Patent ID: 8493880

Claim:
A network system comprising: a controller; and a plurality of terminals connected to said controller via a network, wherein said controller comprises a first communication unit configured to communicate with said terminals via the network, a request unit, and a response storage unit, each of said terminals comprising a second communication unit configured to communicate with said controller via the network, a identification storage unit configured to store identification information assigned to said terminal, a response unit, and a response confirmation unit, said request unit being configured to repeat sending a request signal to the plurality of said terminals via said first communication unit, the request signal including probability information indicative of a predetermined probability, said response unit being configured to, upon receiving the request signal via said second communication unit, send a response signal via said second communication unit at the probability indicated by the probability information included in the request signal, the response signal including terminal identification information indicative of the identification information stored in said identification storage unit, said response storage unit being configured to, upon receiving the response signal via said first communication unit, store the identification information indicated by the terminal identification information included in the response signal, said request unit being configured to refer to the identification information stored in said response storage unit, and send via said first communication unit a notification signal announcing completion of a response to said terminal which has sent the response signal, said response confirmation unit being configured to, upon receiving the notification signal via said second communication unit, judge whether or not the response has been completed on the basis of the notification signal, said response unit being configured not to send the response signal via said second communication unit in response to receiving the request signal via said second communication unit, once after said response confirmation unit judges that the response has been completed, and said request unit being configured to prepare the next request signal including the probability information indicative of the probability not less than that indicated by the probability information included in the previous request signal.