Patent ID: 8194606

Claim:
A method of scanning an access point (AP) during a handoff procedure of a mobile station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, by the mobile station, a query message including query data on a predetermined channel to detect at least one neighboring AP using a shared virtual Media Access Control (MAC) address; receiving, by the mobile station, from the at least one neighboring AP, a response message generated by the at least one neighboring AP, the response message including response data in response to the query data ; detecting, by the mobile station, the at least one neighboring AP based on the query message and response message; requesting, by the mobile station, AP information from the at least one neighboring AP that has transmitted the response message to the mobile station; and receiving, by the mobile station, the AP information from the at least one neighboring AP; wherein the AP information is information regarding the at least one neighboring AP.