Configuration of IP telephony and other systems
A method for configuring a network device includes connecting the device to a LAN that is connected to a WAN and detecting that the device has not been configured. Accessing within the device a pre-defined address of a configuration server located on the WAN and sending a configuration request for a service to the configuration server. The request includes a network identifier locating the device on the LAN. Receiving the request at the configuration server and preparing a configuration profile for the device. The configuration profile includes i) a service address for the device, and ii) a wide area network address for a service provider that will provide the service. The method also includes sending the profile to the device from the configuration server, and activating the profile in the device such that the device is configured to access the service via the service provider.
1. A method for configuring a network telephone device comprising:
connecting said device to a network;
accessing within said device a pre-defined address of a first configuration server located on said network, said first configuration server operated by a provider of said device;
sending a configuration request for a telephony service; said configuration request sent from said device to said first configuration server; said configuration request including a device identifier unique to said device within said network, and a plurality of telephony service options, said options include at least one of a selection of a service provider from a plurality of service providers and a telephone calling plan;
receiving said configuration request at said first configuration server and upon request from said device, said first configuration server providing information on said plan from said plurality of service providers to said device;
preparing a configuration profile for said device at said first configuration server and a second configuration server in communication with said first configuration server, said second configuration server operated by a provider of said service, whereby the providers of said device and said service are independent; said configuration profile contains a service address for the device and an address on said network for the service provider that will provide said telephony service; and
sending said profile to said device from either of said first or second configuration servers.
2. The method of claim 1 including a plurality of configuration servers and wherein a portion of said configuration profile is prepared by one of said configuration servers and a remainder of said configuration profile is prepared by another one of said configuration servers.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said configuration servers manage a billing system that cooperates to generate service invoices for service accessed by said device through said service provider.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said billing system is based on a unique device identifier.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein exchanged unique ids are encrypted for purpose of non-repudiation.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein said billing system is based on said configuration server operated by said device provider receiving a unique device identifier from said configuration server operated by said service provider.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein communications between said configuration servers is encrypted.
8. The method of claim 2 wherein communications between said configuration servers is encrypted.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein, said configuration server presents a plurality of options in a service plan at said device for selection by a user and receives a selection of said options, and wherein said configuration server prepares said configuration profile based on said selection of options.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of options are presented via a voice dialogue.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of options are presented via form text.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of options are presented via a combination of voice and text form dialogue.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is part of an enterprise network and said service is one of a communication service and a device configuration service; said service being provided by said service provider.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said device identifier is pre-registered and one of a block of unique device identifiers supplied to a plurality of said devices such that when said configuration request is received, said first configuration server recognizes said device identifier.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein a user enters said device identifier as part of said sending said configuration request.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein said device communicates with said service via the Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”).
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said device identifier is a uniform resource identifier (“URI”).
18. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising modifying said configuration profile to specify a different service provider from said service provider such that provision of said service is handed-off from said service provider to said different service provider.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein part of said configuration profile as modified contains a new configuration server address of a new configuration server; and wherein upon receipt of said new configuration server address said device subscribes to said new configuration server.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is the Internet.
21. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration server is operably associated with a STUN server.
22. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is a combination of a small business network and a wide area network.
23. The method of 1 wherein said network is a combination of a home network and a wide area network.
24. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is situated within an enterprise office and said service provider is operated as part of the enterprise.
25. The method of claim 1 wherein said device identifier is a MAC address.
26. The method of claim 1 wherein said device identifier is pre-registered with said first configuration server prior to performance of said method such that when said configuration request is received, said first configuration server recognizes said device identifier.
27. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration request includes a device identifier unique to said device that is sent from said service provider to said configuration server.
28. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration profile includes customization of software for said device that is unique to said service provider.
29. The method of claim 1 wherein said device communicates with said service via the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
30. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration profile includes customization of configuration data specific to said service provider.
31. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration profile includes customization of a service plan.
32. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is an enterprise operated WAN.
33. A method for providing configuration information to a telephone device attached to a network comprising:
sending a request for configuration information from said device to at least one of a first network configuration server and a second network configuration server; said request including a device identifier unique to said device within said network and a plurality of service options, wherein said service options include at least one of a selection of a service provider from a plurality of service providers and a telephone calling plan;
receiving a first portion of said configuration information at said device from said first network configuration server, and upon request from said device, said first network configuration server providing information on said plan from said plurality of service providers to said device;
receiving a second portion of said configuration information at said device from said second network configuration server; and,
wherein the providers of said first and second network configuration servers are independent different entities and said first and second servers are in communication with each other and a network address of said second server is supplied to said device by said first server.
34. The method of claim 33 in which the first server will identify the second server by submitting a query addressed to a user situated at the device.
35. The method of claim 34 in which the query is verbal.
36. The method of claim 34 in which the query is in text.
37. The method of claim 34 in which the query is a combination of voice and text.
38. The method of claim 34 in which a response to said query is submitted by said user using dual tone multifrequency signals.
39. The method of claim 33 wherein one of said network configuration servers can register a unique identifier associated with said device.
40. The method of claim 39 in which the unique device identifier is the MAC address.
41. The method of claim 39 in which the unique device identifier is supplied by the owner of the second server.
42. The method of claim 33 in which the second server will supply the first server with an indication of said second server's actions when said device is referred to said second server.
43. The method of claim 42 in which the indication is non-repudiateable.
44. The method of claim 33 wherein said second network configuration server is selected from one of a plurality of additional network configuration servers.
45. The method of claim 33 wherein a data structure associates said unique identifier to a block of unique identifiers; said block being associated with said network address.
46. The method of claim 33 wherein said data structure associates said unique identifier directly to said network address.
47. The method of claim 33 in which the first server will act as a relay between the device and the second server.
48. The method of claim 33 in which the device contacts the second server directly for its portion of said configuration information.
49. The method of claim 33 in which the first server will assume the functions of the second server in supplying the configuration to the device.
50. The method of claim 33 wherein said device is operated by a teleworker.