JP2011166353A - Communication repeater, communication repeating method, communication repeating program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively change-over the operation state of a wireless communication with respect to an external wireless communication device. <P>SOLUTION: A communication repeater 1 includes: a wired communication part 11 for performing wired communication with an external wired communication device 2; and a wireless communication part for performing wireless communication with a predetermined wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication part has a master set wireless communication mode as the operation mode of the wireless communication, and a slave set wireless communication mode causing the wire-connected device to operate as a wireless communication slave set, and wherein the wired communication part 11 includes: a communication relationship determination part which transmits a communication message to the wire-connected device and determines order relationship on a network based on a communication content from the wired communication device 2 with respect to the communication message: and a wireless operation mode selecting and starting part which starts one of the master set wireless communication mode and the slave set wireless communication mode, which are the operation modes of the wireless communication part, based on the order relationship. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device that relays wireless communication, and more particularly to a communication relay device that operates by switching the content of relay operation of wireless communication.

  Wireless LAN (local area network) communication relay device as a wireless LAN base unit (wireless LAN base unit), such as an access point that relays wireless communication from a wireless LAN slave unit, and wireless communication function A wireless communication slave device (wireless LAN slave device) such as an Ethernet converter that operates as a slave device by providing a wireless communication function by wired connection to a terminal that does not have a wireless LAN is used.

  Further, a parent-child switching device (hereinafter referred to as “target device”) that operates as a wireless LAN parent device or a child device is used by switching the operation state as the parent device or the wireless LAN child device with a switch.

Here, the parent-child switching device (target device) will be described.
When performing wireless LAN communication using the target device, the user needs to use the target device after determining in advance whether to operate the target device as a parent device or a child device.
For example, when a communication connection is established between another wireless LAN slave device having a wireless LAN communication function and a preset device A (for example, a printer), as shown in FIG. And start the target device as a base unit.
Thereby, the target device can relay the communication between the other wireless LAN slave device and the device A.
On the other hand, if the user holds a wired LAN device (device A) and wants to perform data communication using wireless communication from this device A, as shown in FIG. Switch to the wireless LAN handset side.
Accordingly, the target device functions as an Ethernet converter (Ethernet is a registered trademark) in the device A, and thus the device A can perform wireless communication using the wireless communication function in the target device.

However, as described above, prior to the use of the target device, the user depends on the operation mode of the target device, which is the operation mode of the target device, and the connection environment and communication environment between the target device and surrounding communication devices. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether to operate the target device as a parent device or a child device.
However, since the connection relationship with the wired and wireless communication devices located around the target device may be complicated, it may be difficult to make an accurate determination suitable for the communication environment.
Further, since the changeover switch of the target device is manual, there is a disadvantage that this changeover operation is troublesome for the user.

As a related technique for this, a wireless LAN device having a connection terminal for connecting to a wired LAN device and a receiving device connection terminal for transmitting and receiving wireless signals and having a function of setting the wireless LAN device as a parent device or a child device is disclosed. (Patent Document 1).
In addition, as this related technology, a device having a function of setting a wireless LAN device as a parent device or a child device is disclosed (Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-06153 A JP 2004-254048 A

  However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, depending on the communication relationship and communication configuration with an external device that is located around the target device and performs communication connection with the target device, There is an inconvenience that it is not possible to set autonomously whether to operate as a wireless device.

[Object of invention]
The present invention improves the inconvenience of the related technology and enables a communication relay device and a communication relay method to effectively switch between a master unit operation mode and a slave unit operation mode, which are wireless communication operation states for a preset wireless communication device. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication relay program.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication relay device according to the present invention includes a wired communication unit that performs wired communication with a wired communication device and a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a preset wireless communication device. In the communication relay device, the wireless communication unit establishes communication between the wireless communication device and the wired communication device as an operation mode of the wireless communication, and operates as a wireless communication master device that relays the communication. A wireless communication mode, and a wireless communication mode in which the wired communication device connected to the wired communication device is made wireless and the wired communication device is operated as a wireless communication slave device, and the wired communication unit is connected to the wired communication device. When a wired connection is made to the wired communication device, a communication message is transmitted to the wired communication device, and the wired communication device is based on the communication content from the wired communication device with respect to the communication message. And a communication relationship determination unit that determines a rank relationship on the network in the communication relay device, and a master wireless communication mode or a slave device that is an operation mode of the wireless communication unit based on the rank relationship of the wired communication device with respect to the communication relay device It has a configuration including a wireless operation mode selection activation unit that selects and activates one of the wireless communication modes.

  The communication relay method according to the present invention includes a wired communication unit that performs wired communication with a wired communication device connected in a wired manner, and a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a preset wireless communication device, The communication unit is configured to wirelessly communicate in the wired wireless communication device connected to the wired wireless communication device and the parent wireless communication mode that operates as a wireless communication parent device that relays communication between the wireless communication device and the wired communication device. A communication relay device having a handset wireless communication mode for causing a wired communication device to operate as a wireless communication handset, wherein the communication relay switches an operation mode in the wireless communication unit according to a wired communication device connected to the wired communication unit The wired communication unit makes a wired connection to the wired communication device and transmits a communication message to the wired communication device. If the wired communication device and the communication relay device determine a rank order on the network based on the communication content of the wired communication device to the network, and the wireless communication is determined to be higher than the communication relay device The base unit wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit is started, and the slave unit wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit is started when it is determined that the wired communication device is lower than the communication relay device.

  The communication relay program according to the present invention includes a wired communication unit that performs wired communication with a wired communication device connected in a wired manner, and a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a preset wireless communication device, The communication unit is configured to wirelessly communicate in the wired wireless communication device connected to the wired wireless communication device and the parent wireless communication mode that operates as a wireless communication parent device that relays communication between the wireless communication device and the wired communication device. A communication relay apparatus having a slave wireless communication mode for operating a wired communication device as a wireless communication slave, and for switching an operation mode in the wireless communication unit according to a wired communication device connected to the wired communication unit In the communication relay program, when the wired communication unit is wired to the wired communication device, a communication message is transmitted to the wired communication device, A communication relationship determination function for determining a rank relationship on the network in the wired communication device and the communication relay device based on the communication content of the wired communication device with respect to the communication message, and the wired communication device is higher than the communication relay device. A wireless device that activates a master wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit when determined, and activates a slave wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit when it is determined that the wired communication device is lower than the communication relay device The operation mode switching start function is executed by a computer set in advance.

  Since the present invention is configured and functions as described above, according to this, the communication relationship determination unit that determines the rank relationship on the network between the communication relay device and the wired connection destination of the communication relay device, and this rank relationship Based on the configuration including a wireless operation mode selection activation unit that selects and activates the wireless communication operation mode in the communication relay device, the communication relay that effectively switches the wireless communication operation state to the external wireless communication device An apparatus, a communication relay method, and a communication relay program can be provided.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the system using the communication relay apparatus by this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the system using the communication relay apparatus by this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the communication relay device disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process step which determines the communication operation mode in the communication relay apparatus disclosed by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows one form at the time of setting a signal line to the e-support in the communication relay apparatus disclosed to FIG. 1 and 2. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process step at the time of setting a signal line to e-support in the communication relay apparatus disclosed to FIG. 1 and 2. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in which different external devices are connected to a communication relay device in a wired manner when eSupport in the communication relay device disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a plurality of connection ports. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the radio | wireless communications system using the object apparatus which operate | moves as a main | base station based on the communication relay apparatus disclosed in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the radio | wireless communications system using the object apparatus which operate | moves as a subunit | mobile_unit based on the communication relay apparatus disclosed in FIG.

[Embodiment]
Next, the basic configuration content of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The target device (communication relay device) 1 according to the present embodiment includes a wired communication unit 7 that connects to a device A (wired communication device) via a wired line and performs wired communication, and a wireless communication device (wireless LAN slave device). 3 or a wireless communication unit 8 for performing wireless communication with the wireless LAN base unit 4), and a wireless communication operation mode set in advance in the wireless communication unit 8 according to a connection destination to which the wired communication unit 7 is connected by wire. It has a configuration including a wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 that is selected and activated (set to change).

  Here, the wireless communication unit 8 establishes communication between the wireless communication device and the device A as a wireless communication operation mode, and operates as a wireless communication parent device that relays the communication. And a slave unit wireless communication mode (slave unit wireless communication function) that wirelessly communicates in the device A (wired communication device) connected by wire.

  The wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 has a communication message transmission function for transmitting a preset communication message to the device A when the wired communication unit 7 detects that the wired communication unit 7 is wired to the device A. And a communication relationship determination function (communication relationship determination) for determining a rank relationship between the device A and the target device 1 on the network based on the content of the reply message from the device A to the communication message.

  The target device 1 and the device A have a function of performing communication at a network layer (third layer) or higher that can identify DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the target apparatus 1 will be specifically described.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the target device 1 performs an execution process based on a preset program, thereby realizing a functional operation of the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9, and control by the CPU unit 13. The wireless communication means (RF unit: Radio Frequency unit) 14 that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication device via the antenna 15 and the device A that is operated by the control of the CPU unit 13 and connected via the Ether port 11 Layer 2 switch means (L2SW) 12 is provided for performing wired communication.

  The CPU unit 13 includes a microprocessor that executes execution of a preset program, a main storage device that is a memory that reads the program, and an HDD (hard disk drive) that stores and holds the preset program. Suppose that

The wired communication unit 7 includes a CPU unit 13, a layer 2 switch means (L2SW) 12, and an Ether port 11. The wireless communication unit 8 includes a CPU unit 13, an RF unit 14, and an ANT 15. .
The CPU unit 13 includes an Ethernet MAC as a communication unit that transmits and receives communication data to and from the L2SW 12, and the CPU unit 13 and the L2SW 12 are provided between the MAC (medium access control) layer and the physical layer in the Ethernet. It is assumed that communication is performed with each other via an MII (Media Independent Interface) as an interface.

The wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 has a wired connection detection function for detecting that the wired communication unit 7 is connected to an external device (here, the device A2) via a line connected to the Ether port 11.
The wired communication unit 7 has a DHCP connection processing function for performing a connection sequence process by DHCP in order to establish an IP connection in a connection (wired communication) via a wired line. At this time, the wired communication unit 7 transmits a DHCP Discover packet to the device A2.
Here, the DHCP Discover packet indicates a communication message transmitted (broadcast) from the client (host) for server discovery.

  The wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 determines whether or not the packet sent from the wired-connected external device (device A2) is a DHCP Offer packet for the DHCP Discover packet transmitted to the device A2 by itself. It has a packet decision function to make a decision. Here, the DHCP Offer packet is a message indicating setting value candidates transmitted from the DHCP server to the client.

When the sent packet is a DHCP Offer packet, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 is a device higher than the target device 1 in which the external device (device A2) to which the target device 1 is connected by wire has a DHCP server function. Judge that there is. At this time, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 activates the wireless communication unit 8 in “master mode”.
Here, it is assumed that the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 performs a DHCP sequence process for a wireless LAN slave device (wireless communication device) that performs wireless communication under the wireless communication unit 8.

The wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 includes a beacon transmission instruction function that instructs the wireless communication unit 8 to transmit a beacon.
Thereby, the wireless LAN handset 3 that has received the beacon can detect the target device 1 as a wireless LAN access point.

  On the other hand, if the packet sent from the external device to the wired communication unit 7 is not a DHCP Offer packet (for example, a packet sent from the device A2 to the DHCP Discover transmitted from the target device 1 to the device A2) ) Is a DHCP Discover packet), the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 determines that the device to which the target device 1 is wired is a device lower than the target device 1 on the network that does not have a DHCP server function. (Packet determination function)

At this time, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 stops retransmission of its own DHCP Discover, and transmits a DHCP Offer packet as a DHCP server to the external device (device A2).
When the DHCP Discover packet is sent back from the external device (device A2) in response to the transmitted DHCP Offer packet, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 establishes a connection with the device A2 by performing a DHCP connection sequence process. It has a DHCP connection processing function.
As a result, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 can activate the wireless LAN slave mode (slave mode) in the wireless communication unit 8.

  When it is determined that the wired-connected external device (device A2) is a device positioned lower than the target device 1, the target device and the device A2 transmit a DHCP Discover packet to each other. For this reason, it is conceivable that the Discover packet from the device A is transmitted before the target device transmits the Discover packet. However, since the Discover packet is retransmitted, the target device 1 is connected to the DHCP Discover packet here. It is assumed that a DHCP Discover packet from apparatus A2 is sent after transmission.

  As a result, when the external device (device A2) is activated in the handset mode of the wireless communication unit 8, an access point (base device) set in advance as a wireless communication handset consisting of the device A and the target device 1 is used. It is possible to operate as a wireless LAN slave device that is wirelessly connected to the mobile phone.

Furthermore, when it is determined that the device A2 is located in the lower level of the network than the target device 1, and the device is a device that does not use the DHCP client function in which the IP address is set to a fixed state, the target from the device A2 It is assumed that an ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) packet is transmitted to the device 1.
When receiving an ARP packet from the external device (device A2), the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 activates the wireless communication unit 8 as a slave unit without performing a normal DHCP connection sequence process, and the wireless communication unit 8 Performs the operation of scanning the base unit.

  When the target apparatus 1 has a plurality of Ether ports (four (LAN 1 to 4 here)) (see FIG. 7), the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 receives the DHCP Offer packet. (Here, the LAN 1 to which the device B5 is connected) may be set to operate as a WAN (Wide Area Network) port.

  Here, it is assumed that the device B5 connected to the LAN1 port is a device positioned higher in the network than the target device 1, and the device C6 connected to the LAN2 port is a device lower than the target device 1.

At this time, in response to the connection from the device B5, the target device 1 transmits a DHCP Discover packet, and the device B5 returns a DHCP Offer packet.
In addition, a DHCP Discover packet is transmitted between the device C6 and the target device 1.

  In this case, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 determines whether a device connected to each LAN port (for example, devices B and C: FIG. 7) is a higher device in the network and connects to the device B. The designated port is activated as a WAN port, and the other ports function as LAN ports.

Thereby, in this embodiment, it is determined to which port in the target device 1 a higher model (higher level wired device) than the target device 1 is connected, and the port connected to this higher level wired device is the target device 1 itself. It is possible to determine a port to be operated as a WAN port.
Therefore, the user can easily use the communication relay device without being aware of the connection configuration (LAN / WAN) between the port set in the target device and the external device.

  Further, as a wireless operation mode in the wireless communication unit 8, a setting in which a WDS (Wireless Distribution System) operation mode (function) is set in addition to the parent device operation mode and the child device operation mode may be used. In this WDS operation mode, the wireless communication unit 8 operates as a wireless LAN access point for radio wave relay between different wireless LAN access points.

As shown in FIG. 5, the Ether port 11 has pin numbers 1 (Rx +) and 3 (Tx +) provided in the Ether port 11 in advance, and pin numbers 2 (Rx−) and 6. It is good also as a structure provided with the pin connection means (signal line) which each carries out communication connection of (Tx-).
In addition, the signal line is configured to be disconnected by the Ether cable when the Ether cable is inserted into the Ether port 11 from the outside.

Accordingly, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 of the target device 1 determines that there is a connection target connected to the Ether port from the time of power activation of the target device 1. For this reason, when the Ether port 11 is in a connected state and does not receive a packet for a certain period of time, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 activates a WDS (Wireless Distribution System) function in the wireless communication unit 8. It may be set to.
As a result, the target device 1 can be operated as an access point relay device that wirelessly relays between wireless base stations such as a wireless LAN access point preset outside the target device 1.

[Description of Operation of Embodiment]
Next, an outline of the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, when the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 of the target device 1 detects that the wired communication unit 7 is wired to the device A2, the wired communication unit 7 transmits a communication message to the device A2. (Wired connection detection process).
Next, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 determines the order relationship on the network between the device A2 and the target device 1 based on the communication content from the device A2 with respect to the communication message transmitted by the wired communication unit 7 (communication relationship determination). Process).
Here, when the device A2 is determined to be higher than the target device 1, the base unit wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit 8 is activated, and the device A2 is determined to be lower than the target device 1. The slave unit wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit is started (wireless operation mode selection starting step).

  Here, with respect to the wired connection detection step, the communication relationship determination step, and the wireless operation mode selection activation step, the execution contents may be programmed and executed by a computer.

  Next, the operation (wireless parent-child switching) for selectively starting the wireless operation mode in the target apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 detects that an Ether cable (wired line) is inserted into the Ether port 11 and the device A2 and the target device 1 are connected by wire (step S41), wired communication is performed. The unit 7 executes a connection sequence process by DHCP in order to establish an IP connection in a connection (wired communication) via a wired line.

  At this time, the wired communication unit 7 transmits a DHCP Discover packet to the device A2 (step S42), and waits for a response from the device A2.

  Next, when the wired communication unit 7 receives the packet sent from the device A2 (step S43), the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 sends the packet sent from the device A2 to the device A2. It is determined whether or not it is a DHCP Offer packet corresponding to the transmitted DHCP Discover packet (packet determination function: step S44).

  Here, when it is confirmed that the received packet is a DHCP Offer packet for the DHCP Discover packet, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 is configured so that the device A2 to which the target device 1 is connected by wire has a DHCP server function. Above, it determines with it being an apparatus higher than the object apparatus 1, and starts the radio | wireless communication part 8 as "parent | mobile unit mode" (step S45).

  At this time, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 has a preset wireless LAN slave device (wireless communication device: here, wireless LAN slave device 3) that performs wireless communication under the control of the wireless communication unit 8. It is determined that there is a DHCP sequence process for the wireless LAN slave device (wireless communication device) 3 (step S46).

Here, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 operates as a base unit mode for the wireless communication unit 8 (wireless part) and transmits a beacon signal (Beacon) to the wireless LAN slave unit 3. Instruct to do. In response to this instruction, the wireless communication unit 8 transmits a Beacon to the wireless LAN slave unit 3 (step S47).
Accordingly, the wireless LAN slave device 3 that has received the beacon signal can detect the target device 1 as a wireless LAN access point.

  On the other hand, when the packet sent from the device A2 to the wired communication unit 7 is not a DHCP Offer packet (NO: Step S44), that is, for the DHCP Discover transmitted from the target device 1 to the device A2, the device When the packet sent from A2 is a DHCP Discover packet, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit (target device 1) 9 is connected to the target device 1 (wired communication unit 7) by wire, and the device A2 is connected to the DHCP server function. It is determined that the device is lower than the target device 1 on the network.

Here, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 stops retransmitting its own DHCP Discover and transmits a DHCP Offer packet as a DHCP server to the device A2.
Here, when a DHCP Discover packet is sent back from the device A2 in response to the DHCP Offer packet, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 establishes a connection with the device A2 by performing a DHCP connection sequence process (Step S2). Along with S50), the wireless LAN slave unit mode in the wireless communication unit (wireless part) 8 is activated to set the master unit scan state (step S51).

  When the device A2 on the network is a device positioned lower than the target device 1, the target device and the device A2 transmit a DHCP Discover packet to each other, so that the target device transmits the Discover packet. It is conceivable that the Discover packet from the device A is transmitted first. However, since the Discover packet is retransmitted, here, after the target device 1 transmits the DHCP Discover packet, the DHCP Discover packet from the device A2 is transmitted. To be sent.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the device A2 is located in the lower level of the network than the target device 1, and is a device that does not use the DHCP client function in which the IP address is set to a fixed state (NO: Step S49) Then, the ARP packet is transmitted from the device A2 to the target device 1.
When the ARP packet is received from the device A2, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 activates the wireless part (wireless communication unit 8) as a slave without performing the normal DHCP connection sequence processing, and the wireless communication unit 8 Performs an operation of scanning the parent device (step S51).

  When the target apparatus 1 has a plurality of Ether ports (four (LAN 1 to 4 here)) (see FIG. 7), the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 receives the DHCP Offer packet. (Here, the LAN 1 connected to the device B5) may be set to operate as a WAN port.

  Here, it is assumed that the device B5 connected to the LAN1 port is a device positioned higher in the network than the target device 1, and the device C6 connected to the LAN2 port is a device lower than the target device 1.

At this time, in response to the connection from the device B5, the target device 1 transmits a DHCP Discover packet, and the device B5 returns a DHCP Offer packet.
In addition, a DHCP Discover packet is transmitted between the device C6 and the target device 1.

  In this case, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 determines whether the devices B and C connected to each LAN port are higher devices in the network and The connected port is activated as a WAN port, and the other ports function as LAN ports.

Thereby, in this embodiment, it is determined to which port in the target device 1 a higher model (higher level wired device) than the target device 1 is connected, and the port connected to this higher level wired device is the target device 1 itself. It is possible to determine a port to be operated as a WAN port.
Therefore, the user can easily use the communication relay device without being aware of the connection configuration (LAN / WAN) between the port set in the target device and the external device.

  Further, when a wireless distribution system (WDS) operation mode (function) is set as a wireless operation mode in the wireless communication unit 8 in addition to the parent device operation mode and the child device operation mode, the wireless operation mode selection activation unit 9 Activates the WDS function in the wireless communication unit 8 (step S68) when the Ether port is in a wired connection state and a packet has not been received for a predetermined time (step S63: Timeout).

Accordingly, the target device 1 operates as an access point relay device (wireless relay device).
In the operation processing steps in FIG. 6, the same number is assigned to the operation processing step having the same contents as the operation processing step shown in FIG. 4.

  As described above, in the target device of this embodiment, the user is not aware of the connection configuration of the target device with respect to other communication devices, and is the wireless communication operation mode in the target device. The mode or the WDS operation mode can be automatically switched and activated.

  The present invention can be effectively applied to a system in which a terminal device such as a computer that does not have a wireless communication function is used as a communication terminal in a wide area wireless communication network.

1 Target device (communication relay device)
2 Device A (wired communication equipment)
3 Wireless LAN handset (wireless communication equipment)
4 Wireless LAN base unit (wireless communication equipment)
5 Device B
6 Device C
11 Ether port 12 Switch part 13 CPU part 14 RF part 15 Antenna

Claims (7)

A communication relay device having a wired communication unit that performs wired communication with a wired communication device and a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a preset wireless communication device,
The wireless communication unit, as an operation mode of the wireless communication, a master wireless communication mode that operates as a wireless communication master that establishes communication between the wireless communication device and the wired communication device and relays the communication; A wireless communication mode in which the communication in the wired communication device connected by wire is wireless and the wired communication device is operated as a wireless communication slave device;
When the wired communication unit makes a wired connection to the wired communication device, the communication device transmits a communication message to the wired communication device, and based on the communication content from the wired communication device for the communication message, the wired communication device and the communication A communication relationship determination unit for determining a rank relationship on the network in the relay device;
A wireless operation mode selection activation unit that activates by selecting one of a parent device wireless communication mode or a child device wireless communication mode, which is an operation mode of the wireless communication unit, based on a ranking relationship of the wired communication device with respect to the communication relay device And a communication relay device. The communication relay device according to claim 1,
The wireless operation mode selection activation unit activates a master wireless communication mode in the wireless communication unit when it is determined that the wired communication device is higher than the communication relay device, and the wired communication device is connected to the communication relay device. A communication relay device, comprising: a wireless operation mode starting means for starting a slave unit wireless communication mode in the wireless communication unit when it is determined that the wireless communication unit is lower. In the communication relay device according to claim 1 or 2,
The wireless communication unit
A wireless communication relay function for relaying wireless communication between the wireless communication devices when establishing communication with the wired communication device for a plurality of different wireless communication devices in the master wireless communication mode and relaying the communication A communication relay device comprising: The communication relay device according to claim 2,
The communication relation determination unit is higher in rank order on the network of the wired communication device than the communication relay device when a preset communication packet is returned to the communication message from the wired communication device. It is determined that the communication relay device. In the communication relay device according to claim 1, 2, or 4,
Each has a plurality of different wired communication units that perform wired communication with different wired communication devices,
The communication relationship determination unit determines a network order relationship with the communication relay device for each wired communication device connected to each wired communication unit, and determines the port of the wired communication unit determined to be the highest level as an external area network port A communication relay device comprising a port type setting function for setting a port of another wired communication unit as an internal area network port. A wired communication unit that performs wired communication with a wired communication device connected in a wired manner; and a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a preset wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication unit includes the wireless communication device and the wired communication device. A base unit wireless communication mode that operates as a wireless communication base unit that relays communication with a communication device and wirelessly communicates in the wired communication device connected by wire to operate the wired communication device as a wireless communication handset A communication relay device having a slave wireless communication mode, wherein the communication relay method switches the operation mode in the wireless communication unit according to a wired communication device connected to the wired communication unit,
The wired communication unit makes a wired connection to the wired communication device, transmits a communication message to the wired communication device, and based on the communication content of the wired communication device with respect to the communication message, the wired communication device and the communication relay Determine the order of the devices on the network,
When it is determined that the wired communication device is higher than the communication relay device, start the master wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit,
A communication relay method, wherein a slave unit wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit is activated when it is determined that the wired communication device is lower than the communication relay device. A wired communication unit that performs wired communication with a wired communication device connected in a wired manner; and a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a preset wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication unit includes the wireless communication device and the wired communication device. A base unit wireless communication mode that operates as a wireless communication base unit that relays communication with a communication device and wirelessly communicates in the wired communication device connected by wire to operate the wired communication device as a wireless communication handset A communication relay device having a slave wireless communication mode, a communication relay program for switching an operation mode in the wireless communication unit according to a wired communication device connected to the wired communication unit,
When the wired communication unit is wired to the wired communication device, the wired communication unit transmits a communication message to the wired communication device, and the wired communication device and the communication relay are based on communication contents of the wired communication device with respect to the communication message. A communication relationship determination function for determining the order relationship on the network in the device;
When it is determined that the wired communication device is higher than the communication relay device, the base unit wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit is activated, and when it is determined that the wired communication device is lower than the communication relay device. A communication relay program which causes a computer set in advance to execute a wireless operation mode selection activation function for activating a slave unit wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit.

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