URI Templates can be used to interpret a URI. Given a URI, we can interpret the timespan covered and other information. Note only URLs, a type of URI, are supported here, and it is assumed that the server supports directory listings.
We can also use these templates to generate the names of files. For example, suppose a server doesn't support listings, so all we can do is to generate names. This will run much faster, because we don't have to get the file listings from the server.
This will use the generation code for all parts of the URI which can be handled with generation, and then will switch to parsing for parts that need parsing. For example, the $Y/$m/$d/ components can be resolved, and then listings are used to resolve $H$M$(S,sparse).png.