Command transmitting apparatus

1. An amplifier apparatus connectable to a separate playing device and for transmitting a command to the separate playing device, the separate playing device having a normal mode and a menu mode, shifting from the normal mode to the menu mode in response to a first command and, after lapse of predetermined time by performing timer count since the shift to the menu mode, shifting to the normal mode, comprising:

an input section that has a first key and a second key, and does not have a third key for transmitting a third command for controlling the menu mode of the separate playing device to the separate playing device;

a mode setting section having a normal mode and a menu mode, shifting from the normal mode to the menu mode in response to an operation of the first key, and shifting from the menu mode to the normal mode after lapse of a predetermined time which is the same as a predetermined time set in the separate playing device for shifting from the menu mode to the normal mode by performing a timer count since the shift to the menu mode, thereby synchronizing the mode of the amplifier apparatus and the separate playing device;

a command transmitting section for transmitting the first command to the separate playing device in response to an operation on the first key; and

a mode determining section for determining a mode set in the mode setting section when the second key is operated,

wherein when it is determined that the mode setting section is in the normal mode, the command transmitting section transmits a second command for controlling the normal mode of the separate playing device to the separate playing device and,

when it is determined that the mode setting section is in the menu mode, the command transmitting section transmits the third command to the separate playing device.

2. The amplifier apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the separate playing device executes a predetermined process in response to the first command or the third command in the menu mode, the predetermined time until shift to the normal mode is extended, and

when the first key or the second key is operated in the menu mode, the mode setting section extends the predetermined time until shift to the normal mode only by the same time as the extended time of the separate playing device.

3. The amplifier apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input section further comprises a cancellation key, and

when the cancellation key is operated, the mode setting section shifts from the menu mode to the normal mode irrespective of whether the predetermined time has elapsed or not.

4. The amplifier apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when reproducing of content starts, the separate playing device shifts from the menu mode to the normal mode, and transmits reproducing start notification to the amplifier apparatus,

the amplifier apparatus further comprises a receiving section for receiving the reproducing start notification, and

when the reproducing start notification is received, the mode setting section shifts from the menu mode to the normal mode irrespective of whether the predetermined time has elapsed or not.

5. The amplifier apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second key is a skip key,

the second command is a skip command for changing content selected by the separate playing device to forward/backward content, and

the third command is a cursor command for moving a cursor on a menu screen of the separate playing device.

6. The amplifier apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the separate playing device is a portable player.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program instructing a computer to perform an operation of an amplifier apparatus connectable to a separate playing device and for transmitting a command to the separate playing device, the separate playing device having a normal mode and a menu mode, shifting from the normal mode to the menu mode in response to a first command and, after lapse of predetermined time by performing timer count since the shift to the menu mode, shifting to the normal mode, the amplifier apparatus comprising an input section that has a first key and a second key, and does not have a third key for transmitting a third command for controlling the menu mode of the separate playing device to the separate playing device,

the computer program when executed instructs the computer to perform:

a mode setting step of shifting from the normal mode to the menu mode in response to an operation of the first key, and shifting from the menu mode to the normal mode after lapse of a predetermined time which is the same as a predetermined time set in the separate playing device for shifting from the menu mode to the normal mode by performing a timer count since the shift to the menu mode, thereby synchronizing the mode of the amplifier apparatus and the separate playing device;

a command transmitting step of transmitting the first command to the separate playing device in response to an operation on the first key; and

a mode determining step of determining a mode set in the mode setting step when the second key is operated,

wherein when it is determined that the mode setting step is in the normal mode, the command transmitting step transmits a second command for controlling the normal mode of the separate playing device to the separate playing device and,

when it is determined that the mode setting step is in the menu mode, the command transmitting step transmits the third command to the separate playing device.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein when the separate playing device executes a predetermined process in response to the first command or the third command in the menu mode, the predetermined time until shift to the normal mode is extended, and

when the first key or the second key is operated in the menu mode, the mode setting step extends the predetermined time until shift to the normal mode only by the same time as the extended time of the separate playing device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the input section further comprises a cancellation key, and

when the cancellation key is operated, the mode setting step shifts from the menu mode to the normal mode irrespective of whether the predetermined time has elapsed or not.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein when reproducing of content starts, the separate playing device shifts from the menu mode to the normal mode, and transmits reproducing start notification to the amplifier apparatus,

the computer program instructs the computer to further perform a receiving step of receiving the reproducing start notification, and

when the reproducing start notification is received, the mode setting step shifts from the menu mode to the normal mode irrespective of whether the predetermined time has elapsed or not.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the second key is a skip key,

the second command is a skip command for changing content selected by the separate playing device to forward/backward content, and

the third command is a cursor command for moving a cursor on a menu screen of the separate playing device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the separate playing device is a portable player.