Hearing system with network time

• US 8,588,443 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Glatt, Raoul, Knaus, Micha, Laich, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, RYAN C
• Application Number:
  US11/383,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20070269049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,744 Days
• Field of Search: 381314-315, 368/47, 700/14, 700/16
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0644 External master-clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The method of operating a hearing system comprising at least two devices comprises the step of establishing a common network time among said at least two devices. Said at least two devices can be provided with information on the number of network time units that passed since a time zero point of said common network time. Information on the common network time can be communicated from one device to another device. A wireless link can be used for establishing said common network time. The common network time not only allows for a precise synchronization of events within the hearing system, but also for ordering and sequencing events. A priorization of events, like tasks and actions, is enabled, based on the common network time. Doubly-received or obsolete commands can be recognized and deleted, and tasks can be scheduled.

Claims

1. Method of operating a binaural hearing system comprising at least two devices, said method comprising the step of

a) establishing a common network time among said at least two devices wherein at least one of said at least two devices is a hearing device;

and thereafter

m) transmitting, by a first of said at least two devices, a message, which message comprises a network time reference that refers to a specific point in time of said common network time and, in addition, a command to be executed by the hearing device, and

wherein said network time reference indicates a point in time at which said command is to be executed by said hearing device.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of

k) transmitting, by a first of said at least two devices, information on the current network time.

3. Method according to claim 2, comprising the step of

l) receiving, by at least one other of said at least two devices, said information on the current network time.

4. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of

b) providing said at least two devices with information on the number of network time units that passed since a time zero point of said common network time.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a common network time among said at least two devices is carried out via a wireless link.

6. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of

c) providing at least one of said at least two devices with the current network time during its boot-time or when it starts to receive messages from another device of the binaural hearing system.

7. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of

d) providing at least one of said at least two devices with the current network time frequently during its operation.

8. Method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of

e) receiving, in at least one of said at least two devices, the current network time;

and

f) using an internal clock of said at least one device for generating time information at least approximately indicating the current network time.

9. Method according to claim 8, furthermore comprising the step of

g) after the step of using an internal clock for generating time information, resynchronizing to the common network time upon again receiving the current network time in said at least one device.

10. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of

h) generating said common network time within said binaural hearing system.

11. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of

i) receiving information on said common network time from a reference time base external to said binaural hearing system.

12. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of

n) receiving, by at least one other of said at least two devices, said message.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting of said message is carried out in form of broadcasting.

25. Method according to claim 2, wherein the step of establishing a common network time among said at least two devices and/or the step of transmitting information on the current network time is carried out via a wireless link.

26. Method according to claim 3, wherein the step of establishing a common network time among said at least two devices is carried out via a wireless link and/or the step of transmitting information on the current network time is carried out via a wireless link.

27. Method according to claim 4, wherein the step of establishing a common network time among said at least two devices is carried out via a wireless link and/or the step of providing said at least two devices with information on the number of network time units that passed is carried out via a wireless link.

13. Method of operating a binaural hearing system comprising at least two devices, said method comprising the step of

a) establishing a common network time among said at least two devices wherein at least one of said at least two devices is a hearing device;

and thereafter

m) transmitting, by a first of said at least two devices, a message, which message comprises a network time reference that refers to a specific point in time of said common network time, and, in addition, a command to be executed by the hearing device,

wherein said network time reference is a time reference for identifying said message.

23. Method according to claim 13, wherein said time reference for identifying said message is a time reference indicating the point in time of the generation of said message or of said transmitting of said message.

15. Binaural hearing system comprising at least two devices and means for establishing a common network time among said at least two devices wherein at least one of said at least two devices is a hearing device, wherein the binaural hearing system is structured and configured to transmit, by a first of said at least two devices and after said common network time has been established, a message, which message comprises a network time reference that refers to a specific point in time of said common network time, and, in addition, a command to be executed by the hearing device, and wherein said network time reference indicates a point in time at which said command is to be executed by said hearing device.

16. System according to claim 15, wherein said means comprise, in at least a first of said at least two devices, a transmitter adapted to transmitting information on the current network time.

17. System according to claim 16, wherein said means comprise, in at least one other of said at least two devices, a receiver adapted to receiving said information on the current network time.

18. System according to claim 15, wherein said means comprise a communication link functionally interconnecting said at least two devices.

19. System according to claim 15, wherein said means comprise a receiver for receiving information on said common network time from a reference time base external to said binaural hearing system.

20. System according to claim 15, wherein said means comprise, in at least one of said at least two devices, a timepiece for generating said common network time.

21. System according to claim 15, which comprises, in at least one of said at least two devices, an internal clock for generating time information at least approximately indicating the current network time.

22. System according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said at least two devices is a hearing aid.

24. System according to claim 18, wherein said communication link functionally interconnecting said at least two devices is a wireless link.