# US 7,916,877 B2 · 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 7,916,877 B2 - Document ID: US7916877B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/566,599 - Filed: 2006-12-04 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Granted: 2011-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2002-05-06 - Assignees: SyncroNation, Inc. - Inventors: David Goldberg; Neil Simon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7916877B2 ## 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 system comprising: a modular audio unit comprising: a) an inter-unit communication component adapted to provide inter-unit communications between the system and one or more peer systems; and b) a switching component having a first input port connected to a player device, a second input port connected to the inter-unit communication component, and an output port connected to a playback component, wherein the switching component is controlled to selectively provide first signals from the player device and second signals from the inter-unit communication component to the playback component and wherein the player device and the playback component are separate from one another and wherein both the player device and the playback component are external to the modular audio unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the player device is a device selected from a group consisting of: an audio player device and a video player device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the player device is a device selected from a group consisting of: a Compact Disc (CD) player and an MP3 player. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the playback component comprises a speaker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the playback component is one of a group consisting of: headphones, at least one earphone, and at least one earplug. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the switching component is connected to the playback component via one of a group consisting of: a wired connection and a wireless connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the inter-unit communication component is further adapted to: receive entertainment content from a peer system from the one or more peer systems; and provide the second signals corresponding to the entertainment content received from the peer system to the switching component, wherein the switching component is controlled such that the second signals corresponding to the entertainment content received from the peer system are provided to the playback component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein the entertainment content is broadcast by the peer system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein the entertainment content is one of a group consisting of: audio content and video content. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the switching component is controlled such that the first signals corresponding to entertainment content from the player device are provided to the inter-unit communication component; and the inter-unit communication component is further adapted to: receive the first signals corresponding to the entertainment content from the player device via the switching component; and transmit the entertainment content to the one or more peer systems. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the entertainment content is broadcast by the inter-unit communication component to the one or more peer systems. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the entertainment content is one of a group consisting of: audio content and video content. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the switching component is further controlled to provide the first signals corresponding to the entertainment content to the playback component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the switching component is further adapted to delay the first signals such that playback of the entertainment content by the playback component is substantially synchronized with playback of the entertainment content by the one or more peer systems. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the inter-unit communication component is further adapted to receive the entertainment content transmitted by the inter-unit communication component, and the entertainment content received by the inter-unit communication component is provided to the playback component via the switching component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein, in a pass-through mode, the switching component is controlled to provide the first signals from the player device to the playback component. ### Claim 17 A method of operation for a switching component forming a part of a modular audio unit comprising an inter-unit communication component providing inter-unit communications with at least one peer system, comprising: receiving first signals corresponding to first entertainment content from a player device; receiving second signals corresponding to second entertainment content from the inter-unit communication component; and selectively outputting the first signals and the second signals to a playback component wherein the player device and the playback component are separate from one another and wherein both the player device and the playback component are external to the modular audio unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the player device is a device selected from a group consisting of: a Compact Disc (CD) player and an MP3 player. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the playback component comprises a speaker. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the second entertainment content is entertainment content received by the inter-unit communication component from a peer system from the one or more peer systems, and selectively outputting comprises outputting the second signals corresponding to the second entertainment content received from the peer system to the playback component. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising outputting the first signals corresponding to the first entertainment content from the player device to the inter-unit communication component, wherein the inter-unit communication component receives the first signals corresponding to the first entertainment content and transmits the first signals corresponding to the first entertainment content to the one or more peer systems. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein selectively outputting the first and second signals to the playback component comprises providing the first signals corresponding to the first entertainment content from the player device to the playback component. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the inter-unit communication component is further adapted to receive the first entertainment content transmitted by the inter-unit communication component, and selectively outputting the first and second signals to the playback component comprises outputting the second signals corresponding to the second entertainment content from the inter-unit communication component to the playback component, wherein the second entertainment content corresponds to the first entertainment content transmitted and received by the inter-unit communication component.