Modular interunit transmitter-receiver for a portable audio device

A modular audio unit for an audio device, comprising:

• a first manually-separable connector for electrically connecting with the audio device, wherein the connector enables transfer of communications from the audio device to the audio unit;
• a means for receiving communications sent via an output port on the audio device through the manually-separable connector;
• a means for sending and receiving inter-unit communications;
• a means for outputting communications to a speaker;
• and
• a switching means for choosing between communications received from the audio device and from the inter-unit sending and receiving means for outputting to the speaker.

A device for enabling an audio player device to share audio signals with a compatible wireless audio player device, comprising:

• an output audio port for connection to a speaker on the audio player device;
• an inter-unit transmitter-receiver for transmitting or receiving audio signals from the wireless audio player device for output through the output audio port;
• an input port for connecting to the output port of the wireless audio player device, wherein the audio player communicates audio signals to the device;
• and
• a switch for choosing between audio signals from the audio input port and from the inter-unit transmitter-receiver for output to the output audio port;
• wherein the switch selects a state from the group consisting of a first state of transmission of the audio signal from the input port by the inter-unit transmitter-receiver to the wireless audio player, a second state of reception by the inter-unit transmitter-receiver for output to the output audio port for playing on the speaker, and a third state of outputting audio signals from the input port to the audio output port.

A wireless device for allowing a mobile audio player to share audio signals with a wireless audio player, comprising:

• an output port for connecting with a speaker;
• a first manually-separable connector for electrically connecting with the mobile audio player, wherein the connector allows transfer of audio signals from the mobile audio player to the device;
• a wireless transmitter for the transmission of the audio signals transferred from the mobile audio player through the first manually-separable connector;
• and
• a switch for choosing between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the speaker plays audio signals from the mobile audio player and the transmitter does not transmit the audio signals, and wherein in the second state the speaker plays audio signals from the mobile audio player and the transmitter transmits the audio signals to the wireless audio player.