Multiple channel wireless communication system

1. A wireless audio distribution system, comprising:

a wireless transmitter transmitting an encoded digital bitstream serially combining each of a plurality of audio input channels and control data disbursed therein;

a wireless receiver receiving the transmitted encoded digital bitstream;

a manual selector switch associated with the receiver for selecting one or more of the plurality of audio input channels; and

a sound producing device associated with the receiver and selectively decoding and demultiplexing the selected one or more selected audio channels and reproducing the decoded and demultiplexed one or more audio channels in accordance with the control data.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver further comprises:

a source of power; and

an auto-off circuit, responsive to the encoded digital bitstream, automatically disconnecting the wireless receiver from the source of power when reproducible data from none of the audio input channels has been received for a predetermined time period.

3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising:

a comparator for comparing two segments in different fixed positions within the bitstream to detect an error event.

4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising:

a circuit for muting the selectively decoded and demultiplexed one or more audio channels in response to a predetermined number of error events.

5. The invention of claim 4 , wherein the encoded digital bitstream further comprises:

a header section; and

a body section including a plurality of fixed sequences of data representing audio from each of a plurality of audio input channels and control data positioned between at least some of the fixed sequences of data representing audio.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the header section further comprises:

synchronization signals for synchronizing the decoding of the encoded digital bitstream.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the wireless audio distribution system is positioned in a vehicle including a headliner and the wireless transmitter is positioned behind the headliner.

8. The invention of claims 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 or 7 further comprising:

a headphone in which the wireless receiver and sound producing device are mounted and on which the manual selector switch is mounted for operation by a headphone user.

9. A wireless audio reception system, comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving an encoded digital bitstream serially combining each of a plurality of audio input channels and control data disbursed therein;

a manual selector switch associated with the receiver device operable by a system user to select one or more of the plurality of audio input channels; and

a sound producing device associated with the wireless receiver to selectively decode and demultiplex the selected one or more selected audio channels and to reproduce the decoded and demultiplexed one or more audio channels in accordance with the control data.

10. The invention of claim 9 further comprising:

an auto-off circuit, responsive to the encoded digital bitstream, automatically disconnecting power from the wireless receiver when reproducible data from none of the audio input channels has been received for a predetermined time period.

11. The invention of claim 10 further comprising:

a comparator for comparing two segments in different fixed positions within the bitstream to detect an error event.

12. The invention of claim 11 further comprising:

a circuit for muting the selectively decoded and demultiplexed one or more audio channels in response to a predetermined number of error events.

13. The invention of claims 9 , 10 , 11 , or 12 further comprising:

a headphone in which the wireless receiver and sound producing device are mounted and on which the manual selector switch is mounted for operation by a headphone wearer.