Application function relocation procedure

A method, comprising:

• sending, by a first application function that is configured to provide a service in a communication network, to a communication network control element of the communication network, an indication indicating that a change from the first application function currently providing the service to a communication session conducted in the communication network to a second application function providing the service to the communication session from now on is to take place, wherein the indication is configured to cause the communication network control element to switch a communication path from the first application function to the second application function;
• prior to the sending,
• detecting that the first application function currently providing the service to the communication session conducted in the communication network is not able to continue the provision of the service, and
• determining the second application function providing the service to the communication session from now on;
• receiving, from the communication network control element of the communication network, an acknowledgment that the change is authorized and accepted by the communication network control element;
• transferring context information of the first application function to the second application function;
• and
• forwarding notifications and requests received from the communication network concerning network related events to the second application function for a predetermined amount of time.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon which, when executed by a first application function, cause the first application function to perform a method comprising:

• sending, to a communication network control element of a communication network, an indication indicating that a change from the first application function currently providing a service to a communication session conducted in the communication network to a second application function providing the service to the communication session from now on is to take place, wherein the indication is configured to cause the communication network control element to switch a communication path from the first application function to the second application function;
• prior to the sending,
• detecting that the first application function currently providing the service to the communication session conducted in the communication network is not able to continue the provision of the service;
• determining the second application function providing the service to the communication session from now on;
• receiving, from the communication network control element of the communication network, an acknowledgment that the change is authorized and accepted by the communication network control element;
• transferring context information of the first application function to the second application function;
• and
• forwarding notifications and requests received from the communication network concerning network related events to the second application function for a predetermined amount of time.