Validation of audio-sealing pathway

A method comprising:

• at a personal communication device including one or more processors, a non-transitory memory, and a first audio input device, the method comprising,
• obtaining, at the first audio input device, a first audio input signal that is based on a first noise masking signals output from a first audio output device of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a housing arranged to receive the personal communication device, the housing supports the first audio output device and includes a first audio-seal, the first audio-seal provides a first audio-sealing pathway between the first audio output device and the first audio input device and covers the first audio input device, and wherein the first audio input signal arrives at the first audio input device via the first audio-sealing pathway;
• generating, based on the first audio input signal, a recorded representation of the first audio input signal;
• and
• determining whether or not the first audio-sealing pathway satisfies an operational criterion based on the recorded representation of the first audio input signal and operational characteristics associated with the first audio-sealing pathway.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first audio output device;
• a housing arranged to receive a personal communication device, the housing supports the first audio output device and includes a first audio-seal providing a first audio-sealing pathway between the first audio output device and a corresponding first audio input device of the personal communication device and the first audio-seal covers the first audio input device when the apparatus holds the personal communication device;
• a noise generator to generate a first noise signal stream;
• and
• a controller to:
• output, via the first audio output device, first noise masking signals based on the first noise signal stream towards the corresponding first audio input device of the personal communication device, wherein the first noise masking signals travel from the first audio output device of the personal communication device towards the corresponding first audio input device via a first audio-sealing pathway provided by the first audio-seal;
• receive, from an application on the personal communication device, a recorded representation of the first noise masking signals from the personal communication device, wherein the recorded representation of the first noise masking signals is a function of a transformation of the first noise signal stream, by the first audio-sealing pathway, and wherein the transformation characterizes a first audio transfer function of the first audio-sealing pathway;
• and
• determine whether or not the first audio-sealing pathway satisfies an operational criterion based on the recorded representation of the first noise masking signals and a reference transfer function associated with the first audio-sealing pathway.