is produced, and in that the measured value is provided with a position stamp and a time stamp and stored in a noise characteristic (12).
  11. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 10,
    characterized
    in that the noise characteristic (12) is composed of a plurality of measured values that were measured by other hearing aids (2) and/or other sources (4).
  12. Hearing aid (2) comprising a control unit (10), which is embodied to carry out the method according to any one of Claims 1-11.
EP17210490.3A 2017-01-16 2017-12-22 Hearing aid and method for operating a hearing aid Active EP3349482B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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EP (1) EP3349482B1 (en)
CN (1) CN108322878B (en)
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DE102017200599A1 (en) * 2017-01-16 2018-07-19 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Method for operating a hearing aid and hearing aid
WO2019064181A1 (en) * 2017-09-26 2019-04-04 Cochlear Limited Acoustic spot identification

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US20180206047A1 (en) 2018-07-19
DK3349482T3 (en) 2020-07-06
CN108322878A (en) 2018-07-24
CN108322878B (en) 2021-01-15
DE102017200599A1 (en) 2018-07-19
US10701493B2 (en) 2020-06-30
EP3349482A1 (en) 2018-07-18

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