Communication system for wireless audio devices

Abstract

The present subject matter provides a system for wireless communications between one or more wireless audio devices and other electronics for providing a rich set of streaming audio, control, programming and enhanced hearing functions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communicating with users of a plurality of hearing aids, comprising:
 providing an interface device configured to receive a signal from a communication device, process the signal for transmission to at least one of the plurality of hearing aids; and   programming the interface device to send a mute change command to at least one of the plurality of hearing aids, the mute change command specifying one of at least three mute states.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving the signal from a microphone using the interface device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving the signal from a cellular device using the interface device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving the signal from a network device using the interface device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving audio information from the communication device using the interface device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein receiving the audio information comprises receiving streaming audio. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving the streaming audio comprises receiving the streaming audio in stereo, and comprising transmitting the streaming audio to a pair of right and left hearing aids of the plurality of hearing aids. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising receiving control signals from the communication device using the interface device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the interface device comprises providing the interface device that is further configured to receive a wireless signal from one or more hearing aids of the plurality of hearing aids, process the wireless signal, and transmit the processed wireless signal to the communication device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein programming the interface device to transmit the processed signal to the one or more specific users comprises programming the interface device to transmit the processed signal to one specific user of the users of the plurality of hearing aids. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein programming the interface device to transmit the processed signal to the specified one or more users comprises programming the interface device to transmit the processed signal to a specific plurality of users of the users of the plurality of hearing aids. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein programming the interface device to transmit the processed signal to the specified one or more users comprises programming the interface device to transmit the processed signal to all of the users of the plurality of hearing aids. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for communications between a communication device and a plurality of hearing aids, comprising:
 a first communication port configured to receive a signal from the communication device;   a processor coupled to the communication port and configured to process the signal; and   a second communication port coupled to the processor and programmable for establishing a specified number of communication paths between the second communication port and at least one hearing aid of the plurality of hearing aids, the communication paths each programmable to be one of a unidirectional path and a bidirectional path;   wherein the second communication port is programmed to send a mute change command to the at least one hearing aid, the mute change command specifying one of at least three mute states.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second communication port is programmable for communications with specified pairs of hearing aids of the plurality of hearing aids. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first communication port is configured to receive the signal from the communication device through a wired link. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first communication port is configured to receive the signal from the communication device through a wireless link. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first communication port comprises a Bluetooth processor. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first communication port comprises an FM transceiver. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first communication port is configured to receive streaming audio from the communication device, and the second communication port is configured to transmit the streaming audio to the specified one or more hearing aids of the plurality of hearing aids. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first communication port is configured to receive the streaming audio in stereo, and the second communication port is configured to transmit the streaming audio to a pair of right and left hearing aids of the specified one or more hearing aids of the plurality of hearing aids.