Providing notification sounds in a customizable manner

• US 8,526,649 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Foo, Edwin W., Hughes, Gregory F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/029,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20120213393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/315
• US Class Current: 381/315
• 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 2225/43 Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• 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 25/353 Frequency, e.g. frequency shift or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

Broadly speaking, the embodiments disclosed herein describe an apparatus, system, and method that allow a user to perceive notifications (audible or otherwise) corresponding to an external event in any manner deemed appropriate.

Claims

1. A method of presenting an audible rendering of an event notification signal generated by a notifying device in response to an external event, the method comprising:

receiving the event notification signal at a processing device in communication with an output device that is included in an accessory unit;

processing the event notification signal by the processing device in accordance with a user preference, comprising a user remapping preference, by generating a remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal in accordance with the user remapping preference, wherein the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal is different from a non-remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal;

providing the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal to the output device; and

presenting the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal by the output device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing device is a portable computing device in communication with the accessory unit.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the portable computing device is arranged to establish a communication channel with the accessory unit;

and

wherein the providing comprises providing the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal to the accessory unit via the communication channel.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the accessory unit is a hearing aid, and wherein the processing device is included within the hearing aid.

5. A system arranged for providing hearing assistance, comprising:

a processing device with one or more processors; and

a hearing assistance device in communication with the processing device, wherein the hearing assistance device comprises an output device arranged to provide an output suitable for being audibly perceived by a user of the system;

wherein the one or more processors of the processing device are configured to;

receive an event notification signal provided by a notifying device indicating that an event has occurred;

process the event notification signal in accordance with an audio processing profile, comprising a user remapping preference, so as to generate a remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal in accordance with the user remapping preference, wherein the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal is different from a non-remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal; and

provide the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal to the hearing assistance device; and

wherein the output device of the hearing assistance device is configured to present the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the processing device is a portable communication device in communication with the hearing assistance device.

7. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the hearing assistance device is a hearing aid and the audio processing profile is a hearing aid profile comprising at least one hearing aid parameter used to condition the remapped audible rendering.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the portable communication device is configured to establish a communication channel with the hearing assistance device;

and

wherein the providing comprises providing the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal to the hearing assistance device via the communication channel.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the hearing assistance device is a hearing aid, and wherein the processing device is included within the hearing aid.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer code executable by one or more processors of a processing device in communication with a hearing assistance device, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer code for receiving an event notification signal from a notifying device at the processing device;

computer code for processing the event notification signal by the processing device in accordance with a user preference, comprising a user remapping preference, so as to generate a remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal in accordance with the user remapping preference, wherein the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal is different from a non-remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal; and

computer code for providing the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal to the hearing assistance device.

11. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the hearing assistance device is a hearing aid.

12. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the processing device is included within the hearing aid.

13. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the processing device is a portable computing device in communication with the hearing assistance device.

14. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, further comprising, computer code for establishing a communication channel with the hearing assistance device;

and

wherein the computer code for the providing comprises computer code for providing the remapped audible rendering of the event notification signal to the hearing assistance device via the communication channel.

15. A hearing assistance device for presenting an audibilization of an event notification signal generated by a notifying device in response to at least one external event, the hearing assistance device comprising:

a processor;

a data storage device arranged to store at least a user preference, comprising a user remapping preference;

an output device; and

an interface in communication with the processor for receiving the event notification signal from the notifying device;

wherein the processor is configured to;

process the event notification signal so as to generate a remapped audibilization of the event notification signal in accordance with the user remapping preference, wherein the remapped audibilization of the event notification signal is different from a non-remapped audibilization of the event notification signal;

provide the remapped audibilization of the event notification signal to the output device, and

present the remapped audibilization of the event notification signal by the output device.

16. The hearing assistance device as recited in claim 15, wherein the hearing assistance device is a hearing aid.