Subscription-based wireless service for a canal hearing device

Abstract

Examples of subscription-based wireless hearing device systems and methods are described. An exemplary system includes a wireless hearing device and a personal computing device to enable or disable a wireless service of the wireless hearing device in accordance of a subscription. The subscription may be verified using subscription data or validation data received from a remote server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless hearing device system for providing a subscription-based wireless service, comprising:
 a hearing device comprising   wireless circuitry;   a memory; and   a speaker configured for placement inside the ear canal, wherein the memory stores identification data associated with the hearing device and wherein the hearing device is configured to selectively provide a wireless service; and   a personal computing device configured to communicatively couple to the hearing device and validate a subscription of the hearing device using subscription data retrieved from a remote server and the identification data;   
     
     
         2 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote server configured to receive the identification data associated with the hearing device. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing device comprises a main module coupled to a lateral module disengageable from the main module. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing device comprises a switch configured for manual activation while at least a portion of the hearing device is inside the ear canal. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 4 , wherein the hearing device is configured such that the switch is located medially of a tragus of a user when the hearing device is provided in an ear of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless service comprises controlling any of an electronic lock, an electronic-controlled lighting, a home appliance, and a medical device. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless service comprises an audio streaming service. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless circuitry is configured for Bluetooth communication. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the personal computing device comprises any of a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet, and a portable media device. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is communicatively coupled to the personal computing device using Bluetooth. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is configured for inconspicuous wear. 
     
     
         12 . A method of enabling a subscription-based wireless service for a wireless hearing device, the method comprising:
 communicatively coupling a hearing device to a personal computing device;   receiving, by the personal computing device, identification data associated with the hearing device;   receiving, by the personal computing device, subscription data or validation data from a remote server, wherein the subscription data or the validation data are determined using the identification data associated with the hearing device; and   enabling or disabling a wireless service provided by or to the hearing device in accordance with the validation data or the subscription data.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transmitting a request to the remote server, the request including the identification data associated with the hearing device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising detecting, by the personal computing device, an activation of a manual switch on the wireless hearing device and wherein the receiving, by the personal computing device, identification data associated with the hearing device is responsive to the activation of the manual switch. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising automatically receiving, by the personal computing device, the identification data associated with the hearing device upon detecting a proximity of the hearing device to the computing device, to an appliance, or both. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the enabling or disabling a wireless service comprises enabling or disabling wireless control of any of an electronic lock, an electronic light, a home appliance, and a medical device with the hearing device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the enabling or disabling a wireless service comprises enabling or disabling an audio streaming service to the hearing device. 
     
     
         18 . A wireless hearing device system for providing a subscription-based wireless service, comprising:
 a wireless hearing device comprising:   wireless circuitry;   a memory; and   a speaker configured for placement inside an ear canal, wherein the memory stores identification data associated with the wireless hearing device and wherein the wireless hearing device is configured to selectively provide a wireless service; and   a wireless gateway device configured to communicatively couple the wireless hearing device to a remote subscription database,   wherein the wireless hearing device is further configured to retrieve validation data from the remote subscription database, the validation data determined based on the identification data, and wherein the wireless hearing device is further configured to enable the wireless service if the validation data is indicative of a valid subscription of the wireless hearing device.   
     
     
         19 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless circuitry is configured for Bluetooth communication. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless circuitry comprises a wireless antenna provided in a lateral portion of the wireless hearing device. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless hearing device comprises a switch configured for manual activation while the wireless hearing device is worn. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 18 , wherein the gateway device comprises any of a router, an access point, or a wireless bridge. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless service comprises controlling any of an electronic lock, an electronic light, a home appliance, and a medical device. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless hearing device system of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless service comprises an audio streaming service. 
     
     
         25 . A method of enabling a subscription-based wireless service for a wireless hearing device, the method comprising:
 communicatively coupling the wireless hearing device to a remote server via a gateway device, the wireless hearing device comprising a speaker configured for placement inside the ear canal;   transmitting identification data associated with the wireless hearing device from the wireless hearing device to the remote server through the gateway device;   receiving validation data or subscription data associated with the wireless hearing device from the remote server, the validation data or the subscription data determined using the identification data; and,   controlling a wireless service associated with the wireless hearing device in accordance with the validation data or the subscription data.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the wireless hearing device is communicatively coupled to the gateway using Bluetooth. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the wireless hearing device is communicatively coupled to the gateway device via a local area network or the Internet. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the local area network comprises a mesh network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the gateway device is a node of a mesh network. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the wireless service comprises controlling any of an electronic lock, an electronic light, a home appliance, and a medical device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the wireless service comprises an audio streaming service. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the wireless service comprises controlling an appliance using a mesh network.