Patent attributes
A data communication network serves User Equipment (UE) over an optimal wireless network slice for a user application. A Network Exposure Function (NEF) receives a notice message indicating a UE Identifier (ID) for the UE and an application ID for the user application when the UE downloads the user application. In response, the NEF transfers a download message indicating the UE ID and the application ID to a network control-plane. The network control-plane receives the download message from the NEF, and in response, selects a slice ID for the optimal network slice based on the application ID for the user application. The network control-plane transfers a slice message indicating the application ID and the slice ID to the UE. In response to the slice message, the UE uses the optimal network slice when executing the user application.