Patent ID: 8166199

Claim:
A first communication apparatus participating in a predetermined network comprising: an address holding unit adapted to hold a predetermined address to be used by a second communication apparatus not participating in the predetermined network in order to communicate with a third communication apparatus participating in the predetermined network when the second communication apparatus does participate in the predetermined network, as the address of the first communication apparatus; a receiving unit adapted to receive data addressed to the predetermined address; and a request unit adapted to request the third communication apparatus to hold the predetermined address as the address of the third communication apparatus in the case where the first communication apparatus separates from the predetermined network, wherein the request unit performs the request before the first communication apparatus actually separates from the predetermined network, wherein said units are implemented by physical components of said first communication apparatus, wherein the first communication apparatus further comprises a remaining time storage unit adapted to store a remaining time left until each of communication apparatuses participating in the predetermined network, which has transmitted participation data addressed to the predetermined address to participate into the predetermined network, separates from the predetermined network, and wherein the third communication apparatus is an apparatus corresponding to the longest remaining time among the remaining times stored in said remaining time storage unit.