MODULAR INTERUNIT TRANSMITTER-RECEIVER FOR A PORTABLE AUDIO DEVICE

• US 20070155313A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tunnel IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Syncronation, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, David, Simon, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection tempo display G10H2220/081; tempo control G10H2210/375
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analog or digital, e.g. DECT GSM, UMTS smartphone, PDA or palmtop used for musical purposes G10H2230/015; mobile ringtone G10H2230/021
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings synchronised lyrics, e.g. for karaoke G10H2220/011
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

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

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.

2. 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.

3. The modular audio unit of claim 1, wherein the output port is further connected with a speaker to output audio signals.

4. 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.

5. The modular audio unit of claim 1, wherein the switch is manual.

6. 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.

7. The modular audio unit of claim 1 further comprising a battery.

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.

9. The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the connector is a cable.

10. The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the means for receiving communications is a receiver.

11. The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein, the means for sending communications is a transmitter.

12. The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the means for outputting communications to a speaker further comprises an output port.

13. The modular audio unit of claim 8, wherein the switching means is manual.

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.

15. A device of claim 14, wherein the switch is manual.

16. 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.

17. 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.

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.

19. A wireless device as in claim 18, wherein the connector is a cable.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. The device of claim 18 further comprising a battery.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the switch is manual.