Communication device and method between an audiovisual information playback system and an electronic game machine

• US 8,840,479 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• 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, Choquet, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/905,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 463/35, 463/41, 463/25, 463/42, 705 26- 27, 709218-219
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication device between an audiovisual information playback system (1) and at least one electronic game machine (2), each electronic game machine comprising a viewing means (200), a means (210) for interacting with the user and a means of payment (220), characterized in that each electronic game machine (2) is connected to the playback system (2) via a network interface (21) and an associated LAN (3), and comprises specific means (20, 21, 22) for managing a means of payment, a viewing means and an interactive means, in order to enable, on the electronic game machine (2), the selection and payment of at least one selection stored on the playback system (2), with a view to playback thereof on the playback system, the specific means (22) of managing payment means and the specific means (21) of managing viewing means and the interactive means being triggered by the activation means of the electronic game machine (2).

Claims

1. An electronic device configured to operate in plural modes, the electronic device comprising:

processing resources including a processor and a memory, the processing resources cooperating to provide the plural modes,

the first mode enabling a game to be played and/or the Internet to be accessed,

the second mode enabling the electronic device to serve as a terminal for interacting with a remotely located digital jukebox via a communications interface configured to facilitate interactions between the digital jukebox and the electronic device, the second mode enabling a user to;

(a) select at least one audio selection accessible by the digital jukebox for playback via the digital jukebox,

(b) receive payment in connection with the playback of the at least one audio selection, and

(c) cause the digital jukebox to play the at least one audio selection to initiate playback of the at least one audio selection upon receipt of corresponding payment.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the digital jukebox comprises a module for managing messages coming from the electronic device via the communications interface.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device has an associated identifier that enables the digital jukebox with which the electronic device is communicating to differentiate between a plurality of different electronic devices with which the digital jukebox may communicate.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the digital jukebox is operable to communicate with a remote centralized server.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage location for storing information regarding utilization of the electronic device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a payment management module is configured to calculate a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a sum of money provided by the user to the electronic device.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a payment management module is configured to calculate a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a residual sum of money provided to the electronic device before triggering of the payment management module.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a payment management module is configured to calculate a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a sum of money provided by the user to the electronic device and/or a residual sum of money provided to the electronic device before triggering of the payment management module.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a payment management module is configured to calculate a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a sum of money provided by the user to the electronic device and a residual sum of money provided to the electronic device before triggering of the payment management module.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the payment management module is configured to calculate the number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections in accordance with a payment rule.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing resources are configured to cause a user interface of the electronic device to be updated in response to commands sent from the digital jukebox.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first mode enables a game to be played on the electronic device.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first mode enables Internet access through the electronic device.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an update module configured to receive updates from the digital jukebox.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the updates from the digital jukebox are received from a remote server.

16. The device according to claim 5, wherein the information regarding utilization of the electronic device stored in the storage location is transferable to the digital jukebox.

17. The device according to claim 5, wherein the information regarding utilization of the electronic device stored in the storage location is transferable to a remote server via the digital jukebox.

18. A system comprising:

a remote server;

a digital jukebox in connection with the remote server; and

a plurality of electronic devices according to claim 1, each said electronic device being configured to wirelessly communicate with the digital jukebox when operating in a respective second mode.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the digital jukebox is configured to distinguish between individual ones of the plurality of electronic devices based on respective identifiers of the electronic devices.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein each said electronic device comprises an update module configured to receive updates from the remote server and wherein each said electronic device is configured to communicate information regarding its utilization to the remote server.