Digital downloading jukebox system with central and local music servers

• US 20050060405A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nathan, Guy, Mastronardi, Tony, Dion, Dominique, Khenfir, Mounir
• Granted Patent: US 9,646,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• 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 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier

Abstract

A digital downloading jukebox system including a central server and a plurality of remote jukebox devices each provided with a local server that preferably mirrors the central server and enables selected songs to be immediately downloaded to the jukebox for reproduction. The local server and jukebox may also provide, through control of the central server, song download services to other jukebox devices, such as residential jukeboxes. The jukebox system may also act as a monitoring/management device for other coin operated equipment present in a location where the jukebox is located, thereby enabling the jukebox device to perform updates on other equipment under control of the central server.

Claims

1. A jukebox system comprising:

a central server including a master library of content to be accessed;

a plurality of jukebox devices in communication with said central server, said jukebox devices providing access to said central server; and

a plurality of local servers each being operably coupled to respective ones of said plurality of jukebox devices, and being in substantially close proximity to said respective ones of said plurality of jukebox devices, said local servers containing content that is not resident on said jukebox devices.

2. The jukebox system according to claim 1, wherein said local servers are periodically updated independently from said jukebox devices.

3. The jukebox system according to claim 1, wherein said local servers are updated from the central server via the jukebox device.

4. The jukebox system according to claim 1, wherein content available at the local server substantially mirrors content available at the central server at a given point in time.

5. The jukebox system according to claim 1, wherein said local server is in communication with a plurality of remote jukebox devices, said local server operating to selectively deliver content to said remote jukebox devices under control of the central server.

6. The jukebox system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of non-jukebox devices operably connected to said local server, said local server operating as a local central hub for managing said plurality of non-jukebox devices.

7. The jukebox system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one non-jukebox device being operably connected to at least one local server, said local server operating to manage said non-jukebox device.

8. The jukebox system according to claim 6, wherein the non-jukebox devices provide services in exchange for payment by a user.

9. The jukebox system according to claim 7, wherein the non-jukebox device provides services in exchange for payment by a user.

10. The jukebox system according to claim 1, wherein a collection of selected local servers are arranged to provide a network of distributed servers operating under the control of the central server via at least one jukebox device to provide content and/or services to other devices.

11. The jukebox system according to claim 7, wherein said local server provides management services for equipment that is capable of downloading updated information.

12. The jukebox system according to claim 1, wherein the local server is connected to its respective jukebox device via a dedicated high-speed communications connection.

13. The jukebox system according to claim 12, wherein the dedicated high-speed communications connection is an Ethernet network.

14. The jukebox system according to claim 12, wherein the dedicated high-speed communications connection operates at speeds at least as fast as an Ethernet network.

15. The jukebox system according to claim 2, wherein said local server is updated via an update tool.

16. The jukebox system according to claim 1, wherein content resident on said central server and said jukebox devices are compressed and encrypted according to a first encryption level.

17. The jukebox system according to claim 16, wherein content resident on said local servers is encrypted with a second layer of encryption.

18. The jukebox system according to claim 17, wherein content residing on said local servers are missing a predetermined number of bytes, said missing bytes being stored in a respective jukebox associated with a respective local server, said missing bytes being inserted into content received by a respective jukebox device from a respective local server.

19. A jukebox system comprising:

a central server;

a plurality of jukebox devices in communication with said central server for receiving content and updates from said central server; and

a local server in communication with at least one of said plurality of jukebox devices, said local server being arranged to provide content to said jukebox device.

20. The jukebox system according to claim 19, wherein said local server is located in substantially close proximity to said jukebox device and is connected to said jukebox device via a high-speed communication link.

21. The jukebox system according to claim 19, wherein said content provided by said local server to said jukebox device is based on selections made by a user operating the jukebox device.

22. The jukebox system according to claim 21, wherein the local server is periodically updated.

23. The jukebox device according to claim 22, wherein the content of the local server substantially mirrors the content of the central server at a given point in time.

24. The jukebox system according to claim 19, wherein content resident on said central server and said jukebox devices are compressed and encrypted according to a first encryption level.

25. The jukebox system according to claim 24, wherein content resident on said local servers is encrypted with a second layer of encryption.

26. The jukebox system according to claim 25, wherein content residing on said local servers are missing a predetermined number of bytes, said missing bytes being stored in a respective jukebox associated with a respective local server, said missing bytes being inserted into content received by a respective jukebox device from a respective local server.

27. A method of operating a jukebox system comprising:

providing a plurality of services and content at a central repository;

connecting a plurality of jukebox devices to said content repository via a communications medium;

connecting a local server to at least one of said plurality of jukebox devices, said local server being in substantially close proximity to said jukebox device to which it is connected;

providing access to content stored on the local server to a user via the jukebox device;

downloading a user selection from the local server to the jukebox device automatically or based on user action; and

playing or displaying content via the jukebox device.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

connecting a plurality of remote jukebox devices to the at least one local server, said local server operating to selectively deliver content to said remote jukebox devices under control of the central repository.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

connecting a plurality of non-jukebox devices to said local server, said local server arranged to operate as a central hub for managing said plurality of non-jukebox devices.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

connecting a collection of local servers to form a network of distributed servers operating under control of the central repository via at least one jukebox device to provide content to other devices.

31. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

compressing content residing on said central server, said jukebox devices and said local servers;

encrypting content residing on said central server and said jukebox devices at a first level of encryption; and

encrypting content residing on said local servers at a second level of encryption.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein content residing on said local servers are missing a predetermined number of bytes, said missing bytes being stored on respective jukebox devices associated with respective local servers, the method further comprising:

inserting missing bytes into content received by a respective jukebox from a respective local server.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said missing bytes are inserted before playing or displaying said content.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein said missing bytes are inserted in the content during play or display.

35. A jukebox system comprising:

a central server containing a plurality of compressed content files, said compressed content files being encrypted at a first encryption level;

a plurality of jukebox devices in communication with said central server for receiving content and updates from said central server and containing a plurality of compressed content files encrypted at said first encryption level; and

a local server in communication with at least one of said plurality of jukebox devices, said local server being arranged to provide content to said jukebox device, wherein content residing on said local server is encrypted at a second level of encryption.

36. The jukebox system according to claim 35, wherein content files residing on said local server are missing a predetermined number of bytes, said missing bytes being stored in a respective jukebox associated with said local server, said missing bytes being inserted into a content file received by said respective jukebox device from a respective local server

37. The jukebox system according to claim 35, wherein decryption keys unique to each local server are communicated to a dedicated registered jukebox device.

38. The jukebox system according to claim 37, wherein the decryption keys are stored in a volatile memory.

39. A method of operating a jukebox system comprising:

providing a plurality of services and content at a central repository, said central repository including compressed content files that are encrypted at a first level of encryption;

connecting a plurality of jukebox devices to said content repository via a communications medium, said jukebox devices containing compressed content files that are encrypted at said first level of encryption;

connecting a local server to at least one of said plurality of jukebox devices, said local server being in substantially close proximity to said jukebox device to which it is connected, wherein content resident on said local server is encrypted with a second level of encryption;

providing access to content stored on the local server to a user via the jukebox device;

downloading a user selection from the local server to the jukebox device based on user action;

decrypting said user selection at said jukebox device; and

playing or displaying user selected content via the jukebox device.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein encrypted content files residing on said local server are missing a predetermined number of bytes, said missing bytes being stored on a jukebox device associated with said local server, the method further comprising:

inserting missing bytes into a content file received by the associated jukebox from its local server.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein decryption keys unique to each local server are communicated to a dedicated registered jukebox device.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the decryption keys are stored in a volatile memory.