Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) mobility detection

• US 20070127452A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Croy, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 9,258,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A mobility event for a VoIP user is detected, with an estimated confidence/certainty that the VoIP user in fact moved. In response, a user is prompted to cause an update to their registration and/or location information. Notification to the VoIP user of the likely need for a location update may be implemented in the communication protocol such that an icon on the VoIP phone displays the need to the VoIP user. The icon may include a measure of the confidence/certainty of the need for a location update, e.g., similar in visual image to the bars showing coverage on a wireless phone. Mobility of the VoIP user may be detected using, e.g., (1) The VoIP user'"'"'s Internet protocol (IP) address; (2) a mapping of physical to logical location; and/or (3) mapping between physical location information and physical network resources such as switches, routers, ports, access points, etc.

Claims

1. A method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device, comprising:

monitoring for a change in at least one of (1) an IP address of said VoIP device as an indicator of likely movement of said VoIP device, (2) a logical location mapping of said VoIP device as an indicator of likely movement of said VoIP device, and (3) a physical network resources mapping of said VoIP device as an indicator of likely movement of said VoIP device; and

upon detection of said change in said IP address of said VoIP device indicating a change of said VoIP device, initiating an update of network stored location information regarding said VoIP device.

2. The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 1, wherein said update of said network stored location comprises:

providing signaling which can be used in the prompting a user of said VoIP device to update a location of said VoIP device.

3. The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 1, wherein:

said VoIP device is a phone.

4. The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring comprises:

comparing a last IP address of said VoIP device stored in an appropriate VoIP IP address database to a current IP address of said VoIP device.

5. The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 1, further comprising:

indicating at said VoIP device a confidence in a likelihood that said VoIP device has in fact moved.

6. A mobility detection service, comprising:

a database associating at least one of a plurality of VoIP devices to (1) a last known Internet protocol (IP) address for each respective VoIP device, (2) to a last known logical location mapping, and (3) to a last known physical network resources mapping;

comparison logic to monitor said plurality of VoIP devices for any change in said last known IP address; and

if a change in said last known IP address is detected, indicating a likelihood of movement of a given VoIP device.

7. The mobility detection service according to claim 6, wherein:

said indication of likelihood is presented visually to a user of said VoIP device.

8. The mobility detection service according to claim 6, further comprising:

triggering a prompt to a user of said VoIP device to update a location of said VoIP device.

9. The mobility detection service according to claim 6, wherein:

said VoIP device is a phone.

10. The mobility detection service according to claim 6, wherein:

said comparison logic is adapted to compare a last IP address of said VoIP device stored in an appropriate VoIP IP address database to a current IP address of said VoIP device.

11. The mobility detection service according to claim 6, further comprising:

an indicator to indicate to said VoIP device a confidence in a likelihood that said VoIP device has in fact moved.

12. Apparatus for detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device, comprising:

means for monitoring for a change in at least one of (1) an IP address of said VoIP device as an indicator of likely movement of said VoIP device, (2) a logical location mapping of said VoIP device as an indicator of likely movement of said VoIP device, and (3) a physical network resources mapping of said VoIP device as an indicator of likely movement of said VoIP device; and

means for initiating an update of network stored location information regarding said VoIP device, upon detection of said change in said IP address of said VoIP device indicating a change of said VoIP device.

13. The apparatus for detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 12, wherein said means for initiating an update of said network stored location comprises:

means for prompting a user of said VoIP device to update a location of said VoIP device.

14. The apparatus for detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 12, wherein:

said VoIP device is a phone.

15. The apparatus for detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 12, wherein said means for monitoring comprises:

means for comparing a last IP address of said VoIP device stored in an appropriate VoIP IP address database to a current IP address of said VoIP device.

16. The apparatus for detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for indicating at said VoIP device a confidence in a likelihood that said VoIP device has in fact moved.