Method of exchanging data packages of different sizes between first and second portable communication devices

• US 10,595,137 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Pedersen, Brian Dam, Liu, Hong, Jensen, Klaus Hagen
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Norman
• Application Number:
  US15/478,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20170208400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56, 381315, 381 80, 381 22, 381 23, 381 231, 381100, 381334, 381 58, 381 82, 381 2, 455557
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/167 Audio streaming, i.e. formatting and decoding of an encoded audio signal representation into a data stream for transmission or storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A method of exchanging data packages between first and second portable communication devices over a bi-directional wireless communication channel, where at least one of the first and second portable communication devices comprises a hearing instrument, includes: generating, by the first portable communication device, a plurality of data packages that includes a first data package, wherein a first subset of the plurality of data packages belongs to a first packet category comprising audio data, and a second subset of the plurality of data packages belongs to a second packet category without audio data; and transmitting the plurality of data packages from the first portable communication device to the second portable communication device; wherein a size of the data packages in the second subset belonging to the second packet category is smaller than a size of the data packages in the first subset belonging to the first packet category.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging data packages between a first portable communication device and a second portable communication device over a bi-directional wireless communication channel, where at least one of the first and second portable communication devices comprises a hearing instrument, the method comprising:

providing, by the first portable communication device, a first data package, wherein the first data package belongs to a first packet category;

transmitting the first data package from the first portable communication device to the second portable communication device; and

receiving, by the first portable communication device, a second data package belonging to a second packet category;

wherein a size of the second data package belonging to the second packet category is smaller than a size of the first data package belonging to the first packet category;

wherein the first data package belonging to the first packet category comprises a first header section and audio data;

wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category is without any audio data; and

wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category received by the first portable communication device is configured to inform the first portable communication device that the first data package was successfully received by the second portable communication device, and wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category comprises a code indicating whether data in the second data package is corrupted or invalid.

2. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, wherein the first data package belonging to the first packet category also comprises a data check section holding a package error-detection or package error-correction code.

3. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, wherein the first header section of the first data package belonging to the first packet category comprises a predetermined code or value (L) indicating a data package category.

4. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined code or value (L) is pointing to, or is indicating, a data package address or a data package position.

5. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, further comprising establishing a plurality of successive connection events through the wireless communication channel;

wherein during at least a subset of the plurality of successive connection events, the first data package is transmitted from the first portable communication device to the second portable communication device.

6. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating an acknowledgement indicator, at the first portable communication device, to indicate whether a previous data package was successfully received at the first portable communication device or not.

7. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a third data package at the first portable communication device;

and

if an acknowledgement indicator of the third data package is set;

generating, at the first portable communication device, a fourth data package comprising an acknowledgment indicator setting reflecting successful or failed receipt of the third data package, and

transmitting the fourth data package to the second portable communication device through the wireless communication channel.

8. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, wherein a third data package is transmitted by the second portable communication device;

and

if the first portable communication device fails to receive the third data package or if an acknowledgement indicator of the third data package is unset, the method comprises;

setting an acknowledgment indicator to reflect a failed receipt of the third data package.

9. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the first data package at the second portable communication device;

generating, by the second portable communication device, the second data package with an acknowledgment indicator setting reflecting successful or failed receipt of the first data package; and

transmitting the second data package from the second portable communication device to the first portable communication device through the bi-directional wireless communication channel.

10. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third data package at the first portable communication device; and

checking an error-detection code of the third data package subsequent to receipt of the third data package at the first portable communication device;

wherein if the error-detection code indicates invalid data of the third data package, the method comprises unsetting an acknowledgment indicator of a fourth data package to be transmitted from the first portable communication device to the second portable communication to reflect the invalid data of the third data package.

11. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, wherein the bi-directional wireless communication channel comprises a plurality of spaced apart frequency bands spanning across a predetermined radio frequency range.

12. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining at the first portable communication device or the second portable communication device, respective transmission quality estimators for the plurality of spaced apart frequency bands; and

determining a favoured frequency band based on the determined transmission quality estimators.

13. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, wherein the size of the first data package belonging to the first packet category is at least two times the size of the second data package belonging to the second packet category.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable communication device comprises a first hearing aid, and the second portable communication device comprises a second hearing aid.

17. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category comprises a second header section, wherein the second header section comprises a predetermined code or value (L) indicating a data package category.

18. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined code or value (L) is pointing to, or is indicating, a data package address or a data package position.

19. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, further comprising retransmitting the first data package 4 times or less.

20. The method of exchanging data packages according to claim 1, wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category comprises an indicator that informs the first portable communication device that the first data package was successfully received by the second portable communication device, wherein the indicator is different from the code.

14. A wireless binaural hearing aid system configured to exchange data packages over a bi-directional wireless communication channel, the hearing aid system comprising:

a first hearing instrument comprising a first radio transceiver and a first communication controller coupled to the first radio transceiver; and

a second hearing instrument comprising a second radio transceiver and a second communication controller coupled to the second radio transceiver;

wherein the first communication controller is configured for;

providing a first data package that belongs to a first packet category,

transmitting the first data package from the first hearing instrument to the second hearing instrument, and

receiving a second data package belonging to a second packet category;

wherein a size of the second package belonging to the second packet category is smaller than a size of the first package belonging to the first packet category;

wherein at least one of the data packages belonging to the first packet category comprises a first header section and audio data;

wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category is without any audio data; and

wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category is configured to inform the first hearing instrument that the first data package was successfully received by the second hearing instrument, and wherein the second data package belonging to the second packet category comprises a code indicating whether data in the second data package is corrupted or invalid.

15. The wireless binaural hearing aid system of claim 14, wherein the first hearing instrument comprises a first hearing aid, and the second hearing instrument comprises a second hearing aid.