System and method for sharing network resources between hearing devices

• US 9,326,077 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Sommer, Peter, Bogh, Carsten Trygve
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US13/838,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20130272554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381/323, 600/25, 607/55, 607/56, 607/57
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• 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 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/35 using translation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a communication network includes a first transceiver unit in the hearing device communicating according to a first communication protocol. The system also includes a server device including an input/output unit connected to the communication network and configured to communicate according to a second communication protocol. A second transceiver unit is connected wirelessly to the first transceiver unit and configured to communicate according to the first communication protocol. A translator unit interconnects the second transceiver unit and the input/output unit and is configured to translate between the first and second communication protocol. The hearing device is configured to upload and download data to and from the communication network through the server device, and the server device is incorporated in a mobile or cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a communication network, and comprising:

a first transceiver unit in said hearing device communicating according to a first communication protocol;

a server device including

an input/output unit connected to said communication network and adapted to communicate according to a second communication protocol,

a second transceiver unit connected wirelessly to said first transceiver unit and adapted to communicate according to said first communication protocol,

a translator unit interconnecting said second transceiver unit and said input/output unit and adapted to translate between said first and second communication protocol, and

a memory configured to store environmental acoustic data and actions of a wearer of the hearing device,

wherein the hearing device is configured to select programs in certain acoustic environments and the server device is configured to store in the memory the wearer'"'"'s reactions to the hearing device'"'"'s selection of programs in said certain acoustic environments,

wherein said hearing device is adapted to upload and download data to and from said communication network through said server device, and

wherein said server device is incorporated in a mobile or cellular telephone.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said communication network comprises a wired or wireless telephone network, a computer network, media network, or any combination thereof.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said data comprises a data package.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said data package comprises a header section comprising routing and transmission control data, and a data section comprising data payload.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said communication network comprises connections to a plurality of service providers in said communication network.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein

said service providers are adapted to provide at least one of types of services for the hearing device users, including

updated hearing aid software with new features,

access to a multimedia event,

access service information, and

any combination thereof.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said communication network further includes connections to a telephone, a computer, a personal digital assistant, a television, or any combination thereof.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said server device further comprises a location identifying element adapted to identify present location of the server device.

9. A system according to claim 1 configured for updating hearing aid software of the hearing device with new features.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the server device comprises a processor adapted to assist and/or support a signal processor of the hearing device in calculations performed on the environmental acoustic data.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communications network comprises a storage provider operable by the server to store and communicate an appropriate setting to the hearing devices.

12. A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a communication network, and comprising:

a first transceiver unit in said hearing device communicating according to a first communication protocol;

a server device including

an input/output unit connected to said communication network and adapted to communicate according to a second communication protocol,

a second transceiver unit connected wirelessly to said first transceiver unit and adapted to communicate according to said first communication protocol,

a translator unit interconnecting said second transceiver unit and said input/output unit and adapted to translate between said first and second communication protocol,

wherein said hearing device is adapted to upload and download data to and from said communication network through said server device,

wherein said server device is incorporated in a mobile or cellular telephone and includes a microphone, and the server device is configured to record the voice of a wearer of said hearing device using the microphone and to transmit the recorded voice to other wearers of hearing devices.