A beacon is transmitted and received among a plurality of terminals STA. A terminal STA which transmits the beacon is assigned as a representative terminal MSTA which manages a group, and a terminal STA which receives the beacon is assigned as a belonging terminal SSTA of the group. The representative terminal MSTA obtains identification information from the belonging terminal SSTA and stores the identification information. Then, when receiving an AP beacon from a management terminal AP, the representative terminal MSTA collectively transmits, to the management terminal AP, the identification information of the representative terminal MSTA and the belonging terminal SSTA. The management terminal AP performs an authentication procedure, by using the collectively transmitted identification information, for each of all of the communication terminals which form the group.