System and method for configuring an IP telephony device

A system for performing IP telephony, comprising:

• a network;
• an IP telephone;
• a Service Gateway, wherein the Service Gateway is operable to couple to the IP telephone through the network;
• wherein the IP telephone is operable to send an identifier to the Service Gateway;
• wherein the Service Gateway is operable to:
• receive an identifier from the IP telephone;
• determine if the identifier is valid;
• and
• if the identifier is valid, assign a range of port numbers to the IP telephone based on the identifier;
• wherein the IP telephone is operable to use at least a subset of the range of port numbers to send or receive IP communications.

A memory medium, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions which are executable to perform:

• receiving an identifier from the IP telephone;
• determining if the identifier is valid;
• and
• if the identifier is valid, assigning a range of port numbers to the IP telephone based on the identifier, wherein the IP telephone is operable to use at least a subset of the range of port numbers to send or receive IP communications.

A service gateway for use in an IP telephony network, wherein the service gateway is configured to:

• couple one or more IP telephones to the network;
• receive an identifier from an IP telephone;
• determine if the identifier is valid;
• and
• if the identifier is valid, assign a range of port numbers to the IP telephone based on the identifier;
• wherein at least a subset of the range of port numbers are usable by the IP telephone to send or receive IP communications.