Techniques for auto assigning IP telephone extension numbers based on a port

• US 20070280212A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Geng, Lewis, Ron, Vogel, Gary Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 9,461,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration

Abstract

Techniques are provided for assigning extension numbers to Internet Protocol (IP) telephony devices. The techniques include receiving a message from the IP telephony device requesting that an extension be assigned. A port identifier of a port in which the IP telephony device is coupled is determined. Extension numbers are fixed for specific ports. Thus, an extension number for the port identifier of the port is determined. The extension number is then assigned to the IP telephony device. For example, a MAC address for the IP phone is assigned to the extension number.

Claims

1. A method for assigning extensions to Internet protocol (IP) telephony devices, the method comprising:

receiving a message from an IP telephony device indicating the IP telephony device is coupled to a port;

determining a port identifier for the port in which the IP telephony device is coupled;

determining an extension for the port identifier of the port; and

assigning the extension to the IP telephony device, wherein the extension is fixedly assigned to the port identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the extension comprises:

receiving a device identifier in the message; and

assigning the device identifier to the determined extension.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the device identifier comprises a media access control (MAC) address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second message from a second IP telephony device indicating the second IP telephony device is coupled to the port;

determining the port identifier of the port in which the second IP telephony device is coupled;

determining the extension for the port identifier; and

assigning the extension previously assigned to the IP telephony device to the second IP telephony device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the port identifier comprises determining the port identifier using a DHCP lookup, wherein the port identifier is saved during a DHCP request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the port identifier is saved using an Option 82 request that inserts the port identifier into the DHCP request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the port identifier comprises determining the port identifier from the message, wherein the port identifier is added to the message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the port identifier is inserted into the message using a signaling protocol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the extension is fixedly associated such that any IP telephony devices requesting an extension when being coupled to the port are assigned an identical extension.

10. An apparatus configured to assign extensions to Internet protocol (IP) telephony devices, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a set of steps comprising;

receiving a message from an IP telephony device indicating the IP telephony device is coupled to a port;

determining a port identifier for the port in which the IP telephony device is coupled;

determining an extension for the port identifier of the port; and

assigning the extension to the IP telephony device, wherein the extension is fixedly assigned to the port identifier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further steps comprising:

receiving a device identifier in the message; and

assigning the device identifier to the determined extension.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device identifier comprises a media access control (MAC) address.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further steps comprising:

receiving a second message from a second IP telephony device indicating the second IP telephony device is coupled to the port;

determining the port identifier of the port in which the second IP telephony device is coupled;

determining the extension for the port identifier; and

assigning the extension previously assigned to the IP telephony device to the second IP telephony device.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to determine the port identifier using a DHCP lookup, wherein the port identifier is saved during a DHCP request.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to save the port identifier using an Option 82 request that inserts the port identifier into the DHCP request.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to determine the port identifier from the message, wherein the port identifier is added to the message.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to insert into the message using a signaling protocol that is configured to insert the port identifier in the message.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to assign an identical extension to any IP telephony devices requesting an extension when being coupled to the port are assigned an identical extension.

19. An apparatus configured to assign extensions to Internet protocol (IP) telephony devices, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a message from an IP telephony device indicating the IP telephony device is coupled to a port;

means for determining a port identifier for the port in which the IP telephony device is coupled;

means for determining an extension for the port identifier of the port; and

means for assigning the extension to the IP telephony device, wherein the extension is fixedly assigned to the port identifier.