Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Mobility Detection

Abstract

A mobility event for a VoIP user is detected, with an estimated confidence/certainty that the VoIP user in fact moved. In response, a user is prompted to cause an update to their registration and/or location information. Notification to the VoIP user of the likely need for a location update may be implemented in the communication protocol such that an icon on the VoIP phone displays the need to the VoIP user. The icon may include a measure of the confidence/certainty of the need for a location update, e.g., similar in visual image to the bars showing coverage on a wireless phone. Mobility of the VoIP user may be detected using, e.g., (1) The VoIP user's Internet protocol (IP) address; (2) a mapping of physical to logical location; and/or (3) mapping between physical location information and physical network resources such as switches, routers, ports, access points, etc.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device, comprising:
 monitoring a pre-registered VoIP user for a mobility triggering event comprising a change in at least one of:
 (1) an IP address associated with said pre-registered VoIP device to indicate a likely movement of said pre-registered VoIP device, 
 (2) a logical location mapping of said pre-registered VoIP device to indicate a likely movement of said pre-registered VoIP device, and 
 (3) a physical network resources mapping of said pre-registered VoIP device to indicate a likely movement of said pre-registered VoIP device; and 
   in response to said mobility triggering event of said pre-registered VoIP device, initiating an update of network stored geographic latitude/longitude (lat/lon) location information regarding said pre-registered VoIP device.   wherein a confidence that said mobility triggering event indicates that said pre-registered VoIP device has indeed moved is highest when said (1), said (2), and said (3) have changed, and lowest when only one of said (1), said (2), and said (3) have changed.   
     
     
         18 . The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said monitoring is at a given interval.   
     
     
         19 . The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to  claim 17 , wherein said update of said network stored geographic lat/lon location information comprises:
 initiating a prompt activated at said pre-registered VoIP device to update said stored geographic lat/lon location information associated with said pre-registered VoIP device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said pre-registered VoIP device is a phone.   
     
     
         21 . The method of detecting mobility of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device according to  claim 17 , wherein said monitoring comprises:
 comparing a last IP address of said pre-registered VoIP device stored in an appropriate VoIP IP address database, to a current IP address of said pre-registered VoIP device.   
     
     
         22 . A mobility detection server, comprising:
 a networked, physical monitoring server to monitor a plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices for a mobility triggering event comprising a change in at least one of:
 (1) an IP address associated with each of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices to indicate a likely movement of a respective one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices, 
 (2) a logical location mapping of each of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices to indicate a likely movement of a respective one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices, and 
 (3) a physical network resources mapping of each of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices to indicate a likely movement of a respective one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices; and 
   an initiator to initiate an update of network stored geographic latitude/longitude (lat/lon) location information regarding each of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices;   wherein a confidence that said mobility triggering event indicates that a respective one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices has indeed moved is highest when said (1), said (2), and said (3) have changed, and lowest when only one of said (1), said (2), and said (3) have changed.   
     
     
         23 . The mobility detection server according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said networked, physical monitoring server monitors said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices at a given interval.   
     
     
         24 . The mobility detection server according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 an indication of likely movement of any one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices is presented visually at said one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices.   
     
     
         25 . The mobility detection server according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a trigger to trigger a user prompt at any one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices to update said network stored geographic lat/lon location information associated with said any one of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices.   
     
     
         26 . The mobility detection server according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices are each a phone.   
     
     
         27 . The mobility detection server according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said networked, physical monitoring server compares a last IP address of each of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices stored in an appropriate VoIP IP address database to a respective current IP address of each of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices.   
     
     
         28 . The mobility detection server according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a timer to indicate a time between a change in said (1), said (2), or said (3), with respect to any of said plurality of pre-registered VoIP devices.