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.

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

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.