Music jukebox

• US 6,587,403 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Audio Devices LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Audio Devices LLC
• Inventors: Kelley, Michael J., Keller, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TAN X
• Application Number:
  US09/641,069
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30.06, 369/33, 369/34, 369/36, 369/37, 369/178, 369/30.05, 369/30.27, 369/30.28, 369/33.01, 369/34.01, 369/178.01
• US Class Current: 369/30.06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/22 from random access magazine of disc records
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• 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 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• 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 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating measured values in general G01D indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a music jukebox which is configured for storing a music library therein. The music jukebox includes a housing, audio input structure on the housing for receiving audio signals, audio output structure on the housing for outputting audio signals, and a data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The music jukebox is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure. The music jukebox includes means for selecting a sound track from the music library stored in the data storage structure to play through the audio output structure, and the housing includes a display thereon which identifies sound tracks in the music library. Preferably, the music jukebox is configured such that the sound tracks stored in the data storage structure are editable before being played through the audio output structure.

Claims

1. A music jukebox configured for storing a music library therein, said music jukebox comprising:

a housing;

an audio data receiver arranged to receive audio data from outside the housing;

audio output structure located at least partially within the housing for outputting audio signals;

data storage memory in the housing for storing audio data received from outside the housing through the audio data receiver, said music jukebox including a user interface comprising a display device located at least partially within the housing, said display device providing a display which is viewable from outside the housing, and a plurality of manually operable function controllers on the housing, said music jukebox configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in digital form in the data storage memory as a result of audio data being received from outside the housing through the audio data receiver, said music jukebox configured such that said music library is organizable into a master song list and at least one group of sound tracks wherein each group comprises at least one sound track selected from the master song list, wherein said music jukebox is configured such that indicia of said master song list and indicia of at least one group of sound tracks are displayable on said display, wherein said music jukebox is configured such that said plurality of manually operable function controllers is useable to select a group of sound tracks stored in the data storage memory and operate the music jukebox such that said music jukebox outputs audio signals through said audio output structure.

2. A music jukobox as recited in claim 1, further comprising a device located at least partially within the housing for receiving a compact disc (“

CD”

), said music jukebox configured to selectively operate as a CD player whereby sound tracks stored on the CD are playable through the audio output structure.

3. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein said music jukebox is configured such that the at least one sound track stored in the data storage memory is editable before being played through the audio output structure.

4. A music jukebox as recited in claim 2, said music jukebox configured such that sound tracks which are stored in the data storage memory are selectively playable through the audio output structure without the sound tracks having to be contained on the CD.

5. A music jukebox as recited in claim 3, further comprising at least one manually operable function controller capable of being operated to facilitate editing.

6. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, said music jukebox configured such that at least one sound track in the data storage memory is organizable into at least one group of sound tracks.

7. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one manually operable function controller capable of being operated to facilitate organizing at least one sound track into at least one group of sound tracks.

8. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, said music jukebox configured to display a peak level indicator.

9. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, said music jukebox configured such that names are assignable to at least one sound track in the data storage memory.

10. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one manually operable function controller capable of being operated to facilitate assigning names to at least one sound track in the data storage memory.

11. A music jukebox as recited in claim 6, said music jukebox configured such that names are assignable to at least one group of sound tracks.

12. A music jukebox as recited in claim 11, further comprising at least one manually operable function controller capable of being operated to facilitate naming at least one group of sound tracks.

13. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein said data storage memory comprises a hard drive.

14. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio data receiver comprises at least one line in jack.

15. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio output structure comprises at least one line out jack.

16. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one manually operable function controller capable of being operated to facilitate digitally editing at least one sound track in the data storage memory.

17. A music jukebox as recited in claim 16, wherein said plurality of manually operable function controllers comprises buttons.

18. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for setting an input gain of the audio data received through the audio data receiver.

19. A music jukebox as recited in claim 18, wherein the means for setting the input gain comprises at least one manually operable function controller.

20. A music jukebox as recited in claim 18, wherein the means for setting the input gain comprises a first manually operable function controller for adjusting the input gain of a right channel and a second manually operable function controller for adjusting the input gain of a left channel.

21. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising a signal receiver arranged to receive signals from a wireless remote control.

22. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio data receiver comprises at least one external digital interface.

23. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the music jukebox is configured to close a sound track being recorded and begin recording another sound track each time a single manually operable function controller is operated.

24. A music jukebox as recited in claim 22, wherein said external digital interface is communicatingly connected to at least one of a Serial Interface Bus and a Digital Signal Processor.

25. A music jukebox as recited in claim 24, wherein said external digital interface comprises an interface that is compatible with an SPDIF signal.

26. A music jukebox as recited in claim 3, wherein the music jukebox is configured to perform editing functions including at least one of splitting, joining, fading in, fading out, normalizing, cross fading, and conecting at least one sound track in the data storage memory.

27. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the music jukebox is configured to rebuild a file in said data storage memory.

28. A music jukebox as recited in claim 2, wherein the music jukebox is configured to utilize an upgrade CD which is configured to facilitate installation in said music jukebox of an upgrade of an operating system.

29. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the music jukebox is configured to sort at least one of the sound tracks and the groups of sound tracks stored in said data storage memory according to indicia of said sound tracks and groups of sound tracks.

30. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the music jukebox is configured to audition at least one sound track in said data storage memory.

31. A music jukebox as recited in claim 2, wherein said music jukebox is configured to read audio data on a compact disc and is configured to store the audio data as sound tracks in the data storage memory of the music jukebox.

32. A music jukebox as recited in claim 31, wherein the music jukebox is configured to add at least one sound track read from the compact disc into the master song list.

33. A music jukebox as recited in claim 31, wherein said music jukebox is configured to add at least one sound track read from the compact disc into a group of sound tracks in the data storage memory.

34. A music jukebox as recited in claim 33, wherein said music jukebox is configured to add all sound tracks which are on the compact disc into a group of sound tracks in the data storage memory.

35. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen such that the music jukebox is capable of being operated by touching the touch screen display using at least one of a finger, a light pen and a stylus.

36. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a microphone and sound receiving means located at least partially within the housing.

37. A music jukcbox as recited in claim 36, wherein the music jukebox is configured such that the music jukebox is capable of being operated by a user using voice commands.

38. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising a device located at least partially within the housing for receiving an audio Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), said music jukebox configured to selectively operate as an audio DVD player whereby sound tracks stored on the audio DVD are playable through the audio output structure.

39. A music jukebox as recited in claim 38, wherein the music jukebox is configured to read audio data on the audio DVD and is configured to store the audio data as sound tracks in the data storage memory of the music jukebox.

40. A music jukebox as recited in claim 36, wherein the music jukebox is configured to receive a voice message that is input through the microphone, and store said voice message in digital form on the data storage memory in a file linked to the current sound track selected.

41. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio data receiver comprises at least one of a balanced jack and an unbalanced jack.

42. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio output structure includes at least one of a balanced jack and an unbalanced jack.

43. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising an amplifier located in the housing.

44. A music jukebox as recited in claim 18, wherein the music jukebox is configured to automatically set the input gain.

45. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio output structure comprises at least one of a headphone jack and a phone jack.

46. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one manually operable function controller, configured such that said manually operable function controller is operable to adjust an output gain of said audio signals output by said music jukebox.

47. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein said data storage memory comprises random address memory.

48. A music jukebox as recited in claim 1, wherein said data storage memory comprises solid state memory.