Intelligent digital audiovisual playback system

• US 20090282491A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• 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, Mastronardi, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/93 Wired transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4185 for payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/60 Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client , e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 OS software
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/164 Coin-freed apparatus

Abstract

Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor device associated with a payment device primarily including means for storing, inter alia, in digital format the visual and sound information to be used. The system is associated through interfaces with display means and sound playback means for providing a multimedia environment. The system is controlled by a multitask operating system including a tool and service library integrated into the storage means. The system, which is also associated through an interface with a telecommunications modem, is optionally connected to an audiovisual data distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, said telecommunications function also being controlled by said multitask operating system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a jukebox system, the method comprising:

providing at least one jukebox device, each said jukebox device including;

a microprocessor,

a storage location configured to store audiovisual items that may be played on the jukebox device in response to requests by a user,

a display configured to display video,

an audio arrangement configured to provide audio,

a communication system connected to an audiovisual distribution server configured to enable the jukebox device to communicate with the audiovisual distribution server for at least the distribution of data containing the audiovisual items, and

a multitasking operating system configured to enable operation of the microprocessor, the display, the audio arrangement, and the communication system to operate in a user mode and/or in a manager mode;

selectively downloading, to the storage location, the digitally distributed data containing audiovisual items;

providing (1) a registration mode of the jukebox device, as a part of the manager mode, in which the jukebox device is operable to perform system registration functions and is inoperable to play audiovisual items stored in the jukebox device, and (2) a service mode in which the jukebox device is operable to play the audiovisual items stored in the storage location upon selection by the user, the service mode being disabled when the jukebox device is in said registration mode;

enabling, at least initially, the registration mode of the jukebox device; and

providing a server remote from the jukebox device that is accessible by the jukebox device through the distribution network and is operable to register the jukebox device via the registration mode of the jukebox device by performing a registration process while in communication with the jukebox device, the registration process resulting in the disabled service mode being enabled so that the audiovisual items become playable on the jukebox device after registration and so that user and/or manager modes become(s) operational, the jukebox device being configured to operate in said registration mode when said jukebox device has not been registered by the server,

wherein the service mode enables standalone operation of the jukebox device, and

wherein the jukebox device is further provided with a management mode, the management mode providing an interface enabling management functions to be used and including at least a display of usage statistics including a count of uses of any particular title choice.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration by the server is valid for a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically attempting a new registration process with the server prior to an expiration of the predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising exiting the service mode and entering the registration mode when the new registration process does not result in the jukebox device being re-registered by the server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the audiovisual distribution network operates as a digital distribution system for said jukebox device, and

wherein said jukebox device is operable to digitally request audiovisual items.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of jukebox devices, each said jukebox device being configured to seek registration from the server for operation in the service mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration by the server is valid for a predetermined period of time, and

further comprising exiting the service mode and entering the registration mode when the new registration process does not result in the jukebox device being re-registered by the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage location is further configured to store a catalog of titles relating to available audiovisual items with corresponding fees, and

wherein each selection of a title totals sums relative to the selected title.