Hearing Aid Network Access via Gateway Protocol Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing aid systems face challenges in providing wireless communication within the limited space of a hearing aid and require physical add-on technology for extended functionality, limiting their ability to access shared services and resources.
Innovation Solution
A system enabling hearing devices to access a communication network through a transceiver unit communicating according to a specific protocol, a server device connected to the network, and a translator unit that converts protocols, allowing data upload and download, and providing access to various network services such as software updates and multimedia events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical add-on technology is used to extend hearing aid functionality, then communication capabilities are improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication protocols (first protocol for wireless hearing aid communication, second protocol for network communication) into a single gateway device. This merging allows the hearing aid to access network services without physically adding separate communication modules to each hearing aid, thereby extending functionality while avoiding increased device complexity at the hearing aid level.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between the hearing aid and the communication network. It translates between the first communication protocol used by the hearing aid and the second communication protocol used by the network, enabling communication capabilities to be extended without modifying the hearing aid's internal complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication modules are added to hearing aids, then network access is improved, but the limited space within the hearing aid is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex wireless communication and protocol translation functionality from the hearing aid and places it in a separate gateway device. This extraction allows the hearing aid to maintain its compact form factor while still achieving network access through the external gateway that handles all communication protocol translations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol translation is implemented within the hearing aid, then service access is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary that performs all protocol translation operations between the hearing aid's first protocol and the network's second protocol. By locating the translation function in the gateway rather than the hearing aid, the patent reduces the power consumption of the hearing aid while maintaining full service access capabilities through the powered gateway device.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a communication network includes a first transceiver unit in the hearing device communicating according to a first communication protocol. The system also includes a server device including an input/output unit connected to the communication network and configured to communicate according to a second communication protocol. A second transceiver unit is connected wirelessly to the first transceiver unit and configured to communicate according to the first communication protocol. A translator unit interconnects the second transceiver unit and the input/output unit and is configured to translate between the first and second communication protocol. The hearing device is configured to upload and download data to and from the communication network through the server device, and the server device is incorporated in a mobile or cellular telephone.