Digital downloading jukebox system with user-tailored music management, communications, and other tools

• US 20060062094A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• 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, Dion, Dominique
• Granted Patent: US 8,151,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/30.60
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/30 for musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• 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

Abstract

A digital downloading jukebox system including a mechanism for delivering custom services to a recognized user, including services for creating playlists, communicating with others, accessing other features, etc. is provided. In some exemplary embodiments, after a user is recognized, the jukebox system allows users to access a special front-end via the Internet or on an actual jukebox. Then, the user may, for example, create playlists, share songs with friends, send messages to friends, and access other value-added content. Other exemplary embodiments allow users to become certified, charging them for services without requiring constant inputting of coinage or credit card information. Such a system preferably learns about networks of friends, and enables managers to send similar messages to regular customers and/or others known to the system.

Claims

1. A digital jukebox system, comprising:

a collection mechanism, wherein an amount of money is collected for playing an instance of media;

at least one output channel, capable of outputting said instance of media;

a user recognizer, capable of recognizing a user and retrieving information specific to said recognized user; and

,

a user interface, enabling said recognized user to create, modify, and/or delete said recognized user information.

2. The digital jukebox system of claim 1, wherein said collection mechanism automatically collects money from a recognized user based on billing information included in said recognized user information.

3. The digital jukebox system of claim 1, wherein said recognized user information includes playlist information, said playlist information comprising at least one instance of media to be associated with a playlist.

4. The digital jukebox system of claim 3, wherein said playlist includes an identifying name.

5. The digital jukebox system of claim 1, wherein said recognized user information includes buddy list information, said buddy list information comprising contact information for at least one recognizable user.

6. The digital jukebox system of claim 5, wherein a buddy list communicator enables said recognized to leave a message for at least one recognizable user, said message being displayed in said user interface when said recognizable user is recognized by the user recognizer.

7. The digital jukebox system of claim 6, wherein said message includes text, graphics, at least one instance of media, and/or credits operable with said collection mechanism.

8. The digital jukebox system of claim 1 wherein said recognized user information includes account and/or profile information;

said account information including a username, a password, an e-mail address, a telephone number, and/or billing information;

said profile information including said recognized user'"'"'s age, date of birth, gender, and/or place of birth.

9. A digital jukebox system, comprising:

a collection mechanism, wherein an amount of money is collected for playing an instance of media;

at least one output channel, capable of outputting said instance of media;

a user recognizer, capable of recognizing a user and retrieving information specific to said recognized user; and

,

a user interface, enabling said recognized user to create, modify, and/or delete said recognized user information from a remote location.

10. The digital jukebox system of claim 9, wherein a recognizable user'"'"'s home computer connects to said user interface is accessible through the Internet.

11. The digital jukebox system of claim 9, wherein a recognizable user connects to said user interface via a mobile device.

12. The digital jukebox system of claim 9, wherein said digital jukebox system stores said recognized user information.

13. The digital jukebox system of claim 9, wherein a central store accessible by said digital jukebox system and by said user interface stores said recognized user information.

14. The digital jukebox system of claim 9, wherein a removable smart-card stores said recognized user information.

15. A digital jukebox system, comprising:

a collection mechanism, wherein an amount of money is collected for playing an instance of media;

at least one output channel, capable of outputting said instance of media;

a user recognizer, capable of recognizing a user and retrieving information specific to said recognized user;

a user interface, enabling said recognized user to create, modify, and/or delete said recognized user information; and

,

a communicator for communicating with a plurality of digital jukebox systems.

16. The digital jukebox system of claim 15, wherein said communicator is operable to send said recognized user information to a communicator of at least one other jukebox system.

17. The digital jukebox system of claim 15, wherein said communicator is operable to send e-mail messages to other recognizable users.

18. The digital jukebox system of claim 15, wherein said communicator is operable to send SMS messages to other recognizable users.