A method and apparatus are provided for blending analog and digital portions of a composite digital radio broadcast signal by processing compressed audio packets to compute corresponding digital audio quality indicator values, storing the compressed audio packets in an audio blend buffer, processing audio information from each compressed audio packet stored in the audio blend buffer with an audio decoder to generate decompressed digital audio signal samples, and using the digital audio quality indicator values to guide a blending process for combining analog audio signal samples with the digital audio signal samples to produce an audio output by preventing unnecessary blending back and forth between analog and digital if the digital audio quality indicator values indicate that the compressed audio packets are degraded or impaired.

A method and apparatus are provided for blending analog and digital portions of a composite digital radio broadcast signal by processing compressed audio packets to compute corresponding digital audio quality indicator values, storing the compressed audio packets in an audio blend buffer, processing audio information from each compressed audio packet stored in the audio blend buffer with an audio decoder to generate decompressed digital audio signal samples, and using the digital audio quality indicator values to guide a blending process for combining analog audio signal samples with the digital audio signal samples to produce an audio output by preventing unnecessary blending back and forth between analog and digital if the digital audio quality indicator values indicate that the compressed audio packets are degraded or impaired.

In one aspect, an example method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up audio-broadcast system involves: a computing device receiving a first audio-stream that represents first audio-content; the computing device generating a first signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of single-channel/multi-channel transitions included within the first audio-content; the computing device receiving a second audio-stream that represents second audio-content; the computing device generating a second signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of single-channel/multi-channel transitions included within the second audio-content; the computing device making a determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack a threshold extent of similarity; and responsive to the determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert.

In one aspect, an example method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up audio-broadcast system involves: a computing device receiving a first audio-stream that represents first audio-content; the computing device generating a first signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of single-channel/multi-channel transitions included within the first audio-content; the computing device receiving a second audio-stream that represents second audio-content; the computing device generating a second signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of single-channel/multi-channel transitions included within the second audio-content; the computing device making a determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack a threshold extent of similarity; and responsive to the determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert.

A method and apparatus for synchronizing audio streamed over a network. The system makes use of a reference track and a common clock that is provided by a server to all participating performers. The performers perform along with and to the reference track wherein the reference track and common clock serve as a baseline reference for all the performers in regard to their audio transmitted to the server. Using the reference track and common clock, the server of the system can reconstruct and synchronize received audio from all the participating performers. The synchronized audio is then provided to a mixer where it is combined and live or real-time adjustments to the audio are made before being provided for broadcast.

A method and apparatus for synchronizing audio streamed over a network. The system makes use of a reference track and a common clock that is provided by a server to all participating performers. The performers perform along with and to the reference track wherein the reference track and common clock serve as a baseline reference for all the performers in regard to their audio transmitted to the server. Using the reference track and common clock, the server of the system can reconstruct and synchronize received audio from all the participating performers. The synchronized audio is then provided to a mixer where it is combined and live or real-time adjustments to the audio are made before being provided for broadcast.

Methods and systems for improving the robustness of wireless communications. The methods and systems provided transmit data packets over one or more isochronous stream and transmit one or more supplemental data packets over the same time intervals. The one or more supplemental data packets are used to recreate and/or enhance at least a portion of one or more data packets of the plurality of data packets that have already been sent. Alternatively, the one or more supplemental data packets are used to create and/or enhance at least a portion of one or more data packets of the plurality of data packets that will be received during the next isochronous intervals. The methods and system described herein allow for increased robustness by allowing for better retransmission with correctly received packets.