Patent ID: 8780218

Claim:
A communication device included in an image sensing system in a network that includes an image sensing device or at least one accessory of an image sensing device, comprising: a setting unit configured to set the communication device to be a master that controls another device within the image sensing system or to be a slave controlled by the master; a decision unit configured to decide whether to permit a plurality of masters to exist within the image sensing system; and a notifying unit configured to transmit a notification to change another master within the image sensing system to a slave; wherein said notifying unit transmits the notification, if a plurality of masters have not been permitted to exist within the image sensing system by said decision unit and if the communication device has been changed from a slave to a master by said setting unit; and said notifying unit does not transmit the notification, if a plurality of masters have been permitted to exist within the image sensing system by said decision unit and if the communication device has been changed from a slave to a master by said setting unit.