IP Library Granted Patent US 11,843,920
Granted Patent B2
US 11,843,920 · App. 17/527,378 · Granted Dec 12, 2023

Systems and methods for remote administration of hearing tests

Inventors: George Swetlitz (Durham, NC); Brian D. Vesely (Ozark, MO); Martin J. Lenardon (Phoenix, AZ); Brian E. Owens (Manasquan, NJ); Matthew C. Peterse (Brick, NJ)
Assignee: Sonova AG
H04R25/70A61B5/123A61B5/7475G06F3/0482G06F3/165H04N7/141H04R25/558A61B2560/0223H04R2225/55
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,843,920
App. No.
17/527,378
Granted
Dec 12, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes sending, by one or more processors of one or more computing devices, first instructions to a patient electronic device causing the patient electronic device to display a first graphical user interface that facilitates a hearing test between a patient and a provider of the hearing test. The computer-implemented method further includes sending, by the one or more processors, second instructions to a provider electronic device causing the provider electronic device to display a second graphical user interface that facilitates the hearing test.

Claims (58)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a patient electronic device, first data indicative of a graphical user interface for calibrating audio for a hearing test implemented by the patient electronic device and a provider electronic device;

display, by the processor, the graphical user interface on a display of the patient electronic device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

an indicator configured to indicate that a reference audio signal is being output to a speaker of the patient electronic device, and

a video chat element configured to display video of a provider captured by a camera in communication with the provider electronic device;

receiving, by the processor, second data indicative of an instruction to play the reference audio signal on the speaker of the patient electronic device, wherein the second data is sent to the patient electronic device based on a user input at the provider electronic device; and

output, by the processor the reference audio signal to the speaker while causing the indicator to visually indicate that the reference audio signal is being output to the speaker of the patient electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processor after the reference audio signal is output to the speaker, third data indicative of a user adjustment to volume of the speaker.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient electronic device and the provider electronic device are physically remote from one another.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second data further comprises an instruction to play the reference audio signal on the speaker of the patient electronic device through only one of a left speaker of the patient electronic device or a right speaker of the patient electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instruction is a first instruction, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the processor, third data indicative of a second instruction to stop playing the reference audio signal on the speaker of the patient electronic device; and

cause, by the processor, the reference audio signal to stop being output to the speaker.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising causing, by the processor, the indicator to visually indicate that the reference audio signal is not being output after the reference audio signal is caused to stop being output to the speaker.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the indicator displays at least one of:

a first color while the reference audio signal is being output to the speaker and a second color while the reference audio signal is not being output to the speaker; or

a first text while the reference audio signal is being output to the speaker and a second text while the reference audio signal is not being output to the speaker.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is a first graphical user interface, and wherein the method further comprises receiving, by the processor, third data indicative of a second graphical user interface for performing a hearing test after the audio for the hearing test is calibrated using the first graphical interface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video is first video, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises a second video demonstrating to a user of the patient electronic device how to generate reference audio for comparison to the reference audio signal output to the speaker.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the video chat element is a first video chat element, the video is a first video, and the camera is a first camera; and

the graphical user interface comprises a second video chat element configured to display second video of a patient captured by a second camera in communication with the patient electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the video chat element is a first video chat element, the video is a first video, and the camera is a first camera; and

the graphical user interface comprises a second video chat element configured to display second video of a companion captured by a second camera in communication with a companion electronic device.

12. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic display;

a memory; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive first non-transitory computer readable instructions for displaying a graphical user interface or execute second non-transitory computer readable instructions stored on the memory to display the graphical user interface on the electronic display, further wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

an indicator configured to indicate whether a reference audio signal for calibrating audio for a hearing test is being output to a speaker of a patient electronic device, wherein the hearing test is implemented by the patient electronic device and a provider electronic device; and

a video chat element configured to display video of a provider captured by a camera in communication with the provider electronic device;

wherein upon receipt of data from the provider electronic device, the data indicative of an instruction to play the reference audio signal on the speaker of the patient electronic device, the processor is configured to:

output the reference audio signal to the speaker of the patient electronic device, and

cause the indicator to visually indicate that the reference audio signal is being output to the speaker.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the data is first data and the instruction is a first instruction, and wherein upon receipt of second data indicative of a second instruction to stop playing the reference audio signal on the speaker of the patient electronic device, the processor is configured to:

cease the output of the reference audio signal to the speaker of the patient electronic device, and

cause the indicator to visually indicate that the reference audio signal is not being output to the speaker.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

the video chat element is a first video chat element, the video is a first video, and the camera is a first camera; and

the graphical user interface comprises a second video chat element configured to display second video of a patient captured by a second camera in communication with the patient electronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the video is first video, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises a second video demonstrating to a user of the patient electronic device how to generate reference audio for comparison to the reference audio signal output to the speaker.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the data is sent to the patient electronic device based on a user input at the provider electronic device.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operatively coupled to the processor and having non-transitory computer readable instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

transmit first data indicative of a graphical user interface for display on a patient electronic device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

an indicator configured to indicate whether a reference audio signal for calibrating audio for a hearing test is being output to a speaker of the patient electronic device, wherein the hearing test is implemented by the patient electronic device and a provider electronic device; and

a video chat element configured to display video of a provider captured by a camera in communication with the provider electronic device;

receive second data from the provider electronic device, the second data indicative of an instruction to play the reference audio signal on the speaker of the patient electronic device; and

send third data indicative of the instruction to play the reference audio signal to the patient electronic device, wherein the indicator is configured to visually indicate that the reference audio signal is being output to the speaker while the patient electronic device outputs the reference audio signal to the speaker.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the instruction is a first instruction, and wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to:

receive fourth data from the provider electronic device, the fourth data indicative of a second instruction to stop playing the reference audio signal on the speaker of the patient electronic device; and

send fifth data indicative of the instruction to stop playing the reference audio signal to the patient electronic device, wherein the indicator is configured to visually indicate that the reference audio signal is not being output to the speaker while the patient electronic device is not outputting the reference audio signal to the speaker.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to:

receive patient video data from the patient electronic device; and

send the patient video data to the provider electronic device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the video is first video, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises a second video demonstrating to a user of the patient electronic device how to generate reference audio for comparison to the reference audio signal output to the speaker.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second data is sent to the apparatus based on a user input at the provider electronic device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: ALPACA GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
To: SONOVA AG
Reel/Frame 064195/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: SWETLITZ, GEORGE; VESELY, BRIAN D.; LENARDON, MARTIN J.; OWENS, BRIAN E.; PETERSE, MATTHEW C.
To: ALPACA GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 058124/0060 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17234691 · Apr 19, 2021
Provisional Application 63012259 · Apr 19, 2020
Related Publication 20220078565A1 · Mar 10, 2022