Patent ID: 7170828

Claim:
A music system comprising: a self-contained, portable music player including a rechargeable battery pack for powering the music player, an input device including at least a keypad for receiving user inputs; an output device including a display; a memory capable of storing digital music in at least one compressed digital format, a data processor connected to said input device, said output device and said memory, said data processor programmed to decompress said digital music into uncompressed digital music samples, an audio coder-decoder connected to said data processor for receiving said uncompressed digital music samples from said data processor and converting said uncompressed digital music samples into analog music, a headset connector connected to said audio coder-decoder for supplying said analog music, and a first base connector including a first power connection connected to said rechargeable battery pack capable of receiving charging power, and a player analog output connection connected to said audio coder-decoder for supplying said analog music, and an analog input connection connected to said audio coder-decoder for receiving an analog input; and a base unit including a second base connector including a second power connection for connection to said first power connection, an analog input connection for connection to said player analog output connection of said first base connector, a base unit analog output connection for connection to said analog input connection of said first base connector, a power source connected to said second power connection for supplying recharging power for said rechargeable battery pack, a pre-amplifier having an input connected to said analog input connection and an output, a power amplifier having an input connected to said output of said pre-amplifier and an output, a tuner for receiving and demodulating analog audio signals, said tuner supplying said analog audio signals to said base unit analog output connection, and a speaker system connected to said output of said power amplifier for reproducing sound corresponding to said output of said power amplifier, wherein the music system operates in a portable mode wherein said self-contained, portable music player is disconnected from said base unit and powered by said rechargeable battery pack, enabling a user to listen to selected digital music stored in said memory via said headset connector earphone, and in a base mode wherein said self-contained, portable music player is connected to said base unit via said first base connector and said second base connector and powered from said power source, enabling a user to listen to selected digital music stored in said memory via said speaker system of said base unit and enabling a user to listen to music from said tuner supplied to said analog input connection of said first base connector.