Coin operated entertainment system

• US 20080168807A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fedesna, Kenneth J., Loffredo, Mark D., Pellegrini, Frank J., Suchocki, Edward J., Pellegrini, Edward E., Dion, Dominique
• Granted Patent: US 9,171,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/94
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/00 Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/00 Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field H04B10/00, H04B15/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5168 Braces

Abstract

This invention in certain example instances relates generally to coin-operated video entertainment systems. More particularly, certain exemplary aspects of the invention provide methods and/or systems for controlling access to a portable coin-operated interactive entertainment device that may be used to play video games and access other forms of entertainment as well as providing features via such portable coin-operated interactive entertainment devices.

Claims

1. A locking system for a movable coin-operated handheld entertainment device and a dock station therefor, comprising:

on the handheld device;

a spring-loaded control pin,

a spring-loaded ground pin,

a spring-loaded power pin,

at least one locking hook extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the handheld device;

wherein the control pin extends to a depth shallower than that of the ground pin and the power pin; and

on the dock;

a plurality of stationary dock contacts for respectively receiving each of the pins of the handheld device,

at least one locking channel, each said locking channel being arranged so as to respectively receive one said locking hook.

2. The locking system of claim 1, further comprising in the dock:

a slide solenoid assembly including at least one protrusion with a barb formed on an upward facing end thereof arranged so as to pass through at least one locking channel and at least one locking hook corresponding to the at least one locking channel, and

a locking solenoid assembly for locking the slide solenoid assembly in place.

3. The locking system of claim 2, wherein the locking solenoid assembly is configured to lock the slide solenoid assembly independent of whether power is provided to the dock and/or handheld device.

4. The locking system of claim 1, further comprising programmed logic circuitry configured to disengage the locking system when a valid deposit is provided to a deposit acceptor provided to the handheld device and/or the dock.

5. The locking system of claim 1, further comprising programmed logic cicruitry configured to disengage the locking system when a signal is received from a remote control being operated by an authorized user.

6. The locking system of claim 2, wherein the locking solenoid assembly and/or the slide solenoid assembly includes an electromagnet and/or a spring.

7. A security system for a movable coin-operated handheld entertainment device being operated at a location, comprising:

a transceiver located on the device configured to emit a signal indicative of its location;

a transceiver located proximate to an entryway/exit of the location configured to detect signals emitted by the device;

distance determining programmed logic circuitry configured to determine a distance between the device and the entryway/exit of the location in dependence on the signal; and

alarm programmed logic circuitry configured to raise a alarm in dependence on the distance,

wherein at least one characteristic of the alarm is determined by the alarm programmed logic circuitry in dependence on the distance.

8. The security system of claim 7, further comprising a timer configured to determine an amount of time the device is within a predetermined distance from the entryway/exit of the location.

9. The security system of claim 8, wherein the alarm programmed logic circuitry is configured to wait a predetermined amount of time before raising an alarm.

10. The security system of claim 7, further comprising a speaker configured to emit a beep at one of a plurality of intensities in dependence on a signal received from the alarm programmed logic circuitry.

11. The security system of claim 7, further comprising a strobe light configured to flash at one of a plurality of intensities in dependence on a signal received from the alarm programmed logic circuitry.

12. A digital jukebox comprising at least one removable coin-operated handheld entertainment device, wherein each said device is configured to be used both as a remote interface to the jukebox and/or as a stand-alone jukebox in a confined area in dependence on a mode chosen by a user of the jukebox.

13. The jukebox of claim 12, further comprising releasing programmed logic circuitry configured to release the device from the jukebox when a valid deposit is provided to a deposit acceptor provided to the jukebox and/or the device.

14. The jukebox of claim 12, further comprising releasing programmed logic circuitry configured to release the device from the jukebox when a signal is received from a remote control being operated by an authorized user.

15. The jukebox of claim 12, wherein the device includes directional speakers.