If a request of handle information to identify data existing in a recording medium is made to a digital camera by a PC, the digital camera collects the data existing in the recording medium by accessing a file system, generates unique handle information independent of the file system on the basis of a file path of the file system, and transmits it to the PC. When the request accompanied by the handle information is received from the PC, the digital camera executes a file path restoring process to the handle information, thereby restoring the file path which depends on the file system in the digital camera, retrieves the requested file by using the obtained file path, and transmits the data to the PC. According to this arrangement, installation costs can be suppressed by making an identification information management table unnecessary even while identification information which is independent of a logical data management system is used.