SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING AN AUDIO STREAM BASED ON PROXIMITY AND DIRECTION

• US 20140193007A1
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/738,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20140193007A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/40 Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for obtaining an audio stream for hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method comprising sensing proximity of a wearer of a hearing assistance device, and sensing direction of movement of the wearer of the hearing assistance device. Audio streaming to the hearing assistance device is activated or deactivated based on the sensed proximity and direction of movement, according to various embodiments.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sensing proximity of a wearer of a hearing assistance device adapted for receiving audio streaming from an external source;

sensing direction of movement of the wearer of the hearing assistance device; and

activating or deactivating audio streaming to the hearing assistance device from the external source based on the sensed proximity and direction of movement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using multiple sensors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using multiple antennas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using a single receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using multiple receivers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using radar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using ultrasonic sonar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using infrared sensors.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing proximity and sensing direction includes using a proximity sensor profile within Bluetooth low energy.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein activating audio streaming to the hearing assistance device includes sending the device an address.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein activating audio streaming to the hearing assistance device includes sending the device a key.

13. A system, comprising:

a hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a wearer; and

an external device, the external device configured to;

sense proximity of the wearer;

sense direction of movement of the wearer; and

activate or deactivate audio streaming to the hearing assistance device from the external source based on the sensed proximity and direction of movement.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the external device is an assistive listening device (ALD).

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the external device includes at least one radio frequency (RF) sensor.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.