Multi-protocol network registration and address resolution

A method of communication between a host and a node in a utility network, comprising:

• sending, from the host to one of a domain name service or a directory service, a request to provide an address for a C12.22-compliant device in the utility network;
• in response to said request, receiving a network-layer address for the C12.22-compliant device, selected at the domain name service or directory service from among a plurality of network addresses associated with the C12.22-compliant device stored at said domain name service or directory service, said plurality of addresses including an application-layer address and at least one network-layer address;
• and
• communicating with the C12.22-compliant device using the received network-layer address.

A method of providing communication in a utility network between at least two nodes in the utility network, comprising:

• sending a resource record request from one of said nodes to a network address resolution service, said request specifying another node in the utility network;
• receiving, in response to the request, (i) a network-layer address for the specified other node, selected at the network resolution address service from among multiple network-layer addresses associated with the other node, according to a network address metric, and (ii) at least one C12.22 ApTitle for the specified other node;
• and
• communicating with the other node using one of the network-layer address or the C12.22 ApTitle that was received in response to the request.