Remote control unit for intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction systems

• US 8,677,424 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1998
• 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: Nathan, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): EKPO, NNENNA NGOZI
• Application Number:
  US13/195,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20120030695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 725/5, 725/78, 725/80, 725/86, 725/87, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/30 for musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote control unit for intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction systems, comprising storage means, payment means, a sound control circuit, display means and a metal chassis wherein said remote control unit comprises a distant radio frequency transmitter that is associated with a radio frequency receiver connected to the sound control circuit of the audiovisual reproduction system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a jukebox system comprising:

at least one jukebox device, wherein said at least one jukebox device includes at least one processor, a storage device for storing audiovisual information that is reproducable by the at least one jukebox device in response to user requests, an audio system for playing audio, a display configured to display video, and a communication system configured to enable the at least one jukebox device to communicate through an audiovisual distribution network, and

a server remote from the at least one jukebox device, the server being configured to provide services to said at least one jukebox device, wherein said server and each said jukebox device are configured to communicate with each other through said distribution network; and

at least one remote control device for each said jukebox device, the method comprising;

receiving, at a control circuit of one said jukebox device, a signal from the associated remote control device, the signal specifying one of whether that jukebox device is to be activated or deactivated, and whether a payment device of that jukebox device is to be activated or deactivated; and

either causing the jukebox device that receives the signal to itself become either activated or deactivated, or causing the payment device of the jukebox device that receives the signal to become either activated or deactivated, in dependence on the signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing a first message to be displayed on the display of the jukebox device that has received the signal when the signal indicates that the payment device is to be deactivated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first message is programmable by an operator of the jukebox device that has received the signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the operator of the jukebox device that has received the signal is a person owning or renting that jukebox device and operating it for use by users.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing a second message to be displayed on the display of the jukebox device that has received the signal, the second message being indicative of a status of that jukebox device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second message indicates that the jukebox device that has received the signal is not currently available for use.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control device operates on a radio frequency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control circuit of each said jukebox device is configured to receive matching radio frequencies from a corresponding remote control device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is further configured to specify whether credits are to be provided to the associated jukebox device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at one said jukebox device an identification code associated with the remote control.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein activation and/or deactivation is performed if the identification code received at the jukebox device that has received the signal matches an expected identification code from a corresponding remote control device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification code is programmable via a learning mode triggered by the associated jukebox device.

13. A method of operating a jukebox device in connection with a remote control device, the jukebox device comprising at least one processor, a storage device for storing audiovisual information that is reproducable by the jukebox device in response to user requests, an audio system for playing audio, a display configured to display video, and a communication system configured to enable the jukebox device to communicate through an audiovisual distribution network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a control circuit of the jukebox device, a signal from the remote control device, the signal including an identification code and specifying one of (a) whether that jukebox device is to be activated or deactivated, and (b) whether a payment device of that jukebox device is to be activated or deactivated; and

causing the jukebox device to itself become either activated or deactivated, or causing the payment device of the jukebox device that receives the signal to become either activated or deactivated, in dependence on the signal and a determination as to whether the identification code matches an expected identification code programmed in the jukebox device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing a first message to be displayed on the display of the jukebox device when the signal indicates that the payment device is to be deactivated and when there is an identification code match.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first message is programmable by an operator of the jukebox device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising causing a second message to be displayed on the display of the jukebox device, the second message being indicative of a status of the jukebox device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote control device operates on a radio frequency and wherein the control circuit of the jukebox device is configured to receive a corresponding radio frequency from the remote control device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is further configured to specify whether credits are to be provided to the jukebox device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification code is programmable via a learning mode triggered by the jukebox device.

20. A method of operating a jukebox device in connection with a remote control device, the jukebox device comprising at least one processor, and a display, the method comprising:

receiving, at the jukebox device, a signal from the remote control device, the signal including an identification code and specifying one of (a) whether that jukebox device is to be activated or deactivated, (b) whether a payment device of that jukebox device is to be activated or deactivated, and (c) whether free credits are to be provided to the jukebox device;

causing the jukebox device to update a status thereof in dependence on the signal and on a determination as to whether the identification code matches an expected identification code programmed in the jukebox device; and

displaying a message indicating an update to the status of the jukebox device when the status has been updated.