Patent ID: 8233469

Claim:
A relay device that controls wireless communication of data in accordance with polling control performed by a wireless control station, receives transfer data from a transfer-source terminal via relaying by another relay device, and transfers the received transfer data to a transfer-destination terminal, the relay device comprising: a communication unit configured to perform communication of a frame with the wireless control station, the frame including the transfer data received from the transfer-source terminal via relaying by the another relay device and the wireless control station; a detection unit configured to detect identification information indicating an address of the another relay device, the identification information being attached, by the another relay device, to a payload of the frame along with the transfer data, and being used for communication performed in a data link layer; and a control unit configured to, when the detection unit detects the identification information, control the communication unit to establish direct communication with the another relay device identified by the identification information, wherein the control unit includes a processor, and wherein the communication unit, after the establishment of the direct communication with the another relay device, transfers data to the another relay device by utilizing the established direct communication with the another relay device, rather than communicating with the another relay device by transferring data to the another relay device via the relaying by the wireless control station and in accordance with the polling control performed by the wireless control station.