A method for processing an Internet Protocol, IP, packet at a router , the method comprising: receiving IP configuration data indicative of an association involving an IP address; determining a particular interface identifier for a local network interface through which an IP data packet was received ; determining whether conditions are satisfied for processing a signaling payload within the received IP data packet, determining whether the conditions are satisfied for processing the signaling payload comprising: determining whether a next protocol field in an IP header portion of the IP data packet indicates a Stream Control Transport Protocol, SCTP, determining whether an IP destination in the IP header portion of the IP data packet matches a local IP address, determining whether data in a SCTP port field in a SCTP header of the IP data packet indicates an SCTP port that matches a port in a list of open local SCPT ports; determining an owner interface identifier for a local network interface associated with the SCTP port; and determining whether the particular interface identifier matches the owner interface identifier; and if it is determined that the conditions are satisfied for processing the signaling payload, processing the signaling payload without sending the signaling payload over a network link to a different node in a signaling network; and if it is determined that the IP destination in the IP header portion of the IP data packet does not match the local IP address of the router, or the next protocol field in the IP header portion does not indicate the Stream Control Transport Protocol, SCTP; routing the IP data packet based on header data in the IP header portion of the IP data packet. receiving IP configuration data indicative of an association involving an IP address; determining a particular interface identifier for a local network interface through which an IP data packet was received ; determining whether conditions are satisfied for processing a signaling payload within the received IP data packet, determining whether the conditions are satisfied for processing the signaling payload comprising: determining whether a next protocol field in an IP header portion of the IP data packet indicates a Stream Control Transport Protocol, SCTP, determining whether an IP destination in the IP header portion of the IP data packet matches a local IP address, determining whether data in a SCTP port field in a SCTP header of the IP data packet indicates an SCTP port that matches a port in a list of open local SCPT ports; determining an owner interface identifier for a local network interface associated with the SCTP port; and determining whether the particular interface identifier matches the owner interface identifier; and if it is determined that the conditions are satisfied for processing the signaling payload, processing the signaling payload without sending the signaling payload over a network link to a different node in a signaling network; and if it is determined that the IP destination in the IP header portion of the IP data packet does not match the local IP address of the router, or the next protocol field in the IP header portion does not indicate the Stream Control Transport Protocol, SCTP; routing the IP data packet based on header data in the IP header portion of the IP data packet. <EOS>