Hearing device and a method for receiving wireless audio streaming

• US 9,826,320 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Gudiksen, Ole
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US13/899,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 455434, 455464, 455103, 4551791, 455 62, 455436, 455437
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/43 Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics H04R25/407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A method for receiving wireless audio streams in a hearing device includes: receiving audio packages of a primary audio stream from a primary transmitter unit having a primary transmitter unit address; evaluating a first parameter of the primary audio stream; and if the first parameter fulfills a search criterion: searching for pilot packages from available transmitter units; determining an optimum transmitter unit based on one or more pilot package parameters of the pilot packages from the available transmitter units; and receiving audio packages of an audio stream from the optimum transmitter unit.

Claims

1. A method for receiving wireless audio streams in a hearing device, the method comprising:

receiving audio packages of a primary audio stream from a primary transmitter unit having a primary transmitter unit address, at least one of the audio packages comprising a finite part of audible information in the primary audio stream;

evaluating a first parameter of the primary audio stream; and

if the first parameter fulfills a search criterion;

searching for pilot packages from respective available transmitter units, wherein at least one of the pilot packages (1) comprises information regarding a subsequent audio package of the primary audio stream, and (2) is different from the at least one of the audio packages;

determining an optimum transmitter unit based on one or more pilot package parameters of the pilot packages from the available transmitter units; and

receiving additional audio packages of the primary audio stream from the optimum transmitter unit;

wherein the act of evaluating the first parameter, the act of searching, and the act of determining the optimum transmitter unit are performed by the hearing device that is configured for worn by a user;

wherein one of the pilot packages corresponding with the optimum transmitter unit includes information for enabling the hearing device to receive the additional audio packages of the primary audio stream from the optimum transmitter unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of determining the optimum transmitter unit comprises:

evaluating at least one of the one or more of the pilot packages from the available transmitter units; and

if the at least one of the one or more pilot package parameters fulfills a switch criterion, determining a secondary transmitter unit from the available transmitter units as the optimum transmitter unit.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the primary transmitter unit is selected as the optimum transmitter unit if the at least one of the one or more pilot package parameters does not fulfill the switch criterion.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the switch criterion is fulfilled if the pilot package parameter of one of the available transmitter units is larger than a pilot package parameter of the primary transmitter unit.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of determining the optimum transmitter unit comprises:

evaluating at least one of the one or more pilot package parameters from the available transmitter units; and

selecting the optimum transmitter unit based on the act of evaluating the at least one of the one or more pilot package parameters.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pilot packages comprises a transmitter unit address of one of the transmitter units, a time offset, and a channel identifier of a following audio package, and wherein the additional audio packages of the primary audio stream from the optimum transmitter unit is received based on the time offset.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pilot packages comprises an audio stream identifier, and wherein the act of determining the optimum transmitter unit is based on the audio stream identifier.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first parameter is a parameter indicative of signal strength of the primary audio stream.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the one or more pilot package parameters is indicative of a pilot package signal strength.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the search criterion is fulfilled if the first parameter is below or above a search threshold value.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of searching for the pilot packages is performed in time intervals in which audio packages from the primary transmitter unit is not being received.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of searching for the pilot packages comprises receiving data on one or more dedicated pilot channels.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optimum transmitter unit is determined based on best available signal strength.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the hearing device is configured for worn at a head of the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the hearing device is configured for worn at an ear of the user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the available transmitter units are stationary within a building.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the information in the one of the pilot packages is for configuring the hearing device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the additional audio packages of the primary audio stream from the optimum transmitter includes a corresponding one of the pilot packages.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by the hearing device, and wherein the hearing device comprises a hearing aid configured to compensate for a hearing loss of the user.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the pilot packages comprises timing information regarding the subsequent audio package.

21. A hearing device comprising:

an antenna;

a processing unit coupled to the antenna;

a receiver coupled to an output of the processing unit for conversion of an output signal into an output audio signal;

wherein the processing unit is configured to;

receive audio packages of a primary audio stream transmitted wirelessly from a primary transmitter unit, the primary transmitter unit having a primary transmitter unit address, at least one of the audio packages comprising a finite part of audible information in the primary audio stream; and

evaluate a first parameter of the primary audio stream;

wherein, if the first parameter fulfills a search criterion, the processing unit is configured to;

search for pilot packages transmitted wirelessly from available transmitter units, wherein at least one of the pilot packages (1) comprises information regarding a subsequent audio package of the primary audio stream, and (2) is different from the at least one of the audio packages;

determine an optimum transmitter unit based on one or more pilot package parameters of the pilot packages from the available transmitter units; and

receive additional audio packages of the primary audio stream from the optimum transmitter unit;

wherein the hearing device is configured for worn by a user;

wherein one of the pilot packages corresponding with the optimum transmitter unit includes information for enabling the hearing device to receive the additional audio packages of the primary audio stream from the optimum transmitter unit.

22. The hearing device according to claim 21, further comprising a microphone for conversion of an acoustic audio signal into an input audio signal.

23. The hearing device according to claim 21, wherein the processing unit is configured to compensate for hearing loss or hearing disability of a user of the hearing device.

24. The hearing device of claim 21, wherein the hearing device is configured for worn at a head of the user.

25. The hearing device of claim 24, wherein the hearing device is configured for worn at an ear of the user.

26. The hearing device of claim 21, wherein at least two of the available transmitter units are stationary within a building.

27. The hearing device of claim 21, wherein the information in the one of the pilot packages is for configuring the hearing device.

28. The hearing device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the additional audio packages of the primary audio stream from the optimum transmitter includes a corresponding one of the pilot packages.

29. The hearing device of claim 21, wherein the hearing device comprises a hearing aid configured to compensate for a hearing loss of the user.

30. The hearing device of claim 21, wherein the at least one of the pilot packages comprises timing information regarding the subsequent audio package.