Patent ID: 8493886

Claim:
A communication apparatus comprising: a computer-readable memory constructed to store computer-executable instructions implementing process steps; and at least one processor constructed to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, wherein the process steps implemented by the instructions stored in the memory comprise: probing a presence of at least one other network by transmitting a probe signal onto a plurality of channels including a predetermined channel being used by said communication apparatus; determining whether or not the detected at least one other network uses at least one of the plurality of channels; requesting another communication apparatus to execute a communication using the plurality of channels if it is determined that the at least one other network does not use any of the plurality of channels; executing the communication using the plurality of channels based on a response to the request; and determining, in a case that it is determined that the at least one other network uses at least one of the plurality of channels, whether or not a main operation channel which the at least one other network mainly uses is the same as the predetermined channel, wherein the request is executed if it is determined that the main operation channel which the at least one other network mainly uses is the same as the predetermined channel, and the request is not executed if it is determined that the main operation channel which the at least one other network mainly uses is different from the predetermined channel.