Methods and systems for routing signaling messages in a communications network using circuit identification code (cic) information

A routing node for receiving, processing, and subsequently transmitting Signaling System 7 (SS7) signaling messages destined for Media Gateway Controller (MGC) (182) type network element is disclosed. A Circuit Identification Code (CIC) routing node is adapted to receive an ISUP message from an associated SS7 network and determine the routing destination of the message based, at least in part, on a CIC parameter value contained within the message. The ISUP message is subsequently encapsulated in an Internet Protocol (IP) envelope and transmitted to a destination node via an IP communication link. Such a CIC routing node also provides network service providers with a method of generally eliminating the need for the assignment of unique SS7 network point codes to each MGC node in a network. That is, a CIC routing node allows multiple MGC nodes to effectively correspond to a single SS7 network point code.