The present invention relates to a data collection system and a data collection method in a sensor network, enabling sensor modules to consume lower amounts of power. The base station transmits data collection request signals to one or more sensor modules which are lower than the base station by 1 in a tree structure. Each sensor module which has received the data collection request signal transfers the signal to one or more sensor modules which are lower than the module by 1. The base station regards the transfer of the signal as ACK for the data collection request signal transmitted therefrom to the sensor module which is lower than the base station by 1. The transmission of a data collection acknowledgement signal starts from a sensor module at the low-order end. When a sensor module receives the data collection acknowledgement signal from a downstream sensor module which is lower than the module by 1, the module transmits the signal to an upstream sensor module which is higher than the module by 1. The downstream sensor module regards the transmission of the signal as ACK for the data collection acknowledgement signal transmitted therefrom, and enters standby mode. In this manner, the sensor modules enter standby mode in sequence starting from the sensor module at the low-order end. Thereby, it is possible to achieve reductions in the frequency of signal transmission while maintaining reliable data communication. Thus, each module consumes lower amounts of power.