Patent ID: 7073000

Claim:
A communication system having a plurality of electronic devices, comprising: an initiator device functioning as an initiator defined by IEEE 1394.3, wherein the initiator device comprises: a first unit directory having a version value defined by IEEE 1394.3 and a remaining value defined by IEEE 1394.3; and a second unit directory having a version value different from a value defined by IEEE 1394.3 and a remaining value defined by IEEE 1394.3; and a target device which functions as a target defined by IEEE 1394.3, wherein the target device comprises: a reader that reads at least one of the first unit directory and the second unit directory of the initiator device in order to recognize a service provided by the initiator device; and an analyzer that, when said reader reads any of the first unit directory and the second unit directory, analyzes the remaining value in accordance with an IEEE 1394.3 definition.