"The idea for my 'all-in-one' iPod car stereo came to me while driving in my old car that still had a cassette deck," Hembree told Macsimum News. "I figured, hey I don’t use this, and it IS about the size of an iPod, so what if the iPod could be inserted directly into the head unit of the car stereo? Much like an audio cassette? There are already a ton of items out there that use the 'dock' concept; mine just incorporates a horizontal dock into a car stereo."

Patent abstract

The patent's abstract says: "A system for removably connecting and interfacing an electronic portable audio device with an otherwise substantially conventional vehicle audio system to facilitate listening to playback of electronic music files stored on the portable audio device. A docking connector for receiving the portable audio device is physically and operatively integrated into a shared housing with the vehicle audio system, and a single set of controls is provided for controlling operation of both the portable audio device and all conventional components of the vehicle audio system. A removable interface module allows for adapting the system for use with differently designed portable audio devices."

The system comprises: a housing; a docking component physically integrated into the housing and adapted to removably receive the portable audio device and to operatively interface the portable audio device with the vehicle audio system; and a control component for controlling operation of both the portable audio device and one or more conventional components of the vehicle audio system.