Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving interference suppression processing and control in hearing aids communicating with a mobile station over a short-range wireless network. The hearing aid includes an acoustic echo canceller to suppress acoustic echo from the input audio signals. The mobile station also includes an echo canceller, and may include one or more switching circuits to bypass the echo canceller when the mobile station communicates with the hearing aid via the short-range wireless network. Typically, when the short-range wireless network between the hearing aid and the mobile station is established, the hearing aid and the mobile station negotiate one or more short-range wireless network profiles to determine the properties of the echo cancellers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving interference suppression processing and control in hearing aids communicating with a mobile station over a short-range wireless network. The hearing aid includes an acoustic echo canceller to suppress acoustic echo from the input audio signals. The mobile station also includes an echo canceller, and may include one or more switching circuits to bypass the echo canceller when the mobile station communicates with the hearing aid via the short-range wireless network. Typically, when the short-range wireless network between the hearing aid and the mobile station is established, the hearing aid and the mobile station negotiate one or more short-range wireless network profiles to determine the properties of the echo cancellers.

Abstract: In a local area network for data communications, stations which distributively control their access to a common bus or other medium are able to identify the location of any "hot" station transmitter (one stuck continuously in an "on" condition which cannot be isolated from the medium). Such networks are effectively disabled by a hot carrier, since each station conditions its access on sensing the medium as previously idle. The present "loop test" method permits all stations in the network to quickly establish the location of a hot transmitter, and thereby quickly direct field repair personnel to that location. It also permits operators to take action to physically disconnect the faulty transmitter from the medium, so that the other stations may continue to use the network until the fault is repaired.