COIN OPERATED GAME TERMINAL

• US 20080171594A1
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• 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: White Rabbit Game Studio, LLC (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fedesna, Kenneth J., Loffredo, Mark D., Pellegrini, Frank J., Suchocki, Edward J., Pellegrini, Edward E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,330,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable

Abstract

Portable coin-operated video game systems and methods are provided. Portable interactive entertainment devices are removably secured to stands. The portable interactive entertainment devices may be unsecured in response to a user providing currency or a credit card or in response to a remote control signal. The portable interactive entertainment devices may include touch screens and allow users to play video games and access data and devices connected to a local area network and a wide area network.

Claims

1. A coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device comprising:

a payment module configured to accept payment from a user; and

a locking module that removably secures the portable interactive entertainment device to a stand.

2. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the payment module comprises a credit card reader and the locking module is configured to release the portable interactive entertainment device from the stand in response to a signal from the payment module.

3. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, further including a touch screen display.

4. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, further including video game input controls

5. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, further including a wireless communication module configured to communicate with a WiFi wireless access point.

6. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, further including a wireless communication module configured to receive radio frequency signals.

7. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, further including a wireless communication module configured to send and receive data to and from another coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device.

8. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, further including a computer-readable medium that contains a plurality of video games.

9. The coin-operated portable interactive entertainment device of claim 1, further including a computer-readable medium that contains a restaurant menu.

10. A portable coin-operated game system comprising:

at least one portable interactive entertainment device,

at least one stand configured such that the at least one portable interactive entertainment device is removably secured to the at least one stand; and

a central tower connected to the at least one stand and configured to receive payment and cause the at least one portable interactive entertainment device to be unsecured from the at least one stand.

11. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 10, further including a cable that secures one of the at least one stands to the central tower.

12. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 10, further including a display attached to the central tower.

13. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 12, wherein the central tower is configured to cause the display to display advertisements.

14. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 12, wherein the central tower is configured to cause the display to display instructions for using the portable coin-operated game system.

15. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 10, wherein the central tower includes a collection of video games.

16. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 15, wherein the central tower includes a wireless communication module that transmits data to the at least one portable interactive entertainment device.

17. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 16, wherein the data comprises game data for a game hosted on the central tower.

18. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 16, wherein the data comprises a video game.

19. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 10, wherein the central tower includes a credit card reader.

20. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 10, wherein the at least one stand is attached to the central tower.

21. The portable coin-operated game system of claim 10, wherein the at least one stand is configured to charge the at least one portable interactive entertainment device.

22. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for causing a portable coin-operated game system to perform the steps comprising:

(a) accepting a credit card payment from a user; and

(b) in response to (a) unsecuring a portable interactive entertainment device from a stand.

23. A portable coin-operated entertainment system comprising:

at least one portable interactive entertainment device; and

a central tower configured to receive payment and activate the at least one portable interactive entertainment system.

24. The portable coin-operated entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes a touch screen display.

25. The portable coin-operated entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes video game input controls

26. The portable coin-operated entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes a wireless communication module configured to communicate with a WiFi wireless access point.

27. The portable coin-operated entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes a wireless communication module configured to receive radio frequency signals.