GATEWAY FOR A WIRELESS HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE

• US 20140064528A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Flood, Stephen Paul, Polinske, Beau Jay, Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,794,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for providing a gateway for a wireless hearing assistance device. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for wirelessly communicating with a hearing assistance device. One or more message and alert inputs are received and the message and alert inputs are processed to obtain an output. The output is wirelessly transmitted to a hearing assistance device, and the output is configured to be played via audio to a wearer of the hearing assistance device and to interrupt a current audio stream being played to the wearer, in various embodiments.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication with a hearing assistance device, the apparatus comprising:

one or more inputs configured to receive messages and alerts directed to a wearer of a hearing assistance device;

a processor configured to process the messages and alerts to obtain an output adapted to be played via audio to a wearer of the hearing assistance device, and to interrupt a current audio stream being played to the wearer; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the output to the hearing assistance device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inputs includes a microphone.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is adapted to detect the alerts using the microphone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alerts include an alarm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the alarm includes a fire alarm.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the alarm includes a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a wireless gateway device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a computer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a cellular phone, smart phone, or other cell phone/entertainment device (CPED).

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a television streamer (T VS) device.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving one or more message and alert inputs;

processing the message and alert inputs to obtain an output; and

wirelessly transmitting the output to a hearing assistance device, the output configured to be played via audio to a wearer of the hearing assistance device and to interrupt a current audio stream being played to the wearer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving one or more message and alert inputs includes receiving acoustic inputs.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving one or more message and alert inputs includes using a microphone.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying a type of message and alert input received by the microphone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying a type of message and alert input includes identifying a fire alarm.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying a type of message and alert input includes identifying a telephone ring.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying a type of message and alert input includes identifying a smoke detector.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying a type of message and alert input includes identifying a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying a type of message and alert input includes identifying a burglar alarm.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying a type of message and alert input includes identifying a doorbell.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying a type of message and alert input includes identifying a severe weather alert.

22. A method of using a hearing assistance device having a microphone and a processor and adapted to be worn by a wearer, the method comprising:

analyzing an acoustic input to the microphone using the processor to determine whether the acoustic input includes an alarm indication or other alert; and

attenuating a wired or wireless audio stream input to the hearing assistance device to alert the wearer about the alarm indication or other alert.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the alarm indication or other alert includes a fire alarm.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the alarm indication or other alert includes a telephone ring.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the alarm indication or other alert includes a smoke detector.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the alarm indication or other alert includes a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the alarm indication or other alert includes a burglar alarm.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the alarm indication or other alert includes a doorbell.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the alarm indication or other alert includes a severe weather alert.