First and second apparatuses are connected with each other through a communication path provided with a plurality of lanes used for data transfer that is performed between the first and second apparatuses. Prior to data transfer, transfer-control information is exchanged between the first and second apparatuses according to a predetermined communication protocol. Upon detecting transfer-control information, the first apparatus notifies the second apparatus of a lane-control instruction to increase a second lane-counter indicating a number of lanes used by the second apparatus, and increases a first lane-counter indicating a number of lanes used by the first apparatus so that the first lane-counter is greater than a number of lanes that have been used when detecting the transfer-control information. Upon detecting the lane-control instruction, the second apparatus increases the second lane-counter so that the second lane-counter is greater than a number of lanes that have been used when detecting the instruction.