Authentication system using access point device and authentication server to handle a device's network access authentication request

A communication system comprising:

• a device;
• an access point device;
• and
• an authentication server device, wherein
• the device is connected to the access point device via a first network,
• the access point device is connected to the authentication server device via a second network,
• the device sends, to the access point device, a network access authentication request issued with respect to the first network,
• the authentication server device comprises a first device-authentication processing unit that, in response to the network access authentication request, performs an authentication operation based on first-type authentication information, and
• the access point device comprises
• a transfer processing unit that, when second-type authentication information is not included in the network access authentication request, transfers the network access authentication request to the authentication server device, and
• a second device-authentication processing unit that, when the second-type authentication information is included in the network access authentication request and when an authentication operation in the access point device is enabled, performs an authentication operation based on the second-type authentication information.