IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,256,199
Granted Patent B2
US 12,256,199 · App. 18/512,651 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Assistive listening device systems, devices and methods for providing audio streams within sound fields

Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel (Eden Prairie, MN); Peter J. Tetrick (Chaska, MN); Jeffrey Paul Solum (Greenwood, MN); Thomas Scheller (Eden Prairie, MN)
Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
H04R25/554G10L13/086H04S7/304H04S2420/01
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,256,199
App. No.
18/512,651
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Claims (44)

1. An audio communication device or audio provisioning device comprising:

a control circuit;

a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;

a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;

the audio communication device or audio provisioning device configured to

receive communications regarding a plurality of assistive listening devices;

select appropriate audio streams for assistive listening devices from which communications have been received based on the received communications from the plurality of assistive listening devices;

calculate a total bandwidth required for all selected audio streams;

compare the calculated total bandwidth to a total bandwidth available to the audio communication device or audio provisioning device for audio stream transmission; and

send the selected audio streams to the plurality of assistive listening devices, the selected audio streams comprising at least a first audio stream and a second audio stream, wherein the first audio stream is different from the second audio stream.

2. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , the received communications regarding the plurality of assistive listening device comprising at least one of

a language preference specific to a wearer of an assistive listening device;

a set of hearing requirements specific to a wearer of an assistive listening device;

data regarding a presentation delay specific to an assistive listening device;

an authorization status specific to a wearer of an assistive listening device; and

classification data regarding the listening environment.

3. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to reduce the bandwidth consumption of at least one selected audio stream if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

4. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to switch at least one selected audio stream to a lower bandwidth consumption version if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

5. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to actively compress at least one selected audio stream if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

6. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to begin using a codec having a higher level of compression in order to free up wireless bandwidth space if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

7. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to switch from a first codec to a second codec having a higher level of compression in order to free up wireless bandwidth space if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

8. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to receive preferences of a device wearer regarding codecs to facilitate codec switching according to preferences of the device wearer.

9. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 1 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is further configured to

calculate the total number of channels required for all selected audio streams; and

compare the calculated total number of channels to a total number of channels available to the audio communication device or audio provisioning device for audio stream transmission.

10. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 9 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to omit one or more audio streams.

11. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 9 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to select one or more audio streams to omit based on a priority status.

12. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 9 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to select one or more audio streams to omit based on a language of the audio streams.

13. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 9 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to calculate a number of assistive listening devices for each selected audio stream and omit the audio stream having the lowest number of assistive listening devices.

14. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 9 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to omit a sufficient number of audio streams so that the total number of channels consumed by selected audio streams does not exceed the total number of channels.

15. An audio communication device or audio provisioning device comprising:

a control circuit;

a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;

a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;

the audio communication device or audio provisioning device configured to

select appropriate audio streams for assistive listening devices;

calculate a total bandwidth required for all selected audio streams;

compare the calculated total bandwidth to a total bandwidth available to the audio communication device or audio provisioning device for audio stream transmission; and

send the selected audio streams to the plurality of assistive listening devices, the selected audio streams comprising at least a first audio stream and a second audio stream, wherein the first audio stream is different from the second audio stream.

16. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 15 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to reduce the bandwidth consumption of at least one selected audio stream if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

17. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 15 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to switch at least one selected audio stream to a lower bandwidth consumption version if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

18. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 15 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to actively compress at least one selected audio stream if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

19. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 15 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to begin using a codec having a higher level of compression in order to free up wireless bandwidth space if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

20. The audio communication device or audio provisioning device of claim 15 , wherein the audio communication device or audio provisioning device is configured to switch from a first codec to a second codec having a higher level of compression in order to free up wireless bandwidth space if the total calculated bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2024
From: BURWINKEL, JUSTIN R.; TETRICK, PETER J.; SOLUM, JEFFREY PAUL; SCHELLER, THOMAS
To: STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067119/0845 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17700926 · Mar 22, 2022
Continuation 16784947 · Feb 7, 2020
Provisional Application 62802996 · Feb 8, 2019
Related Publication 20240205618A1 · Jun 20, 2024
References Cited (98)
US 5461371A · Matsumoto et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 6230130B1 · Castello et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6498955B1 · McCarthy et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 8780201B1 · Scalisi et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8923543B2 · Sacha et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9055202B1 · Scalisi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9100694B1 · Chandel et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9136881B2 · Groeschel et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9167356B2 · Higgins et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9179107B1 · Scalisi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9179109B1 · Kasmir et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9210518B2 · Zhang · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9219964B2 · Merks · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9742890B2 · Gibbons · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9794701B2 · Flood et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9848273B1 · Helwani et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9940928B2 · Haubrich et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10543371B2 · Hunt et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10600291B2 · Kashar · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10605470B1 · Saxena et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10606470B2 · Ording · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10743115B2 · Frederiksen et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10827249B1 · Pine et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11304013B2 · Burwinkel et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11812213B2 · Bhowmik et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11825272B2 · Burwinkel et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 12035110B2 · Degen · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20050172006A1 · Hsiang · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050231356A1 · Bish et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060023900A1 · Erhart et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20080140868A1 · Kalayjian et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080181435A1 · Ozaki et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090031336A1 · Chavez et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076816A1 · Bradford · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20120060176A1 · Chai et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120102409A1 · Fan et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140223461A1 · Hatambeiki et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150105029A1 · Russell et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170318145A1 · Gibbons · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170332183A1 · Shennib · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180081619A1 · Peters · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180204576A1 · Dhoot et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180317837A1 · Burwinkel et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180343527A1 · Edwards · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190082307A1 · Miller et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190246216A1 · Frederiksen et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190278555A1 · Carvajal et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190281389A1 · Gordon et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200069281A1 · Chan et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200086133A1 · Wang et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200260199A1 · Burwinkel et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200288251A1 · Kuipers · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220103927A1 · Bhowmik et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220286792A1 · Burwinkel et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220337962A1 · Degen · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230020019A1 · Bhowmik et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240205584A1 · Bhowmik et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
DE 10030915 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
EP 2725818 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 3176782 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017120065 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020163722 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020236911 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021041522 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021127226 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
“Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC,” for European Patent Application No. 20768447.3 mailed Dec. 18, 2023 (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC,” for European Patent Application No. 20842440.8 mailed Mar. 27, 2024 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Eye Tracking & Access Technologies,” PRC—Saltillo Product Overview page accessible at least as early as Dec. 9, 2019, at URL <https://www.prentrom.com/prc_advantage/eye-tracking-and-access-technologies> (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
“How NFL Equipment Works,” HowStuffWorks article that mentions wireless communication in NFL helmets has been used since 1994. Accessible at URL <https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/fb-equip5.htm> at least as early … [cited by applicant]
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/017222 mailed Aug. 19, 2021 (14 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/065682 mailed Jun. 30, 2022 (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability,” for PCT/US2020/047967 mailed Mar. 10, 2022 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Search Report and Written Opinion,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/017222 mailed Jul. 6, 2020 (21 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Search Report and Written Opinion,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/047967 mailed Oct. 22, 2020 (13 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Search Report and Written Opinion,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/065682 mailed Mar. 16, 2021 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Invitation to Pay Additional Fees,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/017222 mailed May 13, 2020 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 16/784,947 mailed Jul. 23, 2021 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/489,041 mailed Jan. 10, 2023 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/638,615 mailed Dec. 1, 2023 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,926 mailed Jan. 17, 2023 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/786,675 mailed Mar. 28, 2024 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 18/502,576 mailed Jul. 17, 2024 (28 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 16/784,947 mailed Dec. 9, 2021 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/489,041 mailed Jul. 5, 2023 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/638,615 mailed Feb. 28, 2024 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,926 mailed Jul. 13, 2023 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 16/784,947 mailed Sep. 20, 2021 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/489,041, filed Apr. 10, 2023 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,926, filed Apr. 11, 2023 (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/786,675, filed Jun. 25, 2024 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Rejection,” mailed on Dec. 1, 2023, for U.S. Appl. No. 17/638,615, submitted via EFS-Web on Feb. 16, 2024, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Allan, Patrick “Build some DIY, Smart Switching Baby Monitor Headphones,” Synopsis of Ben Heck Show episode. Published Jan. 4, 2017 and accessible at URL <https://lifehacker.com/build-some-diy-smart-switching-baby-monit… [cited by applicant]
Martins Pereira, Cesar Augusto, et al., “Development and Evaluation of a Head-Controlled Human-Computer Interface with Mouse-Like Functions for Physically Disabled Users,” Clinics 2009; 64(10): 975-81 (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
Zhang, Ben, et al., “HOBS: Head Orientation-Based Selection in Physical Spaces,” SUI Oct. 4-5, 2014, Honolulu, HI, USA. [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/786,675 mailed Sep. 17, 2024 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 18/502,576 mailed Jan. 2, 2025 (20 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action, ”for U.S. Appl. No. 18/502,576, filed Oct. 10, 2024 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/786,675, filed Dec. 20, 2024 (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
Cited By (2)
US 12,641,379 US 12,684,280