Hearing Device Movement-Triggered Scanning for Broadcast Audio
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing devices face challenges in efficiently scanning for and maintaining connections to broadcasted audio streams without continuous battery drain, especially in miniaturized devices like hearing aids, and struggle with seamless handover between broadcast devices as the user moves.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device equipped with a movement sensor initiates scanning for available broadcasted audio streams based on user movement, allowing for efficient battery management and seamless transitions between broadcast devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous scanning for broadcasted audio streams is performed, then availability of audio streams is improved, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device performs scanning for broadcasted audio streams periodically rather than continuously. The scanning is triggered by movement events detected by the movement sensor, creating an event-driven periodic scanning mechanism that balances availability with power conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the movement sensor to control the scanning behavior. When movement is detected, scanning is initiated; when the user is stationary, scanning is suspended. This feedback loop optimizes the balance between finding available streams and conserving battery power.
2Productivity
If scanning for broadcasted audio streams is performed frequently, then discovery of available streams is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous scanning, the system employs periodic scanning triggered by movement events. This ensures that scanning occurs only when necessary (when the user is moving and may need to switch between streams), thereby extending battery life while maintaining acceptable stream discovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement sensor automatically triggers scanning based on user behavior patterns without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using movement detection to intelligently activate scanning only when the user's context suggests a need for stream discovery.
3Ease of operation
If the hearing device is miniaturized, then comfort for user is improved, but battery capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The miniaturized hearing device compensates for its limited battery capacity by implementing periodic scanning triggered by movement events rather than continuous scanning. This extends the effective battery life, allowing the device to remain miniaturized while maintaining acceptable operational duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the scanning parameter from continuous to event-driven periodic scanning. This parameter change allows the same hardware to operate longer without additional battery capacity, effectively extending runtime through intelligent control rather than increased physical battery size.
4Use of energy by moving object
If scanning is initiated based on user movement, then battery power conservation is improved, but response time for stream discovery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time feedback from the movement sensor to trigger scanning immediately when movement is detected. This ensures that stream discovery responds timely to user movement, minimizing the loss of time while still conserving battery power during stationary periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement sensor continuously monitors for user movement in advance, and scanning is triggered as soon as movement is detected. This preliminary monitoring ensures that scanning starts promptly when the user begins moving, reducing the response time delay while maintaining power conservation during non-movement periods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution conserves battery power by selective scanning and ensures continuous access to broadcasted audio streams as the user moves, enhancing the hearing experience without constant scanning.
Implementation Method 1
a movement sensor configured for obtaining movement data indicative of user movement
Implementation Method 2
an antenna, and a wireless communication unit coupled to the antenna
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a hearing device configured for being worn at an ear of a user. The hearing device comprises an input transducer, a processing unit, an output transducer, a movement sensor configured for obtaining movement data indicative of user movement, an antenna, and a wireless communication unit coupled to the antenna. The hearing device is configured to initiate a scanning for advertisements of available broadcasted audio streams. The scanning for advertisements is initiated based on the movement data.