Technique for routing packets

A gateway device (11), which is designed to route data packets received from a client entity (20, 21) in a local area network (4) to a communication network (1) by means of a nominal interface (100) and vice versa, moreover comprising:

• at least one second wireless interface (102);
• an identification module (106) for identifying at least one device, called a relay device, that is accessible by means of the second interface and capable of playing a relay role in order to route packets exchanged between a client entity and the communication network;
• a reception module (104), designed to receive from a client entity a data packet indicating that a session is initiated;
• a routing module (108) for routing the packets relating to said session, which is designed to route the packets by means of the second interface through the relay device when a routing selection criterion is verified and to route the packets by means of the nominal interface when said selection criterion is not verified.

A program for a gateway device, comprising program code instructions that are intended to control execution of steps of a method when said program is executed by said gateway device, the method for routing data packets through a gateway device (11), the gateway device being capable of routing packets received from a client entity (20, 21) in a local area network (4) to a communication network (1) by means of a nominal interface and vice versa, the gateway device moreover comprising a second wireless interface, said method comprising the following steps implemented by the gateway device:

• identification (E1) of at least one device, called a relay device, that is accessible by means of the second interface and capable of playing a relay role in order to route packets exchanged between a client entity and the communication network;
• reception (E11), from a client entity, of a data packet indicating that a session is initiated;
• when a routing selection criterion is verified, routing (E17) of the packets relating to said session by means of the second interface through the relay device;
• when said selection criterion is not verified, routing of the packets relating to the session by means of the nominal interface.

A recording medium that can be read by a gateway device on which a program is recorded, the program comprising program code instructions that are intended to control execution of steps of a method when said program is executed by said gateway device, the method for routing data packets through a gateway device (11), the gateway device being capable of routing packets received from a client entity (20, 21) in a local area network (4) to a communication network (1) by means of a nominal interface and vice versa, the gateway device moreover comprising a second wireless interface, said method comprising the following steps implemented by the gateway device:

• identification (E1) of at least one device, called a relay device, that is accessible by means of the second interface and capable of playing a relay role in order to route packets exchanged between a client entity and the communication network;
• reception (E11), from a client entity, of a data packet indicating that a session is initiated;
• when a routing selection criterion is verified, routing (E17) of the packets relating to said session by means of the second interface through the relay device;
• when said selection criterion is not verified, routing of the packets relating to the session by means of the nominal interface.