Entertainment server and associated social networking services

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11520559-B2
Application number	US-202117402669-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 18, 2009
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems that interact with users so as to provide for social networking and/or other services. In certain exemplary embodiments, an entertainment system is configured to provide jukebox-related and entertainment system mediated services that are accessible from within and from the outside of the location, coordinating social networking services among and between patrons within and outside of the location and also providing for advertisement opportunities. In certain exemplary embodiments, the entertainment system within a location may serve as and/or be connected to a jukebox. The entertainment system within the location may be connected to one or more client devices, one or more displays, one or more bar-top or hand-held gaming devices, etc., in certain exemplary embodiments. The jukebox-related and entertainment system mediated services may provide mechanisms for enhancing patrons' experiences, creating a sense of ownership and/or belongingness to a connected community of entertainment system users.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An audiovisual entertainment system for playing music in one or more out-of-home venues, comprising:
a central server configured to store a catalog of songs, the central server being connected to a network; and
at least one audiovisual reproduction device provided in an out-of-home venue and connected to the network, the at least one audiovisual reproduction device comprising:
a digital storage memory;
at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a mobile device via a social networking site, the mobile device being located at the out-of-home venue or remotely; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the digital storage memory and the communication interface, the at least one processor configured to perform operations comprising:
playing songs from a queue of songs, songs in the queue being from a list of songs generated from a subset of the catalog of songs and being available to be played at the out-of-home venue either after being downloaded to the audiovisual reproduction device or by streaming from the central server;
enabling a plurality of patrons to check in to the audio visual entertainment system via respective mobile devices each connecting to the out-of-home venue via the social networking site;
transmitting information regarding one or more lists of songs via the social networking site to the mobile device from which a patron is checked in, to be displayed on a display screen of the mobile device;
receiving, from the mobile device and in response to the transmitting of the information regarding the one or more lists of songs, selections of respective songs or at least one list of songs; and
in response to receiving the selections, adding the selected respective songs and/or songs from the selected at least one list of songs to the queue of songs.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the list of songs is selected based on songs and/or types of music requested by patrons of the out-of-home venue.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central server is further configured to distribute the list of songs to the audiovisual reproduction device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to enable the checked-in patron to search for a song based on its title, artist, and/or genre.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the system to adjust an order of the songs in the queue based on the received selections of songs.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to distinguish between played songs that are played in a pay-per-play mode and played songs that are played in another mode.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display the current status of the queue on the display of the mobile device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display detailed information about a song in the queue on the display of the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the audiovisual reproduction device to enable displaying credits associated with the checked-in patron on the at least one audiovisual reproduction device and/or the mobile device.

10. A method of playing music in an out-of-home venue, the method comprising:
playing songs from a queue of songs, songs in the queue being from a list of songs generated from a subset of the catalog of songs and being available to be played at the out-of-home venue either after being downloaded to the audiovisual reproduction device or by streaming from the central server;
enabling a plurality of patrons to check in to the audio visual entertainment system via respective mobile devices connecting to the out-of-home venue via the social networking site;
transmitting information regarding one or more lists of songs via the social networking site to the mobile device from which a patron is checked in, to be displayed on a display screen of the mobile device;
receiving, from the mobile device and in response to the transmitting of the information regarding the one or more lists of songs, selections of respective songs or at least one list of songs; and
in response to receiving the selections, adding the selected respective songs and/or songs from the selected at least one list of songs to the queue of songs.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the list of songs for the out-of-home venue is selected based on songs and/or types of music that patrons of the out-of-home venue typically request.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the list of songs selected for the out-of-home venue is selectable by a proprietor of the out-of-home venue.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising enabling a checked-in patron to search for a song based on its title, artist, and/or genre.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising adjusting an order of the songs in the queue based on the received selections of songs.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the playing includes distinguishing between played songs that are played in a pay-per-play mode and played songs that are played in another mode.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying the current status of the queue on the first mobile device.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying detailed information about a song in the queue on the first mobile device.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying credits associated with the checked-in patron on the first mobile device.

19. An audiovisual reproduction device operable to play music in an out-of-home venue, the audiovisual reproduction device comprising:
a digital storage memory;
at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of mobile devices via a social networking site, the mobile devices being located at the out-of-home venue or remotely; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the digital storage memory and the communication interface, the at least one processor configured to perform operations comprising:
playing songs from a queue of songs, songs in the queue being from a list generated from a subset of a catalog of songs available to be played either after being downloaded to the audiovisual reproduction device or by streaming from a central server;
enabling a plurality of users to check in to the out-of-home venue via respective mobile devices connecting to the out-of-home venue via the social networking site;
transmitting information regarding one or more lists of songs via the social networking site to a first one of the respective mobile devices from which a first user is checked in via the social networking site, to be displayed on a display screen of the first mobile device;
receiving, from the mobile device and in response to the transmitting of the information, selections of respective songs or at least one list of songs; and
in response to receiving the selections, adding the selected respective songs and/or songs from the selected at least one list of songs to the queue of songs to be played.

20. The audiovisual reproduction device of claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to enable in the checked in first user to search for a song based on its title, artist, and/or genre.

21. The audiovisual reproduction device of claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is furthe

Assignees

• Touchtunes Music Corp
• Touchtunes Music Company Llc

Inventors

• Dion Dominique
• Tooker Michael
• Guy Francois
• Beaumier Francois
• Khenfir Mounir
• Gratton Loic
• Bureau Dominique
• Yayli Harun Tunc

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• G06Q30/0601

  Electronic shopping [e-shopping] · CPC title

• G06Q20/08

  Payment architectures · CPC title

• G06Q30/02

  Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising · CPC title

• G06F16/639

  using playlists · CPC title