<p>The objective of the present invention is to provide a controller and a communication method which use fewer sensors to efficiently control a plurality of apparatuses. Provided is a controller (100) which is equipped with memory (101) for storing a first correspondence relationship between at least one sensor for detecting a person and a plurality of apparatuses. Any among the one or more sensors is associated with two or more apparatuses. The controller (100) is additionally equipped with a communication interface (105) for communicating with the one or more sensors and the plurality of apparatuses, and a processor (110) for controlling the plurality of apparatuses corresponding to the sensors via the communication interface on the basis of detection results from each of the one or more sensors by referencing the first correspondence relationship.</p>
