Hearing Device User Identification with Voice and Acoustic Transfer Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hearing devices face challenges in safely and efficiently identifying a particular user for secure access to devices or services, particularly when using voice interfaces, due to the computational complexity of accurately recognizing user voice characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A hearing device configured to provide a user identification signal based on a combination of voice characteristics and acoustic transfer functions, utilizing microphones and vibration sensors to ensure secure user authentication through a biometric identification process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If voice characteristics alone are used for user identification, then the identification process is simple and fast, but the security and accuracy are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser identification accuracyVSAvoididentification system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple identification parameters (voice characteristics, acoustic transfer functions, and other biometric data) into a unified identification system. The processor integrates these different data sources to generate a comprehensive user identification signal, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely separate system for each parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hearing device's microphone and processor serve multiple functions: they capture voice characteristics for identification, measure acoustic transfer functions for identification, and process auditory information for hearing assistance. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware to support both the enhanced identification system and standard hearing device operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple parameters are combined for user identification, then the security and accuracy improve, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser identification securityVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hearing device performs preliminary measurements of acoustic transfer functions during normal operation before they are needed for identification. These pre-measured parameters are stored and readily available when identification is required, reducing the computational burden and energy consumption during the actual identification process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The identification system utilizes data that the hearing device already collects and processes during its normal operation for hearing assistance. The same microphones and processors used for auditory processing also gather voice characteristics and acoustic transfer functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware and reducing overall system energy requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If voice interface is used for hearing devices, then the ease of use improves, but the ability to identify the particular user becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface ease of useVSAvoiduser identification difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors acoustic transfer functions and voice characteristics during normal operation, providing feedback that helps refine the identification model. This ongoing feedback mechanism allows the device to maintain accurate user identification while continuing to provide seamless voice interface operations without requiring explicit user input for identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances user identification accuracy and security by reliably distinguishing the intended user, preventing misuse, and enabling secure access to devices or services.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone for converting a sound in an environment of the hearing device to an electric input signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic to electric transduction:

Implementation Method 2

The hearing system, e.g. the hearing device, may comprise a vibration sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, for sensing bone vibration in the user's scull

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration sensing: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS12417771B2Hearing device or system comprising a user identification unit

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 OTICON

AI summary

A hearing system comprises a hearing device, e.g., a hearing aid, comprising at least one microphone for converting a sound in the environment to an electric input signal. The hearing system comprises a processor comprising a user identification unit comprising a data-driven algorithm configured to provide a user identification signal indicating whether or not, or with what probability, the person currently wearing the hearing device is a particular user in dependence of a time segment of said particular user's voice and said at least one electric input signal.