Patent ID: 7756082

Claim:
A method of performing a background scanning operation for a client in a wireless communication system operating within a defined frequency band, the method comprising: using a power save mode to momentarily suspend transmission between a current access point and the client; collecting information regarding at least one other access point during the power save mode; returning to the current access point; performing normal operations for a predetermined period of time after collecting the information; and repeating collecting information regarding different access points and performing normal operations until all channels within the defined frequency band, other than a current access point channel, have been scanned, wherein when the client is in an active mode, the client is configured to send broadcast probe requests and receive corresponding probe response frames, and the information includes beacons and probe response frames from the at least one other access point, and wherein when the client is in a passive mode, the client cannot send broadcast probe requests or receive corresponding probe response frames, and the information is limited to beacons from the at least one other access point.