Route control method and route control device

A path control method of controlling a path of communication in a network including:

• a high priority device dealing with high priority traffic,
• a high priority control device communicating with the high priority device through a plurality of signal transfer devices transferring signals by periodically repeating a high priority signal transmissible period in which high priority traffic is transmissible and a low priority signal transmissible period in which low priority traffic is transmissible,
• a low priority device dealing with the low priority traffic, and
• a low priority control device communicating with the low priority device through the plurality of signal transfer devices, the path control method comprising:
• calculating a low priority signal transmissible period in each of paths between the high priority device and the high priority control device;
• and
• performing setting for switching the path between the high priority device and the high priority control device so that the low priority traffic is transmitted in any one of the calculated low priority signal transmissible periods.

A path control device that controls a path of communication in a network including:

• a high priority device dealing with high priority traffic,
• a high priority control device communicating with the high priority device through a plurality of signal transfer devices transferring signals by periodically repeating a high priority signal transmissible period in which high priority traffic is transmissible and a low priority signal transmissible period in which low priority traffic is transmissible,
• a low priority device dealing with the low priority traffic, and
• a low priority control device communicating with the low priority device through the plurality of signal transfer devices, the path control device comprising:
• a communication path calculation unit configured to calculate a low priority signal transmissible period in each of paths between the low priority device and the low priority control device;
• and
• a communication path setting unit configured to perform setting for switching the path between the low priority device and the low priority control device so that the low priority traffic is transmitted in any one of the calculated low priority signal transmissible periods.