Optimizing the use of shared radio frequency medium using intelligent suppression of probe request frames

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes instructions that, when executed by the one or more procesors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
• receiving a probe request at a wireless access point, wherein the wireless access point includes an access point network identifier, wherein probe requests include directed probe requests and null probe requests, wherein a directed probe request includes a probe network identifier, wherein the probe network identifier is different from the access point network identifier, and wherein a null probe request does not include a network identifier;
• determining whether the probe request is a directed probe request or a null probe request;
• determining a probe response, wherein the probe response includes a response network identifier, wherein the response network identifier is different from the access point network identifier, wherein the response network identifier is the probe network identifier when the probe request is a directed probe request, wherein the response network identifier is a default network identifier when the probe request is a null probe request, and wherein the default network identifier is different from the access point network identifier;
• transmitting the probe response;
• receiving an association request, wherein the association request includes the response network identifier and a station identifier for a client device;
• and
• transmitting an association response, wherein the association response includes an association identifier for a client device having the station identifier and wherein receiving the association identifier at a client device having the station identifier causes the client device to become associated with the wireless access point using the response network identifier.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

• receiving a probe request at a wireless access point, wherein the wireless access point includes an access point network identifier, wherein probe requests include directed probe requests and null probe requests, wherein a directed probe request includes a probe network identifier, wherein the probe network identifier is different from the access point network identifier, and wherein a null probe request does not include a network identifier;
• determining whether the probe request is a directed probe request or a null probe request;
• determining a probe response, wherein the probe response includes a response network identifier, wherein the response network identifier is different from the access point network identifier, wherein the response network identifier is the probe network identifier when the probe request is a directed probe request, wherein the response network identifier is a default network identifier when the probe request is a null probe request, and wherein the default network identifier is different from the access point network identifier;
• transmitting the probe response;
• receiving an association request, wherein the association request includes the response network identifier and a station identifier for a client device;
• and
• transmitting an association response, wherein the association response includes an association identifier for a client device having the station identifier and wherein receiving the association identifier at a client device having the station identifier causes the client device to become associated with the wireless access point using the response network identifier.