Synchronization in a bilateral auditory prosthesis system
First Claim
1. A method for binaural synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system, the method comprising:
- receiving sound at one or more of the first and second prostheses;
analyzing the received sound at one of the first and second auditory prostheses;
detecting a synchronization trigger if at least one predetermined criterion is met by the analyzed sound, wherein detecting the synchronization trigger includes at least one of;
(i) determining that a sound level of the received sound exceeds a threshold, (ii) determining that an energy level of the received sound exceeds a threshold, (iii) determining that a rate of change of the sound level exceeds a threshold, (iv) determining that a rate of change of the energy level exceeds a threshold, (v) determining that an automatic gain control level determined in analyzing the sound exceeds a threshold, and (vi) determining that a rate of change of an automatic gain control level determined in analyzing the sound exceeds a threshold;
enabling a primary wireless communication channel between the first auditory prosthesis and the second auditory prosthesis in response to the synchronization trigger; and
transferring synchronization data between the first and second auditory prostheses over the primary wireless communication channel.
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Abstract
Aspect of the present invention are generally directed to synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system. In this system, a primary wireless communications channel, usable for synchronizing the first and second prostheses, may be disabled to, for example, conserve power. Then, upon detection of a trigger in sound received by one or more of the prostheses, the primary wireless communication channel is enabled and the prostheses synchronized using the primary wireless communication channel.
27 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for binaural synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system, the method comprising:
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receiving sound at one or more of the first and second prostheses; analyzing the received sound at one of the first and second auditory prostheses; detecting a synchronization trigger if at least one predetermined criterion is met by the analyzed sound, wherein detecting the synchronization trigger includes at least one of;
(i) determining that a sound level of the received sound exceeds a threshold, (ii) determining that an energy level of the received sound exceeds a threshold, (iii) determining that a rate of change of the sound level exceeds a threshold, (iv) determining that a rate of change of the energy level exceeds a threshold, (v) determining that an automatic gain control level determined in analyzing the sound exceeds a threshold, and (vi) determining that a rate of change of an automatic gain control level determined in analyzing the sound exceeds a threshold;enabling a primary wireless communication channel between the first auditory prosthesis and the second auditory prosthesis in response to the synchronization trigger; and transferring synchronization data between the first and second auditory prostheses over the primary wireless communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A bilateral auditory prosthesis system comprising:
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a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis, each prosthesis including; at least one receiver configured to receive a sound signal; a primary communications subsystem configured to communicate with the other auditory prosthesis via a primary communications channel; and a signal processor configured to process sound received at the at least one receiver to detect a synchronization trigger; wherein the first and second auditory prostheses are configured to enable a primary wireless communication channel between the first auditory prosthesis and the second auditory prosthesis in response to the detection of the synchronization trigger and transfer synchronization data between the first and second auditory prostheses over the primary wireless communication channel, wherein in enabling the primary wireless communication channel, each of the first and second prostheses are configured to operate;
in a first state in which the primary communications subsystem is at least partially disabled; and
in a second state in which the primary communications subsystem is enabled to allow exchange of synchronization data over the primary wireless communication channel, andwherein the signal processor of each of the first and second auditory prostheses is configured to cause the prosthesis to move from operating in the first state to the second state upon detection of the synchronization trigger in the processed sound. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for binaural synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system, the method comprising:
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receiving sound at one or more of the first and second prostheses; detecting a synchronization trigger based on the sound; and enabling a primary wireless communication channel between the first auditory prosthesis and the second auditory prosthesis, which comprises; analyzing the received sound at one of the first and second auditory prostheses; detecting a synchronization trigger if at least one predetermined criterion is met by the analyzed sound; transmitting a synchronization commencement signal from the one of the first and second auditory prostheses; and receiving the synchronization commencement signal at the other of the first and second auditory prostheses. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for binaural synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system, the method comprising:
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receiving sound at one or more of the first and second prostheses; detecting a synchronization trigger based on the sound; enabling a primary wireless communication channel between the first auditory prosthesis and the second auditory prosthesis in response to the synchronization trigger, wherein enabling the primary wireless channel includes; activating a receiver of a prosthesis of the first and second prostheses at which the synchronization trigger is detected, wherein said receiver is configured to receive transmissions on the primary wireless communications channel, and listening via the activated receiver for a transmission including synchronization data from the other auditory prosthesis on the primary transmission channel; and transferring synchronization data between the first and second auditory prostheses over the primary wireless communication channel.
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Specification