Automated provisioning of phones in packet voice networks
First Claim
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1. A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having a generic minimal configuration has registered in a network;
receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone;
wherein the unique identifier of the IP phone is a media access control (MAC) address;
determining, based on the unique identifier of the IP phone, a particular user identifier of an individual user associated with the IP phone;
retrieving, based on the particular user identifier, a phone number and a feature set that is associated with the individual user;
selecting a stored basic configuration based on the unique identifier of the IP phone and the particular user identifier;
generating a user specific configuration for the IP phone based on the stored basic configuration and the feature set that is associated with the individual user; and
providing the user specific configuration to the IP phonewherein determining the particular user identifier further comprises;
requesting an inventory system to provide a plurality of port identifiers corresponding to each port of each switch in the network and a plurality of neighbor MAC addresses corresponding to each neighbor device that is coupled to each said port;
selecting one of the port identifiers based on matching the unique identifier of the IP phone to the neighbor MAC addresses; and
based on the selected port identifier, selecting a user identifier from a table that associates switch ports to users;
wherein the steps are performed by one or more computing devices.
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Abstract
Approaches for provisioning phones in packet voice networks are disclosed. One approach provides determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone has registered in a network; receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone; determining, based on the unique identifier of the IP phone, a user identifier of an individual user associated with the IP phone; generating a configuration for the IP phone based on the user identifier; and providing the configuration to the IP phone. Various approaches for deriving a user identifier based on the unique identifier of the phone are disclosed.
46 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having a generic minimal configuration has registered in a network; receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone; wherein the unique identifier of the IP phone is a media access control (MAC) address; determining, based on the unique identifier of the IP phone, a particular user identifier of an individual user associated with the IP phone; retrieving, based on the particular user identifier, a phone number and a feature set that is associated with the individual user; selecting a stored basic configuration based on the unique identifier of the IP phone and the particular user identifier; generating a user specific configuration for the IP phone based on the stored basic configuration and the feature set that is associated with the individual user; and providing the user specific configuration to the IP phone wherein determining the particular user identifier further comprises; requesting an inventory system to provide a plurality of port identifiers corresponding to each port of each switch in the network and a plurality of neighbor MAC addresses corresponding to each neighbor device that is coupled to each said port; selecting one of the port identifiers based on matching the unique identifier of the IP phone to the neighbor MAC addresses; and based on the selected port identifier, selecting a user identifier from a table that associates switch ports to users; wherein the steps are performed by one or more computing devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
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determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having a generic minimal configuration has registered in a network; receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone; wherein the unique identifier of the IP phone is a media access control (MAC) address; determining, based on the unique identifier of the P phone, a particular user identifier of an individual user associated with the IP phone; retrieving, based on the particular user identifier, a phone number and a feature set that is associated with the individual user; selecting a stored basic configuration based on the unique identifier of the IP phone and the particular user identifier; generating a user specific configuration for the IP phone based on the stored basic configuration and the feature set that is associated with the individual user; and providing the user specific configuration to the IP phone wherein determining the particular user identifier further comprises; requesting an inventory system to provide a plurality of port identifiers corresponding to each port of each switch in the network and a plurality of neighbor MAC addresses corresponding to each neighbor device that is coupled to each said port; selecting one of the port identifiers based on matching the unique identifier of the IP phone to the neighbor MAC addresses; and based on the selected port identifier, selecting a user identifier from a table that associates switch ports to users. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having a generic minimal configuration has registered in a network; means for receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone; wherein the unique identifier of the IP phone is a media access control (MAC) address; means for determining, based on the unique identifier of the IP phone, a particular user identifier of an individual user associated with the IP phone; wherein determining the particular user identifier further comprises; means for requesting an inventory system to provide a plurality of port identifiers corresponding to each port of each switch in the network and a plurality of neighbor MAC addresses corresponding to each neighbor device that is coupled to each said port; and means for selecting one of the port identifiers based on matching the unique identifier of the IP phone to the neighbor MAC addresses; based on the selected port identifier, selecting a user identifier from a table that associates switch ports to users, means for retrieving, based on the particular user identifier, a phone number and a feature set that is associated with the individual user; means for selecting a stored basic configuration based on the unique identifier of the IP phone and the particular user identifier; means for generating a user specific configuration for the IP phone based on the stored basic configuration and the feature set that is associated with the individual user; and means for providing the user specific configuration to the IP phone. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to the data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom; a processor; one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of; determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having a generic minimal configuration has registered in a network; receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone; wherein the unique identifier of the IP phone is a media access control (MAC) address; determining, based on the unique identifier of the IP phone, a particular user identifier of an individual user associated with the IP phone; retrieving, based on the particular user identifier, a phone number and a feature set that is associated with the individual user; selecting a stored basic configuration based on the unique identifier of the IP phone and the particular user identifier; generating a user specific configuration for the IP phone based on the stored basic configuration and the feature set that is associated with the individual user; and providing the user specific configuration to the IP phone wherein determining the particular user identifier further comprises; requesting an inventory system to provide a plurality of port identifiers corresponding to each port of each switch in the network and a plurality of neighbor MAC addresses corresponding to each neighbor device that is coupled to each said port; selecting one of the port identifiers based on matching the unique identifier of the IP phone to the neighbor MAC addresses; and based on the selected port identifier, selecting a user identifier from a table that associates switch ports to users. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification