System and method for sharing network resources between hearing devices

Abstract

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.

1 . A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a communication network, and comprising:
 a first transceiver unit in said hearing device communicating according to a first communication protocol, said first communication protocol being a Bluetooth protocol, using an antenna of said hearing device, said antenna wirelessly transmitting and receiving data that is configured to the first communication protocol; and   a server device including;
 a second transceiver unit connected wirelessly to said first transceiver unit and adapted for transmitting and receiving data from the hearing device, and where the data is configured to said first communication protocol, 
 a third transceiver unit configured to be wirelessly connected to said communication network and adapted to communicate according to a second communication protocol, and 
 a translator unit interconnecting said second transceiver unit and said third transceiver unit and adapted to translate between said Bluetooth protocol and the second communication protocol, 
   
       wherein said hearing device is adapted to upload and download data to and from said communication network through said server device. 
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said server device further comprises a memory configured to store environmental acoustic data and actions of a wearer of the hearing device.   
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said server device is configured to store in the memory the wearer's reactions to the hearing device's selection of programs in certain acoustic environments.   
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said server device is incorporated in a mobile or cellular telephone.   
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said communication network comprises a telephone network, a computer network, media network, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said data comprises a data package.   
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein
 said data package comprises a header section comprising routing and transmission control data, and a data section comprising data payload.   
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said communication network comprises connections to a plurality of service providers in said communication network.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said service providers are adapted to provide at least one of types of services for the hearing device users, including   updated hearing aid software with new features,   access to a multimedia event,   access service information, and   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said communication network further includes connections to a telephone, a computer, a personal digital assistant, a television, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said server device further comprises a location identifying element adapted to identify present location of the server device.   
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1  configured for updating hearing aid software of the hearing device with new features. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 2  wherein the server device further comprises a processor adapted to assist and/or support a signal processor of the hearing device in calculations performed on the environmental acoustic data. 
     
     
         14 . A system for enabling a hearing device wireless access to a communication network, and comprising:
 a first transceiver unit in said hearing device communicating according to a first communication protocol;   an acoustic environment detector in said hearing device configured to generate an environment signal; and   a server device including
 an input/output unit connected to said communication network and adapted to communicate according to a second communication protocol, 
 a second transceiver unit connected wirelessly to said first transceiver unit and adapted to communicate according to said first communication protocol, 
 a translator unit interconnecting said second transceiver unit and said input/output unit and adapted to translate between said first and second communication protocol, and 
 a controller configured to generate an environment compensation signal based on the environment signal, 
   wherein said hearing device is adapted to upload and download data to and from said communication network through said server device,   wherein said server device comprises a broadcasting element configured to broadcast said environment compensation signal to a plurality of hearing devices.   
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the communications network comprises a storage provider operable by the server device to store and communicate an appropriate setting to the hearing devices.