Push to lower hearing assisted device
A mechanism for switching a wireless device between normal operation and a lower-power mode is provided. A wireless device has a selection mechanism for reducing the power output of the wireless device. The wireless device then returns to a normal operation mode upon user release of the selection mechanism.
1. A method comprising:
detecting a beginning of a user action, wherein the user action is indicative of a first transmission power level at which to operate a component of a wireless device;
responsive to detecting the user action, operating the component at the first transmission power level;
detecting an end of the user action; and
responsive to detecting the end of the user action, operating the component of the wireless device at a second transmission power level, wherein:
the user action comprises reading a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag associated with a user hearing assistance device, and
the reading takes place when the RFID tag is placed in a location proximate to the wireless device which causes interference with the user hearing aid at the second transmission power level.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first transmission power level is a lower power level than the second transmission power level.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting the end of the user action occurs when the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid is moved away from the wireless device to a location which does not cause interference with the user hearing aid at the second transmission power level.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the component of the wireless device is an output power amplifier.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a predetermined time period.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is a telephone, and wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a telephone call connection.
7. A wireless device comprising:
a selection mechanism for detecting a beginning of a user action indicating a first transmission power level; and
an output power amplifier, wherein:
the output power amplifier operates at the first transmission power level during a period associated with the user action;
the output power amplifier maintains operation at the first transmission power level until an end of the period associated with the user action; and
the output power amplifier operates at a second transmission power level upon the end of the period associated with the user action;
the selection mechanism is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader that detects when an RFID tag associated with a user hearing aid is located in a location which causes interference with the user hearing aid at the second transmission power level proximate the wireless device.
8. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein the first transmission power level is a lower power level than the second transmission power level.
9. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein:
the RFID tag includes a user hearing aid prescription; and
the wireless device further comprises a processor for executing computer-readable instructions to determine the first transmission power level based on the hearing aid prescription.
10. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid indicates a value representing the first transmission power level.
11. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein the first transmission power level corresponds to a user hearing aid prescription or a user preference.
12. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions for:
detecting a beginning of a user action, wherein the user action is indicative of a first transmission power level at which to operate a component of a wireless device;
responsive to detecting the user action, operating the component at the first transmission power level;
detecting an end of the user action; and
responsive to detecting the end of the user action, operating the component of the wireless device at a second transmission power level in response to the end of the user action, wherein:
the user action comprises reading a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag associated with a user hearing assistance device; and
the reading takes place when the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid is placed in a location proximate the wireless device which causes interference with the user hearing aid at the second transmission power level.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first transmission power level is a lower power level than the second transmission power level.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein said detecting the end of the user action occurs when the RFID tag associated with the user hearing aid is moved away from the wireless device to a location which does not cause interference with the user hearing aid at the second transmission power level.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the component of the wireless device is an output power amplifier.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a predetermined time period.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the wireless device is a telephone, and wherein said detecting the end of the user action comprises detecting an end of a telephone call connection.