Video/audio output device and external speaker control apparatus

Abstract

An external speaker control apparatus causes only one of an internal speaker and an external speaker to output audio when a power supply of the external speaker control apparatus which controls the external speaker changes from an off state to an on state, the external speaker being a speaker outside a video and audio output apparatus. The external speaker control apparatus includes a microcomputer for detecting the change of the power supply of an amplifier from an off state to an on state and a HDMI/CEC communication unit or outputting an instruction requesting output of information which indicates the audio output mode to the video and audio output apparatus while at the same time receiving the information indicating the audio detects the change of the power supply from an off state to an on state, wherein the microcomputer controls the output of the audio from the external speaker according to the information indicating the audio output mode.

1 . A video and audio output apparatus which outputs video and audio, comprising:
 an internal speaker configured to output the audio;   a holding unit configured to hold information;   a management unit configured to cause the holding unit to hold the information which indicates one of a plurality of audio output modes corresponding to an output mode for the audio; and   a control unit configured to control output of the audio from the internal speaker according to the information indicating the audio output mode held in the holding unit,   wherein the control unit is further configured to control output of the audio to cause the internal speaker to output the audio, and to cause the internal speaker not to output the audio when the information indicating the audio output mode indicates that the audio is to be output from an external speaker.   
     
     
         2 . The video and audio output apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a detection unit configured to detect a change of a power supply of an external speaker control apparatus from an off state to an on state, the external speaker control apparatus controlling the external speaker that is a speaker outside of the video and audio output apparatus,   wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the management unit to hold, as the information indicating the audio output mode, information indicating that the audio is to be outputted from the external speaker when the detection unit detects the change of the power supply of the external speaker control apparatus from the off state to the on state.   
     
     
         3 . The video and audio output apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to obtain, from an external speaker control apparatus, the information indicating that the audio can be output, the external speaker control apparatus controlling the external speaker that is a speaker outside of the video and audio output apparatus,   wherein the control unit is configured to cause the management unit to hold, as the information indicating the audio output mode, information indicating that the audio is to be output from the external speaker when the receiving unit obtains, from the external speaker control apparatus, the information indicating that the audio can be output.   
     
     
         4 . A video and audio output method performed by a video and audio output apparatus which includes an internal speaker and an external speaker, the video and audio output method comprising:
 holding information;   causing information which indicates one of a plurality of audio output modes corresponding to an output mode for the audio to be held in the holding; and   controlling output of the audio from the internal speaker according to the information indicating the audio output mode held in the holding,   wherein the controlling includes causing the internal speaker to output the audio, and causing the internal speaker not to output the audio from the internal speaker when the information indicating the audio output mode indicates that the audio is to be output from the external speaker.