Hearing System Data Security via Dual Encryption Schemes

Solution Overview

Problem

Hearing system communication faces challenges in security, particularly due to the use of open standard-based interfaces and the limited computational power of hearing devices, which increases the risk of data compromise by unauthorized parties.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize dual security schemes for encrypting and digitally signing hearing device data, where the first security scheme is applied in the server device and the second in the user application, ensuring secure communication while considering the computational constraints of hearing devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If open standard-based wireless communication interfaces are used in hearing systems, then communication compatibility and ease of operation are improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to increased vulnerability to unauthorized access and data compromise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication compatibilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the security implementation into multiple segments: the server device performs complex dual-security-scheme operations (first and second security schemes), the user accessory device performs validation and re-securing, and the hearing device performs final validation. This segmentation allows each component to handle security tasks appropriate to its capabilities, with the server and user device handling computationally intensive tasks and the hearing device handling lighter validation tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The user accessory device acts as an intermediary between the server device and the hearing device. It receives secured data from the server, validates it using the second security scheme, re-secures it using the first security scheme, and then transmits it to the hearing device. This intermediary role allows the hearing device to benefit from robust security without bearing the computational burden of implementing and managing multiple security schemes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex dual security schemes are implemented to protect hearing device data, then security and reliability are improved, but computational power requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcomputational power requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the security implementation into multiple segments: the server device performs complex dual-security-scheme operations (first and second security schemes), the user accessory device performs validation and re-securing, and the hearing device performs final validation. This segmentation allows each component to handle security tasks appropriate to its capabilities, with the server and user device handling computationally intensive tasks and the hearing device handling lighter validation tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the security parameter distribution across different devices. The server device applies both first and second security schemes to hearing device data before transmission. The user accessory device validates using the second scheme and re-secures using the first scheme. The hearing device only needs to validate using the first scheme, significantly reducing its computational burden while maintaining overall system security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple security validation steps are performed in user application and hearing device, then security against replay attacks and unauthorized access is improved, but communication time and processing duration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against replay attacksVSAvoidcommunication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server device performs preliminary security operations by securing hearing device data with both the first and second security schemes before transmission. This preliminary action ensures that when data reaches the user accessory device and hearing device, validation can proceed more efficiently since the complex security operations have already been performed in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a continuous security validation chain: the server secures data with dual schemes, the user accessory device validates and re-secures without interruption, and the hearing device performs final validation. This continuous process ensures security is maintained throughout the entire data transmission and processing pipeline without breaking the security chain, while optimizing timing to minimize overall communication duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11863974B2Method for hearing system communication and related devices

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 GN HEARING AS

AI summary

A method for communication in a hearing system comprising the server device and a hearing device system, the hearing device system comprising a hearing device and a user accessory device with a user application installed thereon, the method includes: obtaining hearing device data for the hearing device; securing the hearing device data using a first security scheme to obtain a first output; securing the first output using a second security scheme to obtain a second output, wherein the second security scheme is different from the first security scheme; and transmitting the second output to the user accessory device.