Handling address collisions within an extended service set

A wireless access point comprising

• at least one memory element for storing data;
• and
• at least one processor for executing instructions associated with the data, wherein executing the instructions causes the wireless access point to perform operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving, by a wireless access point (AP), a first Identifiable Random Media Access Control (MAC) (IRM) address in an IRM information element during execution of a handshake protocol between the AP and a wireless station, wherein the first IRM address is selected by the wireless station;
• determining that the first IRM address is allocated for use by another wireless station;
• transmitting, by the wireless AP, a message to the wireless station indicating that the first IRM address is allocated for use by another wireless station;
• receiving, by the wireless AP, a first wireless action frame transmitted by the wireless station after execution of the handshake protocol, wherein the wireless action frame includes a second IRM address selected by the wireless station in response to the message from the AP indicating that the first IRM address is allocated for use by another wireless station;
• and
• establishing a wireless connection with the wireless station in a subsequent association with the wireless station, wherein the wireless station uses the second IRM address in the subsequent association.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving, by a wireless access point (AP), a first Identifiable Random Media Access Control (MAC) (IRM) address in an IRM information element during execution of a handshake protocol between the AP and a wireless station, wherein the first IRM address is selected by the wireless station;
• determining that the first IRM address is allocated for use by another wireless station;
• transmitting, by the wireless AP, a message to the wireless station indicating that the first IRM address is allocated for use by another wireless station;
• receiving, by the wireless AP, a first wireless action frame transmitted by the wireless station after execution of the handshake protocol, wherein the wireless action frame includes a second IRM address selected by the wireless station in response to the message from the AP indicating that the first IRM address is allocated for use by another wireless station;
• and
• establishing a wireless connection with the wireless station in a subsequent association with the wireless station, wherein the wireless station uses the second IRM address in the subsequent association.