Networking :: Changing The IP Address Remotely

I'm running Ubuntu server. To change the IP while I'm sitting in front of the computer, I would:

1. edit /etc/network/interfaces
2. ifdown eth0
3. ifup eth0

Remotely, I can do the first two no problem, but the ifup command causes some problems since the ethernet interface is no longer functioning. Is there some kind of script that can be written for this purpose? Maybe something that will check eth0 every so often and make sure it is running and bring it up if it isn't. Or else a script run with nohup?

I do not intend that changing the IP address will be a frequent occurrence, but when it needs to be done, it must be done reliably and without the possibility that the computer will no longer be reachable for more than a couple minutes or so.