Patent ID: 7408954

Claim:
A communication method for transmitting streaming data, the communication method comprising: passing the streaming data output from first equipment through a prescribed network to second equipment; when the streaming data output from said first equipment changes from streaming data in a first format to streaming data in a second format, detecting by said first equipment an end of output of streaming data in said first format; when the end of output of streaming data in said first format is detected: entering by said first equipment a reproduction pause state; outputting by said first equipment invalid ancillary data in the second format; during the output of the invalid ancillary data in the second format: detecting by said second equipment the change in the streaming data from the first format to the second format; outputting by said first equipment a mute signal in the second format to enable the second equipment to perform preparations for processing of streaming data in the second format; investigating by said first equipment a state of said second equipment; and determining by said first equipment that preparations of the second equipment for processing of streaming data in the second format are completed; when the preparations of the second equipment for processing of streaming data in the second format are completed: canceling by said first equipment the mute signal; canceling by said first equipment the reproduction pause state; and initiating output of streaming data in said second format from the first equipment through the network to the second equipment.