Methods, Systems, and Device for Remotely-Processing Audio Signals

A hearing device system comprising:

• an audio transducer configured to provide a plurality of audio signals in response to receiving sounds from an acoustic environment;
• a communication interface configured to communicate with a media device;
• a stimulation component configured to stimulate a recipient of the hearing device;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• (i) receive from the media device via the communication interface a request for the plurality of audio signals;
• (ii) make a determination of whether to provide the media device with the plurality of audio signals;
• (iii) generate, based on the determination, a first plurality of stimulation signals;
• and
• (iv) send to the stimulation component each stimulation signal, thereby causing the stimulation component to deliver to the recipient a plurality of stimuli, wherein:
• if the determination is to send the plurality of audio signals, the one or more processors generate the first plurality of stimulation signals by (a) sending to the media device via the communication interface the plurality of audio signals, (b) receiving from the media device via the communication interface a plurality of remotely-processed signals, and (c) processing at least each remotely-processed signal, and
• if the determination is to not provide the media device with the plurality of audio signals, the one or more processors generate the first plurality of stimulation signals by processing the plurality of audio signals.

A sound processor configured to:

• receive from a media device a command to send an audio signal to the media device, wherein the audio signal includes audio data indicative of a sound received at an audio transducer of a hearing device;
• responsive to receiving the command, make a determination to send the audio signal to the media device;
• send, responsive to the determination, the audio signal to the media device;
• receive from the media device a remotely-processed signal;
• process at least one of the audio signal or the remotely-processed signal to generate a stimulation signal;
• and
• cause a stimulation component of the hearing device to deliver to a recipient of the hearing device a stimulus, wherein the stimulus is based on the stimulation signal.