Methods and apparatus for providing mixed audio streams

An article, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored instructions that enable a machine to perform a method of mixing a public broadcast audio stream and a private user audio stream for audible output to the user, the method comprising:

• by a content type classifier, receiving the public broadcast audio stream and classifying by type audio content being currently received;
• by a content recognizer, analyzing the audio content being currently received to determine first metadata that pertain to the classified type;
• associating the audio content of the public broadcast audio stream being currently received with the classified type and the first metadata;
• by a renderer, generating the private user audio stream having audio content based on private user data associated with a second content type and second metadata;
• analyzing a user profile ting for the user audio stream mixing preferences associated with at least one of the public broadcast audio and the private user audio streams;
• and
• automatically generating, and providing to a speaker of the user, an output audio stream from the public broadcast audio and the private user audio streams based upon the audio stream mixing preferences in the user profile, the classified type and first metadata, and the second content type and second metadata.

A system for mixing a public broadcast audio stream and a private user audio stream for audible output to the user, the system comprising:

• a speaker to audibly output the mixed audio stream to the user;
• a memory to store for the user a user profile having audio stream mixing preferences for at least one of the public broadcast audio and the private user audio streams;
• and
• a processor comprising:
• a content type classifier module to receive the public broadcast audio stream and to classify by type audio content being currently received;
• at least one content recognition module to analyze the audio content being currently received to determine first metdaa that pertain to the classified type;
• a broadcast understanding module coupled to the content type classifier module and the at least one recognition module to associate the audio content being currently received with the classified type and the first metadata;
• a renderer module to generate the private user audio stream having audio content based on private user data associated with a second content type and second metadata;
• and
• a scheduler module coupled to the presentation module and the broadcast understanding module to generate, and to provide to a speaker of the user, an output audio stream from the public broadcast audio and the private user audio streams based upon the audio stream mixing preferences in the user profile, the classified type and first metadata, and the second content type and second metadata.