Hearing aid wireless network

• US 20070009124A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Larsen, Rene
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0667 Bidirectional timestamps, e.g. NTP or PTP for compensation of clock drift and for compensation of propagation delays arrangements for monitoring round trip delays in packet switching networks H04L43/0864
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 Arrangements for initial synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A hearing aid is provided comprising a transceiver for interconnection of the hearing aid with a wireless network for communication with a plurality of other devices, and a communication controller that is adapted for controlling data exchange through the network in accordance with a simple network protocol. The hearing aid wireless network facilitates interconnection of a plurality of devices in the network, such as hearing aids, remote controllers, fitting instruments, mobile phones, headsets, door bells, alarm systems, broadcast systems, such as tele coil replacement, etc, etc. In an established network, the network master device, in a connected mode, regularly transmits synchronization data, e.g. comprised in a link management package, for synchronization of the slave devices in the network with the master device. During initialisation of the network, for example upon turn-on of two hearing aids, each device in an acquisition mode transmits interrogation data, e.g. comprised in a link management package, at a higher rate than the rate of transmission of the synchronization data in the connected mode. The provided acquisition method has low power consumption during execution and it is fast.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising

a transceiver for interconnection of the hearing aid with a wireless network, and

a communication controller that is adapted for controlling data exchange through the network in accordance with a network protocol, and wherein

the controller is further adapted for initialisation of the network

in an acquisition mode by

controlling the transceiver to transmit interrogation data repetitively, and

upon receipt of an interrogation data received message from another device,

in a connected mode

acting as a master of the network by repetitively transmitting synchronization data at intervals that are longer than the intervals between transmitted interrogation data in the acquisition mode.

2. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to act as a slave in the network upon receipt of interrogation data from another hearing aid, the other hearing aid being the master of the network.

3. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the controller, in the acquisition mode, is further adapted to enable the receiver to receive data from the network in certain time periods during which transmission of synchronization data is inhibited.

4. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted for selective operation of the transceiver in a plurality of frequency channels.

5. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a time division multiplex scheme.

6. A hearing aid according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a frequency division multiplex scheme.

7. A hearing aid according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a spread spectrum scheme.

8. A hearing aid according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a frequency hopping scheme.

9. A hearing aid according to claim 8, wherein a frequency hopping algorithm is provided that allows devices in the network to calculate what frequency channel the network will use at any given point in time without relying on the history of the network.

10. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein one device in the network is a master device, and all other devices in the network synchronize to the timing of the master device utilising the synchronization data.

11. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein a new device is automatically recognized by the network and interconnected with the network.

12. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted for reception of data from devices that do not receive data from the network.

13. A binaural hearing aid system comprising a first and a second hearing aid according to claim 1 mutually interconnected for data exchange through the network.

14. A remote controller for a hearing aid and adapted to communicate with a hearing aid according to claim 1 through the wireless network.

15. A fitting instrument for a hearing aid and adapted to communicate with a hearing aid according to claim 1 through the wireless network.

16. A mobile phone adapted to communicate with a hearing aid according to claim 1 through the wireless network.

17. A broadcast system adapted to communicate with a hearing aid according to claim 1 through the wireless network.

18. A binaural hearing aid system comprising a first and a second hearing aid that are interconnected for data exchange,

wherein the first and second hearing aid are interconnected through a wireless network.

19. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second hearing aids further comprises

a transceiver for interconnection of the hearing aid with a wireless network, and

a communication controller that is adapted for controlling data exchange through the network in accordance with a network protocol, and wherein

the controller is further adapted for initialisation of the network

in an acquisition mode by

controlling the transceiver to transmit interrogation data repetitively, and

upon receipt of an interrogation data received message from another device,

in a connected mode

acting as a master of the network by repetitively transmitting synchronization data at intervals that are longer than the intervals between transmitted interrogation data in the acquisition mode.

20. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 19, wherein the controller is further adapted to act as a slave in the network upon receipt of interrogation data from another hearing aid, the other hearing aid being the master of the network.

21. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 19, wherein the controller, in the acquisition mode, is further adapted to enable the receiver to receive data from the network in certain time periods during which transmission of synchronization data is inhibited.

22. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 19, wherein the controller is further adapted for selective operation of the transceiver in a plurality of frequency channels.

23. A binaural hearing aid system according to 22claim 19, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a time division multiplex scheme.

24. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 22, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a frequency division multiplex scheme.

25. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 22, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a spread spectrum scheme.

26. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 25, wherein the controller is further adapted for operation of the transceiver according to a frequency hopping scheme.

27. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 26, wherein a frequency hopping algorithm is provided that allows devices in the network to calculate what frequency channel the network will use at any given point in time without relying on the history of the network.

28. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18, wherein one device in the network is a master device, and all other devices in the network synchronize to the timing of the master device utilising the synchronization data.

29. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18, wherein a new device is automatically recognized by the network and interconnected with the network.

30. A binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18, wherein the controller is further adapted for reception of data from devices that do not receive data from the network.

31. A remote controller for a binaural hearing aid system and adapted to communicate with a binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18 through the wireless network.

32. A fitting instrument for a binaural hearing aid system and adapted to communicate with a binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18 through the wireless network.

33. A mobile phone adapted to communicate with a binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18 through the wireless network.

34. A broadcast system adapted to communicate with a binaural hearing aid system according to claim 18 through the wireless network.