Audiovisual (AV) Device and Control Method Thereof

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an AV device comprises a receiving section, a processing section, a storage section and a control section. The receiving section receives a digital voice signal. The processing section applies a predetermined signal processing operation to the digital voice signal received by the receiving section. The storage section stores information indicating time required for the signal processing operation at the processing section, and when a voice has been set in a mute state, stores the information indicating the time required for the signal processing operation by the processing section which is rewritten into a value that cannot be taken in general. The control section outputs information stored in the storage section upon an external request. Other embodiments are also described.

1 . An AV device comprising:
 a receiving section configured to receive a digital voice signal;   a processing section configured to apply a predetermined signal processing operation to the digital voice signal received by the receiving section;   a storage section configured to store information indicating time required for the signal processing operation at the processing section, and when a voice has been set in a mute state, store the information indicating the time required for the signal processing operation by the processing section which is rewritten into a value that cannot be taken in general; and   a control section configured to output information stored in the storage section upon an external request.   
     
     
         2 . An AV device according to  claim 1 , wherein when the voice has been set in a mute state, the storage section is configured to store the information indicating the time required for the signal processing operation by the processing section which is rewritten into a value indicating that the time is set to “0”. 
     
     
         3 . An AV device according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving section receives the digital voice signal as digital data in a format that conforms to an HDMI standard. 
     
     
         4 . An AV device according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage section is an EDID memory. 
     
     
         5 . A method of controlling an AV device comprising:
 performing first processing to a plurality of first AV devices each of which has a function of performing a predetermined signal processing operation to an input digital voice signal, the first processing including storing information indicating time required for the predetermined signal processing operation which is rewritten into a value that cannot be taken in general when a voice has been set in a mute state;   performing second processing to a second AV device which causes the plurality of first AV devices to reproduce voice by transmitting the digital voice signal, the second processing including acquiring the information stored in the first AV devices in the first processing; and   performing third processing including judging the setting status regarding mute of each first AV device based on the information acquired by the second processing and performing a predetermined signal processing operation in accordance with the judgment result to the digital signal transmitted from the second AV device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of controlling the AV device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the third processing including determining a first AV device capable of voice reproduction among the plurality of first AV devices, based on the information acquired by the second processing.   
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling an AV device comprising:
 performing first processing to a plurality of first AV devices each of which has a function of performing a predetermined signal processing operation to an input digital voice signal, the first processing including storing information indicating time required for the predetermined signal processing operation which is rewritten into a value that cannot be taken in general when a voice has been set in a mute state;   performing second processing to a second AV device which causes the plurality of first AV devices to reproduce voice by transmitting the digital voice signal, the second processing including acquiring the information stored in the first AV devices in the first processing; and   performing third processing including judging the setting status regarding mute of each first AV device based on the information acquired by the second processing and performing third processing including performing a predetermined signal processing operation in accordance with the judgment result to information acquired by a third AV device which transmits the digital signal to the second AV device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of controlling the AV device of  claim 7 , wherein
 the third processing selects information on a side on which an operating state of a voice of said plurality of first AV devices is established, and provides EDID information acquired by the third AD device.