Patent ID: 8064361

Claim:
A data transmission apparatus comprising a processor to implement: a first input unit for inputting video data of a predetermined number of bits; a second input unit for inputting audio data; a setting unit for setting, within a blanking period of the video data, a setup period that is shorter than the blanking period; a multiplexing unit for multiplexing the audio data into a superimposing period, the superimposing period occurring within the blanking period and not including the setup period, and the setup period at least preceding the superimposing period; a video data transmitting unit for encoding the video data to generate encoded video data having a number of bits greater than the predetermined number of bits and transmitting the encoded video data to a data channel; and a retaining unit for retaining information on the setup period or the superimposing period, wherein the retaining unit retains a correspondence between a type of the video data and the setup period or superimposing period as the information on the setup period or superimposing period, and wherein the multiplexing unit multiplexes the audio data into the superimposing period on the basis of the information retained by the retaining unit, the setup period being used to convey predetermined data other than video data or audio data; and the predetermined data comprising information for identifying the encoded video data and the superimposing period.