Control device, control method, and communication system

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is a control device comprising a control unit that acquires information indicating priority classes and information pertaining to traffic rates for a plurality of traffic flows relayed via a wired communication device, and allocates a communication band output by the wired communication device for each priority class on the basis of the acquired information.

Description

Control device, control method, and communication system

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, a control method, and a communication system.

[0002] Conventionally, wired communication devices that aggregate multiple base station devices and connect them to a network have been installed in relay sections between the base stations and the network. Such communication systems use networks that contain multiple priority classes. Specifically, paths are established for each priority class, and bandwidth is allocated to each priority class.

[0003] In recent years, the number of wireless base stations in these communication systems has been increasing. At the same time, there is also a desire to reduce network design costs. Specifically, there is a desire to reduce the cost of communication equipment by reducing the number of communication devices such as switches and routers used in the network as much as possible. In response to this desire, networks have been proposed that can increase the capacity efficiency of base stations, although there is a possibility of packet loss at peak rates.

[0004] 15 is a diagram showing an outline of such a conventional communication system. The communication system includes multiple 5G base stations 82 and a switch 83. The 5G base stations 82 and the switch 83 are communicatively connected. Each 5G base station 82 wirelessly communicates with multiple UEs (User Equipment) 81. The switch 83 is connected to a network 85 via a communication path 84. The communication path 84 corresponds to a relay section that aggregates multiple base stations where communication involving a mixture of multiple priority classes is carried out.

[0005] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an outline of subgroup paths according to priority classes in a communication path 84. In the examples of FIGS. 15 and 16, a mobile network relay network providing multiple quality classes (priority classes) is implemented using the Business Ether Wide Service (BE-W). In this case, sessions assigned to different QoS in the wireless section (the section between the UE 81 and the 5G base station 82) are transmitted via different subgroups in the BE-W. Packets transmitted from the 5G base station 82 to the switch 83 are assigned a VLAN tag corresponding to the 5QI (QoS class). Then, data corresponding to each packet is transmitted in the BE-W via a subgroup path corresponding to the VLAN tag. For example, data assigned a VLAN tag of 5QI=1 is transmitted via the 5QI=1 path 84-1, and data assigned a VLAN tag of 5QI=2 is transmitted via the 5QI=2 path 84-2.

[0006] JP 2011-166625 A

[0007] 17 and 18 are diagrams outlining the problem. Subgroup bandwidths (bandwidths for each priority class) are allocated in a fixed manner. Therefore, when traffic that exceeds the bandwidth occurs in one priority class, packet loss occurs even if there is available bandwidth in the other priority class. For example, in the example shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, traffic that exceeds the bandwidth occurs in the 5QI=2 path 84-2. Although there is available bandwidth in the 5Q1=1 path 84-1, because the bandwidth of each path is allocated in a fixed manner as described above, packet loss occurs in the 5QI=2 path 84-2. Thus, a problem has arisen in which the communication bandwidth is not utilized efficiently. In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a technology that enables more efficient use of communication bandwidth in a relay section where communications of multiple priority classes are aggregated.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a control device that includes a control unit that acquires information indicating priority classes and information regarding traffic rates for multiple traffic streams relayed through a wired communication device, and allocates communication bandwidth output by the wired communication device to each priority class based on the acquired information.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is a control method for acquiring information indicating priority classes and information regarding traffic rates for multiple traffic flows relayed through a wired communication device, and allocating communication bandwidths output by the wired communication device to each priority class based on the acquired information.

[0010] One aspect of the present invention is a communication system including a communication-related device that is a communication device that handles traffic of multiple priority classes; a wired communication device that relays the traffic between the communication-related device and a network; and a control device that has a control unit that acquires information indicating priority classes and information regarding traffic rates for the multiple traffics relayed via the wired communication device, and allocates communication bandwidths output by the wired communication device to each priority class based on the acquired information.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to use the communication band more efficiently in a relay section where communications of a plurality of priority classes are aggregated.

[0012] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a communication system 100 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing flow of a control device 20. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of a case where the technology of the communication system 100 is applied to a mobile network. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing flow of an optical wireless controller 46. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a communication band allocation process. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a QoS control flow. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of an inner loop process. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a band allocation process performed by the optical wireless controller 46. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of a resource block usage status for each 5QI. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a summation result. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of a resource block usage rate for each 5QI. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a calculated traffic rate. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the result of allocation of communication bands of a switch 43 obtained by such calculation. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device 90 applied to this embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of a conventional communication system. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an outline of subgroup paths according to priority classes in a communication path 84. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an outline of the problem.

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a communication system 100 according to the present invention. The communication system 100 includes a communication-related device 10, a control device 20, and a wired communication device 30.

[0014] The communication-related device 10 corresponds to, for example, a base station device or a server device that handles part of the processing of the base station device. The communication-related device 10 wirelessly communicates with multiple UEs (User Equipment: user terminals) via a wireless section. The communication-related device 10 communicates with the multiple UEs using multiple priority classes. The communication-related device 10 aggregates data received from the multiple UEs and transmits the aggregated data to the wired communication device 30. The communication-related device 10 handles information that the wired communication device 30 does not handle (e.g., information related to wireless communication, information related to adjacent networks, etc.).

[0015] The wired communication device 30 is a device disposed in a transport network including multiple network slices corresponding to different service levels. The wired communication device 30 corresponds to, for example, a switch, a router, a transponder, or other device. The wired communication device 30 is connected to the network via a communication path (relay section). The wired communication device 30 performs communication with the network in which multiple priority classes are mixed.

[0016] The control device 20 acquires information related to communication (hereinafter referred to as "communication-related information"), such as information related to priority classes (hereinafter referred to as "priority class information"), information related to traffic in wireless sections (hereinafter referred to as "traffic information"), bandwidth prediction information, and information on adjacent networks, from the communication-related devices 10 and the wired communication devices 30. The control device 20 dynamically calculates the output bandwidth of the wired communication devices 30 for each priority class based on the acquired communication-related information. The control device 20 exclusively allocates bandwidth according to the priority class by changing the setting information of the wired communication devices 30.

[0017] The control device 20 is configured using an information processing device. The control device 20 is, for example, a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). The control device 20 may use, for example, a CTI or eCTI as an interface. The control device 20 includes at least a control unit. The control unit is configured using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory. The control unit functions as a communication information acquisition mechanism 21, a communication linkage mechanism 22, and a setting information change / notification mechanism 30 by the processor executing a program. Note that all or part of the functions of the control unit may be realized using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The above program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of computer-readable recording media include portable media such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, and a semiconductor storage device (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD)), as well as storage devices such as a hard disk or semiconductor storage device built into a computer system. The above program may be transmitted via a telecommunications line.

[0018] The communication information acquisition mechanism 21 acquires communication-related information from the communication-related device 10 or the wired communication device 30. Specific examples of communication-related information include priority class information, traffic information, and priority class information in the traffic information. Specific examples of traffic information include traffic rate, resource block information, throughput, bandwidth prediction information, etc. Specific examples of priority class information include 5QI, QCI, CoS, DSCP, etc.

[0019] The allocated bandwidth calculation mechanism 22 dynamically calculates the output bandwidth of the wired communication device 30 for each priority class based on the information (communication-related information) acquired by the communication information acquisition mechanism 21. The setting information change / notification mechanism 23 changes the setting information of the wired communication device 30 based on the results calculated by the allocated bandwidth calculation mechanism 22, and notifies the wired communication device 30 of the changed setting information.

[0020] 2 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing flow of the control device 20. The control device 20 is assumed to have connection relationship information of the communication-related devices 10 and the wired communication devices 30 in advance. The connection relationship information may be calculated based on communication-related information received from each device, or may be directly input to the control device 20 by a person such as an administrator or operator of the communication system 100. When communication in the communication system 100 is started, the control device 20 first acquires traffic information from the communication-related devices 10 and the wired communication devices 30 and traffic priority class information indicated by the traffic information (step S101).

[0021] Next, the allocated bandwidth calculation mechanism 22 dynamically calculates the output bandwidth for each priority class in the wired communication device 30 based on the acquired information (step S102). The setting information change / notification mechanism 23 changes the setting information of the wired communication device 30 based on the output bandwidth (output bandwidth for each priority class) calculated by the allocated bandwidth calculation mechanism 22. Then, the setting information change / notification mechanism 23 notifies the wired communication device 30 of the changed setting information (step S103).

[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example in which the technology of the communication system 100 is applied to a mobile network. In FIG. 3, multiple 5G base stations 42 correspond to communication-related devices 10, an optical wireless controller 46 corresponds to the control device 20, and a switch 43 corresponds to a wired communication device 30. In such a mobile network, it is assumed that the switch output bandwidth reserved for shared use by the bandwidth-guaranteed classes (e.g., 5QI=1 and 5QI=2) will not be allocated to other classes (e.g., 5QI=5) even if excess bandwidth occurs. Multiple UEs 41 are connected to the 5G base station 42 so as to be able to communicate wirelessly. Of these, UE 41-1 is in communication with a priority class of 5QI=1, and UE 41-2 is in communication with a priority class of 5QI=2. The traffic rates required by each UE 41 are as shown in FIG. 3 and may be different from each other. Multiple 5G base stations 42 are connected to the switch 43, and in the example of FIG. 3, each is connected at 1 Gbps. The switch 43 and the network 45 are connected by a relay section communication path 44, for example, at 10 Gbps. In the example of Fig. 3, of the 10 Gbps communication bandwidth of the relay section, 0.5 Gbps is allocated to the priority class of 5QI=1, and the remaining 9.5 Gbps is allocated to the priority class of 5QI=2.

[0023] The 5G base station 42 performs processing of a signal received from the UE 41 via an antenna until the signal is transmitted to the network 45. The 5G base station 42 also performs processing of a signal received from the network 45 until the signal is transmitted from the antenna to the UE 41. Specific examples of these processes include encoding / decoding, modulation / demodulation, multiplexing, scheduling, retransmission control, fragmentation, encryption, and QoS mapping processing. Note that, although the example in FIG. 3 shows the 5G base station 42 as a specific example of the communication-related device 10, devices such as a 4G base station and an access point may also be used as the communication-related device 10.

[0024] The switch 43 checks the MAC address (or IP address in the case of an L3 switch) included in the destination of the received data. The switch 43 transfers the data to the port to which the destination device is connected. The switch 43 assigns queues according to the priority class. The switch 43 manages the total traffic for each priority class and allocates bandwidth to the priority class. Through this processing, the switch 43 allocates the required bandwidth to each priority class and releases unnecessary bandwidth. Note that while the example in FIG. 3 shows the switch 43 as a specific example of the wired communication device 30, a device such as a router may also be used as the wired communication device 30.

[0025] The optical wireless controller 46 acquires connection relationship information between the 5G base station 42 and the switch 43 in advance. Based on the connection relationship information (traffic rate and 5QI information for that traffic) acquired from the 5G base station 42, the optical wireless controller 46 calculates the bandwidth allocation amount for output traffic for each priority class at the switch 43 so as to maximize the bandwidth utilization efficiency of the output of the communication path from the switch 43 to the network. The optical wireless controller 46 changes the setting information for the switch 43 based on the calculated bandwidth allocation amount. The optical wireless controller 46 then notifies the switch 43 of the changed setting information. By making such notification, the optical wireless controller 46 exclusively allocates bandwidth according to the priority class. The switch 43 outputs based on the notified setting information (bandwidth allocation amount for each priority class). Instead of the optical wireless controller 46, a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) may be applied as the control device 50.

[0026] By operating the communication system 100 in this manner, the communication bandwidth allocated to each priority class is dynamically secured according to the traffic rate for each priority class. Therefore, the communication bandwidth can be allocated to each priority class in accordance with the bandwidth actually used in the communication of each priority class. As a result, even in a system where surplus bandwidth in a certain priority class cannot be used by other priority classes, by changing the communication bandwidth allocated to the priority classes, the communication bandwidth can be utilized more effectively than with conventional methods. Furthermore, with this configuration, the communication bandwidth of a high-priority class can be reassigned to a lower-priority class if necessary, so that a sufficient amount of communication bandwidth can be allocated to the high-priority class without excessive consideration of the communication bandwidth of the lower-priority class. Therefore, when the communication bandwidth of the lower-priority class is sufficient, the quality of communication of the high-priority class can be maintained at a high level.

[0027] For example, in the situation shown in Figures 17 and 18, packet loss can be prevented from occurring in the 5QI=2 path 84-2 by changing the configuration information so that a portion of the available communication bandwidth allocated to the 5QI=1 priority class is allocated to the 5QI=2 priority class.

[0028] Furthermore, the communication system 100 enables adjustment of communication bandwidth between priority classes. Specifically, even if traffic imbalance becomes greater than expected, quick reassignment is possible. For example, when traffic requiring high quality (traffic of a high priority class) increases suddenly, the communication bandwidth previously allocated to other priority classes (low priority classes) can be reassigned to the high priority class, thereby maintaining the quality of communication of the high priority class.

[0029] That is, when there is a surplus in the communication bandwidth allocated to a certain priority class (first priority class) and there is a possibility of packet loss in the communication bandwidth allocated to another priority class (second priority class), the communication bandwidth allocated to the first priority class is reduced and the communication bandwidth allocated to the second priority class is increased. By performing such processing, it is possible to maintain the communication quality of both the first priority class and the second priority class.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing flow of the optical wireless controller 46. In the example of FIG. 4, bandwidth control of the switch 43 is performed using information about the wireless traffic rate for each 5QI in wireless communication. The optical wireless controller 46 acquires information about wired communication (e.g., the number of queues in the switch 43) in advance. The optical wireless controller 46 first acquires information about the wireless traffic rate for each 5QI from the 5G base station 42 (step S201). Next, the optical wireless controller 46 calculates the communication bandwidth to be assigned to each priority class based on the acquired information (step S202). The optical wireless controller 46 reflects the calculated communication bandwidth in setting information about the minimum guaranteed bandwidth of the queue in the switch 43 corresponding to the priority class. Then, the optical wireless controller 46 notifies the setting information to the switch 43 (step S203).

[0031] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a communication bandwidth allocation process. In the example of FIG. 5 , it is assumed that the number of queues available in the switch 43 is three, and that bandwidth is guaranteed for each user with 5QI=1 and 5QI=2. First, the optical wireless controller 46 acquires traffic information. Specifically, as traffic information, it acquires information on the traffic rate per 5QI for each 5G base station 42 (step S301). Next, the optical wireless controller 46 adds up the traffic rates per 5QI for all 5G base stations 42 connected to the switch 43 (step S302). Next, the optical wireless controller 46 calculates the rate of traffic that requires bandwidth guarantee (step S303). Then, the optical wireless controller 46 changes the queue setting information so that the traffic rate that requires bandwidth guarantee is set as the minimum guaranteed bandwidth for the corresponding queue (step S304).

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a specific example of a QoS control flow. First, the 5G base station 42 (communication-related device 10) collects RAN (Radio Access Network) data by communicating with OAM (Operation, Administration, and Maintenance) (step S401). RAN data is a specific example of information not handled by the wired communication device 30 (e.g., information about wireless communication, information about adjacent networks, etc.). RAN data may include, for example, traffic information. The Non-RT RIC collects data from the OAM (step S402). The Non-RT RIC evaluates the collected data and generates a QoS target value (step S403). The Non-RT RIC sets and updates an A1 policy for the 5G base station 42 (step S404). The Non-RT RIC transmits a policy related to the QoS target value to the optical wireless controller 46 (step S405). The Near-RT RIC starts QoS optimization (step S406). The QoS target value is expressed by a combination of one or more requirements such as a packet error rate and a packet delay budget. For example, when 5QI=5, the policy for the target value is a non-guaranteed bit rate type, a packet delay budget of 100 ms, a packet error rate of 10 －６ It is defined as follows.

[0033] After this, inner loop processing is performed. Figure 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of inner loop processing. First, the Near-RT RIC transmits a subscription request to the 5G base station 42 (step S501). In response to this, the 5G base station 42 transmits information about the UE 41 (UE information) and E2 measurement results to the Near-RT RIC (step S502). In addition, the Non-RT RIC notifies the Near-RT RIC of additional information related to QoS (step S503). The Near-RT RIC monitors QoS performance (step S504).

[0034] The Near-RT RIC transmits the E2 measurement results and the control method to the optical wireless controller 46 (step S505). The E2 measurement results are obtained, for example, by an E2 node (base station) under the Near-RT RIC measuring the base station received power, throughput, transmission delay, etc. for each UE. The control method is determined by the calculations of an application (xAPP) installed in the Near-RT RIC. For example, a control method may be obtained in which "the xAPP, which controls the ON / OFF of base stations with the goal of power saving, calculates which base stations to put to sleep based on the E2 measurement results and turns off the base stations to be put to sleep." Based on the obtained information, the optical wireless controller 46 calculates the allocation of communication bandwidth for each priority class output from the wired communication device 30 (step S506). The optical wireless controller 46 updates the configuration information, including the calculated communication bandwidth information, and transmits a control command including the updated configuration information to the wired communication device 30 (step S507). When the wired communication device 30 receives the control command, it communicates in accordance with the communication band of each priority class indicated by the updated setting information included in the control command.

[0035] The Near-RT RIC generates and updates an E2 policy and transmits it to the 5G base station 42 (step S508). The Near-RT RIC also transmits an E2 control command to the 5G base station 42 (step S509). This completes the description of a specific example of the inner loop processing.

[0036] Returning to Figure 6, the explanation continues. The Near-RT RIC transmits evaluation information regarding QoS optimization to the OAM (step S407). The OAM transmits performance information to the Non-RT RIC (step S408). The Non-RT RIC evaluates the performance of the QoS optimization based on the received performance information (step S409). The Non-RT RIC transmits an instruction to delete the A1 policy to the Near-RT RIC (step S410). The Near-RT RIC then transmits an instruction to delete the RIC subscription to the optical wireless controller 46 (step S411).

[0037] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a specific example of bandwidth allocation processing performed by the optical wireless controller 46. In this example, the number of queues available in the switch 43 is three, 5QI is used as a specific example of a priority class, and bandwidth guarantees are provided to users with 5QI=1 and 5QI=2. First, the optical wireless controller 46 acquires information indicating the resource block usage status for each 5QI for each 5G base station 42 (step S601). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the resource block usage status for each 5QI. Next, the optical wireless controller 46 adds up the number of resource blocks used by the 5G base stations 42 (two in this example) connected to the switch 43 for each 5QI (step S602). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the results of this addition. The number of resource blocks for 5QI=1 is 12, the number of resource blocks for 5QI=2 is 2, the number of resource blocks for 5QI=5 is 12, and the number of resource blocks for 5QI=10 is 6.

[0038] Next, the optical wireless controller 46 calculates the total number of resource blocks to be used by the 5G base stations 42 connected to the switch 43 (step S603). In the example of Fig. 9, this is 12 + 2 + 12 + 10 = 32 blocks. Note that the processing of step S602 and the processing of step S603 may be executed in reverse order, or may be executed simultaneously in parallel.

[0039] Next, the optical wireless controller 46 calculates the resource block usage rate for each 5QI for all 5G base stations 42 connected to the switch 43 based on the processing results of steps S602 and S603 (step S604). Figure 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of the resource block usage rate for each 5QI. The resource block usage rate for 5QI=1 is 37.5%, the resource block usage rate for 5QI=2 is 6.25%, the resource block usage rate for 5QI=5 is 37.5%, and the resource block usage rate for 5QI=10 is 18.75%.

[0040] Next, the optical wireless controller 46 acquires traffic information received by the 5G base station 42 and calculates the product of the traffic rate and the resource block usage rate. This calculation calculates the traffic rate that requires bandwidth guarantee (step S605). Figure 12 shows a specific example of the calculated traffic rate. The required traffic rate for 5QI=1 is 3.75 Gbps, and the required traffic rate for 5QI=2 is 0.625 Gbps.

[0041] Next, the optical wireless controller 46 calculates the minimum guaranteed bandwidth for the queues of the switches corresponding to 5QI=1 and 2 based on the values ​​of the traffic rates that require bandwidth guarantee.The optical wireless controller 46 then calculates the allocation of the output bandwidth for the switch 43 based on the calculated minimum guaranteed bandwidth (step S606). Figure 13 shows the result of the allocation of the communication bandwidth for the switch 43 obtained by such calculation.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an example hardware configuration of an information processing device 90 applied to this embodiment. The information processing device 90 includes a processor 91, a main memory device 92, a communication interface 93, an auxiliary memory device 94, an input / output interface 95, and an internal bus 96. The processor 91, the main memory device 92, the communication interface 93, the auxiliary memory device 94, and the input / output interface 95 are communicably connected to each other via the internal bus 96. The information processing device 90 may be applied to, for example, a control device 20. In this case, for example, a communication device used when the control device 20 communicates with other devices may be configured using the communication interface 93. For example, the storage device included in the control device 20 may be configured using the auxiliary memory device 94. Furthermore, the communication information acquisition mechanism 21, the allocated bandwidth calculation mechanism 22, and the setting information change / notification mechanism 23 included in the control device 20 may be configured using the processor 91 and the main memory device 92.

[0043] In the communication system 100 configured in this manner, the control device 20 (e.g., the optical wireless controller 46) acquires priority class and traffic information, and dynamically changes the output bandwidth allocated to each priority class in the wired communication device 30. By such processing, the communication bandwidth for each priority class is dynamically changed in the relay section from the wired communication device 30 to the network. This shortens the lead time for allocating communication bandwidth, making it possible to reduce excess bandwidth while maintaining network quality.

[0044] Furthermore, bandwidth can be adjusted between priority classes, enabling quick reassignment even if traffic imbalance becomes greater than expected. In particular, if traffic of a priority class requiring high quality increases suddenly, the bandwidth of other priority classes can be reassigned to the high-quality priority class, thereby maintaining the quality of the high-quality priority class. Note that, although the above description has been given using an example of a configuration in which the communication-related device 10 communicates wirelessly with multiple UEs via wireless sections, the communication-related device 10 may also communicate with multiple UEs via wired sections.

[0045] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0046] The present invention is applicable to a technique for controlling a communication band in a relay section in communication in which a plurality of priority classes are mixed.

[0047] 100...Communication system, 10...Communication-related device, 20...Control device, 21...Communication information acquisition mechanism, 22...Allocated bandwidth calculation mechanism, 23...Setting information change / notification mechanism, 30...Wired communication device, 41...UE, 42...5G base station, 43...Switch, 44...Communication path (relay section), 45...Network, 46...Optical wireless controller

Claims

1. A control device comprising a control unit that acquires information indicating priority classes and information regarding traffic rates for multiple traffic streams relayed through a wired communication device, and allocates the communication bandwidth output by the wired communication device to each priority class based on the acquired information.

2. The control device described in claim 1, wherein the control unit reduces the communication bandwidth allocated to the first priority class and increases the communication bandwidth allocated to the second priority class when there is a surplus in the communication bandwidth allocated to the first priority class and there is a possibility of a deterioration in communication quality in the communication bandwidth allocated to the second priority class.

3. A control method for acquiring information indicating priority classes and information regarding traffic rates for multiple traffic streams relayed via a wired communication device, and allocating communication bandwidths output by the wired communication device to each priority class based on the acquired information.

4. A communication system including: a communication-related device that is a communication device that handles traffic of multiple priority classes; a wired communication device that relays the traffic between the communication-related device and a network; and a control device that has a control unit that acquires information indicating priority classes and information regarding traffic rates for the multiple traffics relayed via the wired communication device, and allocates communication bandwidths output by the wired communication device to each priority class based on the acquired information.

Images