Systems and Methods for AP Discovery with FILS Beacon

摘要

A method and apparatus are disclosed for supporting access point (AP) discovery by a handset/station (STA) using a fast initial link setup (FILS) discovery frame. An embodiment method includes transmitting a plurality of FILS discovery frames at faster time intervals than designated for transmitting standard AP beacons, wherein the FILS discovery frames have a smaller size than standard AP beacons. An embodiment apparatus includes a processor and a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to broadcast a standard AP beacon for advertising a basic service set (BSS) repeatedly at subsequent time intervals, and broadcast a FILS discovery frame for advertising the BSS repeatedly at faster subsequent time intervals than for the standard AP beacon, wherein the FILS discovery frame has a smaller size than the standard AP beacon.