Jukebox with customizable avatar

• US 20110066943A1
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• 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: Dion, Dominique, Gratton, Loic, Brillon, Francois
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A digital downloading jukebox system including a mechanism for delivering custom services to a recognized user is provided. For example, information specific to a recognized user may be stored and optionally may include a recognized user avatar representative of the recognized user. The user avatar may be an image, video, and/or animation, which may be displayed on and/or played through the jukebox. The user avatar may be associated with transactions associated with the user. For example, an avatar may be displayed when a playlist of the recognized user is played, when a message is sent, etc. In other examples, the avatar may introduce instances of media by playing an audio and/or video message, and the avatar may sing, dance, etc. while an instance of media is playing.

Claims

1. A digital jukebox, comprising:

a collection mechanism configured to collect an amount of money for playing an instance of media from a media database;

at least one output channel configured to output a selected instance of media selected by a jukebox user;

a user recognizer configured to recognize a jukebox user and retrieving user information associated with the recognized user from a user database of recognizable users of the jukebox upon a recognizable user logging into the jukebox, each said recognizable user in the user database having associated user information, wherein the associated user information includes information about a recognizable user avatar for the recognizable user; and

a display configured to display said user avatar after a recognized user is recognized.

2. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein said user avatar is one or more of an image, video, and animation.

3. The jukebox of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to allow a recognized user to upload avatar information for use on the jukebox.

4. The jukebox of claim 1, further comprising avatar action programmed logic circuitry, said avatar action programmed logic circuitry being configured to play one or more audio clips via the at least one output channel and/or display one or more video clips related to a recognized user'"'"'s avatar via the display.

5. The jukebox of claim 4, wherein the one or more audio clips and/or the one or more video clips related to the recognized user'"'"'s avatar is/are played/displayed before, during, and/or after an instance of media.

6. The jukebox of claim 4, wherein the avatar action programmed logic circuitry is configured to cause the user avatar to react in response to the instance of media being played.

7. The jukebox of claim 6, wherein the user avatar is configured to react by speaking, singing, and/or dancing.

8. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein the media database is located remote from the jukebox.

9. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein the user database is located remote from the jukebox.

10. The jukebox of claim 3, wherein the user interface is further configured to allow a recognized user to upload avatar information for use on one or more remote jukeboxes connected, directly or indirectly, to the jukebox.

11. The jukebox of claim 1, wherein avatar information for use on the jukebox is pre-stored to a memory location accessible by the jukebox via a user interface.

12. The jukebox of claim 11, wherein the user interface is located remote from the jukebox.

13. A method of operating a digital jukebox, the method comprising:

collecting, via a collection mechanism, an amount of money for playing an instance of media from a media database;

outputting, via at least one output channel, a selected instance of media selected by a jukebox user;

recognizing, via a user recognizer, a jukebox user;

retrieving user information associated with the recognized user from a user database of recognizable users of the jukebox upon a recognizable user logging into the jukebox, each said recognizable user in the user database having associated user information, wherein the associated user information includes information about a recognizable user avatar for the recognizable user; and

displaying said user avatar after a recognized user is recognized.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said user avatar is one or more of an image, video, and animation.

15. The method of claim 13, enabling a recognized user to upload avatar information for use on the jukebox via a user interface.

16. The method of claim 13, providing avatar action programmed logic circuitry, said avatar action programmed logic circuitry being configured to play one or more audio clips via the at least one output channel and/or display one or more video clips related to a recognized user'"'"'s avatar via the display.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more audio clips and/or the one or more video clips related to the recognized user'"'"'s avatar is/are played/displayed before, during, and/or after an instance of media.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the avatar action programmed logic circuitry is configured to cause the user avatar to react in response to the instance of media being played.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the user avatar is configured to react by speaking, singing, and/or dancing.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the media database, the user data, and/or the user interface is/are located remote from the jukebox.