Method for transmitting information about a hearing aid to an external device

Abstract

Method for transmitting information relating to a hearing aid (2) to an external device (1), where the external device is a multimedia device or a communication system for teleconferencing, or a device used by a hearing aid acoustician for audiological analysis and / or for fitting the hearing aid, or an audio system for the general dissemination of information and / or music, wherein the hearing aid (2) is placed in an environment (14) of the external device (1), wherein the hearing aid (2) sends out a generally accessible unencrypted first piece of information (18) which contains metadata about the hearing aid (2) and / or access data, wherein the metadata includes a product name, a product type, a manufacturer, a firmware version and / or a device type, and the access data includes a reference to a storage location, wherein the unencrypted first information (18) is received from the external device (1), and wherein, directly or indirectly as a result of the first information (18), the external device (1) changes its operating mode and continues to operate in the changed operating mode.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for transmitting information relating to a hearing aid to an external device, wherein the hearing aid is brought into the immediate vicinity of the external device, wherein generally receptive unencrypted first information is transmitted from the hearing aid, which contains metadata about the hearing aid, and wherein the unencrypted first information is received by the external device.

[0002] The term "hearing aid" usually refers to devices that are used to output sound signals to the ear, or more generally to the hearing center of a user of the device (also referred to as a "hearing aid wearer"). This term particularly includes hearing aids. Hearing aids are used by people with a hearing impairment to at least partially compensate for the hearing loss resulting from this hearing impairment. Hearing aids usually have at least one electro-acoustic input transducer, usually in the form of a microphone, for detecting an acoustic (ambient) noise and converting it into an electrical input signal. Furthermore, such hearing aids usually have a signal processing unit that is designed to filter the input signal(s) for interference (e.g.noise, ambient noise and the like), to filter and / or attenuate these interference components and to amplify the remaining signal components as a useful signal (such as speech and / or music).

[0003] To output the processed input signal to the ear, hearing aids usually include an electro-acoustic output transducer, e.g., in the form of a loudspeaker (also called a receiver or receiver), which converts the processed input signal into an output sound signal and outputs it to the ear of the hearing aid wearer. Alternatively, hearing aids feature a cochlear or bone conduction receiver for outputting an output signal in electrical or mechanical form to the ear.

[0004] The term “hearing aid” generally, and particularly in the following, also includes so-called tinnitus maskers, which often emit a user-specific noise to the auditory center, or other devices for sound output, such as headsets (“headphones”), wireless headphones with and without active noise cancellation, so-called “hearables,” and the like.

[0005] In particular, the signal processing units of hearing aids usually contain device-specific, relatively complex algorithms for processing the input signals. To individually adapt the hearing aid to each wearer, these algorithms are based on variable parameters, the limits of which are specified for each individual wearer when adapting the hearing aid to the hearing loss.

[0006] Particularly in connection with multimedia devices such as televisions, home cinema or stereo systems, it is often advantageous to adapt the signal processing of the hearing aid to such a source. On the one hand, this can be achieved by appropriate parameters for (particularly frequency band-wise) amplification, compression, noise suppression or directional microphones. On the other hand, some multimedia devices also provide the option of transmitting an electronic audio signal directly to the hearing aid via stream (e.g. via Bluetooth or similar), so that the output sound signal for the user of the hearing aid is generated based on the streamed signal. To simplify the operation of a hearing aid in connection with external devices such as multimedia devices, but also, for example, with audiological devices for analysis or fitting, as used by a hearing aid acoustician, the simplest possible transmission of data regardingof the hearing aid is advantageous.

[0007] US 2015 / 0 339 257 A1 describes a data transmission system for hearing aids that comprises a master unit and a slave unit. The two units are connected via a bus, via which a time reference is transmitted from the master unit to the slave unit, along with other control data that controls the mutual exchange of, for example, audio data between the units.

[0008] US 2016 / 0 037 270 A1 describes a method for wireless communication between two hearing aids via several radio frequency bands, whereby a respective frequency band channel is selected for communication based on an analysis of the signal quality in the respective channel.

[0009] US 2015 / 0 287 408 A1 mentions a hearing aid application for a mobile phone which, when a call is made via a VoIP server, converts the corresponding voice signals of the call directly into text to support a user of the said application, which can be displayed on a display of the mobile phone.

[0010] The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method by which an external device can adapt its operation to a hearing aid, in particular a hearing aid, in the simplest possible manner, wherein the security of the data to be transmitted for this purpose is guaranteed depending on their sensitivity and / or authorization to use.

[0011] The stated object is achieved according to the invention by a method for transmitting information relating to a hearing aid, in particular a hearing aid, to an external device. The hearing aid is brought into a particularly immediate vicinity of the external device. The hearing aid transmits generally receptive unencrypted first information containing metadata about the hearing aid and / or access data. The unencrypted first information is received by the external device. The external device changes an operating mode directly or indirectly as a result of the first information and continues to operate with the changed operating mode. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0012] An environment, in particular an immediate environment, includes in particular the same room if the external device is permanently installed in a room in a building, for example a room in a residential building, an office or an open-plan office, a conference room, a hotel room, a shop, etc., but also an office or treatment room of a hearing aid acoustician, audiologist or doctor. The immediate environment of the external device can in particular also be a room in a museum, a waiting room in a train station or airport, etc. The immediate environment can be characterized in particular by the fact that the presence of the hearing aid can be detected by a communication device of the external device, which is set up for reception via Bluetooth or WLAN, for example.

[0013] The external device is an electronic device that preferably also requires some form of audio signal processing for its operation. The external device is a multimedia device such as a television, a home theater or stereo system, or a communications system for teleconferencing. The external device can also be a device used by a hearing aid acoustician for an audiological analysis or for fitting a hearing aid. Furthermore, it can be an audio system for the general dissemination of information, in particular, but also music, which is used, for example, in museums, shops, train stations, and airports.

[0014] The transmission of a generally receptive, unencrypted first piece of information is to be understood in particular as meaning that the hearing aid makes said first piece of information available in such a way that the first piece of information can be received by an electronic device in its immediate vicinity, preferably in a standardized protocol for the unencrypted transmission of information. In particular, for example, the hearing aid can be "recognizable" by other devices in its immediate vicinity, wherein the detection of presence can be carried out on the basis of the first piece of information, so that the external device can already extract the metadata about the hearing aid from the first piece of information upon detecting the presence of the hearing aid. In the case of a binaural hearing aid, such a transmission of the first piece of information can, for example,carried out by one of the two local units, or both local units send the first information, preferably redundantly and on the same transmission frequency.

[0015] Receipt of the unencrypted first information by the external device means in particular that the external device receives the signals used for the transmission as provided for by the transmission protocol and, if necessary, decodes them in accordance with the protocol, whereby no private key is required for decoding, but at most freely accessible information about the protocol.

[0016] The metadata includes a product name, a product type, a manufacturer, a firmware version, and / or a device type. The access data contains a reference to a storage location, e.g., in the form of a web link or as a reference to data stored on the internal memory of the hearing aid itself.

[0017] A change in the operating mode of the external device directly as a result of the first piece of information particularly includes the external device adapting a parameter of its operation, preferably a parameter of audio signal processing, in a manner directly specified in the first piece of information, or recognizing a hearing aid type based on the metadata of the first piece of information and setting a parameter value stored accordingly for this device type, and thus changing the operating mode. In particular, in the former case, the first piece of information can, for example, contain one or more frequency-resolved level and / or volume and / or amplification curves desired by the user of the hearing aid, so that the external device can output a sound signal with a corresponding level or

[0018] Outputs a volume curve or streams an audio signal with a corresponding amplification curve to the hearing aid. In particular, the stream can also be sent directly and automatically from the external device to the hearing aid in response to the first piece of information. However, an adjustment of the operating mode can also involve a modified, particularly emphasized, reproduction of speech content in an audio signal. The external device can then slightly boost any speech content or moderately emphasize high frequencies in response to the first piece of information, if it contains corresponding information.

[0019] A parameter of an audio signal processing of the external device preferably includes a broadband or frequency band-wise gain factor, a compression ratio, a compression knee point, a directional microphone setting, a setting for a degree of reverberation suppression (particularly for a communications system as an external device), etc. Further parameters preferably include time constants for speech recognition and / or feedback suppression, limit values ​​for a noise background or for a speech component, or similar. Changing the operating mode means that a concrete value for the respective parameter is determined directly or indirectly as a result of the first information, i.e. in the case of a frequency band-dependent gain factor as a parameter, a value of the gain in the relevant frequency band.

[0020] In particular, the change of the operating mode may also require additional confirmation by the user of the hearing aid, i.e., as a result of the first information, a change in operation - e.g., a change in a parameter of the audio signal processing, or even a start of the stream - is initially only suggested to the user and is actually applied upon corresponding confirmation by the user.

[0021] A change in the operating mode of the external device indirectly as a result of the first information particularly includes the first information providing a reference to a memory location of a possibly encrypted and / or password-protected second information, wherein the external device, upon receipt of the first information, carries out measures to obtain the second information and changes its operating mode based on the second information, for example by adapting a parameter of the audio signal processing according to a specification of the second information or according to a calculation carried out locally on the basis of a data value of the second information in the external device itself (or a corresponding look-up table in the external device).

[0022] The proposed approach enables the external device to automatically adjust its operation to the hearing aid based on the first piece of information as soon as it detects the presence of the hearing aid, without requiring intervention by the hearing aid user to actively adjust the operating settings of the external device. Likewise, a second level of information can be defined, which the external device can access upon appropriate authorization based on predefined access criteria. The second-level information, protected by the aforementioned authorization process and not generally accessible, can also be used by the external device to automatically change the operating settings.

[0023] If there is more than one hearing aid wearer in the immediate vicinity of the external device, so that the external device receives a respective first piece of information from more than one hearing aid, it is particularly possible to carry out a hierarchy based on the first piece of information, i.e. using the first piece of information itself or using further information which is accessible based on the first piece of information, so that, for example, audio signal processing is set in such a way that it is still sufficient for a hearing aid wearer with a significant hearing impairment, without becoming disruptive for another hearing aid wearer with a lesser hearing impairment. In particular, depending on the type of adjustment of the operation of the external device, mean values ​​or maxima or minima can be used from the corresponding specifications for the two hearing aid wearers to calculate a corresponding operating parameter for the external device.

[0024] Preferably, the first information contains an indication of a first preference of a user of the hearing aid with regard to audio signal processing and / or hearing loss support, wherein audio signal processing or hearing loss support of the external device in the changed operating mode is carried out based on the preference. The external device is in particular a multimedia device and / or a communication device, wherein in the intended operation of the external device, audio signal processing of an internal audio signal of the external device is carried out, for example, signal processing and / or reproduction of at least one audio track of a media content, or signal recording and / or processing and / or reproduction of a speech signal. The external device can adapt the processing of the audio signal to the first preference of the user, which e.g.It may contain information regarding frequency-resolved amplification or, in particular, regarding frequency-band compression (which may also include a frequency-band maximum output level). In particular, a preference for hearing loss support in a TV set as an external device may include a subtitle and, if applicable, an associated language option for the subtitle, so that the TV set can automatically display the subtitle according to the language option for subtitles specified in the first preference as a result of the first information exchanged.

[0025] Conveniently, the first piece of information contains, as access data, a reference to a physical memory location, wherein the external device accesses a second piece of information stored in the physical memory location, and wherein the changed operating mode is set and / or adjusted depending on the second piece of information. This means, in particular, that the first piece of information merely refers to the memory location in which the second piece of information is stored, wherein the actual information required by the external device to adapt its operating mode to the hearing aid is contained only, or at least also, in the second piece of information.The reference to the physical storage space is to be understood in particular as an indication such that the storage space in which the second information is stored can be addressed based on the reference, and thus the second information can be accessed directly if access is not restricted by additional authorization, or the reference can be used to request authorization to access the second information stored in the storage space. The storage space is physically implemented on a system that can be addressed based on the reference, e.g., on a server, on the hearing aid itself, or on a smartphone (alternatively a smartwatch) that can be connected to the hearing aid and is preferably configured with an app for communication with the hearing aid.

[0026] Setting the changed operating mode can, in particular, involve a hearing aid acoustician's computer or analysis unit, as an external device for adjusting the hearing aid, issuing the transmission request in order to obtain additional data for adjusting the hearing aid using the second piece of information. Upon receipt of this, in particular user-specific, audiometric data, the hearing aid acoustician performs the adjustment according to the data by the computer or analysis unit. In particular, however, an adjustment of the settings, in particular with regard to audio signal processing, of a multimedia device, or a communication device as an external device, is also conceivable in a manner analogous to that already described.

[0027] Preferably, the external device sends a transmission request regarding the second information to a system comprising the physical storage space, which transmission request contains identification information of the first device and / or a transmission purpose of the second information. The second information is transmitted, in particular encrypted, to the external device by the system comprising the physical storage space depending on the identification information or the transmission purpose. This means, in particular, that the external device receives the reference to the storage space of the second information from the first information, and possibly also the data types contained therein.

[0028] The external device then sends the transmission request to the system specified by the said reference (e.g. to the server or to the hearing aid itself) in order to request the second piece of information. The external device then identifies itself or specifies a transmission purpose, in particular an intended use, for the requested second piece of information. The file format for the identification or the transmission purpose can be specified in particular by a standardised protocol or by additional details of the first piece of information (if necessary regarding a protocol to be used). The system, which contains the physical storage space for the second piece of information, can then decide, in particular, on the output of the second piece of information based on the data transmitted by the external device with the transmission request, and the second piece of information can be transmitted accordingly to the external device.

[0029] It proves to be further advantageous if a user of the hearing aid defines a specific piece of identification information or a specific transmission purpose as permissible, and the second piece of information is transmitted to the external device, preferably in encrypted form, by the system comprising the physical storage space if the identification information or the transmission purpose in the transmission request is recognized as permissible. The said definition by the user can in particular be made in advance and stored accordingly in the system comprising the physical storage space, or it can also be made ad hoc, e.g. in the form of a confirmation of the identification information or the transmission purpose in the transmission request. The identification information or the transmission purpose contained in the transmission request are preferably sent to a smartphone (or a smartwatch or similar) for confirmation by the said system.) of the user, by means of which the user can make the confirmation.

[0030] Advantageously, different identification information or transmission purposes are defined as permissible for different forms of the second information. This means, in particular, that different data types can be compiled in the second information for different device types of the external device (e.g., television, communication device, analysis device of a hearing aid acoustician) (with a partial overlap of the different data being conceivable). Accordingly, different identification information and transmission purposes are considered permissible for the different device types, so that an external device can receive the second information required for operation, but no further, possibly sensitive data needs to be transmitted.

[0031] The external device expediently sends the transfer request to the hearing aid as the system comprising the physical storage space. In particular, the identification information or the transmission purpose in the transfer request is defined as permissible in the sense of a confirmation by the user upon the transfer request, e.g., using a smartphone (or a smartwatch) connected to the hearing aid via Bluetooth or similar and an appropriately configured application installed there. However, the aforementioned definition of permissibility can also be made globally in advance. Storing the second information on the hearing aid can be particularly advantageous if the second information contains smaller amounts of data. In this case, transmitting the second information by the hearing aid itself may offer advantages in terms of access time.

[0032] Advantageously, the identification information or the purpose of the transfer is defined as permissible by the user in the transfer request, and this definition is transmitted to a cloud server and stored there, wherein the external device sends the transfer request to the cloud server as the system comprising the physical storage space, wherein the second information is transmitted by the cloud server to the external device, preferably in encrypted form, if the identification information or the purpose of the transfer in the transfer request is recognised as permissible on the basis of the definition stored in the cloud server. A cloud server is understood to be any server which is addressable via an internet connection and which is used to store data and to carry out certain predetermined data processing operations with the stored data, as well as to output anyis provided for and set up for the data processed in accordance with said operations.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, the second information transmits data which specifically characterizes the hearing aid and / or which characterizes at least one setting of the hearing aid and / or which contains biometric information about the user. A specific characterization of the hearing aid is achieved by a product name, a product type, a manufacturer, a firmware version, and / or a device type. A setting of the hearing aid is achieved by a hearing program, a fitting, and / or a signal processing algorithm. A biometric information characterizes a hearing impairment and / or a non-audiological condition and / or includes an audiogram and / or an age indication. Depending on the type of external device, data from these categories may be particularly suitable for enabling the external device to operate in a manner tailored to the hearing aid.

[0034] In particular, the second piece of information, preferably in the case of authorization based on a transmission request that must be verified for admissibility, may also include the user's personal preferences regarding their diet and / or leisure activities (e.g., sports or other activities). In this case, an external device, located, for example, in a store or shopping center, can transmit corresponding information regarding their dining options (e.g., regarding shopping options or restaurants) or their leisure activities.

[0035] Preferably, the first information transmits data that characterizes at least one audio signal processing setting, wherein an audio signal processing setting is provided by frequency-resolved amplification and / or, in particular, frequency-resolved compression. Said data can enable a wide range of device types for the external device to operate in a manner tailored to the hearing aid without compromising the security of potentially sensitive data.

[0036] The invention further relates to a hearing aid, in particular a hearing aid, comprising a physical memory location, a first communication device and a control unit, wherein the hearing aid is configured to send a first piece of information by means of the first communication device, to receive a transmission request from an external device by means of the first communication device, wherein the external device is provided by a multimedia device or a communication system for teleconferencing or by a device which a hearing aid acoustician uses for an audiological analysis and / or for fitting the hearing aid or by an audio system for the general dissemination of information and / or music, wherein the hearing aid is configured to check the transmission request by means of the control unit for containing identification information and / or a transmission purpose, and to transmit the contained identification information orto check the contained transmission purpose for admissibility according to a predefined or to be predefined definition, and to transmit, by means of the first communication device, a second piece of information contained in the physical memory space to the external device sending the transmission request, in particular in encrypted form, if the identification information or the transmission purpose is recognized as permissible. The hearing aid according to the invention shares the advantages of the method according to the invention. The advantages stated for the method and its further developments can be applied analogously to the hearing aid.

[0037] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The block diagrams show: Fig. 1 a television set whose operation is automatically adjusted to a hearing aid, Fig. 2 the television set Fig. 1, which adapts its operation to the hearing aid using information from a cloud server, Fig. 3 a variant of the television set according to Fig. 2, whereby authorization is carried out by the cloud server, Fig. 4 a television set whose operation is automatically adjusted to the hearing aid by means of access-protected information stored in the hearing aid, and Fig. 5 a computer of a hearing aid acoustician, which can automatically request information about the hearing aid and / or its user for the purpose of adjusting a hearing aid.

[0038] Corresponding parts and sizes are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0039] In Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the operation of an external device 1, which is automatically tuned to a hearing aid 2. In the present exemplary embodiment, the external device 1 is a television set 4, in particular one with internet capability, but can also be another multimedia device, such as a stereo system, a radio, or a home theater system. The hearing aid 2 is designed in particular as a hearing aid 6 in the narrower sense, which is therefore intended and configured to correct a hearing impairment of a user 8 of the hearing aid 2.The user 8 now enters a room 10 in which the television set 4 is fixedly arranged (the double arrow 12 is intended to indicate the corresponding movement), whereby at least the room 10 is to be regarded as an immediate environment 14 of the television set 4, since within the room 10 the television set 4 can communicate electronically with other devices, for example via Bluetooth.

[0040] The hearing aid 2 is now recognizable in room 10 by the television set 4. For example, the television set 4 transmits individual beacons 16 at regular intervals, with each such beacon 16 being received by the hearing aid 2. The hearing aid 2 responds to the beacon 16 by transmitting unencrypted first information 18, which specifically characterizes the hearing aid using metadata 20, for example by stating a product name, a product type, a manufacturer, possibly a firmware version, or even a device type of the hearing aid 2.

[0041] By receiving the first information 18, the television set 4 can not only detect the presence of the hearing aid 2, but also, as a result of the metadata 20, automatically adapt its operation to the hearing aid 2 and thus change its operating mode. In the present case, this can preferably be done by transmitting a streaming signal 22 to the hearing aid 2, in which the audio tracks of the media content currently being played back by the television set are encoded (for example, the right and left tracks), so that a sound signal for the user 8 is generated in the hearing aid 2 based on the streaming signal 22. In particular, a microphone signal of the hearing aid 2 can be attenuated or completely switched off. In particular, before the start of the transmission of the streaming signal 22, the television set 4 can suggest said transmission to the user 8 for confirmation, if necessary also for confirmation via a voice command.

[0042] The first information 18 can contain a first preference 24 of the user 8 with regard to audio signal processing, which can be provided in particular by frequency band amplification and / or in particular frequency band compression (characterizable based on the respective node point and / or the compression ratio and, if applicable, based on the time constant). Upon receipt of the first preference 24, the television set 4 can adapt its audio signal processing according to the first preference 24. This can be done, on the one hand, by appropriately processing the streaming signal 22 according to the first preference 24, for example by raising or lowering certain frequency bands or by compressing ora complete clipping of particularly loud signal components, or preferably also an output of a sound signal via the loudspeakers (not shown) of the television set 4, modified according to the first preference 24. This can be particularly advantageous if the user 8 does not wish to transmit the streaming signal 22. In an embodiment not shown in detail, the adaptation of the operation of the television set 4 to the detected presence of the hearing aid 2 can, for example, also include displaying a subtitle - possibly according to a language defined on the basis of the first information 18 - wherein the display may be suggested to the user 8 for confirmation.The automatic adaptation of the operation of the external device 1, in this case the television 4, to the hearing aid 4 recognized as being present on the basis of specifications which are contained in the first information 18 or can be obtained from the first information 18, as described here and with reference to the other exemplary embodiments, is particularly advantageous if immediate access to the control of the external device 1 cannot always be guaranteed for the user 8.

[0043] In Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another possibility of how the television set 4 can be Fig. 1 automatically adapts its operation to the hearing aid 2 after Fig. 2 according to the specifications of the user 8. The first information 18 sent from the hearing aid 2 to the television set 4 (the beacon 16 is in Fig. 2) contains a reference 26 to a storage location 28 in a cloud server 30. The cloud server 30 is to be regarded in particular as a system 32 in which the storage location 28 is physically implemented. The reference 26 can, for example, be designed as a corresponding link via which the physical storage location 28 in the cloud server 30 can be addressed. A second piece of information 34 is stored in the storage location 28, which the television device 4 can access by means of a corresponding query using the reference 26.

[0044] In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the second information 34 is accessible in particular in unencrypted form for any query solely on the basis of the link provided by the reference 26. Since the reference 26 is output unencrypted by the hearing aid 2 in the first information 18, in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 2, the second information 34 is also unencrypted and, in particular, accessible without additional authorization. Consequently, the second information 34 contains Fig. 2 prefers the metadata 20 and / or the first preference 24 an audio signal processing according to Fig. 1. The change of the operating mode of the television set 4 upon receipt of the second information 34 can now be carried out in a similar manner as in the case of Fig. 1, for example by automatically applying the frequency band-wise amplification given by the first preference 24.

[0045] In Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a further development of the Fig. 2 shown automatic adjustment of the operation of the television set 4 to the hearing aid 2. As in the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the hearing aid 2 sends a first information 18 to the television 4, which contains a reference 26 to a storage location 28 in the cloud server 30 (again, the beacon 16 is not shown). In contrast to Fig. 2, however, the second information 34 stored in the storage location 28 of the cloud server 30 is no longer generally accessible, but is protected by a special authorization 35, which is symbolically shown here. To access the second information 34, the television set 4 sends a transfer request 36 to the cloud server 30 after receiving the first information 18 containing the reference 26. The transfer request 36 can be made in a standardized file format, which can be predetermined for the television set 4 by additional information in the first information 18. The transfer request 36 can in particular include identification information of the television set 4 (for example, the type and / or model of the requesting external device 1, manufacturer, product name / model, etc.).The transmission request 36 may also contain an intended transmission purpose for the requested second information 34, i.e. in particular a use of the received second information 34 intended by the external device 1, which may be specified according to standardized file types.

[0046] The user 8 of the hearing aid 2 has previously defined, for example via a corresponding web app (operable via a smartphone or similar), which identification information and / or transmission purpose of the transmission request 36 are to be considered permissible for the second information 34 in the physical memory 28 of the cloud server 30 assigned to him, in which the second information 34 relating to his hearing aid 2 is stored. Thus, if the identification information or the transmission purpose in the transmission request 36, which the television set 4 sends to the cloud server 30 for the purpose of outputting the second information 34, is permissible in the sense of the definition made by the user 8, the second information 34 is output accordingly to the television set 4. In the manner already described, the television set 4 can adapt its operation to the hearing aid 2 based on the second information 34.If the identification information or the transmission purpose of the television device 4 is not deemed permissible by the cloud server 30 (because the corresponding transmission request 36 does not contain the definitions previously made by the user 8), the second information 34 is not output.

[0047] In Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an alternative to the Fig. 3 shown automatic adjustment of the operation of the television set 4 to the hearing aid 2. As in the embodiment according to Fig. 3, the hearing aid 2 sends a first piece of information 18 to the television set 4 when the hearing aid 2 reaches the room 10 and thus also the immediate surroundings 14 of the television set 4. However, the reference 26 contained in the first piece of information 18 does not refer to a storage location 28 in a cloud server 30, but rather to an assigned physical storage location 38 in a memory of the hearing aid 2. In the present case, the hearing aid 2 therefore forms the system 32 comprising the physical storage location 38. This storage location 38 of the hearing aid 2 is also protected by an authorization mechanism 35 (symbolically represented), similar to the storage location 28 on the cloud server 30. The authorization 35 is again carried out based on the transmission request 36 sent from the television set 4 to the hearing aid 2 (which the television set 4 sends upon recognizing the hearing aid 2 and based on the first piece of information 18 received from the hearing aid 2).The transmission request 36 can, as in the embodiment according to . Fig. 3, an identification information of the television set 4 and / or an intended transmission purpose for the requested second information 34.

[0048] The definition of which identification information and / or which transmission purpose of the transmission request 36 are to be considered permissible is preferably made by the user 8 in advance. Alternatively, or even in the case of a transmission request 36 initially classified as inadmissible with regard to the previously made definition, the user can also define an identification information 8 or a transmission purpose of a transmission request 36 as permissible ad hoc by corresponding confirmation (e.g., by means of a dedicated application on a smartphone connected to the hearing aid 2). In the manner already described, the television set 4 can adapt its operation to the hearing aid 2 based on the second information 34.

[0049] In Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing how an external device 1, which in this case is a computer 40 of a hearing aid acoustician 42, automatically adjusts its operation to a hearing aid 2. The computer 40 is to be regarded in particular generically as the totality of the analysis instruments available to the hearing aid acoustician 42 for adjusting the hearing aid 2. The procedure for transmitting the information is essentially similar to that based on Fig. 3, however, another form of transmission would also be conceivable for the automatic tuning of the computer 40 of the hearing aid acoustician 42 shown here, in particular the one based on Fig. 4 illustrated transmission of the second information 34 by the hearing aid 2 itself.

[0050] The computer 40 transmits a beacon 16, to which the hearing aid 2 responds, if the user 8 is located in the room 10 and thus also in the immediate vicinity 14 of the computer 40, by transmitting the unencrypted first information 18, which contains the reference 26 to the physical memory 28 in the cloud server 30. Upon receipt of the first information 18, the computer 40 sends a transmission request 36 to the cloud server 30, which contains identification information indicating that the transmission request 36 originates from a hearing aid acoustician 42, as well as a transmission purpose of the second information 34 requested by the computer 40 and to be transmitted to it, in that the second information 34 is intended for an adjustment of the hearing aid 2 by the hearing aid acoustician 42.

[0051] Based on the definitions made in advance by the user 8 of the hearing aid 2 regarding which identification information specified in the transmission request 36 or which transmission purpose is to be considered permissible, the cloud server 30 performs an authorization 35, so that the second information 34 is sent to the computer 40. The second information 34 can include, in particular, audiometric data (e.g., an audiogram of the user 8), but can also contain biometric data such as the age of the user 8 or other medical data relevant for the adjustment of the hearing aid 2. Upon receipt of the second information 34 containing said data, the computer 40 can perform the adjustment based on the received audiometric and, if applicable, other data, whereby the operating mode of the computer 40 undergoes a change as a result of the second information 34 (namely, the adjustment process is individually tailored to the user 8).

[0052] The respective Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 symbolically represented second information 34 comprises different data types, since in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 the television 4 adjusts its operation to the hearing aid 2, and in the embodiment according to Fig. 5 an adjustment is to be made by the hearing aid acoustician 42, for which different information is generally required. Accordingly, the definition of the admissibility of the data transmitted in the respective transmission request 36 (identification information and / or transmission purpose) can be different for both cases.

[0053] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Other variations may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. List of reference symbols 1 external device 2 hearing aids 4 television 6 Hearing aid device 8 users 10 rooms 12 double arrow 14 immediate surroundings 16 Beacons 18 initial information 20 metadata 22 Streaming signal 24 first preference 26 Reference 28 storage spaces 30 cloud servers 32 systems 34 second information 35 Authorization 36 Transfer request 38 storage spaces 40 computers 42 hearing aid acousticians

Claims

[1] Method for transmitting information relating to a hearing aid (2) to an external device (1), wherein the external device is a multimedia device or a communication system for teleconferencing or a device used by a hearing aid acoustician for an audiological analysis and / or for fitting the hearing aid or an audio system for the general dissemination of information and / or music, wherein the hearing aid (2) is brought into an environment (14) of the external device (1), wherein the hearing aid (2) transmits a generally receptive unencrypted first information (18) containing metadata about the hearing aid (2) and / or access data, wherein the metadata includes a product name, a product type, a manufacturer, a firmware version and / or a device type, and the access data includes a reference to a storage location, wherein the unencrypted first information (18) is received by the external device (1), and wherein, directly or indirectly as a result of the first information (18), the external device (1) changes an operating mode and continues to operate with the changed operating mode. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the first information (18) contains an indication of a first preference (24) of a user (8) of the hearing aid (2) with regard to audio signal processing and / or hearing loss support, and wherein an audio signal processing and / or a hearing loss support of the external device (1) in the changed operating mode is carried out in each case on the basis of the first preference (24). [3] Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first information (18) contains as access data a reference (26) to a physical storage location (28, 38), wherein the external device (1) accesses a second information item (34) stored in the physical memory location (28, 38), and wherein the changed operating mode is set and / or adapted depending on the second information (34). [4] Method according to claim 3, wherein the external device (1) sends a transmission request (36) regarding the second information (34) to a system (32) comprising the physical storage space (28, 38), which transmission request includes identification information of the first device (1) and / or a transmission purpose of the second information (34), and wherein the second information (34) is transmitted to the external device (1) by the system (32) comprising the physical storage space (28, 38) depending on the identification information and / or the transmission purpose. [5] Method according to claim 4, wherein one or the user (8) of the hearing aid (1) defines a specific piece of identification information and / or a specific transmission purpose as permissible, and wherein the second information (34) is transmitted to the external device (1) by the system (32) comprising the physical storage space (28, 38) if the identification information and / or the transmission purpose in the transmission request (36) is recognized as permissible. [6] Method according to claim 5, wherein different identification information and / or transmission purposes are defined as permissible for different characteristics of the second information (34). [7] Method according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the external device (1) sends the transmission request (36) to the hearing aid (2) as the system (32) comprising the physical storage space (38). [8] Method according to claim 7, wherein the identification information and / or the transmission purpose in the transmission request (36) is defined as permissible by the user (2) in response to the transmission request (36). [9] Method according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the identification information and / or the transmission purpose is defined as permissible by the user in the transmission request (36), and this definition is transmitted to a cloud server (30) and stored there, wherein the external device (1) sends the transfer request (36) to the cloud server (30) as the system (32) comprising the physical storage space (28, 38), and wherein the second information (34) is transmitted by the cloud server (30) to the external device (1) if the identification information and / or the transmission purpose in the transmission request (36) is recognized as permissible on the basis of the definition stored in the cloud server (30). [10] Method according to one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the second information (34) transmits data which specifically characterize the hearing aid (2) and / or which characterize at least one setting of the hearing aid (2) and / or which contain biometric information about the user (8), wherein a specific characterization of the hearing aid (2) is carried out by a product name, a product type, a manufacturer, a firmware version and / or a device type, wherein an adjustment of the hearing aid (2) is carried out by a hearing program, a fitting, and / or a signal processing algorithm, and wherein biometric information characterizes a hearing impairment and / or a non-audiological condition and / or comprises an audiogram and / or an age indication. [11] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first information (18) transmits data which characterize at least a first preference (34) of an audio signal processing, and wherein a first preference (34) of audio signal processing is given by frequency-resolved amplification and / or compression. [12] Hearing aid (2) comprising a physical memory location (38), a first communication device and a control unit, which is designed to - to send a first information item (18) by means of the first communication device, - to receive a transmission request (36) from an external device (1) by means of the first communication device, the external device being a multimedia device or a communication system for teleconferencing or a device used by a hearing aid acoustician for an audiological analysis and / or for fitting the hearing aid or an audio system for the general distribution of information and / or music, - to check the transmission request (36) by means of the control unit for the inclusion of identification information and / or a transmission purpose, and to check the contained identification information and / or the contained transmission purpose for admissibility according to a predetermined or to be predetermined definition, and - to transmit a second information item (34) contained in the physical memory location (38) to the external device (1) sending the transmission request (36) by means of the first communication device if the identification information and / or the transmission purpose is recognized as permissible. [13] Hearing aid (2) according to claim 12, which is given as a hearing aid device.

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