Digital jukebox device with karaoke and/or photo booth features, and associated methods

• US 9,990,615 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation (The Octave Music Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rivera, Ed, Tooker, Michael, Guy, Francois, Beaumier, Francois, Battle, Charles, Khenfir, Mounir, Garneau, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Philippe, Gims
• Application Number:
  US14/693,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20150227905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 348 61
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• 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 1/365 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 2220/106 using icons, e.g. selecting, moving or linking icons, on-screen symbols, screen regions or segments representing musical elements or parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/015 PDA [personal digital assistant] or palmtop computing devices used for musical purposes, e.g. portable music players, tablet computers, e-readers or smart phones in which mobile telephony functions need not be used touch-screen interfaces G10H2220/096
• 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 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• 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 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 : Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• 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 21/439 : Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, certain exemplary embodiments relate to jukebox systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features along with karaoke jukebox and/or photo booth features. A combined karaoke/photo booth/jukebox may enable more integrated performance-like experiences in an in-home or out-of-home location or venue. By leveraging vast audio media libraries, trusted rights-respecting network infrastructure, and on-site image/video capturing from integrated recorders and/or remote portable devices, a more sociable experience may be created for karaoke jukebox patrons, e.g., where custom content can be generated and shared in a safe and legally appropriate manner.

Claims

1. A digital jukebox device provided in an out-of-home pay-for-play location, comprising:

at least one processor and a memory;

a fee collection mechanism configured to receive payment in exchange for credits usable on the digital jukebox device to play songs;

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing songs available for playback via the digital jukebox device;

a display;

a camera; and

a user interface controllable in connection with the at least one processor and configured to operate in at least first and second modes in connection with the display,

wherein the first mode is configured to enable users to select songs for playback via the digital jukebox device in exchange for credits,

wherein the second mode is configured to enable users to use the camera, while the digital jukebox device coordinates playback of songs selected while the user interface was operating in the first mode, to take pictures, and

wherein the user interface, when operating in the second mode, is further configured to exit the second mode and enter the first mode, after a predetermined amount of time has been spent in the second mode.

2. The digital jukebox device of claim 1, wherein user interface elements provided in the first mode are not visible while the user interface is operating in the second mode in order to prevent selection of further songs for playback.

3. The digital jukebox device of claim 1, wherein a printer is located in the out-of-home location and operably connected to the digital jukebox device, the printer being configured to print pictures taken via the camera of the digital jukebox device for a fee, the fee being payable with credits.

4. The digital jukebox device of claim 1, wherein the user interface, when operating in the second mode, is further configured to enable users to specify a digital location to which pictures should be digitally transmitted.

5. The digital jukebox device of claim 4, wherein the digital location is an email address.

6. The digital jukebox device of claim 4, wherein the digital location is an MMS message destination.

7. The digital jukebox device of claim 4, wherein the digital location is a social networking site.

8. The digital jukebox device of claim 1, further comprising lighting elements configured to act as a flash for the camera when the user interface is operating in the second mode.

9. The digital jukebox device of claim 8, further comprising program logic configured to (a) determine characteristics of the environment in which the digital jukebox device is provided, (b) calculate an offset for the lighting elements optimized for the environment based on the determination, and (c) adjust the flash using the offset when taking pictures.

10. The digital jukebox device of claim 1, wherein the user interface, when operating in the second mode, is further configured to show a preview of a picture that has been taken.

11. The digital jukebox device of claim 10, wherein the preview comprises a digital proof sheet comprising plural pictures taken in succession.

12. The digital jukebox device of claim 10, wherein the user interface, when operating in the second mode, is further configured to enable a user to select one or more digital effects to be applied to a picture and to adjust the preview in accordance with the one or more selected digital effects.

13. A method of operating a digital jukebox device provided in an out-of-home pay-for-play location, the method comprising:

receiving payment in exchange for credits usable on the digital jukebox device to play songs;

playing back, via the digital jukebox device, songs from a queue of selected songs;

receiving input via a user interface that is operable in at least first and second modes, wherein songs from the queue are playable regardless of the mode in which the user interface is operating;

in response to input received during the first mode, adding a user-selected song to the queue in exchange for a predetermined number of credits;

in response to input received during second mode, causing a camera provided to the digital jukebox device to take a picture; and

causing the user interface to exit the second mode and enter the first mode, after a predetermined amount of time has been spent in the second mode.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising printing the picture to a printer located in the out-of-home location in exchange for a second predetermined number of credits.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising digitally transmitting the image to a user-specified location, the user user-specified location being an email address, MMS message destination, and/or social networking site.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining characteristics of the environment in which the digital jukebox device is provided;

calculating an offset for lighting elements integral with the digital jukebox device based on the determination, the offset being applicable to the lighting elements in order to improve picture quality; and

controlling the lighting elements using the offset to serve as a flash when taking pictures.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying a preview of a picture that has been taken.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the preview comprises a digital proof sheet comprising plural pictures taken in succession.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

applying to the picture one or more user-selected digital effects; and

adjusting the display of the preview in accordance with the one or more user-selected digital effects.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding pictures that have been taken to an attract loop of the digital jukebox device.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising associating a picture that has been taken with a registered user of the digital jukebox device such that the associated picture is used as an avatar for the digital jukebox device.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions that, when performed using a processor of a digital jukebox device provided in an out-of-home pay-for-play location, control the digital jukebox device to at least:

receive payment in exchange for credits usable on the digital jukebox device to play songs;

play back, via the digital jukebox device, songs from a queue of selected songs;

receive input via a user interface that is operable in at least first and second modes, wherein songs from the queue are playable regardless of the mode in which the user interface is operating;

in response to input received during the first mode, add a user-selected song to the queue in exchange for a predetermined number of credits;

in response to input received during second mode, cause a camera provided to the digital jukebox device to take a picture; and

cause the user interface to exit the second mode and enter the first mode, after a predetermined amount of time has been spent in the second mode.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that control the digital jukebox device to at least cause the picture to be printed via a printer located in the out-of-home location and/or digitally transmit the image to a user-specified location, in exchange for a second predetermined number of credits.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that control the digital jukebox device to at least:

determine characteristics of the environment in which the digital jukebox device is provided;

calculate an offset for lighting elements integral with the digital jukebox device based on the determination, the offset being applicable to the lighting elements in order to improve picture quality; and

control the lighting elements using the offset to serve as a flash when taking pictures.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that control the digital jukebox device to at least add pictures that have been taken to an attract loop of the digital jukebox device, provided that the users who took the pictures do not opt out of having their pictures added to the attract loop.