METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A SHORT-RANGE RADIO LINK, AND HEARING DEVICE AND CHARGING UNIT

Abstract

A method is specified for establishing a short-range radio link, in particular a Bluetooth connection, between a first device and a second device. A charging unit, which is configured to charge a hearing device, mediates the establishment of the short-range radio link. The charging unit transmits pairing data of the first device to the second device to establish the short-range radio link, so that the latter device is paired with the first device and the short-range radio link is established. There are also described a hearing device and a charging unit.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a short-range radio link between a first device and a second device, the method comprising: providing a charging unit configured to charge a hearing device; mediating an establishment of the short-range radio link by transmitting with the charging unit pairing data of the first device for establishing the short-range radio link to the second device; and pairing the second device with the first device to establish the short-range radio link.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the short-range radio link is a Bluetooth connection.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first device is the hearing device and the second device is a mobile terminal device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second device is a smartphone.

5. The method according to claim 1, which comprises transmitting the pairing data from the charging unit to the second device outside a transmission frequency range of the short-range radio link.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the charging unit has an N-Mark in which the pairing data of the first device is stored, and the method comprises transmitting the pairing data to the second device OOB by near-field communication.

7. The method according to claim 1, which comprises detecting with the charging unit a proximity of the second device to the charging unit and then transmitting the pairing data to the second device.

8. The method according to claim 7, which comprises detecting the proximity by near-field communication.

9. The method according to claim 1, which comprises transmitting the pairing data from the charging unit to the second device when the first device is connected to the charging unit and a switch of the charging unit is additionally actuated.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the charging unit comprises a holder and the first device is connected to the charging unit by inserting the first device into the holder, and wherein the switch is arranged in the holder and configured for activation by inserting the first device into the holder or by removing the first device from the holder.

11. The method according to claim 1, which comprises: providing the charging unit with a holder and a cover, and selectively connecting the first device to the charging unit by inserting the first device into the holder; selectively folding open or closing the cover for removing the first device from the holder or for inserting the first device into the holder; and transmitting the pairing data from the charging unit to the second device when the cover is being opened or being closed.

12. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, if the first device is not connected to the charging unit, transmitting the pairing data to the second device as soon as the charging unit detects a proximity of the second device to the charging unit.

13. The method according to claim 1, which comprises receiving with the charging unit the pairing data of the first device from the first device via an additional short-range radio link between the charging unit and the first device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the additional short-range radio link is an additional Bluetooth connection.

15. The method according to claim 1, which comprises detecting with the charging unit a connection of the first device by proximity detection and subsequently establishing a short-range radio link between the charging unit and the first device, for an automatic transmission of the pairing data to the charging unit.

16. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, in order to establish an additional short-range radio link between the first device and a third device, transmitting the pairing data from the second device directly to the third device.

17. A hearing device, configured as the first device in the method according to claim 1 for connecting the hearing device to a second device.

18. The hearing device according to claim 17 being a hearing aid.

19. A charging unit, configured to carry out the method according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a charging unit, a first device and a second device;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows the devices from FIG. 1 and a third device and their connection to one another; and

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method for establishing a short-range radio link.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a hearing device 2, which may be a hearing aid, a charging unit 4 which is designed to charge this hearing device 2, and a smartphone 6. The hearing aid 2 is a first device 2, the smartphone 6 is a second device 6. The charging unit 4 is also generally referred to as the device 4. FIG. 2 shows the devices 2, 4, 6 in a highly simplified form in order to illustrate their connection to one another. In addition, FIG. 2 shows an optional third device 8, e.g. a TV set.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for establishing a short-range radio link 10, in this case a Bluetooth connection, between the first device 2 and a second device 6, i.e. the hearing device 2 and the smartphone 6. The two devices 2, 6 each comprise an interface for the short-range radio link 10, which is not explicitly shown, in this case a Bluetooth antenna. The establishment of the short-range radio link 10 is also referred to as pairing. The short-range radio link 10 in the present case is characterized in particular by the fact that it has a limited range of at most a few tens of meters, and a transmission frequency in the range of a few GHz.

[0051] In the method, the charging unit 4 mediates the establishment of the short-range radio link 10 between the two devices 2, 6 by the charging unit 4 transmitting pairing data K of the first device 2 for establishing the short-range radio link 10 to the second device 6, so that the latter is paired with the first device 2 and the short-range radio link 10 is established. The pairing data K includes, for example, authentication data, identification data, encryption data, e.g. a so-called passkey, or a combination of these. In general, the pairing data K is used for pairing the two devices 2, 6 and is required in advance of the actual pairing in order to successfully establish the short-range radio link 10. However, the exact nature of the pairing data K is of no further significance in itself.

[0052] By using the charging unit 4 of the hearing device 2 to mediate the establishment of the short-range radio link 10 between the two devices 2, 6, these no longer need to exchange the necessary pairing data K directly with each other, the pairing data K instead being provided by the charging unit 4 and transmitted to a respective device 6, 8 as required in order to connect it to another device 2, 6, 8. The charging unit 4 is therefore also referred to as a master device. In the present case, the charging unit 4 itself does not exchange any other data with the two devices 2, 6 other than the pairing data K, this takes place directly between the two devices 2, 6 after the short-range radio link 10 has been established. The charging unit 4 is thus not exactly a relay of the short-range radio link 10, but instead an intermediary in the establishment of the short-range radio link 10.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first device 2 is a hearing device 2 which can be charged with the charging unit 4, so that the charging unit 4 then mediates the establishment of a short-range radio link 10 between the assigned hearing device 2 and any other device 6, 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second device 6 is a mobile terminal device, specifically a smartphone 6. Alternatively, the second device 6 is a TV set or any other device, such as an audio source for the hearing device 2. In principle, any combination of two devices 2, 6, 8 is possible. In the case of a hearing device 2, a smartphone 6 and a third device 8, e.g. a TV set, the charging unit 4 then mediates between any two of these devices 2, 6, 8, but with the mediation between a hearing device 2 and another device 6, 8 being particularly practical since a hearing device 2, in contrast to a mobile terminal and a TV set, is typically subject to much greater limitations in terms of space and energy consumption and therefore benefits particularly well from mediation by the associated charging unit 4.

[0054] As part of the method, the pairing data K is transmitted in a different way than the data which is transmitted over the short-range radio link 10 once it has been established. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the pairing data K is transferred from the charging unit 4 to the second device 6 OOB (acronym for “out of band”), i.e. outside of a transmission frequency range of the short-range radio link 10. The short-range radio link 10 has a transmission frequency range which is used for the transmission of data. OOB is then understood to mean any frequency range that does not overlap or lie within this transmission frequency range.

[0055] In order to transmit the pairing data K OOB from the charging unit 4 to the second device 6, in the exemplary embodiment shown an NFC connection 12 is used, i.e. the pairing data K is transmitted OOB by means of NFC (acronym for “near field communication”). NFC is also known as near-field communication and is essentially an alternative to Bluetooth, but it typically has a lower transmission frequency and typically also a shorter range. For example, a transmission frequency of the NFC connection 12 is below 1 GHz and in particular in the range from 1 MHz to 100 MHz. For example, the NFC connection 12 has a maximum range of 1 cm. In the following, without restriction of generality an NFC connection 12 is assumed, but this is entirely interchangeable with any other OOB connection, i.e. OOB with respect to the short-range radio link 10.

[0056] In the exemplary embodiment shown the charging unit 4 has an N-Mark 14 in which the pairing data K of the first device is 2 stored, and this pairing data K is transmitted OOB to the second device 6 by means of NFC, namely via the NFC connection 12 as shown in FIG. 2. For example, the pairing data K has already been stored on the N-Mark 14 during the manufacture of the charging unit 4 or as part of a fitting session for the hearing device 2 and accordingly, for the associated charging unit 4 as well. Alternatively or in addition, the pairing data K is requested by the charging unit 4 as required from the first or second device 2, 6 or from another device 8, and stored in the N-Mark 14. Thus FIG. 2 shows an example of an optional, further short-range radio link 16 between the charging unit 4 and the hearing device 2, via which the pairing data K is transmitted. Due to the transmission of the pairing data K OOB with respect to the short-range radio link 10, in principle the charging unit 4 itself only needs to be designed for the transmission of data via OOB and does not necessarily need to be designed for transmission via a short-range radio link 10, 16. For example, in an arrangement not explicitly shown, the charging unit 4 is designed only to establish an NFC connection 12, but not to establish a Bluetooth connection. It is also entirely possible and practical to replace the further short-range radio link 16 in FIG. 2 by an NFC connection and in general, an OOB connection.

[0057] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the charging unit 4 detects the proximity of the second device 6 to the charging unit 4 by means of NFC and then, e.g. after establishing the NFC connection 12 to the second device 6, transmits the pairing data K to the second device 6. The proximity of the second device 6 to the charging unit 4 acts as a reliable indicator that a user desires to create a pairing of the second device 6 with the first device 2. An NFC connection 12 is particularly suitable for the highly secure detection of proximity, since an accidental proximity is then very unlikely due to the short range of the NFC antennas, not explicitly shown. The charging unit 4 and the second device 6 then each comprise an NFC antenna for establishing the NFC connection 12 and for the 00B exchange of the pairing data K. The described detection of proximity of the second device 6 to the charging unit 4 is used here to initiate the establishment of the short-range radio link 10, i.e. as a kind of switch, to initiate and carry out the pairing of the two devices 2, 6. In this way, the necessary proximity for the NFC connection 12 is used as a reliable trigger, without the first device 2 itself needing to be equipped with an NFC antenna. Specifically when the first device 2 is a hearing device 2, an NFC antenna cannot readily be integrated into the hearing device 2. However, an NFC antenna can typically be integrated into the charging unit 4 without problems.

[0058] The first device 2 can be connected to the charging unit 4 for charging. In FIG. 1, the hearing device 2 is also actually connected to the charging unit 4 for charging. “Connected” in this case means that an energy exchange between the first device 2 and the charging unit 4 is enabled for charging an energy storage unit of the first device 2. In the present case, the charging is carried out in a contactless manner, e.g. inductively by way of a coil pair, or alternatively by way of charging contacts on the charging unit 4 and the first device 2. In any case, to make the connection it is typically necessary to move the charging unit 4 and the first device 2 into a specific spatial relationship, namely in FIG. 1 to insert the first device 2 into the charging unit 4.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment shown the charging unit 4 transmits the pairing data K to the second device 6 when the first device 2 is connected to the charging unit 4, for example, inserted into the charging unit for charging, as shown in FIG. 1. This means that the short-range radio link 10 is also established while the first device 2 is connected to the charging unit 4. It is not necessary to disconnect the first device 2 from the charging unit 4 to establish the short-range radio link 10.

[0060] In the present case the charging unit 4 also transmits the pairing data K to the second device 6 when a switch 18 of the charging unit 4 is additionally activated. In order to make the actual pairing of the devices 2, 6, 8 controllable, the activation of the switch 18 is additionally required to initiate the pairing. In this way, the user can use a simple switch 18 to check specifically when the first and second devices 2, 6 are coupled. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is possible in addition to the above-described use of an NFC connection 12 as a kind of virtual switch, i.e. a user can initiate the establishment of the short-range radio link 10 in two different ways.

[0061] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the example of a charging unit 4 shown here comprises a holder 20, here designed in the shape of a shell or a cradle, and the first device 2 can be connected to the charging unit 4 by inserting it into the holder 10. In a variant that is not explicitly shown, the switch 18 is arranged in the holder 20 and can be activated by inserting the first device 2 into or removing it from the holder 20 and pressing it down, for example during insertion. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the holder 20, the charging unit 4 has a cover 22 which can be folded out for removing the first device 2 from the holder 20 or inserting it, as indicated by an arrow. Similarly, the cover 22 can be folded down in the other direction so that it then covers the holder 20. When the first device 2 is connected to the charging unit 4, the charging unit 4 transmits the pairing data K to the second device 6 when the cover 22 is opened or closed. For this purpose the cover 22 activates the switch 18, for example. In this way, an automatic coupling, i.e. an automatic establishment of the short-range radio link 10, is implemented when opening or closing the charging unit 4, e.g. shortly before removing the first device 2 from the charging unit 4. In general, however, it is not necessary to connect the first device 2 to the charging unit 4 for the coupling to take place.

[0062] In an arrangement not explicitly shown, a pairing also takes place alternatively or additionally when the first device 2 is not currently connected to the charging unit 4, but rather is separated from it and being used for the intended purpose, for example. In such an arrangement, if the first device 2 is not connected to the charging unit 4, the pairing data K is transmitted to the second device 6 as soon as the charging unit 4 detects the proximity of the second device 6 to the charging unit 4. The proximity is detected, for example, as described above, using NFC or alternatively or additionally by means of a distance sensor.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows how the charging unit 4 optionally receives the pairing data K of the first device 2 from this device via an additional short-range radio link 16, here an additional Bluetooth connection, between the charging unit 4 and the first device 2. The charging unit 4 detects the connection of the first device 2 by means of proximity detection, e.g. as part of a so-called “proximity pairing” by means of RSSI (acronym for “received signal strength indication”), whereupon the short-range radio link 16 is established between the charging unit 4 and the first device 2 for the automatic transmission of the pairing data K to the charging unit 4. In other words, the charging unit 4 detects that the first device 2 is located near the charging unit 4 and then automatically retrieves the pairing data K from the latter via the additional short-range radio link 16, so that the pairing data K can then be forwarded to a second device 6 if necessary if a short-range radio link 10 is to be established between the first and the second devices 2, 6.

[0064] As soon as the pairing data K has been transferred from the charging unit 4 to the second device 6, the charging unit 4 itself is no longer required to establish an additional link 24 between the first device 2 and another, third device 8, because the second device 6 can now also advantageously mediate the establishment of a further short-range radio link between the first device 2 and the third device 8 in the same way. For example, the second device 6 therefore transmits the pairing data K directly to the third device 8, to establish in this case the third short-range radio link 24 between the first device 2 and a third device 8.

[0065] In the exemplary method shown in FIG. 3, in the third method step V3 the hearing device 2 is paired with a second device 6 via a Bluetooth connection 10 via the mediation of the charging unit 4 while the hearing device 2 is connected to the charging unit 4. The pairing data K for establishing the Bluetooth connection 10 are transmitted OOB beforehand in the second method step V2, in this case via the NFC connection 12, from the charging unit 4 to the second device 6. The transmission of the pairing data K and the establishment of the Bluetooth connection 10 are carried out automatically as soon as the NFC connection 12 has been established. The NFC connection 12 itself is established automatically in the first method step V1 as soon as the second device 6 has approached sufficiently near to the charging unit 4, i.e. in the present case, is located within range of an NFC antenna of the charging unit 4 for the NFC connection 12. Apart from this arrangement, however, other combinations of the described concepts and thus other arrangements are entirely possible. For example, the first method step V1 alternatively or additionally comprises the detection of an activation of the switch 18, whereupon the pairing data K is then transmitted in the second method step V2. Before the first method step V1, or at least before the second method step V2, an additional method step is also possible in which the pairing data K is transmitted to the charging unit 4, e.g. as described above.

[0066] The exemplary hearing device 2 shown in the figures, is used to treat a hearing-impaired user. To this end, the hearing device 2 has a microphone which captures sound from the surroundings and generates an electrical input signal. This is fed to a signal processor of the hearing device for modification. The modification is carried out in particular on the basis of an individual audiogram of the user assigned to the hearing device 2, so that an individual hearing deficit of the user is compensated. As a result, the signal processor outputs an electrical output signal which is then converted back into sound and output to the user via a receiver of the hearing device 2. The hearing device 2 shown is also a binaural hearing device 2 with two individual devices, as shown in FIG. 1, which are worn by the user on different sides of the head during the intended usage, namely one in or on the left ear and one in or on the right ear.

[0067] As an alternative, the hearing device 2 is designed only to output sound from an audio source and accordingly comprises a receiver for the sound output, and an input for receiving an electrical audio signal from the audio source. In a suitable arrangement, the hearing device 2 is a set of headphones.

[0068] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0069] 2 hearing device, first device [0070] 4 charging unit [0071] 6 smartphone, second device [0072] 8 third device [0073] 10 short-range radio link, Bluetooth connection [0074] 12 NFC connection [0075] 14 N-Mark [0076] 16 additional short-range radio link [0077] 18 switch [0078] 20 holder [0079] 22 cover [0080] 24 additional connection, third short-range radio link [0081] K pairing data [0082] V1 first method step [0083] V2 second method step [0084] V3 third method step