A port replicator, also known as a docking station or USB hub, is a device designed to expand the connectivity of a laptop. It connects to a single port (typically USB-A or USB-C) and provides multiple additional ports, such as USB, display, and Ethernet. This is the most direct and appropriate solution for a user who has exhausted the available USB ports on their laptop and needs to connect more peripheral devices.

A. Near-field communication is a short-range wireless technology for data transfer, not for connecting peripherals like keyboards or monitors.

B. Bluetooth is a wireless protocol for connecting peripherals but does not add physical USB ports to the laptop.

C. A USB receiver is a dongle that occupies a USB port to connect a specific wireless device, rather than adding more ports.

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison, KnowledgeBase, "Docking Station or Port Replicator - Getting Started," Document 7328. The document states, "A docking station or port replicator is a device that allows a laptop computer to be easily connected to other devices."

2. Intel Corporation, "What Is a Docking Station?," Technology documentation. It explains, "A docking station is a hardware device that allows you to connect your laptop to several other devices... It expands on the limited connectivity of a typical laptop."