Radio device having fewer route disconnections and switchings by using control packets to maintain radio links

A radio device for use in an autonomously established radio communication network and carrying out radio communication based on a table-driven protocol, comprising:

• a period setting unit setting a route confirmation period used to confirm a first radio link between the radio device and a first adjacent radio device adjacent to the radio device;
• a communication unit carrying out radio communication with a plurality of radio devices adjacent to the radio device, and regularly transmitting control packets within the route confirmation period to maintain said first radio link;
• a route maintenance unit maintaining said first radio link when said communication unit receives a packet from said first adjacent radio device in said route confirmation period, even if said communication unit does not or receive a control packet used to maintain said first radio link from said first adjacent radio device in said route confirmation period;
• and
• wherein when there is a second radio link, different from said first radio link, between the radio device and a second adjacent radio device, and at least a predetermined minimum amount of radio communication is carried out using the second radio link, said route maintenance unit maintains the first radio link even if no packet is received through said first radio link in said route confirmation period.