Communication device and method between an audiovisual information playback system and an electronic game machine

• US 6,755,744 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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, Choquet, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/686,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/25, 463/30-35, 463/37, 463/40-43, 705/26-27, 705/52, 709/218-219, 709/250
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys

Abstract

A communication device between an audiovisual information playback system and at least one electronic game machine, each game machine including a viewing means for interacting with the user and a means of payment, wherein each electronic game machine is connected to the playback system via a network interface and an associated network. The device also includes specific managing means for managing means of payment, a viewing means and an interactive means to enable the selection and payment of at least one selection stored on the playback system, the managing means being triggered by activation of the electronic game machine.

Claims

1. A communications device for providing communications between an information playback system and at least one electronic game machine, each electronic game machine comprising a viewing means, a means for interacting with a user and a means of payment, wherein each electronic game machine is connected to the playback system via a network interface and associated LAN, the communications device comprising:

means for managing the means of payment;

means for managing the viewing means; and

interactive means to enable, on the electronic game machine, selection of and payment for at least one selection stored on the playback system, said selection being intended to be played back on the playback system, the means for managing the payment means and the means for managing the viewing means and the interactive means being triggered by activation means of the electronic game machine.

2. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein the playback system comprises a means for communicating with the communication interface of each electronic game machine;

and a module for managing messages coming from each electronic game machine.

3. A communication device according to claim 1 wherein each electronic game machine comprises an identification means allowing a differentiation at the playback system.

4. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein the playback system comprises a means for communicating with a remote centralized server.

5. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein each electronic game machine comprises a storage means for storing information regarding a utilization of the electronic game machine.

6. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for managing the means of payment comprises means for calculating an amount available to pay for songs from at least one of:

a sum of money inserted by the user into the electronic game machine, from a residual sum of money inserted into the game machine before triggering of the means for managing the means of payment, means for managing the viewing means or interactive means, and from a number of points accumulated before triggering of at least one of the means for managing the means of payment, means for managing the viewing means and the interactive means.

7. A method of communicating between an audiovisual information playback system and at least one electronic game machine, each said electronic game machine comprising a viewing means, a means for interacting with a user, and a means of payment, the playback system being connected to each electronic game machine via a LAN, the method comprising:

activating management means of an electronic game machine to change an original operating mode of the electronic game machine implementing the following steps;

setting up a connection between the playback system and the electronic game machine;

transferring graphic dialog screens from the playback system to the electronic game machine to prompt the user to make a musical selection or to trigger a payment step;

making the musical selection;

paying for the musical selection made;

playing back, by means of the playback system, the selection made.

8. A method of communication according to claim 7, wherein the step of paying for the musical selection comprises:

calculating an amount available from a remaining amount unused by the game machine and a sum of money inserted into the payment means of the game machine by the user; and

selection and validation by the user of a payment rule to determine a number of selections to be chosen.

9. A method of communication according to claim 8, wherein the step of calculating comprises converting a number of game points accumulated during use of the game machine in accordance with the original operation mode of the game machine, into the amount available for paying for the musical selection.

10. A method of communication according to claim 7 further comprising a step of updating said at least one electronic game machine, the step of updating comprising:

transferring update information regarding said at least one given electronic game machine from a remote server onto the playback system connected to the server via a WAN;

setting up a connection between the playback system and each said given electronic game machine; and

sending said update information on each given electronic game machine.

11. A method of communication according to claim 7 further comprising:

storing on each said electronic game machine information relating to utilization of the electronic game machine; and

transferring information regarding the utilization of the electronic game machines to the playback system, then from the playback system to a remote server, the playback system being connected via a WAN.