PURPOSE: To efficiently execute the distributed management of data by inquiring the version number of necessary data of a host side, when data is necessary in a terminal side, and transferring the data to the terminal side from the host side, only in the case said number is not equal to the version number stored in the terminal side.

CONSTITUTION: In a host side 10, the latest data and its version number are stored, and in a terminal side 20, when data is necessary, the version number of necessary data is inquired of the host side 10, a result of inquiry and the version number stored in the terminal side 20 are compared, and when a result of comparison is equal, the data stored in the terminal side 20 is outputted. On the other hand, when the result of comparison is not equal, the data is transferred and outputted from the host side 10 to the terminal side 20, and in the case the data is transferred, the transferred data and its version number are stored in the terminal side 20. That is, when the data is necessary, and also, only when its latest data does not exist, the transfer is executed. In such a way, the distributed management of the data can be executed efficiently.