JP6633830B2 - Resource manager - Google Patents

Description

  A novel hearing aid is provided that is configured to perform wireless communication with other devices while taking into account the state of power of the hearing aid.

  Wireless communication runs within a wireless network that facilitates the interconnection of multiple devices such as hearing aids, remote controls, fittings, mobile phones, headsets, doorbells, alarm systems, broadcast systems, etc., within the network Is done.

  WO 2004/110099 discloses a hearing aid wireless network with a communication protocol that is simple, requires less code and consumes less power during operation. Furthermore, the acquisition time is short and the latency (delay time) is short.

  A novel hearing aid capable of performing wireless communication according to a plurality of different wireless communication protocols is provided.

A novel hearing aid with a hearing aid circuit is provided. The hearing aid circuit is
An input transducer, wherein the input transducer is configured to output an audio signal based on a signal representing sound applied to the input transducer;
A hearing loss processor configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and output a hearing loss compensated audio signal;
A hearing loss processor (e.g., the hearing aid is configured to compensate for the hearing loss of the hearing aid user and to output a hearing-loss compensated audio signal; May be intended to restore the volume so that the volume of the hearing loss compensated signal as perceived by the user substantially matches)
An output transducer configured to output an audible output signal based on the hearing-loss-compensated audio signal, the output transducer being receivable by a human auditory system, whereby the user hears the sound. Output transducers such as receivers, implantable transducers, etc.,
A wireless communication unit comprising a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with another device.
Is provided.

  A power supply is connected to supply power to the hearing aid circuit.

  The hearing aids described above manage and implement hearing aid hardware and software resources, including, for example, a hearing loss processor, possibly other processors and associated signal processing algorithms, wireless communication units, memory resources, power supplies, etc. The system may further comprise a processor comprising an operating system configured to provide a common service for the task to be caused. The operating system may schedule tasks for efficient use of hearing aid resources, and also accounting software for cost allocation, including power consumption, processor time, storage, wireless transmission and other resources May be included.

  For various tasks, such as wireless communication and memory allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary between the task and the hearing aid circuit. However, the task application code is typically executed directly by the appropriate hearing aid processing circuitry and will frequently make system calls to and interrupt the operating system functions.

  The processor may be a hearing loss processor. Alternatively, the wireless communication unit may include a processor with an operating system. Alternatively, the operating system may be distributed among various processors, such as a hearing loss processor, a processor of a wireless communication unit, and possibly one or more additional processors.

  Specifically, the operating system may be configured to control the wireless communication unit to perform communication with other devices according to a plurality of communication protocols and priorities of the communication task.

  The operating system may include a scheduler. Alternatively, the operating system may be configured by a scheduler. The scheduler may be configured to receive a communication request from the communication task, and based on the task priority and the state of the power supply (e.g., the state of discharge of the battery and / or capacitor of the power supply of the hearing aid circuit), the communication task. May be scheduled.

Further, a novel method for scheduling wireless communication of a hearing aid with a hearing aid circuit is provided. The hearing aid circuit is
An input transducer, wherein the input transducer is configured to output an audio signal based on a signal representing sound applied to the input transducer;
A hearing loss processor, configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and to output a corresponding hearing loss compensated audio signal;
An output transducer configured to output an audible output signal based on the hearing-loss-compensated audio signal that is acceptable to a human auditory system to cause the user to hear sound. A transducer,
A wireless communication unit, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with another device;
A power supply connected to provide power to the hearing aid circuit;
An operating system comprising an operating system configured to control the wireless communication unit to perform communication with other devices according to respective communication protocols and priorities.

  The new method may include receiving a communication request from the communication task and scheduling the communication task based on task priority and power status.

  A transducer is a device that converts a signal applied thereto in one energy format to a corresponding output signal in another energy format.

  The input transducer may comprise a microphone, which converts an acoustic signal applied to the microphone into a corresponding analog audio signal. In this case, the instantaneous voltage of the audio signal changes continuously according to the sound pressure of the audio signal.

  The input transducer may include a telecoil that converts a fluctuating magnetic field at the telecoil to a corresponding fluctuating analog audio signal. In this case, the instantaneous voltage of the audio signal varies continuously according to the varying magnetic field strength at the telecoil. Telecoils may be directed to multiple people in public places (eg, churches, auditoriums, theaters, cinemas, etc.) or from speakers through loudspeaker systems at railway stations, airports, shopping malls, etc. May be used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of a conversation. The conversation from the speaker is converted to a magnetic field by an inductive loop system (also called a "hearing loop"), and a telecoil is used to magnetically pick up the magnetically transmitted audio signal.

  The input transducer may further comprise a beamformer configured to combine the microphone output signals of the at least two spaced microphones and the at least two spaced microphones into a directional microphone signal. .

  The input transducer is used to select one or more microphones and telecoils and switches as audio signals, for example, omnidirectional microphone signals, directional microphone signals and telecoil signals, either alone or in any combination. May be provided.

  Typically, an analog audio signal is made suitable for digital signal processing by converting it into a corresponding digital audio signal in an analog-to-digital converter. Thus, the amplitude of the analog audio signal is represented by a binary number. In this case, a discrete time and discrete amplitude digital audio signal in the form of a series of digital values represents a continuous time and continuous amplitude analog audio signal.

  Throughout this disclosure, "audio signal" may be used to identify any analog or digital signal that forms part of a signal path from the output of an input transducer to the input of a hearing loss processor.

  Throughout this disclosure, a "hearing loss compensated audio signal" is any signal that forms part of a signal path from the output of a hearing loss processor to the input of an output transducer, possibly via a digital-to-analog converter. Sometimes used to identify analog or digital signals.

  The wireless communication unit may include a transceiver.

  A wireless communication unit may be a device or circuit that includes both a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The transmitter and the receiver may share a common circuit and / or a single housing. Alternatively, the transmitter and the receiver may not share a circuit, and the wireless communication unit may include separate devices each having a transmitter and a receiver.

  Wireless communication may be performed according to a frequency diversification or spread spectrum scheme. That is, the frequency range utilized by the hearing aid is divided into a number of frequency channels and wireless transmission switching channels according to a predetermined scheme so that the transmission is spread over the entire frequency range.

  Without relying on the history of the network, a frequency hopping algorithm may be provided that allows devices in the network to calculate which frequency channel the network will use at any given time. . For example, based on the current frequency channel number, the pseudo-random number generator calculates the next frequency channel number. This facilitates synchronization between the new device and the hearing aid. For example, the new device comprises the same pseudo-random number generator as the hearing aid. Thus, upon receiving the current frequency channel number during acquisition, the new device will calculate the same next frequency channel number as the hearing aid.

  Every device in the network has its own identification number (eg, a 32-bit number). A globally unique identifier is not required because the probability that two users have a hearing aid with the same identification number is negligible.

  Preferably, the new device is automatically recognized by the network and interconnected with the network.

  One of the advantages of networks operating according to spread spectrum schemes is that communications have low sensitivity to noise. This is because noise is typically present on a particular frequency channel, and communication occurs only in a short time on a particular frequency channel, after which communication is switched to another frequency channel.

  Further, some networks may coexist in close proximity. For example, there may be more than one hearing aid user in the same room without network interference. This is because the probability that two networks use the same specific frequency channel at the same time is very low. Similarly, a hearing aid network may coexist with other wireless networks that utilize the same frequency band, such as a Bluetooth network or other wireless local area networks.

  The hearing aids are interconnected, for example, through a wireless network, for the digital exchange of two hearing aids, for example audio signals, signal processing parameters, control data (identifiers of signal processing programs, etc.), etc. And, in some cases, may be advantageously incorporated into a binaural hearing aid system, such as interconnected with other devices, such as a remote control or the like.

Typically, there is only a limited amount of power available from the hearing aid power supply. For example, in a hearing aid, power is typically supplied from a conventional ZnO ₂ battery.

  In designing hearing aids, size and power consumption are heavy considerations. The size of the hearing aid depends on the size of the battery used. In order to make the hearing aid compact and unobtrusive, small battery sizes such as type "312" or "13" are used. However, small batteries have relatively high internal resistance. For example, a "312" battery typically has an internal resistance of 5 ohms, two orders of magnitude greater than that of an AA type battery. High internal resistance leads to a large decrease in output voltage when the output current increases. This can be crucial for the operation of each part of the hearing aid circuit.

Wireless communication unit of the hearing aid, it is common to operate at voltages exceeding the available voltage with conventional ZnO ₂ batteries, such as Nordic Semiconductor radio chip "nRF24I01", it may be included in the wireless chip. Therefore, it may be necessary to supply power to the wireless chip via a voltage doubler (voltage amplifier). In addition, wireless chips draw a significant amount of current during transmission and reception. Conventional ZnO ₂ battery, a limited time between transmission and reception (typically, 1 millisecond) only can not supply the required amount of current drawn by the wireless communication unit. If the battery continues to supply the required amount of current for a longer period of time, the supply voltage will drop, below which the hearing aid circuit (particularly the digital components of the hearing aid circuit) will not operate properly Will be.

Furthermore, ZnO ₂ batteries require time for recovery after supplying current to the wireless chip during communication, even for a limited period of time. Typically, the duty cycle of the wireless chip (ie, the percentage of wireless on-time relative to the sum of wireless on-time and wireless off-time) must be kept below 10%.

  This problem is mitigated by connecting a circuit having a resistor and a capacitor between the power supply of the hearing aid circuit and the supply voltage input of the wireless communication unit (eg, between the output of a voltage doubler and the power input of a wireless chip). Can be. The capacitor will transfer the peak current to the wireless communication unit such that the peak current drawn from the power supply is reduced. The resistor will limit the current draw from the power supply by the wireless communication unit during a voltage drop across the capacitor.

  The scheduler determines the power of the current or most recent communication task to provide a recovery period for the power source, such as the batteries and / or capacitors described above, between the completion of the current or most recent communication task and the start of the next communication task. Based on the consumption estimate, it may be configured to calculate the earliest possible start time for performing the next communication task.

  The recovery period to be applied after the completion of the communication task performed by the wireless communication unit is the estimated or actual duration of the communication task performed by the wireless communication unit multiplied by a constant. It may be calculated.

  The duration estimate may comprise the sum of the pre-processing, transmission, reception and post-processing periods of the communication task.

  The actual duration may be constituted by the sum of the periods during which the wireless communication unit is actually receiving power when performing the communication task. Therefore, if the actual duration is used in the calculation of the recovery period, the possible power outage period of the wireless communication unit during the execution of the communication task is not included in the recovery period.

  The above constant is in the range of 0.5 to 2, preferably in the range of 0.6 to 1.8, more preferably in the range of 0.7 to 1.5, and most preferably in the range of 0.8 to 1.4. It may be. For example, the above constant may be equal to 1.125.

  The recovery period applied after completion of the communication task performed by the wireless communication unit may be calculated from the charge or current drawn from the power supply during the execution of the communication task.

  The scheduler may take into account the state of the battery (ie, the state of discharge of the battery) when calculating the recovery period. For example, the constants mentioned above may increase as a function of the state of discharge of the battery.

  The communication request may include the priority of the communication task.

  The communication request may include a requested start time for performing the requested communication task.

  The communication request may include a duration of execution of the requested communication task.

  The scheduler may determine that the requested start time is not feasible and may notify the requesting task that another start time must be requested.

  The scheduler may determine that it is not possible to execute a previously scheduled task at the scheduled start time, for example, due to a higher priority request, and a new start time is requested. What may have to be communicated to the already scheduled task.

  The scheduler causes the lower priority communication task to complete its communication in time before the higher priority communication task starts, so that the recovery period associated with the lower priority communication task elapses Under such a condition, the communication task with a lower priority may be configured to allow the communication task to execute before the communication task with a higher priority.

  The scheduler may schedule tasks other than the wireless communication task. The scheduler may also be configured to receive task requests from tasks other than the wireless communication task, and may schedule each of the tasks according to task priority and power status.

  The scheduler may take into account the power consumption of tasks other than the wireless communication task when setting the schedule. Examples of other tasks include algorithms that consume power, storage in flash memory, etc. The recovery period for these other tasks can be calculated in the same manner as described above in relation to the recovery period of the wireless communication task. The above constants may be different for different task types, for example due to different power consumption.

  The scheduler may be configured to power down one or more portions of the hearing aid circuit to avoid excessive power consumption due to simultaneous operation of the power consuming circuits.

  For example, the scheduler may turn off the wireless communication unit for sleep periods, such as during writing to and / or reading from flash memory, during execution of power consuming algorithms, and during other times. It may be configured.

  Preferably, the scheduler is configured to schedule a next start time of one of each requested task. That is, the scheduler may be able to easily determine a plurality of start times for a given task to be repeatedly executed (for example, for audio streaming), or even if it has already been determined. It is not configured to schedule multiple start times for a given task. This keeps the number of tasks scheduled low, thereby keeping the scheduler simple and dynamic, requiring less rescheduling in response to new requests.

  If the communication task is completed or terminated earlier than scheduled, the scheduler may be configured to recalculate the recovery period based on the actual duration and / or the actual power consumption for the communication task. Good. After the recalculated recovery period has elapsed and before the scheduled start time for the next scheduled task, there may be enough time to perform another task. As mentioned in the section, the scheduler determines, for another task (even if it has a lower priority than the next scheduled task), the associated recovery period before the start of the next scheduled task. It may be configured to allow execution of the task under the condition that the task is completed in time so that the task is completed.

  The signal processing of the new hearing aid may be performed by dedicated hardware, may be performed in one or more signal processors, or in a combination of dedicated hardware and one or more signal processors. It may be performed.

  A protocol is a scheme of digital rules for exchanging data within or between devices (eg, within a network). The protocol stipulates syntax, syntactics and communication synchronization. Protocols can be implemented in hardware, software, or both.

  Communication tasks include those operations that require performing communication (eg, sending a data package to a hearing aid). The communication request may be performed by another device or processor in the hearing aid that requires cooperation with the communication unit of the hearing aid.

  As used herein, “processor,” “signal processor,” “controller,” “system,” and other terms may refer to hardware, any combination of hardware and software, any software or running software, and the like. It is intended to point to entities associated with this CPU.

  For example, "processor," "signal processor," "controller," "system," and the like, refer to any process, processor, object, executable, thread of execution, and / or program (including, but not limited to) No).

  For purposes of description, the terms "processor," "signal processor," "controller," "system," and the like refer to both an application running on a processor and a hardware processor. One or more “processors”, “signal processors”, “controllers”, “systems”, or any combination thereof, may reside in a process and / or thread of execution and may include one or more A "processor", "signal processor", "controller", "system", or any combination thereof, is localized on one hardware processor (possibly in combination with other hardware circuits). And / or distributed between two or more hardware processors (possibly in combination with other hardware circuits).

  Further, a processor (or similar terminology) can be any component or combination of such components capable of performing signal processing. For example, the signal processor can be an ASIC processor, an FPGA processor, a general-purpose processor, a microprocessor, a circuit component, or an integrated circuit.

  In the following, the novel method and the hearing aid will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of communication in a wireless network of hearing aids according to the appended claims. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of one novel hearing aid according to the appended claims. FIG. 3 shows slots and frames. FIG. 4 illustrates various task requests. FIG. 5 shows a reservation list and a list of tasks for which priorities have been set.

  In the following, various examples of the novel method and hearing aid are described. However, the novel methods and hearing aids according to the appended claims may be embodied in different forms and should not be regarded as limited to the examples given here.

  The accompanying drawings are schematic and simplified for clarity, and these drawings merely show details that are essential for an understanding of the novel method and hearing aid, and exclude other details. It should be noted that there is.

  Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Therefore, the same elements are not described in detail for each figure description.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a binaural hearing aid 10L, 10R having a left ear hearing aid 10L and a right ear hearing aid 10R. Each of the left ear hearing aid 10L and the right ear hearing aid 10R has a wireless communication unit for connection to a wireless network. The wireless network interconnects these two hearing aids, and interconnects the hearing aids 10L, 10R and multiple other devices in the wireless network. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a doorbell, a mobile phone, a cordless phone, a TV set and a fitting device are also connected to the wireless network.

  All devices are identified by one ID. This ID is unique within this network.

  The hearing aid network shown in FIG. 1 operates in the 2.4 GHz industrial scientific medical (ISM) band. The ISM band comprises 80 frequency channels with a bandwidth of 1 MHz. A frequency hopping time division multiplexing scheme is used. During acquisition, this frequency hopping scheme provides for a reduction in the number of frequency channels to speed up acquisition (eg, less than 16 channels, preferably 8 channels). The elements of the reduced number of sets of frequency channels are also referred to as acquisition channels. This acquisition channel is preferably evenly distributed over the frequency band used by the network.

  FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of the new hearing aid 10.

The hearing aid 10 has a ZnO ₂ battery 12 connected to power the hearing aid circuit 14.

  Hearing aid circuit 14 includes an input transducer 16 in the form of a microphone 16. The microphone 16 outputs an analog audio signal 18 based on an acoustic signal arriving at the microphone 16 when the hearing aid 10 is operating.

  The analog-to-digital converter 20 provides an analog audio signal for digital signal processing in the hearing aid circuit 14 (specifically, in a hearing loss processor 24A configured to compensate for hearing loss for a user of the hearing aid 10). 18 to a corresponding digital audio signal 22. The hearing loss processor 24A comprises a dynamic range compressor, well known in the art, to compensate for the frequency dependent loss of the user's dynamic range, often referred to in the art as a recruitment phenomenon. Is preferred. Accordingly, the hearing loss processor 24A outputs a digital hearing loss compensated audio signal 26. The hearing aid may be configured to restore volume, so that the volume of the hearing loss compensated signal as perceived by a user wearing the hearing aid 10 is typically less than the acoustic signal arriving at the microphone 16. Substantially equal to the sound volume perceived by a listener having the same hearing ability.

  The digital / analog converter 28 converts the digital hearing loss compensated audio signal 26 to a corresponding analog hearing loss compensated audio signal 30.

  An output transducer in the form of a receiver 32 converts the analog hearing-loss-compensated audio signal 30 into a corresponding acoustic signal for transmission to the user's eardrum, so that the user can hear sound coming into the microphone. (But compensated for the individual hearing loss of the user).

  Hearing loss processor 24A forms part of processor A that executes a portion 36A of hearing aid operating system 36A, 36B and a memory 38A.

  Hearing aid circuit 14 further includes a wireless communication unit B with a radio 34 configured to communicate wirelessly with other devices in the hearing aid network, as shown in FIG. 1 for a binaural hearing aid system. Wireless communication unit B includes a processor executing a portion 36B of the hearing aid operating system 36A, 36B, a memory 38B, and a processor 24B executing various communication protocols and other tasks.

  The operation of the hearing aid 10 is controlled by operating systems 36A, 36B. Operating systems 36A, 36B include hearing aid hardware and software resources (eg, hearing loss processor 24A, and possibly other processors and associated signal processing algorithms, wireless communication unit B, memory resources 38A, 38B, power supply 12). , Etc., and the operating system 36A, 36B allocates these hearing aid resources to the task to be performed.

  Operating systems 36A, 36B schedule tasks for efficient use of hearing aid resources, and also provide cost allocation, including power consumption, processor time, memory allocation, wireless transmission and other resources. May include accounting software.

  For various tasks, such as wireless communication and memory allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary between the task and the hearing aid circuit hardware. However, the application code for the task is usually executed directly by the appropriate part of the hearing aid circuit, making frequent system calls and interrupts for each operating system function. become.

  Specifically, the operating system 36B controls the radio 34 to perform wireless communication with other devices according to various respective communication protocols and priorities of various respective communication tasks. I have.

  Operating system 36B includes a scheduler 40 that receives requests, including communication requests, from tasks to be performed. The communication request includes a priority of the communication task, a start time requested to execute the requested communication task, and an estimated duration when executing the requested communication task.

  In response to the task request, scheduler 40 schedules each of the tasks based on the task priority and the state of discharge of capacitor 42. Capacitor 42 supplies power to radio 34 and is charged by battery 12 through resistor 44.

  The circuit including the resistor 44 and the capacitor 42 may be omitted. That is, the resistor 44 may be replaced with a short circuit, and the capacitor 42 may be replaced with an open circuit. In this case, in response to the task request, the scheduler 40 schedules each of the tasks based on the task priority and the discharged state of the battery 12.

  The scheduler 40 may provide a recovery period between the completion of the current or most recent communication task for the power source (in the illustrated example, the combination of the battery 12 and the capacitor 42) and the start of the next communication task. Based on the power consumption estimate of the last communication task, calculate the earliest possible start time for performing the next communication task.

  The recovery period applied after completion of the communication task performed by the radio 34 is calculated as the estimated or actual duration of the communication task performed by the radio 34 multiplied by a constant. May be done.

  The duration estimate may be constituted by the sum of the periods relating to the pre-processing, transmission, reception and post-processing of the communication task.

  The actual duration may be constituted by the sum of the periods during which the radio 34 was actually powered during the execution of the communication task. Thus, if the actual duration is used to calculate the recovery period, the possible power outage period of the radio 34 during the execution of the communication task is not included in the recovery period.

  In the illustrated hearing aid 10, this constant may be equal to 1.125.

  In another example, the recovery period applied after completion of the communication task performed by the radio 34 may be calculated from the charge or current drawn from the power supply during the execution of the communication task.

  Further, scheduler 40 may take into account the power state (ie, the state of discharge of battery 12 and / or capacitor 42) when calculating the recovery period. For example, the constants mentioned above may increase as a function of the discharge of battery 12.

  The scheduler 40 may determine that the requested start time is not feasible, or may notify the requesting task that another start time must be requested.

  The scheduler 40 may determine that it is not possible to execute a task that has already been scheduled at the scheduled start time due to the arrival of a request with a higher priority, for example. A previously scheduled task may be notified that a time must be requested.

  The scheduler 40 may determine that the lower priority communication task will complete the communication in time so that the associated recovery period elapses before the higher priority communication task starts. A communication task with a lower degree may be configured to allow communication to be performed before a communication task with a higher priority. This may be useful, for example, if a task finishes or completes in less than the requested duration. As a result, it is possible to leave room for executing another task before the start of the next scheduled task.

  The scheduler 40 may also take into account the power consumption of tasks other than wireless communication when setting the schedule. Examples of other tasks include algorithms that consume power, storage in flash memory, etc. The recovery period for these other tasks can be calculated in the same manner as described above in relation to the recovery period of the wireless communication task. The above constants may be different for different task types, for example due to different power consumption.

  The scheduler 40 may include a radio 34, a flash memory, a signal processor running a signal processing algorithm, and the like, to avoid excessive power consumption due to simultaneous operation of power consuming circuits, such as a hearing aid circuit. One or more of them may be configured to power down.

  For example, the scheduler 40 may turn off the radio 34 for a sleep period, such as during writing to and / or reading from flash memory, during execution of a power consuming algorithm, and during other times. It may be configured as follows.

  Preferably, scheduler 40 is configured to schedule only the next start time of each task. That is, the scheduler 40 determines whether a plurality of start times can be easily determined (for example, for a case where a given task is repeatedly executed, such as audio streaming, or has already been determined). It is not configured to schedule a series of start times for a given task. This keeps the number of scheduled tasks low, thereby reducing the need for rescheduling for schedulers 40 in response to new requests and keeping them simple and dynamic.

  If the communication task completes or ends earlier than the schedule, the scheduler 40 is configured to recalculate the recovery period based on the actual duration and / or the actual power consumption for the communication task. Is also good. After the recalculated recovery period has elapsed and before the scheduled start time for the next scheduled task, there may be enough time to perform another task. As mentioned above, the scheduler 40 determines that another task (even if it has a lower priority than the next scheduled task) has a higher priority before the start of the next scheduled task. The task may be configured to allow execution of the task, provided that the lower priority task completes on time so that the associated recovery period of the lower task elapses. .

  FIG. 3 shows one exemplary protocol in which time is divided into so-called slots having a length of 1250 μs (twice the length of the minimum Bluetooth slot). The slots are numbered in the range 0-255.

  One frame is composed of 256 slots (ie, slot 0 to slot 255). The frames are also numbered.

  Factors affecting the choice of slot length include a requirement for low system latency and a requirement for low overhead associated with header and phase locked loop (PLL) locking.

  Preferably, the slot length is a multiple of 625 μs to facilitate (ie, not prevent) the implementation of the protocol according to the present invention on Bluetooth enabled devices.

  Each slot (except slot 128) is used for transmission by one particular device so that data collisions inside the network are prevented. Any slave device may transmit data in slot 128, and thus a collision may occur in this slot. The master device transmits timing information in slot 0. The slot and frame counters of the slave devices are synchronized with the respective counters of the master device of the network.

  Certain devices may use one or more slots for transmission of data. Slots may be allocated at the time of manufacture of a given device, or may be dynamically allocated during acquisition. Preferably, the assignment table is stored on the master device.

  4 and 5 show the operation of the scheduler 40.

  FIG. 4 shows communication requests issued by two communication tasks, namely task 1 and task 2. Task 1 may be, for example, a communication task related to audio streaming from a TV set to a hearing aid performed according to a hearing aid network communication protocol, and task 2 may be performed according to a Bluetooth Low Energy protocol. It may be a communication task related to the communication between the smartphone and the hearing aid being performed. Each communication request includes a start time, a duration, and a priority of a communication task to be executed. The duration includes pre-processing, transmission, reception and post-processing related to the communication task. In FIG. 4, shaded areas indicate pre-processing and post-processing.

  In the illustrated example, communication task 1 has issued two communication requests so that audio data can be retransmitted if the first transmission (request 1) was unsuccessful. The second request is issued with high priority so that the possibility of executing the second communication task at the requested time is increased. In the example of FIG. 4, communication task 1 has priority 2, communication task 2 has priority 3, and communication task 3 has priority 1. The one with the highest priority has the lowest priority number.

  Upon receiving the communication requests, the scheduler 40 calculates the end time for each communication request as the sum of the requested duration d and a recovery period that allows power to recover. In the example shown, the recovery period is equal to 9/8 times the duration.

Therefore, the end time _{1 = t 1 + d 1 +} 9/8 * is _{d 1,} and end time _{2 = t 2 + d 2 +} 9/8 * d is ₂ and end time _{3 = t 3 + d 3 +} 9/8 * d is _3.

  Some of the communication tasks may not be active. For example, the remote control may not be used for a while. Active and inactive tasks are flagged as shown in the request list shown in FIG. The parameters of the inactive task may be now-obsolete parameters for the last communication request.

As shown in FIG. 5, the scheduler 40 schedules communication tasks according to the request list and forms a priority list as shown by listing active communication requests in order of priority. Next, the scheduler specifies a task that has made a request whose end time is earlier than the start time of the communication task having the highest priority (in the example shown, communication request 3). In the example shown, both communication request 1 and communication request 2 have an end time earlier than t ₃ , and one of the corresponding tasks can be performed before the start of the task of communication request 3 It has become. In this case, the communication task with the highest priority (that is, the task of communication request 1) is executed.

If the task of communication request 1 was successfully executed, scheduler 40 deletes communication request 3 (ie, the second reservation of communication task 1) because the audio data has already been successfully transmitted. . The scheduler 40 also end time 1 for greater than t _2, determines that it is impossible to perform communication tasks 2 to the requested time, it must issue a new communication request to the requesting task Is sent.

If communication task 1 ends shortly after t ₁ (eg, no header is detected due to noise), a new end time is calculated based on the updated calculation for the correspondingly shorter recovery period. . Since the start time t ₂ of the communication request 2 is made if slower than the new end time of the communication task 1, the start time t ₃ before the communication request 3 of high priority more end time 2, the communication task 2 Is executed. If the end time 2 as slower than t _3, the communication task 2 will be set rescheduled. That is, the scheduler 40 sends a message indicating that a new communication request must be issued to the requesting task.

Although communication task 1 is terminated shortly after t _1, later than the previous example, if the new end time is later than t _2, together with the communication task 2 is set rescheduled, communication request for communication 3 The task is performed.

Claims (17)

A hearing aid comprising a power source connected to supply power to the hearing aid circuit,
The hearing aid circuit comprises:
An input transducer, wherein the input transducer is configured to output an audio signal based on a signal representing sound applied to the input transducer;
A hearing loss processor, configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and to output a hearing loss compensated audio signal;
An output transducer configured to output an audible output signal based on the hearing-loss-compensated audio signal that is acceptable to a human auditory system to cause the user to hear sound. A transducer,
A wireless communication unit, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with another device;
An operating system, comprising: an operating system configured to control the wireless communication unit to perform communication with other devices according to a plurality of communication protocols and priorities;
The operating system comprises:
A scheduler for receiving a communication request from a communication task and scheduling each of the communication tasks based on task priority and the state of the power supply so as to provide a recovery period for the power supply. A hearing aid comprising a configured scheduler.   The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid circuit comprises a capacitor for supplying current to the wireless communication unit.   The hearing aid of claim 2, wherein the hearing aid circuit comprises a resistor connected between the power supply and the capacitor. The scheduler, to provide the recovery period to the power supply, based on the power consumption estimates for instantaneous or immediate communication task, the earliest start time as possible to perform the following communication task 4. A hearing aid according to any one of the preceding claims , configured to calculate.   The hearing aid of claim 4, wherein the recovery period is a duration of the current or most recent communication task multiplied by a constant.   The hearing aid of claim 4, wherein the recovery period is a function of the current drawn from the power supply during execution of the current or most recent communication task. The power supply includes a battery,
The hearing aid according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the recovery period is a function of the state of the battery. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the communication requests includes a priority of the communication task. Hearing aid according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein at least one of the communication requests comprises a start time for performing the communication task . Hearing aid according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein at least one of the communication requests comprises a duration for performing the communication task . The scheduler, before the start of a higher communication task priority, to provide the recovery period to the power supply, a lower communication task priority in time for it even the condition of the complete its communication The communication task according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the lower-priority communication task is configured to allow communication to be performed before the higher-priority communication task. Hearing aid. Hearing aid according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the scheduler is configured to turn off the communication unit during sleep periods. As the scheduler, the start time is requested in the communication request is determined to be unfeasible, communicates that another start time must be requested to the communication task corresponding to said communication request The hearing aid of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is configured. The scheduler determines that it is not possible to cause a previously scheduled task to execute at the scheduled start time, and indicates that a new start time must be requested. 14. A hearing aid according to any one of the preceding claims , adapted to communicate with a hearing aid. 15. A hearing aid according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the scheduler is configured to take into account power consumption of tasks other than wireless communication when setting the schedule. 16. A hearing aid according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein at least a part of the operating system is included in the hearing loss processor. A method of scheduling wireless communication for a hearing aid comprising a power supply connected to power a hearing aid circuit, the method comprising:
The hearing aid circuit comprises:
An input transducer, wherein the input transducer is configured to output an audio signal based on a signal representing sound applied to the input transducer;
A hearing loss processor, configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and to output a corresponding hearing loss compensated audio signal;
An output transducer configured to output an audible output signal based on the hearing-loss-compensated audio signal that is acceptable to a human auditory system to cause the user to hear sound. A transducer,
A wireless communication unit, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with another device;
An operating system comprising: an operating system configured to control the wireless communication unit to perform communication with other devices according to a plurality of communication tasks having corresponding communication protocols and priorities. And
The method comprises:
Receiving a communication request from the communication task;
Scheduling the communication task comprising the communication request by the wireless communication unit to communicate based on a task priority and a state of the power supply to provide a recovery period for the power supply. .

Images