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AssigneeStarkey Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsKevin D. Seitz-Paquette, Andrew Johnson
Estimating the term…
Embodiments herein relate to hearing assistance systems and methods for use with assistive listening device systems. In a first aspect, a hearing assistance system is included having an ear-worn device can include a control circuit, a sensor package in signal communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a spatial locator circuit in communication with the ear-worn device. The spatial locator circuit can detect a current spatial location. The system can compare the current spatial location against entries in a database of spatial locations that offer assistive listening device services. The system can send a notification to the ear-worn device and/or ear-worn device wearer if the current spatial location is found in the database of spatial locations that offer assistive listening device services. Other embodiments are also included herein.
A hearing assistance system comprising:
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1 and 3-14, wherein the spatial location circuit is integrated within a housing with the ear-worn device.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-2 and 4-14, wherein the ear-worn device is physically separate from but in wireless communication with the spatial locator circuit.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-3 and 5-14, wherein the hearing assistance system sends a notification to the ear-worn device wearer if the current spatial location is found in the database of spatial locations that offer assistive listening device services.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-4 and 6-14, wherein the hearing assistance system prompts the ear-worn device wearer to enter an ALD operating mode if the current spatial location is found in the database of spatial locations that offer assistive listening device services.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-5 and 7-14, wherein the prompt is delivered through the ear-worn device.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-6 and 8-14, wherein the prompt is delivered through a personal communications device in wireless communication with the ear-worn device.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-7 and 9-14, wherein the hearing assistance system monitors for a command from the ear-worn device wearer to enter an assistive listening device mode after sending a notification to the ear-worn device wearer.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-8 and 10-14, the spatial locator circuit forming a part of a personal communications device.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-9 and 11-14, the spatial locator circuit comprising a satellite signal receiver circuit.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-10 and 12-14, the spatial locator circuit comprising a device-to-device locator circuit.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-11 and 13-14, the spatial locator circuit comprising an electromagnetic sensor to detect the presence of a telecoil loop cable.
The hearing assistance system of any of claims 1-12 and 14, wherein the hearing assistance system prompts the ear-worn device wearer to assent to adding a current spatial location to the database of spatial locations that offer assistive listening device services if the hearing assistance device system detects the presence of assistive listening device (ALD) services in the current spatial location.
An ear-worn device comprising:
An ear-worn device accessory comprising:
The ear-worn device accessory of any of claims 16 and 18, wherein the ear-worn device accessory comprises a personal communications device.
A method of operating a hearing assistance system comprising:
The method of any of claims 19 and 21-22, wherein the hearing assistance system prompts the ear-worn device wearer to enter an ALD operating mode if the current spatial location is found in the database of spatial locations that offer assistive listening device services.
The method of any of claims 19-20 and 22, wherein the hearing assistance system monitors for a command from the ear-worn device wearer to enter an assistive listening device mode after sending a notification to the ear-worn device wearer.
A method of operating a hearing assistance system comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.