MISSING DATA PACKET COMPENSATION

• US 20200135215A1
• Filed: 10/30/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EarLens Corporation
• Original Assignee: EarLens Corporation
• Inventors: LARKIN, Brendan
• Granted Patent: US 10,937,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/005 Correction of errors induced by the transmission channel, if related to the coding algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/062 Synchronisation of signals having the same nominal but fluctuating bit rates, e.g. using buffers pulse-stuffing H04J3/07; asynchronous-synchronous conversion H04L5/24; speed conversion H04L25/05; speed conversion in computers G06F5/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603

Abstract

Methods of compensating for lost data packets in hearing aid systems wherein a data streaming device streams packets of data to at least two hearing aids are disclosed.

Claims

1. In a hearing aid system wherein a data streaming device streams packets of data to at least two hearing aids, a method of compensating for lost data packets, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first data stream comprising a first series of data packets at a first hearing aid;

receiving a second data stream comprising a second series of data packets at a second hearing aid wherein receipt of the second data stream is delayed in time from receipt of the first data stream;

delaying use of the first data stream by the first hearing aid for a predetermined period of time;

receiving a first data packet;

writing the first data packet in the first data steam to a first location in a data input buffer in the first hearing aid;

writing the first data packet in the second data stream to a first location in a data input buffer in the second hearing aid;

writing the second data packet in the first data stream to a second location in a data input buffer in the first hearing aid;

writing the second data packet in the second data stream to a second location in a data input buffer in the second hearing aid;

establishing the buffer location in the first hearing aid data buffer which includes the next data packet to be read by reference to a first read indicator which points to the correct location in the data buffer;

establishing the buffer location in the second hearing aid data buffer which includes the next data packet to be read by reference to a second read indicator which points to the correct location in the data buffer;

reading the information in the buffer indicated by the first read indicator;

reading the information in the buffer indicated by the second read indicator;

moving the first read indicator to the next hearing aid data buffer when the buffer is loaded with new data; and

moving the second read indicator to the next hearing aid data buffer when the buffer is loaded with new data.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first read indicator is not moved if no new data is loaded into the buffer.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first data stream is delayed for a predetermined period equal to the delay time of the second data stream.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first data stream is delayed for a predetermined period such that the difference between the predetermined period and the delay time of the second data stream is less than 0.1 seconds.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first data stream is delayed for a predetermined period such that the difference between the predetermined period and the delay time of the second data stream is less than 0.5 seconds.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first data packet includes an identifier indicating that the first data packet is the first packet in a data string for a first hearing aid.