Abstract:
A method for adjusting parameters of an audio device is provided and applied to an adjusting system operated by a user to adjust the audio device. The method includes steps of: executing an application program with the adjusting system; the application program providing a graphical user interface for receiving data wherein the graphical user interface at least includes a plurality of options to be selected; and adjusting a plurality of parameters of the audio device associated with a first option when the first option of the plurality options is selected and outputting a sound by the audio device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device, and more particularly to a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device by using an adjusting system to perform the adjustment of the audio device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hearing loss is a serious problem affecting one&#39;s communication ability. According to statistics, about one third of senior citizens in Taiwan encounter hearing problems. Hearing problems not only result in communication difficulty, but also affect the quality of life. At worst, people having hearing impairments are unaware of surrounding dangers. Hence, hearing problem is an important healthy subject. For example, most degenerative presbycusis results from the death of inner hair cells, vascular cells or spiral ganglion cells. Furthermore, there are several factors impacting one&#39;s faculty of hearing, for example, a great deal of noise in the environment and heredity. This kind of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss, which cannot be cured surgically or medically in most cases. Nowadays, hearing-impaired patients usually wear audio devices such as hearing aids capable of amplifying sounds to enhance their hearing. 
     Before a hearing-impaired patient buys a hearing aid from a hearing-aid company, the professional performs a series of fitting and fine-tuning procedures depending on the disorder degree to allow the hearing-impaired patient to have a suitable hearing aid. The fitting and fine-tuning procedures include the following steps. 
     The first step is pre-fitting evaluation and audiometry (or so-called hearing test). At first, the audiologist or dispenser/hearing aid specialist gives a hearing test after the customer gets in the hearing-aid company. 
     The second step is hearing-aid fitting. The audiologist selects a suitable hearing aid for the customer within the budget limit according to the audiometric report. Then, the audiologist operates a fitting software provided by the manufacturer of the hearing aid to set parameters of the hearing aid. The audiologist may utilize several programs for the hearing aid to meet the customer&#39;s hearing requirements in different listening situations. 
     The third step is hearing-aid fine-tuning The customer expresses his/her feeling about the sounds and trouble encountered. The audiologist empirically fine-tunes parameters of the hearing aid to meet the customer&#39;s requirements and preferences. 
     The fourth step is trial use. The customer may take the hearing aid on trial for several weeks. If the hearing aid is not satisfying, the customer has to make an appointment with the audiologist to fine-tune the hearing aid again. The third step and the fourth step are repeated till the customer is satisfied with the hearing aid. 
     However, according to the above steps, it is known that the hearing aid fine-tuning step needs audiologist&#39;s experience cooperating with fitting software provided by the manufacturer of the hearing aid to fine-tune the hearing aid. That is to say, the customer has to carry the hearing aid back to the hearing-aid company again and again to perform the fine-tuning step if the adjustment is not satisfying. It is really costly and time-consuming. Someone may even return the hearing aid back or leave the hearing aid unused. In addition, the fitting software used for fine-tuning the hearing aid has a user interface incomprehensible to and difficult to be operated by unskilled persons. Please refer to  FIG. 1  illustrating a user interface provided by a hearing aid fitting software usually used by a hearing aid company for fine-tuning the hearing aid. It is obvious that the user interface involves many complex parameters. For example, even the basic volume adjustment involves many frequency parameters and gain parameters to be adjusted to meet the user&#39;s requirement. Unfortunately, normal users have no idea how to perform the adjustment. If the customer installs the fitting software in his/her own computer equipped with a hearing-aid programmer to fine-tune the hearing aid by himself/herself, it is not easy for the customer to successfully adjust the hearing aid to satisfy his/her needs and preferences. Moreover, the hearing-aid programmer is not available for normal users. Hence, it is desired to overcome the above-mentioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device applied to an adjusting system operated by a user to adjust the audio device. The method includes steps of: executing an application program with the adjusting system; the application program providing a graphical user interface for receiving data wherein the graphical user interface at least comprises a plurality of options to be selected; and adjusting a plurality of parameters of the audio device associated with a first option when the first option of the plurality options is selected and outputting a sound by the audio device. 
     In an embodiment, the application program reduces the number of the plurality of options of the graphical user interface from a first number to a second number according to an audiometric result. 
     In an embodiment, the audiometric result is acquired from an audiometry for the user. 
     In an embodiment, the audiometry is controlled by the application program and performed by means of the audio device. The audiometry includes an air-conduction threshold test, an air-conduction most comfortable level test, or an air-conduction un-comfortable level test. 
     In an embodiment, the adjusting system, which executes the application program, controls a sound-receiving unit of the audio device to detect a surrounding noise. The adjusting system receives a detection result from the sound-receiving unit and compares the volume of the surrounding noise with a threshold value. If the volume of the detected surrounding noise exceeds the threshold value, it means that the surrounding noise may affect the reliability of the audiometric result. Then, the adjusting system shows through a screen a warning message to indicate that the current condition is improper for the audiometry, and shows a prompt message to teach how to diminish the influence of the surrounding noise. 
     In an embodiment, the sound-receiving unit of the audio device can detect a test sound to be judged by the user after the step of adjusting the plurality of the parameters associated with the selected first option. 
     In an embodiment, the test sound is a voice, the surrounding noise or a combination of both, and the test sound is produced by a speaker of the adjusting system or the audio device. 
     In an embodiment, the method for adjusting parameters of an audio device includes steps of: selecting a second option from the plurality of options after the sound is outputted by the audio device after the step of adjusting the plurality of parameters associated with the first option; and adjusting a plurality of parameters of the audio device associated with the second option and outputting a sound by the audio device. 
     In an embodiment, the first option includes a first comparative option and a second comparative option. A plurality of parameters of the audio device associated with the first comparative option or the second comparative option are adjusted in response to the selection of the first comparative option or the second comparative option to output the sound by the audio device. 
     In an embodiment, the adjusting system is a personal computer, a notebook computer, a mobile phone or a portable electronic device connected to a remote controller or an adjuster capable of adjusting the parameters of the audio device in a wired or wireless manner. The graphical user interface provided by the application program is shown on a screen of the personal computer, the notebook computer, the mobile phone or the portable electronic system. 
     In an embodiment, the adjusting system is an embedded device capable of adjusting the parameters of the audio device. The graphical user interface provided by the application program is shown on a display of the embedded device. 
     In an embodiment, the audio device is a hearing aid, a Bluetooth earphone, an amplified phone or a multimedia device. 
     The present invention provides another method for adjusting parameters of an audio device applied to an adjusting system operated by a user to adjust the audio device. The method includes steps of: executing an application program with the adjusting system; the application program providing a question-and-answer option graphical user interface for receiving data wherein the question-and-answer option graphical user interface at least includes a plurality of question items to be answered; and performing a first adjustment for the audio device according to a first answer to a first question item of the plurality of question items and outputting a sound by the audio device. 
     In an embodiment, the method for adjusting parameters of the audio device includes a step of: performing a second adjustment for the audio device according to a second answer to the first question item of the plurality of question items and outputting another sound by the audio device. 
     In an embodiment, the second adjustment for the audio device keeps the parameters of the audio device unchanged. 
     In an embodiment, the application program reduces the number of the plurality of question items of the question-and-answer option graphical user interface from a first number to a second number according to an audiometric result. 
     In an embodiment, the audiometric result is acquired from an audiometry for the user. 
     In an embodiment, the audiometry is controlled by the application program and performed by means of the audio device. The audiometry includes an air-conduction threshold test, an air-conduction most comfortable level test, or an air-conduction un-comfortable level test. 
     In an embodiment, the adjusting system is a personal computer, a notebook computer, a mobile phone or a portable electronic device connected to a remote controller or an adjuster capable of adjusting the parameters of the audio device in a wired or wireless manner. The graphical user interface provided by the application program is shown on a screen of the personal computer, the notebook computer, the mobile phone or the portable electronic device. 
     In an embodiment, the adjusting system is an embedded device capable of adjusting the parameters of the audio device. The graphical user interface provided by the application program is shown on a display of the embedded device. 
     In an embodiment, the audio device is a hearing aid, a Bluetooth earphone, an amplified phone or a multimedia device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional user interface provided by a hearing aid fitting software used by a hearing-aid company for fine-tuning the hearing aid; 
         FIGS. 2A˜C  are schematic diagrams illustrating a first preferred embodiment of interfaces based on a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a second preferred embodiment of an interface based on a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a third preferred embodiment of an interface based on a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating another hardware environment to which a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention is applied. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2A˜C , which are schematic diagrams illustrating a first preferred embodiment of a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention. In this preferred embodiment, a hearing aid adjusting system  1  includes a computer system  10  connected to a hearing aid remote controller  11  with adjusting function (or conventional hearing aid programmer), as shown in  FIG. 2A . The method for adjusting parameters of the audio device according to the present invention is applied to the hearing aid adjusting system  1  to adjust a hearing aid  12 . It is clear from the drawing that the computer system  10  executes a fitting software  101  associated with the hearing aid. When the user operates the hearing aid fitting software  101  through the computer system  10 , a graphical user interface, to be operated by the user, is shown on a screen  100  of the computer system  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     In this embodiment, the graphical user interface is, for example, a user interface  1001  with open-ended options provided by the fitting software  101 . When the user is going to fine-tune the hearing aid  12 , the user may select from the plurality of options  1002  provided by the open-ended option user interface  1001  to perform the fine-tuning step for the hearing aid  12 . If the user select a first option  10021  from the options  1002  provided by the open-end option graphical user interface  1001 , a plurality of parameters of the hearing aid  12  associated with the selected first option  10021  are adjusted. After the adjustment of the hearing aid  12 , the adjusted sound is outputted from a speaker (not shown) of the hearing aid  12 . The user determines whether the adjusted sound is acceptable and suitable. 
     As mentioned above, if the adjusted sound obtained by adjusting parameters of the hearing aid  12  according to the first option  10021  is considered unsatisfying, the user may select a second option  10022  from the plurality of options  1002  provided by the open-ended graphical option user interface  1001 . In a similar way, a plurality of parameters of the hearing aid  12  associated with the selected second option  10022  are adjusted. The parameters associated with the second option  10022  are not identical to those associated with the first option  10021 . Of course, the parameters associated with the second option  10022  may partially overlap with those associated with the first option  10021 . After the second option  10022  is selected and the plurality of parameters of the hearing aid  12  associated with the second option  1022  are adjusted, this adjusted sound is different from the adjusted sound corresponding to the first option  10021 . Hence, the user may select different options to set different parameters and compares the sound outputted from the hearing aid  12 , thereby finding the favorite sound property. Hence, through the easy-to-understand graphical user interface, the user of the hearing aid can operate the use interface easily. When the user needs to fine-tune the hearing aid after the purchase, the user can fine-tune the hearing aid as needed without another appointment with the audiologist to have the hearing aid fine-tuned. The method for adjusting parameters of the hearing aid according to the present invention is described in more detail in the following paragraphs. 
     As described above, form  FIG. 2B , it is observed that the plurality of options  1002  in the open-ended graphical user interface  1001  are selectable. In fact, during the hearing aid fitting step, an audiometry including an air-conduction threshold test, an air-conduction most comfortable level test, or an air-conduction un-comfortable level test is given to the user. An audiometric result is obtained after these audiometries. The audiometric result obtained from the audiometries is inputted to the computer system  10  by the user, and the hearing aid fitting software  101  executed by the computer system  10  may decrease the available options  1002  to open less options in the open-ended option graphical user interface  1001 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2C , after the audiometric result obtained from the audiometry is inputted, the available options  1002  are adjusted from the original forty options to twenty-one options. The twenty-one options are considered as proper options suitable for the user according to the audiometric result. Since the selectable options  1002  decreases, the user can select the options  1002  in the open-ended option graphical user interface to fine-tune the hearing aid more effectively. Furthermore, the audiometries are controlled by the hearing aid fitting software  101  executed by the computer  10  to perform the audiometries by means of the hearing aid  12  which produces a test sound such as a pure tone, a narrow-band noise and a warble tone. Sometimes, the test sound may be outputted through a speaker (not shown) of the computer system  10 . 
     In addition, before the audiometry, a sound-receiving unit, e.g. a microphone (not shown) of the hearing aid  12  may detect the sound volume in the environment and transmit the detection to the hearing aid adjusting system  1 . The hearing aid adjusting system  1  with the hearing aid fitting software  101  determines whether the surrounding noise volume exceeds a threshold value. If the surrounding noise volume exceeds the threshold value, it is possibly that the surrounding noise will affect the reliability of the audiometric result. Hence, the hearing aid adjusting system  1  shows a warning message through the screen  100  of the computer system  10  to indicate that the current condition is improper for the audiometry, and shows a prompt message to teach how to diminish the influence of the surrounding noise. It can ensure that the audiometry is performed without interference with surrounding noise so as to acquire more precise audiometric result. Furthermore, the sound receiver of the hearing aid  12  may be used for detecting a test sound selected from the above-mentioned background noise, a voice and a combination of both. The test sound is then outputted through the speaker of the hearing aid  12  or the computer system  10  to allow the user to decide whether to accept the outputted test sound after the adjustment of the parameters. 
     From the above description, it is clear that the method for adjusting parameters of a hearing aid according to the present invention provides a simple graphical user interface. It is helpful because the user can easily adjust the purchased hearing aid without seeking help from the hearing aid company. The present invention overcomes the problems resulting from the unfriendly user interface of the prior arts. In this embodiment, the audiometric result is acquired by controlling the hearing aid  12  to perform the audiometry with the hearing aid fitting software  101  executed by the computer system  10 . Alternatively, the audiometry may be performed in hearing-aid company or hospital to acquire the audiometric result to be inputted for the hearing aid fitting software  101  executed by the computer system  10 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram illustrating a second preferred embodiment of a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention. The adjusting method described in the embodiment is applied to the hardware environment of  FIG. 2A . It is clearly shown that the graphical user interface provided by the present invention is a comparative option graphical user interface  2001 . When the user is going to fine-tune the hearing aid  12 , it can be done by selecting one option from the two comparative options provided by the comparative option graphical user interface  2001 . For example, the comparative option first provides a first option menu  20001  including a first comparative option  20011  and a second comparative option  20012 . The user selects a preferred one from the two options. After the selection from the first option menu  20001 , a second option menu  20002  including a third comparative option  20013  and a fourth comparative option  20014  follows. When the user selects a preferred option, the first comparative option  20011  for example, from the first comparative menu  20001  for setting, it means that the first comparative option  20011  is better than the second comparative option  20012 , but probably not the optimal setting. The user may proceed to select a preferred option from the second option menu  20002  provided by the comparative option graphical user interface  2001 . Comparison and selection repeat till the optimal parameter setting of the hearing aid is obtained. Besides, part of technical means of the embodiment is similar to the first preferred embodiment and repetitious details are not given herein. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 , a schematic diagram illustrating a third preferred embodiment of a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention. The adjusting method described in the embodiment is applied to the hardware environment of  FIG. 2A . It is clearly shown that the graphical user interface provided by the present invention is a question-and-answer option graphical user interface  3001 . When the user is going to fine-tune the hearing aid  12 , it can be done by selecting one answer option according to the question provided by the question-and-answer option graphical user interface  3001 . The question-and-answer option graphical user interface  3001  shows a first question item  30001  along with a “Yes” option  30011  and a “No” option  30012 . The user may select one option from the “Yes” option  30011  and the “No” option  30012  according to the question associated with the first question item  30001 . When the user finishes the selection for the first question item  30001 , the question-and-answer option graphical user interface  3001  provides a second question item  30002  along with a “Yes” option  30013  and a “No” option  30014  to be selected. For example, the question in the first question item  30001  reads “Is the sound unclear?” If the user selects the “Yes” option  30011 , the clarity setting of hearing aid is adjusted and then the second question item  30012  asks again “Is the sound unclear?” On the other hand, if the user selects the “No” option  30012  of the first question item  30001 , the setting of the hearing aid keeps unchanged. Then, the method proceeds to the second question item  30012  associated with parameters other than clarity problem. Accordingly, the user can find out the optimal parameters through the question-and-answer mode. Besides, part of technical means of the embodiment is similar to the first preferred embodiment and repetitious details are not given herein. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 , a flow chart illustrating the steps of a method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention. The adjusting method described in the embodiment is applied to the hardware environment of  FIG. 2A . It is clearly shown that a hearing aid fitting software is executed by the hearing aid adjusting system (step S 1 ). The hearing aid fitting software provides a graphical user interface including a plurality of options (step S 2 ). An audiometric result is acquired from an audiometry (step S 3 ). The number of available options provided by the graphical user interface is reduced from a first number to a second number according to the audiometric result (step S 4 ). One of the remaining options is selected (step S 5 ). The parameters of the hearing aid associated with the selected option are adjusted and an adjusted sound is outputted by the hearing aid (step S 6 ). The user determines whether the adjusted sound is satisfactory (step S 7 ). If the sound from the adjusted hearing aid is satisfactory, the adjustment of the hearing aid finishes (step S 8 ). If the sound from the adjusted hearing aid is unsatisfactory, the method goes to step S 5  to select another one of the remaining options. Steps S 5 ˜S 7  are repeated till the sound form the adjusted hearing aid is satisfactory. 
     In conclusion, the embodiments according to the present invention can improve the complicated and unfriendly user interface of the prior arts to achieve the purpose of the present invention. The given embodiments, however, are not limiting the appended claims of present invention. The technique of the present invention can be broadly applied to any audio device such as a Bluetooth earphone, an amplified phone or a multimedia device. Furthermore, the use of the adjusting system utilizing the method for adjusting parameters of an audio device according to the present invention is not limited to the hardware environment of  FIG. 2A , but may be applied to a hardware environment including an adjusting system  3 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . An embedded device  31  with the function of adjusting parameters of an audio device is used for adjusting the parameters of the hearing aid in a wireless manner (or in a wired manner). The fitting software (i.e. above-described application program) is built in the embedded device  31  and the graphical user interface is directly shown on a display  310  of the embedded system to be operated by the user. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.