LOCAL AREA NETWORK

PURPOSE:To efficiently recognize the connection form of the entire network from all station address spaces by defining a command inquiring about the connection state of each station in multiple address and returning a station address with a different time from that of the command. CONSTITUTION:A command sent to all stations in multiple address is defined. When this command is sent from a station 10, it is sent to all the stations. Upon the receipt of the command, a reply device 22 commands time count to a count device 24 and upon the end of the time count, it is noticed to the reply device 22. The reply device 22 returns its own station address to the station 10. On the other hand, a station 30 implements similar processing to the case with a station 20 and since the station address differs, the station address is returned at a time zone different from that of the station 20.