Abstract: A wireless communication network comprises an association unit and a plurality of stations. At least part of the stations store association information indicative of an associated route for transmission of messages from the station to the association unit. The association information is generated by installing the stations in a not-associated state; transmitting association request messages from stations in the not-associated state; and transmitting association grant messages in response to the association request messages. Each association grant message is transmitted only from the association unit or, at least when the station that has transmitted association request message is outside a reception range of the association unit, from one of the stations that is in an associated state. Each station that has received the association grant message in response to its association request message is switched to the associated state.