Communication of location information for an ip telephony communication device

A switching device comprising:

• a port to receive a first message from a network including a packet-switched computer network, the first message received according to a node-to-node protocol, wherein the first message is interpreted as being communicated across only a single network link, the first message indicating that an endpoint communication device of the network includes a configuration for a local operation of the endpoint communication device on behalf of a telephone service account, the local operation for communicating telephony information over the packet-switched computer network;
• a link layer processor including circuitry responsive to the first message to determine from information in the first message an account identifier specifying the telephone service account;
• and
• a network interface responsive to the first message to send from the switching device a second message including the determined account identifier, the second message sent in support of a location service.

A machine-readable storage medium including instructions which when executed cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

• receiving a first message at a switching device of a network including a packet-switched computer network, the first message received according to a node-to-node protocol, the first message indicating that an endpoint communication device of the network includes a configuration for a local operation of the endpoint communication device on behalf of a telephone service account, the local operation for communicating telephony information over the packet-switched computer network;
• and
• in response to receiving the first message,
• the switching device determining from information in the first message an account identifier specifying the telephone service account, and
• sending from the switching device a second message including the determined account identifier, the second message sent in support of a location service.

A network device comprising:

• a memory to store an account identifier specifying a telephone service account associated with an endpoint device of a network;
• a link layer controller coupled to the memory, the link layer controller including circuitry to access the account identifier and to generate a message based on the accessed account identifier, the message indicating that the endpoint communication device includes a configuration for a local operation of the endpoint communication device on behalf of a telephone service account, the local operation for communicating telephony information over the packet-switched computer network;
• and
• a network interface coupled to the link layer controller, the network interface to send the message to a switching device of the network, including sending the message according to a node-to-node protocol for communication across only a single network link.