Relay and communication system

1. A relay comprising:

a communication unit capable of communication by a first communication method;

means for detecting that a traffic density in a communication band used by the first communication method exceeds a predetermined traffic density;

means for limiting the traffic density in the communication band of the first communication method by a client device when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density;

means for sending an error message to the client device by using the first communication method when the association request is denied; and

means for receiving an association request corresponding to the error message from the client device by using the second communication method, and associating with the client device by the second communication method,

wherein the limiting means denies an association request using the first communication method from the client device when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density.

2. A relay according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit performs communication by a second communication method using a communication band different from the communication band of the first communication method.

3. A relay according to claim 2 , wherein the first communication method includes a first wireless communication method using the first communication band, and the second communication method includes a second wireless communication method using the second communication band.

4. A relay according to claim 3 , wherein the limiting means comprises

means for selecting a client device to be disassociated from a plurality of associated client devices when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density, and

means for releasing wireless connection with the selected client device.

5. A relay according to claim 4 , wherein the selection means includes

means for measuring field intensities of radio waves transmitted by the plurality of associated client devices, and

means for selecting a client device which transmits radio waves at the lowest field intensity among the measured field intensities.

6. A relay according to claim 4 , wherein the selection means includes

means for measuring communication times with the plurality of associated client devices, and

means for selecting a client device having the shortest communication time among the measured communication times.

7. A relay according to claim 4 , which further comprises a table that stores priority levels of the plurality of associated client devices, and in which the selection means selects a client device having the lowest priority by referring to the table.

8. A wireless communication system comprising a wireless terminal and a wireless relay which perform communication by a first wireless communication method and a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method,

the wireless relay comprising

means for detecting that a traffic density in a communication band used by the first wireless communication method exceeds a predetermined traffic density,

means for denying an association request from the wireless terminal using the first wireless communication method when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density, and

means for transmitting an error message to the wireless terminal by using the first wireless communication method when the association request is denied,

the wireless terminal comprising means for transmitting an association request to an access point by using the second wireless communication method in response to the error message, and

the wireless relay comprising means for receiving the association request corresponding to the error message from the wireless terminal, and associating with the wireless terminal by the second wireless communication method.

9. A wireless communication system comprising a wireless terminal and a wireless relay which perform communication by a first wireless communication method and a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method,

the wireless relay comprising

means for detecting that a traffic density in a communication band used by the first wireless communication method exceeds a predetermined traffic density,

means for selecting a wireless terminal to be disassociated from a plurality of associated wireless terminals when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density,

means for releasing wireless connection with the selected wireless terminal, and

means for transmitting an error message which prompts reconnection to the selected wireless terminal,

the wireless terminal comprising means for transmitting an association request to an access point by using the second wireless communication method in response to the error message, and

the wireless relay comprising means for receiving the association request corresponding to the error message from the wireless terminal, and associating with the wireless terminal by the second wireless communication method.

10. A communication control method in a wireless relay capable of communication by a first wireless communication method, comprising:

detecting that a traffic density in a communication band used by the first wireless communication method exceeds a predetermined traffic density; and

limiting the traffic density in the communication band of the first wireless communication method by a wireless terminal when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density,

wherein the limitation step,

denies an association request using the first wireless communication method from the wireless terminal when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density,

includes sending an error message to the wireless terminal by using the first communication method when the association request is denied, and

includes receiving an association request corresponding to the error message from the wireless terminal by using the second wireless communication method, and associating with the wireless terminal by the second wireless communication method.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless relay uses a second wireless communication method using a communication band different from the communication band of the first wireless communication method.

12. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the limitation step includes

selecting a wireless terminal to be disassociated from a plurality of associated wireless terminals when the traffic density is detected to exceed the predetermined traffic density, and

releasing wireless connection with the selected wireless terminal.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the selection step includes

measuring field intensities of radio waves transmitted by the plurality of associated wireless terminals, and

selecting a wireless terminal which transmits radio waves at the lowest field intensity among the measured field intensities.

14. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the selection step includes

measuring communication times with the plurality of associated wireless terminals, and

selecting a wireless terminal having the shortest communication time among the measured communication times.

15. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the selection step includes selecting a wireless terminal having the lowest priority by referring to storage means which stores priority levels of the plurality of associated wireless terminals.