Combination jukebox and game

• US 20020111825A1
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1992
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arachnid Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arachnid Incorporated
• Inventors: Rice, Patrick G., Martin, John R.
• Application Number:
  US10/073,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111825A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 : Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 : wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• 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 27/034 : on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 : of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 : by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• 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: G11B 27/36 : Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 : Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00

Abstract

A combination entertainment system for providing both jukebox and game entertainment is disclosed. The entertainment system comprises a jukebox subsystem, a dart game subsystem, and a control subsystem that coordinates a jukebox mode of operation and a dart game mode of operation. Also disclosed is a method of operation for the combination jukebox and game entertainment system. The method transfers operation between game, jukebox, and advertisement modes of operation, based on patron input and the current operating mode of the system.

Claims

1. An entertainment system comprising:

a game subsystem;

a jukebox subsystem; and

a control subsystem coupled to the game subsystem and the jukebox subsystem, the control subsystem and the game subsystem providing game functionality, and the jukebox subsystem and the control subsystem providing jukebox functionality.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the control system is responsive to at least one mode determining switch for specifying a mode of operation for said entertainment system.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the control subsystem comprises a central processor for controlling operation of the game subsystem and the jukebox subsystem apparatus.

4. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the game subsystem is a dart game subsystem.

5. The entertainment system of claim 3, further comprising a data storage device coupled to said central processor, said data storage device storing digitized songs for the jukebox subsystem.

6. The entertainment system of claim 3, wherein the central processor is operative to play audio data streamed from a remote server while providing jukebox functionality.

7. The entertainment system of claim 3, further comprising a communication interface for communicating with devices external to the entertainment system.

8. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the jukebox subsystem comprises an audio data decoder, an amplifier, and at least one speaker.

9. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the game subsystem is a dart game subsystem comprising a dart target and a sound card.

10. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the jukebox subsystem includes a jukebox interface physically separated from the entertainment system for allowing players to interact with the jukebox subsystem while other players interact with the game subsystem.

11. A method for providing an entertainment system having combined jukebox and game functionality, the method comprising:

operating in a current mode of operation corresponding to one of a jukebox mode, and a game mode;

receiving a mode command; and

determining a next mode of operation based on the mode command, the next mode of operation corresponding to one of a game mode and a jukebox mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the operating step and the determining step select a mode of operation corresponding to one of a dart game mode and a jukebox mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of receiving a mode command comprises:

providing an input device by which a patron may input the mode command; and

detecting the mode command input by the patron.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of playing jukebox music in the background during a game.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the operating step comprises operating in one of a dart game mode, a jukebox mode, and an advertising mode.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining step comprises determining the next mode of operation based on the mode command and on the current mode.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising resuming operation in a previous mode of operation when the current mode of operation is completed.