Relay apparatus, wireless network system, and relay method

A relay apparatus corresponding to a node included in nodes of a wireless network system, the relay apparatus comprising:

• wireless communication circuitry including ports configured to transmit or receive a wireless frame via a wireless communication line respectively, each of the ports being assigned with a physical address;
• a memory configured to store a routing table;
• and
• processor circuitry configured to select a first port connected to a first apparatus through the ports based on the routing table, if the wireless communication circuitry receives the wireless frame for a second apparatus as a final destination, wherein
• the routing table comprises, for the second apparatus:
• an IP address assigned to the first apparatus,
• a first physical address assigned to the first port corresponding to the first apparatus, and
• a second physical address assigned to a port of the first apparatus functioning as relaying between the relay apparatus and the second apparatus;
• and
• the wireless communication circuitry is further configured to transmit the wireless frame through the first port, wherein
• when being connected to any of the nodes, and in a case in which the probe request frame is transmitted through an unconnected node out of the wireless network system, the probe request frame including information indicating an IP address of the unconnected node and a physical address assigned to a node through which the probe request frame is transmitted,
• the wireless communication circuitry receives the probe request frame through one of the ports functioning as an access point port, and passes search information included in the probe request frame to the processor circuitry,
• the processor circuitry passes the search information to routing processing circuitry,
• the routing processing circuitry generates response information indicating an own IP address, and passes the generated response information to the processor circuitry,
• the processor circuitry selects the access point port, and passes the response information to the wireless communication circuitry, and
• the wireless communication circuitry generates a probe response frame including the response information and a physical address assigned to the selected port, and transmits the probe response frame to the unconnected node through the selected port.

A wireless network system, comprising:

• nodes, wherein each of the nodes comprises:
• wireless communication circuitry including ports configured to transmit or receive a wireless frame via a wireless communication line respectively, each of the ports being assigned with a physical address;
• a memory configured to store a routing table;
• and
• processor circuitry configured to select a first port connected to a first apparatus through the ports based on the routing table, if the wireless communication circuitry receives the wireless frame for a second apparatus as a final destination;
• wherein
• the routing table comprises, for the second apparatus:
• an IP address assigned to the first apparatus,
• a first physical address assigned to the first port corresponding to the second apparatus, and
• a second physical address assigned to a port of the first apparatus functioning as relaying between a relay apparatus and the second apparatus;
• and
• the wireless communication circuitry is further configured to transmit the wireless frame through the first port;
• and
• the each of the nodes comprises:
• routing processing circuitry, wherein
• before being connected to any of the nodes of the wireless network system,
• the routing processing circuitry generates search information indicating an own IP address, and passes the generated search information to the processor circuitry, the search information being a MAC frame,
• the processor circuitry selects one of the ports functioning as a station port, and passes the search information to the wireless communication circuitry,
• the wireless communication circuitry generates a probe request frame including the search information and information indicating a physical address assigned to the station port, and transmits the probe request frame, and
• a wireless communication line is not formed with the one or more nodes of the wireless network system by which the request frame is received.

A wireless network system, comprising:

• relay apparatuses, wherein each of the relay apparatuses comprises:
• wireless communication circuitry including ports configured to transmit or receive a wireless frame via a wireless communication line respectively, each of the ports being assigned with a physical address;
• a memory configured to store a routing table;
• and
• processor circuitry configured to select a first port connected to a first apparatus through the ports based on the routing table, if the wireless communication circuitry receives the wireless frame for a second apparatus as a final destination, wherein
• the routing table comprises, for the second apparatus:
• an IP address assigned to the first apparatus,
• a first physical address assigned to the first port corresponding to the first apparatus, and
• a second physical address assigned to a port of the first apparatus functioning as relaying between the relay apparatus and the second apparatus;
• and
• the wireless communication circuitry is further configured to transmit the wireless frame through the first port, wherein
• when being connected to a node, and in a case in which the probe request frame is transmitted through an unconnected node out of the wireless network system, the probe request frame including information indicating an IP address of the unconnected node and a physical address assigned to a node through which the probe request frame is transmitted,
• the wireless communication circuitry receives the probe request frame through one of the ports functioning as an access point port, and passes search information included in the probe request frame to the processor circuitry,
• the processor circuitry passes the search information to routing processing circuitry,
• the routing processing circuitry generates response information indicating an own IP address, and passes the generated response information to the processor circuitry,
• the processor circuitry selects the access point port, and passes the response information to the wireless communication circuitry, and
• the wireless communication circuitry generates a probe response frame including the response information and a physical address assigned to the selected port, and transmits the probe response frame to the unconnected node through the selected port.

A relay method at least partially executed by circuitry corresponding to a node included in nodes of a wireless network system, wherein

• the node comprises wireless communication circuitry including ports capable of transmitting or receiving a wireless frame via a wireless communication line respectively, each of the ports being assigned with a physical address, the node comprising processor circuitry and routing processing circuitry,
• the method comprising:
• selecting a first port connected to a first apparatus through the ports based on a routing table, if the wireless communication circuitry receives the wireless frame for a second apparatus as a final destination;
• wherein
• the routing table comprises, for the second apparatus:
• an IP address assigned to the first apparatus,
• a first physical address assigned to the first port corresponding to the second apparatus, and
• a second physical address assigned to the first apparatus functioning as relaying between the relay apparatus and the second apparatus;
• and
• the method further comprises:
• causing the wireless communication circuitry to transmit the wireless frame through the selected port;
• and
• before connection being established to any of the nodes of the wireless network system,
• generating, by the routing processing circuitry, search information indicating an own IP address, and passing the generated search information to the processor circuitry, the search information being a MAC frame,
• selecting, by the processor circuitry, one of the ports functioning as a station port, and passing the search information to the wireless communication circuitry, and
• by the wireless communication circuitry, generating a probe request frame including the search information and information indicating a physical address assigned to the station port, and transmitting the probe request frame, wherein
• a wireless communication line is not tbrmed with the one or more nodes of the wireless network system by which the request frame is received.