1. A method for acquiring information for media independent handover (MIH) by a mobile station (MS), the method comprising: submitting an MIH query to a base station (BS) by sending a private key management request (PKM-REQ) message as a first request message, wherein the PKM-REQ message comprises an MIH function (MIHF) frame encapsulating the MIH query; receiving a privacy key management response (PKM-RSP) message as a first response message comprising cycle information; and receiving a second response message comprising a response to the MIH query, wherein the cycle information indicates when the response to the MIH query is ready for delivery to the MS.