Personal sound system including multi-mode ear level module with priority logic
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A personal communication device comprising:
- an ear-level module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio data, an audio transducer;
one or more microphones, a user input and control circuitry;
wherein the control circuitry includeslogic for communication using the radio with a plurality of sources of audio data, memory storing a set of variables for processing audio data;
logic operable in a plurality of signal processing modes, including a first signal processing mode for processing sound picked up by one of the one or more microphones using a first subset of said set of variables and playing the processed sound on the audio transducer, a second signal processing mode for processing audio data from a corresponding audio source received using the radio using a second subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer, a third signal processing mode for processing audio data from another corresponding audio source received using the radio using a third subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer; and
logic to control switching among the first, second and third signal processing modes according to predetermined priority in response to user input and in response to signals from the plurality of sources of audio data.
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Abstract
A personal sound system is described that includes a wireless network supporting an ear-level module, a companion module and a phone. Other audio sources are supported as well. A configuration processor configures the ear-level module and the companion module for private communications, and configures the ear-level module for a plurality of signal processing modes, including a hearing aid mode, for a corresponding plurality of sources of audio data. The ear module is configured to handle variant audio sources, and control switching among them.
175 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A personal communication device comprising:
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an ear-level module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio data, an audio transducer;
one or more microphones, a user input and control circuitry;wherein the control circuitry includes logic for communication using the radio with a plurality of sources of audio data, memory storing a set of variables for processing audio data; logic operable in a plurality of signal processing modes, including a first signal processing mode for processing sound picked up by one of the one or more microphones using a first subset of said set of variables and playing the processed sound on the audio transducer, a second signal processing mode for processing audio data from a corresponding audio source received using the radio using a second subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer, a third signal processing mode for processing audio data from another corresponding audio source received using the radio using a third subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer; and logic to control switching among the first, second and third signal processing modes according to predetermined priority in response to user input and in response to signals from the plurality of sources of audio data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a personal communication device which comprises an ear-level module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio data, an audio transducer;
- one or more microphones, a user input and control circuitry including logic for communication using the radio with a plurality of sources of audio data, memory storing a set of variables for processing audio data;
the method comprising;operating in a plurality of signal processing modes, including a first signal processing mode for processing sound picked up by one of the one or more microphones using a first subset of said set of variables and playing the processed sound on the audio transducer, a second signal processing mode for processing audio data from a corresponding audio source received using the radio using a second subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer, a third signal processing mode for processing audio data from another corresponding audio source received using the radio using a third subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer; and switching among the first, second and third signal processing modes according to predetermined priority in response to user input and in response to signals from the plurality of sources of audio data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- one or more microphones, a user input and control circuitry including logic for communication using the radio with a plurality of sources of audio data, memory storing a set of variables for processing audio data;
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24. A personal communication device comprising:
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an ear-level module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio data, an audio transducer;
one or more microphones, and an user input;means for operating in a plurality of signal processing modes, including a first signal processing mode for processing sound picked up by one of the one or more microphones using a first subset of said set of variables and playing the processed sound on the audio transducer, a second signal processing mode for processing audio data from a corresponding audio source received using the radio using a second subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer, a third signal processing mode for processing audio data from another corresponding audio source received using the radio using a third subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer; and means for switching among the first, second and third signal processing modes according to predetermined priority in response to user input and in response to signals from the plurality of sources of audio data.
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25. A personal communication device comprising:
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a module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio signals, an audio transducer;
a user input and control circuitry;wherein the control circuitry includes logic for communication using the radio with a plurality of sources of audio data, memory storing a set of variables for processing audio data; logic operable in a plurality of signal processing modes, including a first signal processing mode for processing audio data from a corresponding audio source received using the radio using a first subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer, a second signal processing mode for processing audio data from another corresponding audio source received using the radio using a second subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer; and logic to control switching among the first and second signal processing modes according to predetermined priority in response to the user input and in response to signals from the plurality of sources of audio data.
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26. A personal communication device comprising:
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an ear-level module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio signals, an audio transducer;
one or more microphones, and control circuitry;wherein the control circuitry includes memory adapted to store first and second link parameters, and a set of variables; logic for communication with a configuration host using the radio, including resources for establishing a configuration channel with the configuration host and for retrieving said second link parameter from said configuration host and storing said second link parameter in said memory; logic for communication with a plurality of sources of audio data using the radio, including resources for establishing a first audio channel with the first link parameter, and a second audio channel with the second link parameter; logic operable in a plurality of signal processing modes, including a first signal processing mode for processing sound picked up by one of the one or more microphones using a first subset of said set of variables and playing the processed sound on the audio transducer, a second signal processing mode for processing audio data received using the first audio channel using a second subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer, a third signal processing mode for processing audio data received using the second audio channel using a third subset of said set of variables, and playing the processed audio data on the audio transducer; and logic to control switching among the first, second and third signal processing modes according to priority and in response to signals received on the first and second audio channels.
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Specification