Telecommunication system, speech recognizer, and terminal, and method for adjusting capacity for vocal commanding

• US 7,149,319 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Roeck, Hans-Ueli
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/767,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,149 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/313, 381/314, 381/315, 381/323, 381/311, 381/316, 381/317, 379/52, 379/430, 379/428.02
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• 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

Abstract

Time-limited electrical audio signals are fed to an electromechanical output transducer in addition to the signals from the hearing aid input. Some of the time-limited audio signals are user-defined. The process is implemented in a hearing aid having an electromechanical transducer and a signal processor. An audio signal generator has a user-changeable memory and/or a read/write memory that can be programmed by the user.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a hearing device including a user input for listening to first audio signals and an individual carrying said device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of notification audio signals each having a corresponding predetermined duration;

a user selecting one of said plurality of notification signals, using the user input, for associating with a status of the device; and

applying to an output converter of said hearing device said selected notification signal for notifying the user of the status of said hearing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said at least one of said notification signals on a user exchangeable storage element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said at least one of said notification signals in a storage unit and operationally connecting said storage unit and said hearing device by a wireless link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said notification signals is generated so that it is audible by an individual remote from said hearing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein more than one of said notification signals is provided and further wherein said selecting of said notification signals to be activated is provided in a menu-controlled manner.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of performing said selecting is done via a remote communication unit for said hearing device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of establishing a wireless communication between said communication unit and said hearing device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of performing said selecting is done in a speech controlled manner.

9. A hearing device system with at least one hearing device, said hearing device comprising:

an electrical/mechanical converter;

an input for a user to select one of a plurality of notification audio signals for associating with a system status;

a signal processing unit with an output being operationally connected to an input of the electrical/mechanical converter; and

a generator unit an output of which is also operationally connected to said input of said converter, said generator unit including a user exchangeable storage for storing one or more of said plurality of notification signals, wherein

said generator unit provides said selected notification signal to said converter to notify the user of the status of the system status.

10. A hearing device system comprising:

at least one hearing device, said hearing device including;

an electrical/mechanical converter; and

a signal processing unit with an output being operationally connected to an input of said electrical/mechanical converter;

an input for a user to select a user defined notification audio signal of predetermined extent for associating with a system status; and

a generator unit the output of which is operationally connected to the input of said electrical/mechanical converter, said generator unit including a user writable read/write storage unit for storing said user defined notification audio signal to be output by said generator unit for notifying a user of a status of the system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a writing input of said read/write storage is operationally connected or is operationally connectable to a signal source of audio signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said signal source is an audio playback unit or is a unit with internet connection.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a display unit for at least one of a visual or speech controlled menu, said display unit being operationally connected or connectable to a signal generator generating control signals for said device to said generator unit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said display unit is for speech control and has an output which is operationally connected to said input of said electrical/mechanical converter of said hearing device.

15. A method of acknowledging to an individual carrying a hearing device, said hearing device having:

an acoustical/electrical input converter unit having an output;

a signal processing unit having an input and an output;

an input for a user to select one of a plurality of acknowledgement audio signals for associating with a predetermined system status; and

an electrical/mechanical output converter arrangement having an input, wherein

said output of said input converter is operationally connected to said input of said signal processing unit, the output thereof being operationally connected to said input of said output converter arrangement, said method comprising the steps of;

generating an acknowledgement control signal in said hearing device whenever the predetermined status of said hearing device is reached; and

initiating said selected acknowledgement audio signal according to said acknowledgement control signal to be applied to said input of said output converter, wherein

said acknowledgement audio signal is made selectable by the individual.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of said acknowledgement audio signals is stored on a user exchangeable storage.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said user-exchangeable storage is applied to said hearing device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said user-exchangeable storage is a read-only storage.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said hearing device further has a storage unit for storing said audio signals.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising a storage unit remote from said hearing device for said audio signals and establishing at least one of a wireless or of a wired communication between said hearing device and said storage unit.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein more than one of said audio signals are provided and wherein said user selectability comprises selecting which of said audio signals is initiated by said acknowledgement control signal.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said selected audio signal is applied to said output converter of said hearing device so as to be audible even as said hearing device is not applied to an individual.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said selection of said audio signal is performed in a menu-controlled manner.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of pre-selecting one of said audio signals, via a communication unit remote from said hearing device, for associating with said predetermined system status.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein there is established a wireless communication between said communication unit and said hearing device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said pre-selection of said audio signal is performed at said communication unit in a menu-controlled manner by means of at least one of visual and speech menu indications.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said menu is communicated to said individual via said hearing device as a menu indication by voice.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein said selection of said audio signal is performed in a speech-controlled manner.

29. A system comprising at least one hearing device, said hearing device including:

an electrical/mechanical input converter arrangement having an output;

a signal processing unit having an input and an output;

an input for a user to select a notification audio signal for associating with a predetermined system status;

an electrical/mechanical output converter arrangement having an input; and

a generator unit having;

an audio signal storage unit for storing the selected notification signal; and

an output operationally connected to said input of said output converter arrangement;

wherein said output of said input converter arrangement is operationally connected to said input of said signal processing unit, and wherein

said output of said signal processing unit is operationally connected to one of said input and another input of said output converter arrangement, and further wherein

said hearing device generates at least one acknowledgement control signal when said predetermined status of said hearing device is achieved, and still further wherein

said generator unit applies said selected notification audio signal to said output converter arrangement when initiated by said acknowledgement control signal of said hearing device.

30. The system of claim 29, said hearing device further comprising a manually operated switching member, wherein said acknowledgement control signal is initiated by said switching member.

31. The system of claim 29, said generator unit further including an addressing input for said audio signal, said acknowledgement control signal addressing via said addressing input said audio signal.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a remote control unit for said hearing device, wherein said acknowledgement control signal is initiated by a control action for said hearing device by said remote control unit.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said remote control unit is operationally connected to said hearing device via at least one of a wired and of a wireless communication link.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein said generator is integrated in said hearing device.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein said generator unit is remote from said hearing device and there is provided a wired and/or wireless communication link between said hearing device and said generator unit.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said generator unit is connectable to the internet.

37. The system of claim 29, further comprising a display unit for displaying at least one of a visually and of a speech controlled menu, said display unit being operationally connected or connectable to said generator unit and to said hearing device for establishing which of more than one of said audio signals shall be initiated by said acknowledgement control signal and/or which of more than one acknowledgement control signals shall initiate said audio signal.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said display unit has an output for audio menu information signals, said output being operationally connected to said output converter of said hearing device.