Computer system and method for controlling transmission of audio signal outputs from the computer system

A computer system having a built-in speaker configured to reproduce various analog audio signals, comprising:

• a driver configured to read digital data, including digital audio data, as a coded data stream from storage media;
• an audio controller configured to control a supply of an audio signal selected among the various analog signals to the built-in speaker;
• an audio terminal configured to couple the computer system to an external audio system;
• an audio data decoder configured to decode the digital audio data read by the driver, and to selectively supply the decoded audio data to the audio controller and the audio terminal;
• a detector configured to detect whether the audio terminal is coupled to the external audio system;
• and
• a transmission prohibiting mechanism configured to prohibit the decoded audio data from being transmitted to the audio controller when the detector detects the audio terminal is coupled to the external audio system,
• wherein the decoder directly supplies the decoded digital audio data to the audio terminal without passing through the audio controller, when the detector detects the computer system is coupled to the external audio system.

A computer system, comprising:

• means for driving digital data, including digital audio data, from a digital data storage media;
• means for receiving audio signals, which include system warning signals and said digital audio data, and for supplying the received audio signals to a built-in speaker;
• means for decoding the digital audio data from said means for receiving;
• converter means for supplying analog audio signals to the means for receiving by converting transmitted decoded audio data into the analog signals;
• means for coupling the computer system to an external audio system;
• means for detecting whether the computer system is coupled by said means for coupling to the external audio system;
• and
• means for prohibiting the decoded digital audio data from being transmitted to the means for receiving and directly supplying the decoded digital audio data to the external audio system, when the means for detecting detects the computer system is coupled to the external audio system.