Swisscom Ag

Interdigital Ce Patent Holdings, Sas

Daniel Wenger

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.

Communication cables with illumination

Methods and systems are provided for enhanced communication cables. A communication cable may include a cable body that includes a first end, a second end, an outer surface, an inner surface, and a channel defined by the inner surface and extending a length between the first end and the second end. The communication cable may further include a communication element located in the channel, an elongate light emitting element extending along at least a portion of the length of the cable body, and a plurality of light transmitting windows spaced periodically along the length of the cable body. The light emitting element may passes through the light transmitting windows. The cable body may include a plurality of opaque sections located between adjacent light transmitting windows, and the light emitting element may passes through the opaque sections. The light transmitting windows may be formed from a light transmitting polymer material.

Methods and systems are provided for enhanced communication cables which may be configured for supporting at least two separate functions, including distribution of data 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 at least the other different function. The other different function may include illumination. 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 include a jacket configured to accommodate the arrangement. The cable may include one or more apertures arranged on at least one component of the cable, in accordance with a specific pattern based on the arrangement. A location and/or a shape of at least one aperture may be configured based on at least one component of the arrangement.

Methods and systems are provided for using virtual base stations in communication systems. A communication system may include a plurality of fixed base stations. A virtual base station may be created in the communication system based on one or more creation conditions or criteria. Operation of the virtual base station may be managed, with the managing including assigning a first fixed base station in the communication system to operate as the virtual base station; concurrently communicating data of the virtual base station to the first fixed base station and to one or more other fixed base stations in the communication system; switching assignment of the virtual base station to a second fixed base station from the one or more other fixed base stations, based on a determination that a switch of assignment of the virtual base station is required. The virtual base station may be deleted based on one or more deletion conditions or criteria.

Communications with a mobile virtual base station

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.

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.

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.

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Uttigen, Switzerland

Daniel Wenger