Patents Assigned to Swisscom AG
  • Patent number: 10321329
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing communication networks. In a communication network that includes a plurality of cells, one or more antennas in a first cell from the plurality of cells may be configured to support operations in a second cell from the plurality of cells. The configuring may include arranging or causing the arrangement of the one or more antennas of the first cell to be directed towards the second cell, and configuring the one or more antennas of the first cell to use at least one same channel resource as used by antennas of the second cell, for communicating of signals of the second cell. The same channel resource may include a common channel. In some instances, the second cell may be configured to communicate with at least one communication device located within the second cell without use of any antenna of the second cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zasowski, Marc Kuhn, Raphael Rolny
  • Patent number: 10309639
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhanced communication cables which may be configured for supporting at least two separate functions, including distribution of data signals and at least one other different function. An example enhanced cable may include an arrangement along at least a section of the cable, with that arrangement configured for supporting the at least one other different function. The other different function may include illumination. The cable may include or have a jacket configured to accommodate the arrangement, with the jacket being transparent or including transparent areas or openings corresponding to at least regions of the arrangement. The arrangement may include an illumination arrangement. The cable may include light guiding material configured for use in conjunction with the illumination arrangement. The cable may have leaky feeder structures, for use in support of the distribution of data signals function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Daniel Wenger
  • Patent number: 10299141
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for data-driven roll-out planning optimization. An optimized network roll-out plan may be determined for a mobile network comprising sectors fitted with multiple cells operating over respective carrier frequencies by gathering data from several network counters, and analyzing the data to derive the network roll-out plan. Analyzing the data comprises applying congestion detection based on a probability mass function (PMF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) modelling; and assessing based on the congestion detection achievable data throughput for users in a particular sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Damiano Scanferla, Pavle Belanovic
  • Patent number: 10244124
    Abstract: A method for location-dependent billing for a services that are available to a mobile terminal, a local communication connection is set up to a fixably installed external location tag with a corresponding wireless interface between the fixably installed tag and the mobile terminal, the method including the steps of accessing the external location tag and transmitting a billing rate code from the external location tag to the mobile terminal, forwarding the billing rate code from the mobile terminal to a central unit of a mobile communication network, in which the mobile terminal is logged, determining a geographic location identification of the external location tag by evaluation of the billing rate code at the central unit, and selecting a billing rate for billing for the service available to the user based on the billing rate code at the central unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventor: Paul Aebi
  • Patent number: 10236944
    Abstract: One or more communication channels may be setup for communicating between a first transceiver from a plurality of transceivers in a transportation object and a network transceiver of a communication network that is in proximity to the transportation object. Channel related data may be determined for the first transceiver; and the determined channel related data may be determined to a second transceiver that is determined to come within communication range of the network transceiver due to movement of the transportation object. The channel related data may then be used for communicating via the one or more communication channels with the second transceiver. Cooperative communication schemes may be used when communication via the one or more communication channels. The cooperative communication schemes may comprise use of one or both of spatial diversity and spatial multiplexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Thomas Zasowski
  • Patent number: 10237684
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptively determining location of a mobile device. Antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by a mobile radio network may be determined, with the antenna probabilities being determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and with the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area. A location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal may then be determined based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Ernst Versteeg, Eric Taillard, Patrick Bailly, Maxence Laurent
  • Patent number: 10237216
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for obtaining status information associated with a person or an entity and performing actions based on the status information. An indication of the person or the entity may be detected in an output of an electronic device, and status information associated with the person or the entity may be determined, with the status information comprising an indication of accessibility of the person or the entity. The status information may be provided to a user via the electronic device, and based on user input that is responsive to providing the status information, one or more actions relating to the person or the entity may be performed. The one or more actions may comprise initiating in response to the user input and based on the status information, a communication session, to provide connectivity with the person or the entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Tim Carr
  • Patent number: 10178590
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using virtual base stations in communication systems. A communication system may comprise a plurality of fixed base stations. A virtual base station may be generated and/or assigned to a fixed base station in the communication system, with the fixed base station emitting signals of the virtual base station. The communication system may also comprise at least one network node, and communication system may be configured to transmit data of the virtual base station between the at least one network node and the assigned fixed base station, and emit signals of the virtual base station from the assigned fixed base station with the transmitted data of the virtual base station. The data of the virtual base station may be transmitted from the network node over multicast and/or broadcast connections, to the assigned fixed base station and to one or more fixed base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Daniel Wenger
  • Patent number: 10108939
    Abstract: A payment transaction method between a customer with a portable mobile device and a service point includes determining, at a payment terminal of the service point, a total transaction amount to be paid and a transaction identification that is different from other transaction identifications used for other transactions and assigned to the total transaction amount. The method includes informing the customer about the total transaction amount and the transaction identification. The method includes transmitting, from the payment terminal, the total transaction amount and the transaction identification to a central transaction unit. The method includes transmitting, from the mobile device, the transaction identification without inclusion of the transaction amount to the central transaction unit. The method further includes transmitting from the central transaction unit a payment request including at least the total transaction amount to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Georges Schlegel
  • Patent number: 10110907
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for image processing. A plurality of correlation parameters representing degrees of correlation between two or more images of a plurality of images may be produced. An optimized correlation dependency graph may be produced according to the plurality of correlation parameters. The plurality of images may then be delta encoded according to the optimized correlation dependency graph. For example, the optimized correlation dependency graph may be used for performing a correlation encoding operation. The plurality of correlation parameters may be produced, for example, in accordance with one or more correlation metrics associated with the correlation encoding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventors: Urs-Viktor Marti, Denis Schlauss, Lukas Hohl, Beat Herrmann
  • Patent number: 10102527
    Abstract: In a method and a system for data transmission, authentication data and an electronic key may be generated, with the electronic key being stored as assigned to the authentication data. Data may be encrypted, such as by a central communications device, into encrypted data, using at least part of the electronic key. Based on reception of the authentication data from a communications terminal, at least a portion of the electronic key and the encrypted data may be transmitted from the central communications device to the communications terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Jan Linder, Marc Danzeisen, Simon Winiker, Florian Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 10097887
    Abstract: A method and system for data communication is provided and may include, at a communications terminal, displaying picture objects and/or video objects received from a media center via a communications network. The communications terminal may transmit direction of view information (DoV) of at least one eye of a user of the terminal with respect to the displayed objects from an eye tracker at the communications terminal. The DoV may be determined by detecting a position of a pupil based on light reflected off of the pupil. Subsequent picture objects and/or video objects may be displayed by the communications terminal based on user interests determined from the transmitted DoV information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Eric Lauper
  • Patent number: 10097519
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectable data transmissions. An electronic key may be assigned to authenticated data associated with a particular user, electronic data may be encrypted, using at least part of the electronic key, to generate encrypted data, and a program code that must be executed to decrypt the encrypted data may be incorporating into the encrypted data. The encrypted data may be transmitted to a communications terminal identified by the user, and at least part of the electronic key may be transmitted to the communications terminal to cause decrypting the encrypted data using the at least part of the electronic key. The program code may be configured to cause checking one or more validation criteria associated with the encrypted data, at the communications terminal, during execution of the program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Marc Danzeisen, Simon Winiker, Jan Linder, Florian Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 10096024
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a system for data transmission. Authentication data and an electronic key are generated, whereby the electronic key is stored as assigned to the authentication data. At least part of the electronic key is transmitted by means of an authentication module of the central module to a communications terminal. Asynchronously to that, data are encrypted into encrypted data by means of an encryption module and by means of at least part of the electronic key. The encrypted data are transmitted between a central module and a communications terminal. The encrypted data are decrypted by means of a decryption module and by means of at least part of the electronic key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Marc Danzeisen, Jan Linder, Simon Winiker, Florian Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 10083389
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for utilizing enhanced SIM cards with integrated SIM cards. An example SIM card may comprise an integrated SIM card that is smaller than the SIM card; with the SIM card comprising a plurality of punched cutouts adjacent to the integrated SIM card. The punched cutouts may be arranged such that the integrated SIM card can be detached from the SIM card. Each one of the punched cutouts may line up with at least one electrical contact of the integrated SIM card, and a width of each one of the punched cutouts may be set based on at least one dimension of the electrical contact of the integrated SIM card. The punched cutouts may be arranged based on a direction of insertion of the integrated SIM card. The SIM card may comprise engraved lines arranged based on the punched cutouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Peter Jenni
  • Patent number: 9923265
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for low-profile or hidden antennas, and for installation and use of such antennas in particular locations, such as surfaces of roadways, pavements, walls, and/or ceilings. An example antenna system may comprise a ground conductor configured to provide a ground plane for the antenna system, where the ground conductor comprises a recess, a monocone arranged in the recess of the ground conductor, and a conductive coupling between the monocone and the ground conductor to ground the monocone. A geometrical configuration of one or more components of the antenna system may be selected adaptively to set (or select) one or more property of the antenna—e.g., resonance property of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Nima Jamaly
  • Patent number: 9913145
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing communication networks, such as cellular communication networks. A super-cell may be configured a communication network, with the super-cell comprising a central cell and at least a part of one cell adjacent to the central cell, with antennas of the super-cell comprising one or more antennas of the adjacent cell, and where the configuring of the super-cell comprises arranging the one or more antennas of the adjacent cell to be directed towards the central cell. The configuring of the super-cell may comprise configuring antennas of the super-cell such that signals from the antennas use at least one same channel resource. The super-cell may be configured to communicate with at least one communication device located within the super-cell without use of any antenna of the central cell of the super-cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zasowski, Marc Kuhn, Raphael Rolny
  • Patent number: 9900439
    Abstract: Methods and systems for call-forward initiated by movement may comprise receiving a call in a first communication device, sensing a motion of the first communication device, and causing the forwarding of the received call to a second communication device based on the sensed motion of the first communication device. The second communication device may be selected from one or more detected communication devices based on the sensed motion. The second communication device may be selected based on a direction of the sensed motion of the first communication device. The call may be established over a first communication network between a server and the first communication device, and the call may be forwarded to the second communication device by switching the call in the server to the second communication device over a second communication network. The call may be forwarded to the second communication device over the local connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventors: Tim Carr, Frank Fitzlaff
  • Patent number: 9854440
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for establishing dynamic peer-to-peer communications channels between terminals. A connection request for establishing a communications channel between a first terminal and second terminal may be intercepted. The first terminal and the second terminal may be connectable over secured communications channels to a secured network. Based on the intercepted connection request and/or network parameters obtained from the first and the second terminals, the terminals may be instructed to establish a peer-to-peer communications channel over a network distinct from the secured network. Security of the peer-to-peer communications channel may be maintained, such as by use of authentication and/or encryption in one or both of the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Eric De Froment
  • Patent number: 9829193
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhanced communication cables configurable for distribution of data signals. Such communication cables may have leaky feeder structures, for use in the distribution of data signals. An example communication cable may be configured for supporting at least two separate functions, comprising distribution of data signals and at least one other different function. The communication cable may comprise a core conductor, an insulation shield, an outer conductor that comprises a plurality of apertures, a jacket, and an arrangement arranged at least along sections of a length of the cable, the arrangement being configured for supporting the at least one other different function. The one other different function may comprise illumination. The arrangement may comprise an illumination arrangement which may be arranged at least along sections of the length of the communication cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Daniel Wenger