Hearing augmentation systems and methods

• US 10,284,998 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Inventors: Simonides, Ted, Manser, Steve, Keller, Dan, Kisch, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Yogeshkumar
• Application Number:
  US15/425,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20170230767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Various systems and methods are disclosed herein to increase the quality of the sound delivered to a user and allow personalization to optimize listening performance and comfort under atypical listening conditions, environment specific adjustment, and data capture to assist in the personalization of the system to the user'"'"'s needs and preferences. Features disclosed include sound level rating systems that aggregate noise data detected by user'"'"'s mobile phones or hearing devices to provide a database of real-time noise levels. Additionally, a user'"'"'s sound settings may be saved in the system by location so that they may be recalled when re-entering a specific location. A remote clinician may tune a hearing device, or a user can tune the device using a pre-recorded audio sample. Also, a user may replay the last X seconds of audio recorded by their hearing device.

Claims

1. A mobile atoll comprising:

an antenna configured to receive audio data from a hearing device;

a GPS receiver configured to generate location data representing a location of the mobile device;

a memory configured to store at least instructions and sound settings for the hearing device; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to;

transmit, to a server, the location data;

receive, from the server, sound level data, wherein the server is configured to generate at least the sound level data based at least on the location data;

generate a first command based at least on the sound level data; and

transmit, to the hearing device, the first command, wherein the first command is configured to modify a sound setting on the hearing device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first command configured to modify the sound setting is further configured to modify one or more of noise filters, volume controls, and/or amplifiers on the hearing device.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to receive, from the server, establishment data representing a set of establishments within a certain distance of the location of the mobile device.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, further comprising:

a display configured to present a graphical user interface, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to;

generate a set of user selectable elements representing the set of establishments based at least on the establishment data; and

present, on the display, the graphical user interface comprising the set of user selectable elements.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to:

receive a user selection of one of the set of establishments via the set of user selectable elements; and

transmit, to the server, the user selection.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to transmit, to the hearing device, a second command configured to modify the sound setting on the hearing device based at least on a current location indicated by the GPS receiver and a determination by the processor that the mobile device has changed location.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to:

associate the location data with time data representing a date and a time; and

transmit, to the server, the time data.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to receive a time based sound setting associated with the location data and the time data.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to:

associate the location data with the audio data; and

transmit, to the server, the audio data.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the sound level data comprises decibel levels and content of certain frequencies.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to generate the first command based at least on an analysis of the decibel levels and the content of certain frequencies.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the instructions to cause the mobile device to:

receive, from the server, a suggested sound setting, wherein the server is further configured to generate the suggested sound setting based at least on the location data;

generate a third command configured to modify the sound setting on the hearing device based at least on the suggested sound setting;

transmit, to the hearing device, the third command.

16. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the set of establishments comprises one or more of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, concerts, sporting venues, cities, and/or public transportation.

7. A system comprising:

a database configured to store at least sound level data and sound settings for hearing devices; and

a server coupled to the database, wherein the server is configured to;

receive, from a first mobile device, a first audio data and a first location data recorded at a first location and, from a second mobile device, a second audio data and a second location data recorded at a second location that is substantially similar to the first location

aggregate the first and the second audio data and the first and the second location data to generate sound level data associated with the first location; and

store the sound level data in the database.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein

the first location data references the first location and is associated with the first audio data, and

the second location data references the second location and is associated with the second audio data.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive, from a third mobile device, an indication that the third mobile device is located at a third location that is substantially similar to the first location; and

transmit, to the third mobile device, the sound level data.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the sound level data comprises decibel levels and content of certain frequencies.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the server is further configured to:

aggregate the first and the second audio data and the first and the second location data to generate a suggested sound setting associated with the first location;

store the suggested sound setting in the database; and

transmit, to the third mobile device, the suggested sound setting.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the suggested sound setting is configured to modify one or more noise filters, amplifiers, and/or volume controls of a hearing device.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, that, when executed on a mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving, by an antenna, audio data from the hearing device;

generating, by a GPS receiver, location data representing a location of the mobile device;

transmitting, to a server, the location data;

receiving, from the server, sound level data, wherein the server is configured to generate at least the sound level data based at least on the location data;

generating a command based at least on the sound level data; and

transmitting, to the hearing device, the command, wherein the command is configured to modify a sound setting on the hearing device.