Patent ID: 7864701

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a transceiver which decreases the size of management messages transmitted in a wireless network by transmitting only differences between subsequently sent management messages and previously sent management messages; and wherein the determination of differences between subsequent management messages is accomplished by the management message header being extended by an optional field, informing whether the rest of the management message is a full management message or a delta from the previous management message, wherein said management message is a DL Map (Downlink Map) and UL Map (Uplink Map) and are transmitted by a base station (BS) in downlink (DL) periodically, in each radio frame, wherein a full map message is still transmitted in predefined intervals for synchronization and to allow new subscriber stations to join said network, wherein a receiver of said management messages knows a previously sent management message and merges it with changes conveyed in a delta message to obtain a current full map of said management message, wherein the BS sends in DL, a DCD message describing all combinations of coding, modulation that can be used in DL, and a UCD message describing all combinations of coding, modulation that can be used in UL, the delta map comprising a first Map IE that has been added or changed, or a first Map IE succeeding a removed Map IE, and all the following Map IEs.