United States Patent [t9J
`Martin et al.
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US005355302A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,355,302
`Oct. 11, 1994
`
`[75]
`
`[54] SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A PLURALITY
`OF COMPUTER JUKEBOXES
`Inventors: John R. Martin; Michael L. Tillery;
`Samuel N. Zammuto, all of Rockford,
`Ill.
`[73] Assignee: Araclmid, Inc., Rockford, Ill.
`[21] Appl. No.: 846,707
`Mar. 6, 1992
`[22] Filed:
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 538,981, Jun. 15, 1990,
`abandoned.
`[51]
`Int. Cl.S .............................................. G06F 15/44
`[52] u.s. Cl ..................................................... 364/410
`[58] Field of Search ................. 364/479, 410; 395/600
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,232,295 11/1980 McConnell: .................... 340/152 R
`
`[56]
`
`4,412,292 10/1983 Sedam et al ........................ 364/479
`4,633,445 12/1986 Sprague .
`4,667,802 5/1987 Verduin et al ...................... 194/217
`4,956,768 9/1990 Sidi et al ............................. 395/425
`5,058,089 10/1991 Yoshimaru et al ................... 369/32
`Primary Examiner-Gail 0. Hayes
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McAndrews, Held & Malloy
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A method and apparatus is shown for managing a plu(cid:173)
`rality of computer jukeboxes at different locations from
`a central station. Each jukebox includes processor
`means for controlling the computer jukebox, storage
`and retrieval means for data, display means for selection
`menus, audio production means for playing musical
`records, and a user interface enabling patrons to com(cid:173)
`municate with the processor means. The central station
`can be used to download musical recording data to each
`computer jukebox, and each computer jukebox can
`upload usage data to the central station.
`
`12 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`181
`
`11
`
`PORTABLE
`MANAGEMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`T •o~
`c=J
`
`121A
`
`HOST
`COMPUTER
`
`JUKEBOX #N
`
`13
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`~
`Q
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`... w
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`til
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`til
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`1-l
`1-l
`~
`0
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`~ a
`e • rLl
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`I"C
`•
`
`LIBRARY
`GRAPHIC
`
`SONG/
`
`DISPLAY
`
`KEY BOARD
`
`JUKEBOX #N
`
`13
`
`15
`
`LIBRARY
`
`SONG/GRAPHIC
`
`25
`
`FIG. 1
`
`COMPUTER
`
`HOST
`
`I MPU
`SYSTEM
`MANAGEMENT
`PORTABLE
`
`I -
`
`181
`
`11
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 11, 1994
`1n,
`
`5f0
`Sheet 2 of 5
`wh
`
`5,355,302
`2039553.,5
`
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`22.an5
`3mm5Nmm308:“.020m
`sF2300mammmmmoo<mummmmmoa<
`
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`><.Emoinzmomoiméo020m020mzo:<o_u=mm<._omi:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 11, 1994
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,355,302
`
`FIG. 3
`
`c START~
`
`61
`
`'
`
`63
`-......,
`
`\It
`PROMPT FOR TITLE
`AND CLASSIFICATION
`
`~
`
`WRITE TITLE
`AND CLASSIFICATION
`
`65
`
`CDROM, TAPE OR
`RECORD
`
`' PROMPT FOR LOADING
`~
`
`67
`
`-......,
`
`IDENTIFY AND WRITE
`THE BEGINNING
`SONG ADDRESS
`
`t
`
`RECEIVE, HAVE
`COMPRESSED, AND
`WRITE DIGITAL DATA
`
`69
`
`'
`
`71
`
`~
`" WRITE BYTE LENGTH
`I
`
`OF THE DIGITAL OUTPUT
`
`\It
`
`PROMPT FOR LOADING v- 73
`
`A PICTURE
`
`~
`IDENTIFY AND WRITE v-
`
`GRAPHICS ADDRESS
`
`75
`
`RECEIVE DIGITIZED
`OUTPUT
`
`77
`
`/
`
`HAVE COMPRESSED v- 79
`
`AND WRITE
`DIGITIZED OUTPUT
`
`WRITE BYTE LENGTH v-
`
`OF THE DIGITIZED
`OUTPUT
`
`81
`
`v-
`
`83
`
`~
`
`SET PLAY COUNT
`TO ZERO
`
`~
`c END~
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 11, 1994
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,355,302
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`FIG. 48
`
`INITIATE
`COMMUNICATION
`
`REQUEST AND
`AWAIT JUKEBOX
`CATALOG
`
`EXAMINE PLAY COUNT
`TO DETERMINE
`INCOME & IDENTIFY
`REPLACEMENTS
`
`DOWNLOAD THE
`NEW SONG RECORD
`
`DOWN LOAD THE
`NEW SONG DATA
`
`DOWN LOAD THE
`NEW GRAPHICS DATA
`
`101
`
`103
`
`105
`
`111
`
`113
`
`115
`
`RESPOND TO THE
`INITIATED
`COMMUNICATION
`
`RECEIVE DOWNLOADED
`NEW SONG RECORD
`
`IDENTIFY AND WRITE
`THE SONG ADDRESS
`
`RECEIVE DOWNLOADED
`& STORE SONG DATA
`
`IDENTIFY AND WRITE
`THE GRAPHICS ADDRESS
`
`RECEIVE DOWNLOADED
`& STORE GRAPHICS DATA
`
`141
`
`143
`
`145
`
`147
`
`149
`
`151
`
`YES
`
`153
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 11, 1994
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,355,302
`
`FIG. 5
`
`DISPLAY MODE
`IMAGES OR CURRENT
`SONG IMAGE
`
`RESPOND TO KEYS
`BY DISPLAYING
`CATAGORIES
`
`RESPOND TO KEYS
`BY DISPLAYING
`SONG INDEX
`
`161
`
`163
`
`165
`
`YES
`
`171
`
`QUEUE THE SELECTION
`
`PROMPT FOR MONEY
`
`NO
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,355,302
`
`SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A PLURALITY OF
`COMPUTER JUKEBOXES
`
`2
`ply load new recordings into the memory of each com(cid:173)
`puter jukebox.
`Another object of the present invention is to elimi(cid:173)
`nate a necessity for routemen by enabling new record(cid:173)
`ings and selection menus to be downloaded to each
`computer jukebox via a transmission link. In that re(cid:173)
`gard, it is an object of the present invention to provide
`a method and apparatus which eliminates the material
`10 waste usually associated with updating jukeboxes. In(cid:173)
`stead of throwing away old recordings and replacing
`them with new ones, as is the conventional procedure,
`the present invention eliminates this waste by enabling
`new recordings to simply be downloaded into the mem-
`15 ory of each computer jukebox. The old recordings are
`simply erased, if necessary.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a method and apparatus which is capable of remotely
`obtaining jukebox usage data, thus eliminating a neces(cid:173)
`sity for routemen to do this task. The present invention
`utilizes a computer jukebox, which as part of its soft(cid:173)
`ware programming, stores the number of times each
`musical recording is played and the number of credits
`that have been awarded. This data is uploaded to a
`central control device via a transmission link.
`An additional object of the present invention is to
`provide a method and apparatus utilizing modem com(cid:173)
`puter technology to digitally store and play musical
`records. The jukebox of the present invention is basi(cid:173)
`cally a computer having a sophisticated audio produc-
`tion capability, the computer storing digitized song data
`in a computer memory. Because conventional juke(cid:173)
`boxes maintain compact discs or records in the jukebox,
`theft of the compact disc/records has been a problem,
`this problem being eliminated by the present invention's
`utilization of a computer memory to store the digitized
`song data.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide
`a method and apparatus capable of being used with the
`remote management of jukeboxes via public telephone
`lines without interfering with establishments' use of
`their own phone lines.
`Other objects, features and advantages of the present
`invention will be readily apparent from the following
`description of certain preferred embodiments thereof
`taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
`although variations and modifications may be effected
`without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel
`concepts of the disclosure.
`
`This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applica- 5
`tion Ser. No. 07/538,981, filed Jun. 15, 1990 now aban(cid:173)
`doned.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates generally to a jukebox
`system, and more particularly to such a system includ(cid:173)
`ing one or more computer jukeboxes that can be man(cid:173)
`aged from a remote location.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Heretofore, an assortment of musical recordings
`found in a jukebox consists of a plurality of records,
`each record containing a specific recording. Tradition(cid:173)
`ally, these records are grooved phonograph records.
`After a patron makes a selection, the selected phono- 20
`graph record is mechanically removed from a storage
`rack within the jukebox, and the phonograph record is
`placed upon rotating platform. A stylus which is con(cid:173)
`nected to a speaker system is then placed upon the rotat(cid:173)
`ing phonograph record, resulting in the phonograph 25
`record being played by the jukebox. For each selection,
`a separate phonograph record must be removed from
`the storage rack in order to be played by the jukebox.
`Conventional jukeboxes have also implemented com(cid:173)
`pact disks as means for creating an assortment of musi- 30
`cal songs. Compact disks provide the improved sound
`quality made possible by digital recordings. The same
`technique, however, is used to play compact disks. A
`separate compact disk corresponding to each selection
`must be removed from a storage rack in order for the 35
`jukebox to play the selection.
`Updating conventional jukeboxes is a costly and time
`consuming task. Routemen must periodically travel to
`each jukebox location and replace the existing record(cid:173)
`ings of each jukebox with up-to-date records. The exist- 40
`ing recordings are no longer used by the jukebox once
`removed, thus making the conventional method waste(cid:173)
`ful.
`Routemen must also travel to each jukebox location
`to keep a tally of the number of times each musical 45
`recording is selected in order to determine royalty fees.
`It is known to provide a jukebox with a counter that
`keeps track of the number of times each musical record(cid:173)
`ing is selected, but routemen must still travel to each
`jukebox location to obtain this information. Such a 50
`process requires an excessive number of people to visit
`jukebox location periodically and visually read the in(cid:173)
`formation off the counter within each jukebox. Since
`the number of jukeboxes in operation is quite large, the
`employment of routemen to obtain such data involves a 55
`considerable expense. Furthermore, the ever changing
`nature of the recording industry requires that such data
`be gathered frequently in order to keep abreast of a
`continually changing market.
`·
`
`60
`
`OBffiCTSANDSUMMARYOFTHE
`INVENTION
`Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present
`invention to provide a method and apparatus for man(cid:173)
`aging a plurality of computer jukeboxes which is capa- 65
`ble of eliminating the necessity for routemen to change
`records in the jukeboxes. The computer jukeboxes store
`recordings in memory, thus enabling routemen to sim-
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the computer jukebox
`system of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an illustration of the data structure of an
`individual song record stored in a master library catalog
`illustrated in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a flow-chart illustrating the procedure for
`storing new songs in a bulk storage unit illustrated in
`FIG.l;
`FIGS. 4A and B are flow-charts illustrating the soft(cid:173)
`ware procedures used by the central management sys(cid:173)
`tem and the jukebox respectively in managing the song
`library of the jukebox; and
`FIG. 5 is a flow-chart illustrating the specific opera(cid:173)
`tion of the jukebox in interfacing with a user.
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
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`

`

`5,355,302
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`25
`
`35
`
`3
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`In accordance with the present invention as shown in
`FIG. 1, a central management system 11 monitors and
`updates the available selection of music at a number of
`remotely located jukeboxes such as a jukebox 13. Par(cid:173)
`ticularly, the central management system 11 monitors
`each jukebox 13 to determine the number of times each
`song has been played. From these numbers, the central
`management system 11 can calculate the royalty pay(cid:173)
`ments that are due. More importantly, the central man(cid:173)
`agement system 11 can identify those specific songs
`which need to be replaced in each jukebox on an indi(cid:173)
`vidual basis, the central management system communi(cid:173)
`cating replacement songs to each jukebox 13 to update
`the available music selection therein as needed.
`Each jukebox 13 is basically a computer having so(cid:173)
`phisticated audio production capability wherein each
`computer jukebox 13 is programmed to play songs that 20
`have been digitally compressed and stored in a large(cid:173)
`volume data storage unit 93. The storage unit 93 may be
`a optical memory or any other available large volume
`nonvolatile computer memory that provides both read
`and write access.
`The central management system 11 communicates
`with each computer jukebox 13 via a transmission link
`15. The central management system 11 and each juke(cid:173)
`box 13 use respective modems 17 and 19 to maintain
`serial communication on the transmission link 15. The 30
`transmission link 15 may be a cable system such as pub-
`lic or private telephone lines or the like. However, the
`modems 17 and 19 may be replaced with RF (radio
`frequency) transceivers and associated antennas. In the
`latter instance the transmission link 15 is an RF link.
`Specifically, the central management system 11 in(cid:173)
`cludes a host computer 21 which maintains a master
`library 23 of songs and associated graphics which are
`stored in a compressed digital form in a bulk storage
`unit 25. The bulk storage unit 25 is capable of storing 40
`vast amounts of digital data, and may be take the form
`of a read-write optical storage device. The host com(cid:173)
`puter 21 indexes the master library 23 by using a master
`catalog 27 which is also maintained in the bulk storage
`unit 25.
`The master catalog 27 stores a song record 29, as
`illustrated in FIG. 2, for each song stored in the master
`library 23. Each song record 29 associates information
`in the following fields: a) a title field 31, containing the
`name of the song; b) a classification field 33, containing 50
`the type of music, i.e., country, pop, jazz, classical, etc.;
`c) a song address field 37, containing the beginning
`address in the bulk storage unit 25 of the compressed
`digital data of the song; d) a song size field 39, contain(cid:173)
`ing the number of bytes in length of the compressed 55
`digital data; e) a graphics address field 41, containing
`the beginning address in the bulk storage unit 25 of the
`compressed digital data of a graphics image, if any, to
`be associated with the song; f) a graphics size field 43,
`containing the number of bytes in length of the com- 60
`pressed graphics image; and g) a play count field 45,
`containing a count which indicates the number of times
`this specific song has been played. By parsing the mas(cid:173)
`ter catalog 27, the host computer 21 can quickly locate
`all available information relating to any available song. 65
`The master catalog 27 also stores data particular to each
`jukebox such as the number of times each available song
`has been played, the coin intake for that jukebox, etc.
`
`4
`The data particular to each jukebox is uploaded from
`the jukebox to the central management system 11 to
`update the master catalog 27.
`Returning to FIG. 1, in order to add to the master
`5 library 23 and associated master catalog 27, the host
`computer 21 receives, has compressed and stores in the
`bulk storage unit 25 digital data representing the new
`song and associated pictorial graphics. The host com(cid:173)
`puter 21 receives the digital data for storage from three
`10 sources: 1) a compact disc read only memory
`(CDROM) reader 51, which reads CDROMs; 2) a
`graphics scanner 53, which digitizes pictorial graphic
`images; and 3) an analog to digital (A/D) reader/con(cid:173)
`verter 55, which reads analog data from both tapes and
`15 records and then converts the analog data into digital
`data. A compression circuit 52 using an adaptive-delta,
`pulse-code-modulation compression
`scheme com(cid:173)
`presses the digital data before it is stored. Other com-
`pression schemes may also be used. The compression
`circuit 52 might also be fully replaced by a software
`algorithm which is executed by the host computer 21.
`FIG. 3 more specifically illustrates the operation of
`the host computer 21 in adding new songs to the master
`library 23. At a block 61, the user is initially prompted
`by the host computer 21 to enter a new song title and
`category. The host computer 21 writes this information
`into the title field 31 and classification field 33 of a new
`song record 29 at a block 63. Next, at a block 65, the
`host computer 21 prompts the user to place either a
`CDR OM into the reader 51 or a record or tape into the
`reader/converter 55. After the user has completed this
`placement, at a block 67 the host computer 21 identifies
`available storage space in the bulk storage unit 25 by
`analyzing the space in use as described in the current list
`of song records 29 in the master catalog 23. The begin(cid:173)
`ning address of this available storage space is placed in
`the song address field 37 of the new song record 29.
`Thereafter, at a block 69, the host computer 21 provides
`a read enable signal on a bus 50 to either the reader 51
`or reader/converter 55. Either the reader 51 or reader/(cid:173)
`converter 55 responds by reading and sending digital
`data representing the new song to the host computer 21
`via the bus 50. Utilizing a bus 54, the host computer 21
`forwards the digital data received to the compression
`circuit 52, receives compressed digital data from the
`compression circuit 52 and writes the compressed digi-
`tal data into the bulk storage unit 25. At a block 71,
`upon reaching the end of the digital data output, i.e., the
`end of a song, the host computer 21 writes the byte
`length of the digital output into the song size field 39.
`The host computer 21 at a block 73 prompts the user
`to load a picture, such as an album cover, into the
`graphics scanner 53. At a block 75, the host computer
`21 identifies further available storage space in the bulk
`storage unit 25 and places the beginning address thereof
`into the graphics address field 41. Once a picture is
`loaded, the host computer 21 at block 77, using the bus
`50, provides a read enable signal to the scanner 53
`which responds via bus 50 by digitizing the picture and
`transferring the digitized output to the host computer
`21. At a block 79, using the bus 54, the host computer 21
`forwards the digitized data of the picture to the com(cid:173)
`pression circuit 52, receives compressed digitized data
`from the compression circuit 52, and writes the com(cid:173)
`pressed digitized data into the bulk storage unit 25. At a
`block 81, upon reaching the end of the digitized output,
`i.e., the end of the picture, the host computer 21 places
`the byte length of the digitized output into the graphics
`
`45
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
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`

`

`5,355,302
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`5
`6
`sponding block t4t, the jukebox t3 responds by sending
`size field 43. Finally, at a block 83, the host computer 2t
`sets the play count field 45 to zero (0). This flow-chart
`the copy of the catalog ftle as well as other jukebox data
`including total money intake over a period of time. The
`is repeated as necessary until all of the new songs are
`data sent from the jukebox to the management station
`added to the master library 27.1t is noted that the opera-
`tor can also delete, modify or replace any specific song 5 may also include customer requests for new songs, a
`record 29 found in the master catalog 23 and master
`customer utilizing the display and keyboard of the juke-
`box t3 to enter song request data as discussed below.
`library 27.
`Returning to FIG. t, each computer jukebox t3 plays
`Thereafter, at a block tOS, by examining each play
`count field 4S in the copy ofthe catalog 9S received, the
`songs and displays graphics which are stored locally in
`the large-volume data storage unit 93. The storage unit 10 management system 11 determines the royalty amount
`due per song and whether to replace or update specific
`93 of the jukebox t3 contains a subset of the songs found
`in the master library 27 maintained by the central man-
`song entries stored in the jukebox t3. The management
`agement system 11. More specifically, the storage unit
`system 11 also determines the total money intake from
`93 of the jukebox t3 stores a song library 9t which is a
`the play count information and compares this value to
`corresponding subset of the master library 27. The song 15 the total money intake value received from the jukebox
`to provide a check. At an inquiry block t07, if no re-
`library 9t contains all of the currently available song
`placements are necessary, the management system 11
`selections and associated pictorial graphics for the juke-
`box t3. The storage unit 93 also stores a catalog 9S that
`branches to a block t09 to terminate communication
`with the jukebox t3. If, however, replacements are
`is an index into the local song library 9t. The catalog 9S
`is similar to the master catalog 23. Both the song library 20 necessary, the management system 11 branches to
`9t and associated catalog 95 are monitored and updated
`download the changes. Particularly, at a block t11, the
`by the central management system 11 as needed via the
`management system 11 downloads to the jukebox t3 the
`transmission link tS. The jukebox t3 permits this moni-
`song records 29 of both the song to be replaced and the
`toring and updating at any time with no impact on its
`replacement song. In a corresponding block t43, the
`25 jukebox t3 replaces the song record 29 in the catalog
`end-user performance.
`The jukebox t3 also includes a processing circuit t2t
`9S. Thereafter, the jukebox t3 identifies available star-
`which contains a microprocessor UtA, read only mem-
`age space in the storage unit 93 based on the song size
`ory (ROM) UtB and random access memory (RAM)
`field 39 of the new song, and writes the beginning ad-
`UtC. As in conventional computer systems, the micro-
`dress thereof into the song address field 37 in a corre-
`processor UtA operates in accordance with the soft- 30 sponding block t4S. Afterwards, at a block 113, the
`central management system 11 downloads the com-
`ware program contained in the ROM UtB and utilizes
`the RAM t2tC for scratch-pad memory. The process-
`pressed digital data of the song to the jukebox t3. At a
`ing circuit t2t may also contain a decompression circuit
`corresponding block t47, the jukebox t3 receives and
`(not shown) or may perform decompression using a
`writes the data into the song library 9t. Next, at a corre-
`software algorithm stored in the ROM UtB depending 35 sponding block t49, the jukebox t3 identifies available
`on the type of data compression scheme used by the
`storage space in the storage unit 93 based on the graph-
`central management system 11. In either case, decom-
`ics size field 43, and writes the beginning address
`pression is necessary to decompress the compressed
`thereof into the graphics address field 4t of the new
`song. Thereafter, at a block 11S, the management sys-
`data received from the central control system 11 so that
`the song can be played and associated graphics image 40 tem 11 downloads the compressed digitized data of the
`picture to the jukebox t3. The jukebox, at a correspond-
`displayed.
`The processing circuit t2t controls the operation and
`ing block tSt, receives and writes the data into the song
`flow of data into and out of the jukebox t3 through the
`library 9t. Finally, the block t07 is again encountered.
`Iffurther replacements need to be made, the blocks t11,
`modem 19 via a bus 124. Using the bus 124, the process-
`ing circuit t2t also controls a visual display US, one or 45 113 and 11S are repeated until complete. At a corre-
`sponding block tS3, the jukebox similarly repeats the
`more selection keys t23 and a coin/bill detector U6 to
`provide the user with an interactive interface to the
`corresponding blocks t43 through tSt until no further
`jukebox t3. The keys 123 provide signals representing
`replacements need to be made. A further block placed
`user inputs such as displayed song selection. The display
`immediately above the block t07 may also be used,
`US displays alpha numeric information as well as picto- 50 wherein the central management system 11 sends a
`delete, modify, add or replace command to the jukebox
`rial graphics to interface with the user. The coin/bill
`detector t26 is responsive to one or more coins or bills
`t3 before downloading into the song library 93. In this
`input by a customer to determine whether the proper
`way, the management system 11 receives additional
`amount of money has been input and to provide money
`flexibility in updating the jukebox t3. It is noted that the
`detect signals coupled to the processing circuit. The 55 jukebox t3 can also initiate communications with the
`management system 11 at predetermined times or if the
`processing circuit Ut further controls, via the bus t24,
`an audio reproduction circuit t27 coupled to a speaker
`jukebox determines that an event has occurred that the
`system t29 along a bus t3t to provide an audio output
`management system 11 should be aware of.
`to the user.
`FIG. Sis a flow-chart illustrating the specific opera-
`FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow-charts illustrating the 60 tion of the processing circuit t2t of the jukebox t3 in
`interfacing with the user. At a block t6t, if no song
`software procedures respectively used by the central
`management system 11 and the jukebox t3 in managing
`selection is playing, the processing circuit t2t operates
`the song library 9t of the jukebox t3. At a block tOt,
`in a user attract mode, displaying a random sequence of
`the central management system 11 initiates communica-
`available graphic images on the visual display t2S.
`tion with one of the jukeboxes t3 via the transmission 65 More particularly, the processing circuit t2t randomly
`selects a starting address of the compressed graphics
`link tS. Immediately thereafter, at a block t03, the man-
`agement system 11 requests that the jukebox data be
`data from the available song records 29 in the catalog
`sent including a copy of the catalog 9S. At a corre-
`9S. From that starting address, the circuit t2t retrieves
`
`HTC Exhibit 1007
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`5,355,302
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`7
`8
`selected song finishes playing, the processing circuit 121
`the data from the song library 91 via the bus 124. The
`deletes the song record 29 of the selected song from the
`circuit 121 decompresses and transfers the data along
`queue, increments the play count field 45 associated
`the bus 124 to the visual display 125 for display. There-
`with that song in the catalog 95, and begins playing the
`after, the circuit 121 again randomly selects a starting
`address of available graphics data and this cycle repeats. 5 next selected song in the queue if any exists. The process
`set forth in the flow-chart detailed in FIG. 5 is then
`If, however, a song selection is being played when the
`block 161 is encountered, the attract mode sequencing
`repeated.
`does not occur. Instead, the circuit 121 displays the
`While the present invention is being described and
`associated graphics image of the song being played on
`illustrated in accordance with the preferred embodi-
`the display 125. During the attract mode the processing 10 ment enabling new recordings and computer usage data
`to be transferred via the transmission line 15, the mom-
`circuit 121 may also control the display 125 to present a
`prompt requesting customers to enter new song re-
`taring and updating may also be directly transferred. In
`quests. The new song request data entered by a cus-
`this latter embodiment, routemen physically visit the
`tomer using the keyboard is stored and uploaded to the
`location of each computer jukebox 13. During these
`management system 11 to aid the system 11 in determin- 15 visits, the routemen carry a portable management sys-
`tem 181 which has only a subset of potential replace-
`ing whether new song data should be downloaded to
`the jukebox.
`ment songs stored in a subset library and associated
`At a block 163, the processing circuit 121 responds to
`catalog (not shown) on a portable bulk storage unit 183.
`a signal indicating user interest from the selection keys
`The subset library is loaded by the portable manage-
`123 by providing on the display 125 those music catego- 20 ment system 181 onto the portable bulk storage unit 183
`ries, i.e., country, rock, jazz, etc., found in the catalog
`either directly from the bulk storage unit 25 or indi-
`95. At a block 165, the circuit 121 responds to a signal
`rectly as is initially done by the central management
`system 11 (described above). In all other ways, the
`indicating a category selection from the keys 123 by
`providing on the display 125 an index of available songs,
`portable management system 181 operates the same as
`arranged alphabetically either by artist or title, which 25 the central management system 11, collecting the cata-
`log 95 of each jukebox 13 and updating or replacing as
`can be scrolled and selected using the keys 123. Upon
`selection of a specific song, the circuit 121 encounters
`necessary. To accomplish this, the portable manage-
`an inquiry block 167. If at the block 167 the circuit 121
`ment system 181 communicates at a very high rate of
`determines from the signal received from the money
`speed with the jukebox 13 via a parallel communication
`detector 125 that a sufficient amount of money has not 30 link 185 and a direct memory access (DMA) link 187.
`been deposited, a branch to a block 169 occurs. At the
`Additionally, the routemen may simply exchange the
`block 169, using the display 125, the circuit 121 prompts
`"old" storage unit 93 with a pre-loaded storage unit (not
`the user to deposit money into the coin/bill detector
`shown). The central management system 11 may later
`126, then branches back to the block 161. However, if
`read the "old" storage unit 93 to gather the information
`sufficient moneys have been deposited, the circuit 121 35 from the catalog 95. Such an embodiment still enjoys
`the other advantages made possible by the computer
`branches to a block 171 wherein the circuit 121 updates
`the play count field of the selected song's record in the
`jukeboxes 13 described herein.
`catalog flle 95 and money intake data stored in the mem-
`Additionally, it is to be understood that the embodi-
`ory. The circuit also places the song record 29 corre-
`ments of the present invention described hereinabove
`sponding to the selected song into a queue of song re- 40 are merely illustrative and that other modifications and
`adaptations may be made without departing from the
`cords to be played. After the selection is queued, the
`circuit 121 encounters an inquiry block 153. If the total
`scope of the appended claims.
`number of selections purchased have been selected, the
`We claim:
`circuit 121 branches back to the block 161. Otherwise, if
`1. A computer jukebox capable of being updated
`further purchased selections are forthcoming, the cir- 45 upon the receipt of digital data representing a plurality
`of songs, data representing the identity of each of said
`cuit 121 branches back to the block 163. In this manner,
`all of the selections are made and placed in the queue.
`songs and data representing the amount of storage space
`Upon completion of playing a queued-up, selected song,
`necessary to store said digital song data in said jukebox,
`the circuit 121 removes the corresponding song record
`comprising:
`29 from the queue, selects the next song record in the 50
`song selection means actuable by a user for generat-
`queue, begins to play that next song, and executes the
`ing a signal representing a song selected from a
`block 161. It is noted that the song queue can be dis-
`plurality of songs stored in said jukebox;
`played on the display 125 in order to show customers
`a programmable computer memory storing digital
`what songs have already been selected prior to making
`data representing each selectable song stored in
`their selection.
`said jukebox and a catalog flle including data for
`More specifically, referring back to FIG. 1, once a
`each stored song representing the identity of said
`specific song has been selected and queued-up, the pro-
`song and the location in said computer memory of
`cessing circuit 121 first identifies the beginning address
`the digital data representing said song;
`of the compressed digital data from the song address
`a communication interface for receiving said digital
`field 37 of the song record 29 in the queue. From this 60
`song data, said song identity data ~d said storage
`address, using the bus 124, the circuit 121 reads the
`space data;
`compressed digital data out of the storage unit 93, de-
`audio speakers;
`a digital to analog converter coupled between said
`compresses that data, and sends the decompressed digi-
`tal data to the audio reproduction circuit 127. The audio
`song storing computer memory and said audio
`reproduction circuit 127, commonly found in CDROM 65
`speakers to convert digital song data to an analog
`signal coupled to said speakers; and
`readers and associated amplifiers, converts t