In yet another embodiment, a method of assisting an apparatus to join a first WLAN served by an AP includes: generating, at a wireless network interface of a client station in the WLAN, a probe request frame, and transmitting, with the wireless network interface, the probe request frame outside of the WLAN. The method also includes: in response to receiving a probe response frame from an apparatus outside of the WLAN, transmitting, from the wireless network interface of the client station of the WLAN, one or more frames outside of the WLAN. At least one of i) the probe request frame and ii) the one or more frames include network security information, corresponding to the WLAN, to assist the apparatus in wireless connecting to the AP as part of the WLAN.

In still another embodiment, an apparatus comprises a wireless network interface having one or more integrated circuits configured to: generate a probe request frame, and transmit the probe request frame outside of a WLAN served by an AP. The one or more integrated circuits are further configured to: in response to receiving a probe response frame from another communication device outside of the WLAN, transmit one or more frames outside of the WLAN. At least one of i) the probe request frame and ii) the one or more frames include network security information, corresponding to the WLAN, to assist the other communication device in wirelessly connecting to the AP as part of the WLAN.