Abstract: In a network system without a server, a network device and a system that can share information in all devices efficiently and surely are provided. CPUs of a plurality of devices connected to a network determine a host device based on device numbers and network strengths of each of the devices. When transmitting share information stored in a memory to the host device, the CPUs of the client devices merge share information transmitted from the other client devices with the share information stored in the memories so as to transmit the merged information to the host device. The CPU of the host device generates share information about all the devices so as to distribute the information to all the client devices. When the share information is changed, the CPU of the host device generates finite difference information with respect to previous share information so as to distribute the information to all the client devices.

Abstract: A volume control system, that can easily check current volume values with respect to volume values settable in a plurality of audio output devices when a volume value representing the volume values of the audio output devices is displayed, is provided. A controller of the volume control system can be connected to the plurality of the audio output devices, and can control the audio output devices. The controller obtains the volume values of the audio output devices and predetermined upper limit volume values stored in the audio output devices, and displays percentages of the volume values with respect to the predetermined upper limit volume values as total volume values. Further, the controller displays values that are determined by multiplying the total volume values and percentages of the predetermined upper limit volume values with respect to prescribed values as the volume values of the audio output devices.

Abstract: In a network system without a server, a network device and a system that can share information in all devices efficiently and surely are provided. CPUs of a plurality of devices connected to a network determine a host device based on device numbers and network strengths of each of the devices. When transmitting share information stored in a memory to the host device, the CPUs of the client devices merge share information transmitted from the other client devices with the share information stored in the memories so as to transmit the merged information to the host device. The CPU of the host device generates share information about all the devices so as to distribute the information to all the client devices. When the share information is changed, the CPU of the host device generates finite difference information with respect to previous share information so as to distribute the information to all the client devices.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus obtains identification information from a transmitting apparatus via a cable communication when the transmitting apparatus is connected with the receiving apparatus via the cable communication while the receiving apparatus is being connected with the transmitting apparatus via a radio communication. The receiving apparatus judges whether obtained identification information is the same as identification information of the transmitting apparatus which is connected with the receiving apparatus via the radio communication. When they are same, the receiving apparatus transmits an instruction to the transmitting apparatus to switch an output of contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. When the transmitting apparatus receives the instruction, it switches the output of the contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication.

Abstract: When a signal representing a first set value or more is received from a detecting section, a determination is made whether a boost value is a predetermined value or more. When the boost value is the predetermined value or more, a currently set boost value is reduced by a predetermined step, so that a new boost value is set. Further, when the boost value is less than the predetermined value, a currently set volume level is reduced by a predetermined step, and a new volume level is set. Therefore, in a case when the set boost value is gradually reduced and the boost value is finally less than the predetermined value, the audio signal is still the first set value or more, the volume level is further reduced by each predetermined step. Therefore, an audio signal can be securely prevented from being clipped.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus obtains identification information from a transmitting apparatus via a cable communication when the transmitting apparatus is connected with the receiving apparatus via the cable communication while the receiving apparatus is being connected with the transmitting apparatus via a radio communication. The receiving apparatus judges whether obtained identification information is the same as identification information of the transmitting apparatus which is connected with the receiving apparatus via the radio communication. When they are same, the receiving apparatus transmits an instruction to the transmitting apparatus to switch an output of contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. When the transmitting apparatus receives the instruction, it switches the output of the contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication.

Abstract: A remote controller is provided with: at least one first input unit that macro-controls predetermined remotely controlled devices including signal source devices; a plurality of second input units that select the signal source devices; a memory unit that stores a plurality of remote control codes for remotely controlling the remotely controlled devices; a transmitting unit that externally transmits the remote control codes; and a control unit that, when the first input unit is operated, outputs the remote control codes for remotely controlling the plurality of remotely controlled devices to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, wherein when the first input unit and one of the second input units are operated in a predetermined manner, a signal source device to be remotely controlled by the first input unit is changed to a signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units.

Abstract: When a signal representing a first set value or more is received from a detecting section, a determination is made whether a boost value is a predetermined value or more. When the boost value is the predetermined value or more, a currently set boost value is reduced by a predetermined step, so that a new boost value is set. Further, when the boost value is less than the predetermined value, a currently set volume level is reduced by a predetermined step, and a new volume level is set. Therefore, in a case when the set boost value is gradually reduced and the boost value is finally less than the predetermined value, the audio signal is still the first set value or more, the volume level is further reduced by each predetermined step. Therefore, an audio signal can be securely prevented from being clipped.

Abstract: An audio-video player, which automatically determines an event corresponding to the current state and displays a preferred message associated with the event, is provided. A DVD player includes: a massage table which stores prescribed messages in advance by associating them with a plurality of events having prescribed priorities; an event determination unit which sequentially determines whether the current state corresponds to an event, starting from an event of higher priority; and a message display control unit which reads out, when the event determination unit found the corresponding event, a prescribed message associated with the corresponding event from a message table and displays it.

Abstract: An AV receiver 1 is connected to a DVD player AVP1 and a CD player AVP2 via an IEEE1394 bus. The AV receiver 1 stores a command receiving terminal 161 connected to a remote controller receiver RE1 as being associated with the DVD player AVP1, and a command receiving terminal 162 connected to a remote controller receiver RE2 as being associated with the CD player AVP2. The AV receiver 1 transmits a control command that is received via the remote controller receiver RE1 to the DVD player AVP1 and a control command that is received via the remote controller receiver RE2 to the CD player AVP2.

Abstract: A remote controller is provided with: at least one first input unit that macro-controls predetermined remotely controlled devices including signal source devices; a plurality of second input units that select the signal source devices; a memory unit that stores a plurality of remote control codes for remotely controlling the remotely controlled devices; a transmitting unit that externally transmits the remote control codes; and a control unit that, when the first input unit is operated, outputs the remote control codes for remotely controlling the plurality of remotely controlled devices to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, wherein when the first input unit and one of the second input units are operated in a predetermined manner, a signal source device to be remotely controlled by the first input unit is changed to a signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units.

Abstract: An image sending/receiving device of the present invention includes: an image receiving section for receiving image data from an external image reproducing device connected to the image sending/receiving device; an image sending section for sending the image data to an external image display device connected to the image sending/receiving device; a first storage section for storing a set of resolutions to be read out by the image reproducing device; a second storage section in which a set of resolutions are pre-stored; a read-out section for reading out a set of resolutions pre-stored in the image display device from the image display device; and a resolution registration section for registering, in the first storage section, all of the resolutions read out by the read-out section or a subset of resolutions among those read out by the read-out section with which the image sending section is able to send data to the image display device.

Abstract: Players 2A and 2B are each capable of outputting data read from a disc such as a CD or an SACD in any of signal formats including an IEEE 1394 format, an analog format and a digital format. An AV amplifier 3 includes a first output system for selectively outputting, to a speaker system 4A, one of a plurality of audio signals of different signal formats including the IEEE 1394 format, the analog format and the digital format, and a second output system for selectively outputting, to a speaker system 4B, one of a plurality of audio signals of different signal formats including the analog format and the digital format. If the player 2A is selected as the input for the first output system, the AV amplifier 3 sends a command to the player 2A instructing the player 2A to output an audio signal in the IEEE 1394 format, automatically setting the output signal format of the player 2A to be a format that can be reproduced through the first output system.

Abstract: An AV receiver in an AV system determines the type of connection between the AV system and the display upon receiving a request for an OSD from the user. Based on the result of determination, if the AV receiver is connected to the display through a DVD reproducing device, the AV receiver transmits an OSD request including setting information to the DVD reproducing device. The DVD reproducing device produces an OSD signal based on the setting information and combines the signal with a DVD video signal for output to the display. The display displays video based on the DVD video signal as well as an OSD screen based on the OSD signal. Therefore, the AV system can display settings for the amplifier at the display regardless of the type of connection between the amplifier, the content reproducing device and the display.

Abstract: An audio-video player, which automatically determines an event corresponding to the current state and displays a preferred message associated with the event, is provided. A DVD player includes: a massage table which stores prescribed messages in advance by associating them with a plurality of events having prescribed priorities; an event determination unit which sequentially determines whether the current state corresponds to an event, starting from an event of higher priority; and a message display control unit which reads out, when the event determination unit found the corresponding event, a prescribed message associated with the corresponding event from a message table and displays it.

Abstract: An image sending/receiving device of the present invention includes: an image receiving section for receiving image data from an external image reproducing device connected to the image sending/receiving device; an image sending section for sending the image data to an external image display device connected to the image sending/receiving device; a first storage section for storing a set of resolutions to be read out by the image reproducing device; a second storage section in which a set of resolutions are pre-stored; a read-out section for reading out a set of resolutions pre-stored in the image display device from the image display device; and a resolution registration section for registering, in the first storage section, all of the resolutions read out by the read-out section or a subset of resolutions among those read out by the read-out section with which the image sending section is able to send data to the image display device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording medium player which reads title set data and control information from a DVD and plays images and sounds. A multi-disc changer as a recording medium player includes a title selector (30) and a player section (200). If the control information read from a DVD contains a command to display a menu before playing images or sounds of a title piece which constitutes a main content, the title selector selects a title piece, which is selectable from the menu and has a playback time not shorter than a predetermined time, as a main title piece. The player section reads the title set data corresponding to the main title piece from the DVD and plays images and sounds.

Abstract: Players 2A and 2B are each capable of outputting data read from a disc such as a CD or an SACD in any of signal formats including an IEEE 1394 format, an analog format and a digital format. An AV amplifier 3 includes a first output system for selectively outputting, to a speaker system 4A, one of a plurality of audio signals of different signal formats including the IEEE 1394 format, the analog format and the digital format, and a second output system for selectively outputting, to a speaker system 4B, one of a plurality of audio signals of different signal formats including the analog format and the digital format. If the player 2A is selected as the input for the first output system, the AV amplifier 3 sends a command to the player 2A instructing the player 2A to output an audio signal in the IEEE 1394 format, automatically setting the output signal format of the player 2A to be a format that can be reproduced through the first output system.

Abstract: An AV receiver 1 is connected to a DVD player AVP1 and a CD player AVP2 via an IEEE1394 bus. The AV receiver 1 stores a command receiving terminal 161 connected to a remote controller receiver RE1 as being associated with the DVD player AVP1, and a command receiving terminal 162 connected to a remote controller receiver RE2 as being associated with the CD player AVP2. The AV receiver 1 transmits a control command that is received via the remote controller receiver RE1 to the DVD player AVP1 and a control command that is received via the remote controller receiver RE2 to the CD player AVP2.

Abstract: An AV receiver in an AV system determines the type of connection between the AV system and the display upon receiving a request for an OSD from the user. Based on the result of determination, if the AV receiver is connected to the display through a DVD reproducing device, the AV receiver transmits an OSD request including setting information to the DVD reproducing device. The DVD reproducing device produces an OSD signal based on the setting information and combines the signal with a DVD video signal for output to the display. The display displays video based on the DVD video signal as well as an OSD screen based on the OSD signal. Therefore, the AV system can display settings for the amplifier at the display regardless of the type of connection between the amplifier, the content reproducing device and the display.