Hearing Device Caller-Aware Acoustic Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing devices struggle to optimize sound signal intelligibility during phone calls, particularly in noisy environments, as they lack adaptive settings tailored to individual callers or groups, leading to suboptimal communication experiences.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize near field communication and voice recognition to adjust hearing device settings based on caller identification, incorporating technical and individual acoustic properties to enhance sound processing, such as frequency response and voice characteristics, allowing for optimized sound delivery during calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing device uses fixed settings for all callers, then device complexity is reduced, but communication intelligibility deteriorates in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device dynamically adjusts its acoustic settings based on the identified caller. The system transitions from static fixed settings to dynamic adaptive settings that change according to which caller is detected, optimizing intelligibility for each individual caller while managing complexity through automated adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes acoustic parameters such as frequency response characteristics, gain settings, and noise reduction levels according to the identified caller. Each caller has associated acoustic properties that determine optimal processing parameters, allowing the device to adapt settings without requiring complex manual configuration.
2Reliability
If hearing device implements caller-specific acoustic properties adjustment, then sound signal intelligibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses voice recognition to identify the caller and retrieves pre-stored acoustic properties associated with that caller. This feedback loop allows the device to automatically select and apply the appropriate acoustic settings without requiring complex real-time analysis, reducing implementation complexity while maintaining intelligibility benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
Acoustic properties for each caller are determined and stored in advance before actual communication occurs. This preliminary characterization of callers allows the hearing device to quickly retrieve and apply pre-optimized settings during calls, avoiding the need for complex real-time acoustic analysis and reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If hearing device uses general noise reduction settings, then ease of operation is maintained, but intelligibility in noisy environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device automatically identifies the caller and selects the appropriate noise reduction and acoustic settings without requiring manual user adjustment. The system serves itself by retrieving stored acoustic properties and applying the correct configuration, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving intelligibility in noisy environments through caller-specific optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for operating a hearing system is disclosed, the method comprising a hearing device (2) being worn by a hearing device user (1), at least one communication device (21, 31, 44) being used by a person (20, 30) or by a group (40) of people (41, 42, 43), and a network (7). The method comprises the steps of establishing a connection between the hearing device (2) and the at least one communication device (21, 31, 44) via the network (7), identifying the person (20, 30) or the group (40) of people (41, 42, 43) using the at least one communication device (21, 31, 44), and adjusting settings in the hearing device (2) for adapting its acoustical behavior taking into account acoustic properties of at least one of the person (20, 30), the group (40) of people (41, 42, 43), the user (1), the hearing device (2) and the communication device (21, 31, 44). Furthermore, a hearing device (2) is disclosed.