Patent ID: 7904632

Claim:
A connection device for selecting an optimum receiver, comprising: a single first port to which is connected, via a bidirectional type cable, a transmitter which transmits image data and audio data; a plurality of second ports to which are connected, via respective bidirectional type cables, a plurality of receivers which receive the image data and the audio data and output the image data and the audio data as a replay signal; a third port to which a repeater is connected via a bidirectional type cable, the repeater receiving the audio data transmitted from the transmitter and outputting the audio data as a replay signal, the repeater relaying the image data transmitted from the transmitter; and a transmission control unit which connects the first port, the plurality of second ports, and the third port, wherein the transmission control unit comprises: first acquisition means which acquires from the transmitter, via the first port, transmitter function information which specifies at least one of the functions of the transmitter during image output and the functions of the transmitter during audio output; second acquisition means which acquires from each of the plurality of receivers, via its respective second port, receiver function information which specifies at least one of the functions of the receiver during image processing and the functions of the receiver during audio processing; third acquisition means which acquires from the repeater, via the third port, repeater function information which specifies the functions of the repeater during audio processing; selection means which selects as an optimum receiver, from among the plurality of receivers; based upon the transmitter function information and the receiver function information, that receiver which is endowed with functions closest to at least one of the functions of the transmitter during image output, and the functions of the transmitter during audio output; decision means which decides, based upon the transmitter function information, the receiver function information and the repeater function information, whether that device from among the plurality of receivers and the repeater, which is endowed with functions closest to the functions of the transmitter during audio output, is the repeater or not; and link means which, if the decision means decides that that device is the repeater, links together the third port and the second port from among the plurality of second ports, which is connected to the optimum receiver, and links together the first port and the third port; wherein the link means, after the linkage of the first and third ports, along with relaying the image data and the audio data which are both transmitted from the transmitter to the repeater, also relays the image data which is transmitted from the repeater to the optimum receiver.