Patents Assigned to Swisscom AG
  • Patent number: 9565144
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for obtaining and utilizing status information associated with persons and/or entities. Status information associated with a person or an entity may be determined based on information, associated with the person or the entity, in one or more applications and/or one or more databases. In this regard, an indication of the person or the entity may be detected in a frame (e.g., from a screen of a device), and the status information may comprise an indication of online or contact availability, via at least one of the one or more applications, associated with the indication of the person or the entity. In response to user input based on the status information, a communication session associated with one of said one or more applications may be imitated, to provide connectivity with the person or the entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventor: Tim Carr
  • Patent number: 9552079
    Abstract: A method, electronic device, and system for remote text input in the electronic device are provided. A display signal may be outputted in the electronic device, displaying a text field for inputting text (e.g., by the user of the electronic device). A request for text input may be sent from the electronic device to another device (e.g., a communication device) which may be addressed by an identifier of the other device (e.g., a SIM of the communication device). The electronic device may then receive the requested text input from the other device (e.g., once the user of the other device enters the requested text).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Guy Papstein
  • Patent number: 9554285
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for communication between moving objects (e.g., a train) and land-based systems (e.g., base stations of mobile wireless networks). For example, wireless communication may be established between a train and one or more base stations arranged along a track travelled by the train. In some instances, multiple-input and multiple-output arrays may be configured, comprising antennas of one or more communication relays arranged on the train, and the one or more base stations. Communications may be performed concurrently via multiple communication channels, such as channels of a MIMO arrays, using cooperative communication schemes for example. Channel state information (CSI) may be stored, remotely or locally, such as in a data storage system, and for communicating via the communication channel(s), channel state information may be determined, such as depending on information defining the current location of communication relays used in establishing the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Thomas Zasowski
  • Patent number: 9544443
    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: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Paul Aebi
  • Patent number: 9513363
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining signal source probabilities. Signal source probabilities, for a plurality of sub-areas of a geographic area covered by a plurality of signal sources, may be determined. For each one of the plurality of sub-areas, the signal source probabilities may be determined based on probable field strengths of the plurality of signal sources for the one of the plurality of sub-areas, and the signal source probabilities for that one of the plurality of sub-areas indicate the probability that a mobile device, located in that one of the plurality of sub-areas, is operable to detect a particular signal source for communicating. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise calculating expected field strengths in the plurality of sub-areas. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise obtaining power information indicating a detected power of respective signals received by the mobile device from multiple transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Ernst Versteeg
  • Patent number: 9479486
    Abstract: Method and/or system for use in selectable data transmission. An electronic key may be generated (e.g., by a central module) and stored as assigned to authentication data. Electronic data may then be encrypted (e.g., by the central module) into encrypted data using at least part of the electronic key. A signaling message may be transmitted (e.g., by the central module) to a first communications terminal, and the encrypted data may then be transmitted (e.g., by the central module) to a second communications terminal that is selected by the first communications terminal. At least part of the electronic key may then be transmitted (e.g., by the central module) to the second communications terminal. The encrypted data may be decrypted by the second communications terminal using the at least part of the electronic key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Marc Danzeisen, Simon Winiker, Jan Linder, Florian Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 9420298
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for batch processing. A plurality of correlation parameters representing degrees of correlation between two or more data sets in a first batch of data sets may be determined, and an optimized correlation dependency graph may be generated according to the plurality of correlation parameters. A second batch of data sets may then be encoded according to the optimized correlation dependency graph. For example, the optimized correlation dependency graph may be used for performing a predetermined correlation encoding operation. The plurality of correlation parameters may be determined, for example, in accordance with one or more predetermined correlation metrics associated with a predetermined correlation encoding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Urs-Viktor Marti, Denis Schlauss, Lukas Hohl, Beat Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9413843
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling handling of communication requests. Handling-profile information, which may be used in handling of communication requests directed to a user, may be received in a computerized central unit. The computerized central unit may then transfer handling information that is based on the handling-profile information, to a network server in a network with which the user is associated, for enabling the network server to handle (e.g., forward) communication requests associated with the user based on the handling information. The handling-profile information may comprise destination addresses for use in handling communication requests associated with the user; categorizations of callers into caller groups; and/or handling-schemes for specifying how to handle communication requests from particular callers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Thomas Staudte, Erich Gebhardt, Frank Fitzlaff, Oscar Genovese
  • Patent number: 9388975
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for designing, implementing, and/or using communication cables comprising a leaky feeder structure, which may be configurable for homogeneous distribution of data signals. An example communication cable may comprise a core conductor, an insulation shield surrounding the core conductor, an outer conductor around the insulation shield and having one or more apertures arranged along its length, and a jacket at least partly covering the outer conductor. The communication cable may also comprise an illumination arrangement which may be arranged at least along sections of the length of the cable. The illumination arrangement may comprise a plurality of light emitting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Daniel Wenger
  • Patent number: 9392400
    Abstract: In order to perform location-specific services of a broadcasting unit (3), virtual cells (22, 23, 24) for the location-specific services are set up so that cell data, which define a local cell area, are transmitted to a mobile receiving device (1) via the broadcasting unit (3). The cell data are stored in the mobile receiving device (1). The mobile receiving device (1) establishes its current position (25) and determines whether it is located in the cell area. In the event the mobile receiving device (1) is located in the cell area, the receiving device performs a service assigned to the cell data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 9384605
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for authentication of a user, such as using a user-specific card, which may provide data for implementing a plurality of security steps in an electronic device (e.g., using a particular application running therein), performed individually or in combination, such as depending on a desired security level and/or the application. The user-specific card may store a user identifier, an operator identifier, and a plurality of application identifiers, and other related data. The user identifier may be read from the user-specific card and may be authenticated. The operator identifier may be read from the user-specific card and may then be forwarded to a server of an operator, which may then verify the operator identifier. Further, additional information for the user may be requested from the server. An application identifier may be read from the user-specific card and may be verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Hugo Straumann
  • Patent number: 9350860
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for rendering different speech-based services to a plurality of users. A service-providing system may be accessed via a plurality of connectivity ports. Each of the connectivity ports may be associated with at least one of a plurality of different speech-related services. The connectivity ports may be associated with the different speech-related services may be performed before receiving user service requests. The service-providing system may comprise a plurality of processing components, each of which may be configurable to provide one or more of a plurality of different speech-related services. The service-providing system may further comprise a connection component, which may be operable to establish a connection between the respective connectivity port and a processing component having a configuration of suitable for performing a service requested through the respective connectivity port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Roger Lagadec, Patrik Estermann, Luciano Butera
  • Patent number: 9313727
    Abstract: A method, and a system for implementing the method, for creating an optimized communications link between at least two mobile network nodes, whereby lookup tables of available network interfaces may be created and updated periodically thereof, configuration data is transmitted between the mobile network nodes via an available signaling channel, at least one signaling channel is created via one of the available network interfaces based on the configuration data in order to transmit configuration data, and at least one data channel is created via one of the available network interfaces based on the configuration data, with the data channel being changed from one available network interface to another available network interface, after determining by the use of the lookup table that quality of service of the one available network interface is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Marc Danzeisen, Michael Schaedler, Daniel Rodellar
  • Patent number: 9276961
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting security settings of a communication station based on security relevant events. The communication station may be associated with an identification module. A security registry in the identification module may be updated according to an identified security related event occurring in the communication station, and a security level of the communication station may be adapted and/or enforced according to the security registry (e.g., as updated according to the identified even) of the identification module. The security relevant event may be identified and stored in an event registry, in one or both of the communication station and the identification module. The communication station may comprise a workstation and a mobile terminal that includes the identification module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Renato Cantini, Paul Aebi
  • Patent number: 9198048
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deploying cellular communication networks. In a cellular communication network comprising a plurality of cells, with each cell comprising at least a base station and one or more antennas arranged to cover the cell, one or more non-adjacent cells may be selected use as central cells. In this regard, for each central cell, a super-cell may configured, comprising the central cell and at least a part of one or more cells adjacent to the central cell, with antennas of the super-cell comprising one or more antennas of the one or more adjacent cells. The configuring of the super-cell may comprise arranging the one or more antennas of the one or more adjacent cells to be directed towards the central cell; and configuring antennas of the super-cell such that signals from the antennas use at least one same channel resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zasowski, Marc Kuhn, Raphael Rolny
  • Patent number: 9167552
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining a location area of a user using a mobile communication terminal in a geographical area covered by a mobile radio network, based on location probabilities for defined sub-areas of the geographical area. The location probabilities may be determined based on, e.g., field strengths expected in the sub-areas from antennas and based on the antenna used by the mobile communication terminal. The location probabilities may indicate, for a sub-area, the probability that the mobile communication terminal is located in the respective sub-area. At least one ellipse defining the location area may be determined, such as based on the location probabilities. The location probabilities may enable determining elliptical location areas of mobile users much smaller than the area each antenna does cover physically, but without the need for measuring at the mobile communication terminal signal properties such as signal strength or observed time differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Ernst Versteeg, Eric Taillard, Patrick Bailly, Maxence Laurent
  • Patent number: 9152621
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for obtaining and using status information associated persons and/or entities. A name of a person or an entity may be detected in a frame (e.g., from a screen of a device); and status information associated with the detected name may be determined, based on information associated with the detected name in one or more applications and/or one or more databases. Each of applications or databases may operate on or be accessible using the device from which the frame originates. The status information may be displayed on the screen of the device, such as to enable the user to perform one or more particular actions based on the status information and/or by interacting with the displayed status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Tim Carr
  • Patent number: 9146297
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining signal source probabilities. For example, signal source probabilities for a plurality of sub-areas of a geographic area covered by a plurality of signal sources may be determined. The signal source probabilities may indicate for each of the plurality of sub-areas probable field strength of the plurality of signal sources, and the signal source probabilities may indicate the probability that a mobile device, located in a respective sub-area, is operable to detect the particular signal source for communicating. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise calculating expected field strengths in the plurality of sub-areas. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise obtaining power information indicating a detected power of respective signals received by the mobile device from multiple transmitters. A probability model, including the signal source probabilities, may be determined. The probability model may be a three dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventor: Ernst Versteeg
  • Patent number: 9148420
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for single sign-on process for remote-access to remote servers, using user equipment associated with a user. An intermediate device (e.g., smart-card) associated with the user equipment may be activated using local-access authentication information provided by the user. The local-access authentication data may be provided by the user in response to requests by the user equipment. Once activated, the intermediate device may support remote-access operations, by providing, in response to authentication requests received from remote servers, remote-access authentication data, which may be used in authenticating the user at the remote servers. The authentication requests may be sent by the remote server to the user equipment in response to the user requesting remote access. The remote-access authentication data may be provided without requiring user input, once the intermediate device is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SWISSCOM AG
    Inventors: Azim Ferchichi, Eric Lauper
  • Patent number: 9113206
    Abstract: A method 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. The DoV information may be determined using: a beam splitter, a lens, and a position sensing diode which receives light from the lens which has been received from the beam splitter, wherein the position sensing diode outputs a signal to the eye tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Eric Lauper