an information processing apparatus having unique information connected to a network together with a plurality of other information processing apparatuses each connected to the network and each having unique information is provided . the apparatus includes a receiving means for receiving the unique information for identifying all of the information processing apparatuses on the network , and a network structure obtaining means for obtaining a network structure of the network based upon the unique information of all of the information processing apparatuses . the apparatus further comprises a counting means for counting a number of connections between all of the information processing apparatuses on the network based upon the network structure , and a controlling means for controlling communication timing of the information apparatuses on the network based upon the number of the connections . the network may be a bus interface , and the information processing apparatus may be an audio / visual apparatus . the apparatus further comprises a topology map obtaining means for obtaining a topology map of the network based upon the unique information of each of the information processing apparatuses . the apparatus further comprises a topology map storing means for storing the topology map obtained by the topology map obtaining means , a storing means for storing appropriate timings corresponding to number of the connections , and the controlling means controls the communication timing with a use of the appropriate timings in the storing means .