Communication channels between a personal communication device and at least one head-worn device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10986451-B2
Application number	US-201815887420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2018
Priority date	Feb 3, 2017
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A hearing assistive system, comprises a personal communication device ( 10 ) and a head-worn device ( 20 ). The personal communication device ( 10 ) has a user interface ( 12 ) being adapted for user interaction, a processor ( 11 ) controlling the user interface ( 12 ) and being adapted to run an application program, a short-range radio ( 13 ), and an output transducer ( 15 ). The head-worn device ( 20 ) has an input transducer ( 24 ) adapted for converting sound into an electric signal applied to a processor ( 21 ) outputting a modified audio signal via an output transducer ( 25 ). The application program is adapted to generate and output a data packet ( 70 ) on an audio carrier via the output transducer ( 15 ). The head-worn device ( 20 ) has an audio signaling block ( 26 ) for detecting and decoding the data packet ( 70 ) received by the input transducer ( 24 ). The head-worn device ( 20 ) has a controller ( 27 ) for controlling the operation of a short-range radio ( 28 ). The audio signaling block ( 26 ) is adapted to detect a radio pair command included in the data packet ( 70 ), and to instruct the controller ( 27 ) to enter pairing mode for the short-range radio ( 28 ), accordingly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing assistive system, comprising
a personal communication device having a user interface being adapted for user interaction, a processor controlling the user interface and being adapted to run an application program, a short-range radio, and an output transducer adapted for converting an electric signal into sound, and
a head-worn device having an input transducer adapted for converting sound into an electric signal applied to a processor outputting a modified audio signal via an output transducer;
wherein the application program is adapted to generate and output a plurality of commands for transmission of a data packet over an audio-based communication channel carrying information modulated on an audio carrier via the output transducer, the plurality of commands including a pairing command instructing a receiving device to enter pairing mode, and whereby the data packet is output by the output transducer as an acoustic sound signal;
wherein the head-worn device comprises an audio signaling block for detecting and decoding the data packet received by the input transducer, and a controller for selecting one out of at least two modes of operation including a pairing mode; and
wherein the audio signaling block is adapted to detect a radio pair command included in the data packet received over said audio-based communication channel, and when the radio pair command has been detected, to instruct the controller to enter the pairing mode for establishing a short-range radio link between the personal communication device and the head-worn device.

2. The hearing assistive system according to claim 1 , wherein the head-worn device is a hearing assistive device, and the processor is a dedicated processor configured to compensate a hearing loss.

3. The hearing assistive system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller enters pairing mode for the short-range radio for a predetermined period of time.

4. The hearing assistive system according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is adapted to switch off the short-range radio if no pairing has been achieved after the predetermined period of time.

5. The hearing assistive system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a magnetic induction radio in addition to the short-range radio, wherein the magnetic induction radio is not affected by a change in the operation of the short-range radio.

6. The hearing assistive system according to claim 1 , wherein the application program is adapted to receive input from a connectivity manager about the radio mode of the personal communication device, and to automatically generate a radio pair command to the head-worn device ensuring that the head-worn device assumes the same mode as the personal communication device.

7. A method of operating a hearing assistive system having a head-worn device remotely controlled from a personal communication device, the personal communication device having a user interface being adapted for user interaction, a processor controlling the user interface and being adapted to run an application program, a short-range radio, and an output transducer adapted for converting an electrical signal into sound; the head-worn device comprising an input transducer adapted for converting sound into an electric signal applied to a processor outputting a modified audio signal via an output transducer, an audio signaling block for detecting and decoding a data packet received by the input transducer, and a controller for selecting one out of at least two modes of operation including the pairing mode, wherein the method comprises:
in the personal communication device,
generating and outputting a data packet over an audio-based communication channel carrying information modulated on an audio carrier via the output transducer, said information including a plurality of commands including a pairing command instructing a receiving device to enter pairing mode;

in head-worn device,
detecting and decoding the data packet received by the input transducer; detecting a radio pair command included in the data packet; and
when the audio pair command has been detected, instructing the controller to enter pairing mode to establish a short-range radio communication channel between said head-worn device and said personal communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the head-worn device is a hearing assistive device, and the processor in said head-worn device is a dedicated processor configured for compensating a hearing loss.

9. The method according to claim 7 and comprising bringing the short-range radio into pairing mode for a predetermined period of time upon detecting of a radio pairing command.

10. The method according to claim 7 and comprising receiving input from a connectivity manager about the radio mode of the personal communication device, and wherein the application program is automatically generating a radio pair command to the head-worn device ensuring that the head-worn device assumes the same mode as the personal communication device.

11. The hearing assistive system according to claim 1 wherein entering pairing mode comprises turning on the short range radio in the head-worn device.

12. A hearing assistive system, comprising
a personal communication device, a radio adapted to establish a short range radio communication channel, and an output transducer adapted for converting an electric signal into sound, and
a head-worn device having an input transducer adapted for converting sound into an electric signal applied to a processor outputting an audio signal via an output transducer,
wherein the processor of the personal communication device is adapted to establish an audio-based communication channel carrying information modulated on an audio carrier, and to generate and output a plurality of commands for transmission in at least one data packet over said audio-based communication channel via the output transducer, whereby the data packet is output by the output transducer as an acoustic sound signal,
wherein the head-worn device comprises an audio signaling block for receiving said plurality of commands sent via the audio-based communication channel and received by the input transducer, said plurality of commands including a pairing command instructing a receiving device to enter pairing mode,
wherein the head-worn device comprises a controller for selecting one out of at least two modes of operation including said pairing mode, and
wherein the audio signaling block is adapted to detect said radio pair command received via the audio-based communication channel, and, when the radio pair command has been detected, to instruct the controller to enter the pairing mode for the radio to establish the short range radio communication channel between the personal communication device and the head-worn device.

13. The hearing assistive system according to claim 12 , wherein the personal communication device comprises a user interface being adapted for user interaction, a processor controlling the user interface and being adapted to run an application program, wherein the application program is adapted to communicate via the audio-based communication channel by generating a data packet on an audio carrier output via the output transducer.

14. The hearing assistive system according to claim 12 , wherein the head-worn device is a hearing assistive device, and the processor is a dedicated processor configured to compensate a hearing loss.

15. The hearing assistive system according to claim 12 , wherein the controller of the head-worn device enters pairing mode for the radio

Assignees

• Widex As

Inventors

• Ungstrup Michael
• Pihl Michael Johannes
• Rank Mike Lind
• Hesselballe Jan

Classifications

• H04R25/554 Primary

  using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils · CPC title

• H04W8/005

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04W76/10

  Connection setup · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title