# US 8,787,604 B2 · Remote control of hearing assistance devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,604 B2 - Document ID: US8787604B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/555,604 - Filed: 2012-07-23 - Published: 2012-11-15 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-05 - Assignees: Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Applicants: Tao Zhang; Venkat Ramachandran; Arthur Salvetti - Inventors: Tao Zhang; Venkat Ramachandran; Arthur Salvetti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787604B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/558: {Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency} - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - 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 The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus of communicating instructions to a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. In various embodiments instructions are formed using tones sent to the hearing assistance device. The instructions can be used to control the operation of the hearing assistance device. The signals may include dual tone multifunction signals or other nonstandard signals. Various detection processes are provided which include but are not limited to using a modified complex Goertzel algorithm to detect tones. The remote device can be a standard device or can be modified to provide the proper signals. The following techniques can be applied to hearing assistance devices including, but not limited to completely-in-the-canal devices, in-the-canal devices, behind-the-ear devices, receiver-in-canal devices, and implanted devices, such as cochlear implants. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hearing aid, comprising: a telecoil to receive a signal; and a programmable processor in communication with the telecoil, the programmable processor configured to perform program instructions for a Goertzel process for detection of information encoded in the signal at predetermined tone frequencies of interest, the information including a control message, the programmable processor programmed to perform a control process based on the control message, the processor further adapted to perform hearing aid processing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the Goertzel process is adapted to process subband information in subbands including the predetermined tone frequencies of interest. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the Goertzel process is adapted to process subband information to obtain the information encoded in the signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the Goertzel process is adapted to decode information sent as dual tone multi-function signals for use in controlling the hearing aid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hearing aid of claim 4, wherein the processor is programmed to recognize at least some of the dual tone multi-function signals such that they provide at least part of the control message. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising a microphone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hearing aid of claim 6 further comprising a receiver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The hearing aid of claim 6 further comprising a radio frequency receiver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The hearing aid of claim 6 further comprising a direct audio input (DAI) port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, further comprising a microphone, a receiver, and a direct audio input port in communication with the programmable processor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hearing aid of claim 10, wherein the Goertzel process is adapted to process subband information in subbands including the predetermined tone frequencies of interest. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The hearing aid of claim 10, wherein the Goertzel process is adapted to process subband information to obtain the information encoded in the signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The hearing aid of claim 10, wherein the Goertzel process is adapted to decode information sent as dual tone multi-function signals for use in controlling the hearing aid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the processor is programmed to recognize at least some of the dual tone multi-function signals such that they provide at least part of the control message. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic field receiver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, further comprising a receiver in communication with the programmable processor, wherein the hearing aid is configured to play sound at least in part derived from the hearing aid processing performed by the programmable processor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid includes an implantable device such as a cochlear implant.