Digital jukebox device with improved karaoke-related user interfaces, and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11775146-B2
Application number	US-202218088210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2022
Priority date	Mar 18, 2009
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

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 photobooth features. A combined karaoke/photobooth/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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A jukebox device, comprising:
 processing resources, including at least one processor and a memory; and
 a display device,
wherein the processing resources are configured to present a first set of screens that each lists at least a portion of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device in a manner that resembles a book having multiple pages,
each said page including at most a predefined maximum number of entries corresponding to a subset of instances of said media, and each said entry indicating at least an identifier associated with the corresponding instance of said media, and
wherein the processing resources are further configured to dynamically rearrange, when an input is received indicating a letter for a song name or an artist, said entries such that ones of said entries starting with the indicated letter are listed starting at the top of a newly turned page in said book by dynamically reformatting the newly turned page to cause said entries that ordinarily would not appear at the start of a page to be adjusted accordingly to start at the top of the newly turned page.

2. The jukebox device of claim 1 , wherein: actuation of previous and next page buttons on respective ones of said first set of screens causes an animation to be displayed, in relation to the book, to simulate a consistent and mechanical page-turning operation and correspondingly display entries for a new page.

3. The jukebox device of claim 2 , wherein:
the display device is a touch screen display device configured to receive user input at or near a corner of the book; and
the processing resources are configured to, in accordance with received user input and in relation to the book, create a custom animation that simulates a page turning in a manner that generally tracks received user input across the book and correspondingly display entries for a new page.

4. The jukebox device of claim 3 , wherein animations that simulate consistent and mechanical page-turning operations and custom animations that simulate pages turning in manners that generally track received user input both temporarily show portions of entries on each side of the turning pages.

5. The jukebox device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first set of screens includes a first screen for an artist-organized book, and a second screen for a song-organized book, and
one or more control elements on respective screens of the first set of screens includes elements for switching between the first and second screens.

6. The jukebox device of claim 5 , wherein the books associated with the first and second screens each include entries for all instances of media.

7. The jukebox device of claim 6 , wherein the first set of screens includes a third screen for displaying a songbook, the songbook including entries for only some of the instances of media.

8. The jukebox device of claim 6 , further comprising a songbook selection screen, the songbook selection screen including representations of a plurality of songbooks, each said songbook including entries for only some of the instances of media.

9. The jukebox device of claim 8 , wherein each said songbook includes entries for a preselected list of instances of media, each preselected list being associated with a theme appropriate for the respective songbook.

10. The jukebox device of claim 8 , wherein the songbook selection screen includes at least some control elements from a set of common control elements.

11. The jukebox device of claim 10 , wherein the control elements that are included in the songbook selection screen include the elements for switching between the first and second screens, and includes an element for switching to the songbook selection screen.

12. The jukebox device of claim 11 , wherein the first set of screens includes a third screen for displaying a songbook selected from the songbook selection screen.

13. The jukebox device of claim 1 , wherein:
a common set of control elements arranged on each of the first set of screens includes a generally linear arrangement of selectable alphanumeric characters, and
selection of one of the alphanumeric characters via the touch screen display device advances pages in the book so that a first entry beginning with the selected alphanumeric character appears with respect to the book.

14. The jukebox device of claim 1 , wherein, as a part of a pay-for-play karaoke mode of the jukebox device, the display device is configured to display a performer identifier screen, the performer identifier screen accepting an identifying name of a user who has selected an instance of media for a karaoke-type performance.

15. The jukebox device of claim 14 , wherein the identifying name of the user who has selected the instance of media for the karaoke-type performance is specifiable in connection with a virtual keyboard on the display device.

16. The jukebox device of claim 14 , wherein the identifying name of the user who has selected the instance of media for the karaoke-type performance is determined automatically if a user logs into the jukebox device.

17. The jukebox device of claim 14 , wherein the identifying name of the user who has selected the instance of media for the karaoke-type performance is determined automatically if a user provides valid credentials for a recognized social networking site.

18. The jukebox device of claim 14 , wherein the identifying name of the user who has selected the instance of media for the karaoke-type performance is determined automatically if a user logs into the jukebox device and/or provides valid credentials for a recognized social networking site.

19. The jukebox device of claim 1 , wherein avatars are displayable on the jukebox device and/or an external display connected to the jukebox device, in connection with karaoke performances by users who have provided corresponding images and who have successfully identified themselves to the jukebox device.

20. The jukebox device of claim 19 , wherein avatar images are retrievable from a social networking site and/or capturable using a camera connected to the jukebox device.

Assignees

• Touchtunes Music Company Llc

Inventors

• Rivera Ed
• Tooker Michael
• Battle Charles
• Beaumier Francois
• Khenfir Mounir
• Curinga Giovanni
• Hebert Sebastien

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

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

• G06Q10/42

  Determination of affinities or common interests between users · CPC title

• G06F3/0482 Primary

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/0483

  Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title