Digital downloading jukebox system with central and local music servers

• US 9,646,339 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• 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: Nathan, Guy, Mastronardi, Tony, Dion, Dominique, Khenfir, Mounir
• Primary Examiner(s): Qayyum, Zeshan
• Application Number:
  US10/661,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,985 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier

Abstract

A digital downloading jukebox system including a central server and a plurality of remote jukebox devices each provided with a local server that preferably mirrors the central server and enables selected songs to be immediately downloaded to the jukebox for reproduction. The local server and jukebox may also provide, through control of the central server, song download services to other jukebox devices, such as residential jukeboxes. The jukebox system may also act as a monitoring/management device for other coin operated equipment present in a location where the jukebox is located, thereby enabling the jukebox device to perform updates on other equipment under control of the central server.

Claims

1. A jukebox system, comprising:

a jukebox device comprising a jukebox device processor;

a jukebox device storage storing a first plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a first fee or number of credits; and

a server storing a second plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a second fee or number of credits, at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing a fraction of data, the missing fraction of data being stored in the jukebox device storage,

wherein the jukebox device processor is configured to perform the steps of;

receiving a selection of the at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing the fraction of data in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device following collection of an appropriate fee or number of credit;

receiving an encrypted instance of media from the server based on the selected instance of media;

retrieving from the jukebox device storage a missing fraction of data corresponding to the encrypted instance of media;

decrypting the encrypted instance of media based on the retrieved missing fraction of data;

combining the decrypted instance of media with the retrieved missing fraction of data; and

playing the combined decrypted instance of media.

2. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein the jukebox device storage and server respectively comprise first and second disk drive devices.

3. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein at least some said instances of media in the second plurality of instances of media are not included in the first plurality of instances of media.

4. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein the jukebox device storage and server are updatable independent of one another.

5. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein a selected instance of media from said second plurality of instances of media becomes at least temporarily available on the jukebox device storage.

6. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein each instance of media in the first plurality of instances of media is encrypted according to a first encryption level.

7. The jukebox system of claim 6, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is encrypted with a level of encryption different from the first encryption level.

8. The jukebox system of claim 7, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is missing a fraction of data, said missing fraction of data being stored in separate respective locations and being at least temporarily insertable into the respective instances of media to enable playback by the jukebox device.

9. The jukebox system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of digital downloading devices in the same location as the jukebox device, wherein the jukebox device is configured to update the functionality of and manage each said digital downloading device.

10. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein:

the instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device are divided into first and second subsets of media, the first and second subsets of media being different from one another but each said instance of media in the first and second subsets of media being of one common song data type; and

the jukebox device is further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user corresponding to a selection of an instance of media from the instances of media in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device, the user interface comprising a first display screen configured to receive input from a user for the selection of the instance of media for playback from the first subset of media for the first fee or number of credits, and a second display screen configured to receive input from a user for the selection of the instance of media for playback from at least the second subset of media for the second fee or number of credits.

11. The jukebox system of claim 10, wherein the first display screen includes a list of artists for each said instance of media in the first subset of media.

12. The jukebox system of claim 11, wherein the list includes album art.

13. The jukebox system of claim 11, wherein the second display screen enables the user to enter as search criteria:

an artist, a song name, or an album name.

14. The jukebox system of claim 13, wherein the second display screen is configured to display search results after at least some instances of media not included in the first subset of media are searched by the jukebox device for instances of media matching the search criteria.

15. The jukebox system of claim 14, wherein the second subset of media is searched by the jukebox device.

16. The jukebox device of claim 14, wherein the first and second subsets of media are searched by the jukebox device.

17. The jukebox system of claim 14, wherein the search results are selectable by the user in order to initiate playback of the selected search result by the jukebox device for the second fee or number of credits.

18. The jukebox system of claim 10, wherein a user interface element is provided to prompt a user to supply an additional fee or number of credits in order to make the selected instance of media play immediately after a currently playing instance of media.

19. The jukebox device of claim 10, wherein the first and second display screens are arranged differently and include different search options.

20. The jukebox system of claim 1, further comprising a central server storing a master catalog of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device, wherein the server is different from the central server.

21. The jukebox system of claim 20, wherein the server is housed within the jukebox device.

22. A digital audiovisual distribution system, comprising:

a plurality of jukebox devices respectively located at a plurality of locations; and

a central server including a repository of instances of media distributable to the jukebox devices via a digital audiovisual distribution network;

wherein each said jukebox devices comprises;

a jukebox device processor;

a jukebox device storage storing a first plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a first fee or number of credits;

a connection to a server storing a second plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a second fee or number of credits, at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing a fraction of data, the missing fraction of data being stored in the jukebox device storage;

wherein the jukebox device processor is configured to perform the steps of;

receiving a selection of the at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing the fraction of data in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device following collection of an appropriate fee or number of credit;

receiving an encrypted instance of media from the server based on the selected instance of media;

retrieving from the jukebox device storage a missing fraction of data corresponding to the encrypted instance of media;

decrypting the encrypted instance of media based on the retrieved missing fraction of data;

combining the decrypted instance of media with the retrieved missing fraction of data; and

playing the combined decrypted instance of media.

23. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein for each said jukebox, the local storage and local server respectively comprise first and second disk drive devices.

24. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein for each said jukebox, the second plurality of instances of media substantially mirrors the repository of instances of media operably connected to the central server.

25. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein for each said jukebox, the jukebox device storage and server are updatable via the network independent of one another.

26. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein an instance of media from said second plurality of instances of media selected for playback is at least temporarily available on the jukebox device storage.

27. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein an instance of media stored in the repository of the central server, subsequent to user request, is downloadable to the jukebox device storage of one said jukebox device for a third fee or number of credits, the third fee or number of credits being higher than the first fee or number of credits.

28. A method of operating a jukebox system comprising a jukebox device including a processor, comprising:

storing by the jukebox device in a jukebox device storage a first plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a first fee or number of credits;

storing by a server a second plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a second fee or number of credits, at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing a fraction of data, the missing fraction of data being stored in the jukebox device storage;

receiving by the jukebox device a selection of the at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing the fraction of data in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device following collection of an appropriate fee or number of credit;

receiving by the jukebox device an encrypted instance of media from the server based on the selected instance of media;

retrieving by the jukebox device from the jukebox device storage a missing fraction of data corresponding to the encrypted instance of media;

decrypting by the jukebox device the encrypted instance of media based on the retrieved missing fraction of data;

combining by the jukebox device the decrypted instance of media with the retrieved missing fraction of data; and

playing by the jukebox device the combined decrypted instance of media.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the jukebox device storage and server respectively comprise first and second disk drive devices.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein at least some said instances of media in the second plurality of instances of media are not included in the first plurality of instances of media.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising updating the jukebox device storage and server independent of one another.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising making available on the jukebox device storage, at least temporarily, a selected instance of media from said second plurality of instances of media.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein each instance of media in the first plurality of instances of media is encrypted according to a first encryption level.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is encrypted with a level of encryption different from the first encryption level.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is missing a fraction of data, said missing fraction of data being stored in separate respective locations and being at least temporarily insertable into the respective instances of media to enable playback by the jukebox device.