A network system where vessel instruments including sensors are connected
through a communication network is provided. The sensors generate the
same type of navigation data. The system includes a first network for
realizing one-to-many communication, a first group instruments connected
with each other through the first network, and a second group instruments
connected to the first network with a different protocol from the first
network. The first group instrument is an input/output gate between the
second group instruments and the first network. At least one of the first
group instruments has a server function. The first group instruments
obtain identification information and types of navigation data of the
second group instruments using the first group instruments as the gates,
and the server-function instrument obtains identification information and
types of navigation data of the instruments. The server function
instrument selects one of the sensors generating the same type of
navigation data, and outputs a sharing instruction of the data of the
selected sensor, through the first network. The first group instrument
provides the sharing instruction to the second group instruments using
the first group instrument as the gate.