Methods, apparatuses and systems enabling a directed association mechanism in wireless computer network environments. In certain embodiments, the directed association functionality described herein can be used in a variety of contexts, such as directing wireless clients to associate with a desired access element or subset of access elements in a wireless network environment. In certain embodiments, the present invention can also be used to increase the efficiency of handing off wireless clients between access elements. The directed association mechanism, in one embodiment, increases the efficiency of establishing wireless connections between wireless clients and access points in a wireless network system.
