Hearing Instrument Firmware Selectable Functional Properties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing instruments require complex configuration and inventory management for various functional properties, leading to increased costs and organizational overhead for manufacturers and middlemen.
Innovation Solution
A method where hearing instruments are distributed with a firmware containing multiple selectable functional properties, allowing middlemen to program and enable/disable these properties at a programming station, reducing the need for upgrade information transmission and enabling customizable billing based on selected features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hearing instruments are distributed with multiple firmware variants to满足不同功能需求， then customer requirements can be met, but inventory complexity and distribution costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal hearing instrument platform that can perform multiple functions through a single firmware image containing all selectable functional properties. The device includes a processing unit that can dynamically enable or disable different functional properties (such as noise reduction, feedback cancellation, wirelessness, etc.) based on configuration data, eliminating the need for multiple specialized device variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state parameters of the hearing instrument by using a single firmware image that can be configured with different functional properties enabled or disabled. The system stores configuration data indicating which functional properties should be active, allowing the same hardware to adapt to different customer requirements through parameter changes rather than physical modification.
2Adaptability or versatility
If configuration upgrading information is transmitted to middlemen for programming， then customized hearing instruments can be provided, but transmission costs and organizational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the hearing instrument with a complete firmware image that contains all possible functional properties, but with only the necessary ones enabled based on customer requirements. The device is distributed in this pre-configured state, eliminating the need for subsequent transmission of configuration upgrading information to middlemen for programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the configuration data from the transmission process and embeds it directly into the firmware image before distribution. By taking out the need for separate configuration transmission and integrating the functional property selections into the initial firmware, the system eliminates the overhead of transmitting upgrade information to middlemen.
3Quantity of substance
If basic version devices are distributed to middlemen for upgrading， then distribution costs are reduced, but programming time and complexity at middleman locations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the configuration action in advance by determining which functional properties should be enabled and embedding this configuration directly into the firmware image before distribution. The hearing instrument is delivered to the end user in its final configured state, eliminating the need for time-consuming programming activities at middleman locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically configuring the hearing instrument with the appropriate functional properties based on customer requirements before distribution. The device comes pre-configured and ready for use, eliminating the need for manual programming intervention at middleman locations and reducing programming time to zero.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing a hearing instrument includes: providing at a manufacturer the hearing instrument with a firmware which comprises a plurality of selectable functional properties; distributing the hearing instrument from the manufacturer to a middleman, wherein the hearing instrument is configured to be programmed by a programming station at the middleman, wherein the programming station is configured for selecting at least one of the plurality of selectable functional properties according to an input from the middleman, wherein the programming station is also configured to program the firmware of the hearing instrument according to the selecting to provide a programmed hearing instrument; billing an end user for the programmed hearing instrument, wherein the billing reflects the selecting; and receiving, at the manufacturer, data regarding the selecting from the middleman.