Radio communication system with data structure change

A radio communication apparatus configured to perform radio communication with a reception-side radio communication apparatus, the radio communication apparatus comprising:

• a relay unit configured to receive a first data frame to be transmitted to the reception-side radio communication apparatus, and to then relay the first data frame to the reception-side radio communication apparatus;
• an address detector configured to detect a first source address, which is included in the first data frame received by the relay unit, and which is permanently assigned to a source device of the first data frame;
• a source address information notification unit configured to notify the reception-side radio communication apparatus of omitted-source-address information indicating the first source address detected by the address detector;
• a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the first source address, of which the source address information notification unit notifies the reception-side radio communication apparatus, is identical to a second source address included in a second data frame received by the relay unit, and being permanently assigned to a source device of the second data frame;
• and
• a data structure change unit configured to change the structure of the second data frame if the determination unit determines that the first source address is identical to the second source address, wherein
• the data structure change unit omits transmission of the second source address included in the second data frame, and also adds, to the second data frame, an omission indication indicating that the second source address is omitted.

A radio communication apparatus configured to perform radio communication with a transmission-side radio communication apparatus, the radio communication apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a first data frame;
• omitted-source-address information and a second data frame from the transmission-side radio communication apparatus;
• a transmitter configured to transmit a third data frame received from a certain destination device to the transmission-side radio communication apparatus;
• and
• a device identification unit configured to identify a source device of the second data frame on the basis of the omitted-source-address information received by the receiver if an omission indication is added to the second data frame received by the receiver;
• and
• a destination address information notification unit configured to notify the transmission-side radio communication apparatus of omitted-destination-address information indicating a destination address assigned to the certain destination device, wherein
• the first data frame and the second data frame are relayed by the transmission-side radio communication apparatus,
• the omitted-source-address information indicates a first source address, which is permanently assigned to a source device of the first data frame,
• the first source address is included in the first data frame,
• the omission indication is included in the second data frame, and indicates that a second source address permanently assigned to the source device of the second data frame is omitted, and
• the second data frame includes a destination address permanently assigned to a destination device of the second data frame.

A radio communication method using a transmission-side radio communication apparatus and a reception-side radio communication apparatus configured to perform radio communication with the transmission-side radio communication apparatus, the radio communication method comprising the steps of:

• notifying, at the transmission-side radio communication apparatus, the reception-side radio communication apparatus of omitted-source-address information indicating a first source address permanently assigned to a source device of a first data frame to be transmitted to the reception-side radio communication apparatus;
• determining, at the transmission-side radio communication apparatus, whether or not the first source address is identical to a second source address permanently assigned to a source device of a second data frame to be transmitted to the reception-side radio communication apparatus;
• transmitting, at the transmission-side radio communication apparatus, the second data frame to the reception-side radio communication apparatus after omitting transmission of the second source address included in the second data frame and also adding, to the second data frame, an omission indication indicating that the second source address is omitted, if the first source address is determined to be identical to the second source address in the step of determining;
• receiving, at the reception-side radio communication apparatus, the first data frame, the omitted-source-address information and the second data frame from the transmission-side radio communication apparatus;
• identifying, at the reception-side radio communication apparatus, the source device of the second data frame on the basis of the received omitted source-address information, if the omission indication is added to the second data frame received in the step of receiving;
• and
• transmitting, at the reception-side radio communication apparatus, a third data frame received from a certain destination device to the transmission-side radio communication apparatus;
• notifying, at the reception-side radio communication apparatus, the transmission-side radio communication apparatus of omitted-destination-address information indicating a destination address assigned to the certain destination device, wherein
• the second data frame includes a destination address permanently assigned to a destination device of the second data frame.