A digital television (DTV) operating screen is displayed on the cathode ray tube (CRT) display screen of a DTV which is the controlling apparatus of a network. In the event that the user selects a digital video home system (DVHS) from the buttons displayed on the DTV operating screen, data corresponding to the DVHS operation screen is input to the DTV, and a DVHS operation screen is displayed on the CRT display screen 61. The user operation instructions executed regarding the DVHS operation screen are notified from the digital television DTV to the DVHS, so the DTV can execute control corresponding to the operations of the user, without transmitting commands for directly controlling the DVHS.