Client preferences signaling for buffered downlink data delivery during seamless roaming

A system comprising:

• a memory storage;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:
• receive a roaming request from a client device, the roaming request indicating an intent to roam to a target access point (AP) and including one or more preferences for handling buffered downlink (DL) data;
• send a roaming response to the client device, the roaming response indicating parameters for delivering buffered DL data based on the one or more preferences;
• and
• participate in a buffered DL data delivery phase with the client device based on the parameters indicated in the roaming response, including to deliver at least a first portion of the buffered DL data to the client device or forward at least a second portion of the buffered DL data to the target AP.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method comprising:

• receiving a roaming request from a client device, the roaming request indicating an intent to roam to a target access point (AP) and including one or more preferences for handling buffered downlink (DL) data;
• sending a roaming response to the client device, the roaming response indicating parameters for delivering buffered DL data based on the one or more preferences;
• and
• participating in a buffered DL data delivery phase with the client device based on the parameters indicated in the roaming response, including delivering at least a first portion of the buffered DL data to the client device or forwarding at least a second portion of the buffered DL data to the target AP.