Game terminal configured for interaction with jukebox device systems including same, and/or associated methods

• US 9,330,529 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• 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: Fedesna, Kenneth J., Loffredo, Mark D., Suchocki, Edward J., Pellegrini, Edward E., Pellegrini, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ROSS A
• Application Number:
  US11/624,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20080171594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,394 Days
• Field of Search: 463/21, 463 18- 20, 463 1- 6, 463 40- 47, 340/5.73, 340/5.81, 540/5.81
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable

Abstract

Portable coin-operated video game systems and methods are provided. Portable interactive entertainment devices are removably secured to stands. The portable interactive entertainment devices may be unsecured in response to a user providing currency or a credit card or in response to a remote control signal. The portable interactive entertainment devices may include touch screens and allow users to play video games and access data and devices connected to a local area network and a wide area network.

Claims

1. A system comprising a plurality of payment-operated portable interactive entertainment devices, each said device comprising:

a payment module configured to accept payment from a user; and

a locking module that removably secures the respective portable interactive entertainment device to one of a plurality of stands that are separately distributed within a venue,

wherein each portable interactive entertainment device is configured to directly communicate with and at least partially control a jukebox located in the venue and remote from the respective portable interactive entertainment device only after the respective portable interactive entertainment device is removed from its stand, the respective portable interactive entertainment device and the jukebox being operable independent of one another at the same and different times, and the jukebox being configured to perform musical selections on a pay-for-play basis within the venue that houses both the portable interactive entertainment devices and the jukebox.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment module of each device comprises a credit card reader and the locking module of each device is configured to release the respective portable interactive entertainment device from its stand in response to a signal from the respective payment module.

3. The system of claim 1, further including a touch screen display.

4. The system of claim 1, further including video game input controls.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a wireless communication module configured to communicate with a WiFi wireless access point.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a wireless communication module configured to receive radio frequency signals.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a wireless communication module configured to send and receive data to and from another payment-operated portable interactive entertainment device.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a computer-readable medium that contains a plurality of video games.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a computer-readable medium that contains a restaurant menu.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stand is connected to a central tower, which is a jukebox device that is at least partially controllable to play music stored thereon in response to instructions received from the portable interactive entertainment device once it has been removed therefrom.

11. A payment-operated game system comprising:

a plurality of portable interactive entertainment devices,

a plurality of stands to which the plurality of portable interactive entertainment devices are removably secured, respectively; and

a central tower including an exterior to which the plurality of stands are connected, the central tower being configured to receive payment and selectively cause the portable interactive entertainment devices to be unsecured from their respective stands,

wherein each said portable interactive entertainment device is configured to directly communicate with and at least partially control one or more jukeboxes located remote from the stands and the portable interactive entertainment devices once removed from a respective stand, the portable interactive entertainment devices and the one or more jukeboxes being operable independent of one another at the same and different times, and each said jukebox being configured to perform musical selections on a pay-for-play basis within a venue housing both the portable interactive entertainment device(s) used to make selections thereon and the respective jukebox, and

wherein the plurality of stands are separately distributed within the venue.

12. The system of claim 11, further including a cable that secures one of the at least one stands to the central tower.

13. The system of claim 11, further including a display attached to the central tower.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the central tower is configured to cause the display to display advertisements.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the central tower is configured to cause the display to display instructions for using the game system.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the central tower includes a collection of video games.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the central tower includes a wireless communication module that transmits data to the at least one portable interactive entertainment device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data comprises game data for a game hosted on the central tower.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the data comprises a video game.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the central tower includes a credit card reader.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one stand is attached to the central tower.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one stand is configured to charge the at least one portable interactive entertainment device.

23. The system of claim 11, wherein credits are sharable among and between portable interactive entertainment devices and the one or more jukeboxes.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a payment-operated game system to at least:

(a) accept a credit card payment from a user;

(b) in response to (a), unsecure one of a plurality of portable interactive entertainment devices from one of a plurality of stands connected to a tower holding the plurality of portable interactive entertainment devices; and

(c) following (b), enable communication between the one of the plurality of portable interactive entertainment devices removed from the respective stand and the tower,

wherein the tower is a jukebox device at least partially controllable to play music stored thereon in response to instructions directly received from the portable interactive entertainment devices once they have been removed therefrom, the portable interactive entertainment devices being operable by the user only in response to (b), the jukebox device being configured to perform musical selections on a pay-for-play basis within a venue housing both the portable interactive entertainment devices and the jukebox device, and

wherein the plurality of stands are separately distributed within a venue.

25. A payment-operated entertainment system comprising:

a jukebox;

a plurality of portable interactive entertainment devices removably secured to a plurality of respective stands; and

a central tower configured to receive payment and activate each said portable interactive entertainment system upon receipt of payment,

wherein each said portable interactive entertainment device is configured to directly communicate with and at least partially control the jukebox once removed from the central tower, the portable interactive entertainment devices and the jukebox being operable independent of one another at the same and different times, and wherein the plurality of stands are separately distributed within a venue, and

wherein credits are sharable among and between portable interactive entertainment devices, as well as between portable interactive entertainment devices and the one or more jukeboxes.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes a touch screen display.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes video game input controls.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes a wireless communication module configured to communicate with a WiFi wireless access point.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the portable interactive entertainment device includes a wireless communication module configured to receive radio frequency signals.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein each said portable interactive entertainment device is configured to trigger an alarm and shut down in the event that the portable interactive entertainment is being or has been removed from a predefined area.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein each said portable interactive entertainment device is further configured to become re-activated once it is returned to a dock within the predefined area.