Coin operated entertainment system

• US 9,171,419 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• 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: Dion, Dominique, Fedesna, Kenneth J., Loffredo, Mark D., Suchocki, Edward J., Pellegrini, Edward E., Mednick, Cary M., Pellegrini, Frank J., Hicks, Edward F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEATHERFORD, SYVILA
• Application Number:
  US11/902,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,954 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46, 463/39, 361/679.43, 361/679, 726/34, 726/35, 439/660, 439/239, 439/700
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• 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 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/00 Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/00 Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field H04B10/00, H04B15/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5168 Braces

Abstract

This invention in certain example instances relates generally to coin-operated video entertainment systems. More particularly, certain exemplary aspects of the invention provide methods and/or systems for controlling access to a portable coin-operated interactive entertainment device that may be used to play video games and access other forms of entertainment as well as providing features via such portable coin-operated interactive entertainment devices.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a portable handheld electronic device including;

a spring-loaded control pin,

a spring-loaded ground pin,

a spring-loaded power pin, and

at least one locking hook extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the handheld device;

wherein the control pin extends to a depth shallower than that of the ground pin and the power pin; and

a dock for securing the portable handheld electronic device within an out-of-home venue, the dock including;

a plurality of stationary dock contacts for respectively receiving each of the pins of the handheld device,

at least one locking channel, each said locking channel being arranged so as to respectively receive one said locking hook in securing the portable handheld electronic device to the dock within the out-of-home venue,

a slide solenoid assembly including a sliding mechanism and at least one protrusion with a barb formed on an upward facing end thereof arranged so as to pass through at least one locking channel and at least one locking hook corresponding to the at least one locking channel, and

a locking solenoid assembly including a locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the slide solenoid assembly in place,

wherein said portable handheld electronic device is configured for use as a user interface to a remotely located pay-to-play jukebox provided in the same out-of-home venue as the dock, once said portable handheld electronic device is removed from the dock, and

the sliding mechanism of the slide solenoid assembly is configured to control whether the protrusion of the slide solenoid passes through the at least one locking channel or not.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the locking solenoid assembly is configured to lock the slide solenoid assembly independent of whether power is provided to the dock and/or handheld device.

3. The security system of claim 1, further comprising programmed logic circuitry configured to disengage mechanical elements of the security system when a valid deposit is provided to a deposit acceptor provided to the handheld device and/or the dock.

4. The security system of claim 1, further comprising programmed logic circuitry configured to disengage mechanical elements of the security system when a signal is received from a remote control being operated by an authorized user.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the locking solenoid assembly and/or the slide solenoid assembly includes an electromagnet and/or a spring.

6. The security system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver located on the portable handheld electronic device configured to emit a signal indicative of its location;

a transceiver located proximate to an entryway/exit of a location at which the device is to be operated, the transceiver being configured to detect signals emitted by the handheld device;

distance determining programmed logic circuitry configured to determine a distance between the handheld device and the entryway/exit of the location in dependence on the signal; and

alarm programmed logic circuitry configured to raise an alarm in dependence on the distance,

wherein at least one characteristic of the alarm is determined by the alarm programmed logic circuitry in dependence on the distance.

7. The security system of claim 6, further comprising a timer configured to determine an amount of time the handheld device is within a predetermined distance from the entryway/exit of the location.

8. The security system of claim 7, wherein the alarm programmed logic circuitry is configured to wait a predetermined amount of time before raising an alarm.

9. The security system of claim 6, further comprising a speaker configured to emit a beep at one of a plurality of intensities in dependence on a signal received from the alarm programmed logic circuitry.

10. The security system of claim 6, further comprising a strobe light configured to flash at one of a plurality of intensities in dependence on a signal received from the alarm programmed logic circuitry.

11. The security system of claim 1, further comprising said portable handheld electronic device is configured to be used both as a remote interface to the jukebox and as a stand-alone jukebox in a confined area in dependence on a mode chosen by a user of the jukebox.

12. The security system of claim 11, further comprising releasing programmed logic circuitry configured to release the handheld device from the jukebox when a valid deposit is provided to a deposit acceptor provided to the jukebox and/or the portable handheld electronic device.

13. The security system of claim 11, further comprising releasing programmed logic circuitry configured to release the handheld device from the jukebox when a signal is received from a remote control being operated by an authorized user.

14. The security system of claim 11, wherein the handheld device includes directional speakers.

15. The security system of claim 1, wherein the handheld device and the dock remain fixedly connected to one another through the at least one locking hook and the at least one locking channel until a release signal is received through the control pin.

16. The security system of claim 15, wherein the dock is configured to sequence plural solenoids in order to enable removal of the handheld device from the dock upon receipt of the release signal.

17. The security system of claim 15, wherein the handheld device is chargeable through the power pin.

18. The security system of claim 17, wherein charging of the handheld device is initiated when circuitry of the dock detects a resistor in the handheld device being proximate thereto.

19. The security system of claim 1, wherein power is provided to the handheld device from the dock through the power pin when the control pin is in contact with the dock.

20. The security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion of the slide solenoid assembly passes through the at least one locking channel in the dock and the at least one locking hook extending from the bottom surface of the handheld device, when the at least one locking channel is receiving the at least one locking hook.