Input Switching Apparatus and Input Switching Method of Audio/Video Signal, and Audio/Video System

An input switching apparatus of an audio/video signal, the apparatus comprising:

• an audio/video signal input unit to which an audio/video signal is input from an outside;
• an audio/video signal generation unit that generates an audio/video signal;
• a communication unit that communicates with another audio/video device;
• an input selection unit that selects one of the audio/video signal input unit and the audio/video signal generation unit to thus receive the audio/video signal of the selected one;
• and
• a selection control unit that switches selection of the input selection unit in accordance with a switching request message for requesting switching of the input selection unit from an origin position to a destination position when the communication unit receives a switching request message, wherein
• the selection control unit is configured to activate an input position holding mode, and
• while the input position holding mode is activated, the selection control unit holds the selection of the input selection unit even when the communication unit receives the switching request message for requesting switching of the input selection unit from the origin position to the destination position, and transmits a message for causing another device to perform a switching from the destination position to the origin position through the communication unit.

An input switching method of an audio/video signal that is executed in an apparatus comprising a plurality of audio/video signal input units to which audio/video signals are input, a communication unit that communicates with another audio/video device and an input selection unit that selects one of the plurality of audio/video signal input units to thus receive the audio/video signal of the selected audio/video signal input unit, the method comprising:

• switching selection of the input selection unit in accordance with a switching request message from an origin position to a destination position received through the communication unit;
• activating an input position holding mode;
• and
• while the input position holding mode is activated, holding the selection of the input selection unit even when the switching request message for requesting switching of the input selection unit from the origin position to the destination position is received, and transmitting a message for causing another device to perform a switching from the destination position to the origin position through the communication unit.

An input switching method of an audio/video signal that is executed in an apparatus comprising an audio/video signal input unit to which an audio/video signal is input from an outside, an audio/video signal generation unit that generates an audio/video signal, a communication unit that communicates with another audio/video device and an input selection unit that selects one of the audio/video signal input unit and the audio/video signal generation unit to thus received the audio/video signal of the selected one, the method comprising:

• switching selection of the input selection unit in accordance with a switching request message from an origin position to a destination position received through the communication unit;
• activating an input position holding mode;
• and
• while the input position holding mode is activated, holding the selection of the input selection unit even when the switching request message for requesting switching of the input selection unit from the origin position to the destination position is received, and transmitting a message for causing another device to perform a switching from the destination position to the origin position through the communication unit.