Digital jukebox device with improved user interfaces, and associated methods

• US 10,423,250 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2015
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• 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: Beaumier, Francois, Dhambri, Karim, Susla, Daniel, Labunka, Matthew, Moulton, Ian, Alameer, Samer, Tooker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US14/886,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20160041640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,437 Days
• Field of Search: 235383, 235375, 235380, 235381, 369 3006
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/06 Furniture aspects of radio, television, gramophone, or record cabinets for similar equipment supports attached to the wall or ceiling or floor stands F16M
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/632 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 : by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 : Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 : Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 : Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 : Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 : Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, to systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features and improved user interfaces. For instance, a smart search may be provided, e.g., where search results vary based on the popularity of songs within the venue, in dependence on songs being promoted, etc. As another example, a tile-based approach to organizing groupings of songs is provided. Groupings may involve self-populating collections of songs that combine centrally-promoted songs, songs in a given genre that are popular across an audiovisual distribution network, and songs that are locally popular and match up with the given genre (e.g., because of shared attributes such as same or similar genre, artist, etc.). Different tile visual presentations also are contemplated, as are different physical jukebox designs. In certain example embodiments, a sealed core unit with the “brains” of the jukebox is insertable into a docking station.

Claims

1. A jukebox device, comprising:

a display device; and

front and rear body portions that are connected to one another and that together define an interior area sized and shaped to accommodate control componentry of the jukebox device;

wherein the front body portion includes upper and lower portions that meet one another proximate to a generally medial area of the jukebox device,

the upper portion being separately detachable from the lower portion,

the lower portion supporting a bill acceptor and/or a credit card reader,

the upper portion supporting the display device, and

the upper and lower portions having respective front-to-back thicknesses that are greatest proximate to where they meet one another proximate to said generally medial area and that respectively taper to front-to-back thicknesses that are smallest approaching top and bottom surfaces of the jukebox device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rear body portion is trapezoidal in shape when viewed from top and bottom plan views.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the rear body portion includes top and side panels that are at least partially reflective.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the rear body portion includes top and side panels that are at least partially reflective.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising one or more lights internal to the jukebox device and configured to illuminate the top and side panels.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a camera and one or more LED flash elements.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a hinge mechanism connecting the front and rear body portions to one another.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the rear body portion includes one or more cooling vents.

9. The device of claim 1, being wall-mountable.

10. A jukebox device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display device; and

front and rear body portions that are connected to one another and that together define an interior area sized and shaped to accommodate control componentry of the jukebox device;

wherein the rear body portion is trapezoidal in shape when viewed from top and bottom plan views;

wherein the front body portion includes separately detachable upper and lower portions that meet one another proximate to a generally medial area of the jukebox device, the lower portion supporting a bill acceptor and/or a credit card reader, the upper portion supporting the display device, and the upper and lower portions having respective front-to-back thicknesses that are greatest proximate to where they meet one another and that respectively taper approaching top and bottom surfaces thereof.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the rear body portion includes top and side panels that are at least partially reflective.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising one or more lights internal to the jukebox device and configured to illuminate the top and side panels.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising a camera and one or more LED flash elements.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising a hinge mechanism connecting the front and rear body portions to one another.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the rear body portion includes one or more cooling vents.

16. The device of claim 11, being wall-mountable.