Intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction system

• US 8,593,925 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• 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, Mastronardi, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Giesy, Adam R
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEYI, HENOK G
• Application Number:
  US13/459,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20120216119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 369/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/24 using interrupt G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4812 by interrupt, e.g. masked
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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: G10H 2240/191 CRC, i.e. error detection using a cyclic redundancy check
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22

Abstract

Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor unit, primarily including storage means for storing inter alia in digital form the visual and sound information to be used, and associated, through a number of interfaces, with display means for sound playback which provide a multimedia environment. The unit is controlled by a multitask operating system including a library of integrated tools and services in the storage means. The system is also associated, through an interface, with a telecommunications modem and is connectable to an audiovisual information distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, the telecommunications functions also being managed by the multitask operating system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a jukebox device configured to at least play songs selected by a user, the jukebox device comprising a communications system connectable to a server to receive at least songs therefrom and a non-transitory storage medium configured to maintain at least a database of songs thereon, the method comprising:

receiving, via a touch-screen display, touch-based input from a user;

in connection with a multitasking operating system running on the jukebox device;

associating a task with at least one respective hardware peripheral, and

assigning a first priority level to a display task and a second priority level to an audio task; and

during operation of the jukebox device, storing data to a system operating status file on the transitory storage medium,

wherein the data stored in the system operating status file is sufficient to allow the multitasking operating system to return to a specified state in case of an interruption caused by a fault.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing in the system operating status file data relating to the insertion of money.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing in the system operating status file data relating to a song selection being added to a queue of the jukebox device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing in the system operating status file data relating to an end to a song selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multitasking operating system includes a library of tools and services stored in the local memory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the multitasking operating system includes a priority resolution module.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the multitasking operating system includes a scheduling module for filling a storage request queue.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the jukebox device further comprises at least two temporary buffers for storing video data and at least two buffers for storing audio data retrieved from the local memory,

the temporary buffers that store video data being configured to enable processing of information transferred into a display buffer by display control circuitry from one of the temporary buffers during a video data transfer to the other temporary buffer by the operating system,

the temporary buffers that store audio data being configured to enable processing of information transferred into a reproduction buffer by audio control circuitry from one of the temporary buffers during an audio data transfer to the other temporary buffer by the operating system,

said temporary buffers being associated with respective status buffers arranged to store state data representing respective activities relating to decompression tasks,

said status buffers being provided for the temporary buffers that store video data and for the temporary buffers that store audio data,

said respective status buffers being put into an active state when one of the two corresponding temporary buffers is empty, and when each of the corresponding temporary buffers include data being put into an inactive state.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the jukebox device further comprises a scheduling module for the operating system, the scheduling module being configured to read status values and to alternatively feed the video and audio buffers with corresponding data,

said scheduling module being further configured to perform a test to determine a state of status buffers provided for the temporary buffers that store audio data when status buffers provided for the temporary buffers that store video data are in an inactive state,

the audio buffer having a size sufficient for storing an amount of data to avoid any lack of data during an audio operation, when a display task has been triggered.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the file is updated in real-time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified state corresponds to a state of the jukebox device immediately prior to the fault.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising returning the multitasking operating system to the specified state in response to the interruption caused by the fault.

13. A method of operating a jukebox device configured to at least play songs selected by a user, the jukebox device comprising a communications system connectable to a server to receive at least songs therefrom and a non-transitory storage medium configured to maintain at least a database of songs thereon, the method comprising:

in connection with a multitasking operating system running on the jukebox device;

associating a task with at least one respective hardware peripheral, and

assigning a first priority level to a display task and a second priority level to an audio task; and

during operation of the jukebox device, storing data to a system operating status file on the transitory storage medium, wherein the data stored in the system operating status file is sufficient to allow the multitasking operating system to return to a specified state in case of an interruption caused by a fault; and

following an interruption caused by a fault, returning the multitasking operating system to the specified state.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, via a touch-screen display of the jukebox device, touch-based input from a user after the multitasking operating system has been returned to the specified state.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing in the system operating status file data relating to the insertion of money.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing in the system operating status file data relating to a song selection being added to a queue of the jukebox device.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing in the system operating status file data relating to an end to a song selection.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising updating data in the system operating status file in response to:

(a) credits being added to the jukebox device,

(b) a song being added to a queue for playback via the jukebox device, and

(c) a song ending.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the file is updated in real-time.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the specified state corresponds to a state of the jukebox device immediately prior to the fault.