Wireless environment interference diagnostic hearing assistance device system

• US 9,584,927 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Greenbush, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sellers, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/209,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for wireless interference diagnostic hearing assistance device systems. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for assessing and mitigating wireless interference for hearing assistance device programmers. The method includes measuring wireless interference over wireless communication channels using a wireless programmer configured to communicate with a hearing assistance device. A graphical display in communication with the wireless programmer is used to assist or direct a user to physically move the wireless programmer or the hearing assistance device to minimize the measured wireless interference. In various embodiments, the measured wireless interference is used to identify a source of the wireless interference, and an identity of the source of the wireless interference is displayed on the graphical display.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

measuring a wireless interference level over wireless communication channels using a wireless programmer configured to communicate with a hearing assistance device;

identifying a source of wireless interference, wherein

if the source of wireless interference is unknown, generating a log to send to customer support for diagnosis; and

using a graphical display in communication with the wireless programmer to assist a user to physically move the wireless programmer or the hearing assistance device away from an identified source of the wireless interference to minimize the measured wireless interference level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein using a graphical display in communication with the wireless programmer to assist a user to physically move the wireless programmer or the hearing assistance device includes providing real time link quality scores to the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein minimizing the measured wireless interference level includes minimizing link quality scores.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an identity of the identified source of the wireless interference on the graphical display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein using a graphical display includes using a graphical display attached to a personal computer in communication with the wireless programmer.

6. A method, comprising:

measuring wireless interference over wireless communication channels using fitting software configured for a wireless hearing assistance device programmer;

using the measured wireless interference to identify a source of the wireless interference;

if the source of the wireless interference is unknown, generating a log to send to customer support for diagnosis, and

displaying an identity of the source of the wireless interference on a graphical display in communication with the wireless programmer, and using the display to assist a user to physically move the wireless programmer or the hearing assistance device away from the identified source.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

using the graphical display to direct a user to physically move the wireless programmer or a hearing assistance device in communication with the wireless programmer to minimize the measured wireless interference.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein measuring wireless interference over wireless communication channels includes testing for detection of a hearing assistance device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein measuring wireless interference over wireless communication channels includes determining a combined score for detection and interference level.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying an identity of the identified source of the wireless interference on a graphical display includes using a graphical display attached to a personal computer in communication with the wireless programmer.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying an identity of the identified source of the wireless interference on a graphical display includes using a graphical display on the wireless programmer.

12. A hearing assistance system for a wearer, comprising:

a wireless hearing assistance device programmer configured to wirelessly communicate with a hearing assistance device using at least one of a plurality of channels; and

a graphical display in communication with the wireless programmer, wherein the wireless programmer is configured to measure wireless interference over the plurality of channels using fitting software configured for the wireless programmer, wherein if a source of the wireless interference is unknown, generating a log to send to customer support for diagnosis, and wherein the graphical display is configured to identify the source of the wireless interference and to provide direction to a user to physically move the wireless programmer or the hearing assistance device away from the identified source to minimize the measured wireless interference.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless programmer is adapted to identify a source of the measured wireless interference.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical display is configured to display an identity of the source of the measured wireless interference.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphical display includes a graphical display attached to a personal computer in communication with the wireless programmer.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphical display includes a graphical display on the wireless programmer.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the hearing assistance device in a hearing aid.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.