Patent ID: 8401682

Claim:
An audio system configured to connect to a separate computer that is configured to provide audio information from any one of a plurality of sources, including digital music files stored on the computer and a network accessible by the computer, the audio system comprising: (a) a sound reproduction system comprising: a housing; control circuitry located within the housing for receiving control commands; audio signal processing circuitry located within the housing for processing audio signals for reproduction; one or more speakers for reproducing audio signals processed by the audio signal processing circuitry; and a connector configured to provide a physical and electrical connection exclusively between the sound reproduction system and the computer, wherein the connection includes one or more signal paths configured to (i) receive audio information from the computer corresponding to the digital music files stored on the computer and audio information from the network via the computer, and (ii) transmit to the computer signals for controlling the computer; and (b) a remote control device configured to transmit signals representing at least a first type of command from a user and a second type of command from a user to the control circuitry of the sound reproduction system, wherein the first type of command is a command to control a user function of the sound reproduction system and the second type of command is a command to control a user function of the computer, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the remote control and, in response to receiving such signals: (i) control the user function of the sound reproduction system when the user issues a command of the first type, and (ii) transmit to the computer, via a signal path of the connector, a signal for controlling the user function of the computer when the user issues a command of the second type.