# US 2007/0155313 A1 · Modular interunit transmitter-receiver for a portable audio device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0155313 A1 - Document ID: US20070155313A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/566,599 - Filed: 2006-12-04 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 2002-05-06 - Assignees: SyncroNation, Inc. - Inventors: David Goldberg; Neil Simon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070155313A1 ## CPC - G10H 1/0083: {using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared} - G10H 1/0025: {Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece (automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26)} - G10H 1/40: Rhythm - G10H 2210/076: for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection - G10H 2240/175: for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor - G10H 2240/251: Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analogue or digital, e.g. DECT, GSM, UMTS - G10H 2240/305: Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes - G10H 2240/325: Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings - H04H 60/58: of audio {(determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00)} - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - G10H: ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract The invention pertains to a modular inter-unit transmitter/receiver for a portable audio device such as an MP3 player, a handheld device for playback of audio signals, a telephone, etc. More particularly, the unit is configured for an audio player device to enable the player device for wireless transmission and reception of audio signals. In one aspect, a communication means connects the modular audio unit to the audio player device. The device further comprises a switch in which a user of the audio player device can select to play audio signals received from an inter-unit transmitter/receiver or from the audio player device. The switch further enables the user to select whether to play the audio signal on the audio player device or to play the audio signal while transmitting the signal to a compatible device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular audio unit for an audio device, comprising: a communication means for connecting the modular audio unit to the audio device; an audio input port for receiving audio output sent via an output port on the audio device through the communication means; a switch interconnected with the audio input port; an inter-unit transmitter/receiver connected to the audio input port through the switch for sending and receiving inter-unit communications; and an audio output port connected to the switch for outputting audio signals, wherein the switch selects between audio signals received from the audio device and from the inter-unit transmitter/receiver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular audio unit of claim 1, wherein the transmitter/receiver is wireless and receptive of audio signals transmitted from the transmitter of a compatible device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular audio unit of claim 1, wherein the output port is further connected with a speaker to output audio signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The modular audio unit of claim 3 further comprising a first state wherein the speaker plays audio signals from the mobile audio player and the interunit transmitter/receiver does not transmit the audio signals and a second state wherein the speaker plays audio signals from the mobile audio player device and the interunit transmitter/receiver transmits audio signals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular audio unit of claim 1, wherein the switch is manual. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular audio unit of claim 1, wherein the output port comprises a manually-separable plug receptive of a jack that comprises part of the speaker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular audio unit of claim 1 further comprising a battery. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the connector is a cable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the means for receiving communications is a receiver. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein, the means for sending communications is a transmitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the means for outputting communications to a speaker further comprises an output port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the switching means is manual. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A device of claim 14, wherein the switch is manual. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A device of claim 14, wherein the speaker includes a speaker jack, the speaker further comprising a cabled headphone and the output audio port further comprising a plug receptive of the speaker jack. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A device of claim 14, further comprising a connector to connect the device to the audio player device wherein the connector allows transfer of audio signals from the audio player device to the device. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A wireless device as in claim 18, wherein the connector is a cable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A wireless device as in claim 18, wherein the speaker includes a speaker jack, the speaker further comprising a cabled headphone and the output comprises a plug receptive of the speakerjack. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A wireless device as in claim 18, wherein in the first state, the device operates as a pass-though and does not require the device to be powered. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18 further comprising a battery. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the switch is manual.