Method and apparatus for address resolution

An apparatus implemented at least in part by an access node for address resolution in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
• receive a second-layer network address associated with a destination communication device from a source communication device in the wireless communication system;
• responsive to receiving the second-layer network address, locally determine a first-layer network address of the destination communication device from the second-layer network address;
• responsive to the first-layer network address being unavailable, send a request for the first-layer network address to an address resolution server in the wireless communication system;
• and
• receive the first-layer network address from the address resolution server.

An apparatus implemented at least in part by a gateway entity for address resolution in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
• responsive to receiving a request for a first-layer network address of a destination communication device from a source communication device in the wireless communication system, locally determine the first-layer network address from a second-layer network address associated with the destination communication device;
• and
• send the first-layer network address to the source communication device, such that the source communication device directly communicates with the destination communication device based on the first-layer network address.