Abstract: A communication network may be provided having a plurality of network nodes and which may be configured to enable instantiation of different network slices which represent virtual networks with different feature sets, e.g., providing different network functions and/or having different network characteristics. The communication network may be configured to allow a network slice to be used for data communication between i) a user equipment (UE) connected to the network and configured to execute an application, and ii) a content or application server (CAS) configured to provide an application service via the network. Network functions may be provided which allow influencing the UE's slice usage based on requirements of the application service, even if the CAS is located outside the connectivity provider's network, e.g., outside a mobile operator's domain.

Abstract: In a communication network with separate data planes including a control plane and a user plane, an application function is provided as a combination of an application function control plane (AF-CP) part operating in the network's control plane and an application function user plane (AF-UP) part operating in the network's user plane. The application function user plane part may be configured for the application-specific processing of user data, and instanced multiple times. The application function control plane part may be configured to support selecting an optimal instance of the application function user plane part for a particular UE.