[Object] To enable an external device to recognize, in the case of including a communication unit configured to execute communication via a communication path made up of a pair of differential transmission paths included in a transmission path, information relating to the communication unit thereof. [Solving means] A disk recorder 210 transmits function information indicating that a communication unit (high-speed data line I/F 213) configured to execute communication with an external device via a communication path made up of a reserve line and an HPD line of an HDMI cable 350 to a television receiver 250 via a CEC line that is a control data line of the HDMI cable 350. The television receiver 250 receives function information, whereby whether or not the disk recorder 210 is an eHDMI-compatible device can be determined, and in the case of an eHDMI-compatible device, a compatible transmission format (application) can be recognized. It can also be conceived to transmit the function information from the television receiver 250 to the disk recorder 210 in the same way as described above.