Transmission control apparatus and transmission control method

A communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of content reproduction devices, each including a communication unit;
• a relay apparatus configured to communicate with the communication unit of each of the plurality of content reproduction devices;
• and
• a transmission control unit configured to:
• receive path quality information for each of the plurality of content reproduction devices from the respective communication units thereof, the path quality information of each respective content reproduction device identifying a quality of a communication path between the communication unit of the respective content reproduction device and the relay apparatus;
• compare the path quality information of each of the content reproduction devices and select one of the plurality of content reproduction devices to be a content transmitting device based on the comparison;
• and
• transmit to the selected content transmitting device a content-transmission command that identifies a given item of content data that is to be reproduced by the plurality of content reproduction devices and commands the selected content transmitting device to transmit the given item of content data,
• wherein each of the plurality of content reproduction devices is configured such that, if the respective content reproduction device receives the content-transmission command, the respective content reproduction device begins concurrent transmission of the given item of content data to each of the other ones of the plurality of content reproduction devices via the relay.