[0001] A new hearing instrument is provided with capability of presenting speech messages,
such as calendar reminders, tweets, sms-messages, notifications, etc., e.g., from
a user's time management and communication systems at selected points in time.
[0002] Personal time management may be performed with a computer, e.g. using an email system
with electronic calendar, to-do-lists, and notes to manage daily activities and communications.
Communication may also be performed via electronic social and professional networks.
[0003] In some cases, a user recording an event or a task to be performed also records a
reminder to be displayed to the user in advance to remind the user of the upcoming
event or the task to be performed. Likewise, notifications may be displayed on a computer
indicating incoming communication, such as receipt of a new email or updates in the
social or professional networks, etc.
[0004] Notifications and reminders typically include a sound to make the user aware of the
reminder or notification. Having heard the sound, the user typically has to consult
a display on a computer, tablet computer, smart phone, or mobile phone, in order to
know what event or task, a particular reminder or notification relates to.
[0005] In the event that the user is wearing a hearing instrument, e.g. a hearing aid, the
user may miss one or more notifications and/or reminders.
[0006] US 2005/0251224 A1 discloses a hearing system for a person, comprising input means for providing electrical
signals produced from sound, signal processing means for processing said electrical
signals for producing audio signals, means for storing digital text received from
a source of digital text, means for converting digital text from said text storing
means into audio signals, and output transducer means for converting audio signals
into a stimulation of said person's hearing.
[0007] US 2012/215532 A1 discloses providing individualized consistent speech patterns to a user of a hearing
assistance system. More specifically, a method performed by a portable computing device
for providing consistent speech is described. In one embodiment, the portable computing
device includes an audio processing component coupled with an audio input device.
The method can be performed by carrying out the following operations: receiving human
speech at the audio input device, converting the human speech to text, converting
the text directly to a consistent speech using a text to speech protocol, and passing
the consistent speech to an output device.
[0008] New methods of communicating a message according to claims 15 and 16, respectively,
are provided.
[0009] New hearing instrument systems according to claims 7 and 8, respectively, are also
provided.
[0010] The device may comprise the text-to-speech processor configured for conversion of
the message into the corresponding speech message, and the central processor may be
configured for controlling the transmission of the corresponding speech message to
the hearing instrument.
[0011] Alternatively, the hearing instrument may comprise the text-to-speech processor.
[0012] Through the Wide-Area-Network, e.g. the Internet, the device has access to electronic
time management and communication tools used by the user for communication and for
storage of time management and communication information relating to the user. The
tools and the stored information typically reside on a remote server accessed through
the Wide-Area-Network. A plurality of the devices with interfaces to the Wide-Area-Network
may access the tools through the Wide-Area-Network and may store the information relating
to the user.
[0013] The device may access the Wide-Area-Network through a mobile telephone network, such
as GSM, IS-95, UMTS, CDMA-2000, etc.
[0014] Each of the devices may be synchronized with the remote server when connected with
the remote server through the Wide-Area-Network, e.g. according to a user defined
schedule, so that the information stored in the device is consistent with the information
stored in the remote server, i.e. during synchronization, the information in the remote
server is updated with possible changes entered into the device by the user subsequent
to the previous synchronization, e.g. the user may have entered new information, such
as a new meeting in the calendar, during a period of time, when the device was not
connected to the remote server; and the information in the device is also updated
with possible changes entered into the remote server subsequent to the previous synchronization,
e.g. another person may have send an invitation to a new meeting to the user.
[0015] The tools may include electronic calendar system(s), email system(s), such as Microsoft
Outlook Express, Lotus notes, Windows Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, Postbox, Apple Mail,
Opera Mail, KMail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc, social network(s), professional
network(s), such as Facebook ®, Linkedln ®, Google+, tumblr, Twitter, MySpace, etc,
RSS/Atom feeder(s), such as Bloglines, Feedly, Google Reader, My Yahoo!, NewsBlur,
Netvibes, etc, news feeder(s), etc, well-known for management of daily activities
and communications.
[0016] The information may include tasks to be performed, calendar dates, such as birthdays,
anniversaries, appointments, meetings, etc, contacts, websites of interest, etc.
[0017] The device may reside in, and may share resources with, any type of computer, tablet
PC, PDA, mobile phone, smart phone, etc.
[0018] The device may comprise the text-to-speech processor configured to generate a corresponding
speech message, such as a spoken reminder, from the information that is stored and
updated using the tools. The corresponding speech message may be stored as digital
audio samples in an audio file in a memory in the device for subsequent transmission
to the hearing instrument, e.g. upon detection of connection with the hearing instrument,
possibly together with timing information, such as a date and time of day, or corresponding
to a specific date and time of day, e.g. the number of seconds, minutes, hours and/or
days in advance of term expiry of the recorded event or task, the reminder should
be presented to the user, e.g. 3 days before a recorded birthday, or defined by the
number of seconds, minutes, hours and/or days that have to elapse from data entry
until presentation of the speech message to the user, etc, constituting the selected
time for play back of the corresponding speech message to the user. In this way, a
text-to-speech processor is not required in the hearing instrument.
[0019] Alternatively, the hearing instrument may comprise the text-to-speech processor.
The message may be converted to the corresponding speech message at the time of play
back of the corresponding speech message to the user; or, the message may be converted
to the corresponding speech message at the time of receipt of the message by the hearing
instrument, and the audio samples may be stored in a memory in the hearing instrument
for play back at the selected time.
[0020] The device may be synchronized with the remote server when connected with the remote
server through the Wide-Area-Network, e.g. according to a user defined schedule.
[0021] Typically, when the user records or edits an event that requires attention or a task
to be performed, the tools provide the option of specifying a reminder to be sent
to the user in advance. Typically, the user may select that the reminder is forwarded
as an SMS and/or an email and/or displayed in a pop-up window on a computer and/or
forwarded as a corresponding speech message to the hearing instrument.
[0022] Further, the user may select how long time in advance, e.g. seconds, minutes, hours
and/or days, the reminder is to be presented to the user, e.g. by specifying the number
of seconds, minutes, hours and/or days before the term of the recorded event or task,
the reminder has to be presented to the user, e.g. 3 days before a recorded birthday,
or by specifying the actual date and time of day, the reminder has to be presented
to the user, or by specifying the number of seconds, minutes, hours and/or days that
have to elapse from data entry until presentation of the reminder to the user, etc.
[0023] Typically, the tools also provide notifications to the user of incoming communication,
such as receipt of a new email, SMS, instant message, traffic announcement, etc, or
receipt of updates in social or professional networks, such as Facebook, Twitter,
Linkedln, etc, RSS/Atom feeds, etc.
[0024] The message may include such notifications.
[0025] The message may also include the new incoming information, e.g. an email, an SMS,
a post in social or professional network, a blog post, an RSS/Atom feed, a news feed,
an instant message, etc.
[0026] Thus, examples of corresponding speech messages include reminders on, e.g. meetings,
birthdays, social gatherings, journeys, to-do items, etc, and notifications on, e.g.,
tweets, emails, news, traffic updates, social network updates, web page updates, etc,
and communication, e.g. an email, an SMS, a post in social or professional network,
a blog post, an RSS/Atom feed, a news feed, an instant message, etc.
[0027] Some corresponding speech messages may be played back immediately upon receipt by
the hearing instrument.
[0028] Corresponding speech messages to be played back immediately may be transmitted to
the hearing instrument together with timing information equal to zero.
[0029] The corresponding speech message may be accompanied by a notification jingle, such
as a personalized notification jingle.
[0030] The message, or the corresponding speech message, may be removed automatically from
the memory of the hearing instrument after play back in order to make the part of
the memory occupied by the message, or corresponding speech message, available to
a new message, or corresponding speech message.
[0031] Alternatively, the message, or the corresponding speech message, may be kept in memory
of the hearing instrument after play back in order to make it available for subsequent
repeated play back.
[0032] Typically, the user may access the tools and the stored information from any type
of computer or device that is connected to the Wide-Area-Network by logging-in to
a specific account, e.g. with a username and a password.
[0033] When logged-in to the account in question, the user may authenticate other devices
to access the tools and the stored information without further authentication.
[0034] In order for the device to be authenticated and allowed access to the tools and the
stored information, the user may have to log onto the corresponding accounts from
the device.
[0035] The hearing instrument has an interface for reception of the message, or the corresponding
speech message, from the device, and a memory for storage of the message, or the corresponding
speech message.
[0036] The message processor is configured for, at the selected time, control play back
of the corresponding speech message by transmission of the corresponding speech message
to an output transducer for conversion of the corresponding speech message into an
acoustic output signal for transmission towards an eardrum of the user of the hearing
instrument.
[0037] The hearing instrument may be a hearing aid, such as a BTE, RIE, ITE, ITC, or CIC,
etc, hearing aid including a binaural hearing aid; or, the hearing instrument may
be a headset, headphone, earphone, ear defender, or earmuff, etc, such as an Ear-Hook,
In-Ear, On-Ear, Over-the-Ear, Behind-the-Neck, Helmet, or Headguard, etc.
[0038] For example, the new hearing instrument system is a new hearing aid system with a
new hearing aid having
[0039] a microphone for provision of an audio input signal in response to sound signals
received at the first microphone,
[0040] a hearing loss processor that is configured to process the audio input signal in
accordance with a predetermined signal processing algorithm to generate a hearing
loss compensated audio signal,
[0041] a receiver for conversion of the hearing loss compensated audio signal to an acoustic
output signal,
[0042] an interface for reception of the message, e.g. as audio samples of a corresponding
speech message, from the device,
the memory for storage of the message, and wherein
[0043] the message processor configured for, at the selected time, play back the message
as the corresponding speech message by transmitting audio samples of the corresponding
speech message to a D/A converter for conversion into an analogue audio signal output
to the receiver for converting the analogue audio signal into an acoustic signal for
transmission towards the eardrum of the user of the hearing aid system.
[0044] The hearing instrument, such as the hearing aid, may have a timer providing information
on date and time of day, and the message processor may be configured for transmitting
the message at a selected date and time of day.
[0045] The timer may be synchronized with the device, e.g. whenever data, such as the message,
is transmitted to the hearing instrument.
[0046] The new hearing instrument system takes advantage of the fact that a user of the
hearing instrument system, especially a hearing aid user, already wears the hearing
instrument and therefore, the user is able to listen to corresponding speech messages
without having to perform additional tasks, such as mounting a headphone or headset
on his or her head, bringing a telephone to the ear, and/or looking at a screen and/or
select information to be displayed and/or played back, and/or looking at a dashboard
of a car and/or select information to be displayed and/or played back, etc.
[0047] The hearing instrument may have a wireless interface, for reception of data transmitted
by the device, including messages or corresponding speech messages or distinct sounds,
such as short single note tones, or distinct sequences of notes, such as notification
jingles, such as a personalized notification jingles, and possibly the selected time,
i.e. timing information specifying when the hearing instrument is controlled to play
back the corresponding speech message.
[0048] The hearing instrument may have a wired interface for reception of data transmitted
by the device, including messages or corresponding speech messages or distinct sounds,
such as short single note tones, or distinct sequences of notes, such as notification
jingles, such as a personalized notification jingles, and possibly the selected time,
i.e. timing information specifying when the hearing instrument is controlled to play
back the corresponding speech message. The wired interface may, e.g., be used during
possible docking of the hearing instrument, e.g. docking for recharging of the hearing
instrument.
[0049] When the hearing instrument is within receiving range of the device transmitter,
and the communication link between the hearing instrument and the device is established,
the communication link may be used to synchronize the hearing instrument with the
device, e.g. a timer of the hearing instrument may be synchronized with a timer of
the device, and any new message; or, new messages to be presented to the user within
a certain time period, e.g. within the next 24 hours, within the next week, within
the next month, etc., may be transferred to the hearing instrument together with possible
timing information on respective dates and times for play back of the corresponding
speech messages to the user. Synchronizing data for a limited time period lowers the
memory requirements of the hearing instrument. Alternatively, the amount of available
memory may be calculated and a corresponding number of new messages may be transferred
to the hearing instrument together with possible timing information on respective
dates and times for play back of the corresponding speech messages to the user. In
this way, the available memory is used to store as many messages as possible.
[0050] The user may use a user interface of the device to input time management and/or communication
information to the tools as is well-known in the art.
[0051] The device may comprise the user interface, or part of the user interface, of the
hearing instrument.
[0052] The hearing instrument may have a user interface, e.g. one or more push buttons,
and/or one or more dials as is well-known from conventional hearing instruments.
[0053] The hearing instrument system may have a user interface configured for reception
of spoken user commands to control operation of the hearing instrument system.
[0054] The user may use the user interface of the hearing instrument to command the hearing
instrument to sequentially play back the messages currently stored in the memory of
the hearing instrument, e.g. in ascending or descending order of time of receipt,
in ascending or descending order of time to be played back, etc, e.g. specified by
the user using the user interface of the hearing instrument and/or previously specified
by the user during access to the tools.
[0055] The user may delete messages stored in the memory, using the user interface of the
hearing instrument and/or the device.
[0056] The user may select a new time for the message to be played back using the user interface
of the hearing instrument and/or the device. The new time may substitute or be added
to the previous time for the message to be played back, e.g. also specified by the
user using the user interface of the hearing instrument and/or the device.
[0057] The user may delete the time for the message to be played back without deleting the
message itself from the memory of the hearing instrument using the user interface
of the hearing instrument and/or the device.
[0058] The user may select to mute all or selected received messages using the user interface
of the hearing instrument and/or the device. Subsequently, the user may select to
unmute all or selected received messages using the user interface of the hearing instrument
and/or the device.
[0059] The selected time may be a time for playing back the corresponding speech message
as previously specified by the user during recording or editing of the event or task
in question and transmitted to the hearing instrument together with the message for
storage in the hearing instrument.
[0060] The corresponding speech message may be played back at more than one selected times,
each of which may be transmitted to the hearing instrument together with the message
in question for storage in the hearing instrument.
[0061] Preferably, the corresponding speech message is digitized in the device into digital
audio samples that is transmitted to the hearing instrument and stored in an audio
file in the memory of the hearing instrument, whereby the corresponding speech message
is stored in the hearing instrument in the form of an audio file. At play back, the
digital audio samples of the audio file is converted to an analogue audio signal in
a digital-to-analogue converter of the hearing instrument and the analogue audio signal
is input to an output transducer, such as a loudspeaker (termed a receiver in a hearing
aid), for conversion into a corresponding acoustic speech message that is transmitted
towards the eardrum of the user.
[0062] In this way, the user is relieved from the task of consulting other equipment to
check on reminders and updates; rather, the user need not change anything or take
any particular actions in order to be able to receive corresponding speech messages.
[0063] The transmission of messages from the device to the hearing instrument need not take
place at the time at which the hearing instrument plays the corresponding speech message
back. Rather, the transmission may occur anytime before the time of play back, e.g.
a reminder may be transmitted to the hearing instrument together with the selected
time for play back of the reminder, upon recording or editing of the reminder; whenever
the hearing instrument is within receiving range of the transmitter of the device
and a communication link between the device and the hearing instrument has been performed.
[0064] The data rate of the transmission may be slow, since the message is not streamed;
rather, the data is stored in a memory in the hearing instrument for later play back.
Thus, data transmission may be performed whenever data transmission resources are
available. Thus, there is no need for the device to be in contact with the hearing
instrument at the precise time of play back of the corresponding speech message, e.g.
reminding the user of something.
[0065] In this way, the communication link, e.g. the wireless communication link, between
the device and the hearing instrument need not be particularly fast or particularly
reliable. For example, the link data rate need not be fast enough to transmit audio
in real-time. Still, the corresponding speech messages may be played back to the user
as high quality audio, since the corresponding speech messages may be transmitted
to the user at a data rate much higher than the data rate of the communication link.
[0066] Thus, data transmission between the device and the hearing instrument may be performed
slowly, whenever the communication link is available, and the data transmission is
robust to possible communication drop outs, e.g. due to noise.
[0067] Since the data rate is not critical, and since data transmission may be interrupted
and resumed without interfering with the desired timing of corresponding speech message
play back to the user, the transmission from the device to the hearing instrument
may be performed in the background without interfering with the other desired functions
of the hearing instrument.
[0068] Processing, including signal processing, message processing, and corresponding speech
message processing, in the new hearing instrument may be performed by dedicated hardware
or may be performed in a signal processor, or performed in a combination of dedicated
hardware and one or more signal processors.
[0069] As used herein, the terms "processor", "central processor", "message processor",
"signal processor", "controller", "system", etc., are intended to refer to CPU-related
entities, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software
in execution.
[0070] For example, a "processor", "signal processor", "controller", "system", etc., may
be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an
object, an executable file, a thread of execution, and/or a program.
[0071] By way of illustration, the terms "processor", "central processor", "message processor",
"signal processor", "controller", "system", etc., designate both an application running
on a processor and a hardware processor. One or more "processors", "central processors",
"message processors", "signal processors", "controllers", "systems" and the like,
or any combination hereof, may reside within a process and/or thread of execution,
and one or more "processors", "central processors", "message processors", "signal
processors", "controllers", "systems", etc., or any combination hereof, may be localized
in one hardware processor, possibly in combination with other hardware circuitry,
and/or distributed between two or more hardware processors, possibly in combination
with other hardware circuitry.
[0072] A hearing instrument is provided, configured for use with a device, the hearing instrument
includes: an interface for reception of a message and/or a speech message from the
device, wherein the speech message is a converted form of the message and is generated
using a text-to-speech processor; a memory for storage of the message and/or the speech
message, and a message processor configured for, at a selected time, outputting audio
samples of the speech message for transmission to a user of the hearing instrument.
[0073] Optionally, the hearing instrument further includes the text-to-speech processor;
wherein the interface is configured for reception of the message, not the speech message;
and wherein the text-to-speech processor of the hearing instrument is configured to
convert the message to the speech message.
[0074] Optionally, the hearing instrument comprises a hearing aid.
[0075] Optionally, the hearing instrument comprises a timer that is synchronized with a
timer of the device, and wherein the message processor is configured for automatically
outputting the audio samples at the selected time as determined with the timer.
[0076] Optionally, the interface is also for reception of information regarding the selected
time from the device.
[0077] Optionally, the hearing instrument is a part of a hearing instrument system that
includes the device.
[0078] Optionally, the text-to-speech processor is a part of the device, and wherein the
interface of the hearing instrument is configured for reception of the speech message,
not the message, from the device after the text-to-speech processor of the device
has converted the message to the speech message.
[0079] Optionally, the device is configured to transmit the message and/or the speech message
to the hearing instrument upon detection of a connection with the hearing instrument.
[0080] Optionally, the device comprises: a first interface that is configured for connection
with a Wide-Area-Network, a second interface configured for connection with the hearing
instrument, and a central processor configured for controlling reception of information
relating to the user through the Wide-Area-Network, and transmission of the message
and/or the speech message to the hearing instrument based on the information.
[0081] Optionally, the selected time is included in the information.
[0082] Optionally, a duration of the transmission of the message to the hearing instrument
is longer than a duration of the transmission of the audio samples of the speech message
to the user.
[0083] Optionally, the hearing instrument system further includes a user interface configured
to receive a user command to sequentially output two or more messages stored in the
memory of the hearing instrument for transmission to a user of the hearing instrument
system.
[0084] Optionally, the hearing instrument system further includes a user interface configured
to receive a user command to delete a selected message in the memory of the hearing
instrument.
[0085] Optionally, the hearing instrument system further includes a user interface configured
to receive a user command to repeat transmission of a selected message.
[0086] Optionally, the hearing instrument system further includes a user interface configured
to receive a user command to mute a selected message.
[0087] A device for use with a hearing instrument includes: a first interface that is configured
for reception of information relating to a user through a Wide-Area-Network, the information
comprising timing information; a second interface configured for connection with the
hearing instrument; and a processor configured to control the second interface to
output a message and/or a speech message to the hearing instrument based on the timing
information, wherein the speech message is a converted form of the message and is
generated using a text-to-speech processor.
[0088] A method of communicating a message includes: retrieving the message from a device
with access to a Wide-Area-Network; converting the message into a corresponding speech
message; storing the message and/or the corresponding speech message in a memory of
a hearing instrument together with timing information, and outputting the corresponding
speech message for a human at a date and time as defined by the timing information.
[0089] Optionally, the hearing instrument system further includes the speech message, not
the message, is stored in the memory of the hearing instrument.
[0090] Other and further aspects and features will be evident from reading the following
detailed description of the embodiments.
[0091] The drawings illustrate the design and utility of embodiments, in which similar elements
are referred to by common reference numerals. These drawings are not necessarily drawn
to scale. In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantages
and objects are obtained, a more particular description of the embodiments will be
rendered, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict
only typical embodiments and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope.
- Fig. 1
- schematically illustrates electronic circuitry of the new hearing instrument,
- Fig. 2
- schematically illustrates another electronic circuitry of the new hearing instrument,
and
- Fig. 3
- schematically illustrates the new hearing instrument system.
[0092] Various exemplary embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the figures.
It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar
structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the
figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate
the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description
of the claimed invention or as a limitation on the scope of the claimed invention.
In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages
shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment
is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments
even if not so illustrated, or not so explicitly described.
[0093] The new method, hearing instrument, and hearing instrument system will now be described
more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various
examples of the new method, hearing instrument, and hearing instrument system are
illustrated. The new method, hearing instrument, and hearing instrument system according
to the appended claims may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not
be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.
[0094] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates exemplary hearing aid circuitry 10 of the new hearing
instrument. The illustrated new hearing aid circuitry 10 may form part of any type
of hearing aid of a suitable mechanical design, e.g. to be worn in the ear canal,
or partly in the ear canal, behind the ear or in the concha, such as the well-known
types: BTE, ITE, ITC, CIC, etc.
[0095] The illustrated hearing aid circuitry 10 comprises a front microphone 12 and a rear
microphone 14 for conversion of an acoustic sound signal from the surroundings into
corresponding microphone audio signals 16, 18 output by the microphones 14, 16. The
microphone audio signals 16, 18 are digitized in respective A/D converters 20, 22
for conversion of the respective microphone audio signals 16, 18 into respective digital
microphone audio signals 24, 26 that are optionally pre-filtered (pre-filters not
shown) and combined in signal combiner 28, for example for formation of a digital
microphone audio signal 30 with directionality as is well-known in the art of hearing
aids. The digital microphone audio signal 30 is input to the mixer 32 configured to
output a weighted sum 34 of signals input to the mixer 32. The mixer output 34 is
input to a hearing loss processor 36 configured to generate a hearing loss compensated
output signal 38 based on the mixer output 34. The hearing loss compensated output
signal 38 is input to a receiver 40 for conversion into acoustic sound for transmission
towards an eardrum (not shown) of a user of the hearing aid.
[0096] The illustrated hearing aid circuitry 10 is further configured to receive audio signals
from various devices capable of audio streaming, such as smart phones, mobile phones,
radios, media players, companion microphones, broadcasting systems, such as in a public
place, e.g. in a church, an auditorium, a theatre, a cinema, etc., public address
systems, such as in a railway station, an airport, a shopping mall, etc., etc.
[0097] In the illustrated example, digital audio, including audio samples of speech messages,
are transmitted wirelessly to the hearing aid, e.g. from a smart phone, and received
by the hearing aid antenna 42 connected to a radio receiver 44. The radio receiver
44 retrieves the audio samples 46 from the received radio signal, and the time and
date at which the audio samples of the speech message is to be played back to the
user, possible transmitter identifiers, and possible network control signals, etc.
The audio samples of the speech message are stored in an audio file in the memory
48 together with the time and date, at which the audio file, i.e. the speech message,
has to be played back to the user.
[0098] At the time and date at which the corresponding speech message is to be played back
to the user, the message processor 54 controls retrieval of the audio samples from
the memory 48 and forwarding of the audio samples 50 to the mixer 32. The message
processor 54 also sets the weights 52 with which the digital microphone audio signal
30 and the audio samples 50 are added together in the mixer 32 to form the weighted
output sum 34.
[0099] The weights may be set so that the audio file is played back to the user while other
signals input to the mixer are attenuated during play back of the audio file. Alternatively,
all or some of the other signals may be muted during play back of the audio file.
The user may enter a command through a user interface of the hearing aid of a type
well-known in the art, controlling whether the other signals are muted or attenuated.
[0100] The hearing aid may store more than one speech message with identical or similar
time and dates to be played back; i.e. one or more speech messages may be going to
be played back during ongoing play back of another speech message, whereby play back
of more than one speech message may overlap fully or partly in time.
[0101] Such a situation may be handled in various ways. For example, the hearing aid may
simultaneously play back more than one speech message; i.e. one or more messages may
be played back during ongoing play back of another speech message, whereby more than
one speech message may be played back simultaneously or partly simultaneously. In
the mixer 32, each speech message is treated as a separate input to the mixer 32 added
to the output of the mixer with its own weights, whereby the speech messages are transmitted
to the user with substantially unchanged respective times for play back.
[0102] Alternatively, the speech messages may have assigned priorities and may be transmitted
to the hearing aid together with information on the priority, e.g. an integer, e.g.
larger than or equal to 1, e.g. the lower the integer, the higher the priority. Alarm
messages may for example have the highest priority, while traffic announcements may
have the second highest priority, and possible other communications may have the lowest
priority. Such messages may then be played back sequentially in the order of priority
one at the time without overlaps.
[0103] The hearing aid may be configured to always mute one or more other signals received
by the hearing aid during transmission of a speech message of highest priority towards
the eardrum of the user of the hearing aid.
[0104] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates another exemplary hearing aid circuitry 10 of the
new hearing instrument system that is identical to the hearing aid circuitry 10 of
Fig. 1 and operates in a similar way except for the fact that the hearing aid circuitry
10 includes the text-to-speech processor 56 that is configured to convert messages
received from the device into the speech messages that is played back to the user
at the selected time previously specified during recording or editing of the information
on which the message is based. In the illustrated circuitry 10 of the hearing aid,
the message is converted into a speech message at receipt of the message, and the
speech message is stored in an audio file in the memory 48. In another circuitry (not
shown), the message is converted into a corresponding speech message at the selected
time, i.e. at the time for play back to the user. Thus, the message is stored in the
memory 48 and converted into a corresponding speech message immediately upon retrieval
of the message.
[0105] In the illustrated circuitry 10, the text-to-speech processor 56 is configured to
generate a speech message, such as a spoken reminder, from the text message received
from the device, and the generated digital audio samples 58 are stored in an audio
file in the memory 48 in the hearing aid for subsequent transmission to the mixer
32 at the selected time also received from the device and stored in the memory 48.
[0106] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates electronic circuitry 100 of the device of the hearing
aid system, which is a smart phone.
[0107] The device has a user interface 120, namely a touch screen 120 as is well-known from
conventional smart phones, for user control and adjustment of the device and possibly
the hearing aid (not shown) interconnected with the device.
[0108] The user may use the user interface 120 of the smart phone 100 to input information
to the tools (not shown) in a way well-known in the art.
[0109] The smart phone 100 may further transmit speech messages output by the text-to-speech
processor 116 to the hearing aid through the audio interface 114.
[0110] In addition, the microphone of the hearing aid may be used for reception of spoken
user commands that are transmitted to the device for reception at the interface 114
and input to the unit 118 for speech recognition and decoding of the spoken commands
and outputting the decoded spoken commands as control inputs to a central processor
110. The central processor 110 controls the hearing aid system to perform actions
in accordance with the received spoken commands.
[0111] The central processor 110 also controls an Internet interface 112 configured for
connection with the Internet, e.g. a Wireless Local Area Network interface, a GSM
interface 122, etc, and a wired audio and data interface 114, preferably a low power
wireless interface, such as the Bluetooth Low Energy wireless interface, configured
for connection with the hearing aid for transmission and reception of audio samples
and other data to and from the hearing aid.
[0112] Through the Internet, the device has access to electronic time management and communication
tools used by the user for communication and for storage of time management and communication
information relating to the user.
[0113] The tools may include electronic calendar system(s), email system(s), such as Microsoft
Outlook Express, Lotus notes, Windows Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, Postbox, Apple Mail,
Opera Mail, KMail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc, social network(s), professional
network(s), such as Facebook ®, Linkedln ®, Google+, tumblr, Twitter, MySpace, etc,
RSS/Atom feeder(s), such as Bloglines, Feedly, Google Reader, My Yahoo!, NewsBlur,
Netvibes, etc, news feeder(s), etc, well-known for management of daily activities
and communications.
[0114] Reminders, notifications, and received communication may include tasks to be performed,
reminders of calendar dates, such as birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, meetings,
etc, notifications on receipt of new SMS or new email, new Facebook update, new tweet,
new RSS feed, new traffic announcement, etc, and/or the actual item notified, e.g.
the SMS itself.
[0115] The central processor 110 is configured to access the tools for electronic time management
and communication facilitating use of the hearing instrument system to manage daily
activities and communication through the Wide-Area-Network. A hearing aid app (not
shown) executed by the central processor 110 instructs the smart phone to forward
reminders and updates and received communication from the tools to the hearing aid
as speech messages in accordance with settings previously made by the user and recorded
with the tools.
[0116] The device comprises the text-to-speech processor 116 configured for conversion of
messages, such as reminders or notifications or received communication etc, into speech
messages for transmission to the hearing aid.
[0117] The user may have a plurality of devices with internet interfaces providing access
to the tools and information relating to the user, and some or all of such devices
may have the text-to-speech processor 116 and the interface 114 to the hearing aid
and may constitute the device disclosed above.
[0118] The speech message is transmitted to the hearing aid together with timing information
on the date and time of day of play back of the speech message. Speech messages that
are desired to play back without delay after receipt by the hearing aid may have zeroes
in the transmitted date field.
[0119] Typically, when the user accesses the tools in order to record or edit an event that
requires attention or a task to be performed, the user has the option of specifying
a message, namely a reminder, to be sent to the user in advance. Typically, the user
may select that the reminder is forwarded as an SMS and/or an email and/or displayed
in a pop-up window on a computer and/or is forwarded to the hearing aid as a speech
message.
[0120] Further, the user may select the time of presentation of the reminder to the user
in several ways. For example, the user may specify the date and time of day for presentation
of the reminder to the user, or the user may specify the number of seconds, minutes,
hours and/or days in advance of term expiry of the recorded event or task, the reminder
should be presented to the user, e.g. 3 days before a recorded birthday, or the user
may specify the number of seconds, minutes, hours and/or days to elapse from data
entry until presentation of the reminder to the user, etc.
[0121] Typically, the user also receives messages in the form of notifications on incoming
communication, such as receipt of a new email, SMS, instant message, etc, or receipt
of updates in social or professional networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln,
etc, RSS/Atom feeds
[0122] The message may also include received information, e.g. an email, an SMS, a post
in social or professional network, a blog post, an RSS/Atom feed, a news feed, an
instant message, etc.
[0123] Thus, examples of speech messages include reminders on, e.g. meetings, birthdays,
social gatherings, journeys, to-do items, etc, and notifications on, e.g., tweets,
emails, news, traffic updates, social network updates, web page updates, etc, and
communication, e.g. an email, an SMS, a post in social or professional network, a
blog post, an RSS/Atom feed, a news feed, an instant message, etc.
[0124] The speech message may be accompanied by a distinct sound, such as short single note
tone, or a distinct sequence of notes, such as a notification jingle, such as a personalized
notification jingle.
[0125] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a new hearing aid system and its operation. In the
illustrated example, the Wide-Area-Network is the Internet 200, and the hearing aid
system comprises the device 100, namely a smart phone 100 operating as explained with
reference to Fig. 3, and the hearing aid 10, namely a BTE hearing aid 10 operating
as explained with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
[0126] The hearing aid 10 is configured for reception of a speech message 80 from the smart
phone 100.
[0127] In one example, the speech message 80 is a reminder of a meeting taking place at
the same day at 10 o'clock. The user recorded the meeting in his electronic calendar
a week before, and the user also set a reminder to alert the user 15 minutes before
start of the meeting, i.e. at 9.45 a.m. the same day. The user recorded the meeting
with a computer at work without an interface to the hearing aid 10. However, the user
has set the smart phone 100 to synchronize with the electronic calendar every half
hour, whenever the smart phone is connected to the Internet through a WiFi network,
and since the working place has a WiFi, the smart phone 100 was synchronized with
the calendar server shortly after entry of the new meeting. The user has also set
the smart phone 100 to send reminders to the hearing aid 100 within 24 hours of the
time at which the reminders have to be played back by the hearing aid 10. The hearing
aid 10 and the smart phone 100 establish a mutual communication link whenever they
are within coverage of their radio transmitters. Since the user usually carries the
smart phone 100 and the hearing aid 10 simultaneously, the communication link between
them is usually in operation and thus, approximately at 10 am the day before the day
of the meeting, the reminder is transferred as a speech message 80 to the hearing
aid 10. The user set the reminder to be played back to the user 15 minutes before
start of the meeting. Thus, at 9.45 am, the hearing aid 10 plays back the message
"remember meeting with CEO in room 1A at 10 am" to the user. If the user presses a button (not visible) on the BTE housing within
15 seconds after termination of play back, the reminder is deleted from the memory
of the hearing aid, and if not, the reminder is played back again 5 minutes before
start of the meeting and subsequently deleted from the memory of the hearing aid.
[0128] The spoken reminder 80 is converted from a text reminder received by the smart phone
100 from the electronic calendar system through the Internet 200. The conversion to
the spoken reminder takes place in a text-to-speech processor 116 in the smart phone
100. The text-to-speech processor 116 provides the spoken reminder as digital audio
samples that is transmitted to the hearing aid 10 and stored in an audio file in the
memory of the hearing aid. At play back, the digital audio samples of the audio file
is converted to an analogue audio signal in a digital-to-analogue converter of the
hearing aid and the analogue audio signal is input to a receiver of the hearing aid
10 that outputs the acoustic speech message to the user.
[0129] The user interface 120 of the smart phone 100 also constitutes a user interface of
the time management and communication tools used by the user as is well-known in the
art. The user interface 120 of the smart phone 100 also constitutes a user interface
of the hearing aid as is well-known in the art.
[0130] In addition, the user interface 120 of the smart phone 100 is also used for user
entry of conditions specifying when a speech message in the memory of the hearing
aid is to be deleted, e.g. upon play back, upon second play back, upon receipt of
a specific user entry, etc.
[0131] The user interface 120 of the smart phone 100 is also used to set volume levels of
play back of the speech messages and the volume of reproduced sounds received by the
microphone(s) of the hearing aid and possible other audio sources, such as media players,
TV, radio, hearing loops, etc, of the hearing aid.
[0132] Other equipment than the smart phone 100 may also constitute the device. For example,
the user may have a computer at home connected to the Internet with an interface to
the hearing aid 10. Through the Internet, the home computer, like the smart phone,
has access to the electronic time management and communication tools used by the user
for communication and for storage of time management and communication information
relating to the user, and like the smart phone 100, the computer regularly may regularly
synchronize with the information handled by the tools as is well-known in the art.
The tools may include electronic calendar system(s), email system(s), such as Microsoft
Outlook Express, Lotus notes, Windows Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, Postbox, Apple Mail,
Opera Mail, KMail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc, social network(s), professional
network(s), such as Facebook ®, Linkedln ®, Google+, tumblr, Twitter, MySpace, etc,
RSS/Atom feeder(s), such as Bloglines, Feedly, Google Reader, My Yahoo!, NewsBlur,
Netvibes, etc, news feeder(s), etc, well-known for management of daily activities
and communications.
[0133] The information may include tasks to be performed, calendar dates, such as birthdays,
anniversaries, appointments, meetings, etc, contacts, websites of interest, etc.
[0134] Similar to the smart phone 100, the hearing aid 10 and the home computer establish
a mutual communication link whenever they are within coverage of their respective
radio transmitters, and whenever the communication link is established, the home computer
transfers speech messages to the hearing aid 10.
[0135] Thus, the hearing aid 10 may receive speech messages from any device with which the
communication link can be established.
[0136] The speech messages may also be notifications on incoming communication, such as
receipt of a new email, SMS, instant message, traffic update, or updates in social
or professional networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln, etc, RSS/Atom feeds
The speech message may also include the received information, e.g. an email, an SMS,
a post in social or professional network, a tweet, a blog post, an RSS/Atom feed,
a news feed, an instant message, etc.
[0137] Thus, examples of speech messages include reminders on, e.g. meetings, birthdays,
social gatherings, journeys, to-do items, etc, and notifications on, e.g., tweets,
emails, news, social network updates, web page updates, etc, and communication, e.g.
an email, an SMS, a post in social or professional network, a blog post, an RSS/Atom
feed, a news feed, an instant message, etc.
[0138] Some speech messages may be played back immediately upon receipt by the hearing aid.
[0139] Speech messages to be played back immediately may be transmitted to the hearing aid
together with a time and date to be played back equal to zero.
[0140] The speech message may be accompanied by a notification jingle, such as a personalized
notification jingle.
[0141] The speech message, or the message, may be automatically removed from the memory
of the hearing aid after play back in order to make the part of the memory occupied
by the, possibly spoken, message available to a new, possibly spoken, message.
[0142] Typically, the user may access the tools and the stored information from any computer
that is connected to the Wide-Area-Network by logging-in to a specific account, e.g.
with a username and a password.
[0143] The user may authenticate other devices to access the tools and the stored information
when logged-in to the account in question.
[0144] In order for the device to be authenticated and allowed access to the tools and the
stored information and to receive information from the tools, the user may have to
log onto the corresponding accounts from the device.
[0145] The hearing aid may have a timer providing information on date and time of day, and
the message processor may be configured for transmitting the audio file at a selected
date and time of day.
[0146] The timer may be synchronized with the device, e.g. whenever data is transmitted
to the hearing aid.
[0147] The new hearing aid system takes advantage of the fact that a user of the hearing
aid system, especially a hearing aid user, already wears the hearing aid and therefore,
the user is able to listen to played back speech messages without having to perform
additional tasks, such as mounting a headphone or headset on his or her head, bringing
a telephone to the ear, looking at a screen and select information to be displayed
and/or played back, looking at a dashboard of a car and select information to be displayed
and/or played back, etc.
[0148] The hearing aid may have a wireless interface for reception of data transmitted from
the device, including speech messages and possibly the selected time, i.e. timing
information specifying when the hearing aid is controlled to play back the speech
message.
[0149] The user may use a user interface of the hearing aid to command the hearing aid to
sequentially play back the messages of the audio files currently stored in the memory
of the hearing aid, e.g. in ascending or descending order of time of receipt, in ascending
or descending order of time to be played back, etc, e.g. also specified by the user
using the user interface.
[0150] The user may select a new time for the message to be played back using the user interface.
For example, tapping a push button twice may cause the speech message to be played
back again 5 minutes later.
[0151] Thus, the selected time may be a time for playing back the message as previously
specified by the user during recording or editing of the event or task in question
and transmitted to the hearing aid for storage together with the message in the hearing
aid.
[0152] The speech message may be played back at more than one selected times, each of which
may be transmitted to the hearing aid for storage with the message in question.
[0153] With the illustrated hearing aid system, the user is relieved from the task of consulting
other equipment for updates on upcoming events and incoming communication; rather,
the user need not change anything or take any particular actions in order to be able
to receive speech messages.
[0154] The transmission of messages from the smart phone 100 to the hearing aid 10 need
not take place at the time at which the hearing aid plays the speech message back.
Rather, the transmission may occur anytime before the time of play back, e.g. a reminder
may be transmitted to the hearing aid together with the time for play back of the
reminder, upon recording or editing of the reminder; whenever the hearing aid is within
receiving range of the transmitter of the device.
[0155] The data rate of the transmission may be slow, since the message samples is not used
for streaming; rather, the data is stored in a memory in the hearing aid for later
play back. Thus, data transmission may be performed whenever data transmission resources
are available. Thus, there is no need for the device to be in contact with the hearing
aid at the precise time of speech message play back, e.g. reminding the user of something.
[0156] In this way, the communication link, e.g. the wireless communication link, need not
be particularly fast or particularly reliable. For example, the link data rate need
not be fast enough to transmit audio in real-time. Still, the speech messages may
be played back to the user as high quality audio, since the speech messages may be
read out of the memory of the hearing aid at a data rate much higher than the data
rate of the communication link.
[0157] Data transmission to the hearing aid may be performed, slowly, when the communication
link is available, and the data transmission is robust to possible communication drop
outs, e.g. due to noise.
[0158] Since the data rate is not critical, and since data transmission may be interrupted
and resumed without interfering with the desired timing of speech message play back
to the user, the synchronization may be performed in the background without interfering
with the other desired functions of the hearing aid.
[0159] Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood
that they are not intended to limit the claimed inventions, and it will be obvious
to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the claimed inventions. The specification and drawings
are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
The claimed inventions are intended to cover alternatives and modifications.
[0160] The scope of the present invention is defined by the appendant claims. Any embodiment,
which does not fall under the scope of any of the appendant claims, is an example,
which may be useful to understand the invention, but which does not form part of the
present invention.
1. A hearing instrument (10) comprising
an interface (44) for reception of a message from a device (100),
a text-to-speech processor (56) configured for conversion of the message into audio
samples (46) of a corresponding speech message,
a memory (48) for storage of the message and/or the speech message, and
a message processor (54) configured for, at a selected time, transmitting the audio
samples (50) of the speech message to the user of the hearing instrument (10),
characterized in that
the interface (44) of the hearing instrument is for reception of information regarding
the selected time from the device (100).
2. A hearing instrument (10) comprising
an interface (44) for reception of audio samples (46) of a speech message (80) from
a device (100), wherein the speech message (80) is a converted form of a message and
is generated using a text-to-speech processor (116) of the device (100),
a memory (48) for storage of the speech message (80, 46), and
a message processor (54) configured for, at a selected time, transmitting the audio
samples (50) of the speech message (80) to the user of the hearing instrument (10),
characterized in that
the interface (44) of the hearing instrument is for reception of information regarding
the selected time from the device (100).
3. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hearing instrument (10)
comprises a hearing aid (10).
4. The hearing instrument according to any of the previous claims, wherein the hearing
instrument (10) comprises a timer that is synchronized with a timer of the device
(100), and wherein the message processor (54) is configured for automatically outputting
the audio samples (46) at the selected time as determined with the timer.
5. A device (100) comprising
a second interface (114) configured for connection with a hearing instrument (10),
and
a text-to-speech processor (116) configured for conversion of a message based on information
relating to a user of the hearing instrument (10) into audio samples (46) of a corresponding
speech message (80), and
a central processor (110),
the device (100) being configured for transmission of the speech message (80) to the
hearing instrument (10),
characterized in that
the device comprises a first interface (112, 122) configured for connection with a
Wide-Area-Network (200),
the central processor (110) being configured for controlling reception of the information
relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10) through the Wide-Area-Network
(200),
a selected time specifying when the hearing instrument is controlled to play back
the corresponding speech message is included in the information relating to the user
of the hearing instrument (10), and
in that
the device (100) being configured for transmission of the selected time to the hearing
instrument (10).
6. A device (100) comprising
a second interface (114) configured for connection with a hearing instrument (10),
and
a central processor (110),
the device (100) being configured for transmission of a message based on information
relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10) to the hearing instrument (10),
characterized in that
the device comprises a first interface (112, 122) configured for connection with a
Wide-Area-Network (200),
the central processor (110) being configured for controlling reception of the information
relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10) through the Wide-Area-Network
(200),
a selected time specifying when the hearing instrument is controlled to play back
a speech message corresponding to the message is included in the information relating
to the user of the hearing instrument (10), and in that
the device (100) being configured for transmission of the selected time to the hearing
instrument (10).
7. A hearing instrument system comprising the hearing instrument (10) according to claim
1 or any of the claims 3-4 when dependent on claim 1, and the device (100), wherein
the device (100) comprises
a first interface (112, 122) configured for connection with a Wide-Area-Network (200),
a second interface (114) configured for connection with the hearing instrument (10),
and
a central processor (110) configured for controlling reception of information relating
to the user of the hearing instrument (10) through the Wide-Area-Network (200),
wherein the device (100) is configured for transmission of the message (80) to the
hearing instrument (10), and wherein the message is based on the information relating
to the user of the hearing instrument (10), and wherein the selected time is included
in the information relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10), and wherein
the device (100) is configured for transmission of the information regarding the selected
time to the hearing instrument (10).
8. A hearing instrument system comprising the hearing instrument (10) according to claim
2 or any of the claims 3-4 when dependent on claim 2, and the device (100), wherein
the device (100) comprises
a first interface (112, 122) configured for connection with a Wide-Area-Network (200),
a second interface (114) configured for connection with the hearing instrument (10),
the text-to-speech processor (116) being configured for conversion of the message
into the audio samples (46) of the speech message (80), wherein the speech message
(80) corresponds to the message, and
a central processor (110) configured for controlling reception of information relating
to the user of the hearing instrument (10) through the Wide-Area-Network (200),
wherein the device (100) is configured for transmission of the speech message (80)
to the hearing instrument (10), and wherein the message is based on the information
relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10), and wherein the selected time
is included in the information relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10),
and wherein the device (100) is configured for transmission of the information regarding
the selected time to the hearing instrument (10).
9. The hearing instrument system according to any of the claims 7-8, wherein, when dependent
on claim 1, the device (100) is configured to transmit the message to the hearing
instrument (10) upon detection of a connection with the hearing instrument (10), or
wherein, when dependent on claim 2, the device (100) is configured to transmit the
speech message (80) to the hearing instrument (10) upon detection of a connection
with the hearing instrument (10).
10. The hearing instrument system according to any of the claims 7-9, wherein, when dependent
on claim 1, a duration of the transmission of the message to the hearing instrument
(10) is longer than a duration of the transmission of the audio samples (46) of the
speech message to the user, or wherein, when dependent on claim 2, a duration of the
transmission of the speech message (80) to the hearing instrument (10) is longer than
a duration of the transmission of the audio samples (46) of the speech message to
the user.
11. The hearing instrument system according to any of the claims 7-10, further comprising
a user interface (120) configured to receive a user command to sequentially output
two or more messages (80) stored in the memory (48) of the hearing instrument (10)
for transmission to a user of the hearing instrument system.
12. The hearing instrument system according to any of the claims 7-11, further comprising
a user interface (120) configured to receive a user command to delete a selected message
(80) in the memory (48) of the hearing instrument (10).
13. The hearing instrument system according to any of the claims 7-12, further comprising
a user interface (120) configured to receive a user command to repeat transmission
of a selected message (80).
14. The hearing instrument system according to any of the claims 7-13, further comprising
a user interface (120) configured to receive a user command to mute a selected message
(80).
15. A method of communicating a message based on information relating to a user of a hearing
instrument (10), comprising:
retrieving the information relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10) through
a Wide-Area-Network (200) using a device (100) having a first interface (112, 122)
configured for connection with the Wide-Area-Network (200), a second interface (114)
configured for connection with the hearing instrument (10), and a central processor
(110) configured for controlling the retrieval of the information relating to the
user of the hearing instrument (10) through the Wide-Area-Network (200);
converting the message into audio samples (46) of a corresponding speech message (80)
using a text-to-speech processor (116) of the device (100);
transmitting the speech message (80) to the hearing instrument (10) via an interface
(44) of the hearing instrument (10);
storing the speech message (80) in a memory (48) of the hearing instrument (10) together
with timing information; and
outputting the speech message (80) for a human at a date and time as defined by the
timing information;
characterized in that
the timing information is included in the information relating to the user of the
hearing instrument (10), and in that the method comprises transmitting the timing information from the device (100) to
the hearing instrument (10) via the interface (44) of the hearing instrument (10).
16. A method of communicating a message based on information relating to a user of a hearing
instrument (10), comprising:
retrieving the information relating to the user of the hearing instrument (10) through
a Wide-Area-Network (200) using a device (100) having a first interface (112, 122)
configured for connection with the Wide-Area-Network (200), a second interface (114)
configured for connection with the hearing instrument (10), and a central processor
(110) configured for controlling the retrieval of the information relating to the
user of the hearing instrument (10) through the Wide-Area-Network (200);
transmitting the message to the hearing instrument (10) via an interface (44) of the
hearing instrument (10);
converting the message into audio samples (46) of a corresponding speech message (80)
using a text-to-speech processor (56) of the hearing instrument (10);
storing the message (80) and/or the speech message (80) in a memory (48) of the hearing
instrument (10) together with timing information; and
outputting the speech message (80) for a human at a date and time as defined by the
timing information;
characterized in that
the timing information is included in the information relating to the user of the
hearing instrument (10), and in that the method comprises transmitting the timing information from the device (100) to
the hearing instrument (10) via the interface (44) of the hearing instrument (10).
17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the method comprises storing the speech
message (80) in the memory (48) of the hearing instrument (10) together with timing
information, and wherein outputting the speech message for the human comprises
retrieving, using a message processor (54) of a hearing aid circuitry (10) of the
hearing instrument, the audio samples of the speech message from the memory (48) and
forwarding the audio samples (50) to a mixer (32) of the hearing aid circuitry (10),
setting, using the message processor (54), weights (52) with which a digital microphone
audio signal (30) of the hearing aid circuitry (10) and the audio samples (50) are
added together in the mixer (32) to form the mixer output (34) as a weighted output
sum, and
generating, using a hearing loss processor (36) of the hearing aid circuitry (10),
a hearing loss compensated output signal (38) based on the output signal (34) from
the mixer (32).
1. Hörgerät (10), umfassend
eine Schnittstelle (44) für den Empfang einer Nachricht von einer Vorrichtung (100),
einen Sprachausgabeprozessor (56), der ausgelegt ist für die Umsetzung der Nachricht
in Hörproben (46) einer entsprechenden Sprachnachricht,
einen Speicher (48) für die Ablage der Nachricht und/oder der Sprachnachricht, und
einen Nachrichtenprozessor (54), der ausgelegt ist zur Übertragung der Hörproben (50)
der Sprachnachricht an den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) zu einem ausgewählten Zeitpunkt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Schnittstelle (44) des Hörgeräts zum Empfang von Informationen in Bezug auf den
von der Vorrichtung (100) ausgewählten Zeitpunkt dient.
2. Hörgerät (10), umfassend
eine Schnittstelle (44) für den Empfang von Hörproben (46) einer Sprachnachricht (80)
von einer Vorrichtung (100), wobei die Sprachnachricht (80) eine umgesetzte Form einer
Nachricht ist und unter Verwendung eines Sprachausgabeprozessors (116) der Vorrichtung
(100) erzeugt wird,
einen Speicher (48) für die Ablage der Sprachnachricht (80, 46), und
einen Nachrichtenprozessor (54), der ausgelegt ist zur Übertragung der Hörproben (50)
der Sprachnachricht (80) an den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) zu einem ausgewählten
Zeitpunkt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Schnittstelle (44) des Hörgeräts zum Empfang von Informationen in Bezug auf den
von der Vorrichtung (100) ausgewählten Zeitpunkt dient.
3. Hörgerät nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Hörgerät (10) eine Hörhilfe (10) umfasst.
4. Hörgerät nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Hörgerät (10) einen Zeitgeber
umfasst, der mit einem Zeitgeber der Vorrichtung (100) synchronisiert ist, und wobei
der Nachrichtenprozessor (54) ausgelegt ist, um die Hörproben (46) zu dem ausgewählten
Zeitpunkt, wie er durch den Zeitgeber bestimmt ist, automatisch auszugeben.
5. Vorrichtung (100), umfassend
eine zweite Schnittstelle (114), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit einem Hörgerät
(10), und
einen Sprachausgabeprozessor (116), der ausgelegt ist für die Umsetzung auf der Grundlage
von Informationen in Bezug auf einen Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10), einer Nachricht
in Hörproben (46) einer entsprechenden Sprachnachricht (80), und
einen zentralen Prozessor (110),
wobei die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist für die Übertragung der Sprachnachricht
(80) an das Hörgerät (10),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Vorrichtung eine erste Schnittstelle (112, 122) umfasst, die ausgelegt ist für
die Verbindung mit einem Weitbereichsnetz (200),
der zentrale Prozessor (110) ausgelegt ist zum Steuern von Empfang der Informationen
in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über das Weitbereichsnetz (200),
ein ausgewählter Zeitpunkt, der spezifiziert, wann das Hörgerät gesteuert wird, um
die entsprechende Sprachnachricht wiederzugeben, in den Informationen in Bezug auf
den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) enthalten ist, und dass die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt
ist zur Übertragung des ausgewählten Zeitpunkts an das Hörgerät (10).
6. Vorrichtung (100), umfassend
eine zweite Schnittstelle (114), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit einem Hörgerät
(10), und
einen zentralen Prozessor (110),
wobei die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist für die Übertragung einer Nachricht auf
der Grundlage von Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) an das
Hörgerät (10),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Vorrichtung eine erste Schnittstelle (112, 122) umfasst, die ausgelegt ist für
die Verbindung mit einem Weitbereichsnetz (200),
der zentrale Prozessor (110) ausgelegt ist zum Steuern von Empfang der Informationen
in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über das Weitbereichsnetz (200),
ein ausgewählter Zeitpunkt, der spezifiziert, wann das Hörgerät gesteuert wird, um
eine Sprachnachricht, die der Nachricht entspricht, wiederzugeben, in den Informationen
in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) enthalten ist, und dass die Vorrichtung
(100) ausgelegt ist zur Übertragung des ausgewählten Zeitpunkts an das Hörgerät (10).
7. Hörgerätesystem, umfassend das Hörgerät (10) nach Anspruch 1 oder nach einem der Ansprüche
3 - 4, insofern von Anspruch 1 abhängig, und die Vorrichtung (100), wobei die Vorrichtung
(100) umfasst:
eine erste Schnittstelle (112, 122), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit einem
Weitbereichsnetz (200),
eine zweite Schnittstelle (114), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit dem Hörgerät
(10), und
einen zentralen Prozessor (110), der ausgelegt ist zum Steuern von Empfang von Informationen
in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über das Weitbereichsnetz (200),
wobei die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist zur Übertragung der Nachricht (80) an das
Hörgerät (10), und wobei die Nachricht auf der Grundlage von den Informationen in
Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) ist, und wobei der ausgewählte Zeitpunkt
in den Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) enthalten ist, und
wobei die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist zur Übertragung der Informationen in Bezug
auf den ausgewählten Zeitpunkt an das Hörgerät (10).
8. Hörgerätesystem, umfassend das Hörgerät (10) nach Anspruch 2 oder nach einem der Ansprüche
3 - 4, insofern von Anspruch 2 abhängig, und die Vorrichtung (100), wobei die Vorrichtung
(100) umfasst
eine erste Schnittstelle (112, 122), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit einem
Weitbereichsnetz (200),
eine zweite Schnittstelle (114), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit dem Hörgerät
(10), und
den Sprachausgabeprozessor (116), der ausgelegt ist für die Umsetzung der Nachricht
in die Hörproben (46) der Sprachnachricht (80), wobei die Sprachnachricht (80) der
Nachricht entspricht, und
einen zentralen Prozessor (110), der ausgelegt ist zum Steuern von Empfang von Informationen
in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über das Weitbereichsnetz (200),
wobei die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist für die Übertragung der Sprachnachricht
(80) an das Hörgerät (10), und wobei die Nachricht auf der Grundlage von den Informationen
in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) ist, und wobei der ausgewählte Zeitpunkt
in den Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) enthalten ist, und
wobei die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist für die Übertragung der Informationen in
Bezug auf den ausgewählten Zeitpunkt an das Hörgerät (10).
9. Hörgerätesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 7 - 8, wobei, insofern von Anspruch 1 abhängig,
die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist, um die Nachricht an das Hörgerät (10) nach Erkennen
einer Verbindung mit dem Hörgerät (10) zu übertragen, oder wobei, insofern von Anspruch
2 abhängig, die Vorrichtung (100) ausgelegt ist, um die Sprachnachricht (80) an das
Hörgerät (10) nach Erkennen einer Verbindung mit dem Hörgerät (10) zu übertragen.
10. Hörgerätesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 7 - 9, wobei, insofern von Anspruch 1 abhängig,
eine Dauer der Übertragung der Nachricht an das Hörgerät (10) länger ist als eine
Dauer der Übertragung der Hörproben (46) der Sprachnachricht an den Benutzer, oder
wobei, insofern von Anspruch 2 abhängig, eine Dauer der Übertragung der Sprachnachricht
(80) an das Hörgerät (10) länger ist als eine Dauer der Übertragung der Hörproben
(46) der Sprachnachricht an den Benutzer.
11. Hörgerätesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 7 - 10, weiter umfassend eine Benutzerschnittstelle
(120), die ausgelegt ist, um einen Benutzerbefehl zu empfangen, um nacheinander zwei
oder mehrere Nachrichten (80) auszugeben, die im Speicher (48) des Hörgeräts (10)
für die Übertragung an einen Benutzer des Hörgerätesystems abgelegt sind.
12. Hörgerätesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 7 - 11, weiter umfassend eine Benutzerschnittstelle
(120), die ausgelegt ist, um einen Benutzerbefehl zu empfangen, um eine ausgewählte
Nachricht (80) aus dem Speicher (48) des Hörgeräts (10) zu löschen.
13. Hörgerätesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 7 - 12, weiter umfassend eine Benutzerschnittstelle
(120), die ausgelegt ist, um einen Benutzerbefehl zu empfangen, um die Übertragung
einer ausgewählten Nachricht (80) zu wiederholen.
14. Hörgerätesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 7 - 13, weiter umfassend eine Benutzerschnittstelle
(120), die ausgelegt ist, um einen Benutzerbefehl zu empfangen, um eine ausgewählte
Nachricht (80) stumm zu schalten.
15. Verfahren zum Kommunizieren einer Nachricht auf der Grundlage von Informationen in
Bezug auf einen Benutzer eines Hörgeräts (10), umfassend:
Abrufen der Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über ein Weitbereichsnetz
(200) unter Verwendung einer Vorrichtung (100), die eine erste Schnittstelle (112,
122) aufweist, die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit dem Weitbereichsnetz (200),
eine zweite Schnittstelle (114), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit dem Hörgerät
(10), und einen zentralen Prozessor (110), der ausgelegt ist zum Steuern des Abrufs
der Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über das Weitbereichsnetz
(200);
Umsetzen der Nachricht in Hörproben (46) einer entsprechenden Sprachnachricht (80)
unter Verwendung eines Sprachausgabeprozessors (116) der Vorrichtung (100);
Übertragen der Sprachnachricht (80) an das Hörgerät (10) über eine Schnittstelle (44)
des Hörgeräts (10);
Ablegen der Sprachnachricht (80) in einem Speicher (48) des Hörgeräts (10) zusammen
mit Zeitgeberinformationen; und
Ausgeben der Sprachnachricht (80) für einen Menschen an einem Datum und zu einem Zeitpunkt,
wie er in den Zeitgeberinformationen definiert ist;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Zeitgeberinformationen in den Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts
(10) enthalten sind, und dass das Verfahren das Übertragen der Zeitgeberinformationen
von der Vorrichtung (100) an das Hörgerät (10) über die Schnittstelle (44) des Hörgeräts
(10) umfasst.
16. Verfahren zum Kommunizieren einer Nachricht auf der Grundlage von Informationen in
Bezug auf einen Benutzer eines Hörgeräts (10), umfassend:
Abrufen der Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über ein Weitbereichsnetz
(200) unter Verwendung einer Vorrichtung (100), die eine erste Schnittstelle (112,
122) aufweist, die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit dem Weitbereichsnetz (200),
eine zweite Schnittstelle (114), die ausgelegt ist für die Verbindung mit dem Hörgerät
(10), und einen zentralen Prozessor (110), der ausgelegt ist zum Steuern des Abrufs
der Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts (10) über das Weitbereichsnetz
(200);
Übertragen der Nachricht an das Hörgerät (10) über eine Schnittstelle (44) des Hörgeräts
(10);
Umsetzen der Nachricht in Hörproben (46) einer entsprechenden Sprachnachricht (80)
unter Verwendung eines Sprachausgabeprozessors (56) des Hörgeräts (10);
Ablegen der Nachricht (80) und/oder der Sprachnachricht (80) in einem Speicher (48)
des Hörgeräts (10) zusammen mit Zeitgeberinformationen; und
Ausgeben der Sprachnachricht (80) für einen Menschen an einem Datum und zu einem Zeitpunkt,
wie er in den Zeitgeberinformationen definiert ist;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Zeitgeberinformationen in den Informationen in Bezug auf den Benutzer des Hörgeräts
(10) enthalten sind, und dass das Verfahren das Übertragen der Zeitgeberinformationen
von der Vorrichtung (100) an das Hörgerät (10) über die Schnittstelle (44) des Hörgeräts
(10) umfasst.
17. Verfahren nach Anspruch 15 oder 16, wobei das Verfahren umfasst
Ablegen der Sprachnachricht (80) in dem Speicher (48) des Hörgeräts (10) zusammen
mit Zeitgeberinformationen, und wobei das Ausgeben der Sprachnachricht für den Menschen
umfasst
Abrufen, unter Verwendung eines Nachrichtenprozessors (54) einer Hörhilfeschaltung
(10) des Hörgeräts, der Hörproben der Sprachnachricht aus dem Speicher (48) und
Weiterleiten der Hörproben (50) an einen Mischer (32) der Hörhilfeschaltung (10),
Einstellen, unter Verwendung des Nachrichtenprozessors (54), von Gewichten (52), mit
denen ein digitales Mikrofonaudiosignal (30) der Hörhilfeschaltung (10) und die Hörproben
(50) im Mischer (32) zusammengefügt werden, um die Mischerausgabe (34) als gewichtete
Ausgabesumme zu bilden, und
Erzeugen, unter Verwendung eines Hörverlustprozessors (36) der Hörhilfeschaltung (10),
eines auf Hörverlust kompensiertes Ausgabesignals (38) auf der Grundlage des von dem
Mischer (32) ausgegebenen Signals (34).
1. Instrument auditif (10) comprenant
une interface (44) pour la réception d'un message à partir d'un dispositif (100),
un processeur texte-parole (56) configuré pour la conversion du message en échantillons
audio (46) d'un message vocal correspondant,
une mémoire (48) pour le stockage du message et/ou du message vocal, et
un processeur de message (54) configuré pour, à un temps sélectionné, transmettre
les échantillons audio (50) du message vocal à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif
(10),
caractérisé en ce que
l'interface (44) de l'instrument auditif est destinée à la réception d'informations
concernant le temps sélectionné à partir du dispositif (100).
2. Instrument auditif (10) comprenant
une interface (44) pour la réception d'échantillons audio (46) d'un message vocal
(80) à partir d'un dispositif (100), dans lequel le message vocal (80) est une forme
convertie d'un message et est généré en utilisant un processeur texte-parole (116)
du dispositif (100),
une mémoire (48) pour le stockage du message vocal (80, 46), et
un processeur de message (54) configuré pour, à un temps sélectionné, transmettre
les échantillons audio (50) du message vocal (80) à l'utilisateur de l'instrument
auditif (10),
caractérisé en ce que
l'interface (44) de l'instrument auditif est destinée à la réception d'informations
concernant le temps sélectionné à partir du dispositif (100).
3. Instrument auditif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel l'instrument auditif
(10) comprend une aide auditive (10).
4. Instrument auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
l'instrument auditif (10) comprend une minuterie qui est synchronisée avec une minuterie
du dispositif (100), et dans lequel le processeur de message (54) est configuré pour
délivrer automatiquement en sortie les échantillons audio (46) au temps sélectionné
tel que déterminé avec la minuterie.
5. Dispositif (100) comprenant
une seconde interface (114) configurée pour la connexion à un instrument auditif (10),
et
un processeur texte-parole (116) configuré pour la conversion d'un message basé sur
des informations relatives à un utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) en échantillons
audio (46) d'un message vocal (80) correspondant, et
un processeur central (110),
le dispositif (100) étant configuré pour la transmission du message vocal (80) à l'instrument
auditif (10),
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif comprend une première interface (112, 122) configurée pour la connexion
à un réseau étendu (200),
le processeur central (110) étant configuré pour commander la réception des informations
relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) par l'intermédiaire du réseau
étendu (200),
un temps sélectionné spécifiant quand l'instrument auditif est commandé pour lire
le message vocal correspondant est inclus dans les informations relatives à l'utilisateur
de l'instrument auditif (10), et en ce que
le dispositif (100) étant configuré pour la transmission du temps sélectionné à l'instrument
auditif (10).
6. Dispositif (100) comprenant
une seconde interface (114) configurée pour la connexion à un instrument auditif (10),
et
un processeur central (110),
le dispositif (100) étant configuré pour la transmission d'un message basé sur des
informations relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) à l'instrument
auditif (10),
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif comprend une première interface (112, 122) configurée pour la connexion
à un réseau étendu (200),
le processeur central (110) étant configuré pour commander la réception des informations
relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) par l'intermédiaire du réseau
étendu (200),
un temps sélectionné spécifiant quand l'instrument auditif est commandé pour lire
un message vocal correspondant au message est inclus dans les informations relatives
à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10), et en ce que
le dispositif (100) étant configuré pour la transmission du temps sélectionné à l'instrument
auditif (10).
7. Système d'instrument auditif comprenant l'instrument auditif (10) selon la revendication
1 ou l'une quelconque des revendications 3 et 4 quand elles dépendent de la revendication
1, et le dispositif (100), dans lequel le dispositif (100) comprend
une première interface (112, 122) configurée pour la connexion à un réseau étendu
(200),
une seconde interface (114) configurée pour la connexion à l'instrument auditif (10),
et
un processeur central (110) configuré pour commander la réception d'informations relatives
à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) par l'intermédiaire du réseau étendu
(200),
dans lequel le dispositif (100) est configuré pour la transmission du message (80)
à l'instrument auditif (10), et dans lequel le message est basé sur les informations
relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10), et dans lequel le temps sélectionné
est inclus dans les informations relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif
(10), et dans lequel le dispositif (100) est configuré pour la transmission des informations
concernant le temps sélectionné à l'instrument auditif (10).
8. Système d'instrument auditif comprenant l'instrument auditif (10) selon la revendication
2 ou l'une quelconque des revendications 3 et 4 quand elles dépendent de la revendication
2, et le dispositif (100), dans lequel le dispositif (100) comprend
une première interface (112, 122) configurée pour la connexion à un réseau étendu
(200),
une seconde interface (114) configurée pour la connexion à l'instrument auditif (10),
le processeur texte-parole (116) étant configuré pour la conversion du message en
échantillons audio (46) du message vocal (80), dans lequel le message vocal (80) correspond
au message, et
un processeur central (110) configuré pour commander la réception d'informations relatives
à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) par l'intermédiaire du réseau étendu
(200),
dans lequel le dispositif (100) est configuré pour la transmission du message vocal
(80) à l'instrument auditif (10), et dans lequel le message est basé sur les informations
relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10), et dans lequel le temps sélectionné
est inclus dans les informations relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif
(10), et dans lequel le dispositif (100) est configuré pour la transmission des informations
concernant le temps sélectionné à l'instrument auditif (10).
9. Système d'instrument auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 8, dans
lequel, quand elles dépendent de la revendication 1, le dispositif (100) est configuré
pour transmettre le message à l'instrument auditif (10) à la détection d'une connexion
avec l'instrument auditif (10), ou dans lequel, quand elles dépendent de la revendication
2, le dispositif (100) est configuré pour transmettre le message vocal (80) à l'instrument
auditif (10) à la détection d'une connexion avec l'instrument auditif (10).
10. Système d'instrument auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 9, dans
lequel, quand elles dépendent de la revendication 1, une durée de la transmission
du message à l'instrument auditif (10) est plus longue qu'une durée de la transmission
des échantillons audio (46) du message vocal à l'utilisateur, ou dans lequel, quand
elles dépendent de la revendication 2, une durée de la transmission du message vocal
(80) à l'instrument auditif (10) est plus longue qu'une durée de la transmission des
échantillons audio (46) du message vocal à l'utilisateur.
11. Système d'instrument auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 10, comprenant
en outre une interface utilisateur (120) configurée pour recevoir une commande d'utilisateur
pour délivrer séquentiellement en sortie au moins deux messages (80) stockés dans
la mémoire (48) de l'instrument auditif (10) pour la transmission à un utilisateur
du système d'instrument auditif.
12. Système d'instrument auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 11, comprenant
en outre une interface utilisateur (120) configurée pour recevoir une commande d'utilisateur
pour supprimer un message sélectionné (80) dans la mémoire (48) de l'instrument auditif
(10).
13. Système d'instrument auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 12, comprenant
en outre une interface utilisateur (120) configurée pour recevoir une commande d'utilisateur
pour répéter la transmission d'un message sélectionné (80).
14. Système d'instrument auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 13, comprenant
en outre une interface utilisateur (120) configurée pour recevoir une commande d'utilisateur
pour mettre en silencieux un message sélectionné (80).
15. Procédé de communication d'un message basé sur des informations relatives à un utilisateur
d'un instrument auditif (10), comprenant :
la récupération des informations relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif
(10) par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau étendu (200) en utilisant un dispositif (100)
ayant une première interface (112, 122) configurée pour la connexion au réseau étendu
(200), une seconde interface (114) configurée pour la connexion à l'instrument auditif
(10), et un processeur central (110) configuré pour commander la récupération des
informations relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) par l'intermédiaire
du réseau étendu (200) ;
la conversion du message en échantillons audio (46) d'un message vocal (80) correspondant
en utilisant un processeur texte-parole (116) du dispositif (100) ;
la transmission du message vocal (80) à l'instrument auditif (10) via une interface
(44) de l'instrument auditif (10) ;
le stockage du message vocal (80) dans une mémoire (48) de l'instrument auditif (10)
conjointement à des informations de synchronisation ; et
la fourniture en sortie du message vocal (80) pour une personne à une heure et une
date telles que définies par les informations de synchronisation ;
caractérisé en ce que
les informations de synchronisation sont incluses dans les informations relatives
à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10), et en ce que le procédé comprend la transmission des informations de synchronisation du dispositif
(100) à l'instrument auditif (10) via l'interface (44) de l'instrument auditif (10).
16. Procédé de communication d'un message basé sur des informations relatives à un utilisateur
d'un instrument auditif (10), comprenant :
la récupération des informations relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif
(10) par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau étendu (200) en utilisant un dispositif (100)
ayant une première interface (112, 122) configurée pour la connexion au réseau étendu
(200), une seconde interface (114) configurée pour la connexion à l'instrument auditif
(10), et un processeur central (110) configuré pour commander la récupération des
informations relatives à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10) par l'intermédiaire
du réseau étendu (200) ;
la transmission du message à l'instrument auditif (10) via une interface (44) de l'instrument
auditif (10) ;
la conversion du message en échantillons audio (46) d'un message vocal (80) correspondant
en utilisant un processeur texte-parole (56) de l'instrument auditif (10) ;
le stockage du message (80) et/ou du message vocal (80) dans une mémoire (48) de l'instrument
auditif (10) conjointement à des informations de synchronisation ; et
la fourniture en sortie du message vocal (80) pour une personne à une heure et une
date telles que définies par les informations de synchronisation ;
caractérisé en ce que
les informations de synchronisation sont incluses dans les informations relatives
à l'utilisateur de l'instrument auditif (10), et en ce que le procédé comprend la transmission des informations de synchronisation du dispositif
(100) à l'instrument auditif (10) via l'interface (44) de l'instrument auditif (10).
17. Procédé selon la revendication 15 ou 16, dans lequel le procédé comprend le stockage
du message vocal (80) dans la mémoire (48) de l'instrument auditif (10) conjointement
à des informations de synchronisation, et dans lequel la fourniture en sortie du message
vocal pour la personne comprend
la récupération, en utilisant un processeur de message (54) d'une circuiterie d'aide
auditive (10) de l'instrument auditif, des échantillons audio du message vocal à partir
de la mémoire (48) et le transfert des échantillons audio (50) à un mélangeur (32)
de la circuiterie d'aide auditive (10),
le réglage, en utilisant le processeur de message (54) de poids (52) avec lesquels
un signal audio de microphone numérique (30) de la circuiterie d'aide auditive (10)
et les échantillons audio (50) sont additionnés ensemble dans le mélangeur (32) pour
former la sortie de mélangeur (34) comme une somme de sortie pondérée, et
la génération, en utilisant un processeur de perte auditive (36) de la circuiterie
d'aide auditive (10), d'un signal de sortie compensé en perte auditive (38) sur la
base du signal de sortie (34) provenant du mélangeur (32).