Shoretel, Inc.

Allan J Naim

Dale C Tonogai

Scott Van Gundy

An Internet Protocol (IP) phone transmits on a network, an IP packet comprising a dynamically-assigned IP address. A computer associated with the network uses the dynamically-assigned IP address in the packet to identify a specific site to which the IP phone belongs and/or a specific local area network (LAN) to which the IP phone is connected. Then, data to be used to provide telephony service to the phone is recorded in a memory. In some embodiments, the computer associates the IP phone with a dialing plan unique to the specific site, wherein the dialing plan includes an area code to be used by the IP phone.

Provisioning an internet protocol (IP) phone

A phone is provisioned automatically when a user couples the phone to a network, with minimal (or preferably zero) involvement on part of an administrator to activate the phone. In several embodiments of the invention, when the user couples the phone to a network, a computer associated with the network automatically checks to see if the phone was previously provisioned. If not previously provisioned, the computer automatically records the existence of the phone in a memory of a telephone exchange that is to thereafter provide service to the phone. At this stage a phone number is not yet associated with the phone. In some embodiments, the just-described acts, namely checking and recording of existence are performed without any involvement on part of the administrator. The telephone exchange provides basic service to the new phone as soon as it detects existence of the phone (in its memory). Thereafter, in certain embodiments, the user uses that particular phone to identify himself/herself (and/or an extension number) and in response the computer stores the extension number in the telephone exchange's memory, thereby to enable the phone to receive calls at that extension number. Such automatic provisioning eliminates the need for an administrator to provision the phone.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Allan J Naim