# US 10,484,804 B2 · Hearing assistance device ear-to-ear communication using an intermediate device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,804 B2 - Document ID: US10484804B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/714,626 - Filed: 2017-09-25 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-09 - Assignees: Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Applicants: Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum; Stephen Paul Flood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484804B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - H04R 25/305: {Self-monitoring or self-testing} - H04R 25/552: {Binaural} - H04R 25/558: {Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency} - H04R 2225/55: Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for relaying wireless communication from ear-to-ear for hearing assistance devices using an intermediate device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of using a first hearing assistance device in a first ear of a wearer to communicate with a second hearing assistance device in a second ear of the wearer using wireless communication, and determining whether quality of the communication between the devices has fallen below a programmable threshold such that communication can be improved by relaying the communication using an external intermediary device such as a smart phone. One method of determining the quality is to monitor a number of retransmissions that are used to maintain communication between the left and right devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for wireless communication, comprising: a first audio device configured to be worn in a first ear of a wearer; a second audio device configured to be worn in a second ear of the wearer; and an external device in wireless communication with at least one of the first device and the second device, the external device including: a wireless communication transceiver; and a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to: monitor communication between the first device and the second device; determine whether communication between the first device and the second device has fallen below a programmable threshold, wherein the programmable threshold includes a link margin threshold; and if communication between the first device and the second device has fallen below the programmable threshold, using the wireless communication transceiver to switch dynamically between direct communication and relay communication between the first and second devices, to improve link quality, latency and power consumption. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to monitor a number of retransmissions used to communicate between the first and second devices to determine whether communication between the first device and the second device has fallen below a programmable threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to monitor a receive signal strength between the first and second devices to determine whether communication between the first device and the second device has fallen below a programmable threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to monitor a number of retransmissions between the first and second devices to determine whether communication between the first device and the second device has fallen below a programmable threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is configured to use 2.4 GHz communication to relay communication between the first and second devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the external device includes a smart phone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the external device includes a remote control. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the external device includes a tablet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the external device includes a personal computer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first device and the second device includes a hearing aid. ### Claim 11 A device, comprising: a wireless communication transceiver; and a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to: monitor communication between a left audio device and a right audio device worn by a wearer; determine whether communication between the left device and the right device has fallen below a programmable threshold, wherein the programmable threshold includes a link margin threshold; and if communication between the left device and the right device has fallen below the programmable threshold, using the wireless communication transceiver to switch dynamically between direct communication and relay communication between the first and second devices, to improve link quality, latency and power consumption. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to measure link quality of communication between a left audio device and a right audio device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein link quality is measured using a packet error rate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein link quality is measured using a bit error rate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein link quality is measured using a number of retransmissions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein link quality is measured using overall latency of communication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein link quality is measured using a receive signal strength. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to eavesdrop on communication between the left audio device and the right audio device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is configured to use Bluetooth communication to relay communication between the first and second devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is configured to use Wi-Fi communication to relay communication between the first and second devices.