Hearing Assistive System With Low Power Interface

• US 20130237154A1
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KommanditSelskabet Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Patent Partnership
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frerking, Melvin, Hirvela, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,923,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communications interface provides for communications between a wireless communication device and a hearing assistive device. The communications interface converts a signal, including an audio signal, received from the wireless communication device into a format recognizable by a hearing assistive device. The communications interface generates a communication signal including the audio signal based on the converted signal and transmits the communication signal to the hearing assistive device using a low power radio frequency transmission protocol. The hearing assistive device converts the communication signal received from the communications interface into a usable format, extracts an audible signal from the communication signal, and manipulates the extracted audible signal according to a criterion associated with a user of the hearing assistive device.

Claims

1. A hearing assistive device, comprising:

a low power radio frequency receiver configured to receive a communication signal including an audio signal transmitted from a communications interface device, wherein the communication signal is generated by the communications interface device based on a signal received by the communications interface device using a first communication protocol and converted by the communications interface device into a format recognizable by the hearing assistive device, and wherein the communication signal is transmitted to the low power radio frequency receiver using a low power radio frequency transmission protocol that is different than the first communication protocol; and

a processor configured to extract an audible signal from the received communication signal and manipulate the extracted audible signal according to a criterion associated with a user of the hearing assistive device.

2. The hearing assistive device of claim 1, wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device is determined by the user.

3. The hearing assistive device of claim 1, wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device includes a hearing limitation associated with the user.

4. The hearing assistive device of claim 1, wherein the communication signal is generated for transmission to multiple hearing assistive devices.

5. The hearing assistive device of claim 1, wherein the signal received using the first communication protocol is received from a wireless communication device.

6. The hearing assistive device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker, wherein the processor is configured to cause the speaker to output the audible signal.

7. The hearing assistive device of claim 1, further comprising;

a microphone; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a microphone signal received from the microphone to a wireless communications device.

8. The hearing assistive device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to process the microphone signal prior to transmitting the microphone signal to the wireless communications device.

9. The hearing assistive device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to process the microphone signal prior to transmitting the microphone signal in accordance with the hearing deficiencies of the user.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a low power radio frequency receiver of a hearing assistive device, a communication signal including an audio signal transmitted from a communications interface device, wherein the communication signal is generated by the communications interface device based on a signal received by the communications interface device using a first communication protocol and converted by the communications interface device into a format recognizable by the hearing assistive device, and wherein the communication signal is transmitted to the low power radio frequency receiver using a low power radio frequency transmission protocol that is different than the first communication protocol;

extracting, by a processor included in the hearing assistive device, an audible signal from the received communication signal; and

manipulating, by the processor, the extracted audible signal according to a criterion associated with a user of the hearing assistive device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device is determined by the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device includes a hearing limitation associated with the user.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication signal is generated for transmission to multiple hearing assistive devices.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal received using the first communication protocol is received from a wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing a speaker of the hearing assistive device to output the audible signal.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting a microphone signal received from a microphone of the hearing assistive device to a wireless communications device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising processing the microphone signal prior to transmitting the microphone signal to the wireless communications device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the microphone signal is processed prior to transmitting the microphone signal in accordance with the hearing deficiencies of the user.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising establishing a communications link with the communications interface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting control signals to the communications interface via the communications link.