Patent ID: 9571298
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A network system comprising: a backbone network that is constituted by combining a plurality of switch devices; and an apparatus network that is constituted by combining a plurality of apparatuses, each of which includes therein a switch unit and a connection control unit that is capable of controlling a connection of the switch unit to perform communication, where the apparatus network is connected to the backbone network at only two points by connecting a switch unit of a first apparatus that is one of the apparatuses to the backbone network and by connecting a switch unit of a second apparatus that is another one of the apparatuses to the backbone network, wherein a connection control unit of the first apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether the switch unit of the first apparatus is communicatively connected to the backbone network, a connection control unit of the second apparatus includes based on the determination information obtained from the determination unit by the determination-information obtaining unit, when the switch unit of the first apparatus is communicatively connected to the backbone network, the connection control unit of the second apparatus maintains a state where the switch unit of the second apparatus is disconnected from the backbone network as for direct communication with the backbone network, and when the switch unit of the first apparatus is not communicatively connected to the backbone network or when the second apparatus is not capable of communicating with the first apparatus, the connection control unit of the second apparatus connects the switch unit of the second apparatus to the backbone network such that the switch unit of the second apparatus is capable of directly communicating with the backbone network.