Patent ID: 8230243

Claim:
An information processing apparatus comprising: a connector configured to detachably connect an external device, the connector conducting a power supply line and a data line between a main body of the information processing apparatus and the external device; a device controller configured to perform transmission with the external device through the data line, the device controller comprising a wakeup function of returning the main body to a power-on state when receiving a wakeup signal from the external device through the data line while the main body is in a standby state; a power supply controller configured to control power supply to the external device through the power supply line; an operation mode switching circuit configured to change an operation mode of a sleep-and-charge function, and to perform transmission with the external device through the data line in accordance with settings of the main body when the sleep-and-charge function is operated, the sleep-and-charge function supplying power to the external device regardless of the standby state, a hibernation state, or a shutdown state of the main body; a line switch configured to selectively connect the data line with either the device controller or the operation mode switching circuit; a power supply switch configured to disconnect a power supply line to the device controller from a power supply line to the power supply controller, the operation mode switching circuit and the line switch, and to perform power supply to the device controller or cut off the power supply to the device controller; and a controller configured to control the power supply switch in order to cut off the power supply to the device controller and control the line switch in order to connect the data line to the operation mode switching circuit, when the sleep-and-charge function is effective and the main body is either in the hibernation state or in the shutdown state.