A communications network which is capable of effectively and efficiently
handling mobility of wireless user terminals between access point nodes
of a packet-switched network with minimal overhead and packet loss, and a
method for using the same. The communications network employs a
packet-switched core network and a plurality of access points coupled to
the core network. Each access point is adapted to provide any user
terminal with wireless communications access to the core network when
that user terminal becomes affiliated with that access point. Each access
point, as well as other nodes on the network such as a media server, DNS
server and an IP gateway router, includes an address resolution cache
which is adapted to store information representative of affiliation
between the user terminals and the access points of the network. Each
access point is adapted to deliver to the other access points a message
indicating that a user terminal has changed its affiliation from another
access point to that access point, to enable the other access points and
core LAN nodes to update their respective address resolution cache based
on the message. Preferably, an access point is adapted to issue the
message over the core network as an address resolution request for an
address, in particular, an IP protocol address, of the user terminal
which has changed its affiliation to that access point.