Quick pick apparatus and method for music selection

• US 7,548,958 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMI Entertainment Network, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rowe International Corporation (AMI Entertainment Network, LLC)
• Inventors: Martin, Jeff, Heibeck, Sterling, Kalis, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US11/198,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30.06, 709/217, 715/716, 715/727, 463/25
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for quick song selection on any of a plurality of networked, digital jukeboxes is provided. The Quick Pick feature provides for efficient song selection for a jukebox user preferably using a set of the most popular songs on a particular jukebox machine. Preferably, the system and method allow a user to browse or select songs to play at a digital jukebox in an efficient manner, without the need for a user to know the title or artist of the song in advance of making a selection.

Claims

1. A computer jukebox for playing songs in response to a user request, the jukebox comprising:

at least one memory for storing a plurality of digital musical selections and information identifying the musical selections;

a display for presenting song selections based on the information identifying the musical selections and for presenting a rapid song selection option to the user;

a selector for allowing the user to select a digital musical selection to play on the jukebox and to select the rapid song selection option; and

a processor for executing acts comprising;

determining a frequency of selection for each of the digital musical selections stored in the at least one memory;

creating a set of the most frequently selected musical selections;

determining whether a user has selected the rapid song selection option;

causing the display to show information identifying a first musical selection from the set of most frequently selected musical selections if the user has selected the rapid song selection option;

presenting an option to the user to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select a subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections;

determining if the user selects the option to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select a subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections; and

automatically using any remaining credits to select and play a subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections if the user selects the option to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select a subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections.

2. The computer jukebox of claim 1, wherein the first musical selection is the most frequently selected musical selection.

3. The computer jukebox of claim 2, wherein the processor further causes the display to show information identifying a second musical selection from the set of most frequently selected musical selections and wherein the second musical selection is the second most frequently selected musical selection.

4. The computer jukebox of claim 1, wherein the at least one musical selection from the selected subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections is transmitted to the computer jukebox from a central location.

5. The computer jukebox of claim 1, wherein a randomizer is used to determine which musical selection from the set of most frequently selected musical selections is the first musical selection.

6. The computer jukebox of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes at least one of:

song title, artist name, and a graphic of album.

7. The computer jukebox of claim 1, wherein the display also permits a user to select a genre of music either before or after selecting a priority play option.

8. The computer jukebox of claim 7, wherein the display is adapted to present a selection of the most popular musical selections in a genre after the genre is selected.

9. The computer jukebox of claim 1, further comprising:

a credit acceptor and calculator to determine a number of remaining credits available.

10. The computer jukebox of claim 1, wherein the processor determines if a user selects the first musical selection by determining whether the user selected a play button on the display.

11. A method for selecting a song on a computer jukebox comprising:

presenting an option for a rapid song selection feature on a computer jukebox;

calculating a frequency of selection for each of a plurality of digital musical selections stored in at least one memory in the jukebox;

creating one of a set or a list of the most frequently selected musical selections based upon the calculated frequency;

determining whether a user has selected the rapid song selection option;

if the user has selected the rapid song selection option, causing the computer jukebox to show information identifying at least a first musical selection from the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections;

presenting an option to the user to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select a subset of the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections;

determining if the user selects the option to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select a subset of the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections first musical selection; and

automatically using any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select and play a subset of the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections if the user selects the option to automatically use any remaining credits to select a subset of the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising allowing a user to scroll in a listing of frequently played selections when the user selects the rapid song selection option.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing the subset of the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections in a queue for play.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving at least one of the songs from the subset of the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections from a central memory located remote from the computer jukebox.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a randomizer to identify a first musical selection from the set or list of most frequently selected musical selections.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying one of an album cover graphic, artist name, and album name associated with the most frequently played song stored in memory.

17. A method for selecting a song on a computer jukebox that accepts credits for playing music, the method comprising:

presenting on a display an option for a rapid song selection feature on a computer jukebox;

calculating a frequency of selection for each of a plurality of digital musical selections stored in at least one memory in the jukebox;

creating a set of the most frequently selected musical selections based upon the calculated frequency;

determining whether a user has selected the rapid song selection option;

causing the display to show the set of most frequently selected musical selections in a random order if the user has selected the rapid song selection option;

presenting an option to the user to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select and play a subset of the set of frequently selected musical selections;

determining if the user selects the option to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select a subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections; and

automatically using any remaining credits to select and play a subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections if the user selects the option to automatically use any remaining credits by causing the jukebox to select a subset of the set of most frequently selected musical selections.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the subset is randomly selected from the set of most frequently played selections, by the jukebox.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting on the display an option for the user to search through the available musical selections by at least one of:

artist name, song title, and album title.