Personal Sound System Including Multi-Mode Ear Level Module with Priority Logic

Abstract

A personal sound system is described that includes a wireless network supporting an ear-level module, a companion module and a phone. Other audio sources are supported as well. A configuration processor configures the ear-level module and the companion module for private communications, and configures the ear-level module for a plurality of signal processing modes, including a hearing aid mode, for a corresponding plurality of sources of audio data. The ear module is configured to handle variant audio sources, and control switching among them.

1 . A method for configuring a personal sound system including an first module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver adapted transmit and receive communication signals which encode audio signals, an audio transducer, and control circuitry for establishing a communication link using the radio based on a link parameter, and a companion module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver adapted transmit communication signals encoding audio signals, a microphone and control circuitry for establishing a communication link using the radio based on the link parameter, the method comprising:
 using a configuration host computer to establish the link parameter for connecting the first module with the companion module;   establishing a first radio communication link between the first module and the configuration host computer, and delivering the link parameter to the first module using the first radio communication link; and   establishing a second radio communication link between the companion module and the configuration host computer, and delivering the link parameter to the companion module using the second radio communication link.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first radio communication link establishing step is carried out with the first module being an ear module. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the second radio communication link establishing step is carried out with the companion module being a companion microphone. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising issuing a prompt to a user by the configuration host computer to enter identification information regarding the first module and the companion module. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising issuing a prompt to a user by the configuration host computer to enter the serial numbers the first module and the companion module. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising displaying by the configuration host computer a screen display with a graph of an audio characteristic versus frequency. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising displaying by the configuration host computer a screen display with a graph of gain versus frequency. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising displaying by the configuration host computer a screen display with a plurality of graphs of audio characteristics versus frequency. 
     
     
         9 . A device for delivering audio data, comprising:
 a module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals, a microphone, and control circuitry;   wherein the control circuitry includes
 memory adapted to store first and second link parameters; 
 logic for communication with a configuration host using the radio, including resources for establishing a configuration channel using the first link parameter with the configuration host and for retrieving said second link parameter from said configuration host using the configuration channel; 
 logic for communication with a destination for audio data using the radio, including resources for establishing an audio channel using the second link parameter; and 
 logic transmitting audio data from the microphone using the audio channel to the destination. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first link parameter comprises a first authentication factor for pairing the module with the configuration host. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second link parameter comprises a second authentication factor for pairing the module with a companion module. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the module comprises an ear module and the companion module comprises a mobile phone. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the destination is the mobile phone. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the module comprises an ear module and the companion module comprises a companion microphone. 
     
     
         15 . A personal communication system, comprising an ear-level module and a companion module;
 the ear-level module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio signals, an audio transducer, and control circuitry; wherein the control circuitry includes:
 memory storing first and second link parameters; and 
 logic for communication with sources of data using the radio, including resources for participating in a first channel with the first link parameter, and for participating in a second channel with the second link parameter; and 
   the companion module including a radio including a transmitter and a receiver which transmits and receives communication signals encoding audio signals, and control circuitry wherein the control circuitry includes:
 memory storing the second link parameter and a third link parameter; 
 logic for communication with the ear-level module using the radio, including resources for participating in the second channel using the second link parameter; and 
 logic for communication with another destination device using the radio, including resources for participating in a third channel using the third link parameter. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein a first source of data comprises a configuration host. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the first link parameter comprises a first authentication factor for pairing the ear-level module with the configuration host. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the second link parameter comprises a second authentication factor for pairing the ear-level module with the companion module. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the companion module comprises a mobile phone. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the another destination device comprises a companion microphone.