Communication apparatus and communication method

Abstract

A communication apparatus that performs a communication with another communication apparatus using a frequency bandwidth including a plurality of communication channels and includes a processor and a communicating device. The communicating device transmits a signal to the another communication apparatus using a first number of communication channels included in the frequency bandwidth, and receives a response to the signal from the another communication apparatus using the first number of communication channels. The processor changes the number of communication channels used in the communication with the another communication apparatus, from the first number to a second number, in accordance with the response to the signal, and controls power for each of the communication channels used in the communication with the another communication apparatus based on the second number.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication apparatus that performs a communication with another communication apparatus using a frequency bandwidth including a plurality of communication channels, the communication apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a communicating device,   wherein the communicating device transmits a signal to the another communication apparatus using a first number of communication channels included in the frequency bandwidth, and receives a response to the signal from the another communication apparatus using the first number of communication channels, and   the processor changes the number of communication channels used in the communication with the another communication apparatus, from the first number to a second number, in accordance with the response to the signal, and controls power for each of the communication channels used in the communication with the another communication apparatus based on the second number.   
     
     
         2 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first number is more than the second number.   
     
     
         3 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first number is less than the second number.   
     
     
         4 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the communicating device transmits the signal to a plurality of other communication apparatuses using the first number or the second number of communication channels included in the frequency bandwidth, and performs a communication using one or more other communication channels included in the frequency bandwidth without changing the number of communication channels used in a communication when the response has not been received from at least one of the plurality of other communication apparatuses using the first number or the second number of communication channels.   
     
     
         5 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the processor changes the communication channels used in the communication with the other communication apparatuses in a round-robin scheduling in the frequency bandwidth.   
     
     
         6 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the communicating device transmits identification information of the second number of communication channels to the another communication apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the communicating device performs the communication through a power line.   
     
     
         8 . A communication method in a first communication apparatus that performs a communication with a second communication apparatus using a frequency bandwidth including a plurality of communication channels, the communication method comprising:
 transmitting a signal to the second communication apparatus using a first number of communication channels included in the frequency bandwidth;   receiving a response to the signal from the second communication apparatus using the first number of communication channels;   changing the number of communication channels used in communication from the first number to a second number in accordance with the response to the signal; and   controlling power for each of the communication channels used in the communication based on the second number.   
     
     
         9 . The communication method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first number is more than the second number.   
     
     
         10 . The communication method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first number is less than the second number.   
     
     
         11 . The communication method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the signal is transmitted to a plurality of second communication apparatuses using the first number or the second number of communication channels included in the frequency bandwidth,   a communication is performed using one or more other communication channels included in the frequency bandwidth without changing the number of communication channels used in a communication when the response has not been received from at least one of the plurality of second communication apparatuses using the first number or the second number of communication channels.   
     
     
         12 . The communication method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the communication channels used in the communication with the plurality of second communication apparatuses is changed in a round-robin scheduling in the frequency bandwidth.   
     
     
         13 . The communication method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein identification information of the second number of communication channels is transmitted to the plurality of second communication apparatuses.   
     
     
         14 . The communication method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the communication is performed through a power line.