(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`9 November 2006 (09.11.2006)
`
` (10) International Publication Number
`
`WO 2006/117365 A1
`
`(51) International Patent Classification:
`H04R 25/00 (2006.01)
`H04M 1/05 (2006.01)
`H04B 1/20 (2006.01)
`H04L 29/06 (2006.01)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`2 May 2006 (02.05.2006)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`05l03686.l
`
`English
`
`English
`
`3 May 2005 (03.05.2005)
`
`EP
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): OTICON
`A/S [DK/DK]; Kongebakken 9, DK—2765 Smorum (DK).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): SOMMER, Peter
`[DK/DK]; c/0 Oticon A/S, Kongebakken 9, DK—2765
`Smorum (DK). BQGH, Carsten Trygve [DK/DK]; c/o
`Oticon A/S, Kongebakken 9, DK—2765 Smgzirum (DK).
`
`(10, (IR, (IU, (17,, l)H, l)K, l)M, DZ, H(I, HH, HG, HS, FI,
`GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE,
`KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK. LR, LS, LT, LU, LV,
`LY, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NA, NG, NI,
`NO, NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG,
`SK, Sl., SM, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US,
`UZ, VC, VN, YU, ZA, ZM, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
`GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD. SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
`ZW). Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD. RU, TJ, TM),
`European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI,
`FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NL, PL, PT,
`RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA,
`GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`Declarations under Rule 4.17:
`
`as to applicants entitlement to apply for and be granted a
`patent (Rule 4.l7(ii))
`of inventorship (Rule 4. l7(iv))
`
`Published:
`with international search report
`
`(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN,
`
`For two—letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the ”Guid—
`ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations ” appearing at the begin-
`ning ofeach regular issue ofthe PCT Gazette.
`
`(54) Title: SYSTEIVI AND METHOD FOR SHARING NETWORK RESOURCES BETWEEN HEARING DEVICES
`
`
`
`
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`6/117365A1I|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||ll|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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`(57) Abstract: This invention relates to a system ( 100, 200) for enabling a hearing device (106, 202) wireless access to a communica-
`: tion network (114) . The system (100, 200) comprises a first transceiver unit (108) in said hearing device (106, 202) communicating
`3 according to a first communication protocol. The system (100, 200) further comprises a server device (112, 204) comprising an
`(*1 inputloutput unit (122), which is connected to the communication network (114) and communicates according to a second commu-
`nication protocol, a second transceiver unit (118), which is connected wirelessly to the first transceiver unit (108) and communicates
`according to the first communication protocol, and comprising a translator unit (120), which interconnects the second transceiver
`unit (118) and the inpufloutput unit (122) and translates between the first and second communication protocol.
`
`B
`
`HIMPP 1005
`
`
`
`HIMPP 1005
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
`
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHAR NG N*ilWORK R.:.SOURC*iS %i.lW*.*.N
`
`Hi'.AR NG D~LV Ci'.S
`
`Field of invention
`
`5
`
`This invention relates to a system and method for sharing
`
`network resources between hearing devices. “n part’cu1ar,
`
`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
`
`l0
`
`and user's thereol
`
`-0 utilise the system for sharing resources.
`
`Background o:
`
`invention
`
`Wireless communication between a pair or hearing aids and
`
`l5
`
`various electrical appliances is known trom Turopean patent
`
`application no.: EP 1 460 769. This patent application
`
`discloses a mobile transceiver comprising a number o: receivers
`
`rece‘ving electrical or e1ectro~magnetic signa's carrying audio
`
`signals. The mobile transceiver ‘urther comprises a
`
`20
`
`prioritising module assigning a priority to audio signals
`
`received by the receivers so as to GHSJIS that essential
`
`information is communicated before genera]
`
`in'orma-ion.
`
`"n one
`
`embodiment of the mobile transceiver comprises a positioning
`
`means determining current geoglaphic position and the
`
`25
`
`prioritising module is designed to assign a priority value to a
`
`received audio signal according to determined current
`
`geographic position.
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
`
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`2
`
`Furtter, German patent application no.: DE l02 22 408,
`
`discloses a hearing aid system with a radio interface enabling
`
`comn-nication with external household appliances. The disclosed
`
`system enables a plurality of hearing aid users to connect
`
`5
`
`thro-gh their hearing aids to a communication bus for
`
`individually controlling household appliances through the
`
`comm_nication bus.
`
`She hearing aids connect wirelessly to the
`
`comm_nication bus and receive status information from the
`
`household devices,
`
`such as “incoming telephone call” or
`
`10
`
`“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.
`
`Even though the above hearing aid systems provide extended
`
`15
`
`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 theretooe the hearing aids in
`
`20
`
`the context of the above referred systems still require
`
`physical add—on technology.
`
`Summary of the invention
`
`25
`
`An object of the present
`
`invention is therefore to provide a
`
`hearing device system overcoming the above problems by
`
`I!
`providing a wireless communication between a plurality 0;
`
`hearing devices and a communications network.
`
`30
`
`A particular advantage of the present invention is the
`
`provision of access to common services for hearing devices,
`
`such as updating hearing aid software w’th new features,
`
`accessing a multimedia event, or accessing service information.
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
`
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`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
`
`5
`
`specific protocol to a hearing device protocol.
`
`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
`
`10
`
`to a first aspect o_ -he present invention by a system for
`
`enabling a hearing device wireless access to a communication
`
`netwo_k, and comprising a first transceiver unit in said
`
`hearing device communicating according to a first communication
`
`protocol; a server device comprising an input/ou-pu- unit
`
`15
`
`connected to said comminication network and adapted to
`
`comminicate according to a second communication protocol,
`
`a
`
`second transceiver unit connected wirelessly to said first
`
`transceiver unit and adapted to communicate according to said
`
`firs- communication protocol, and a translator unit
`
`70
`
`’nte”connecting said second transceiver unit and said
`
`inpu-/outpu- 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 througq said server device.
`
`25
`
`\\
`The term a” or
`
`\\
`
`an" is in tqis context to be construed as one
`
`or more,
`
`a plurality, or a miltiplicity of parts.
`
`Further,
`
`the term “hearing device” is in this context to be
`
`30
`
`construed as a hearing aid,
`
`a headset,
`
`a headphone, an ear-
`
`level hearing device, or any combinations thereo:
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
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`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`4
`
`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 Ol
`
`hearing devices. That is,
`
`the server device may be a body worn
`
`5 mobile device or a stationary public device.
`
`The system according to the first aspect of the present
`
`invention provides further advances in communication
`
`possibilities for hearing devices and,
`
`in particilar,
`
`for
`
`10
`
`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, sich as public switched telephone network
`
`15
`
`(PSTN), global system for mobi'e 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—netwo:k (e.g.
`
`20
`
`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 Ol network compositions, which enable audio as well
`
`control communication to the hearing device.
`
`25
`
`The data according to _he 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
`
`30
`
`for _he communication between the first and second transceiver
`
`units and a second configuration for the communication on the
`
`comminications network.
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
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`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`5
`
`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
`
`5
`
`the data package may be self—contained,
`
`independent entity Ol
`
`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.
`
`10
`
`The wireless communication between the first and second
`
`transceiver elements may be implemented by capacitive or
`
`inductive coupling. The wileless communication may further be
`
`implemented using a modulation technique,
`
`a multiplexing
`
`technique,
`
`a coding technique, or any combination thereof. The
`
`15 wireless communication may comprise frequency modulation (FM),
`
`amplitude modulation (AM), code—division multiple access
`
`(CDMA), phase shil - 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
`
`20
`
`between a coil antenna of the first transceiver element and a
`
`coil antenna of the second transceiver element.
`
`The first communication protocol according to the first aspect
`
`of the present invention may comprise Bluetooth, CDMA protocol,
`
`95
`
`proprietary wireless "ink protocol, or any combination thereol.
`
`The communication between the first and second transceiver
`
`elements may be accomplished in a nigh frequency range, such as
`
`between 800 MHZ to 3 GHz. Thus the first and second transceiver
`
`30
`
`element may each comprise a modulator and a demodulator adapted
`
`to transform data to high frequency signals communicated
`
`between the
`
`'rst and second transceiver. The first and second
`
`transceiver element may further each comprise a CODEC adapted
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
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`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`6
`
`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.
`
`5
`
`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
`
`protoco'/”n-ernet pro-ocol
`
`(TCP/IP), serial line lnternet
`
`10
`
`protoco'
`
`(SK“P), point—to—point protocol
`
`(PPP), user datagram
`
`protocol
`
`(UDP),
`
`lnternet control message protocol
`
`(ICMP),
`
`interior gateway p otocol
`
`("GP), exterior gateway protocol
`
`(EGP), border gateway protocol
`
`(BGP), or any combination
`
`thereof. Further,
`
`the second comiunication protocol may
`
`15
`
`comprise Bluetooth,
`
`”2C, proprietary wireless ‘ink protocol, or
`
`any combination thereof. Hence tne second comminication
`
`protocol may encompass the task of handlirg all required
`
`network operations being general,
`
`telephore—related, computer—
`
`related, or any combinations thereof,
`
`suck as LP telephony.
`
`20
`
`The server device according to the first aspect of the present
`
`invention may comprise memory element adapted to bu fer said
`
`data to be up— and downloaded on said communication network.
`
`The server device may comprise access to a plurality of service
`
`25
`
`providers in the communication network. Tre service providers
`
`advantageously provide all types o" services for the hearing
`
`device users. For cxampl
`
`,
`
`thc scrvicc providers may provide
`
`updated hearing aid software with new features, access to a
`
`multimedia event, access service information, or any
`
`30
`
`combina-ion -hereo .
`
`’n addition,
`
`the server unit may comprise
`
`access lo a lelephone, such as a mobile or cellu'ar telephone
`
`or a wired PSTN telephone,
`
`a computer,
`
`a personal digital
`
`assistant,
`
`a television, or any combination thereo:
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
`
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`The server device according to the first aspect of the present
`
`invention may further comprise a location iden,i”ying element
`
`adapted to identify present location of the s rvcr d vicc. The
`
`5
`
`'ocation iden_i'ying element may thus advantageously identify a
`
`'ocation ot 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 se__ing o;
`
`the hearing device determining the gain transfer
`
`’unction. The
`
`10
`
`gain Lrans'er unction may be established according to a
`
`particular hearing loss or impairment or may be established
`
`acco_ding to a particular acoustic environment.
`
`ience the
`
`location identifying e'ement may assist in selecting an
`
`appropriate progral for a hearing aid communicating with the
`
`15
`
`server or,
`
`in fact,
`
`to a plurality o“ hearing aids
`
`communicating with the server device.
`
`jhe server device according to the first aspect of the present
`
`invention may be incorporated in a mobile or cellular
`
`20
`
`telephone. Thus the location identifying element may utilise
`
`triangulation for determining 'ocation 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.
`
`25
`
`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 uti‘ised for controlling one or
`
`30 more nearing 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
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
`
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`8
`
`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.
`
`5
`
`The hearing device according to the first aspec- o_ 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
`
`10
`
`may comprise amplitude and frequency data relating to acoustic
`
`background noise of location of hearing device. The environnent
`
`service provider may comprise a controller element adapted to
`
`generate an environment conpensation signal to be forwarded as
`
`data payload in a data package to the hearing device. The
`
`15
`
`hearing device may be adap-ed 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 sqifted
`
`version of the environment signal. Hence the environment
`
`20
`
`service provider may utilise the environment signal
`
`fo”
`
`generating a phase shifted copy to be incorporated in the audio
`
`signal presented to the user 0; the hearing device so as to
`
`mask the acoustic background noise. The environment service
`
`provider according to the first aspect of the present invention
`
`25
`
`may comprise an environment bank memory adapted to store a
`
`number of environment compensation signals each associated with
`
`a predefined noise situation.
`
`She server device according to the first aspect of the present
`
`30
`
`invention may incorporate the environment service provider.
`
`Jhus the server device may establish a stand alone service to”
`
`hearing devices connecting thereto. Further,
`
`the server device
`
`may comprise a broadcasting element adapted to broadcast to any
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
`
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`9
`
`‘I
`
`hearing devices in a predefined area o’
`
`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.
`
`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.
`
`The server device according to the second aspect of the present
`
`invention may incorporate any
`
`features of the system and in
`
`I!
`particular the server device according to the first aspect O;
`
`the present invention.
`
`arief description of the drawings
`
`The above, as well as additional objects,
`
`featunes and
`
`advantages of the present invention, will be better understood
`
`through the “ollowing illustrative and non—limiting detailed
`
`description of preferred embodiments of the present invention,
`
`with reference to the appended drawing, wherein:
`
`l0
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`_:_ig.u.|,e
`
`I
`
`shows a system according to a
`
`first embodiment of the
`
`present invention; and
`
`figure 2,
`
`II
`shows a system according to a second embodiment o;
`
`30
`
`the present
`
`invention.
`
`
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
`
`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`Detailed description o" pre'erred embodiments
`
`10
`
`In the “o’lowing description of the various embodiments,
`
`reference is made to the accompanying figures, which show by
`
`5
`
`way of i1’ustration how the invention may be practiced.
`
`;t 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.
`
`10
`
`Figure 1,
`
`I!
`shows a system according to a first embodiment O; the
`
`present invention, which is designated in entirety by reference
`
`numeral 100. The system 100 comprises one or more weare s o’
`
`hearing devices 102 in a defined area 104.
`
`15
`
`The hearing devices are designated in entirety by reference
`
`numeral 106 and are shown in figure 1 as three sets of hearing
`
`devices. The hearing devices 106 may be headsets, headphones,
`
`hearing aids, or any combination thereof.
`
`20
`
`i3ach of the hearing devices 106 comprises an antenna, which may
`
`be an inductive coil 108 or a dipole antenna 110. The antenna
`
`108, "0 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
`
`25
`
`network 114, which may comprise a computer network, media
`
`network,
`
`telecommunications network, or any combinations
`
`thereof.
`
`The server 112 comprises one or more antennas 116, 118 for
`
`30
`
`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
`
`

`

`WO 2006/117365
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`PCT/EP2006/061964
`
`11
`
`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, P?P, UDP, ZCMP,
`
`"GP, ?GP, 1GP, sluetooth, ZZC,
`
`a second
`
`5
`
`proprietary protocol, or in fact any combination thereof.
`
`The term “gateway” is in this context to be construed as a
`
`translator translating from one transmission configuration
`
`and/or data configiration to another.
`
`10
`
`The server 112 fur-her comprises an input/output
`
`(Z/O) unit 122
`
`for connecting to the communications network 114. The I/O unit
`
`l22 thus may connect to a wide variety of services in the
`
`comminication network 1l4, such as a public switched telephone
`
`15
`
`l24,
`
`a cellular or mobi’e telephone 126, or a computer '28.
`
`n
`
`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 "educing background noise experienced by the hearing
`
`20
`
`devices 106.
`
`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
`
`25
`
`communication network 1l4. The environment signals comprise
`
`I1
`amplitude and frequency data relating to acoustic background of
`
`hearing devices 106.
`
`Furtqer,
`
`tqe I/O unit 122 of the server ll2 connects to a
`
`30 microphone 134, which may be applied as a further acoustic
`
`environment detector for commonly determining the acoustic
`
`environment o: the defined area 104. The server 112 generates
`
`an environment signal based on the acoustic environment of the
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`defined area 104, and forwards the environment signal as a data
`
`payload in a data package to the environment service provider
`
`132.
`
`5
`
`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
`
`10
`
`increasing signa1—to—noise ratio of an audio signal presented
`
`to the wearers ’02 of the hearing devices 106.
`
`The environment compersation signal comprises a phase shifted
`
`version of the envirorment signal. Hence the environment
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`15
`
`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 acotstic background noise.
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`70
`
`"n a firther embodimert of the present
`
`invention the microphone
`
`134 is used for categorising the acoustic environmen- 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.
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`25
`
`The server 1’2 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 first'y determine an acoustic environment of the
`
`30
`
`defined area 104 and broadcast a setting to the hearing devices
`
`106, which setting processes the soand in accordance with the
`
`acoustic environment.
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`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.
`
`Figure 2 shows a system according to a second embodiment of the
`
`present invention and designated in enticety by reference
`
`numeral 200.
`
`Elements described with re:erence to
`
`figure 1
`
`having an identical
`
`function are designated with the same
`
`reference numeral in figure 2.
`
`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.
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`10
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`15
`
`20
`
`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,
`
`25
`
`or media content
`
`(e.g.
`
`radio or sound track o;
`
`television).
`
`As in the server 112, described with reference to figure 1,
`
`the
`
`personal server 204 comprises a memory 136, which may be
`
`utilised storing hearing device 202 specific data such as
`
`30
`
`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
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`and/or support a signal processor of the hearing device in
`
`calculations performed on the environmental acoustic data.
`
`14
`
`The personal server 204 comprises a user interface (U:) 216
`
`5
`
`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 UT 216 may comprise a
`
`display and keypad for displaying either services provided by
`
`the service providers 130 in the communication network 114 or
`
`10
`
`explanatory in'ormaLion
`
`rom _he operation of the hearing
`
`device 202.
`
`The second antenna 206,
`
`in a further embodiment of the present
`
`invention, connects directly to cellular or mobile phone 126
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`15
`
`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.
`
`in a third embodiment of the present
`
`invention,
`
`the personal
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`20
`
`server 704 is incorporated in the cel ular or mob le phone 126,
`
`thus enabling accesses to the service providers 130 or devices
`
`124, 128 connecting to the communication network l14 by means
`
`o: the cellular or mobile phone 126. The cellular or mobile
`
`phone 126 incorporates all
`
`the features o’
`
`the server 112 and
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`25
`
`personal server 204, described with reference to the figures.
`
`Tue second and third embodiments of the present invention
`
`advantageously may thus provide a wearer of a nearing device
`
`SJCh as a hearing aid with positioning informa-ion, audio
`
`30
`
`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
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`a display and keypad, either directly on the persona;
`
`server
`
`204 or indirectly on the cellular or wireless phone L26.
`
`l5
`
`The second and third embodiments of
`
`the present invention may
`
`further advantageously utilise the
`
`microphone 134 as a
`
`conference microphone recording the voice o:
`
`the wearer and
`
`transmitting
`
`the voice to other wearers of hearing devices.
`
`Finally,
`
`the first,
`
`second and third embodiments of
`
`the present
`
`lO
`
`invention may support the hearing devices 106 in signal
`
`processing,
`
`for example,
`
`in accordance with a hearing
`
`impai_ment, and in ca'culation o’
`
`‘eatures such as
`
`directionality of acoustic signal detected by the hearing
`
`devices 106 or noise reduction schemes.
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`Claims
`
`l6
`
`l. A sys-em
`
`for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a
`
`comminication network,
`
`and comprising a
`
`first transceiver unit
`
`said
`
`in
`
`nearing device
`
`communicating according to a
`
`first
`
`comminication protocol
`
`;ase
`
`rver device comprising an
`
`inpu-/ou-puL unit connected
`
`to said communication network and
`
`adapued
`
`_o communicate according to a second communication
`
`protocol,
`
`a second transceiver unit connected wirelessly to
`
`10
`
`said
`
`first transceiver unit and adapted to communicate
`
`according to said
`
`first communication protocol,
`
`and a
`
`trans'ator unit
`
`interconnecting said second transceive_
`
`unit
`
`and said input/output
`
`Jnit and adapted
`
`to translate between
`
`said first and second
`
`comminication protocol;
`
`and wherein said
`
`15
`
`hearing device is adap
`
`-ed
`
`-o upload and download data
`
`to and
`
`from said communication
`
`network through said server device.
`
`2. A system according
`
`to claim l,
`
`wherein said communication
`
`network comprises a w‘
`
`”ed or wireless telephone network, a
`
`20
`
`computer network, media network,
`
`or any combination thereof.
`
`3. A system according to any of claims 1 to 2,
`
`wherein said
`
`data comprises a data package,
`
`such as digital data configured
`
`in a transmission block,
`
`a data packet,
`
`a data parcel,
`
`01‘
`
`25
`
`datagram.
`
`4. A system according to claim 3,
`
`wherein said data package
`
`comprises a header section comprising routing and transmission
`
`control data, and a da
`
`:a section comprising data pay:
`
`_oad.
`
`30
`
`5. A system according
`
`":0 any O’
`
`c'aims 1
`
`to 4,
`
`wheref
`
`_n said
`
`wireless communication
`
`between sa‘d first and second
`
`
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`transceiver elements comprises capacitive or inductive
`
`coupling.
`
`l7
`
`6. A system according to any o: claims 1 to 5, wherein said
`
`5
`
`first and second transceiver elements each comprise a coil
`
`antenna adapted to communicate inductively with one another.
`
`7. A system according to claims 1 to 6, wherein said
`
`communication network comprising connections to a plurality of
`
`10
`
`service providers in said communication network.
`
`8. A system according to claim 7, whe_ein said service
`
`providers are adapted to provide all types of services ior the
`
`hearing device users,
`
`such as updated hearing aid sottware with
`
`l5
`
`new ;eatures, access to a multimedia event, access service
`
`information, or any combination thereof.
`
`9. A system according to any 0’ c'aims l
`
`to 8, wherein said
`
`communication network compoising ‘urther connections to a
`
`20
`
`telephone,
`
`a computer,
`
`a personal digital assistant,
`
`a
`
`television, or any combination thereof.
`
`10. A system according to any 0' c'aims l
`
`to 9, wherein said
`
`server device ‘urther comprises a 'ocation identifying element
`
`25
`
`adapted to identify present location of the server device.
`
`ll. A system according to any 0: claims l to lO, wherein said
`
`server device is incorporated in a mobile or cellular
`
`telephone.
`
`30
`
`II
`12. A system according to any o‘ c'aims l0, wherein said server
`
`device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) module
`
`adapted to determine the location o‘ said server device.
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`18
`
`13. A system according to any o:
`
`: claims 1 to 12, wherein said
`
`hearing device
`
`further comprises an acoustic environment
`
`detector adapted to generate an
`
`environment signal to be
`
`forwarded as data payload in a data package to an environment
`
`service provide”
`
`in said communication network.
`
`14. A system according to claim
`
`13, wherein said environment
`
`signal comprises amplitude and
`
`frequency data relating to
`
`acoustic background noise of
`
`location of said hearing device.
`
`15. A system acco_ding to any o:: claims 13 to 14, wherein said
`
`environment service provider comprises a controller element
`
`adapted to generate an environment
`
`compensation signal to be
`
`forwarded as data payload in a data package to said hearing
`
`device.
`
`i6. A system according to claim
`
`15, wherein said hearing device
`
`is adapted to utilise said environment compensation signal
`
`for
`
`incoeasing signa'
`
`—to—noise ratio of an audio signal presented
`
`to the user oi
`
`the hearing device.
`
`1O
`
`15
`
`70
`
`17. A system according to any o:
`
`: claims 15 to 16, wherein said
`
`environment compensation signal
`
`comprises a phase shifted
`
`25
`
`v