Specifying link layer information in a url

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020169495-A1
Application number	US-202016777771-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 30, 2020
Priority date	Feb 13, 2013
Publication date	May 28, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system of specifying link layer information in a URL is described. In an embodiment, a URL is generated which includes both a link layer network type and information which is used by a resolving device to identify a particular link layer network of the specified type. In various embodiments, the URL includes a link layer network type and a corresponding link layer network name or pairs of link layer network types and corresponding link layer network names. Where the URL comprises more than one link layer network name, the resolving device may determine at runtime which of the named link layer networks to connect to and this decision may be based on criteria or preference information included within the URL.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
receiving, at a resolving device, a URL specifying, within metadata of the URL, a location for content, a size of the content, a secured network name corresponding to a secured network, and an unsecured network name corresponding to an unsecured network; and directing the resolving device to use the URL to access the content using either the secured network or using the unsecured network based on the size of the content.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises at least one parameter for accessing the secured network.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the URL wherein the secured network comprises a WiFi access point.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the URL is transmitted by way of at least one of: e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, Bluetooth, near-field communication, infra-red, visual code, or a visual code that is readable by the resolving device.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the URL comprises an identifier of the secured network name.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the URL or the metadata further comprises selection criteria for use by the resolving device in selecting one link layer network name from the secured network and the unsecured network.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the selection criteria comprises a preferred link layer network name.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the URL or the metadata further comprises one or more credentials for connecting the resolving device to the secured network.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more credentials comprise a one-time key for the secured network.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the URL specifies an XML script.

11 . A resolving device, comprising:
one or more processors; and memory arranged to store computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive a URL and metadata of the URL, the metadata specifying a location for content, a size of the content, a secured network name corresponding to a secured network, and an unsecured network name corresponding to an unsecured network, the URL being usable, based on the size of the content, to access the content using the secured network and one or more credentials specific to the secured network or using the unsecured network, and
access the content using either, based on the size of the content, the secured network or the unsecured network specified in the metadata.

12 . The resolving device of claim 11 , wherein the memory is further arranged to store computer executable instructions, which when executed cause the one or more processors to share the URL with a second resolving device.

13 . The resolving device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a display device and wherein sharing the URL with the second resolving device comprises:
generating a visual code that encodes the URL, and
displaying the visual code on the display device.

14 . The resolving device of claim 11 , further comprising a communication interface and wherein sharing the URL with a second resolving device comprises:
transmitting the URL to the second device via the communication interface.

15 . The resolving device of claim 11 , wherein the metadata of the URL further includes an age rating associated with the content that is usable by the resolving device determine whether to download the content.

16 . The resolving device of claim 11 , wherein the metadata of the URL further includes credentials for connecting to the secure network.

17 . The resolving device of claim 16 , wherein the credentials are specific to both the secured network and the piece of content.

18 . The resolving device of claim 11 , wherein the metadata further comprises one or more additional rules for the resolving device to connect to either the secured network or the unsecured network, the one or more additional rules comprising at least one member of a group comprising: time of day, location of the resolving device, quality of service, characteristics of the content, or credentials for connecting to either the secured network or the unsecured network.

19 . One or more computer memory embodied with computer-executable instructions configured to cause a resolving device to access content specified in a URL using particular networks, comprising:
receiving, at the resolving device, the URL and metadata associated with the URL, the metadata specifying a location for content, a size of the content, a secured network name corresponding to a secured network, and an unsecured network name corresponding to an unsecured network; and directing the resolving device to use the URL to access the content using either the secured network or using the unsecured network based on the size of the content.

20 . The computer memory of claim 19 , wherein the metadata further comprises one or more additional rules for the resolving device to connect to either the secured network or the unsecured network, the one or more additional rules comprising at least one member of a group comprising: time of day, location of the resolving device, quality of service, characteristics of the content, or credentials for connecting to either the secured network or the unsecured network.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Scott James W
• Villar Nicolas
• Hodges Stephen E

Classifications

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04L69/321

  Interlayer communication protocols or service data unit [SDU] definitions; Interfaces between layers · CPC title

• H04W12/003

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W12/00522

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L45/00 Primary

  Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks (routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00) · CPC title