Patent ID: 8619729

Claim:
A network management server of a wireless network system, the server comprising: a neighborhood (NH) database configured to maintain capability/configuration information with respect to at least one neighbor network; a communication interface configured to receive a request message for the capability/configuration information of a neighbor network or all of neighbor networks from a mobile station, which is connected via a predetermined access point or a predetermined base station; and a database management unit configured to extract the capability/configuration information of the neighbor network, which is included in the request message, or of all of the neighbor networks, from the NH database, and control a reply message comprising the capability/configuration information to be transmitted to the mobile station via the communication interface, the capability/configuration information comprising a network access server (NAS) identification (ID) of an access point or a base station of the neighbor network, wherein the mobile station receives beacon information comprising a media access control (MAC) address of the access point or the base station of the neighbor network, and the request message includes the MAC address when the reply message is to comprise the capability/configuration information of the neighbor network, and does not include the MAC address when the reply message is to comprise the capability/configuration information of all of the neighbor networks.