Apparatus and method for interactive content requests in a networked computer jukebox

[0001] This Application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/590,120 filed Jul. 22, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to jukeboxes, specifically, to jukebox central management systems formed of networked jukeboxes and, more particularly, to selection of specific content or media for output by a jukebox.

[0003] The jukebox industry has existed since 1887 when saloon owner Charlie Glass invented the “Nickel in the Slot,” giving birth to the amusements industry and spurring the development of the recording industry. This event can also be considered an early inception point of “micro-payment” business models in exchange for a unique service to consumers.

[0004] The jukebox industry is now entering its third boom both economically and technologically. The advent of enterprise network jukebox products has made system monitoring, content updates and service management more cost-effective relative to conventional jukebox operations. In addition, sensor and software-based user interface technology has enhanced artist, album and song search features for consumers, providing the ability to browse an unlimited number of content selections via a rich media digital touch-screen.

[0005] Digital jukeboxes have recently been developed in order to provide a greater selection of music content relative to conventional CD jukeboxes. The advent of networked digital jukebox systems has enabled options to incorporate hard-disk storage capacity in pay-for-play amusement devices, provide a more efficient means of updating music on a communications network of amusement devices and systematically reduce on-site technician visits. Network digital jukeboxes employ a client server software system that takes advantage of digital technology and the Internet to provide patrons with next generation features and to provide jukebox operators with the ability to centrally manage their jukeboxes via a web portal. The onsite store of media in each jukebox may be periodically revised with new digital media transmitted by the jukebox network server. As a result, network operators can remotely update content, retrieve usage and revenue information, change pricing or play configurations, and check jukebox health statistics.

[0006] Similarly, this technology provides patrons with access to content and songs either stored on a local hard-disk or available for download from centralized and/or remote library mechanisms in order to playback the output on the local jukebox.

[0007] Nevertheless, several features have carried forward from the earliest machines. One of these features includes the requirement to browse through a selection of songs and select one for play by physically affecting a catalog mechanism located exactly on, and/or inside the jukebox amusement device. A central feature of modem jukeboxes involves sensor and software-based user interface technology located exactly on, and/or inside the jukebox amusement device. This technology has enhanced artist, album and song selection features for consumers, providing the ability to browse a virtually unlimited number of catalog selections via a digital touch-screen. A monetary acceptance device for currency, credit card, or pre-paid billing card, etc., is employed to validate any jukebox request made from a modern touch-screen machine. The request is acted on by the jukebox if the selected media is stored in the jukebox. If not, the request is transmitted from the jukebox to the jukebox network server wherein the music, video or other digital selection is transmitted back to the particular jukebox.

[0008] Despite such industry improvements, critical management and relevant usage problems associated with both conventional as well as digital systems have remained unresolved. Furthermore, networked touch-screen jukebox products featuring comprehensive selection and content capacity have spawned potentially adverse economy-of-scale effects for network operators.

[0009] Location-based Jukebox song selection is not yet as efficient, concurrently interactive, or personally compelling as it “should” be to address today's competitive realities. A critical usage problem related to conventional systems—and exponentially more vexing of networked digital jukebox products—is that these systems require users to browse, select and order music content in a linear fashion or “one person at a time,” thereby limiting the maximum volume of transactions and potentially increasing “dwell” time per user at each jukebox location. Current system designs remain constrained to physical kiosk products coupled to a linear selection and payment-acceptance (i.e. coin) mechanism at the point-of-purchase. The customer must first move within exact proximity of the kiosk, directly face the jukebox interface, input the desired content selection and directly affect payment into the unit to activate the order. In addition, usage data cannot be mined for demographic information and no direct communication channel currently exists for personalized service models or the cross-marketing of related digital products to consumers (i.e. “over-the-air” downloads, targeted promotions or ads).

[0010] In the case of networked digital systems, the above described inverse relationships are negatively exacerbated precisely because; i) current product designs have retained the requirement for exact user proximity to the amusement output device even though the user may not always place a song order when browsing current content catalogs, ii) current product designs have increased the search, selection features and catalog capacity available to users, iii) current product designs force “single-user” linear access to the available catalog even though time-to-order is an unpredictable variable across users, iv) current product designs do not harness efficient content ingestion, location updating and on-demand downloading architectures, v) current product designs require installation of multiple kiosk selection devices for multi-zoned entertainment venues, and vi) the selection and output methods are coupled to the enabling payment system(s). This system design paradox potentially creates adverse economic costs for digital network operators who purchase jukebox hardware, license content catalogs, develop distribution relationships, share substantial revenue streams with manufacturers and venue partners, manage coin-collection routes, maintain a large number of devices and manage commercial implementation of critical system and network elements. Furthermore, high costs associated with the production/assembly process of electronic jukebox amusement devices and the total cost of ownership for operators has sapped economies of scale, reduced mass adoption and contributed to the subsequent fragmentation of the industry.

[0011] Current industry solutions partially address the limiting usage and operational factors described above by creating enhanced or additional features. Such features include touch-screen browsing and search functionality, credit card payment or priority play mechanisms to entice customer orders and increase revenue opportunities. Although such features offer new options for consumers who can place their order ahead of previous content orders at a price premium, they do not resolve the loss of sales and diminishing returns from linear kiosk usage in general.

[0012] Thus, it would be desirable to provide an easier method for selection content or media on a local jukebox. It would also be desirable to provide a local jukebox with a non-linear user content selection capability. It would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus that will allow a plurality of users to access the services offered by the jukebox concurrently. It would be desirable to eliminate the necessity for users to move to the jukebox and make their selection at the computer jukebox. Finally, it would be desirable to provide a method of placing a digital content play request to a computer jukebox or a plurality of computer jukeboxes remotely by using another device.

[0013] There is disclosed an apparatus and method for interactive content requests in a networked digital audio-visual playback system or computer jukebox which enables user requests for selecting a specific digital media playback at a specified playback device location to be implemented wirelessly by the user.

[0014] In one aspect, the apparatus provides for content selection in a digital audio-visual playback device capable of playing digital audio-visual media, a control means coupled in data communication with the digital audio-visual playback device for controlling at least one of a digital media transfer to the digital audio-visual playback device and a digital media selection in the digital audio-visual playback device, a communication link and a, user interface for transmitting a digital media request selecting a digital media for play by a selected digital audio-visual playback device.

[0015] In another aspect, a method for content selection in a networked digital audio-visual playback device comprises the steps of:

• • [0016] storing digital media in a memory;
  • [0017] generating a digital media content request by a user interface remote from a digital audio-visual playback device identifying a digital audio-visual playback device and a selected stored digital media for play by the identified digital audio-visual playback device;
  • [0018] transmitting the digital media content request through a communication link to a control; and
  • [0019] transmitting the identified digital media by the control to the digital audio-visual playback device for play of the identified digital media by the digital audio-visual playback device.

[0020] The present interactive content request apparatus and method uniquely enables digital media for play through a digital audio playback device, such as a digital jukebox, to be remotely and wirelessly selected by a user. This eliminates the need for the user to move to the location of the jukebox and input a selection via the normal keyboard, mouse, and/or touchscreen display provided with prior jukeboxes. The apparatus and method also enables the user to remotely browse the available digital media content remotely from the jukebox. This can eliminate the expense of providing a display device or monitor along with the keyboard, mouse, and touchscreen inputs since the entire digital media selection process can be done remotely and wirelessly through an interface user.

[0021] The apparatus and method also provide automatic billing for each user request via any of multiple payment methods in a manner transparent to the user at the time of making a request. This eliminates the need to provide each physical digital jukebox with the monetary receiving and validation mechanism for payment of each selection.

[0026] The present invention provides an interactive jukebox request system in a communication network for selecting content events and/or songs for output by a local digital audio-visual playback device, such as a digital computer jukebox from a mobile communication device.

[0027] The term “audio-visual” as referred to herein to encompass audio data, such as music, spoken words, etc., visual data, such as movies, video games, and other visual images, including text, and combinations of audio and visual material simultaneously output to an audio-visual playback device. Thus, it will be understood that although music and music identification data are referred to hereafter, it will be understood that this is by way of example only.

[0028] Further, it will be understood that the use of the term digital media will encompass both audio and/or visual data as well as audio and/or visual data identification, such as author name, title, length of play, type of media, etc.

[0029] Further, any digital audio-visual playback device may be employed. It will be understood that the following description of one such device as being a digital computer jukebox is also by way of example.

[0030] In one aspect shown in FIG. 1, a central management system manages a communication link to mobile stations in a computer jukebox network and translates packets in the payloads of SMS, MMS or Internet messages containing specific content selections created by a mobile user located remote from a jukebox. A central Mobile MEDIA MANAGER (MMM) 24 implemented as a feature of communication link 22, such as a carrier network, which may be implemented as a Short-Message-Service-Center (SMSC) 22 and Mobile-Multimedia-Service-Environment (MMSE) or an Internet network, manages concurrent mobile-originating transmissions representing mobile user selected content or media, such as song selections, designated for public performance from one of a plurality of computer jukeboxes 14.

[0031] At least a portion of the carrier network 22 may include wireless communication. The central MMM 24 addresses a host jukebox network server via HTTP, for example, that maintains a master set of compressed digital data or media representing a plurality of songs, song associated graphics, song identity information, and jukebox venue location identification codes, for example. The MMM 24 receives mobile selection information from the carrier network 22 and polls the jukebox network server 10 connected to a plurality of digital jukeboxes 14 and capable of storing a subset of the master set of digital media to obtain an updated list of registered jukeboxes 14, to determine content availability from a list of content or music residing on the jukebox network server 10 and/or the jukeboxes 14, and to check the validity of the user request.

[0032] Specific content selections initiated by a mobile user 16, 18, 20 including content event or song identity, venue location register and service priority queuing to a specific computer jukebox apparatus 14, received at the central MMM 24 to provide audio or video output in the service, venue or jukebox 14 where the mobile user initiated the selection. The MMM 24 interfacing the carrier network 22 and the jukebox network server 10 operates on a scheduled peer session interval to authenticate users, determine the value of the billing event and handle submission of jukebox 14 requests. The MMM 24 differentiates the value of the jukebox network carrier requests to the billing entity. The MMM 24 communicates to the core network carrier 22 whether a mobile user, i.e., wireless carrier, SMSC, etc., should be billed only after the MMM 24 has verified that a corresponding jukebox 14 is operating, the MMM 24 has verified that the master or the subset of the master set of digital media is available, and the MMM 24 has forwarded the user request designated as a “standard” or “priority” request to be placed in the jukebox network server 10 queue.

[0033] In FIG. 1, a digital jukebox network is illustrated, by example, as including a jukebox network server 10 having a host processor which communicates via HTTP or other data transmission formats through a wireless communication system, such as the Internet 12, hardline, etc., to at least one or a plurality of digital audio-visual playback devices, such as digital jukeboxes 14. The communication format to each jukebox 14 can be via any transmission protocol, such as ADSL, cable modem, WCDMA, UMTS, or LMDS or other data communication protocols.

[0034] According to this aspect, a mobile communication device or user interface, typically a mobile wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone 16, a PDA 18, or a computer 20, as non-limiting examples only, communicates with the communication network 22. The communication link or network 22 may be any type of communication provider either wireless or not, such as, but not limited to, WiFi, Internet, direct cable connection, Ethernet, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, EDGE, Token ring etc. Such a network 22 may have as a subset, a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) adapted for short text messaging, an Internet protocol having displayable drop down menus allowing user input selections, or a multimedia service (MMS) providing audio and graphic data.

[0035] Although the following example of a wireless content request pertains to a short message service using an SMSC subset of the wireless carrier network 22, it will be understood that similar data input protocols or media selection, such as through drop down menus, may also be employed.

[0036] An appropriate SMS address, such as “1414” for example, is entered by the user through the communication device 16, 18, or 20 to identify the MMM 24 service. Text messages formed of UNICODE or ASCII characters are then input by a user through the user interface 16, 18, or 20 to identify the digital media selection and other related play features, such as premium play, immediate play, etc. For example, a text message of “S AB123” can be input by a user through the communication device 16, 18 or 20. The first character, labels “S”, by example only, is the type of media content. By example only “S” identifies a song. “V” would identify a video. “PS” would identify a priority play of a selected song. “PV” would identify a priority play of a video. The characters “AB” identify the location of the local jukebox 14. The alphanumeric characters “123” identify a particular media selection, such as a particular song. This information is obtainable from a list provided to the user at the local jukebox 14 venue.

[0037] These signals are transmitted to the SMSC where the user ID is validated. The location of the digital playback device or jukebox 14, media selection, and play feature data are transmitted from the SMSC to the MMM 24 by hard wire and/or wireless communication. The MMM 24 receives the selection information from the SMSC and communicates with the jukebox network server 10 to determine the availability of the selected jukebox 14. When the server 10 has verified the corresponding jukebox 14 is operating and available to play the selected digital media, the MMM 24 sends a signal to the SMSC to bill the user for the SMS message including any premium play billing. The SMSC may then request a third party, such as, but not limited to, a bank, a credit card company, a mobile operator, etc., to debit the user account for the amount of the services procured. Other methods of payment may include m-wallet (mobile wallet), prepaid cards etc.

[0038] At the same time, the MMM 24 sends the user request along with play. criteria, such as a standard, recommendation or priority request, to the server 10. The server 10 then communicates via the Internet 12 to the selected jukebox 14 to implement the digital media selection at any premium or standard schedule.

[0039] It will be noted that the transmission of the digital media selection signals from the server 10 to the selected jukebox 14 can also include the entire selected digital media, or simply a signal to the jukebox 14 to play a particular digital media already stored in the memory of the selected venue jukebox 14.

[0040] The MMM 24 is also capable of sending a message through the SMSC to the user 16 thanking the user for making the selection. This will confirm that the selection has been implemented. At the same time, the message to the user 16 can include other messages, such as an offer to buy the selected song or video at a particular price or the ability to purchase or download as wall paper to the user 16 pictures of the artist performing the selected song or performing in the selected video.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is depicted another aspect of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. In this aspect, a remote user content selection processor 30 can communicate through a global communication network, such as the Internet 12, to the mobile media manager 24. This enables a remote user to send dedications, digital media selections, etc., for the benefit of other users located in the proximity of a specific playback device or jukebox 14.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the remote user content selector 30 is further modified to provide communication through the Internet 12 to either or both of the mobile media manager 24 and the music server 10. Wireless communication devices 16, 18, 20, etc., may also communicate through the Internet 12 to either or both of the mobile media manager 24 or the music server 10 to provide digital media content selection and playback for other users located in the proximity of a selected jukebox 14.

[0043] In the aspect shown in FIG. 4, the remote user interface devices 16, 18, or 20 can wirelessly communicate directly with a jukebox 14, using Bluetooth, WiFi, infrared, radio frequency signal, light signal, laser, etc., within communication signal range of the user interface devices 16, 18, or 20. The user interface device 16, 18, or 20 may request an update to the digital media content catalog from the jukebox 14. The jukebox 14 requests the catalog from the jukebox music network server 10 and forwards it to the specific user interface device 16, 18, or 20. If communication with the jukebox network server 10 fails for any reason, the jukebox 14 forwards its own digital media content catalog to the user interface device 16, 18, or 20.

[0044] In use, the user selects a specific digital media for playback. The user's interface device 16, 18, or 20 forwards the digital media content request to a jukebox 14 in its vicinity. If there is not a jukebox identification or “ID” in the user request, then it is assumed that the target jukebox 14 for playback is the jukebox 14 that received the user request.

[0045] The jukebox 14 then contacts the MMM 24 in order to validate the user. If successful, the jukebox 14 attempts to honor the user request to play the selected content. If playback is successful, the jukebox 14 communicates to the MMM 24 via the jukebox network music server 10 to indicate that the user needs to be billed and informs the user about the selection completion. If there is any error during this process, the jukebox 14 notifies the user directly of the error.

[0046] If there is a jukebox ID in the request (different from the one that received the digital media content request), then this request is forwarded to the MMM 24 which acts on it as if it had received the request from any other source. The selected digital media is then output from the jukebox 14 from a media storage in the jukebox 14 or via a download from the Internet 12 and the jukebox music server 10.

[0047] In another aspect, a seamless digital audio-visual apparatus or “seamless” jukebox 40 is provided in one or more locations. Some or all of the seamless jukeboxes 40 may include a video output feed 42 to a video display device, such as a TV, monitor, or projector 44. An audio output 46 may also supplied from each seamless jukebox 40 to an audio output playback device, such as one or more speakers 48.

[0048] The audio-visual apparatus or seamless jukebox 40 simply comprises a music server coupled to the Internet 12 and an audio or video output device 48 or 46, respectively, which is capable of generating audio sounds and/or visual images as in Internet download.

[0049] In this aspect, there is no physical jukebox 14 within communication range of the user.

[0050] In this aspect, the digital media content is stored in a memory storage or database 50 and accessed by the mobile media manager (MMM) 24 in response to a user request transmitted through the carrier network 22 to the MMM 24. The selected digital media or content is then transmitted by the MMM 24 through the global communication network or Internet 12 to the specified jukebox 40 for output to the user.

[0051] The user can browse the digital media content catalog only through the MMM 24. This aspect eliminates the requirement to have a physical jukebox in a particular location along with the associated touch screen, keyboard, track ball, mouse, etc. Once the physical jukebox 14 is removed from a particular location, the need to handle currency or money for each selection is also eliminated thereby simplifying and automating the digital media content selection process.

[0052] FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a block diagrams of the major components of the control means or mobile media manager 24 used with any of the different aspects shown in FIGS. 1-5. The MMM 24 includes a so-called m-Venue server 61 which communicates with the music server 10, any of the seamless jukeboxes 40 as well as other audio and video playback devices 60.

[0053] FIG. 7 also depicts the transmission or communication of digital media selection signals from the user interfaces or devices 16, 18, and 20 through the signal carrier network 22 as described above in conjunction with FIG. 1, through the Internet 12 as shown in conjunction with FIG. 3 or directly to a digital jukebox 14 or 40 as shown in FIG. 4 or 5. The MMM 24, as described above, can receive a remote content or digital media selection signal from any source. The MMM 24 then checks the selection for validity, processes it, stores it in a database, and forwards the request to the network server 10 in the aspect shown in FIG. 1 or directly to the jukebox 14 in other aspects.

[0054] The server 10 or jukebox 14, 40, receives the signal from the MMM 24 and tries to the place the request to the jukebox 14, 40, etc. If this is successful, the server 10 then replies with a success message to the waiting MMM 24. If for any reason there is a failure in the request process, such as the jukebox 14 not responding, the transmission network is down, etc., the server 10 replies to the MMM 24 with a failure message along with the reason of the failure. Once the MMM 24 has received an answer to the remote content selection signal, the MMM 24 records the answer in the database and informs the user with the result of his request.

[0055] A user request from any of the mobile user interface devices 16, 18, and 20 is communicated through the network 22 to a mobile request control means 62. The user request is then communicated to the m-Venue server 61 for digital content selection at a specific digital audio-visual playback device or jukebox 14, 40, etc., or in the jukebox music server 10 which transmits the digital media selection to the individual jukeboxes 14, 40, etc., or from the content database 50 which is then transmitted by the MMM 24 directly to the jukeboxes 14, 40, etc.

[0056] Each user request is also forwarded to a reporting module 64 which is in communication with the m-Venue server 61 to record each user request and the validation of a successful digital selection. The reporting module 64 communicates with a billing module 66 which suggests the fee for each user request.