Wireless lan relay device, wireless communication system, and method for controlling wireless lan relay device

A wireless communication system comprising:

• an outer device;
• and
• one or more wireless LAN relay devices for connecting the outer device to a network;
• the wireless LAN relay devices each comprising:
• a communication section for controlling wired communication and wireless communication performed between the wireless LAN relay device and the outer device using a packet, for performing, in an initial state, communication without encrypting the packet, and for encrypting during communication of the packet, upon reception of a setting instruction from the outer device, the packet by using a predetermined encryption key and a predetermined encryption method, which are preliminarily defined in the wireless LAN relay device;
• a setting value storage section for storing a current encryption key and a current encryption method for use by the communication section to encrypt the packet;
• a preset value storage section for storing the predetermined encryption key and the predetermined encryption method;
• a status storage section for storing a status indicating whether the packet is encrypted, which is used when the communication section is to perform the wireless communication;
• and
• a control section for transmitting, upon reception of a request from the outer device, the current encryption key and the current encryption method to the outer device, and for overwriting, upon reception of a setting instruction from the outer device, the current encryption key and the current encryption method which are stored in the setting value storage section with the predetermined encryption key and the predetermined encryption method which are stored in the preset value storage section;
• the outer device comprising:
• a request obtaining section for transmitting the request to the wireless LAN relay device, for determining, based on information which is received as a response to the request and stored in the setting value storage section or information including the status stored in the status storage section, whether the communication section encrypts the packet, and for receiving from a user a selection to encrypt the packet if the packet is determined not to be encrypted;
• and
• an instruction section for transmitting the setting instruction to the wireless LAN relay device when the request obtaining section receiving the selection to encrypt the packet.