Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for binding the configuration state of client devices to the blockchain. A management agent can send a request to a smart contract hosted by a blockchain network for a configuration state for the computing device, the request comprising a device identifier for the computing device. The management agent can then receive the configuration state from the smart contract and apply the configuration state to the computing device.

Abstract: A grooming device with a self-cleaning and hair collecting features which allow the grooming apparatus to eject any hairs collected in the bristles or tines of the apparatus and collect the ejected hairs until it is convenient to dispose of the hair without having to touch the hair. The grooming device has a grooming section, a handle, a hair ejection device, and a hair collection device. The user will use the grooming device until it is full of hair, and then actuate the ejection device and collection device, which will trap the hairs until the uses releases the hair over a disposal container.

Abstract: A grooming device with a self-cleaning and hair collecting features which allow the grooming apparatus to eject any hairs collected in the bristles or tines of the apparatus and collect the ejected hairs until it is convenient to dispose of the hair without having to touch the hair. The grooming device has a grooming section, a handle, a hair ejection device, and a hair collection device. The user will use the grooming device until it is full of hair, and then actuate the ejection device and collection device, which will trap the hairs until the uses releases the hair over a disposal container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for publishing files online via feeds. In one aspect, the present invention includes a method and system for allowing web site operators to cause files to be published automatically based on directive information provided by a user. In one example, the present invention may include a computer-implemented method of providing access over time to a plurality of files via a feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computerized system and method for managing subscriptions to podcasts or other feeds so that the user obtains only selected episodes from only selected podcasts. In the system, a user selects one or more podcast feeds from those available and further selects one or more filter criteria. Then, as new episodes are added to the selected podcast feeds, the system compares the new episodes against the filter criteria. Episodes conforming to the filter criteria are then presented to the user while the user is not alerted to episodes that do not conform to the filter criteria. The system may create a derivative feed on a local or remote computing system to which is copied only the episode identification information that conforms to the filter criteria. The system can then have the user's device subscribe to derivative feed, thus requiring no change of the user's podcasting software.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computerized system and method for syndicating independent review and rating information for use by third parties. In one aspect, the present invention includes a method and system for allowing web site operators to cause syndicated ratings from an independent rating provider to appear on web pages generated in response to requests to the operators' web sites, while preserving the independence of the content of the ratings and providing assurance to the viewing public of that independence. Aspects of the present invention allow for ratings from an independent rating provider to be provided in real time and further assists the rating provider in obtaining additional ratings through the web site operators' web pages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for centrally managing subscriptions to feeds accessible at different locations on a network. A subscription server is provided that a user can log in to from any of the user's rendering devices and use to manage subscriptions to feeds, including subscribing to feeds, listening to episodes of feeds, downloading episodes to a rendering device, and rating and reviewing episodes. The user's history of actions with respect to feeds is tracked and stored on the subscription server. The user can then access this history via user interfaces generated by the subscription server to determine what actions the user has performed in the past.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically delivering media files with advertisements over a network. A method and system is disclosed for automatically adding an advertisement to the beginning or the end of a media file, such as a podcast episode, when the media file is requested by a consumer. In another aspect, the media file may be automatically searched for an advertisement marker, such as a specific tone or data element in the media file, that acts as a submission point for the automatic insertion of an advertisement into the media file. Aspects of the present invention allow for automatic insertion of advertisements after the creation of the media file, potentially without any interaction between the creator and the advertiser. The systems can be implemented at a central server, at the media file source, at a consumer's media player or distributed throughout various computing devices.

Abstract: A system and method for tagging discrete locations and/or sections within a pre-existing media file with images without modifying the media file are disclosed. The system includes a rendering device that receives user tag selections and creates information that can be used when rendering the media file in the future. When a tagged media file is rendered by a device capable of interpreting the information, the images are concurrently displayed on the interface of the rendering device. The discrete locations and/or sections can be associated with one or more user-selected image files. In an embodiment, the system and method can be performed without modifying the media file itself and thus no derivative work is created.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for selecting advertisement for delivery over a network in response to requests received from remote computing devices. In one aspect, the present invention includes a method and system for automatically matching an advertisement with a media file, such as a podcast episode, when the media file has been requested by a consumer. Aspects of the present invention allow for automatic selection of advertisements after the creation of the media file, potentially without any interaction between the creator and the advertiser.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for subscribing to podcast feeds from a single location. A server-based search engine is provided that identifies podcasts located throughout a network that are available to a user's rendering device and presents the user with a user interface from which the user can search for podcasts, subscribe to an identified podcast, listen to an identified podcast, or obtain additional information related to an identified podcast.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for pushing podcasts to mobile devices, such as cellular phones, from a remote subscription management system. A subscription management system is described that is adapted to retrieve episodes from one or more remote computing devices and transmit retrieved episodes to a mobile device over a wireless network. The transmissions are made via a telephone number associated with the mobile device. The system includes a datastore, in communication with the server, containing at least one telephone number of a mobile device associated with a user and at least one podcast subscription associated with the user. The podcast lists episodes that are located on one or more of the remote computing devices. When a search module identifies a new episode, the system retrieves the new episode and transmits it to the mobile device using the telephone number to address the transmission.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for recommending tags and/or content items in response to requests received from remote computing devices. In one aspect, a content item recommendation system comprises a database configured to store an identifier of a first content item, a first tag and information from which a tag density associated with the first tag and with the first content item may be derived. The tag density may be a measure of times a tag has been associated with a content item by any user of a plurality of users who are members of a community. The system also comprises a recommendation engine configured to receive search results containing the first tag from a search engine and to correlate the first tag with information stored in the database. The recommendation engine may be further configured to determine a recommended tag, based on a recommendation threshold and a tag density, the tag density associated with both the recommended tag and the first content item.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for limiting access to Internet content using a parental control filtering system. One or more user systems are connected to the Internet through a network device such as a gateway router. The network device restricts Internet access to pre-selected Internet content in a guest mode without requiring a user to login to a user account. A guest user who does not have a user account is allowed limited access to the Internet through a user system in the guest mode. A user who has a user account can bypass the guest mode and obtain less restrictive access to the Internet by logging into the user account. Parental control settings of any level can be applied to a user account. The parent control setting assigned to a user account are applied to the user system when the user successfully logins to his user account.

Abstract: A quasioptical gyroklystron for generating high power quasioptical radiation. A mildly relativistic electron beam gyrating in a static magnetic field is passed through a first open mirror resonator where a small change in the transverse electron energy takes place (either an increase or decrease depending on the relative phase between the electron gyration and the resonator wave fields). This small change than leads to slower (or more rapid) gyration of those electrons that have gained (or lost) energy in the first resonator. The length of the drift region between the first and a second open mirror resonator is adjusted so that rapidly gyrating electrons overtake slowly gyrating ones at the entrance to the second resonator. Thus the particles arrive at the second resonator strongly bunched in gyration phase. The fields in the first resonator are generated by feedback of a small amount of energy from the wave mode in the second resonator with a .pi.

Abstract: An intense, space-charge-neutralized, pulsed ion beam is used to heat a magnetically-confined plasma, such as a tokamak plasma, by injecting the ion beam into the plasma along a trajectory that is generally perpendicular to the confining magnetic field. For proper beam parameters, the ion beam will propagate across the magnetic field in the vacuum region, penetrate the confined plasma, and deposit its energy in the interior of the plasma.