Method and apparatus for dynamically assigning a network endpoint to a network region

A server, comprising:

• an interface operable to receive a request for a network address from a network endpoint;
• a memory operable to store a data structure relating a plurality of network addresses to a plurality of network regions;
• and
• the processor, operable to construct a response to the request for communication to the network endpoint using the interface, the response comprising the network address for the network endpoint and a network location parameter specifying the network region.

Logic embodied in a computer-readable medium operable to cause a server to perform the following steps:

• receiving a request for a network address from a network endpoint;
• determining the network address for the network endpoint;
• determining a network region for the network endpoint;
• and
• communicating the network address and a network location parameter specifying the network region to the network endpoint.

A call manager, comprising:

• an interface operable to receive a call request from a network endpoint, the call request comprising a call destination;
• a memory operable to store a data structure relating a plurality of network address to a plurality of network regions;
• and
• a processor operable to perform the steps of:
• determining an originating network address of the network endpoint;
• determining an originating network region based on the originating network address of the network endpoint;
• determining a destination network address of the call destination;
• determining a destination network region based on the destination network address for the call destination;
• selecting a codec based on the originating network region and the destination network region;
• and
• communicating a response indicating the selected codec to the network endpoint using the interface.

A network endpoint, comprising:

• an interface operable to couple the network endpoint to a network;
• and
• a processor operable to:
• detect that the interface is coupled to a network at a network location;
• communicate a request for a network address using the interface;
• receive, from the interface, the network address;
• determine a network region for the network endpoint;
• and
• communicate via the interface a request to establish a communication between the network endpoint and a call destination;
• and
• use the network region to enable selection of a codec for the communication.

A method for dynamically assigning a network region to a network endpoint, comprising:

• detecting that a network endpoint is coupled to a network at a network location;
• communicating from the network endpoint a request for a network address;
• receiving a network address for the network endpoint;
• determining a network region for the network endpoint;
• communicating a request for a communication between the network endpoint and a call destination;
• and
• using the network region to enable selection of a codec for the communication.

Logic embodied in a computer-readable medium operable to perform the steps of:

• detecting that a network endpoint is coupled to a network at a network location;
• communicating from the network endpoint a request for a network address;
• receiving a network address for the network endpoint;
• determining a network region for the network endpoint;
• communicating a request for a communication between the network endpoint and a call destination;
• and
• using the network region to enable selection of a codec for the communication.

A network endpoint, comprising:

• means for detecting that a network endpoint is coupled to a network at a network location;
• means for communicating from the network endpoint a request for a network address;
• means for receiving a network address for the network endpoint;
• means for determining a network region for the network endpoint;
• means for communicating a request for a communication between the network endpoint and a call destination;
• and
• means for using the network region to enable selection of a codec for the communication.