ObjectTo transmit well a video signal of a desired bit rate within a transfer bit rate of a transfer path.Solving MeansA control unit 111 controls the operation of data compression units 121-1 through 121-n and switch unit 122. When the bit rate BR of a non-compressed video signal output from a codec 117 is within the transfer bit rate BR2 of an HDMI transfer path, the control unit 111 supplies the non-compressed video signal output from the codec 117 to the HDMI transmitting unit 102 as a video signal to be transmitted. On the other hand, when the bit rate BR1 is greater than the bit rate BR2, the control unit 111 selects a compression method that can be handled on the receiving side performs compression processing so that the bit rate BR1 becomes lower than the bit rate BR2, and supplies the compression video signal to the HDMI transmitting unit 102 as a video signal to be transmitted. Also, the control unit 111 transmits compression information (control information of the switch unit 122 and data compression units 121-1 through 121-n).