Patent ID: 7970155

Claim:
A video and audio output apparatus which outputs video and audio, comprising: an internal speaker configured to output the audio; a holding unit configured to hold information which indicates one of a plurality of audio output modes; an accepting unit configured to accept an instruction from outside the video and audio output apparatus; a management unit configured to cause the holding unit to hold the information according to a mode-specifying instruction for specifying an output mode of the audio accepted by the accepting unit, the information indicating an output mode of the audio corresponding to the output mode of the audio specified by the mode-specifying instruction; a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction from an external speaker control apparatus which controls an external speaker outside of the video and audio output apparatus; and an output unit configured to output the information indicating the audio output mode held in the holding unit to the external speaker control apparatus when the receiving unit receives, from the external speaker control apparatus, an instruction requesting output of the information indicating the audio output mode.