KR20140084744A - Method for Implementing Function of a Hearing aid Relating to a Mobile Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for executing a function of a hearing aid integrated with a mobile device and, more particularly, to a method for executing a function of a hearing aid integrated with a mobile device which can extend a function of a hearing aid by realizing the function required for the hearing aid in a mobile device such as a smartphone. The method for executing a function of a hearing aid comprises the steps of preparing different fitting data according to multiple use environments; storing the fitting data in a mobile device or a hearing aid and connecting the mobile device and the hearing aid; inputting the use environment through the mobile device or the hearing aid; selecting the fitting data matched with the use environment from the mobile device; and applying the selected fitting data to the hearing aid, wherein the matched fitting data is determined by at least one predetermined environment matching parameter.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for implementing a hearing aid function integrated with a mobile device,

The present invention relates to a method of implementing a hearing aid function integrated with a mobile device, and more particularly, to a mobile device such as a smart phone, which enables a hearing aid to perform functions required by a hearing aid, And to a method for implementing the hearing aid function.

In general, the effects associated with language detection due to hearing loss due to woah damage include increased threshold, decreased dynamic range and distortion of loudness, reduced frequency discrimination, reduced temporal factor analysis, and processing of voice signals using both ears It appears as a decrease in function. Hearing aids to compensate for hearing loss have been developed to compensate for hearing loss from a variety of causes. On the other hand, studies are underway to connect with mobile devices in an attempt to overcome the limitations of the function of the hearing aid itself.

As a prior art related to expanding the function of a hearing aid using a mobile phone, Patent Publication No. 2009-0065718 entitled " Hearing aid for mobile phone connection " The prior art is related to a hearing aid for connecting a mobile phone, which solves the need for a hearing aid in connection with a mobile phone and provides an additional service function by connecting with a mobile phone. The hearing aid module includes a hearing aid module used for attaching to a mobile phone, In the device, the hearing aid module includes a microphone, a mobile phone connection terminal to be connected to a mobile phone, a wireless receiver to receive a signal from the wireless transmitter, a microphone signal to be received from the microphone, and a mobile phone signal to be received through the mobile phone connection terminal, A signal processing unit for amplifying a signal received from the signal input unit to an appropriate level and performing signal processing for correcting gain and compression for each frequency band in accordance with the audible capability of the user, and a signal processing unit for outputting the processed signal to the receiver Signal output It discloses a hearing aid for a mobile phone including a connection.

As a prior art related to expanding the function of a hearing aid using a portable personal digital assistant, Patent Publication No. 2005-0120098 entitled " Method and apparatus for implementing a hearing function using a portable personal digital assistant ". The prior art includes a fitting inspection unit for generating a hearing test tone and outputting it through a user mounting means, an input unit for receiving response information of a user corresponding to a hearing test tone, and a hearing loss characteristic of the user using the response information A voice signal separation unit for extracting a voice signal from an external sound signal transmitted from the user attachment unit using a signal processing algorithm; And a characteristic frequency amplifying unit for amplifying the received signal so as to correspond to the condition. The structure of the hearing aid using the functions of the mobile phone or the portable personal information terminal disclosed in the prior art is based on the assumption that the hearing aid module is built in the mobile phone or the portable personal information terminal or operates by connecting the separated hearing aid and the hearing aid module with the connection terminal . When a hearing aid module is embedded in a mobile device, there is a problem that a separate mobile device must be manufactured. When connecting using a connection terminal, it is difficult to apply a function such as data processing capability or application of a mobile phone to a hearing aid I have. On the other hand, the known prior art has a limitation that it is merely a substitution of a mobile device for a function that can be performed in a hearing aid or other device without being able to control the function of the hearing aid with many functions and precision compared to a hearing aid. In other words, the various functions of the mobile device can not be used in a hearing aid.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art and has the following purpose.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of executing a hearing aid function integrated with a mobile device that stores fitting data according to a use environment and enables fitting data suitable for a use environment according to a user's selection or automatically.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of implementing a hearing aid function integrated with a mobile device that enables fitting data to be updated by a user or automatically.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of performing a hearing aid function integrated with a web device, comprising: preparing different fitting data according to a plurality of usage environments; Storing the fitting data in a mobile device or a hearing aid, and connecting the hearing aid to the mobile device; The use environment being input through a mobile device or a hearing aid; Selecting fitting data matching a usage environment in a mobile device; And wherein the selected fitting data is applied to a hearing aid, wherein the matched fitting data is determined by at least one predetermined environment matching parameter.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, different fitting data is user selected or automatically updated.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fitting data is stored as an environmental parameter according to the usage environment, and the input usage environment is converted into the environment input parameter and compared with the environment parameter.

The method according to the present invention has an advantage that the function of the hearing aid can be expanded by overcoming the functional limitations of the hearing aid itself by using a mobile device having an extended function such as a smart phone. In addition, the method according to the present invention has an advantage that fitting data suitable for a use environment is applied, thereby enabling various types of users to eliminate the hearing loss. In addition, the method according to the present invention has the advantage that it can be applied to various users with hearing loss.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a process according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of fitting data created by a smartphone in the method according to the present invention and fitting of the hearing aid.
Figure 3 illustrates various embodiments in which a hearing aid is connected to a mobile device for application of the method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following description, components having the same reference numerals in different drawings have similar functions, so that they will not be described repeatedly unless necessary for an understanding of the invention, and the known components will be briefly described or omitted. However, It should not be understood as being excluded from the embodiment of Fig.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a process according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a method for performing a hearing aid function according to the present invention includes: preparing different fitting data according to a plurality of usage environments; Storing the fitting data in a mobile or hearing aid and connecting the hearing aid to the mobile device; The use environment being input through a mobile device or a hearing aid; Selecting fitting data matching a usage environment in a mobile device; And wherein the selected fitting data is applied to a hearing aid, wherein the matched fitting data is determined by at least one predetermined environment matching parameter.

The method according to the present invention is based on at least part of the hearing aid function or at least part of the necessary process for enabling the hearing aid function to be realized in a mobile device such as a smart phone. However, for example, data made in a hearing aid-related device for improving the function of a hearing aid can be used, and the method according to the present invention is not limited by use of another device.

A mobile device includes a smart phone or a communication device that is generally portable and capable of communicating with a control module. However, the communication device itself has an operating system for operating software and hardware.

In order to apply the method according to the present invention, fitting data is first prepared (S11). The fitting data may be in the form of an audiogram made for example to be applied to a hearing aid and may be made from an audiometer for a hearing aid. On the other hand, directly from a mobile device such as a smart phone. On the other hand, if an audio gram already made from an audio meter is used, it can be made using a mobile device and made into fitting data in which the method according to the invention can be applied.

The fitting data can be made in a plurality of pieces according to the use environment and the individual hearing condition and can be made using the mobile device. First, hearing data such as audio grams can be prepared and various predetermined usage environments can be set and stored in the smartphone. The operating environment may be, for example, indoor environment, outdoor environment, noise level, noise type, number of speakers, temperature, humidity, or the type of chip used in a hearing aid. Environmental parameters affecting the hearing can be extracted from each environment of use. For example, environmental parameters include the major frequency ranges affecting the hearing, the major sources of noise affecting the hearing, the magnitude of the noise, The effect on the hearing of the subject or the form in which the noise source is propagated. In particular, the magnitude of the noise for each frequency band according to the noise source may be an environmental parameter. Environmental parameters may be set for each fitting data according to the environmental parameters (S12). The usage environment or the method of extracting the environment parameters can be stored in the smartphone and can be added or changed in the process applied to the hearing aid. The environmental parameters set accordingly can be changed.

When the environment parameter is set (S12), the fitting data may be stored in the smartphone or the hearing aid (S13). The fitting data can be applied to a hearing aid according to the use environment. The process of creating the fitting data is performed by the smartphone, so that the hearing aid can be used according to various use environments. In addition, the addition or change of the use environment and the updating of the environment parameters are performed in the smartphone as well, thereby making it possible to realize functions that are difficult to realize in the hearing aid.

The hearing aid can be functionally linked to the smartphone during use. Functionally connected means that data communication between a hearing aid and a smartphone is possible by wire or wireless. Such a functional connection makes it possible to control the hearing aid using a smart phone. Even if the fitting data is stored in the smartphone, since it is functionally connected, selection of the fitting data and application to the hearing aid can be performed.

When the fitting data is stored in the smartphone or the hearing aid (S13), the fitting data can be applied to the hearing aid and used. When the hearing aid is functionally connected to the smartphone and the hearing aid is turned on, the usage environment can be input first. The operating environment can be external noises and can be environmental factors such as temperature or humidity. The use environment can be input through a microphone of a hearing aid or a microphone of a smartphone. The smartphone can extract environment input variables from the input usage environment. The environment input variables can be extracted according to the same criteria as those set in the process of creating the fitting data. Then, the stored fitting data is searched based on the extracted environment input variables. The search can be performed by a method of comparing the environment input parameters extracted from the use environment with the environment parameters of the fitting data. Then, the degree of matching is determined (S15) and the fitting data is selected (S16). The hearing aid is fitted according to the selected fitting data, and the user is asked whether he meets the criterion (S17). If the user is satisfied with the selected fitting data (YES), the selected fitting data is applied and used in the current use environment. On the other hand, if the user does not meet the use criterion (NO), the fitting data is again searched to determine whether the fitting data is matched (S15). The fitting data can be updated as needed (S19). Updating the fitting data means updating of the environment parameters or the generation of new fitting data. Such updating of the fitting data can be determined according to the satisfaction of the user. For example, if the satisfaction level of the user is very high, the matching condition of the current environment condition and the selected fitting data according to the current environment condition may be set to a very high level so that the selected fitting data may be applied when the same or similar use environment is input subsequently. On the other hand, if the fitting data having a high matching level is not found, the fitting data can be newly added or the fitting data having the highest satisfaction level can be changed and re-applied to check the satisfaction level.

The above discussion relates to fitting data that is automatically selected in conjunction with a smartphone. Unlike automatic selection, the fitting data can be directly selected by the user. For example, each fitting data may be given an operating environment and displayed as " fitting data 4-room noise A " and displayed on a smartphone. In the illustrated fitting data, 4 represents the order number and A represents the indoor noise level. It is possible to select the fitting data that is determined to be suitable for the use environment among the fitting data displayed on the smartphone. If it is necessary to select different fitting data during use, the user can display the fitting data again on the smartphone and select the fitting data suitable for the use environment. If necessary, the specific frequency band can be calibrated for fitting data such as relatively high or low. In other words, when it is determined that the specific band can not be heard in the selected fitting data, the user can partially use the fitting data in use by using the smart phone.

As described above, the method according to the present invention makes it possible to prepare a plurality of fitting data based on the use environment, and fitting the hearing aid to fit the environment of use automatically or at the user's choice. Functional connection between the smartphone and the hearing aid makes it possible to make individual fittings suitable for this usage environment.

Described below is how the fitting data is created and selected by the smartphone.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of fitting data created by a smartphone in the method according to the present invention and fitting of the hearing aid.

Referring to FIG. 2 (a), hearing data such as an audio gram can be created (P11).

The hearing data can be created, for example, by using an audiometer, or it can be created by the user by embedding related applications on the smart phone. When the hearing data is generated (P11), the smartphone S can use the setting environment (P111). The usage environment can be created in various ways. For example, the user environment may be set in advance in the form of a program, and may be provided in the form of environment setting data in the form of an audio gram according to the usage environment in which the intensity is set for each frequency band. On the other hand, the user can use predetermined hearing data to create fitting data according to the usage environment suitable for the user in a specific use environment. For example, fitting in accordance with hearing data in an outdoor noise environment and adjusting the intensity according to frequency using a smartphone while wearing a hearing aid can create fitting data according to the use environment. The fitting data thus created can be stored separately. Alternatively, the two types presented above can be used simultaneously to create fitting data. Specifically, basically, the fitting environment is set by setting the use environment of the program form, and the fitting data generated by the user using the smart phone can be modified individually according to the use environment

When a plurality of pieces of fitting data are generated according to the use environment (P12), the use environment parameters may be set for each pieces of fitting data (P13). A brief description of the usage environment can be added along with the usage environment parameters. The use environment parameter is for distinguishing each fitting data, and the additional explanation is for enhancing the user's selectivity. For example, the additional description may be such as the date created, the specificity of the environment at that time, or the user's satisfaction. And each fitting data for which the environmental parameters are set can be displayed on the smartphone at the user's choice. For example, the smartphone may display the environmental parameters of the fitting data, and the additional description may be displayed by the user's further selection.

The fitting data in which the environment parameters are set can be stored in a hearing aid, but can preferably be stored in a smart phone. However, the hearing aid can store several basic fitting data separately, for example, so that it can be immediately applied by the user's choice.

The fitting data in which the environment parameters are set can be applied individually according to the usage environment of the user.

Referring to FIG. 2 (B), the current use environment can be input first for fitting a hearing aid (G11). The use environment can be input through a microphone of a hearing aid or a microphone of a smartphone, for example. When the use environment is input (G11), the environment input parameter may be extracted to the use environment (G12). For example, the environment input parameter may be equal to the intensity according to each frequency band in the current use environment. When the environment input parameter is extracted (G13), the environment parameter of the stored fitting data is searched to find the highest matching level. The high level of matching can be, for example, the same degree of coincidence for each frequency band. The score is assigned to each frequency band, and the matching level can be determined. At least one fitting data may be selected (G14). The fitting data determined to be most suitable again from the fitting data thus selected may be determined automatically or may be determined by the user (G15). The hearing aid can be fitted by the determined fitting data. The fitting data determined in the course of use can be corrected (G16). For example, the user may re-determine the suitability of the fitting data determined by increasing or decreasing the intensity of a particular frequency band during use and, if the adjusted fitting data is more suitable for the current use environment, And store it (G17). And this process can be done through smartphone.

If it is determined that the usage environment changes during use or that the applied fitting data is inappropriate, new fitting data can be selected from the smartphone again through the process described above.

Although the environment parameter is set according to the frequency band in the illustrated embodiment, various factors affecting the hearing can be used as environmental parameters and environmental factors such as temperature or humidity can also be considered.

A connection structure of a hearing aid and a mobile device for application of the method according to the present invention will be described below.

Figure 3 illustrates various embodiments in which a hearing aid is connected to a mobile device for application of the method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 (a), a connection module 31 may be used to operatively connect the hearing aid and the mobile device. The connection module 31 may be fabricated in an independent chip form and coupled to the mobile device 32. And the earphone 33 may be connected to the connection module 31. Referring to FIG. 3 (B), the connection module 31 is connected to the mobile device 32 in hardware or software form, and the earphone 33 is connected to the mobile device 32. The voice signal may be transmitted to the earphone 33 via the connection module 31 or may be transmitted from the mobile device 32 to the earphone 33. [

The connection module 31 may be any means for functionally connecting the hearing aid with the mobile device 32, such as a smart phone, and the function of the hearing aid may appear through the earphone 33. [ The microphone may be installed in the earphone 33 as required, but is not necessarily required. Hardware installed in a known hearing aid can be installed in the connection module 31 or the earphone 33 and the function of the software can be executed in the mobile device or the connection module 31. [ For example, an input for selection of fitting data may be made through the mobile device 32 or the connection module 31. [ The connection module 31 may have the same structure as a connector with a built-in chip or may be embedded in a smart phone in a chip form. The mobile device 32 and the hearing aid can be connected through the connection module 31 having various structures.

Referring to FIG. 3 (C), the mobile device 32 and the connection module 31a may be connected wirelessly. For example, the connection module 31a can communicate with the mobile device 32 by Bluetooth communication. And the earphone 33 may be connected to the connection module 31a.

In each case, at least one microphone may be installed in the earphone 33, and a command associated with the connection module 31, 31a may be input via the mobile device 32. [ Likewise, the functions set in the connection modules 31 and 31a can be entered in the mobile device 32 and executed in the mobile device 32 or in the connection modules 31 and 31a. In the case of (a) and (b) of FIG. 3, a Bluetooth chip may be embedded in the earphone 33 as needed, and a voice signal input from the outside may be directly transmitted to the mobile device 32.

The mobile device 32 and connection modules 31, 31a may be combined in various ways and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

The method according to the present invention has an advantage that the function of the hearing aid can be expanded by overcoming the functional limitations of the hearing aid itself by using a mobile device having an extended function such as a smart phone. In addition, the method according to the present invention has an advantage that fitting data suitable for a use environment is applied, thereby enabling various types of users to eliminate the hearing loss. In addition, the method according to the present invention has the advantage that it can be applied to various users with hearing loss.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . The invention is not limited by these variations and modifications, but is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

31: connection module 31a: connection module
32: mobile device 33: earphone

Claims (3)

Preparing different fitting data according to a plurality of use environments;
Storing the fitting data in a mobile device or a hearing aid, and connecting the hearing aid to the mobile device;
The use environment being input through a mobile device or a hearing aid;
Selecting fitting data matching a usage environment in a mobile device; And
Wherein the selected fitting data is applied to a hearing aid,
Wherein the matching fitting data is determined by at least one predetermined environment matching parameter. ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 21 > The method of claim 1, wherein the different fitting data is user selected or automatically updated. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the fitting data is stored in an environment parameter according to a usage environment, and the input usage environment is converted into an environment input parameter and compared with an environment parameter. How to run the function.

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