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

• US 9,539,515 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• 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:
  US15/074,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20160199735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A method of operating an electronic game-playing device that is configured to operate in plural modes, the method comprising:

displaying a virtual button on a display of the electronic game playing device;

receiving, in relation to the displayed virtual button, a user input corresponding to a selection of one of first and second modes;

in response to the user input corresponding to the selection of the first mode, enabling a game to be played and/or the Internet to be accessed, using processing resources of the electronic game-playing device, the processing resources comprising a processor and a memory, wherein an output of the game being played or a result of the Internet access is displayed on the display of the electronic game playing device; and

in response to the user input corresponding to the selection of the second mode, enabling the electronic game-playing 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 game-playing device, the second mode further enabling;

(a) selection, using the display of the electronic game playing device, of at least one audio selection accessible by the digital jukebox for playback via the digital jukebox, and

(b) initiation, using the display of the electronic game playing device, of playback of the at least one audio selection via the digital jukebox, conditioned on a payment for the playback transmitted from the electronic game playing device to the digital jukebox.

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

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

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

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

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a residual sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device before asking for additional payment.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device; and

calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a residual sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device before asking for additional payment.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising calculating the number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections in accordance with a payment rule.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections in accordance with a payment rule.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating the user interface of the electronic game-playing device in response to commands sent from the digital jukebox.

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

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

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the electronic game-playing device, updates from the digital jukebox.

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

16. The method according to claim 5, further comprising transferring to the digital jukebox the information regarding utilization of the electronic game-playing device stored in the storage location.

17. The method according to claim 5, further comprising transferring to a remote server via the digital jukebox the information regarding utilization of the electronic game-playing device stored in the storage location.

18. A method of operating a system including a remote server, a digital jukebox, and a plurality of electronic game-playing devices, wherein:

the digital jukebox is in connection with the remote server;

each said electronic game-playing device comprises;

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

the processor operating to display a virtual button on the display screen, and to receive, in relation to the displayed virtual button, a user input corresponding to a selection of one of first and second modes;

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

the second mode enabling the electronic game-playing 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 game-playing device, the second mode enabling a user to;

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

(b) cause, using the display, the digital jukebox to play the at least one audio selection to initiate playback of the at least one audio selection upon receipt of a corresponding payment transmitted from the electronic game playing device; and

wherein the method comprises enabling each said electronic game-playing device to wirelessly communicate with the digital jukebox when operating in a respective second mode.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising distinguishing between individual ones of the plurality of electronic game-playing devices, at the digital jukebox, based on respective identifiers of the electronic game-playing devices.

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