Apparatus, method, system and computer program product for server failure handling

A method for a second apparatus, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a first apparatus, a first authentication request comprising a user identity and an identity of said first apparatus and comprising a first indication indicating the failure of a third apparatus, wherein said first apparatus is configured to provide authentication related service with respect to said user identity;
• determining if the third apparatus, originally associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service, is available for providing said service;
• removing a registration of said third apparatus from said second apparatus if it is determined that said third apparatus is not available for providing authentication related service;
• registering said first apparatus as the server associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service, if said third apparatus is not available;
• and
• sending a response to said first apparatus to acknowledge the first authentication request.

A first apparatus, comprising:

• a processor, a memory unit, a receiver, and a transmitter,
• wherein said receiver is configured to receive a first authentication request from a second apparatus, wherein said first authentication request is not relating to any ongoing session of said first apparatus and comprises a user identity and a first indication indicating the connection failure between the second apparatus and a fourth apparatus which is associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service;
• said processor is configured to conclude, having received the first authentication request, based on the received first authentication request, said fourth apparatus has failed;
• said processor is further configured to send a second authentication request to a third apparatus via said transmitter;
• and
• said processor is configured to provide authentication related service with respect to said user identity in place of the fourth apparatus in response to receiving the first indication,
• wherein said second authentication request comprises said user identity and a second indication indicating the failure of said fourth apparatus, and is to trigger the third apparatus to remove a registration of said fourth apparatus from said third apparatus if it is determined that said fourth apparatus is not available for providing authentication related service.

A second apparatus, comprising:

• a processor, a memory unit, a receiver, and a transmitter,
• wherein said receiver is configured to receive, from a first apparatus, a first authentication request comprising a user identity and an identity of said first apparatus and comprising a first indication indicating the failure of a third apparatus, wherein said first apparatus is configured to provide authentication related service with respect to said user identity;
• said processor is configured to determine if the third apparatus, originally associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service, is available for providing said service and to remove a registration of said third apparatus from said second apparatus if it is determined that said third apparatus is not available for providing authentication related service,
• register said first apparatus as the server associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service, if said third apparatus is not available, and
• send a response to said first apparatus to acknowledge the first authentication request.

A computer program for a first apparatus, the computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

• receive a first authentication request from a second apparatus, wherein said first authentication request is not relating to any ongoing session of said first apparatus and comprises a user identity and a first indication indicating connection failure between the second apparatus and a fourth apparatus which is associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service;
• conclude, having received the first authentication request, based on the received first authentication request, said fourth apparatus has failed;
• send a second authentication request to a third apparatus;
• and
• provide authentication related service with respect to said user identity in place of the fourth apparatus in response to receiving the first indication,
• wherein said second authentication request comprising said user identity and a second indication indicating the failure of said fourth apparatus, and is to trigger the third apparatus to remove a registration of said fourth apparatus from said third apparatus if it is determined that said fourth apparatus is not available for providing authentication related service.

A computer program for a second apparatus, the computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

• receive, from a first apparatus, a first authentication request comprising a user identity and an identity of said first apparatus and comprising a first indication indicating the failure of a third apparatus, wherein said first apparatus is configured to provide authentication related service with respect to said user identity;
• determine if the third apparatus, originally associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service, is available for providing said service;
• remove a registration of said third apparatus from said second apparatus if it is determined that said third apparatus is not available for providing authentication related service;
• register said first apparatus as the server associated with said user identity for providing authentication related service, if said third apparatus is not available;
• and
• send a response to said first apparatus to acknowledge the first authentication request.