Litton Systems, Inc.

Gregory A. Pearson, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Other

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.

Avalon Sciences Limited

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronic Company, Inc.

Chromux Technologies, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Greene, Paul L.

David Barnett Hall

Gregory A Pearson

Ronald Shane Hamilton

Samuel N Fersht

Nicholas N Panone

Joseph J Cahill

Donald A Frederick

Eric Lee Goldner

Paul Louis Greene

Robert E Stewart

Agop Hygasov Cherbettchian

Leo K Lam

James S Bunn, Jr

Carl Bathelt, Jr

Daniel A Tazartes

John G Mark

A Douglas Meyer

John P Rahn

Tae W Hahn

Michael J Tweedy

Robert A Mitchell

Shahrokh R Farahani

Tallis Y Chang

James Brett Bunn

Kenneth W Shafer

Holly Pearson

Robert W Stewart

James S Bunn Jr

James B Bunn

Paul Greene

Techniques for dynamically providing a picture-in-picture display incorporating live video content from a first network device, and pre-recorded content from a second network device, in a single stream. In an example scenario, a host or presenter may record a live video of himself or herself answering questions for an online audience. Before or during recording of the live video content, an audience member may record a video of himself asking a question directed to the host. A server may receive both the live video content and the pre-recorded video content, and may format or repackage the two sources of content for simultaneous viewing by the audience in real- or near real-time. To present this Q&A dynamic, some implementations may provide a picture-in-picture effect, wherein the display of a first content (e.g., the live video content) may be temporarily reduced to accommodate display of second content (e.g., the pre-recorded video content).

Systems and methods for picture-in-picture video conference functionality

A networking system may comprise a web site incorporating a combination of one or more of the following: a crediting system, a chat bidding system, a performance bidding system, a telephony switching system, a media interaction system, a display system, a photo management system, and a messaging system. The networking system may categorize each user of the web site into classes, including a featured class, a common class, a sponsored class, and a sponsoring class. The networking system may facilitate user interactions, some of which may be partially dependent on user classes. A featured user may opt to temporarily appear as a common user, thus activating an alternative user profile and hiding his featured status. A sponsored user may participate in interactions on the web site if a sponsoring user offers his credits to pay for the sponsored member's participation. Other aspects of the networking system are also disclosed herein.

Interactive networking systems with user classes

Networking systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide robust filtering to enable users to customize their networking environments. A networking system can comprise a plurality of interfaces, a request unit, a management unit, and a filter unit. Each interface can include a plurality of displayable objects, each of which can represent some user of the networking system. The request unit can receive from a client a request for one of the interfaces. The management unit can manage filters, where each active filter hides one or more users from one or more other users. When an interface is requested by a client associated with a first user, the filter unit can apply the active filters to the requested interface to exclude displayable objects that represent users hidden from the first user by one or more active filters.

Robust filters for social networking environments

A networking system may comprise a web site serviced by a web server assembly. The web site may generally comprise a combination of the following components: a crediting system, a chat bidding system, a performance bidding system, a telephony switching system, a media interaction system, a display system, a photo management system, and a messaging system. An exemplary embodiment of the chat bidding system may comprise a plurality of common user accounts, a queue, and a featured user account. Common users of the common user accounts may pose tasks to the featured user, and may make a pledge for each task. The tasks may be stored in, and sorted by, the queue based on their pledges. A featured user of the featured user account may be presented with a highest ranked task in the queue, and may choose to respond to the task or to skip the task.

Methods for interactively exchanging graphical objects between networked users

Content delivery systems and related methods can provide dynamic content across a network, based on detected network performance. An exemplary method can include transmitting a request to deliver requested content over a network. The method can further include transmitting a first confirmation responsive to receiving a test packet. Additionally, the method can include receiving, a first data set that is at least a first portion of the requested content and which includes a second request for confirmation, and transmitting a second confirmation. Finally, the method can include receiving a second data set, the second data set that is at least a second portion of the requested content and that is different from the first portion of the requested content.

Dynamic content delivery systems and methods for providing same

Order fulfillment systems and methods, which may enable a recipient to retrieve an ordered product from a plurality of providers, and may additionally deliver a virtual representation of the ordered product to the recipient. The order fulfillment method may be a paperless process comprising electronically receiving an order from a customer for a product to be retrieved by the recipient. A virtual representation of the ordered product may then be delivered and displayed to the recipient. A status module may be provided to indicate to providers whether the order has yet been fulfilled. The method may further comprise receiving an update to the status module when the recipient selects a provider and retrieves the ordered product from the selected provider.

Order fulfillment systems

A fiber optic sensor is provided. The fiber optic sensor includes: a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest; a moveable portion; a spring member positioned at least partially between the fixed portion and the moveable portion; an optical fiber wound in contact with the fixed portion and the moveable portion such that the optical fiber spans at least a portion of the spring; and an elastomeric material provided in contact with at least one of the fixed portion, the moveable portion, the spring member, the body of interest, and the optical fiber.

Damped fiber optic accelerometers, sensors, and sensor assemblies, and methods of assembling the same

Systems and methods for screening communications based on receiver programmable pins

Content delivery systems and related methods can provide dynamic content across a network, based on detected network performance. An exemplary content delivery system can comprise a content request unit, a detection unit, and a transmission unit. The content request unit can receive and process content requests from clients, and can instruct the transmission unit to provide the requested content. The detection unitcan detect performance of the network between the content delivery system and the client and, based on the detected performance, can update the values of one or more performance indicators. Upon receiving instruction from the content request unit, the transmission unit can select a data set from among a plurality of data sets embodying the requested content. The particular selection made can be based on the current values of the performance indicator. The transmission unit can then deliver the selected data set to the client.

Techniques for gamifying real-time network communications between users. In one implementation, a video puzzle based may be created based on scrambling a live video stream from a first user. The video puzzle may be displayed to a second user in communication with the first user. Responsive to a solving of the video puzzle by the second user, communications functionality between the first user and second user may be modified. For example, a fee assessed by a chat service or other facilitator for hosting the communications between the first user and second user may be waived or reduced.

Systems and methods for game-based modification of communications functionality

Networking systems and methods for efficiently facilitating interactions between subscribers using customized action cards are disclosed. A networking system can comprise a communication unit, a customization unit, and an action unit. The communication unit can transmit data embodying communications between a server and a plurality of client computers operated by subscribers of the networking system. The customization unit can enable a current user to categorize other subscribers and to select action indicators associated with an action card template for each subscriber category. The selected action indicators can vary across subscriber categories, resulting in a different action card template for each category. Action cards of other subscribers are displayed to the current user based on their applicable action card templates. When the current user requests performance of an interaction by selecting a first action indicator from a displayed first action card, the action unit can facilitate the requested interaction.

Customizable action cards for networking systems

Systems and methods for media interaction include transmitting web-based objects, including media objects, between users. For example, a first user may select a media object in response to a prompt and send the media object to a second user. Media objects may be dynamic and customizable to further personalize interactions between the first user and the second user. For example, a usemame of the first user or custom text may be automatically inserted into a media object sent to the second user. In an exemplary embodiment, display of the packaged media object on the second user's client computer may be purposely delayed until a predetermined even occurs. For example, a pulse, or heartbeat, may be generated and fired by a web client to inform the server of a current state of the web client, for example, readiness to receive media objects based on the user activity.

Growing community of inventors

La Crescenta, CA, United States of America

David Barnett Hall