Embodiments disclose a scheduling method. The method includes sending, by an access point, a scheduling request to a first scheduling server according to a data transmission requirement, where the scheduling request includes frequency band bandwidth information of a contention frequency band that is applied for and frequency band use time information of the contention frequency band that is applied for. The method also includes receiving, by the access point, a contention frequency band that is allocated by the first scheduling server to the access point according to a spectrum list and the scheduling request, where the spectrum list includes at least frequency band use information and interference information of the access point. The method also includes performing, by the access point, scheduling transmission by using the allocated contention frequency band.