Push to lower hearing assisted device

• US 20070009125A1
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frerking, Melvin, Hirvela, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2475 for a hearing impaired user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mechanism for switching a wireless device between normal operation and a lower-power mode is provided. A wireless device has a selection mechanism for reducing the power output of the wireless device. The wireless device then returns to a normal operation mode upon user release of the selection mechanism.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a user action, wherein the user action is indicative of a first power level at which to operate a component of a wireless device;

operating the component at the first power level in response to the user action;

detecting an end of the user action; and

operating the component of the wireless device at a second power level in response to the end of the user action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power level is a lower power level than the second power level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user action comprises pressing a button or softkey of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting a user release of the button or softkey of the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting the user action comprises reading a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag associated with a user hearing assistance device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said reading takes place when the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid is placed proximate to the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said detecting the end of the user action occurs when the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid is moved away from the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of the wireless device is an output power amplifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a telephone, and wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a telephone call connection.

11. A wireless device, comprising:

a selection mechanism for detecting a user action indicating a first power level; and

an output power amplifier, wherein the output power amplifier operates at the first power level during a period associated with the user action and operates at a second power level upon the end of the period associated with the user action.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the first power level is a lower power level than the second power level.

13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the selection mechanism is one of:

a button, softkey, a selectable on-screen object, thumb wheel and voice-controlled mechanism.

14. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the selection mechanism is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader that detects when an RFID tag associated with a user hearing aid is located proximate the wireless device.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the RFID tag includes a user hearing aid prescription, and wherein the wireless device further comprises a processor for executing computer-readable instructions to determine the reduced power level based on the hearing aid prescription.

16. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid indicates a value representing the reduced power level.

17. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the reduced power level corresponds to a user hearing aid prescription or a user preference.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for:

detecting a user action, wherein the user action is indicative of a first power level at which to operate a component of a wireless device;

operating the component at the first power level in response to the user action;

detecting an end of the user action; and

operating the component of the wireless device at a second power level in response to the end of the user action.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first power level is a lower power level than the second power level.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the user action comprises pressing a button or softkey of the wireless device.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting a user release of the button or softkey of the wireless device.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said detecting the user action comprises reading a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag associated with a user hearing assistance device.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein said reading takes place when the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid is placed proximate the wireless device.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein said detecting the end of the user action occurs when the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid is moved away from the wireless device.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the component of the wireless device is an output power amplifier.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a predetermined time period.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the wireless device is a telephone, and wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a telephone call connection.