Communications techniques for an intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction system

• US 8,781,926 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• 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, Mastronardi, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Goyea, Olusegun
• Application Number:
  US13/859,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 717/103, 717/152, 717/168, 717/174, 340/4.4, 340/5.9, 340/5.85, 711/103, 711/152, 709/221, 709/226, 709/232, 709/222, 709/225, 709/241, 386/230, 700/234, 700/241, 710/48
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/24 using interrupt G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/63 Querying
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4812 by interrupt, e.g. masked
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0033 Recording/reproducing or transmission of music for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0041 in coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/365 the accompaniment information being stored on a host computer and transmitted to a reproducing terminal by means of a network, e.g. public telephone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/415 Infrared beams
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/026 : File encryption of specific electrophonic music instrument file or stream formats, e.g. MIDI, note oriented formats, sound banks, wavetables digital rights management [DRM] G06F21/00; encryption H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/081 : Genre classification, i.e. descriptive metadata for classification or selection of musical pieces according to style analysis genre G10H2210/036
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/091 : Info, i.e. juxtaposition of unrelated auxiliary information or commercial messages with or between music files metadata G10H2240/075
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/181 : Billing, i.e. purchasing of data contents for use with electrophonic musical instruments; Protocols therefor; Management of transmission or connection time therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/191 : CRC, i.e. error detection using a cyclic redundancy check
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/245 : ISDN [Integrated Services Digital Network]
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/255 : Optical fibre transmission for electrophonic musical instrument purposes, e.g. hum mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/261 : Satellite transmission for musical instrument purposes, e.g. processing for mitigation of satellite transmission delays
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/265 : CATV transmission, i.e. electrophonic musical instruments connected to community antennas or cable television networks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/291 : SCSI, i.e. Small Computer System Interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/295 : Packet switched network, e.g. token ring circuit-switched networks, e.g. traditional analog telephone transmission G10H2240/241
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 : Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 : Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 : CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 : Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/913 : Digital audio tape [DAT] format
• 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 27/032 : on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 : on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• 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: H04H 20/38 : Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 : Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 : Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 : using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 : using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 : Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 : using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 : Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• 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 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 : Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 : Archiving or backup

Abstract

Method for communication between a central server and a computerized juke-box which operates in a conference mode, including: sending a header before any transaction, which includes the identity of the destination together, the identity of the emitter, and the size of the packets; responding from the server in the form of a data packet, each packet sent by the server being encoded using the identification code of the juke-box software; and receiving a data packet by the juke-box, which decodes the packet, simultaneously performs a check on the data received by the CRC method and sends an acknowledgement of receipt to the server indicating the accuracy of the information received, to allow it to prepare and send another packet to the juke-box.

Claims

1. A method of operating a jukebox system, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of jukebox devices, said jukebox devices including a microprocessor, a memory that stores songs playable via the jukebox device in response to requests by a user, a touchscreen display for displaying images, an audio arrangement providing audio, a communication system enabling the jukebox device to communicate with a song distribution network, and a multitasking operating system that enables simultaneous operation of the display, the audio arrangement and the communication system, and further including security operating software that controls operation of said jukebox;

providing a server system remote from said plurality of jukebox devices, and a controller system accessible by each said jukebox device through said distribution network; and

causing individual ones of said plurality of jukebox devices to be registered for operation through communication between the security operating software of the respective jukebox device and the controller system, the security operating software;

(a) authorizing the respective jukebox device to operate when an authorized manager has processed a correct registration, and

(b) causing the respective jukebox device to at least temporarily stop working when the network cannot be accessed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a system management function configured to enable the authorized manager of each said jukebox device to access and selectively adjust adjustable operation settings for the respective jukebox device, at least some of the adjustable settings being adjustable over ranges predetermined by the authorized manager through the definition of high and low levels for each system output source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each said jukebox is further configured to:

download songs from the server system for storage thereon;

display, on the display thereof, images of album covers that correspond to songs that are stored on the respective jukebox device; and

/or

collect money or credits through the respective jukebox device from patrons in exchange for playing selected songs via the respective jukebox device, wherein one or more desired songs are selectable by having the patrons interact with the respective jukebox device, via the display.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving from each said jukebox device, at the server system, royalty information uploaded from the respective jukebox device, for use in accounting for music rights associated with the selected songs.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein each said jukebox is further configured to:

receive update data from said server system on the respective jukebox device to remotely update said operating software thereon, and

upon receipt of said update data, update the respective jukebox device to operate in accordance with new operating software.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each said jukebox is further configured to:

determine, upon receipt of said update data, whether a version number of current software is outdated, and

when said version number is determined to be outdated, perform a back-up of the current operating software, modify a system startup file for startup with the back-up of the current software, begin execution of a new version of said software received from said server system, verify proper operation of said new version of said software and, when said new version properly operates, reinitialize the system startup file for startup with the new version.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each said jukebox is further configured to reinitialize said current version of said software and send an error message to said server system when said verification of said new version indicates an error.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding, via the server system, songs with a code number resident in each said jukebox device before transmitting any songs from the server system to the jukebox device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering of the said jukebox devices with the controller system comprises transmitting to the respective jukebox device an approval signal in the form of a registration number that the respective jukebox device is to check upon each startup, the respective jukebox device being rendered operational when a correct registration number is found.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying royalty base and song cost information in a centrally located database.

11. A method of operating a jukebox device including a microprocessor, a memory that stores songs playable via the jukebox device in response to requests by a user, a touchscreen display for displaying images, an audio arrangement configured to provide audio, a communication system configured to enable the jukebox device to communicate with a song distribution network, and a multitasking operating system that enables simultaneous operation of

the display, the audio arrangement, and the communication system, the method comprising:

running security operating software that controls operation of said jukebox device;

connecting the jukebox device to a jukebox system including a plurality of other similarly configured jukebox devices, and a server remote from the jukebox device and the other jukebox devices;

enabling an authorized manager of the jukebox device to adjust adjustable operation settings for the jukebox device, the adjustable operation settings being adjustable over a range predetermined by the authorized manager; and

causing the jukebox device to be registered for operation through communication between the security operating software of the jukebox device and a controller system, the security operating software;

(a) authorizing the jukebox device to operate when the authorized manager has processed a correct registration, and (b) causing the jukebox device to at least temporarily stop working when the network cannot be accessed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said jukebox device is further configured to:

download songs from the server for storage thereon,

display, on the display thereof, images of album covers that correspond to songs that are stored thereon, and

collect money or credits from patrons in exchange for playing selected songs via the jukebox device, wherein one or more desired songs are selectable by having the patrons interact with the jukebox device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising uploading royalty information from the jukebox device to the server for use in accounting for music rights associated with the selected songs.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving update data from said server to update said operating software on the jukebox device, and

upon receipt of said update data, updating the jukebox device to operate in accordance with new operating software.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining, upon receipt of said update data, whether a version number of current software is outdated, and

when said version number is determined to be outdated;

performing a back-up of the current operating software,

modifying a system startup file for startup with the back-up of the current software,

beginning execution of a new version of said software received from said server,

verifying proper operation of said new version of said software, and

when said new version properly operates, reinitializing the system startup file for startup with the new version.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising reinitializing said current version of said software and sending an error message to said server when said verification of said new version indicates an error.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the server is configured to encode songs with a code number resident in said jukebox device before distributing any songs from the server to the jukebox device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the registering of the jukebox device with the controller system includes transmission to the jukebox device of an approval signal in the form of a registration number that the jukebox device is to check upon each startup, the jukebox device being rendered operational when a correct registration number is found.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a centrally located database includes royalty base and song cost information.