Patent ID: 7599318

Claim:
A communication device applied to each apparatus forming a network system comprising: transmission processing means for transmitting data; timer means for counting a continuous operation request effective time during which transmitted data is always received; transmission control means for controlling the transmission processing means to transmit data in which is set continuous operation request information causing the timer means in a communication device applied to an intermittent apparatus that receives data intermittently to start counting the continuous operation request effective time, and for starting its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time; reception processing means for receiving data; reception control means for controlling the reception processing means; transmission interface means for accepting transmission destination information specifying whether data is to be transmitted by a broadcast or simplex transmission from an apparatus main body and for delivering the transmission destination information to the transmission control means; and transmission setting holding means for holding transmission setting information that is enabled or disabled, wherein the reception control means in the communication device applied to the intermittent apparatus starts its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time upon receipt of the data in which is set the continuous operation request information at its own reception processing means, and wherein the transmission control means determines transmission control processing, in which presence or absence of the continuous operation request information and a number of transmissions of data are specified in advance, depending on the transmission destination information, the transmission setting information, and whether the timer means is counting the continuous operation request effective time, and transmits data generated according to the determined transmission control processing to the transmission processing means.