Communication method, access point, and station for improving bandwidth utilization

A communication method, comprising:

• receiving, by one and only a first station, a sending request broadcast by an access point on a first bandwidth, wherein the first bandwidth comprises a first channel and a second channel;
• the sending request includes a first bandwidth parameter, which indicates the first bandwidth is an available bandwidth of the access point;
• sending, by only the first station over the first channel, a clear to send (CTS) information in response to the sending request;
• wherein the CTS information includes a second bandwidth parameter, which corresponds to bandwidth required by the first station;
• receiving, by the first station and a second station, a trigger information on the first channel and the second channel of the first bandwidth, respectively, wherein the trigger information schedules the first station and the second station to send uplink data in response to the CTS information sent by the first station.

A communication apparatus, comprising:

• a processer;
• and
• a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the communication apparatus to:
• broadcast a sending request on a first bandwidth, wherein the first bandwidth comprises a first channel and a second channel, the sending request includes a first bandwidth parameter, which indicates the first bandwidth is an available bandwidth of the communication apparatus;
• receive a clear to send (CTS) information, only on the first channel, from one and only a first station in response to the sending request, wherein the CTS information includes a second bandwidth parameter, which corresponds to bandwidth required by the first station;
• and
• sending, a trigger information to the first station and a second station on the first channel and the second channel of the first bandwidth, respectively, wherein the trigger information schedules the first station and the second station to send uplink data in response to receipt of the CTS information from the first station.

A communication apparatus, comprising:

• a processer;
• and
• a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the communication apparatus to:
• receive, by one and only the communication apparatus, a sending request broadcast from an access point on a first bandwidth, wherein the first bandwidth comprises a first channel and a second channel, the sending request includes a first bandwidth parameter, which indicates the first bandwidth is an available bandwidth of the access point;
• send, only by the apparatus, a clear to send (CTS) information over the first channel in response to the sending request, wherein the CTS information includes a second bandwidth parameter, which corresponds to bandwidth required by the first station;
• and
• receive a trigger information sent to the apparatus and a second station on the first channel and the second channel of the first bandwidth, respectively, wherein the trigger information schedules the first station and the second station to send uplink data in response to the receipt of the CTS information from the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is one of multiple stations.