U.S. patent application number 15/393766 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-22 for system and method for sharing network resources between hearing devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to OTICON A/S. The applicant listed for this patent is OTICON A/S. Invention is credited to Carsten Trygve BOGH, Peter SOMMER.
Application Number | 20170180883 15/393766 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35004288 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170180883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SOMMER; Peter ; et
al. |
June 22, 2017 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING NETWORK RESOURCES BETWEEN HEARING
DEVICES
Abstract
A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a
communication network includes a first transceiver unit in the
hearing device communicating according to a first communication
protocol. The system also includes a server device including an
input/output unit connected to the communication network and
configured to communicate according to a second communication
protocol. A second transceiver unit is connected wirelessly to the
first transceiver unit and configured to communicate according to
the first communication protocol. A translator unit interconnects
the second transceiver unit and the input/output unit and is
configured to translate between the first and second communication
protocol. The hearing device is configured to upload and download
data to and from the communication network through the server
device, and the server device is incorporated in a mobile or
cellular telephone.
Inventors: |
SOMMER; Peter; (Smorum,
DK) ; BOGH; Carsten Trygve; (Smorum, DK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OTICON A/S |
Smorum |
|
DK |
|
|
Assignee: |
OTICON A/S
Smorum
DK
|
Family ID: |
35004288 |
Appl. No.: |
15/393766 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15063295 |
Mar 7, 2016 |
9571940 |
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15393766 |
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13838889 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
9326077 |
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15063295 |
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11919750 |
Jan 17, 2008 |
8452036 |
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PCT/EP2006/061964 |
May 2, 2006 |
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13838889 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 25/55 20130101;
H04L 67/125 20130101; H04R 25/35 20130101; H04L 67/34 20130101;
H04M 1/05 20130101; H04R 25/558 20130101; H04R 25/554 20130101;
H04R 2225/41 20130101; H04R 2460/07 20130101; H04M 1/72591
20130101; H04L 69/08 20130101; H04R 2225/39 20130101; H04M 1/6066
20130101; H04R 2225/55 20130101; H04M 1/7253 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 25/00 20060101
H04R025/00; H04M 1/05 20060101 H04M001/05; H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 3, 2005 |
EP |
05103686.1 |
Claims
1. A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a
communication network, and comprising: a first transceiver unit in
said hearing device communicating according to a first
communication protocol, said first communication protocol being a
Bluetooth protocol, using an antenna of said hearing device, said
antenna wirelessly transmitting and receiving data that is
configured to the first communication protocol; and a server device
including; a second transceiver unit connected wirelessly to said
first transceiver unit and adapted for transmitting and receiving
data from the hearing device, and where the data is configured to
said first communication protocol, a third transceiver unit
configured to be wirelessly connected to said communication network
and adapted to communicate according to a second communication
protocol, and a translator unit interconnecting said second
transceiver unit and said third transceiver unit and adapted to
translate between said Bluetooth protocol and the second
communication protocol, wherein said hearing device is adapted to
upload and download data to and from said communication network
through said server device.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said server device
further comprises a memory configured to store environmental
acoustic data and actions of a wearer of the hearing device.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said server device is
configured to store in the memory the wearer's reactions to the
hearing device's selection of programs in certain acoustic
environments.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said server device is
incorporated in a mobile or cellular telephone.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said communication
network comprises a telephone network, a computer network, media
network, or any combination thereof.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said data comprises a
data package.
7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said data package
comprises a header section comprising routing and transmission
control data, and a data section comprising data payload.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said communication
network comprises connections to a plurality of service providers
in said communication network.
9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said service providers
are adapted to provide at least one of types of services for the
hearing device users, including updated hearing aid software with
new features, access to a multimedia event, access service
information, and any combination thereof.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said communication
network further includes connections to a telephone, a computer, a
personal digital assistant, a television, or any combination
thereof.
11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said server device
further comprises a location identifying element adapted to
identify present location of the server device.
12. A system according to claim 1 configured for updating hearing
aid software of the hearing device with new features.
13. A system according to claim 2 wherein the server device further
comprises a processor adapted to assist and/or support a signal
processor of the hearing device in calculations performed on the
environmental acoustic data.
14. A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a
communication network, and comprising: a first transceiver unit in
said hearing device communicating according to a first
communication protocol; an acoustic environment detector in said
hearing device configured to generate an environment signal; and a
server device including an input/output unit connected to said
communication network and adapted to communicate according to a
second communication protocol, a second transceiver unit connected
wirelessly to said first transceiver unit and adapted to
communicate according to said first communication protocol, a
translator unit interconnecting said second transceiver unit and
said input/output unit and adapted to translate between said first
and second communication protocol, and a controller configured to
generate an environment compensation signal based on the
environment signal, wherein said hearing device is adapted to
upload and download data to and from said communication network
through said server device, wherein said server device comprises a
broadcasting element configured to broadcast said environment
compensation signal to a plurality of hearing devices.
15. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communications
network comprises a storage provider operable by the server device
to store and communicate an appropriate setting to the hearing
devices.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a system and method for sharing
network resources between hearing devices. In particular, this
invention relates to a communications network enabling one or more
hearing devices to access shared services. This invention further
relates to a gateway device enabling hearing devices and user's
thereof to utilise the system for sharing resources.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Wireless communication between a pair of hearing aids and
various electrical appliances is known from European patent
application no.: EP 1 460 769. This patent application discloses a
mobile transceiver comprising a number of receivers receiving
electrical or electro-magnetic signals carrying audio signals. The
mobile transceiver further comprises a prioritising module
assigning a priority to audio signals received by the receivers so
as to ensure that essential information is communicated before
general information. In one embodiment of the mobile transceiver
comprises a positioning means determining current geographic
position and the prioritising module is designed to assign a
priority value to a received audio signal according to determined
current geographic position.
[0003] Further, German patent application no.: DE 102 22 408,
discloses a hearing aid system with a radio interface enabling
communication with external household appliances. The disclosed
system enables a plurality of hearing aid users to connect through
their hearing aids to a communication bus for individually
controlling household appliances through the communication bus. The
hearing aids connect wirelessly to the communication bus and
receive status information from the household devices, such as
"incoming telephone call" or "heating on". The hearing aids in
addition may transmit control signals to the household devices by
depression of button on hearing aids or by vocal control.
[0004] Even though the above hearing aid systems provide extended
possibilities for the hearing impaired, further advances may be
achieved. For example, the problem still remains in providing a
wirelessly communicating module or unit within the limited space of
a hearing aid. This problem is not addressed in the above patent
applications, and therefore the hearing aids in the context of the
above referred systems still require physical add-on
technology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a
hearing device system overcoming the above problems by providing a
wireless communication between a plurality of hearing devices and a
communications network.
[0006] A particular advantage of the present invention is the
provision of access to common services for hearing devices, such as
updating hearing aid software with new features, accessing a
multimedia event, or accessing service information.
[0007] A particular feature of the present invention is the
provision of a gateway translating from a hearing devices protocol
to a communication specific protocol and from a communication
specific protocol to a hearing device protocol.
[0008] The above object, advantage and feature together with
numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become
evident from below detailed description, are obtained according to
a first aspect of the present invention by a system for enabling a
hearing device wireless access to a communication network, and
comprising a first transceiver unit in said hearing device
communicating according to a first communication protocol; a server
device comprising an input/output unit connected to said
communication network and adapted to communicate according to a
second communication protocol, a second transceiver unit connected
wirelessly to said first transceiver unit and adapted to
communicate according to said first communication protocol, and a
translator unit interconnecting said second transceiver unit and
said input/output unit and adapted to translate between said first
and second communication protocol; and wherein said hearing device
is adapted to upload and download data to and from said
communication network through said server device.
[0009] The term "a" or "an" is in this context to be construed as
one or more, a plurality, or a multiplicity of parts.
[0010] Further, the term "hearing device" is in this context to be
construed as a hearing aid, a headset, a headphone, an ear-level
hearing device, or any combinations thereof.
[0011] Additionally, the term "server device" is in this context to
be construed as a personal device for handling a single hearing
device as well as a shared device for handling a number of hearing
devices. That is, the server device may be a body worn mobile
device or a stationary public device.
[0012] The system according to the first aspect of the present
invention provides further advances in communication possibilities
for hearing devices and, in particular, for hearing impaired using
hearing devices. The system enables a user of the hearing device to
access and download data from, for example, the Internet or a local
area network. Thus the communication network may comprise a wired
or wireless telephone network, such as public switched telephone
network (PSTN), global system for mobile communication (GSM),
enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE), digital enhanced cordless
telecommunications (DECT), a computer network, such as dedicated
line, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network
(MAN), wide area network (WAN), an inter-network (e.g. the
Internet), a media network, such as a cable or satellite television
or radio network, or any combination thereof. Thus the
communication network may advantageously comprise a wide variety of
network compositions, which enable audio as well control
communication to the hearing device.
[0013] The data according to the first aspect of the present
invention may comprise a data package, such as digital data
configured in a transmission block, a data packet, a data parcel,
datagram, and the like. The data package may have a first
configuration for the communication between the first and second
transceiver units and a second configuration for the communication
on the communications network.
[0014] The data package according to the first aspect of the
present invention may comprise a header section comprising routing
and transmission control data, such as transmitting and receiving
addresses, and a data section comprising data payload. Hence the
data package may be self-contained, independent entity of data
carrying information to be routed from the hearing device to the
server device or from the server device to the hearing device
without reliance on earlier exchanges.
[0015] The wireless communication between the first and second
transceiver elements may be implemented by capacitive or inductive
coupling. The wireless communication may further be implemented
using a modulation technique, a multiplexing technique, a coding
technique, or any combination thereof. The wireless communication
may comprise frequency modulation (FM), amplitude modulation (AM),
code-division multiple access (CDMA), phase shift keying (PSK), or
any combination thereof. The first and second transceiver elements
may comprise a coil antenna, so as to provide means for
communicating inductively between a coil antenna of the first
transceiver element and a coil antenna of the second transceiver
element.
[0016] The first communication protocol according to the first
aspect of the present invention may comprise Bluetooth, CDMA
protocol, proprietary wireless link protocol, or any combination
thereof.
[0017] The communication between the first and second transceiver
elements may be accomplished in a high frequency range, such as
between 800 MHz to 3 GHz. Thus the first and second transceiver
element may each comprise a modulator and a demodulator adapted to
transform data to high frequency signals communicated between the
first and second transceiver. The first and second transceiver
element may further each comprise a CODEC adapted to generate said
data package. The term "CODEC" is in this context to be construed
as an encoder/decoder and/or a compressor/de-compressor.
[0018] The second communication protocol according to the second
aspect of the present invention may comprise CDMA, stream control
transmission protocol (SCTP), telephone system's signalling system
7 (SS7), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP),
serial line Internet protocol (SLIP), point-to-point protocol
(PPP), user datagram protocol (UDP), Internet control message
protocol (ICMP), interior gateway protocol (IGP), exterior gateway
protocol (EGP), border gateway protocol (BGP), or any combination
thereof. Further, the second communication protocol may comprise
Bluetooth, I.sup.2C, proprietary wireless link protocol, or any
combination thereof. Hence the second communication protocol may
encompass the task of handling all required network operations
being general, telephone-related, computer-related, or any
combinations thereof, such as IP telephony.
[0019] The server device according to the first aspect of the
present invention may comprise memory element adapted to buffer
said data to be up- and downloaded on said communication network.
The server device may comprise access to a plurality of service
providers in the communication network. The service providers
advantageously provide all types of services for the hearing device
users. For example, the service providers may provide updated
hearing aid software with new features, access to a multimedia
event, access service information, or any combination thereof. In
addition, the server unit may comprise access to a telephone, such
as a mobile or cellular telephone or a wired PSTN telephone, a
computer, a personal digital assistant, a television, or any
combination thereof.
[0020] The server device according to the first aspect of the
present invention may further comprise a location identifying
element adapted to identify present location of the server device.
The location identifying element may thus advantageously identify a
location of the server device, which location may include
associations to particular hearing device programs. The term
"program" is in this context to be construed as a setting of the
hearing device determining the gain transfer function. The gain
transfer function may be established according to a particular
hearing loss or impairment or may be established according to a
particular acoustic environment. Hence the location identifying
element may assist in selecting an appropriate program for a
hearing aid communicating with the server or, in fact, to a
plurality of hearing aids communicating with the server device.
[0021] The server device according to the first aspect of the
present invention may be incorporated in a mobile or cellular
telephone. Thus the location identifying element may utilise
triangulation for determining location of the server device.
Alternatively, the server device may comprise a global positioning
system (GPS) module adapted to determine the location of the server
device.
[0022] The server device according to the first aspect of the
present invention may be fixed at a permanent location, such as an
airport, an aeroplane, a bus, a train, a cinema and the like. Thus
the server device may be utilised for controlling one or more
hearing devices in the same location with common external noise
reduction schemes. That is, the server device may ensure that
hearing aids in an aeroplane are controlled so as to reduce the
noise experienced by the wearer of the hearing device. Similarly,
the server device may also provide audio from the in-flight video
as well as service messages to the wearer of the hearing
device.
[0023] The hearing device according to the first aspect of the
present invention may further comprise an acoustic environment
detector adapted to generate an environment signal to be forwarded
as data payload in a data package to an environment service
provider in the communication network. The environment signal may
comprise amplitude and frequency data relating to acoustic
background noise of location of hearing device. The environment
service provider may comprise a controller element adapted to
generate an environment compensation signal to be forwarded as data
payload in a data package to the hearing device. The hearing device
may be adapted to utilise the environment compensation signal for
increasing signal-to-noise ratio of an audio signal presented to
the user of the hearing device. The environment compensation signal
may comprise a phase shifted version of the environment signal.
Hence the environment service provider may utilise the environment
signal for generating a phase shifted copy to be incorporated in
the audio signal presented to the user of the hearing device so as
to mask the acoustic background noise. The environment service
provider according to the first aspect of the present invention may
comprise an environment bank memory adapted to store a number of
environment compensation signals each associated with a predefined
noise situation.
[0024] The server device according to the first aspect of the
present invention may incorporate the environment service provider.
Thus the server device may establish a stand alone service for
hearing devices connecting thereto. Further, the server device may
comprise a broadcasting element adapted to broadcast to any hearing
devices in a predefined area of the location of the server device.
Thus the environment compensation signal may be utilised for
reducing background noise, for example, in an aeroplane for
passengers wearing hearing devices.
[0025] The above objects, advantages and features together with
numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become
evident from below detailed description, are obtained according to
a second aspect of the present invention by a server device adapted
to operate in the system according to the first aspect of the
present invention.
[0026] The server device according to the second aspect of the
present invention may incorporate any features of the system and in
particular the server device according to the first aspect of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The above, as well as additional objects, features and
advantages of the present invention, will be better understood
through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed
description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with
reference to the appended drawing, wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1, shows a system according to a first embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 2, shows a system according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] In the following description of the various embodiments,
reference is made to the accompanying figures, which show by way of
illustration how the invention may be practiced. It is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilised and structural
and functional modifications may be made without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 1, shows a system according to a first embodiment of
the present invention, which is designated in entirety by reference
numeral 100. The system 100 comprises one or more wearers of
hearing devices 102 in a defined area 104.
[0032] The hearing devices are designated in entirety by reference
numeral 106 and are shown in FIG. 1 as three sets of hearing
devices. The hearing devices 106 may be headsets, headphones,
hearing aids, or any combination thereof.
[0033] Each of the hearing devices 106 comprises an antenna, which
may be an inductive coil 108 or a dipole antenna 110. The antenna
108, 110 enable the hearing devices 106 to receive and transmit
signals with a server 112. The server 112 enables each of the
connecting hearing devices 106 to access a communications network
114, which may comprise a computer network, media network,
telecommunications network, or any combinations thereof.
[0034] The server 112 comprises one or more antennas 116, 118 for
transmitting and receiving data from the hearing devices 106, which
data are configured according to a wireless proprietary protocol
especially developed for hearing devices in particular hearing
aids. The server 112 comprises a gateway unit 120 for converting
data from the antennas from the wireless proprietary protocol to a
general communications protocol. The general communications
protocol may comprise CDMA, SCTP, SS7, TCP/IP, SLIP, PPP, UDP,
ICMP, IGP, EGP, BGP, Bluetooth, I.sup.2C, a second proprietary
protocol, or in fact any combination thereof.
[0035] The term "gateway" is in this context to be construed as a
translator translating from one transmission configuration and/or
data configuration to another.
[0036] The server 112 further comprises an input/output (I/O) unit
122 for connecting to the communications network 114. The I/O unit
122 thus may connect to a wide variety of services in the
communication network 114, such as a public switched telephone 124,
a cellular or mobile telephone 126, or a computer 128. In addition
the communications network 114 comprises access to a plurality of
services provided by service providers 130. The service provides
130 comprise an environment service provider 132 for reducing
background noise experienced by the hearing devices 106.
[0037] The hearing devices 106 comprise acoustic environment
detectors generating environment signals forwarded as a data
payload in a data package to the environment service provider 132
in the communication network 114. The environment signals comprise
amplitude and frequency data relating to acoustic background of
hearing devices 106.
[0038] Further, the I/O unit 122 of the server 112 connects to a
microphone 134, which may be applied as a further acoustic
environment detector for commonly determining the acoustic
environment of the defined area 104. The server 112 generates an
environment signal based on the acoustic environment of the defined
area 104, and forwards the environment signal as a data payload in
a data package to the environment service provider 132.
[0039] The environment service provider 132 generates an
environment compensation signal based on the environment signals,
which environment compensation signal is forwarded as a data
payload in a data package to the hearing devices 106. The hearing
devices 106 utilise the environment compensation signal for
increasing signal-to-noise ratio of an audio signal presented to
the wearers 102 of the hearing devices 106.
[0040] The environment compensation signal comprises a phase
shifted version of the environment signal. Hence the environment
service provider 132 may utilise the environment signal for
generating a phase shifted copy to be incorporated in the audio
signal presented to the wearers 102 of the hearing devices 106 so
as to mask the acoustic background noise.
[0041] In a further embodiment of the present invention the
microphone 134 is used for categorising the acoustic environment of
the position of the microphone 134. The server 112 uses this
categorisation for broadcasting a control signal to the hearing
devices 106 in the defined area 104.
[0042] The server 112 further comprises a memory 136 wherein the
server 112 stores signal processing settings controlling the signal
processing of the hearing devices 106. The server 112 may thus
firstly determine an acoustic environment of the defined area 104
and broadcast a setting to the hearing devices 106, which setting
processes the sound in accordance with the acoustic
environment.
[0043] Similarly, the communications network 114 comprises a
storage provider 138 operable by the server 112 to store and
communicate an appropriate setting to the hearing devices 106.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a system according to a second embodiment of
the present invention and designated in entirety by reference
numeral 200. Elements described with reference to FIG. 1 having an
identical function are designated with the same reference numeral
in FIG. 2.
[0045] The system 200 comprises a hearing device 202 communicating
with a personal server 204 through antennas 108, 118. The personal
server 204 further comprises a second antenna 206 enabling wireless
communication with a wireless access service provider 210
connecting to the communication network 114. The wireless access
service provider 210 communicates with the personal server 204
through an antenna 212. The personal server 204 has a size, which
makes it particularly advantageous as a body-worn device.
[0046] The wireless access service provider 210 thus enables the
hearing device access to a wide variety of service provided on the
communication network 114. For example, the hearing device may
receive audio streams of travel information, position data, or
media content (e.g. radio or sound track of television).
[0047] As in the server 112, described with reference to FIG. 1,
the personal server 204 comprises a memory 136, which may be
utilised storing hearing device 202 specific data such as
environmental acoustic data logged during a period, and the
wearer's reactions to the hearing device's selections of programs
in certain acoustic environments. Further, the personal server 204
comprises a processor 214 adapted to assist and/or support a signal
processor of the hearing device in calculations performed on the
environmental acoustic data.
[0048] The personal server 204 comprises a user interface (UI) 216
allowing the wearer of the hearing device 202 to control the
hearing device 202 and allowing the wearer to control access to the
communication network 114. The UI 216 may comprise a display and
keypad for displaying either services provided by the service
providers 130 in the communication network 114 or explanatory
information from the operation of the hearing device 202.
[0049] The second antenna 206, in a further embodiment of the
present invention, connects directly to cellular or mobile phone
126 through antenna 218. In this embodiment of the present
invention, the personal server 204 utilises the cellular or mobile
phone 126 for accessing the communication network 114.
[0050] In a third embodiment of the present invention, the personal
server 204 is incorporated in the cellular or mobile phone 126,
thus enabling accesses to the service providers 130 or devices 124,
128 connecting to the communication network 114 by means of the
cellular or mobile phone 126. The cellular or mobile phone 126
incorporates all the features of the server 112 and personal server
204, described with reference to the figures.
[0051] The second and third embodiments of the present invention
advantageously may thus provide a wearer of a hearing device such
as a hearing aid with positioning information, audio streaming etc.
In addition, the second and third embodiment may provide an
improved user interface for a wearer of a hearing device such as a
hearing aid since the wearer is presented with a display and
keypad, either directly on the personal server 204 or indirectly on
the cellular or wireless phone 126.
[0052] The second and third embodiments of the present invention
may further advantageously utilise the microphone 134 as a
conference microphone recording the voice of the wearer and
transmitting the voice to other wearers of hearing devices.
[0053] Finally, the first, second and third embodiments of the
present invention may support the hearing devices 106 in signal
processing, for example, in accordance with a hearing impairment,
and in calculation of features such as directionality of acoustic
signal detected by the hearing devices 106 or noise reduction
schemes.
* * * * *