Systems and methods for communicating in a wireless communication system are described. In one aspect a method in a wireless communication system includes assigning a first identifier at a first access point, the first identifier for establishing a link with the first access point. The method includes receiving from a device an access request message to establish the link, the access request message including a second identifier associated with a plurality of access points configured to provide the link, the plurality of access points including the first access point, the second identifier including a sequence of bits having a bit length, wherein the sequence of bits is based on the first identifier, and wherein the bit length of the sequence of bits is less than the first number of bits. The further includes transmitting an access response message establishing the link with the device and including the first identifier.