Wireless communication system for multicast communications

An access point in a wireless LAN system for multicast communications, comprising:

• a frame generator for generating a multicast frame according to a standard frame format;
• an address setting unit for setting an address that is used by another device than terminals connected to a wireless LAN of its own, as a multicast destination address, with the multicast destination address being set as a destination address of said multicast frame;
• and
• a frame generator for sending a unique multicast frame, which is to be discarded by an ordinary terminal, having said multicast destination address generated by said frame generator and set by said address setting unit, through a wireless link.

A terminal for receiving a multicast frame from an access point in a wireless LAN system, comprising:

• a frame receiver for receiving a frame according to a standard frame format from said access point;
• an address determining unit for storing in advance an address that is used by another device than terminals connected to a wireless LAN of said access point, as a multicast destination address, and judging the frame received by said frame receiver as a unique multicast frame, which is to be discarded by an ordinary terminal, if said multicast destination address is set as a destination address of said frame;
• and
• a frame analyzer for analyzing the frame judged as said unique multicast frame by said address determining unit, and acquiring information contained in said frame.

A method of performing multicast communications in a wireless LAN system for multicast communications from an access point to a special terminal, comprising the steps of:

• setting an address that is used by another device than terminals connected to a wireless LAN of said access point as a multicast destination address in the wireless LAN, in said access point, and storing in advance said multicast destination address in said special terminal;
• generating a unique multicast frame, which is to be discarded by an ordinary terminal, having said multicast destination address as a destination address according to a standard frame format, in said access point, and sending the generated unique multicast frame from said access point through a wireless link;
• and
• receiving said frame from said access point as a unique multicast frame in said special terminal if said multicast destination address is set as a destination address of said frame.