Abstract: To help professionals (source users) reach other professionals (target users), a computer-based system may use as input user contacts and publicly available information to deduce relationships and output ranked paths that originate from the source users, go through third persons that are trusted-referrals or parts of trusted-referral circles, and end at the target users. Trusted referrals can make introductions with an increased probability that both sides will be willing to work with each other. The trust attribute is based on the nature of the relationship between two people and is also measured by strength, based on additional relationship parameters. Exemplary system uses include: a business person locates trusted referrals who can make an introduction to executives of a company, for the purpose of offering consulting services; and people who launched a project locate trusted referrals that can introduce them to angel investors/firms, to obtain project finding.

Abstract: A method for communication includes initiating a call between a mobile station in a cellular communication network and a subscriber unit that is accessible via the cellular communication network. A first connection to serve the call is opened between a base station in the cellular communication network and the mobile station. A second connection to serve the call is opened between the mobile station and an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN). While the first connection is open, data traffic is conveyed between the mobile station and the subscriber unit via the second connection.

Abstract: A method for communication includes initiating a call between a mobile station in a cellular communication network and a subscriber unit that is accessible via the cellular communication network. A first connection to serve the call is opened between a base station in the cellular communication network and the mobile station. A second connection to serve the call is opened between the mobile station and an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN). While the first connection is open, data traffic is conveyed between the mobile station and the subscriber unit via the second connection.

Abstract: A unified messaging system enables access to a variety of messaging devices and storage of messages in a single uniform e-mail attachment format. Furthermore, the system also provides e-mail messages to users without requiring said users to locally store said messages on a storage volume.

Abstract: A system and method for converting true-color still images to a format used by graphics display boards which is based on a pseudo-color method (i.e., displays such as Super VGA used by IBM personal computers and compatibles capable of displaying only 256 colors). The resulting visual model emulates thousands of colors displaying richly colored images and delivering a much better result than technologies based on currently used techniques such as the common histogram method. The high quality is obtained by determining an error factor for each pixel. In a preferred embodiment, the 256 colors are determined by a selection process which specifies a universal palette which contains an optimum set of colors for all images, i.e., without using a histogram which determines the colors which appear most frequently in a single particular image.