Video/sound output device and external speaker control device

A video and sound output device which outputs video and sound, said video and sound output device comprising:

• an internal speaker operable to output sound;
• a holding unit operable to hold information which indicates at least one of a plurality of sound output modes;
• a receiving unit operable to receive a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode;
• a management unit operable to cause, based on the mode specifying instruction received by said receiving unit, said holding unit to hold at least one of:
• (a) information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from said internal speaker, or
• (b) information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker outside said video and sound output device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the information indicating the sound output mode held in said holding unit, to an external speaker control device which controls the external speaker.

A video and sound output device which outputs video and sound, said video and sound output device comprising:

• a holding unit operable to hold information indicating at least one of a plurality of sound output modes;
• a receiving unit operable to receive a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode;
• a management unit operable to cause, based on the mode specifying instruction, said holding unit to hold at least one of:
• (a) information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a first external speaker that is a first speaker outside said video and sound output device, or
• (b) information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a second external speaker that is a second speaker outside said video and sound output device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the information indicating the sound output mode held in said holding unit, to another video and sound output device having the first external speaker and to an external speaker control device which controls the second external speaker.

A sound output mode notification method comprising:

• receiving a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode from outside of a video and sound output device;
• managing to cause, based on the received mode specifying instruction, a holding unit to hold one of:
• information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an internal speaker inside the video and sound output device;
• or
• information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• and
• outputting the information indicating the sound output mode held in the holding unit, to an external speaker control device which controls the external speaker.

A sound output mode notification method comprising:

• receiving a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode from outside of a video and sound output device;
• managing to cause, based on the received mode specifying instruction, a holding unit to hold at least one of:
• information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a first external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• or
• information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a second external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• and
• outputting the information indicating the sound output mode held in the holding unit to another video and sound output device having the first external speaker and to an external speaker control device which controls the second external speaker.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a receiving unit operable to receive a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode from outside of a video and sound output device;
• a management unit operable to cause, based on the mode specifying instruction received by said receiving unit, a holding unit to hold one of:
• (a) information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an internal speaker inside the video and sound output device;
• or
• (b) information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the information indicating the sound output mode held in the holding unit to an external speaker control device which controls the external speaker.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a receiving unit operable to receive a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode from outside of a video and sound output device;
• a management unit operable to cause, based on the mode specifying instruction received by said receiving unit, a holding unit to hold one of:
• (a) information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a first external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• or
• (b) information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a second external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the information indicating the sound output mode held in the holding unit, to another video and sound output device having the first external speaker and to an external speaker control device which controls the second external speaker.

A program which causes a computer to execute a method comprising:

• receiving a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode from outside of a video and sound output device;
• managing to cause, based on the received mode specifying instruction, a holding unit to hold one of:
• information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an internal speaker inside the video and sound output device;
• or
• information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• and
• outputting the information indicating the sound output mode held in the holding unit to an external speaker control device which controls the external speaker.

A program which causes a computer to execute a method comprising:

• receiving a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode from outside of a video and sound output device;
• managing to cause, based on the received mode specifying instruction, a holding unit to hold at least one of:
• information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a first external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• or
• information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from a second external speaker outside the video and sound output device;
• and
• outputting the information indicating the sound output mode held in the holding unit to another video and sound output device having the first external speaker and to an external speaker control device which controls the second external speaker.

A video and sound output system comprising:

• a video and sound output device which outputs video and sound;
• and
• an external speaker control device which controls an external speaker outside said video and sound output device,
• wherein said video and sound output device comprises:
• an internal speaker operable to output sound;
• a holding unit operable to hold information which indicates at least one of a plurality of sound output modes;
• a receiving unit operable to receive a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode:
• a management unit operable to cause, based on the mode specifying received by said receiving unit, said holding unit to hold at least one of:
• (a) information indicating a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from said internal speaker;
• or
• (b) information indicating a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker outside said video and sound output device;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the information indicating the sound output mode held in said holding unit, to an external speaker control device which controls the external speaker, and
• said external speaker control device includes:
• a receiving unit operable to receive the information indicating the sound output mode from said video and sound output device;
• and
• a sound control unit operable (a) not to cause sound to be outputted from the external speaker when said receiving unit receives the information indicating the first sound output mode, and (b) to cause the sound to be outputted from the external speaker when said receiving unit receives the information indicating the second sound output mode.