While most current Apple devices can verify your identity with a fingerprint or facial recognition, Apple is considering adding biometric recognition to future AirPods.
See also: Apple fixes zero-day bugs affecting iOS/macOS devices
See also: Apple: Extends in-app purchase exemption
A patent application describes two possible ways AirPods could verify your identity before allowing access to sensitive data, like asking Siri to read messages ...
Apple's patent application describes a potential security risk with wireless headphones: anyone could wear them while connected to one of your devices, then access personal information and give Siri.
The headset can be used to listen to audio from another device and perform various other functions, such as giving voice commands to the device and more.
Various outputs can be provided to the user through the headset . For example, upon receiving a message on the mobile device, such as an instant message, an audio representation of the message can be provided to the user through the headset.
However, conventional systems do not consider whether the user wearing the headset is authorized to interact with personal functions of the device, such as receiving messages from the device.
See also: On this day Apple released the first Macintosh computer
One possibility is to use ultrasonic signals as a kind of sonar, to detect the shape of the user's ear canal.
For example, various characteristics of the user's ear provide an echo of the ultrasonic signal that is unique to the user. Variations in the surface of the user's ear canal can cause the ultrasonic signal to reflect off the surface and create an echo with a signature that is associated with the user.
Alternatively, AirPods could use motion data from your iPhone and/or Apple Watch to understand the way you walk – your gait – and use it to verify your identity.
The usual patent disclaimer applies: the company patents many things it never brings to market.
Information source: 9to5mac.com
