Consumer portal

• US 20070199014A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecast Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ecast Incorporated
• Inventors: Spielman, Howard, Clark, Darren
• Application Number:
  US11/360,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/17381 the upstream transmission being initiated by the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4433 Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods are described which provide consumers with information regarding the entertainment content available on the entertainment devices and to improve the ease with which the consumers can select songs and other entertainment content for performance on the entertainment device. A consumer at home may access a consumer portal over the Internet using a browser application. Through this portal, the consumer may select one or more entertainment content items to be saved in one or more playlists associated with a user identity specific to that consumer. The consumer may then travel to a venue where a network-enabled jukebox entertainment device is located. Using the user interface of the entertainment device, the consumer may log into their user account and retrieve the playlists previously created by the consumer at home. The consumer may then select one or more entertainment content items from that playlist for performance on the entertainment device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of selecting entertainment content for performance, comprising:

receiving login information corresponding to a user identity;

receiving one or more entertainment content selections for storage in a playlist, wherein said playlist is associated with the user identity and comprises a list of one or more entertainment content items selected from a library of entertainment content available from a host system;

receiving from an entertainment device login information corresponding to the user identity;

receiving from the entertainment device a request for the playlist associated with the user identity, said entertainment device being adapted to perform entertainment content in response to user requests; and

transmitting the playlist to the entertainment device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said receiving login information corresponding to the user identity comprises receiving from a client device login information corresponding to the user identity; and

said receiving one or more entertainment content selections comprises receiving from the client device one or more entertainment content selections.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said receiving from the client device one or more entertainment content selections comprises receiving from the client device via a wide area network (WAN) one or more entertainment content selections.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting a web page to the client device, said web page comprising a user interface for selecting entertainment content for storage in a playlist;

wherein said receiving one or more entertainment content selections for storage in the playlist comprises receiving one or more entertainment content selections for storage in the playlist via the web page.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a browsing interface to the client device for browsing entertainment content locally stored on the entertainment device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said receiving from the entertainment device login information corresponding to the user identity comprises receiving user information read by a card reader on the entertainment device, said user information being associated with the user identity.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identification of a favorite location including an entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device at the favorite location is configured to retrieve entertainment content from the host system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said playlist is associated with the entertainment device in the identified favorite location.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting information regarding changes to a catalog of entertainment content locally stored on the entertainment device in the identified favorite location.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a request for a change to a catalog of entertainment content locally stored on the entertainment device in the identified favorite location.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an incentive for requesting performance of entertainment content selected from the playlist.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said incentive comprises providing credit or discount towards requesting performance of entertainment content.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said incentive comprises providing priority performance of entertainment content on the entertainment device.

14. A computer-implemented method of selecting entertainment content items for performance, comprising:

receiving login information at an entertainment device, said login information corresponding to a user identity;

requesting from a host system one or more playlists associated with the user identity, wherein each playlist comprises a list of one or more entertainment content items selected from a library of entertainment content available from the host system;

displaying the playlists at the entertainment device;

receiving an input corresponding to selection of one of the entertainment content items; and

in response to said input, performing the selected entertainment content item.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said requesting from the host system comprises requesting from the host system via a wide area network (WAN) the playlist associated with the user identity.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said playlist is generated based on user instructions received from a client device distinct from the entertainment device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said playlist is associated with a location in which the entertainment device is provided.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said playlist is generated based on user instructions received from the entertainment device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing an incentive for requesting performance of entertainment content selected from the playlist.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

said incentive comprises providing credit towards requesting performance of entertainment content.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein:

said incentive comprises providing priority performance of entertainment content on the entertainment device.

22. An entertainment device, comprising:

an audio system;

a storage device for storing entertainment content to be performed upon request by the audio system;

a user interface; and

a control system configured to;

receive login information from the user interface, said login information corresponding to a user identity;

request from a host system one or more playlists associated with the user identity, wherein each playlist comprises a list of one or more entertainment content items selected from a library of entertainment content available from the host system;

display the playlists;

receive an input corresponding to selection of one of the entertainment content items; and

in response to said input, perform the selected entertainment content item.

23. The entertainment device of claim 22, wherein the control system is configured to:

request from the host system via a wide area network (WAN) the playlist associated with the user identity.

24. The entertainment device of claim 22, wherein the control system is configured to:

generate said playlist based on user instructions received from a client device distinct from the entertainment device.

25. The entertainment device of claim 22, wherein:

said playlist is associated with a location in which the entertainment device is provided.

26. The entertainment device of claim 22, wherein:

said playlist is generated based on user instructions received from the entertainment device.

27. The entertainment device of claim 26, wherein the control system is further configured to:

provide an incentive for requesting performance of entertainment content selected from the playlist.

28. The entertainment device of claim 27, wherein:

said incentive comprises providing credit or discount towards requesting performance of entertainment content.

29. The entertainment device of claim 27, wherein:

said incentive comprises providing priority performance of entertainment content on the entertainment device.