Remote control unit for intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction systems

• US 7,293,277 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nathan, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau; Scott E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US09/357,764
• Time in Patent Office: 3,030 Days
• Field of Search: 348731-734, 348/552, 725 37- 38, 725/110, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/146, 725/151, 725/153, 725/78, 725/80, 725/82, 725/91, 725/86, 725/87, 725/132
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote control unit for intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction systems, comprising storage means, payment means, a sound control circuit, display means and a metal chassis wherein said remote control unit comprises a distant radio frequency transmitter that is associated with a radio frequency receiver connected to the sound control circuit of the audiovisual reproduction system.

Claims

1. A jukebox system, comprising:

a plurality of jukebox devices, wherein each jukebox device includes a microprocessor, a storage device for storing audiovisual information that can be reproduced by the jukebox device in response to user requests, an audio system for playing audio, a display device for displaying video, and a communication system for enabling the jukebox to communicate through an audiovisual distribution network;

a server remote to said jukebox devices that provides services to said jukebox devices, wherein said server and each of said jukebox devices can communicate with each other through said distribution network; and

a plurality of remote control devices for said jukebox devices, wherein each of said remote control devices comprises;

a remote transmitter that is associated with a receiver connected to a control circuit of one of said jukebox devices, wherein each remote control device is operable to control one of said jukebox devices only when said jukebox device recognizes a control signal comprising a remote control identification code identifying the remote control device, stored on the remote control device and transmitted from the remote control device, wherein the control signal further comprises a key code sent to control a selected feature of the jukebox; and

a specific key that, when actuated, triggers a signal comprising a remote control identification code without an associated key code which facilitates the storing of this remote control identification code as a saved remote control identification code by the jukebox, each remote control device operable to transmit a plurality of key codes for controlling a plurality of functions of a jukebox device;

wherein at least one jukebox of said plurality of jukebox devices further comprises;

remote control code storage that stores a saved remote control identification code sent by an associated remote control device;

server code storage that stores a server identification code sent by the server connected to said plurality of jukebox devices, said server identification code identifying another remote control device; and

a storage location that stores the transmitted remote control identification code for use in comparing the saved remote control identification code and/or the server identification code with the transmitted remote control identification code stored on the jukebox to determine whether or not the jukebox will respond to control signals from the remote control transmitting the remote control identification code.

2. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein each of said jukebox devices include a learning mode that enables the remote control identification code to be obtained from the remote control when the specific key is actuated and to be stored on the jukebox as the saved remote control identification code.

3. The jukebox system of claim 2, wherein the learning mode is incorporated into an operating system of the jukebox device, this learning mode being triggered by touching a special button displayed on the display device of the jukebox device.

4. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein the remote control is operable to activate and deactivate the associated jukebox device.

5. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein the remote control is operable to activate and deactivate a payment device on the associated jukebox device.