Communication Device and Method Between an Audiovisual Information Playback System and an Electronic Game Machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016199735-A1
Application number	US-201615074390-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2000
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication device between an audiovisual information playback system ( 1 ) and at least one electronic game machine ( 2 ), each electronic game machine comprising a viewing means ( 200 ), a means ( 210 ) for interacting with the user and a means of payment ( 220 ), characterized in that each electronic game machine ( 2 ) is connected to the playback system ( 2 ) via a network interface ( 21 ) and an associated LAN ( 3 ), and comprises specific means ( 20, 21, 22 ) for managing a means of payment, a viewing means and an interactive means, in order to enable, on the electronic game machine ( 2 ), the selection and payment of at least one selection stored on the playback system ( 2 ), with a view to playback thereof on the playback system, the specific means ( 22 ) of managing payment means and the specific means ( 21 ) of managing viewing means and the interactive means being triggered by the activation means of the electronic game machine ( 2 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of operating an electronic game-playing device that is configured to operate in plural modes, the method comprising:
receiving user input corresponding to a selection of one of first and second modes; in response to the user input corresponding to the selection of the first mode, enabling a game to be played and/or the Internet to be accessed, using processing resources of the electronic game-playing device, the processing resources comprising a processor and a memory; and in response to the user input corresponding to the selection of the second mode, enabling the electronic game-playing device to serve as a terminal for interacting with a remotely located digital jukebox via a communications interface configured to facilitate interactions between the digital jukebox and the electronic game-playing device, the second mode further enabling:
(a) selection of at least one audio selection accessible by the digital jukebox for playback via the digital jukebox,
(b) receipt of payment in connection with the playback of the at least one audio selection, and
(c) initiation of playback of the at least one audio selection via the digital jukebox, conditioned on receipt of corresponding payment for the playback.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the digital jukebox comprises a module for managing messages coming from the electronic game-playing device via the communications interface.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic game-playing device has an associated identifier that enables the digital jukebox with which the electronic game-playing device communicates to differentiate between a plurality of different electronic game-playing devices with which the digital jukebox may communicate.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the digital jukebox is operable to communicate with a remote centralized server.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising storing, to a storage location of the electronic game-playing device, information regarding utilization of the electronic game-playing device.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a residual sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device before asking for additional payment.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device; and calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections based on a residual sum of money provided via the electronic game-playing device before asking for additional payment.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising calculating the number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections in accordance with a payment rule.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising calculating a number of credits available for use in paying for audio selections in accordance with a payment rule.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising updating the user interface of the electronic game-playing device in response to commands sent from the digital jukebox.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first mode enables a game to be played on the electronic game-playing device.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first mode enables Internet access through the electronic game-playing device.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the electronic game-playing device, updates from the digital jukebox.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the updates from the digital jukebox are received from a remote server.

16 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising transferring to the digital jukebox the information regarding utilization of the electronic game-playing device stored in the storage location.

17 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising transferring to a remote server via the digital jukebox the information regarding utilization of the electronic game-playing device stored in the storage location

18 . A method of operating a system including a remote server, a digital jukebox, and a plurality of electronic game-playing devices, wherein:
the digital jukebox is in connection with the remote server; each said electronic game-playing device comprises:
processing resources including a processor and a memory, the processing resources cooperating to provide the plural modes,
the first mode enabling a game to be played and/or the Internet to be accessed,
the second mode enabling the electronic game-playing device to serve as a terminal for interacting with a remotely located digital jukebox via a communications interface configured to facilitate interactions between the digital jukebox and the electronic game-playing device, the second mode enabling a user to:
(a) select at least one audio selection accessible by the digital jukebox for playback via the digital jukebox,
(b) receive payment in connection with the playback of the at least one audio selection, and
(c) cause the digital jukebox to play the at least one audio selection to initiate playback of the at least one audio selection upon receipt of corresponding payment; and
wherein the method comprises enabling each said electronic game-playing device to wirelessly communicate with the digital jukebox when operating in a respective second mode.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising distinguishing between individual ones of the plurality of electronic game-playing devices, at the digital jukebox, based on respective identifiers of the electronic game-playing devices.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein each said electronic game-playing device further comprises an update module configured to receive updates from the remote server and wherein each said electronic game-playing device is configured to communicate information regarding its utilization to the remote server.

Assignees

• Touchtunes Music Corp

Inventors

• Nathan Guy
• Mastronardi Tony
• Choquet Alain

Classifications

• G07F17/32

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title

• G07F17/3253

  involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys · CPC title

• A63F13/792 Primary

  for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions · CPC title

• A63F13/35

  Details of game servers · CPC title

• A63F2009/247

  audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker · CPC title