Method and apparatus for monitoring wireless communication in hearing assistance systems

• US 8,712,083 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joshi, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US13/253,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20120177235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381312-324, 600/25, 370/310
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/39 Aspects relating to automatic logging of sound environment parameters and the performance of the hearing aid during use, e.g. histogram logging, or of user selected programs or settings in the hearing aid, e.g. usage logging
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• 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

Abstract

A system collects information on performance of short-range wireless communication in local hearing aid systems. The information is analyzed, for example, to inform local users to adjust the local hearing aid systems, to adjust operational parameters for improving wireless communication in the local hearing aid systems, and/or to improve wireless connectivity and reliability in future products.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring short-range wireless communication in a local hearing aid system including one or more hearing aids, the system comprising;

a local device configured to be communicatively coupled to the hearing aids, the local device including a first computer and configured to collect information related to performance of the short-range wireless communication between the local device and the one or more hearing aids;

a network; and

a second computer separate from the local device and the hearing aids, the second computer communicatively coupled to the local device through the network and configured to receive, store, and analyze the information related to performance of the short-range wireless communication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes packet errors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes retries.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes FEC errors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes throughput.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information is used to proved bases for modifying an operational parameter related to the short-range wireless communication.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the operation parameter includes frequency band.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the operation parameter includes modulation type.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the operation parameter includes symbol rate.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the operation parameter includes spreading codes.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless communication includes radio frequency communication.

12. A method, comprising:

monitoring short-range wireless communication in a local hearing aid system using a local device that includes a first computer, including collecting information related to performance of the short-range wireless communication using the first computer;

transmitting the information from the local device to a second computer using a network, the second computer separate from the local device and the hearing aids;

storing and analyzing the information using the second computer; and

using the information to improve performance of the short-range wireless communication.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring short-range wireless communication in a local hearing aid system using a local device includes communicatively coupling the local device to a first hearing aid in a first ear.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring short-range wireless communication in a local hearing aid system using a local device includes communicatively coupling the local device to a second hearing aid in a second ear.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein monitoring short-range wireless communication in a local hearing aid system includes using the second hearing aid to eavesdrop on the local device and the first hearing aid.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring short-range wireless communication in a local hearing aid system using a local device includes communicatively coupling the first hearing aid in the first ear to a second hearing aid in the second ear.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein using the information to improve performance of the short-range wireless communication system includes notifying a user of a local hearing aid system to use a shorter range to communicate with the local hearing aid system using the local device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein using the information to improve performance of the short-range wireless communication system includes, when environmental interference is determined to be beyond tolerability of the local hearing aid system, notifying a user of the local hearing aid system to switch to wired communication between the local device and the local hearing aid system.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein using the information to improve performance of the short-range wireless communication system includes using the information to modify operational parameters related to the short-range wireless communication.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein using the information to improve performance of the short-range wireless communication system includes using the information to improve performance of the short-range wireless communication between hearing aids, configuring devices, and/or any other components of the local hearing aid systems.