Computer jukebox and jukebox network

• US 20010023403A1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1990
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John R. Martin, Michael L. Tillery
• Original Assignee: John R. Martin, Michael L. Tillery
• Inventors: Martin, John R., Tillery, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US09/863,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• 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: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

A method and apparatus is shown for managing a plurality of computer jukeboxes at different locations from a central station. Each jukebox includes processor means for controlling the computer jukebox, storage and retrieval means for data, display means for selection menus, audio production means for playing musical records, and a user interface enabling patrons to communicate with the processor means. The central station can be used to download musical recording data to each computer jukebox, and each computer jukebox can upload usage data to the central station.

Claims

1. A computer jukebox capable of being updated upon the receipt of digital data representing a plurality of songs, data representing the identity of each of said songs and data representing the amount of storage space necessary to store said digital song data in said jukebox, comprising:

song selection means actuable by a user for generating a signal representing a song selected from a plurality of songs stored in said jukebox;

a programmable computer memory storing digital data representing each selectable song stored in said jukebox and a catalog file including data for each stored song representing the identity of said song and the location in said computer memory of the digital data representing said song;

a communication interface for receiving said digital song data, said song identity data and said storage space data;

audio speakers;

a digital to analog converter coupled between said song storing computer memory and said audio speakers to convert digital song data to an analog signal coupled to said speakers; and

processing means responsive to a song selection signal for accessing said digital data representing a selected song from said computer memory to apply said song data to said digital to analog converter and said processing means being responsive to digital song data, song identity data and storage space data received by said communication interface to control the storage of said digital song data to update said jukebox.

2. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 1

wherein said song selection means includes means for displaying information identifying each song stored in said jukebox, said processing means being responsive to said catalog file data to control the information displayed on said display means to represent said updated jukebox song selections.

3. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 1

wherein said communication interface includes a modem.

4. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 1

wherein said communication interface includes a radio frequency receiver.

5. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 1

wherein said communication interface includes a direct communication interface port.

6. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 1

further including a money intake device, said device generating a money detection signal upon the receipt of money intake of a predetermined amount, said processing means being responsive to said money detector signal to update a money intake memory location in said computer memory, said location storing data representing the total intake of money for said jukebox over a period of time, said communication interface including means for transmitting said money intake data to a remote location under the control of said processing means.

7. A jukebox network comprising:

a plurality of computer jukeboxes, each jukebox including

a programmable computer memory storing digital data representing a plurality of selectable songs and data for each stored song representing the identity of said song and the location in said computer memory of the digital data representing said song;

a song selection device actuable by a user to select a song stored in said memory;

a communication interface for receiving digital data including digital song data; and

processing means responsive to a song select signal for controlling the accessing of song data stored in said memory to control the playing of a song, said processing means being responsive to the receipt of digital song data by said communication interface to control the storage of said song data in said computer memory;

a management station for updating said plurality of jukeboxes, said management station including a communication interface for transmitting data and a host processing means for controlling the transmission of digital song data to a computer jukebox to update the jukebox.

8. A jukebox network as recited in

claim 7

wherein said management station is remote from said plurality of jukeboxes and the communication interface of said management station and each jukebox provides a two way communication link between said remote management station and said jukebox.

9. A jukebox network as recited in

claim 7

wherein said management station is portable.

10. A jukebox network as recited in

claim 9

wherein said communication interface of said management station and a jukebox provides a direct connection between said station and said jukebox.

11. A computer jukebox comprising:

a programmable computer memory storing digital data representing a plurality of selectable songs and data for each stored song representing the identity of said song and the location in said computer memory of the digital data representing said song;

a song selection device actuable by a user to select a song stored in said memory;

a communication interface for receiving digital data including digital song data; and

processing means responsive to a song select signal for controlling the accessing of song data stored in said memory to control the playing of a song, said processing means being responsive to the receipt of digital song data by said communication interface to control the storage of said-song data in said computer memory.

12. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 11

wherein said song selection device includes a display, said display being controlled by said processor to provide information to a user identifying each selectable song for which data is stored in said memory.

13. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 11

wherein said processing means is responsive to said song selection device to control the storage of song data including data representing the number of times each song is stored.

14. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 13

wherein said communication interface transmits said song data to a remote location under the control of said processing means.

15. A computer jukebox as recited in

claim 11

wherein said memory is an optical memory.