Ear proximity detection

A method of detecting the presence of an ear in proximity to an audio device, the method comprising:

• obtaining a data signal from the environment of the audio device;
• extracting one or more ear biometric features from the data signal;
• comparing the one or more extracted ear biometric features to an ear biometric template for an authorised user of the audio device;
• and
• generating a first output indicative of the presence or absence of any ear in proximity to the audio device based on the comparison of the one or more extracted ear biometric features to the ear biometric template for the authorised user.

A system for detecting the presence of an ear in proximity to an audio device, the system comprising:

• an input for obtaining a data signal from the environment of the audio device;
• and
• an ear biometric authentication module configured to:
• extract one or more first ear biometric features from a first number of data frames of the data signal;
• calculate a first score being indicative of a distance between the one or more extracted ear biometric features and an ear biometric template of an authorised user;
• compare the first score to a first threshold to determine the presence or absence of any ear in proximity to the audio device;
• responsive to a determination of the presence of any ear in proximity to the audio device, extract one or more second ear biometric features from a second number of data frames of the data signal, the second number of data frames being greater than the first number of data frames;
• calculate a second score being indicative of a distance between the one or more second extracted ear biometric features and the ear biometric template of the authorised user;
• and
• compare the second score to a second threshold, different from the first threshold, to determine the presence or absence of an ear of the authorised user in proximity to the audio device.