To provide a configuration method to minimize increase in a manufacturing cost of an AV device controller incorporating an HAVi(Home Audio/ Video Interoperability) controller and to provide a means that correctly distributes a packet for a control request and its processing response exchanged among the HAVi controller, a sub unit incorporating the AV device controller and an AV device configuring an IEEE1394 network.

This invention provides an electronic appliance provided with an IEEE1394 interface and providing a means that controls display control and user entry control under the management of an AV/C controller being a 1st control means from an HAVi middleware of an HAVi controller being a 2nd control means and is provided with a means that distributes an extended packet attaching direction information to all packets handled in a controller that is used to discriminate whether the packets are directed to the AV device interconnected by the controller and the IEEE1394 network or directed to the inside of the controller within the controller.