Patent ID: 8488486

Claim:
A path switching method for switching traffic between an external terminal in an external network and a local terminal in a local wireless network through a plurality of communication devices having a plurality of communication interfaces, on the local wireless network, comprising: a step in which a first communication device relays the traffic; a step in which the first communication device sends out a connection instruction with QoS requirement for the traffic to a second communication device; a step in which the second communication device, when receiving the connection instruction, starts a process for connection establishment for the local terminal according to the QoS requirement to the external network, and a process for connection establishment to the local terminal; a step in which the second communication device, when completing the connection establishment to the external network and the connection establishment to the local terminal, sends out a connection completion notice for notifying of completion of the connection establishment, to the first communication device; a step in which the first communication device, when receiving the connection completion notice, sends out buffered packets for the local terminal if the first communication device stores; a step in which the local terminal switches the path to the external terminal from the first communication device to the second communication device; and a step in which the second communication device relays the traffic, wherein the connection process by the second communication device is started when the connection being established to the external network satisfies the QoS requirements, and the second communication device has a step of sending out a connection instruction reply for notifying the first communication device that connection with the external network has been started, wherein the second communication device does not start the process for connecting to the external network, if the connection to the external network can not be established, or if the QoS requirements are not satisfied although the connection can be established, and wherein the second communication device further has a step of sending out a connection instruction reply for notifying that connection establishment to the external network is not executed.