Patents by Inventor Rudolf Ritter

Rudolf Ritter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060080525
    Abstract: Method for identifying and/or authenticating a user (1) of a mobile device (2) in a server (4) on the basis of fingerprints of the user (1) that have been read through haptic input means (21) of the mobile device 82) with a fingerprint reader in the mobile device (2), the method having the following steps: inviting the user (1) to perform selections in a menu of the server (4) with the haptic input means (21), simultaneously reading the user's fingerprints through the haptic input means (21), comparing the fingerprints and possibly previously read fingerprints of the user (1) with reference fingerprints, repeating the previous steps until the user 81) has been identified and/or authenticated with a predetermined probability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Eric Lauper
  • Publication number: 20060079247
    Abstract: A method is described for directing a user of a mobile device from a current location to a product, wherein an identification code of the product is recorded in the mobile device and transmitted to a name server. The identification code is used in the name server among others for loading product-related data into the mobile device, e.g. a geographical location where the product can be bought. Following this, the user of the mobile device can go to said geographic location. For directing said user to the product, a direct contactless connection is established between said mobile device and a RFID element with which said product is marked, by using the same identification code or product-related data previously supplied by the name server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Publication number: 20060069588
    Abstract: Method for recycling products, comprising the following steps: recording through a mobile device (5) that a product (3) to be recycled has been brought to a collection point (2), wherein the mobile device (5) comprises an identification module (50) for identifying said mobile device (5) and/or a user (2), crediting a deposit caused by the recycling of said product (3) or debiting a recycling fee caused by the recycling of said product (3) on an account linked with said identification module (50). Data carrier with a program for executing this method. Method for recycling products, comprising the following steps: recording through a collection point (2) that a product (3) to be recycled has been brought to the collection point (2), wherein a code with which the product is identified is recorded by the collection point (2), sending a first signal to a mobile device (5) that said product (3) is to be recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Publication number: 20060055538
    Abstract: Method for finding a lost or stolen object (1), with the following steps that must be performed before the object is lost: said object (1) is marked with a RFID tag (10) in which an unequivocal tag identification (100) is stored, the owner of the object (1) accesses the RFID tag (10) with a RFID reader device (2) that is built into a mobile radio telephone (3) of the owner or that is connected with this mobile radio telephone (3), said tag identification (100) is paired with an owner identification (300) that is read from the SIM card (30) of said mobile telephone (3), and with the following steps that are performed when said object (1) is found by a third party: said tag identification (100) is read by a second RFID reader device (9), the owner identification (300) that has been paired with the read tag identification (100) is determined, said owner is informed about the finding of said object (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Publication number: 20060032917
    Abstract: Method for recycling one-time codes for individually marking individual products (11-15), the codes being each stored in a RFID tag (91-95) or encoded in the form of a bar code, including the following steps: determining that a one-time code individually marking a product (11-15) that no longer needs to be traced is available, offering said code for individually marking another product. With this method, one-time codes can be recycled independently from their carriers such as for example RFID tags or bar codes and sold to buyers interested in new codes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Publication number: 20060008125
    Abstract: A transaction method, a service center, and a device for carrying out the transaction method. In the transaction method object picture data relating to a transaction object, for example a product or a service, are made visible to a user, for instance by projecting image signals corresponding to the object picture data directly on the retina of the user. Eye features of the user are determined while the object picture data, made visible, are viewed by him/her, for example by the light being captured that is reflected by the retina owing to the projected image signals and retina patterns of the user being determined from the determined reflection data and the associated object picture data. The determined eye features with object data relating to the transaction object are linked in a transaction record and the transaction record is forwarded to a processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: SWISSCOM MOBILE AG
    Inventors: Eric Lauper, Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 6976171
    Abstract: The invention concerns a SIM (subscriber identity module) card (1) for a subscriber on a GSM mobile radio (2) comprising a contact zone (11) to be connected with a mobile apparatus (13, 14) and electronic storage means (10) containing parameters for identifying subscribers of said mobile radio network. Said storage means can also contain one or several other identification parameters, whereby the subscribers of other systems can be identified in these other systems. The other system can accede, for example by an inductance coil (12), to said other identification parameters. The additional identification parameters can be reloaded or modified by remote control from a SIM server (3). Preferably, said parameters are transmitted by short TTP coded messages SMS, between the SIM server and the SIM cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Walter Heutschi
  • Publication number: 20050272437
    Abstract: A data acquisition system that comprises several mobile terminals (2), each comprising a broadcast receiver (21) for receiving the broadcast signals that are unidirectionally transmitted from a broadcasting station (13) via an air interface (12) and a mobile radio module (22) for the communication via a mobile network (3). Furthermore, the mobile terminals (2) each include means for providing data accounting, their contents depending on the broadcast signals received and, for example, on data relating to the signal quality of the received broadcast signals. The data acquisition system comprises a memory (5) connected to the mobile network (3). The data accountings provided are transmitted from the mobile terminals (2) by means of the mobile radio modules (22) via the mobile network (3) where they are stored in the memory (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Alexander Ruegg, Beat Becker
  • Patent number: 6973203
    Abstract: A transaction method, a service center, and a device for carrying out the transaction method. In the transaction method object picture data relating to a transaction object, for example a product or a service, are made visible to a user, for instance by projecting image signals corresponding to the object picture data directly on the retina of the user. Eye features of the user are determined while the object picture data, made visible, are viewed by him/her, for example by the light being captured that is reflected by the retina owing to the projected image signals and retina patterns of the user being determined from the determined reflection data and the associated object picture data. The determined eye features with object data relating to the transaction object are linked in a transaction record and the transaction record is forwarded to a processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Eric Lauper, Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 6968383
    Abstract: Method for broadcasting addressed data to a multiplicity of users via various broadcasting channels. The method includes setting up at least one information data base, which contains data that are intended to be transmitted through at least one of the broadcasting channels, the stored data from a multiplicity of information suppliers being transmitted through at least one communication channel into the information data base, storing of transmission criteria for each user or each user group, the transmission criteria including indications about the data from the information data base that have to be transmitted to each user or each user group, as well as an indication about the selected broadcasting channel, and automatic selection of the data to be transmitted according to the stored transmission criteria, and transmission of this data to the user or to the user group through the selected broadcasting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Walter Heutschi, Rudolf Ritter, Hanspeter Bouquet
  • Patent number: 6959450
    Abstract: A system (1) and a method for transmitting and presenting video data as well as a communications terminal (4) suitable therefor and a suitable video center (2), users being able to request and obtain video data from the video center (2) by means of communications terminals (4), in particular mobile communications terminals (4), over a telecommunications network (3), in particular a mobile radio network (3), picture signals corresponding to the received video data being projected upon the retina (51) of the user through a virtual retina display device (41) of the communications terminal (4), current eye positions of the user being determined in the communications terminal (4) and being transmitted to the video center (2), and the video center (2) comprising a video filter module which filters said video data, prior to their transmission, on the basis of received current eye positions such that outer image regions, corresponding to the video data, projected on the retina (51) outside the fovea (511) have a less
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Eric Lauper
  • Publication number: 20050222955
    Abstract: Billing method and billing system to determine usage fees which are charged to the user of a digital telecommunications network, whereby a usage fee charged for a connection is determined prior to establishing this connection from statistical characteristics of previous connections of the user. Preferably, the usage fees are determined from a dynamic client profile stored in a first memory area, which profile is derived from one or multiple random variables of previous connections of the user of the digital telecommunications network. After new connections of the user, the stored client profile is again dynamically derived. In a simple variant, the client profile contains a value proportional to the average price per connection or to the average duration of a connection of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the client profile also contains multi-dimensional functions of random variables of previous connections of the user of the digital telecommunications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: SWISSCOM MOBILE AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Walter Heutschi
  • Patent number: 6941154
    Abstract: A telecommunication method and a receiving apparatus for enabling the telecommunication method. A telecommunications mobile device comprises an identification card, a radio receiver, and/or a television receiver, wherein the identification card is capable of identifying the user of the telecommunications mobile device. When the telecommunications mobile device receives digital data, transmitted over a broadcast channel as program-accompanying data in a media program, it displays information, corresponding to the received digital data, on a display of the telecommunications mobile device and allows the user to enter a command. Based on the entered command, a message is prepared that includes at least one data field from the received digital data as well as an identification of the user determined from the identification card. The prepared message is then sent over a mobile radio network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 6934689
    Abstract: Payment transaction method and payment transaction system in which payment transactions between customers with portable mobile devices, for example mobile radio telephones, and a plurality of payment terminals are carried out at a service point, the payment terminal responsible for a payment transaction informing a respective customer about the total transaction amount and the transaction identification of the payment transaction, the transaction identification comprising a payment terminal identification, the mobile device transmitting, via a contactless device interface, the transaction identification, entered in the mobile device by the customer, to the payment terminal, identified through the payment terminal identification, the payment terminal transmitting, after receipt of the transaction identification, a payment request comprising a service point identification, the payment terminal identification and the total transaction amount, via the contactless device interface to the mobile device, and a payme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Eric Lauper
  • Patent number: 6895259
    Abstract: A flat display for a mobile radio telephone or another autonomous electrical device, with a display surface on which information can be displayed. The display can be electrically controlled to make the entire display surface, or only a portion thereof, reflecting. Alphanumerical and/or advertising information can be displayed on the remaining, non-reflecting portion of the display surface. The mobile radio telephone can also be used as a practical pocket mirror. Advertisements and important information, for example service provider identifications, can be displayed particularly effectively on a reflecting background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Judith Blank nee Keller, Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 6888443
    Abstract: An information system for vehicles (35) includes a plurality of contactless transceivers (31-32) oriented in the direction of the passengers (36) that allow a data transfer at close range, with a central data processor (2). A data bus (3) is connected with the transceivers (31-32) and with the central data processor (2), so that data can be transmitted between private portable terminals (4) of the passengers and the central data processor (2) in both directions over the transceivers (31-32) and the data bus (3). The portable terminals (4) additionally store passengers' identification data in such a manner that the identification data are transmitted to the central data processor, so that the system can check the passengers' travel authorizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 6880761
    Abstract: A method for loading data on chip cards (2) wherein data from a service center (6) are transmitted over a mobile network (4) to a SIM card (1), which is inserted in a mobile device (3) and connected thereto via an interface with contacts, and are stored there, and wherein such stored data are transmitted contactlessly from the SIM card (1) to a chip card with contacts (2). The mobile device (3) may, for example, be a mobile radio telephone and the mobile network (4) a GSM or UMTS network. The transmissions are preferably secured and authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Eric Lauper
  • Patent number: 6859650
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus includes a removable SIM chip card having data-processing means intended among other things for storing identification data of a subscriber in a GSM mobile radio network. The mobile apparatus has additionally at least one wireless interface integrated in the housing. The interface may be infrared or inductive. By means of this interface, the SIM card can communicate directly, without making use of the mobile radio network, with an outside device in both directions. The chip card contains additionally a communication controller to encrypt data and transmit them via the interface. The contactless interface may preferably be fed independently of the mobile apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 6856799
    Abstract: Communications system in which at least certain mobile devices (1) are each able to be connected to a power supply network (4) via a connecting module (2), which connecting modules (2) comprise a power line communications module (21) by means of which said mobile devices (1) are able to communicate, via the said power supply network (4), with a visitor location register (5), which register is connected to the said, power supply network (4) via a power line communications module, user identifications (123) in particular, which are stored in an identification module (12), removably connected in each case to a mobile device (1), being transmitted by the mobile devices (1) via the said power supply network (4) to this power supply network visitor location register (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Ritter
  • Patent number: 6829593
    Abstract: Method with which a first user of a mobile telecommunications network, in which users are identified with a chip card by the provider of the telecommunications network, can provide objects to other users of the telecommunications network, with the following steps: reserving by the first user of a memory area in an accessible database in said telecommunications network, in which at least a number of users can store objects, for example documents and programs, filing by the first user of objects in said memory area, allocation by the first user of access authorizations for said objects, sending by a second user of a query to said database, verification of the access authorization of the second user through the database administration system, by using the second user's identity stored in his said personal identification module for his identification in the database administration system, if his access authorization allows it, sending of a reply from the database to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Claudio Cabano, Eric Lauper