Wireless LAN terminal and method of searching for access point

A method of searching for an access point using a wireless LAN terminal including a storage unit that stores profile information including information on a channel of a predetermined access point and an SSID (service set identifier), a setting unit that sets a channel to be scanned on the basis of a scanning period and said profile information, a passive scanning unit that performs a passive scanning operation at said set channel and checks whether there is a beacon signal transmitted from said access point without sensing the SSID of the transmitted beacon signal, and an active scanning unit that performs an active scanning operation at said set channel by transmitting a probe request signal including said SSID of said predetermined access point and receiving a probe response signal from the access point which has an SSID identical to the transmitted SSID, so as to detect said access point, the method comprising:

• causing said passive scanning unit to perform said passive scanning operation at said set channel for each said scanning period before said active scanning unit performs said active scanning operation at said set channel;
• and
• causing said active scanning unit to perform said active scanning operation at said set channel after said passive scanning unit confirms that there is said beacon signal without sensing said SSID of said beacon signal so as to search for said access point.

A system of searching for the access point comprising:

• storage means for storing profile information including information on a channel of a predetermined access point and an SSID (service set identifier);
• means for setting a channel to be scanned on the basis of a scanning period and said profile information;
• passive scanning means for performing a passive scanning operation at the set channel and checks whether there is a beacon signal transmitted from said access point without sensing the SSID of the transmitted beacon signal;
• and
• active scanning means for performing an active scanning operation at said set channel by transmitting a probe request signal including said SSID of said predetermined access point, and receiving a probe response signal from the access point which has an SSID identical to the transmitted SSID, so as to detect said access point,
• wherein, before said active scanning means performs said active scanning operation at said set channel, said passive scanning means performs said passive scanning operation at said set channel for each said scanning period, and said active scanning means performs said active scanning operation at said set after said passive scanning means confirms that there is said beacon signal without sensing said SSID of said beacon signal so as to search for said access point.