System and method for synchronizing audio and video signals for a listening system

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for synchronizing audio and video signals for a listening system. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method including receiving an audio signal and a video signal from an external device. The audio signal is processed and transmitted to a hearing assistance device having a wearer. In various embodiments, the video signal is transmitted to a video display using a delay such that the audio signal and the video signal are synchronized for the wearer.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system, comprising:
 a listening device; and   a synchronization device, including:
 a wireless input configured to receive an audio signal and a video signal from an audio/video source; 
 a bi-directional wireless communication link to the listening device; 
 a processor configured to process the audio signal and convert the audio signal into a wireless signal and transmit the wireless signal to the listening device using the bi-directional wireless communication link; and 
 a wireless output configured to transmit the video signal to a video display using a delay based on a wireless signal delay calculated using a received acknowledgement from the listening device, such that the wireless signal and the video signal are synchronized for the listening device, and configured to transmit the audio signal to the video display using the delay to synchronize the audio signal and video signal to the display. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the synchronization device is an assistive listening device (ALD). 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the video display includes a television. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the listening device includes a hearing assistance device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, using a synchronization device, an audio signal and a video signal from an audio/video source;   processing, using the synchronization device, the audio signal and converting the audio signal into a wireless signal, and transmitting the wireless signal to a listening device using a time stamp; and   transmitting, using the synchronization device, the video signal to a video display using a delay based on a wireless signal delay calculated by synchronizing clocks between the synchronization device and the listening device and using the time stamp, such that the wireless signal and the video signal are synchronized for the listening device; and   transmitting, using the synchronization device, the audio signal to the video display using the delay to synchronize the audio signal and video signal to the display.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein synchronizing clocks includes using network clock synchronization based on IEEE 1588. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising transmitting the video signal to the video display such that the audio signal and the video signal are synchronized for all viewers of the video display. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein processing the audio signal includes encoding the audio signal over a first time period. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the listening device in configured to decode the audio signal over a second time period. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the delay is calculated using the first time, the second time, and a transmission time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the synchronization device is an assistive listening device (ALD). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the video display includes a television. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the listening device includes a hearing aid.