Hearing Device Speaker Recognition for Automatic Wireless Joining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless personal communication methods for hearing devices are inefficient in terms of energy consumption and signal quality, particularly in noisy environments and when users are not in close proximity, and lack effective automatic connection establishment based on speaker recognition.
Innovation Solution
A method using speaker recognition to automatically establish, join, or leave wireless personal communication connections between hearing devices by analyzing the user's acoustic environment and utilizing content-independent speaker voiceprints, combined with beam formers to improve signal-to-noise ratio, and optional user interface notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam formers are used to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then signal quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device integrates multiple functions including beam forming capability, speaker recognition, and wireless communication into a single device. The beam former is part of a multi-functional system that also handles voice activity detection and automatic connection establishment, making the complexity serve multiple purposes rather than being dedicated to a single function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary voice activity detection and speaker recognition before establishing wireless connections. The beam former is activated in advance based on detected voice activity, preparing the signal processing path before actual communication begins, which improves signal quality while managing complexity through conditional activation.
2Ease of operation
If automatic connection establishment based on speaker recognition is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic voice activity detection and speaker recognition checks rather than continuous processing. The hearing device monitors the acoustic environment at intervals, detecting voice activity and performing speaker recognition only when needed, which maintains automatic connection establishment capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing device automatically performs speaker recognition and connection establishment without requiring user intervention. The system self-manages the detection of conversation participants, verification of speaker identity, and establishment of wireless connections, eliminating the need for manual pairing operations while optimizing energy usage through automated decision-making.
3Measurement precision
If content-independent speaker voiceprints are used for recognition, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voice signal is segmented into distinct components: voiceprint features extracted for speaker identification, and voice content preserved for communication purposes. The system separates the analysis of speaker identity (using content-independent voiceprints) from the transmission of actual speech content, allowing accurate speaker recognition without losing the informational content of the voice messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The content-independent voiceprint acts as an intermediary representation that enables speaker recognition without requiring transmission or processing of the actual voice content. The voiceprint serves as a compact identifier that verifies speaker identity while the original voice content remains intact for communication, resolving the conflict between recognition accuracy and information preservation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for a wireless personal communication using a hearing system (10) with a hearing device (12) comprises: monitoring and analyzing the user's acoustic environment by the hearing device (12) to recognize one or more speaking persons based on content-independent speaker voiceprints saved in the hearing system (10); and presenting a user interface to the user for notifying the user about a recognized speaking person and for establishing, joining or leaving a wireless personal communication connection between the hearing device (12) and one or more communication devices used by the one or more recognized speaking persons.