Patent ID: 7456905

Claim:
A communication apparatus for communicating data via a network, comprising: a detecting unit operable to detect a control signal having a first portion, a middle portion, and a last portion; a transmitter operable to transmit a signal to another communication apparatus via the network; a receiving unit operable to receive a signal transmitted by the another communication apparatus via the network; and a setting unit operable to set said communication apparatus as a source apparatus in a source mode or as a sink apparatus in a sink mode; in said source mode, when said detecting unit detects said first portion of said control signal, said transmitter transmits a source apparatus candidate signal indicating that said communication apparatus is selected as a candidate for said source apparatus, and thereafter when said receiving unit does not receive a source apparatus candidate signal transmitted by the another communication apparatus within a predetermined time, said transmitter transmits a source apparatus determining signal indicating that said communication apparatus is established as said source apparatus, and said setting unit sets said communication apparatus as said source apparatus; and in said sink mode, when said detecting unit detects said middle portion of said control signal after said receiving unit receives a source apparatus determining signal transmitted by the another communication apparatus, said transmitter transmits a sink apparatus candidate signal indicating that said communication apparatus is selected as a candidate for said sink apparatus, and thereafter when said detecting unit detects said last portion of said control signal, said transmitter transmits a sink apparatus determining signal indicating that said communication apparatus is established as said sink apparatus, and said setting unit sets said communication apparatus as said sink apparatus.