Communication apparatus and communication method

A communication method that performs communication between a communication apparatus of an end user and an entrepreneur communication apparatus of an entrepreneur in a communication system managed by the entrepreneur, the method comprising:

• a user signal transmission step, performed by the entrepreneur communication apparatus, that transmits a user signal required for the end user to perform communication;
• a manager function implementing step, performed by the entrepreneur communication apparatus, that implements a function provided to a manager of the present apparatus;
• a license monitoring step, performed by the entrepreneur communication apparatus, that monitors a license of the present apparatus, and outputs a function limitation signal when the license has expired;
• and
• a function limitation step, performed by the entrepreneur communication apparatus, that limits the function, which is implemented by the manager function implementing step, in accordance with the function limitation signal.