System and method for automatic configuration of a bi-directional IP communication device

1. A method for automatic configuration of a bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication device to establish an Internet connection, comprising:

automatically broadcasting a request from a bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication device selected from either a DSL gateway or cable modem for basic configuration details for the IP communication device over an IP network to the Internet and a remote server connected thereto, where said request contains a MAC address and a unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier stored in the IP communication device and associated with a unique user at the server prior to configuration;

receiving said basic configuration details including an IP address from the server at said device, where said basic configuration details are assigned to said unique user based on said unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier; and

automatically configuring itself said bi-directional IP communication device with said basic configuration details to establish an Internet connection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said remote server is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said receiving comprises obtaining said IP address from said DHCP server.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the address of the DHCP server is unknown to the IP communication device said broadcasting comprises broadcasting a DHCP Discover request using a TCP/IP broadcast.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said DHCP server validates the request, said receiving comprises acquiring a DHCP Offer message from the DHCP server broadcast as a TCIP/IP broadcast and accepting the IP address.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, prior to said configuring step, the steps of:

sending a DHCP Request message to at least the DHCP server; and

receiving a DHCP acknowledge message from said DHCP server.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a configuration request for additional configuration details.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving said additional configuration details specific to said unique user.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising configuring said bi-directional IP communication device with said additional configuration details.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before said broadcasting step, the steps of:

connecting said bi-directional IP communication device to a communication line; and

powering said bi-directional IP communication device on.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, before said broadcasting step, the step of automatically detecting a communication circuit over said communication line.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before said broadcasting step, the step of automatically determining Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) details for communications between said bi-directional IP communication device and a communications network.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said determining comprises the step of ascertaining a VPINCI (Virtual Path Identifier/Virtual Channel Identifier) pair for said communications.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said broadcasting and receiving steps occur automatically without any communication between said bi-directional IP communication device and a client computer coupled to said bi-directional IP communication device.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said configuring step, the steps of:

assigning said unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier to said bi-directional IP communication device and storing the identifier therein;

associating said unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier with said unique user; and

storing the unique device identifier, the associated unique user and the basic configuration details in the server.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising generating a configuration table listing bi-directional-IP communication device identifiers, associated users and each user's basic configuration details.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein a configuration table listing device identifiers, their associated users, and each user's basic configuration details is stored in the server.

18. A bi-directional IP communication device, comprising:

a Central Processing Unit (CPU);

communication circuitry;

input/output ports; and

a memory containing:

a unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier for a DSL gateway or cable modem;

instructions for automatically broadcasting a request from the device for basic configuration details for the IP communication device, where said request contains a MAC address and a unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier associated with a unique user at a server prior to configuration;

instructions for receiving said basic configuration details including an IP address from the server, where said basic configuration details is assigned to said unique user based on said unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier; and

instructions for automatically configuring said bi-directional IP communication device with said basic configuration details to establish an Internet connection.

19. The bi-directional IP communication device of claim 18 , wherein the address of the server is unknown to the IP communication device, said instructions for broadcasting further comprise instructions for broadcasting said request for basic configuration details using a TCP/IP broadcast.

20. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a a bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication device for the automatic configuration thereof, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage and a computer program stored therein, the computer program comprising:

instructions for automatically broadcasting a request from a bi- directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication device selected from either a DSL gateway or cable modem for basic configuration details for the IP communication device, where said request contains a MAC address and a unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier stored in the IP communication device and associated with a unique user at a server prior to configuration;

instructions for receiving said basic configuration details including an IP address from a server at said device, where said basic configuration details is assigned to said unique user based on said unique bi-directional IP communication device identifier; and

instructions for automatically configuring said bi-directional IP communication device with said basic configuration details to establish an Internet connection.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the address of the server is unknown to the IP communication device, said instructions for broadcasting further comprise instructions for broadcasting said request for basic configuration details using a TCP/IP broadcast.

22. A method for the automatic configuration of a bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication device, comprising:

associating users of bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication devices selected from either a DSL gateway or cable modem with respective unique device identifiers;

storing a configuration table listing the unique device identifiers, their associated users and each user's basic configuration details in a server;

connecting a user's unconfigured bi-directional IP communication device to a communication line, said device having the unique device identifier stored therein that is associated at the server with the user prior to connection;

automatically broadcasting a request using a TCP/IP broadcast from the IP communication device for basic configuration details for the IP communication device over the communication line to the server, where said request contains a MAC address and the unique device identifier;

receiving at said device a TCP/IP broadcast message from the server with said basic configuration details including an IP address, where said basic configuration details for the IP communication device are assigned to said unique user based on said unique device identifier; and

automatically configuring said IP communication device with said basic configuration details to establish an Internet connection.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, before said broadcasting step, the step of automatically detecting a dial-tone for the internet protocol.

24. A method for the automatic configuration of a bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication device, comprising:

providing a bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) communication device selected from either a DSL gateway or cable modem having a MAC address and a unique device identifier stored therein;

associating the device identifier with a user identifier for a unique user of the IP communication device;

providing the IP communication device to the unique user;

providing the device identifier and the user identifier to an internet service provider (ISP);

generating a configuration table listing device identifiers, their associated users, and each user's basic configuration details including an IP address;

storing the configuration table in a server;

connecting the IP communication device to a network at a user site;

automatically broadcasting a request from the IP communications device for basic configuration details for the IP communication device to the server over the network, where said request contains the MAC address and the unique device identifier;

identifying the user's basic configuration details in the configuration table from the device identifier;

transmitting the basic configuration details to the user site IP communications device;

receiving said basic configuration details at said IP communication from the server; and

automatically configuring said IP communication device with said basic configuration details.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising, before said broadcasting step, the step of automatically detecting a dial-tone for the internet protocol.