Patent ID: 8265314
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
1. A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising: a portable housing configured to be worn behind the ear or in the ear of the person; a processor disposed in the portable housing for executing a plurality of available programs for processing digital audio signals; a digital-to-analog converter disposed in the portable housing for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals; an audio output section disposed in the portable housing for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person; memory disposed in the portable housing for storing the plurality of available programs for processing the digital audio signals, the memory accessible to the processor; and a counter disposed in the portable housing for counting occurrences of events that are indicative of the application of power to or the removal of power from the programmable apparatus, and for generating a counter value based thereon, wherein the processor determines after a predetermined elapsed time which one of the plurality of available programs has been used for the longest total time in processing the digital audio signals, the determination of elapsed time based at least in part on the counter value.