Method to advertise desired epoch group parameters and assign users to epoch groups based on desired parameters using association request/response frames

A method performed by a station (STA), the method comprising:

• transmitting, to an access point (AP), an association request frame or a re-association request frame comprising a desired epoch parameter element that indicates to the AP one or more desired epoch parameters;
• and
• receiving an association response frame or a re-association response frame comprising an enhanced data privacy (EDP) epoch definition element, wherein the EDP epoch definition element comprises group epoch parameters, wherein the group epoch parameters comprise a group epoch identifier for an assigned epoch group of a plurality of epoch groups managed by the AP, wherein the group epoch identifier identifies the default epoch group when the one or more desired epoch parameters fail to be satisfied by corresponding group epoch parameters of at least one other epoch group managed by the AP, and wherein the group epoch identifier identifies one of the at least one other epoch group when the one of more desired epoch parameters are satisfied by the corresponding group epoch parameters of at least one other epoch group managed by the AP.