| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a superior external storage device that can relay data concerning its mute state to an external apparatus, and a superior information processing apparatus that can be connected to such an external device. The external storage device determines whether currently retrieved data from a storage medium are audio data or computer data, and notifies the information processing apparatus of the muted state when the retrieved data are computer data. The notification of the muted state may be performed by, for example, loading a mute signal to the motherboard of the information processing apparatus through an interface connector. As a result, the information processing apparatus can accurately identify the mute period of the external storage device, and accordingly, can precisely disable the sound function (e.g., an audio amplifier or a mixer in an audio controller) and switch it to the power saving state. In the information processing apparatus, upon the receipt of a mute signal, the line input line can be grounded and the generation of unwanted noise can be prevented.
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