Patent ID: 8532092

Claim:
A method for providing next generation network (NGN)-based end user services to legacy subscribers in a communications network, the method comprising: at a service creation system (SCS) node having at least one processor, using the at least one processor for: receiving a signaling system 7 (SS7) call setup signaling message associated with a call involving a legacy subscriber access device and holding the SS7 call setup signaling message; while holding the SS7 call setup signaling message: generating a session initiation protocol (SIP) call setup signaling message related to the SS7 call setup signaling message; initiating the providing of at least one NGN-end user service for the call using the SIP call setup signaling message, wherein initiating the providing of at least one NGN-end user service includes sending the SIP call setup signaling message from the SCS node to an application server that applies the at least one NGN-end user service to the call involving the legacy subscriber access device; determining whether to modify the SS7 call setup signaling message based on the at least one NGN-based end user service, and, in response to determining to modify the SS7 call setup signaling message, modifying the SS7 call setup signaling message; and routing the SS7 call setup signaling message towards a destination; wherein the SIP call setup signaling message comprises a first SIP INVITE message, wherein using the SIP call setup signaling message to initiate the providing of the at least one NGN-based end user service includes sending the first SIP INVITE message to the application server that provides the at least one NGN-based end user service and receiving a second SIP INVITE message from the application server, and wherein determining whether to modify the SS7 call setup signaling message includes correlating the first SIP INVITE message with the second SIP INVITE message and comparing the first and second SIP INVITE messages to identify the presence of information regarding the at least one NGN-based end user service.