Hearing Device Secure Configuration Update
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices face challenges in secure remote configuration due to limited computational power and security threats such as unauthorized access and tampering, which compromise the integrity of configuration updates.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a hearing system with a server device, a fitting device, and a user accessory device that uses configuration authentication packages and verification criteria to ensure secure remote configuration updates, including decryption of dispenser certificates and integrity protection of configuration data, to prevent unauthorized changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication interfaces use open standard-based interfaces to enable connectivity, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but security and protection against unauthorized access deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing and maintaining a certificate store in the hearing device that contains authorized certificates. Before allowing any configuration update, the system verifies the authenticity of incoming configuration packages against these pre-stored certificates. This advance preparation of security infrastructure enables the device to accept open standard-based wireless communication while maintaining strong security through proactive verification.
2Reliability
If the hearing device performs security verification of configuration packages, then reliability and security are improved, but computational power requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by using pre-computed and pre-stored certificate data in the hearing device's memory. Instead of performing complex cryptographic operations from scratch, the device verifies configuration packages by comparing against copied, pre-validated certificate templates stored in its memory. This approach significantly reduces the computational burden on the hearing device's limited processor while maintaining security verification capabilities.
3Reliability
If the hearing device stores and processes configuration authentication packages, then reliability and security are improved, but memory space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing a selective storage strategy where the hearing device stores only the essential authentication data (certificates and verification criteria) in its limited memory, rather than storing complete configuration packages. The memory is optimized to hold only the minimal necessary authentication information needed for verification, with the understanding that full configuration data is transmitted and processed temporarily during updates but not permanently stored. This approach maintains authentication reliability while minimizing memory consumption.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This disclosure provides a method, performed at a hearing device, for updating a hearing device configuration at the hearing device of a hearing system. The hearing system comprises the hearing device, a fitting device configured to be controlled by a dispenser and a server device. The method comprises receiving a configuration package and a configuration authentication package, the configuration authentication package comprising a dispenser certificate. The method comprises determining if an update criterion is fulfilled. The update criterion is based on verifying the configuration authentication package. The method comprises updating the hearing device configuration based on the configuration package if the update criterion is fulfilled.