A method for use in a communication network for enabling a signaling node to automatically update routing instructions that are maintained at a signalling message routing node and routing a signalling message by the signalling message routing node, the method comprising: (a) at a signaling node in an Internet protocol network, generating a routing key registration message, the routing key registration message including signalling system 7, SS7, routing key information for updating routing key information associated with the signaling node; (b) sending the routing key registration message to a network routing node capable of routing messages between the IP network and an SS7 network; and (c) at the signalling message routing node, receiving the routing key registration message and using the SS7 routing key information in the routing key registration message to dynamically update a routing key database entry in a dynamic routing key table associated with a connection between the signaling node and the network routing node; and at the signalling message routing node: (a) receiving a signaling message that requires routing; (b) using SS7 routing key information contained in the signalling message to search for a match in the dynamic routing key table; (c) in response to locating a match in the dynamic routing key table, routing the signaling message using routing information returned by the dynamic routing key table; (d) in response to failing to locate a match in the dynamic routing key table, using the SS7 routing key information contained in the signaling message to search for a match in a second routing key table; and (e) in response to locating a match in the second routing key table, routing the signaling message using routing information returned by the second routing key table; wherein searching for a match in a second routing key table includes searching for a match in a static routing key table, containing routing key entries that are manually provisioned by an operator through a provisioning interface. (a) at a signaling node in an Internet protocol network, generating a routing key registration message, the routing key registration message including signalling system 7, SS7, routing key information for updating routing key information associated with the signaling node; (b) sending the routing key registration message to a network routing node capable of routing messages between the IP network and an SS7 network; and (c) at the signalling message routing node, receiving the routing key registration message and using the SS7 routing key information in the routing key registration message to dynamically update a routing key database entry in a dynamic routing key table associated with a connection between the signaling node and the network routing node; and (a) receiving a signaling message that requires routing; (b) using SS7 routing key information contained in the signalling message to search for a match in the dynamic routing key table; (c) in response to locating a match in the dynamic routing key table, routing the signaling message using routing information returned by the dynamic routing key table; (d) in response to failing to locate a match in the dynamic routing key table, using the SS7 routing key information contained in the signaling message to search for a match in a second routing key table; and (e) in response to locating a match in the second routing key table, routing the signaling message using routing information returned by the second routing key table;