Patent ID: 7194520

Claim:
A content broadcaster, comprising: a personal computer configured to access and receive media content from a world wide network and configured to playback the media content, the media content including at least one of audio data and video data, the personal computer including a controller, a memory, a network connection device, a display system, and an input/output system, the controller configured to communicate with the memory, the network connection device, the display system, and the input/output system with a system bus; a plurality of information appliances, each information appliance configured to communicate with the personal computer with a bi-directional communication link between the information appliance and the input/output system of the personal computer; where personal computer is configured to broadcast the media content to the information appliance using the bi-directional communication link; where the information appliance is configured to transmit control signals to the personal computer using the bi-directional communication link, the control signals configured to command the controller to broadcast a specified portion of the media content to the plurality of information appliances; where each of the information appliances is located in a different room; wherein the bi-directional communication link comprises a wireless transmission system; and wherein the information appliance comprises a radio capable of receiving a frequency-hopping spread spectrum signal transmitted by the personal computer over the bi-directional communication link.