Patent ID: 7839889

Claim:
A method for processing an internet protocol (IP) encapsulated signaling system seven (SS7) user part message utilizing a signal transfer point (STP), the method comprising: at a first STP: (a) receiving an IP-encapsulated SS7 user part message transmitted from a first SS7 signaling point over a bi-directional IP signaling link, wherein the user part message excludes at least message transfer part (MTP) level 2 information; (b) removing an IP header from the message; (c) adding at least MTP level 2 information to the message; (d) reading at least MTP level 3 information from the message; and (e) routing the message from the bi-directional IP signaling link to a bi-directional SS7 signaling link based on at least the MTP level 3 information.