Digital jukebox device with improved user interfaces, and associated methods

• US 10,318,027 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beaumier, Francois, Dhambri, Karim, Susla, Daniel, Labunka, Matthew, Moulton, Ian, Alameer, Samer, Tooker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US14/886,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20160044811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,332 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/06 Furniture aspects of radio, television, gramophone, or record cabinets for similar equipment supports attached to the wall or ceiling or floor stands F16M
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/632 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 : by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 : Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 : Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 : involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 : Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 : Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 : Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, to systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features and improved user interfaces. For instance, a smart search may be provided, e.g., where search results vary based on the popularity of songs within the venue, in dependence on songs being promoted, etc. As another example, a tile-based approach to organizing groupings of songs is provided. Groupings may involve self-populating collections of songs that combine centrally-promoted songs, songs in a given genre that are popular across an audiovisual distribution network, and songs that are locally popular and match up with the given genre (e.g., because of shared attributes such as same or similar genre, artist, etc.). Different tile visual presentations also are contemplated, as are different physical jukebox designs. In certain example embodiments, a sealed core unit with the “brains” of the jukebox is insertable into a docking station.

Claims

1. A jukebox device, comprising:

a sealed core unit that includes a touch-sensitive display device, at least one processor, a memory, non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a first latching mechanism and a plurality of first alignment features; and

a main body portion that includes front and rear body portions, the rear body portion including a second latching mechanism configured to cooperate with the first latching mechanism in removably securing the sealed core unit to the rear body portion, and a plurality of second alignment features, the first and second alignment features facilitating placement of the sealed core unit in the main body portion prior to latching,

wherein the first alignment features include right and left alignment guides and top and bottom slide-in supports.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more alignment guide pins.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a latch opening and wherein the second latching mechanism includes a movable latch that is insertable into the latch opening.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sealed core unit includes a plurality of first connectors that are configured to make direct electrical and mechanical contact with a plurality of corresponding second connectors provided to the main body portion when the sealed core unit is removably secured to the rear body portion.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the second alignment features include top and bottom locator features.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cooling mechanism external to the sealed core unit.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the cooling mechanism includes at least one thermal sensor.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the cooling mechanism includes one or more fans and an electronic fan controller.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the cooling mechanism is rotatably secured to the main body portion.

10. A jukebox device, comprising:

a main body portion that includes front and rear body portions, the rear body portion including a second latching mechanism configured to cooperate with a first latching mechanism of a sealed core unit to removably secure the sealed core unit to the rear body portion, wherein

the sealed core unit includes a touch-sensitive display device, at least one processor, a memory, non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and a second latching mechanism,

wherein the jukebox device further comprises a plurality of second alignment features provided to the main body portion configured to contact a plurality of corresponding first alignment features provided to the sealed core unit to facilitate placement of the sealed core unit in the main body portion relative to one another prior to latching, wherein the first alignment features include right and left alignment guides and top and bottom slide-in supports.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the second latching mechanism includes a movable latch that is insertable into a latch opening of the first latching mechanism.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of corresponding second connectors provided to the main body portion configured to make direct electrical and mechanical contact with a plurality of first connectors of the sealed core unit when the sealed core unit is removably secured to the rear body portion.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the second alignment features include top and bottom locator features.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising a cooling mechanism external to the sealed core unit.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the cooling mechanism includes at least one thermal sensor.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the cooling mechanism includes one or more fans and an electronic fan controller.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the cooling mechanism is rotatably secured to the main body portion.

18. A sealed core unit that is removably insertable into a main body portion of a jukebox device, the sealed core unit comprising:

a touch-sensitive display device;

at least one processor;

a memory;

non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and

a first latching mechanism;

wherein the main body portion includes front and rear body portions, the rear body portion including a second latching mechanism configured to cooperate with the first latching mechanism in removably securing the sealed core unit to the rear body portion,

wherein a plurality of first alignment features provided to the sealed core are configured to facilitate placement of the sealed core unit in the main body portion prior to latching when used with a plurality of corresponding second alignment features provided to the main body portion, wherein the first alignment features include right and left alignment guides and top and bottom slide-in supports.

19. The unit of claim 18, further comprising one or more alignment guide pins.

20. The unit of claim 18, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a latch opening configured to accommodate a movable latch of the second latching mechanism.

21. The unit of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of first connectors that are configured to make direct electrical and mechanical contact with a plurality of corresponding second connectors provided to the main body portion when the sealed core unit is removably secured to the rear body portion.