Hearing Assistance Using an External Coprocessor
First Claim
1. One or more processor-readable storage media containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform acts comprising:
- detecting a coprocessor device;
comparing a functionality of a hearing assist device to a functionality of the coprocessor device to determine if;
a signal processing functionality absent from the hearing assist device is available on the coprocessor device or a signal processing functionality absent from the coprocessor device is available on the hearing assist device;
ora signal processing functionality present on the hearing assist device is enhanced on the coprocessor device or a signal processing functionality present on the coprocessor device is enhanced on the hearing assist device; and
directing a signal obtained at the hearing assist device for at least partial processing to at least one the hearing assist device or the coprocessor device.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are described for enhancing a hearing assist device using one or more coprocessor devices. The hearing assist device uses a handshaking protocol to detect and pair with the one or more coprocessor devices. The hearing assist device is capable of stand-alone signal processing in the absence of the coprocessor devices. In one embodiment, the hearing assist device directs processing of a signal to the coprocessor device when the coprocessor is detected. In another embodiment, the hearing assist device detects a coprocessor device and uses the coprocessor device to supplement signal processing performed by the hearing assist device. In yet another embodiment, the hearing assist device communicates with a plurality of coprocessor devices and the work of processing the signal is shared amongst the devices according to a respective functionality of each device.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. One or more processor-readable storage media containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform acts comprising:
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detecting a coprocessor device; comparing a functionality of a hearing assist device to a functionality of the coprocessor device to determine if; a signal processing functionality absent from the hearing assist device is available on the coprocessor device or a signal processing functionality absent from the coprocessor device is available on the hearing assist device;
ora signal processing functionality present on the hearing assist device is enhanced on the coprocessor device or a signal processing functionality present on the coprocessor device is enhanced on the hearing assist device; and directing a signal obtained at the hearing assist device for at least partial processing to at least one the hearing assist device or the coprocessor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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detecting a coprocessor device; comparing a functionality of the coprocessor device to a functionality of a hearing assist device; and directing a signal to at least one of the hearing assist device or the coprocessor device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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receiving a handshake communication indicating a desired signal processing algorithm for processing a signal from a hearing assist device; receiving the signal from the hearing assist device; communicating with a server storing the desired signal processing algorithm; managing a processing of the signal with the desired signal processing algorithm to obtain a processed signal; and sending the processed signal to the hearing assist device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A hearing assist device comprising:
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a sensor configured to detect energy in the form of sound waves; a converter configured to convert the detected energy into a signal; a memory configured to store one or more signal processing algorithms; a processor configured to execute one or more of the signal processing algorithms to process the signal; a communication interface configured to communicate with a coprocessor device; a handshaking module configured to receive information regarding a functionality of the coprocessor device via the communication interface; a functionality comparing module configured to compare the functionality of the coprocessor device to a functionality of the hearing assist device; a processor switching module configured to direct the signal to at least one of the processor of the hearing assist device or a processor of the coprocessor device; and a stimulator configured to stimulate an auditory nerve of a user based on the signal as processed by at least one of the processor of the hearing assist device or the processor of the coprocessor device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A coprocessor device comprising:
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a memory configured to store one or more signal processing algorithms; a processor configured execute one or more of the signal processing algorithms to process a signal; a communication interface configured to communicate with at least one of a hearing assist device or an additional coprocessor device; and a handshaking module configured to send information regarding a functionality of the coprocessor to a hearing assist device via the communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification