# US 12,015,538 B2 · Specifying link layer information in a URL > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,538 B2 - Document ID: US12015538B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/732,495 - Filed: 2022-04-28 - Published: 2022-08-11 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-13 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: James W. Scott; Nicolas Villar; Stephen E. Hodges - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015538B2 ## CPC - H04W 12/50: Secure pairing of devices - H04L 45/00: Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks (routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00) - H04L 61/503: using an authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA] protocol, e.g. remote authentication dial-in user service [RADIUS] or Diameter - H04L 69/321: Interlayer communication protocols or service data unit [SDU] definitions; Interfaces between layers - H04L 2101/30: Types of network names - H04W 12/77: Graphical identity - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, at a resolving device, a URL specifying, within metadata of the URL: a location for content, a first network name corresponding to a first network, a second network name corresponding to a second network, credentials for accessing the first network, and a location criterion for selecting between the first network and the second network based on a location of the resolving device; selecting the first network based on the location criterion and the location of the resolving device; and accessing the content at the resolving device from the location for content by connecting to the selected first network using the credentials for accessing the first network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises a parameter for accessing the first network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the URL comprises a WiFi access point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the URL is transmitted by way of one or more of: e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, Bluetooth, near-field communication, infra-red, visual code, a visual code that is readable by the resolving device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the URL comprises an identifier of the first network name. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the URL or the metadata further comprises selection criteria for use by the resolving device in selecting a link layer network name from the first network and the second network specified in the metadata. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the URL comprises a location for content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the resolving device to use the URL to access the content using the selected first network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first network further comprises selecting the first network using one or more of: a time of day, quality of service, a credential for the resolving device to use in accessing the first network, a characteristic of content at the URL or to be uploaded to the URL. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the first network using the characteristic of content at the URL or to be uploaded to the URL comprises selecting the first network upon a file size of the content being less than a threshold, the method further comprising selecting the second network upon the file size being equal to or greater than the threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising determining the file size including downloading a header in advance of a remainder of the content. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying available networks, the available networks comprising the first network and the second network. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: generating a URL at an originating device, the URL specifying, within metadata of the URL: a location for content, a first network name corresponding to a first network, a second network name corresponding to a second network, credentials for accessing the first network, and a location criterion for selecting between the first network and the second network based on a location of a resolving device, the URL being usable by the resolving device to select the first network based on the location criterion and the location of the resolving device, the URL being usable by the resolving device to access the content from the location for content using the selected first network using the credentials for accessing the first network; and transmitting the URL and metadata with the location for content, the first network name, the second network name, the credentials for accessing the first network, and the location criterion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting the URL and metadata comprises sharing the URL with the resolving device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the URL comprises a WiFi access point. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the URL is transmitted by way of one or more of: e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, Bluetooth, near-field communication, infra-red, visual code, a visual code that is readable by the resolving device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the URL further comprises selection criteria for use by the resolving device in selecting one link layer network name. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the selection criteria additionally comprises a preferred link layer network name for selecting between the first network and the second network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the metadata further comprises an additional rule for the resolving device to connect to either the first network or the second network, the additional rule comprising one or more of: time of day, quality of service, a credential for the resolving device to use in accessing the first network, a characteristic of content at the URL or to be uploaded to the URL. ### Claim 20 A system, comprising: a server comprising a processor configured to: generate a URL at an originating device, the URL specifying, within metadata of the URL: a location for content, a first network name corresponding to a first network, a second network name corresponding to a second network, credentials for accessing the first network, and a location criterion for selecting between the first network and the second network based on a location of a resolving device, the URL being usable by the resolving device to select the first network based on the location criterion and the location of the resolving device, the URL being usable by the resolving device to access the content from the location for content using the selected first network using the credentials for accessing the first network; and transmit to the resolving device the URL and metadata with the location for content, the first network name, the second network name, the credentials for accessing the first network, and the location criterion.