Condition status-based device system and operation

• US 9,460,431 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PJC Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: PJC Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Curry, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/800,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20140247109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.1, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/539.12, 340/506, 340/426, 340/539, 340/993, 340/825.69, 340/5.21, 340/5.31, 340/5.8, 340/3.2, 340/10.34, 340/573.4, 340/5.81, 340/5.2, 700/90, 709/217, 709/223, 709/227, 709/250, 604/504, 604/503, 706/44, 235/379, 235/380
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0057 for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs car rental G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A device, system or method may optionally include a processor, remote to a device, configured to generate information to control, at least in part, a function of the device based, at least in part, on a condition of conveyance of the device, and a transmitter, remote to the device, configured to transmit the information related to the condition of conveyance to the device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining, with a processor, via a network, a condition status of a hearing aid based on a condition of conveyance of the hearing aid;

generating, with the processor, information related to the condition status of the hearing aid to a control device wherein the information is configured to cause the hearing aid to at least one of disable and impair a function of a plurality of functions of an amplifier of the hearing aid based on the condition status, wherein, upon disabling or impairing the function, the hearing aid does not deliver an audio output based on an ambient noise and corresponding to the function,

wherein the audio output is delivered corresponding to the plurality of functions, wherein ones of the plurality of functions are selectively at least one of disabled and impaired based on the condition of conveyance of the hearing aid, and wherein, upon selectively disabling or impaired ones of the plurality of functions, the hearing aid does not deliver the audio output corresponding to the selectively disabled or impaired functions;

wherein the condition of conveyance is a payment condition having a payment status based, at least in part, on a payment amount and a payment schedule, wherein the audio function is at least one of disabled and impaired based on the payment status indicating that the payment amount has not been paid according to the payment schedule; and

enabling, with the processor, the audio function upon an updated payment status indicating that the payment amount has been paid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition of conveyance is a maintenance condition having a maintenance status based, at least in part, on a maintenance schedule and a maintenance procedure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the maintenance status is based on an indication of the maintenance procedure having been performed according to the maintenance schedule.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the maintenance procedure relates to maintaining the function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment status is based, at least in part, on at least one of an installment plan, a lease, a subscription, and a maintenance plan.

6. A method, comprising:

obtaining, with a processor, via a network, a condition status of a hearing aid based on a condition of conveyance of the hearing aid;

generating, with the processor, information related to the condition status of the device, wherein the information is configured to cause the device to at least one of disable and impair the function based on the condition status, wherein, upon disabling or impairing the function, the device does not deliver an audio output of an amplifier of the hearing aid based on an ambient noise and corresponding to the function; and

generating, with the processor, updated information related to the condition status of the hearing aid, wherein the updated information is configured to cause the hearing aid to enable a previously disabled or impaired function based on an updated condition status, wherein, upon enabling the function, the hearing aid delivers the audio output corresponding to the function;

wherein the condition of conveyance is a payment condition having a payment status based, at least in part, on a payment amount and a payment schedule, wherein the function is at least one of disabled and impaired based on the payment status indicating that the payment amount has not been paid according to the payment schedule; and

enabling the function upon an updated payment status indicating that the payment amount has been paid.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment status is based, at least in part, on at least one of an installment plan, a lease, a subscription, and a maintenance plan.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the condition of conveyance is a maintenance condition having a maintenance status based, at least in part, on a maintenance schedule and a maintenance procedure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the maintenance status is based on an indication of the maintenance procedure having been performed according to the maintenance schedule.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the maintenance procedure relates to maintaining the function.

7. A hearing aid, comprising:

an amplifier configured to deliver an audio output to a user based on an ambient noise and a function of the hearing aid;

a controller configured to enable the function based on a condition of conveyance of the hearing aid;

wherein at least one of disable and impair the function is based on information relating to a condition status of the hearing aid, the condition status being based on the condition of conveyance, wherein, upon disabling or impairing the function, the amplifier does not deliver the audio output corresponding to the function;

wherein the function is one of a plurality of functions of the hearing aid, wherein the audio output is delivered corresponding to the plurality of functions, wherein ones of the plurality of functions are selectively at least one of disabled and inhibited based on the condition of conveyance of the hearing aid, and wherein, upon selectively disabling or inhibiting ones of the plurality of functions, the amplifier does not deliver the output corresponding to the selectively disabled or inhibited functions; and

wherein the condition of conveyance is a payment condition having a payment status based, at least in part, on a payment amount and a payment schedule, wherein the function is at least one of disabled and impaired based on the payment status indicating that the payment amount has not been paid according to the payment schedule;

wherein the controller is configured to enable the function upon an updated payment status indicating that the payment amount has been paid.

8. The hearing aid of claim 7, wherein the condition of conveyance is a maintenance condition having a maintenance status based, at least in part, on a maintenance schedule and a maintenance procedure.

9. The hearing aid of claim 8, wherein the maintenance status is based on an indication of the maintenance procedure having been performed according to the maintenance schedule.

10. The hearing aid of claim 9, wherein the maintenance procedure relates to maintaining the function.

11. The hearing aid of claim 7, wherein the payment status is based, at least in part, on at least one of an installment plan, a lease, a subscription, and a maintenance plan.

12. A hearing aid, comprising:

an amplifier configured to deliver an audio output to a user based on an ambient noise and a function of the hearing aid;

a controller configured to enable the function based on a condition of conveyance of the hearing aid, wherein at least one of disable and impair the function is based on information relating to a condition status of the hearing aid, the condition status being based on the condition of conveyance, wherein, upon disabling or impairing the function, the amplifier does not deliver the audio output corresponding to the function; and

a communication module configured to receive the information and updated information related to the condition status of the hearing aid, wherein the updated information is configured to cause the hearing aid to enable the function based on an updated condition status, wherein, upon enabling the function, the amplifier delivers the output corresponding to the function; and

wherein the condition of conveyance is a payment condition having a payment status based, at least in part, on a payment amount and a payment schedule, wherein the function is at least one of disabled and impaired based on the payment status indicating that the payment amount has not been paid according to the payment schedule;

wherein the controller is configured to enable the function upon an updated payment status indicating that the payment amount has been paid.

17. The hearing aid of claim 12, wherein the payment status is based, at least in part, on at least one of an installment plan, a lease, a subscription, and a maintenance plan.

18. The hearing aid of claim 12, wherein the condition of conveyance is a maintenance condition having a maintenance status based, at least in part, on a maintenance schedule and a maintenance procedure.

19. The hearing aid of claim 18, wherein the maintenance status is based on an indication of the maintenance procedure having been performed according to the maintenance schedule.

20. The hearing aid of claim 19, wherein the maintenance procedure relates to maintaining the function.