Hearing Aid User Identification via Voice and Acoustic Channel Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing devices face challenges in securely identifying and authenticating users, particularly for applications requiring ease of use and secure access, as traditional methods like buttons or remote controls can be complex and prone to misuse.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device configured with a processor to provide a user identification signal based on a combination of voice characteristics and acoustic transfer functions, utilizing microphones and vibration sensors to differentiate between authorized and unauthorized users, with a neural network for enhanced identification accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If biometric identification using voice characteristics is implemented, then user identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The identification system is segmented into two independent modules: voice characteristic analysis and acoustic transfer function analysis. Each module processes specific features separately, then their results are combined for final identification. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high accuracy through multiple features without requiring one complex monolithic processor, thereby managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic transfer function serves as an intermediary feature that bridges the gap between raw voice signals and user identity. Instead of directly comparing complex voice patterns, the system uses the acoustic transfer function (which characterizes the user's ear canal and head anatomy) as an intermediate representation. This intermediary approach simplifies the identification process while maintaining high accuracy.
2Reliability
If multiple identification parameters are combined, then identification reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis by extracting voice characteristics and acoustic transfer function parameters in parallel from the input signal. By preparing these features simultaneously rather than sequentially, the system reduces the total processing time while still combining multiple identification parameters for high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can operate with partial information - it performs voice characteristic analysis first, and only if additional confirmation is needed does it proceed to full acoustic transfer function analysis. This partial action approach allows quick identification in most cases while maintaining high reliability when needed, thus balancing processing time and identification reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables secure and efficient user identification, preventing misuse by accurately verifying the user through voice and acoustic system characteristics, ensuring authorized access while maintaining ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The hearing device comprises at least one microphone for converting a sound in an environment of the hearing device into an electrical input signal
Implementation Method 2
A hearing system comprising a hearing device... a vibration sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, for sensing bone vibration in the user's scull
Data Source
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AI summary
A hearing system comprises a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, configured to be worn by a particular user at or in an ear, or to be fully or partially implanted in the head at an ear of the user. The hearing device comprises at least one microphone for converting a sound in the environment of the hearing device to an electric input signal. The hearing system, e.g. the hearing device, comprises a processor comprising an own voice analyzer configured to characterize the voice of a person presently wearing the hearing device based at least partly on said electric input signal, and to provide characteristics of said person's voice, and an own voice acoustic channel analyzer for estimating characteristics of an acoustic channel from the mouth of the person presently wearing the hearing device to the at least one microphone based at least partly on said electric input signal, and to provide characteristics of said acoustic channel of said person. The hearing system further comprises a user identification unit configured to provide a user identification signal indicating whether or not, or with what probability, the person currently wearing the hearing device is said particular user in dependence of said characteristics of said person's voice and said characteristics of said acoustic channel of said person.