Microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver embedded in an external peripheral with digital communications interface for bi-directional communication with a computer remotely located

A multimedia speaker system comprising:

• a housing;
• a broadcast receiver circuit inside said housing;
• an amplifier circuit connected to said broadcast receiver circuit;
• a microcontroller connected to said broadcast receiver circuit;
• and
• a digital communications interface connected to said microcontroller for two-way communications with a personal computer remote from said multimedia speaker system.

A method of controlling a multimedia speaker system that includes a broadcast receiver within said multimedia speaker system, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, from a personal computer, control data over a bi-directional digital communications link;
• receiving said control data at said multimedia speaker system, said multimedia speaker system being remote from said personal computer;
• interpreting the programming information at said multimedia speaker system and producing broadcast receiver control signals in response;
• receiving at said multimedia speaker system, in response to said broadcast receiver control signals, broadcast transmissions on an antenna.

A computer peripheral system comprising:

• a personal computer comprising:
• a microprocessor;
• and
• a personal computer digital control interface connected to said microprocessor;
• and
• a computer peripheral located remotely from said personal computer, said computer peripheral comprising:
• a housing;
• a hybrid chip comprising:
• a peripheral digital communications interface connected to said personal computer digital control interface via a bi-directional digital communications link;
• a broadcast receiver;
• and
• a peripheral microcontroller connected to said peripheral digital communications interface, said peripheral microcontroller sending control signals to said broadcast receiver to control said broadcast receiver in response to control data received by said peripheral digital communications interface;
• and
• an antenna connected to said broadcast receiver.

A system for controlling a broadcast receiver circuit in a computer peripheral using a personal computer including:

• a computer peripheral including said broadcast receiver circuit;
• and
• a personal computer for controlling said broadcast receiver circuit, wherein
• said computer peripheral is a multimedia speaker.