Communication system for wireless audio devices

• US 20060274747A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Victorian, Thomas A., Preves, David A., Magstadt, Randy L., Duchscher, Rob, Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

The present subject matter provides a system for wireless communications between one or more wireless audio devices and other electronics for providing a rich set of streaming audio, control, programming and enhanced hearing functions.

Claims

1. A system for wireless communications of audio information from a remote source to a plurality of wireless hearing assistance devices each having a receiver for reception of communications, comprising:

an interface including a first port adapted to receive the audio information from the remote source, a second port adapted to wirelessly communicate the audio information in a packetized format to the plurality of wireless hearing assistance devices, the interface including digital electronics to provide a plurality of transmission modes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is adapted to transmit streaming audio.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the streaming audio is stereo audio.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless hearing assistance devices are programmable to play a right or left sound of the stereo forms of the audio information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital electronics further supports a unicast mode for transmissions to a specific hearing assistance device of the plurality of hearing assistance devices.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital electronics further supports a multicast mode for transmissions to a specific plurality of hearing assistance devices of the plurality of hearing assistance devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital electronics further supports a broadcast mode for transmissions to the plurality of hearing assistance devices.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port receives the audio information over a wired connection.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port receives the audio information over a wireless connection.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for communications compatible with the BLUETOOTH protocol.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.15 protocol.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.16 protocol.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.20 protocol.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for code division multiple access (CDMA) communications.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for global system for mobile (GSM) communications.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for ultra-wideband (UWB) communications.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port supports optical communications.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port supports ultrasonic communications.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for communications compatible with the BLUETOOTH protocol.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.15 protocol.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.16 protocol.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for communications compatible with the IEEE 802.20 protocol.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for code division multiple access (CDMA) communications.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for global system for mobile (GSM) communications.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for ultra-wideband (UWB) communications.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for optical communications.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for CSMA communications.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless hearing assistance devices include behind-the-ear hearing aids.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless hearing assistance devices include in-the-ear hearing aids.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless hearing assistance devices include completely-in-the-canal hearing aids.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port includes a first transmitter and a second transmitter for transmitting stereo forms of the audio information.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a CSMA transmission system.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless hearing assistance devices include hearing aids.

37. A method of wireless communications of audio information, comprising:

establishing digital codes associated with one or more wireless hearing assistance devices; and

transmitting the audio information to a plurality of wireless hearing assistance devices based on the digital codes.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting stereo audio information.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting packetized audio information using a unicast mode.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting packetized audio information using a multicast mode.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting packetized audio information using a broadcast mode.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting from ear-to-ear for right and left wireless audio devices.