Patent ID: 8175298

Claim:
A method for controlling an audio output system comprising an audiovisual device that outputs video and audio, an external audio device that outputs audio from an external speaker and that is connected to the audiovisual device, and an audio reproduction device that reproduces audio signals, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the audio reproduction device sending a request signal related to an audio output mode to the audiovisual device, and (b) the audiovisual device selecting, according to the received request signal, either a state in which audio is output from the external speaker connected to the external audio device, or a state in which audio is not output from the external speaker, the audiovisual device setting a state of a built-in speaker of the audiovisual device to be opposite to the selected state of the external speaker, and the audiovisual device sending to the external audio device a first instruction signal that instructs to establish the selected state.