IP Library Granted Patent US 12,659,743
Granted Patent B2
US 12,659,743 · App. 17/835,867 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Third-party control of hearing device, hearing device and related methods

Inventor: Allan Munk Vendelbo (Ballerup, DK)
Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
H04W12/069H04R25/505H04R25/554H04R25/70H04R25/558H04R2225/55H04R2225/61
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,659,743
App. No.
17/835,867
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hearing device and methods for operating a hearing device is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device; an interface; and a memory unit, wherein the memory unit has stored therein: a first primary certificate comprising a first primary hearing device identifier; and a second primary certificate comprising a second primary hearing device identifier and second key data for third-party control of the hearing device, the second key data comprising one or more second keysets including a second primary keyset, wherein the processing unit is configured to verify the second primary certificate; and in accordance with a successful verification of the second primary certificate, communicate with a third-party entity based on the second key data.

Claims (20)

1 . A hearing device comprising:

a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device;

an interface; and

a memory unit, wherein the memory unit has stored therein: (1) a first primary certificate comprising a first primary hearing device identifier, and (2) a second primary certificate comprising a second primary hearing device identifier and key data for third-party control of the hearing device, the key data comprising one or more keysets including a first keyset;

wherein the processing unit is configured to verify the second primary certificate;

wherein the hearing device is configured to, in accordance with a successful verification of the second primary certificate, communicate with a third-party entity based on the key data; and

wherein the hearing device is configured for wear by the user of the hearing device, and comprises a third-party operating system, the third-party operating system being a wearable-hearing-device operating system, wherein the third-party operating system is a software-hardware interface.

2 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first keyset is a fitting device keyset configured to secure communication with a fitting device, the fitting device being the third-party entity.

3 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more key sets include a second keyset.

4 . The hearing device according to claim 3 , wherein the second keyset is a third-party server keyset configured to secure communication with a third-party server, the third-party server being the third-party entity.

5 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first keyset comprises a key identifier and/or one or more keys.

6 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to verify the second primary certificate by verifying the second primary hearing device identifier.

7 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory has stored therein a certificate key, and wherein the processing unit is configured to verify the second primary certificate by verifying a signature of the second primary certificate based on the certificate key.

8 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is configured to communicate with the third-party entity based on the key data by verifying communication data based on the first keyset, the third-party entity being a fitting device.

9 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , the one or more key sets include a second keyset, wherein the hearing device is configured to communicate with the third-party entity based on the key data by verifying communication data based on the second keyset, the third-party entity being a third-party server.

10 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing device for wear by the user is configured to install the third-party operating system, and is configured to operate based on the third-party operating system.

11 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first primary certificate is configured to allow the hearing device to communicate with a manufacturer-controlled device or a manufacturer-controlled application in a first domain associated with a first security architecture, and wherein the second primary certificate is configured to allow the hearing device to communicate with the third-party entity in a second domain associated with a second security architecture.

12 . The hearing device according to claim 11 , wherein the second domain is also associated with the first security architecture, and wherein the first primary certificate is configured to allow the hearing device to communicate with the third-party entity in the second domain associated with the first security architecture and the second security architecture.

13 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing device comprises a hearing device identifier, and wherein the hearing device is configured to compare the hearing device identifier with the first primary hearing device identifier and/or the second primary hearing device identifier.

14 . The hearing device according to claim 13 , wherein the hearing device identifier is stored in a locked part of the memory unit, wherein the locked part of the memory unit is a non-writable memory part or a write-protected part of the memory unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2022
From: VENDELBO, ALLAN MUNK
To: GN HEARING A/S
Reel/Frame 060144/0138 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2022
From: VENDELBO, ALLAN MUNK
To: GN HEARING A/S
Reel/Frame 060143/0083 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19218360 · Dec 19, 2019 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2020086424 · Dec 16, 2020
Related Publication 20220303772A1 · Sep 22, 2022
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