Patent ID: 8340138

Claim:
A device, comprising: a first transmitting section including an amplifier unit for transmitting a first signal as a differential signal to an external device through a transmission line; a second transmitting section including an adding unit for transmitting a second signal, being multiplexed to the transmission line, as a common-mode signal to the external device, the adding unit receiving the differential signal from the amplifier unit and outputting the second signal for transmission; and a communication unit for communicating with the external device via a pair of differential transmission lines included in the transmission line, the communication unit including a unit for biasing the transmission line to a first voltage level to indicate that the device is connected to the transmission line, thereby notifying the external device of a connection status of its own device by a direct current bias potential of at least one of the pair of differential transmission lines; wherein the device is a transmitting device, the transmission line is a first transmission line, the communication unit notifies the external device of the connection status of its own device by the direct current bias potential of at least one of the pair of differential transmission lines, and the transmitting device further comprises: a receiver for receiving an audio signal from the external device through a second transmission line; and a reproduction unit for reproducing the audio signal, the reproduction unit silencing, in case an error occurs in the second transmission line, a portion where the error has occurred; wherein the device further comprises receiving means for receiving a third signal by removing the first signal from the differential signal on the first transmission line; and wherein the first transmitting section and the receiving means perform a bidirectional communication according to Internet Protocol (IP).