Method for assisting a user of a hearing system and corresponding hearing system

• US 8,005,232 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Roeck, Hans-Ueli, Hasler, Ivo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elbin; Jesse A
• Application Number:
  US11/556,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20080107278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 381/58, 381/60, 381/105, 381/110, 381/312, 381/315, 381/324, 600/25, 600/559, 607/56, 607/57, 455/3.06, 455/414.3, 455/419, 455/67.11, 455/67.7, 455/115.1, 714/2, 714/25, 714/30, 714/45, 714 48- 46
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The hearing system comprises at least one request-receiving unit for receiving requests for assistance from a user of said hearing system and an assistance unit operationally connected to said request-receiving unit adapted to carrying out an assistance function providing assistance for said user. Preferably, said assistance unit is adapted to carrying out an analysis of a current status of at least one device of said hearing system. Preferably, said assistance unit is furthermore adapted to attempting to correct said current status if a faulty or inappropriate current status has been detected. Preferably, the hearing system comprises a communication interface, wherein said assistance unit is adapted to attempting to establish a communication link to a remote assistance provider using said communication interface. The method for assisting a user of a hearing system, comprises the steps of

• a) receiving a request for assistance from said user by means of a request-receiving unit of said hearing system; and
• b) automatically carrying out an assistance function upon step a).

Claims

1. Method for assisting a user of a hearing system, comprising the steps of

a) receiving a request for assistance with the hearing system from said user by means of a request-receiving unit of said hearing system;

and

b) automatically carrying out an assistance function upon step a) wherein step b) comprises the step of

f) establishing a communication link to a remote assistance provider.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) comprises the step of

b1) carrying out an analysis of a current status of at least one device of said hearing system.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein step b1) comprises the step of

b2) carrying out an analysis of at least one signal generated by an input converter unit of said hearing system.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein step b1) comprises the step of

c) generating a signal to be perceived by said user if no faulty or inappropriate current status of said at least one device of said hearing system has been detected in step b1).

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein step b) comprises the step of

d) attempting to correct said current status if a faulty or inappropriate current status has been detected in step b1).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein step b) comprises the step of

f) establishing a communication link to a remote assistance provider;

and

wherein step f) is carried out automatically if the following condition is met;

it is detected that a faulty or inappropriate current status persists after step d) has been carried out.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) comprises the step of

e) generating a signal to be perceived by said user indicating to said user that a specific action should be carried out.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) comprises the step of

b1′

) carrying out an analysis of a current status of said hearing system; and

e1) generating a signal to be perceived by said user indicating to said user that the hearing system is deemed to be in an operable state, if said analysis of said current status of said hearing system renders this result.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein step b) comprises the step of

f) establishing a communication link to a remote assistance provider;

and

wherein step f) is carried out automatically if at least the following condition is met;

another request for assistance from said user is received by means of said request-receiving unit after step e1) has been carried out.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) comprises the step of

g) transmitting identification data to said remote assistance provider, wherein said data identify said user and/or at least one device of said hearing system.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) comprises the step of

h) transmitting data to said remote assistance provider, wherein said data are related to a current status of at least one device of said hearing system.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) comprises the step of

i) resetting at least one parameter of at least one device of the hearing system to a default setting.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said request-receiving unit comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an input member operable by said user;

an acoustical-to-electrical converter and a speech recognition unit operationally interconnected thereto.

14. Hearing system comprising

at least one request-receiving unit for receiving requests for assistance with the hearing system from a user of said hearing system;

an assistance unit operationally connected to said request-receiving unit and adapted to carry out an assistance function providing assistance for said user; and

a communication interface, wherein said assistance unit is adapted to attempt to establish a communication link to a remote assistance provider using said communication interface.

15. The hearing system according to claim 14, wherein said assistance unit is adapted to carry out an analysis of a current status of at least one device of said hearing system.

16. The hearing system according to claim 14, wherein said assistance unit is adapted to carry out an analysis of at least one signal generated by an input converter unit of said hearing system.

17. The hearing system according to claim 15, wherein said assistance unit is adapted to attempt to correct said current status if a faulty or inappropriate current status has been detected.

18. The hearing system according to claim 14, wherein said assistance unit is adapted to reset at least one parameter of at least one device of the hearing system to a default setting.

19. The hearing system according to claim 14, further comprising

a signalling unit adapted to generate a signal to be perceived by said user,

wherein said signaling unit is operationally connected to said assistance unit.

20. The hearing system according to claim 14, wherein said request-receiving unit comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an input member operable by said user;

an acoustical-to-electrical converter and a speech recognition unit operationally interconnected thereto.