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

• US 9,461,959 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• 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, Vogel, Gary Dennis Jr., Lewis, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARLEY, JASON A
• Application Number:
  US11/443,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20070280212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,780 Days
• Field of Search: 370/356
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An apparatus configured to assign an extension number to an Internet protocol (IP) telephony device in a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting, using a switch in the network, a first IP telephony device being coupled to a first port on the switch;

a processor; and

a plurality of instructions encoded in a non-transitory machine-readable medium for execution by the processor and when executed cause the processor to perform operations including;

determining, at the switch, a port identifier of the first port via a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) lookup, wherein the port identifier is saved during a DHCP request using an Option 82 request that inserts the port identifier into the DHCP request;

receiving, at the switch, a first message from the first IP telephony device, wherein the first message includes a request for an IP address for the first IP telephony device;

modifying, at the switch, the first message by including in the first message the port identifier of the first port;

sending, from the switch, the modified first message to a call processor in order for the call processor to assign the extension number to the first IP telephony device, wherein the extension number is fixed for each physical port in the network, the extension number obtained by searching a list at the call processor that associates the determined port identifier with an assigned extension number for the port identifier, the port identifier identifying a physical port the first IP telephony device is plugged into; and

receiving the assigned extension number at the switch, the assigned extension number associated with the physical port the first IP telephony device is plugged into.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first IP telephony device is running a skinny client control protocol and the port identifier is included in a skinny client control protocol registered field.

2. A method for assigning extension numbers to Internet protocol (IP) telephony devices in a network, the method comprising:

determining, at a switch, a port identifier of a first port on the switch coupled a first IP telephony device via a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) lookup, wherein the port identifier is saved during a DHCP request using an Option 82 request that inserts the port identifier into the DHCP request;

receiving, at the switch, a first message from the first IP telephony device, wherein the first message includes a request for an IP address for the first IP telephony device;

modifying, at the switch, the first message by including in the first message the port identifier of the first port;

sending, from the switch, the modified first message to a call processor in order for the call processor to assign the extension number to the first IP telephony device, wherein the extension number is fixed for each physical port in the network, the extension number obtained by searching a list at the call processor that associates the determined port identifier with an assigned extension number for the port identifier, the port identifier identifying a physical port the first IP telephony device is plugged into; and

receiving the assigned extension number at the switch, the assigned extension number associated with the physical port the first IP telephony device is plugged into.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting, by the switch, the first IP telephony device being coupled to the first port on the switch.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein assigning the extension number using the call processor comprises:

receiving a device identifier associated with the IP telephony device in the modified first message; and

assigning the device identifier to the assigned extension number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the device identifier comprises a media access control (MAC) address.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, using the call processor, a second message that is originated from a second IP telephony device, wherein the second message includes a port identifier of a second port to which the second IP telephony device is coupled;

determining, using the call processor and based on the port identifier of the second port, an extension number associated with the second port, wherein the second port is same as the first port to which the first IP telephony device was previously coupled, wherein the extension number associated with the second port is same as the extension number associated with the first port; and

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

7. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the port identifier of the first port comprises determining the port identifier from the first message, wherein the port identifier is added to the first message by the switch.

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

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the list includes information for a fixed mapping between each port and the associated extension number such that any IP telephony devices requesting extension numbers when coupled to the first port are assigned an identical extension number.

10. An apparatus configured to assign extension numbers to Internet protocol (IP) telephony devices in a network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including a plurality of instructions for execution by the processor and when executed cause the one or more processor to perform operations including;

determining, at a switch, a port identifier of a first port on the switch coupled a first IP telephony device via a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) lookup, wherein the port identifier is saved during a DHCP request using an Option 82 request that inserts the port identifier into the DHCP request;

receiving, at the switch, a first message from the first IP telephony device, wherein the first message includes a request for an IP address for the first IP telephony device;

modifying, at the switch, the first message by including in the first message the port identifier of the first port;

sending, from the switch, the modified first message to a call processor in order for the call processor to assign the extension number to the first IP telephony device, wherein the extension number is fixed for each physical port in the network, the extension number obtained by searching a list at the call processor that associates the determined port identifier with an assigned extension number for the port identifier, the port identifier identifying a physical port the first IP telephony device is plugged into; and

receiving the assigned extension number at the switch, the assigned extension number associated with the physical port the first IP telephony device is plugged into.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions are further cause the processor to perform operations including:

receiving a device identifier associated with the IP telephony device in the modified first message; and

assigning the device identifier to the extension number.

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 plurality of instructions further cause the processor to perform operations including:

receiving, using the call processor, a second message that is originated from a second IP telephony device, wherein the second message includes a port identifier of a second port to which the second IP telephony device is coupled;

determining, using the call processor and based on the port identifier of the second port, an extension number associated with the second port, wherein the second port is same as the first port to which the first IP telephony device was previously coupled, wherein the extension number associated with the second port is same as the extension number associated with the first port; and

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

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the processor to determine the port identifier from the first message, wherein the port identifier is added to the first message by the switch.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a signaling protocol inserts the port identifier into the first message.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein plurality of instructions cause the processor to assign an identical extension number to any IP telephony devices requesting extension numbers when coupled to the first port, wherein the list includes information for a fixed mapping between each port and each extension number.