Systems and methods for managing wireless communication links for hearing assistance devices

• US 8,442,248 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, RYAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/552,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20100054512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 381/315, 370/437, 4551611-1613
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/05 Electronic compensation of the occlusion effect
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing
• 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

Abstract

Various system embodiments comprise a plurality of devices adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other. The plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a person. The hearing aid device includes a signal processing circuitry connected to a microphone and a receiver. At least one of the plurality of devices includes a link quality management device adapted to assess a link quality for a first wireless communication channel, provide channel metrics indicative of the assessed quality for the first wireless communication channel, and adjust wireless communication over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of devices adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other, wherein the plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a person, the hearing assistance device including a signal processing circuitry connected to a microphone and a receiver;

at least one of the plurality of devices including a link quality management device adapted to assess a link quality for a first wireless communication channel, provide channel metrics indicative of the assessed quality for the first wireless communication channel, and adjust wireless communication over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel,

wherein the link quality management device is adapted to determine a link quality score for available channels, and reduce a receiver gain when a sum of the link quality scores exceeds a threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to assess a signal-to-noise ratio for the first wireless channel and provide channel metrics indicative of the assessed signal-to-noise ratio.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to assess an error rate for the first wireless channel and provide channel metrics indicative of the assessed error rate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to count retransmissions for the first wireless channel and provide channel metrics indicative of the retransmissions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to adjust power to transmit or receive a signal over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to adjust a symbol transmission rate over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the link, quality management device is adapted to adjust a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to adjust a packet length of a signal over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to adjust selection or combination of a diverse antenna using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality management device is adapted to change frequencies using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel.

11. A method, comprising:

assessing link quality for a wireless communication link between a battery-operated hearing assistance device and at least one other device;

adjusting wireless communication based on the assessed link quality;

assessing a link quality for each available communication channel not in use;

summing the link qualities to provide a sum;

comparing the sum to a threshold; and

reducing a receiver gain when the sum exceeds the threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes adjusting power to transmit or receive a communication signal over the wireless communication link based on the assessed link quality.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a symbol transmission rate based on the assessed link quality.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold based on the assessed link quality.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a packet length based on the assessed link quality.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a selection of a diverse antenna based on the assessed link quality.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a transmission frequency by changing channels based on the assessed link quality.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes first adjusting wireless communication b adjusting at least one of power, symbol transmission rate, receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, packet length, polarization or spacial location for a diverse antenna or transmission frequency to switch channels, and the method further includes:

assessing link quality for the wireless communication link after first adjusting wireless communication; and

if the assessed link quality is undesirable after first adjusting wireless communication, adjusting at least one other of power, symbol transmission rate, RSSI threshold, packet length, polarization or special location for a diverse antenna or transmission frequency by changing channels.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold based on the assessed link quality, and the method further includes:

assessing link quality for the wireless communication ink after adjusting the RSSI threshold;

if the assessed link quality is undesirable after adjusting the RSSI threshold, adjusting a selection of a diverse antenna based on the assessed link quality;

assessing link quality for the wireless communication link after adjusting the selection of the diverse antenna;

if the assessed link quality is undesirable after adjusting the selection of the diverse antenna, adjusting a transmission frequency by changing channels based on the assessed link quality.

20. A system, comprising:

a plurality of devices adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other, wherein the plurality of devices includes at least one hearing assistance device, the hearing assistance device including a signal processing circuitry connected to a microphone and a receiver;

means for determining a link quality score for available channels; and

means for reducing a receiver gain when a sum of the link quality scores exceeds a threshold.

21. A method, comprising:

assessing link quality for a wireless communication link between a battery-operated hearing assistance device and at least one other device; and

adjusting wireless communication based on the assessed link quality, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold based on the assessed link quality, and the method further includes;

assessing link quality for the wireless communication link after adjusting the RSSI threshold;

if the assessed link quality is undesirable after adjusting the RSSI threshold, adjusting a selection of a diverse antenna based on the assessed link quality;

assessing link quality for the wireless communication link after adjusting the selection of the diverse antenna;

if the assessed link quality is undesirable after adjusting the selection of the diverse antenna, adjusting a transmission frequency by changing channels based on the assessed link quality.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting includes adjusting power to transmit or receive a communication signal over the wireless communication link based on the assessed link quality.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a symbol transmission rate based on the assessed link quality.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a packet length based on the assessed link quality.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a selection of a diverse antenna based on the assessed link quality.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a transmission frequency by changing channels based on the assessed link quality.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting includes first adjusting wireless communication by adjusting at least one of power, symbol transmission rate, receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, packet length, polarization or spacial location for a diverse antenna or transmission frequency to switch channels, and the method further includes:

assessing link quality for the wireless communication link after first adjusting wireless communication; and

if the assessed link quality is undesirable after first adjusting wireless communication, adjusting at least one other of power, symbol transmission rate, RSSI threshold, packet length, polarization or special location for a diverse antenna or transmission frequency by changing channels.