Sony patents network relay that shifts traffic to off-peak times

1. A first relay device that is connected to an upstream network via a plurality of communication paths and relays communication between the upstream network and a downstream network, the first relay device comprising: processing circuitry configured to acquire a communication status of at least one of the plurality of communication paths including receiving throughput information indicating that a traffic amount on the at least one of the plurality of communication paths exceeds a throughput on the upstream network from a second relay device; adjust traffic flowing through the first relay device according to a communication quality requirement and a priority based upon the throughput information indicating that the traffic amount on the at least one of the plurality of communication paths exceeds the throughput on the upstream network; determine that the adjusted traffic exceeds the throughput on the upstream network; select one of the plurality of communication paths depending on the communication status including updating a communication path setting based on the determination that the adjusted traffic exceeds the throughput on the upstream network; connect to the upstream network by using the selected communication path; receive instruction information related to an estimated off-peak time zone from the second relay device that detects an event and is connected to the upstream network; and instruct a terminal device on the downstream network to change a time of a communication generated by the detected event to the estimated off-peak time zone based on the instruction information.