Audio/video device for a communication system

Abstract

A communication system including a plurality of audio/video devices including one or more audio signal source devices and image (video) signal source devices connected to a bus, each audio/video device of a common type having a common bus address. Each audio/video device is provided with a predetermined priority value which is stored in memory. Upon power up, every device transmits a communication frame including its own address and its priority value on the bus. When two or more common-type devices (i.e., having a common address) are connected to the bus, conflict is avoided by disabling the device or devices having lower priority values. That is, when each of the common-type device receives a communication frame having the common address, the device compares the transmitted priority value with its stored priority value. If the stored priority value is less than the received priority value, the device disables itself. Conversely, when the stored priority value is greater than the received priority value, the device remains active (survives), and responds to further communication frames having the common address.