Patent ID: 8854977

Claim:
A relay node for managing control data for relaying communication data, the relay node comprising: a processor configured to: perform functions of a master node after authority of a master node is transferred to the relay node; perform functions of a slave node after the relay node transfers the authority to another node; monitor a status of a connection belonging to a connection group related to the communication data; transmit a first update request to a first node, functioning as the master node, upon the relay node receiving first communication data while the relay node functioning as the slave node, the first update request requesting to update first control data for relaying the first communication data; determine whether to transfer the authority transferred to the relay node to a second node in accordance with a status of a first connection belonging to a first connection group related to second communication data upon the relay node receiving a second update request from the second node while the relay node functioning as the master node, the second node functioning as the slave node, the second update request requesting to update second control data for relaying the second communication data; transmit a first master transfer notification to the second node upon determining to transfer the authority transferred to the relay node to the second node, the first master transfer notification indicating that the authority transferred to the relay node is to be transferred to the second node; and prepare for the relay node to become the master node upon the relay node receiving a second master transfer notification while the relay node functioning as the slave node, the second master transfer notification indicating that authority of the master node is to be transferred to the relay node.