Patent ID: 7894411

Claim:
A wireless communication apparatus having a relay function, configured for: (a) receiving a beacon frame transmitted from another wireless communication apparatus having a relay function; (b) transmitting, to the another wireless communication apparatus, an authentication request frame used in an authentication process; (c) receiving an authentication response frame used in the authentication process and transmitted from the another wireless communication apparatus; (d) transmitting, to the another wireless communication apparatus, an association request frame used in an association process; (e) receiving an association response frame used in the association process and transmitted from the another wireless communication apparatus; and (f) associating with the another wireless communication apparatus if the authentication process and the association process succeed; the wireless communication apparatus comprising: a unit configured to insert a data item into one or more fields which are included in at least one of the authentication request frame and the association request frame, the data item indicating the wireless communication apparatus has a relay function; and a transmitter unit configured to transmit at least one of the authentication request frame and the association request frame including the data item, in the authentication process and/or association process.