SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING MANAGEMENT FRAME OVERHEAD IN WIRELESS NETWORKS

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for reducing overhead in a probe request and probe response message exchange used in wireless networks. An access point (AP) may receive a first signal from a station (STA). The first signal may include a probe request message that includes an identification of the STA. The AP may determine that the STA is not currently associated with the AP and has not been associated with the AP within a predetermined time using a stored STA information table. The AP may generate a probe response message upon determining that a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the first signal is above a predetermined threshold. The AP may then transmit a second signal to the STA. The second signal may include the probe response message.