Jukebox with customizable avatar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11567641-B2
Application number	US-202117321580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2021
Priority date	Sep 16, 2002
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A digital downloading jukebox system including a mechanism for delivering custom services to a recognized user is provided. For example, information specific to a recognized user may be stored and optionally may include a recognized user avatar representative of the recognized user. The user avatar may be an image, video, and/or animation, which may be displayed on and/or played through the jukebox. The user avatar may be associated with transactions associated with the user. For example, an avatar may be displayed when a playlist of the recognized user is played, when a message is sent, etc. In other examples, the avatar may introduce instances of media by playing an audio and/or video message, and the avatar may sing, dance, etc. while an instance of media is playing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pay-for-play digital jukebox, comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one audio output;
a network interface; and
a display;
wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the pay-for-play digital jukebox to at least:
present a user interface, the user interface configured to facilitate recognition of a jukebox user,
retrieve user information associated with a recognized user from a user database of recognizable users of the pay-for-play digital jukebox upon a recognizable user logging into the pay-for-play digital jukebox, each said recognizable user in the user database having associated user information; and
enable a recognized jukebox user to (1) play one or more instances of media according to a playlist over the at least one audio output of the pay-for-play digital jukebox in accordance with an amount of money or credits associated with the jukebox user in a collection mechanism which collects an amount of money or credits for playing instances of media from the media database, (2) send messages relating to the playlist to other recognizable users for accessing the messages on said pay-for-play digital jukebox or on other pay-for-play digital jukebox communicatively coupled over the network interface to said pay-for-play digital jukebox, and (3) when a sent message relating to the playlist is received on said pay-for-play digital jukebox by another recognizable user, providing for said another recognizable user to play one or more instances of media according to the received information related to the playlist on said pay-for-play digital jukebox in accordance with an amount of money or credits associated with the another recognizable user in the collection mechanism.

2. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 1 , wherein the associated user information for each said recognizable user in the user database further includes information concerning a user avatar for the recognizable user.

3. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 2 , wherein the display is configured to display said user avatar after a recognized user is recognized.

4. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 3 , wherein said user avatar is one or more of an image, video and animation.

5. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 2 , wherein a user interface is configured to allow a recognized user to upload avatar information.

6. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 5 , wherein the user interface is located remote from the pay-for-play digital jukebox.

7. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 1 , wherein the user database is located remote from the pay-for-play digital jukebox.

8. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the pay-for-play digital jukebox to at least present a list of recognizable users to whom a recognized user can send messages in enabling recognized jukebox users to send messages to other recognizable users.

9. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the pay-for-play digital jukebox to at least send invitations via email and/or SMS text messages.

10. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 9 , wherein the invitations relate to a gathering place.

11. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the pay-for-play digital jukebox to at least facilitate receipt of messages for a recognizable user that is to be presented to that recognizable user when that recognizable user logs in to the pay-for-play digital jukebox.

12. The pay-for-play digital jukebox of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is configured to interface with mobile devices located within a venue in which the pay-for-play digital jukebox is located and selectively transmit messages, based on instructions from the mobile devices, to other users.

13. A method of operating a pay-for-play digital jukebox, the pay-for-play digital jukebox comprising at least one audio output configured to output a selected instance of media selected by a jukebox user, and a display, the method comprising:
recognizing a jukebox user with the aid of a user interface presented via the pay-for-play digital jukebox, the user interface being presented using at least one processor of the pay-for-play digital jukebox and the display;
retrieving user information associated with the recognized user from a user database of recognizable users of the pay-for-play digital jukebox upon a recognizable user logging into the pay-for-play digital jukebox, each said recognizable user in the user database having associated user information;
and
enable the recognized jukebox user to (1) play one or more instances of media according to a playlist over the at least one audio output of the pay-for-play digital jukebox in accordance with an amount of money or credits associated with the jukebox user in a collection mechanism which collects an amount of money or credits for playing instances of media from the media database, (2) send messages relating to the playlist to other recognizable users for accessing the messages on said pay-for-play digital jukebox or on other pay-for-play digital jukebox communicatively coupled over the network interface to said pay-for-play digital jukebox, and (3) when a sent message relating to the playlist is received on said pay-for-play digital jukebox by another recognizable user, providing for said another recognizable user to play one or more instances of media according to the received information related to the playlist on said pay-for-play digital jukebox in accordance with an amount of money associated with the another recognizable user in the collection mechanism.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said associated user information includes information about a user avatar for the recognizable user, and wherein the user avatar is one or more of an image, video, and animation.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising enabling a recognized user to upload avatar information for use on the pay-for-play digital jukebox via a user interface.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the media database, the user database, and/or the user interface is/are located remote from the pay-for-play digital jukebox.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising presenting a list of recognizable users to whom a recognized user can send messages.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising enabling a recognized user to select one or more users from the list to whom messages are to be sent.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising sending messages via email and/or SMS text messages to the one or more selected users.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising interfacing with mobile devices located within a venue in which the pay-for-play digital jukebox is located and selectively transmitting messages, based on instructions from the mobile devices, to other users.

Assignees

• Touchtunes Music Corp
• Touchtunes Music Company Llc

Inventors

• Brillon Francois
• Dion Dominique
• Gratton Loic

Classifications

• G06F3/0484 Primary

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• G07F17/305

  for record players · CPC title

• G11B27/105

  of operating discs · CPC title

• G11B19/025

  'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI] · CPC title

• G06Q30/0603 Primary

  Catalogue creation or management · CPC title