Automated Sound Processor

Abstract

A method includes determining a first feature of a first audio signal at a first location in a signal processing path and determining, using the first feature, a first environmental classification of the first signal. Further, the method includes, based on the first environmental classification, enabling, modifying or disabling one or both of a first signal processing mode at the first location and a second signal processing mode at a second location in the signal processing path. The method also includes determining a second feature of a second audio signal at the second location and determining, using the second feature, a second environmental classification of the second signal. Further, the method includes, based on the second environmental classification, enabling, modifying or disabling one or both of the first signal processing mode at the first location and the second signal processing mode at the second location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a hearing system for processing audio signals, comprising:
 analyzing a first audio signal and a second audio signal to determine a first directional signal and a second directional signal;   analyzing at least one of the first directional signal to determine a first sound environment or the second directional signal to determine a second sound environment; and   based on at least one of the first sound environment or the second sound environment, determining a third audio signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first directional signal is a front directional signal and the second directional signal is a rear directional signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third signal is substantially similar to first directional signal or the second directional signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating the third audio signal includes at least one of:
 responsive to the first sound environment being classified as noise, performing a first audio signal processing mode on the first directional signal, wherein the first audio signal processing mode reduces noise from the first directional signal; or   responsive to the second sound environment being classified as noise, performing a second audio signal processing mode on the second directional signal, wherein the second audio signal processing mode reduces noise from the second directional signal.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on at least one of the first sound environment or the second sound environment, performing at least one of processing the first directional signal to generate a third directional signal that is different from the first directional signal, or processing the second directional signal to generate a fourth directional signal that is different from the second directional signal,   and wherein the third audio signal is based on at least one of the third directional signal or the fourth directional signal.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 analyzing the third audio signal to determine a third sound environment; and   based on the third sound environment, processing the third audio signal to generate a fourth audio signal that is different from the third audio signal.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the first audio signal at a first input to the hearing system, and receiving the second audio signal at a second input to the hearing system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first input and the second input include at least one omnidirectional microphone input. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third signal represents at least one of the first directional signal or the second directional signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a first feature of the first directional signal; and   determining a second feature of the second directional signal;   wherein the analyzing at least one of the first directional signal or the second directional signal to determine the first sound environment or the second sound environment is based on at least one of the first feature or the second feature.   
     
     
         11 . A method for processing audio signals comprising:
 analyzing a first audio signal and a second audio signal to determine a first directional signal and a second directional signal;   analyzing at least one of the first directional signal to determine a first sound environment or the second directional signal to determine a second sound environment; and   based on at least one of the first sound environment or the second sound environment, at least one of performing a first audio signal processing mode, or performing a second audio signal processing mode.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a third audio signal that represents at least one of the first directional signal or the second directional signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, based on the third audio signal, generating one or more stimulation signals that represent at least one of the first audio signal or the second audio signal, wherein the one or more stimulation signals are used by a hearing prosthesis to generate an output. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 analyzing the third audio signal to determine a third sound environment; and   based on the third sound environment, performing a third audio signal processing mode on the third audio signal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein performing the first audio signal processing mode comprises performing the first audio processing mode on the first directional signal or wherein performing the second audio signal processing mode comprises performing the second audio processing mode on the second directional signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first directional signal is a front directional signal and the second directional signal is a rear directional signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving the first audio signal at a first input to a hearing prosthesis, and receiving the second audio signal at a second input to the hearing prosthesis. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first input and the second input include at least one omnidirectional microphone input. 
     
     
         19 . A hearing prosthesis system comprising:
 one or more signal processing components configured to:
 analyze a first audio signal and a second audio signal to determine a first directional signal and a second directional signal; 
 analyze at least one of the first directional signal to determine a first sound environment or the second directional signal to determine a second sound environment; and 
 based on at least one of the first sound environment or the second sound environment, generate a third audio signal. 
   
     
     
         20 . The hearing prosthesis system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more signal processing components are further configured to, based on at least one of the first sound environment or the second sound environment, at least one of perform a first audio signal processing mode on the first directional signal, or perform a second audio signal processing mode on the second directional signal.