Distributed configuration of entertainment devices

• US 20060059530A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecast Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ecast Incorporated
• Inventors: Spielman, Howard L., Clark, Darren L.
• Application Number:
  US10/942,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing configuration settings on remote entertainment devices are described. The method may include: storing values for a first subset of configuration settings from the set of configuration settings, each of the values for the first subset having an associated precedence level; storing values for a second subset of configuration settings, each of the values for the second subset having an associated precedence level; and transmitting a third subset of configuration setting values containing values from the first and second subset of configuration settings to a remote entertainment device.

Claims

1. A method of managing a remote entertainment device having a set of configuration settings, comprising:

storing values for a first subset of configuration settings from the set of configuration settings, each of the values for the first subset having an associated precedence level from a plurality of precedence levels;

storing values for a second subset of configuration settings, each of the values for the second subset having an associated precedence level from the plurality of precedence levels; and

transmitting a third subset of configuration setting values containing values from the first and second subset of configuration settings to a remote entertainment device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

compiling the third subset of configuration setting values from the first and second subsets of configuration setting values such that if a configuration setting value from the first subset applies to the same configuration setting as a configuration setting value from the second subset, selecting the configuration setting value having the higher precedence value to include in the third set of configuration setting values.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a system-based precedence level corresponding to values to be applied by default to a set of remote entertainment devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a product-based precedence level corresponding to the entertainment devices in the set of remote entertainment devices having a particular product type, the product-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises an operator-based precedence level corresponding to the entertainment devices in the set of remote entertainment devices managed by a particular entity, the operator-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a venue-based precedence level corresponding to the entertainment devices in the set of remote entertainment devices located at a particular venue, the venue-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a device-based precedence level corresponding to a particular remote entertainment device, the device-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a device-based precedence level corresponding to a particular remote entertainment device, the device-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level and the operator-based precedence level.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving values for the second subset of configuration settings from a user over a network connection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

said receiving values for the second subset of configuration settings comprises receiving values inputted into a browser application.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said receiving values for the second subset of configuration settings from the user comprises receiving values for the second subset of configuration settings inputted directly into the remote entertainment device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the third subset of configuration setting values comprises configuration setting values that control the performance of entertainment content at the remote entertainment device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

at least one of the transmitted third subset of configuration setting values relates to cost per song play.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said transmitting the third subset of configuration setting values to the remote entertainment device comprises transmitting the third subset of configuration setting values to a plurality of remote entertainment devices.

15. A host system for managing a remote entertainment device having a plurality of configuration settings, comprising:

a configuration database storing a plurality of values for each configuration setting, each of the plurality of values having an associated precedence level from a plurality of precedence levels used to determine which of the plurality of values to apply to each configuration setting on the remote entertainment device; and

a host system controller configured to;

compile a subset of configuration setting values from the set of configuration setting values; and

transmit the subset of configuration setting values to the remote entertainment device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the host system controller is configured to compile the subset of configuration setting values such that for each of the at least one configuration settings having the plurality of associated values, the subset of configuration setting values includes the value having the highest precedence level.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the host system controller is configured to receive a second subset of configuration setting values from a user over a network connection.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the host system controller is configured to receive a second subset of configuration setting values from a user directly inputted into the remote entertainment system.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a setting library defining the plurality of configuration settings.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a business entity database storing information regarding the plurality of remote entertainment devices.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a system-based precedence level corresponding to values to be applied by default to a set of remote entertainment devices.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a product-based precedence level corresponding to the entertainment devices in the set of remote entertainment devices having a particular product type, the product-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises an operator-based precedence level corresponding to the entertainment devices in the set of remote entertainment devices managed by a particular entity, the operator-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a venue-based precedence level corresponding to the entertainment devices in the set of remote entertainment devices located at a particular venue, the venue-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a device-based precedence level corresponding to a particular remote entertainment device, the device-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the plurality of precedence levels comprises a device-based precedence level corresponding to a particular remote entertainment device, the device-based precedence level having a higher precedence value than the system-based precedence level and the operator-based precedence level.

27. A method of updating a remote entertainment device having a set of configuration settings, comprising:

assigning a first set of values to a first subset of configuration settings from the set of configuration settings;

receiving a second set of values for a second subset of configuration settings over a network connection;

compiling a group of configuration setting values from the first and second sets of values such that such that if a configuration setting value from the first set of values applies to the same configuration setting as a configuration setting value from the second set of values, selecting the value from the second set of values to apply to the remote entertainment device; and

transmitting the group of configuration setting values to the remote entertainment device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said transmitting the group of configuration setting values to the remote entertainment device comprises transmitting the group of configuration setting values to a plurality of remote entertainment devices.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving a third set of values for a third subset of configuration settings over the network connection;

wherein said transmitting the group of configuration setting values to the plurality of remote entertainment devices comprises transmitting the plurality of configuration setting values to the plurality of remote entertainment devices such that the second set of values are applied to each of the plurality of remote entertainment devices and the third set of values are applied to exactly one of the plurality of remote entertainment devices.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving a third set of values for a third subset of configuration settings from the user over the network connection;

wherein said compiling the group of configuration setting values comprises compiling the group of configuration setting values from the first, second, and third sets of values such that such that if a configuration setting value from the first set of values applies to the same configuration setting as a configuration setting value from the second set of values, selecting the value from the second set of values to apply to the remote entertainment device, and if a configuration setting value from the third set of values applies to the same configuration setting as a configuration setting values from either the first or second sets of values, selecting the value from the third set of values to apply to the remote entertainment device.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the transmitted plurality of configuration setting values comprise configuration setting values that control the performance of entertainment content at the remote entertainment device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

at least one of the transmitted plurality of configuration setting values relates to a cost for performance of the entertainment content.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said receiving values for the second subset of configuration settings over the network connection comprises receiving values inputted into a browser application.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said receiving values for the second subset of configuration settings over the network connection comprises receiving values inputted directly into the remote entertainment device.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said receiving values for the second subset of configuration settings over the network connection comprises receiving values inputted directly into the remote entertainment device.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

providing a user interface at the remote entertainment device allowing a user to directly input configuration setting values;

receiving through the user interface configuration setting values for a third subset of configuration settings; and

applying the third subset of configuration setting values to the remote entertainment device.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

transmitting the third subset of configuration settings from the remote entertainment device to a host system; and

storing the third subset of configuration settings at the host system.

38. A method of updating configuration settings on remote entertainment devices, comprising:

providing a configuration setting interface to a user over a network connection;

receiving a first set of configuration setting values from the user over the network connection; and

transmitting the first set of configuration setting values to a plurality of remote entertainment devices.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

storing a second set of configuration setting values, wherein each of the configuration setting values in the first and second sets of configuration setting values has an associated precedence value; and

compiling a third set of configuration setting values from the first and second sets of configuration setting values such that if a configuration setting value from the first set of configuration setting values received from the user applies to the same configuration setting as a configuration setting value from the second subset of configuration setting values, selecting the configuration setting value having the higher precedence value to include in the third set of configuration setting values.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

transmitting the third set of configuration setting values to the plurality of remote entertainment devices.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

displaying a second set of configuration setting values to the user;

wherein if a configuration setting value received from the user conflicts with a configuration setting value in the second set of configuration setting values, selecting the configuration setting value received from the user to apply to the plurality of remote entertainment devices.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein:

said receiving the first set of configuration setting values from the user over the network connection comprises receiving values inputted by the user into a browser application.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein:

said receiving the first set of configuration setting values from the user over the network connection comprises receiving values inputted directly by the user into the remote entertainment device.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the first set of configuration setting values comprise configuration setting values that control the performance of entertainment content at the remote entertainment device.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein:

at least one of the first set of configuration setting values relates to cost per song play.

46. A method of configuring a plurality of entertainment devices, comprising:

storing default values for a plurality of configuration settings governing operation of the plurality of entertainment devices;

providing an interface to a user for entering values for the configuration settings;

receiving configuration setting values from the user; and

propagating a set of configuration setting values to a plurality of jukebox systems, the propagated configuration setting values including the received configuration setting values and the default values for which there are no corresponding received configuration setting values.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein:

said providing the interface to the user comprises displaying default values for the plurality of configuration settings to the user and providing an input field to the user for entering values for the configuration settings to override the default values.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein:

said providing the interface to the user comprises displaying some of the default values for the plurality of configuration settings to the user and hiding some of the default values for the plurality of configuration settings from the user.