Amusement device having electronic game and jukebox functionalities

• US 8,353,758 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMI Entertainment Network, LLC
• Original Assignee: AMI Entertainment Network Incorporated (AMI Entertainment Network, LLC)
• Inventors: Stelzer, James R., Higbie, Colin, Weyer, Nathan, Layne, William L. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKAARUP, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US12/212,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463 42- 47, 273/148.B, 345/156, 345/169, 345173-179, 345/905, 715727-729, 715/864, 710/1, 710/5, 710/8, 713/1, 713/600, 370342-344
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

An amusement device has a display, an audio output, and an input component. The display includes a touchscreen. The input component receives at least one of currency, coins, and credit cards/debit cards. The amusement device also includes a common controller. The common controller is configured to select and play at least one electronic game and to select and retrieve for playing a music data set from a plurality of music data sets. The electronic game and the music data set may optionally be played simultaneously. In certain embodiments, a reward based on one of either the electronic game or selection of the music data set is applied to the respective other of the electronic game and the selection of the music data. In further embodiments, a content of the electronic game is based on the music data set.

Claims

1. An amusement device comprising:

(a) a display having a touchscreen;

(b) an input component for receiving at least one of currency, coins, and credit cards/debit cards;

(c) an audio output; and

(d) a common controller communicatively coupled to the display and the audio output and being configured to;

(i) select and play at least one electronic game using the display,

(ii) select, retrieve, and play via the audio output a music data set from a plurality of music data sets, the music data set being streamed to the common controller, the music data set not being played until a specified portion of the music data set is downloaded to the common controller, the specified portion of the music data set being one of;

(A) set by an operator,

(B) dynamically adjusted based on a current download rate and prior downloads, and

(C) a combination of (A) and (B), and

(iii) prevent concurrent play of the at least one electronic game, via the controller and the display, with play of the music data set, via the controller and the audio output.

3. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein interruption of the stream of the music data set causes one or more unplayed song credits to be returned to a user of the amusement device.

4. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein a reward based on the at least one electronic game is applied toward selection of one or more music data sets.

5. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein a reward based on selection of one or more music data sets is applied toward the at least one electronic game.

6. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the music data set is entirely downloaded to the controller.

7. The amusement device of claim 6, wherein interruption of the music data set download causes one or more unplayed song credits to be returned to a user of the amusement device.

8. The amusement device of claim 6, wherein a reward based on the at least one electronic game is applied toward selection of one or more music data sets.

9. The amusement device of claim 6, wherein a reward based on selection of one or more music data sets is applied toward the at least one electronic game.

10. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one electronic game and the music data set is stored remotely and is retrieved by the controller over one of a wide area network and a local area network.

11. The amusement device of claim 10, wherein the music data set is stored on one of a central server and a second amusement device.

12. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the audio output is housed by the amusement device.

13. The amusement device of claim 12, wherein the audio output includes an amplifier and at least one speaker.

14. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein a content of the at least one electronic game is based on the music data set.

15. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the audio output is configured to connect to one of an amplified sound system, headphones, and at least one speaker.

16. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to perform at least one of selecting and playing a video file, browsing the Internet, sending electronic mail, placing orders, and communicating with other amusement devices.

2. An amusement device comprising:

(a) a display having a touchscreen;

(b) an input component for receiving at least one of currency, coins, and credit cards/debit cards;

(c) an audio output; and

(d) a common controller communicatively coupled to the display and the audio output and being configured to;

(i) select and play at least one electronic game using the display,

(ii) select and retrieve for playing via the audio output a music data set from a plurality of music data sets, the music data set being streamed to the common controller, the music data set not being played until a specified portion of the music data set is downloaded to the common controller, the specified portion of the music data set being one of;

(A) set by an operator,

(B) dynamically adjusted based on a current download rate and prior downloads, and

(C) a combination of (A) and (B), and

(iii) prevent concurrent play of the at least one electronic game, via the controller and the display, with play of the music data set, via the controller and the audio output.

17. A method of playing an amusement device, the amusement device having a display, an audio output, an input component for receiving at least one of currency, coins, and credit cards/debit cards, and a common controller communicatively coupled to the display and the audio output, the method comprising:

(a) selecting and playing, by the common controller of the amusement device, at least one electronic game using the display;

(b) selecting and retrieving for playing via the audio output, by the common controller of the amusement device, a music data set from a plurality of music data sets, the music data set being streamed to the common controller, the music data set not being played until a specified portion of the music data set is downloaded to the common controller, the specified portion of the music data set being one of;

(i) set by an operator,

(ii) dynamically adjusted based on a current download rate and prior downloads, and

(iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); and

(c) preventing, by the common controller, concurrent play of the at least one electronic game, via the controller and the display, with play of the music data set, via the controller and the audio output.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein selecting and retrieving a music data set from a plurality of music data sets includes retrieving the music data set from a remote location over one of a wide area network and a local area network.