Patent ID: 8199258

Claim:
A receiving apparatus comprising: a plurality of connecting units that connect a plurality of transmitting apparatuses that transmit at least one of video data and audio data to the receiving apparatus directly or via a repeater; a selecting unit that selects one of the plurality of connecting units; an authentication information storing unit that is accessible from a transmitting apparatus connected to a connecting unit selected by the selecting unit and that stores authentication information necessary for the transmitting apparatus to transmit at least one of video data and audio data to the receiving apparatus; a detecting unit that detects that a transmitting apparatus has been connected to at least one of the plurality of connecting units; a determining unit that, when the detecting unit has detected a connection with a transmitting apparatus, for each of the plurality of connecting units, determines whether or not a status signal that indicates whether or not it is possible for a transmitting apparatus connected to the connecting unit if the connecting unit is selected by the selecting unit to obtain the authentication information and that is input from the connecting unit has been changed from “unable” to “able”; a transmitting unit that transmits a power-on command that instructs the transmitting apparatus detected by the detecting unit to turn on power when there is no connecting unit whose status signal has been changed from “unable” to “able” as a result of the determination made by the determining unit, the transmitting unit causing the determining unit to perform the determination again after transmitting the power-on command; and a control unit that, when there is a connecting unit whose status signal has been changed from “unable” to “able” as a result of the determination made by the determining unit, controls the selecting unit so as to select the connecting unit.