System and method for user presence detection based on audio events

A system for detecting the presence of animate users within a monitored environment, the system comprising:

• at least one transducer configured to capture vibration signals generated within the monitored environment;
• a capture channel coupled to the transducer, the capture channel receiving and converting the signals captured by the transducer to form a digital stream;
• and
• a processor configured to generate a user presence indicator for the monitored environment, the processor including:
• a feature extractor executing to detect at least one predetermined signal feature of the digital stream over a predetermined extraction period;
• at least one event classifier executing to generate a series of detection events responsive to the predetermined signal features of the predetermined extraction period;
• at least one event buffer having a predetermined event buffer length defining a buffer period, the event buffer executing to maintain, for a built-in delay period associated with said at least one event buffer, an aggregate count of detection events generated by the event classifier;
• and
• a status generator executing to generate the user presence indicator according to the aggregate count of detection events, said user presence indicator having an inertia corresponding to said built-in delay period, wherein said status generator maintains the user presence indicator for said built-in delay period;
• wherein the user presence indicator is provided for triggering one or more functions of a response system.