Digital downloading jukebox system with user-tailored music management, communications, and other tools

• US 8,719,873 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• 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, Dion, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, KIET G
• Application Number:
  US13/673,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-219, 709/223, 709/229, 705/1, 705/10, 705/26, 707/104.1, 379/17, 725/61
• US Class Current: 725/61
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• 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: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

A digital downloading jukebox system including a mechanism for delivering custom services to a recognized user, including services for creating playlists, communicating with others, accessing other features, etc. is provided. In some exemplary embodiments, after a user is recognized, the jukebox system allows users to access a special front-end via an Internet-enabled device or on an actual jukebox. Then, the user may, for example, create playlists, share songs with friends, send messages to friends, and access other value-added content. Such a system preferably learns about networks of friends, and enables managers to send similar messages to regular customers and/or others known to the system. In some exemplary embodiments, changes via a first user interface on a first device are reflected on second user interface on other properly-configured devices.

Claims

1. A method of operating a digital jukebox system comprising a plurality of digital jukebox devices and a remote access system,

at least some of said digital jukebox devices comprising:

a collection mechanism for collecting an amount of money for playing an instance of media through the respective digital jukebox device, and

a first user interface configured to enable a recognized user to create, modify, and/or delete recognized user information, said recognized user information including both profile information and playlist information, said recognized user information and said playlist information being designatable in whole or in part as one of either public or private by the recognized user,

the respective digital jukebox device being configured to recognize recognizable users and retrieve information specific to recognized users upon successful logins to the respective digital jukebox device,

the method comprising;

recognizing recognizable users and retrieving information specific to recognized users upon successful logins to the remote access system via a second user interface provided to a device that is not a digital jukebox device;

enabling recognized users to create, modify, and/or delete said recognized user information through said second user interface;

reflecting changes made to the recognized user information via the second user interface in the first user interface when such information is to be accessed by the first user interface;

reflecting changes made to the recognized user information via the first user interface in the second user interface when such information is to be accessed by the second user interface; and

making available said recognized user information and said playlist information to users of the digital jukebox system based on whether said recognized user information and said playlist information was designated public or private.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically collecting money from a recognized user based on billing information included in said recognized user information, when appropriate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said playlist information includes a list of at least one instance of media to be associated with a playlist.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said playlist includes an identifying name.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said recognized user information includes contact information for at least one other recognizable user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying a message previously left by a recognized user for at least one other recognizable user after the at least one other recognizable user logs into the digital jukebox system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said message includes text, graphics, at least one instance of media, and/or credits operable with said collection mechanism.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said recognized user information further includes account information;

said account information including a username, a password, an e-mail address, a telephone number, and/or billing information;

said profile information including said recognized user'"'"'s age, date of birth, gender, and/or place of birth.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a home computer connected to the remote access system via the Internet, the second user interface being accessible via the home computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a portable device connected to the remote access system via the Internet, the second user interface being accessible via the portable device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a non-transitory storage location of said digital jukebox system stores said recognized user information.

12. A method of operating a digital jukebox system comprising a plurality of digital jukebox devices, the method comprising

enabling users to log into the digital jukebox system via a first user interface accessible via at least some of the digital jukebox devices and via a second user interface accessible via non jukebox devices;

recognizing recognizable users and retrieving recognized user information specific to recognized users in connection with successful login operations, said recognized user information including both profile information and playlist information, said recognized user information and said playlist information being designatable in whole or in part as one of either public or private by the associated recognized user;

enabling recognized users to create, modify, and/or delete their own recognized user information using the user interface through which they logged into the digital jukebox system;

reflecting changes made to the recognized user information via the second user interface in the first user interface when such information is to be accessed by the first user interface;

reflecting changes made to the recognized user information via the first user interface in the second user interface when such information is to be accessed by the second user interface; and

making available said recognized user information and said playlist information to users of the digital jukebox system based on whether said recognized user information and said playlist information was designated public or private.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a central store stores said recognized user information for all recognizable users.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically collecting money from a recognized user based on billing information included in said recognized user information when a recognized user requests a song to be played via one or more of the digital jukebox devices.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said playlist information includes a list of at least one instance of media to be associated with a playlist.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said recognized user information includes contact information for at least one other recognizable user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a message previously left by a recognized user for at least one other recognizable user after the at least one other recognizable user logs into the digital jukebox system.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising transferring credits spendable using the digital jukebox devices from one recognized user to another recognizable user in connection with the contact information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein message are sendable and retrievable as part of a group and/or a forum in connection with the contact information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein access to said group and/or forum is limited to recognizable users.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the non jukebox device is a home computer or portable device connected to the digital jukebox system via the Internet, the second user interface being accessible via the non jukebox device.

22. A method of operating a digital jukebox system comprising a plurality of digital jukebox devices, the method comprising

enabling users to log into the digital jukebox system via a first user interface accessible via at least some of the digital jukebox devices and via a second user interface accessible via non jukebox devices;

recognizing recognizable users and retrieving recognized user information specific to recognized users in connection with successful login operations, said recognized user information including both profile information and playlist information, said recognized user information and said playlist information being designatable in whole or in part as one of either public or private by the associated recognized user;

enabling recognized users to create, modify, and/or delete their own recognized user information using the user interface through which they logged into the digital jukebox system; and

making available said recognized user information and said playlist information to users of the digital jukebox system based on whether said recognized user information and said playlist information was designated public or private,

wherein changes to said recognized user information are displayable via the first and second user interfaces regardless of which user interface was used to make changes.