Hearing Assistive System With Low Power Interface

• US 20150162995A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: KommanditSelskabet Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Patent Partnership
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frerking, Melvin, Hirvela, George
• Application Number:
  US14/567,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20150162995A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A communications intermediary system, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first signal sent by an electronic device;

generating, based on the first signal, a second signal configured to cause, when transmitted to a hearing assistive device, less interference with the hearing assistive device than the first signal would cause with the hearing assistive device if transmitted to the hearing assistive device; and

initiating a transmission of the second signal from the communications intermediary system to the hearing assistive device.

33. A computer-readable storage device, for use at a communications intermediary system, comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first signal sent by an electronic device;

generating, based on the first signal, a second signal configured to cause, when transmitted to a hearing assistive device, less interference with the hearing assistive device than the first signal would cause with the hearing assistive device if transmitted to the hearing assistive device; and

initiating a transmission of the second signal from the communications intermediary system to the hearing assistive device.

39. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a communications intermediary system comprising a processor, a first signal sent by an electronic device;

generating, based on the first signal, a second signal configured to cause, when transmitted to a hearing assistive device, less interference with the hearing assistive device than the first signal would cause with the hearing assistive device if transmitted to the hearing assistive device; and

initiating a transmission of the second signal from the communications intermediary system to the hearing assistive device.