Patent US5959945A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5959945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for selectively distributing music to a plurality of jukeboxes
Assignee: PCMS Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-04
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2017-04-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention includes a method and apparatus for distributing music to local, digital, electronic jukeboxes. In particular, a complete menuing system is stored in a central storage location. A portion of the complete menu is stored locally at the jukebox, depending on user demand. A jukebox selectively requests the transmission of songs from the central storage location using a variety of communication means based upon usage data with respect to songs and the menu. The request can be initiated by the jukebox and can occur automatically based on statistics compiled by the jukebox representing user demand. The central storage location processes the requests and schedules individual requests from each jukebox to coordinate transmission of music to multiple locations simultaneously. In addition, the central storage location periodically updates the local jukeboxes with a list of new releases, during which time the jukebox can also download the music. A portion of the complete menu is stored locally at the jukebox, depending on user demand. The jukebox also includes secure hardware used to decrypt and encrypt music and monetary certificates, to prevent improper use or copying of music.
Inventors
- 👤 Ruben Kleiman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/40; G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/30; G07F17/305; H04H20/38; H04H60/00; H04H60/09; H04H60/14; H04H60/21; H04H60/23; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; H04L63/0464; H04L63/10; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/56; H04L67/568; H04L67/60; H04L67/62; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04H60/16; H04H60/25; H04H60/29; H04H60/31; H04H60/61; H04H60/66; H04L2463/00; H04L2463/101; H04L2463/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes comprising: a central storage location including available songs, graphics, and titles; a menuing system, said menuing system includes storing a portion of a menu at a local jukebox location, wherein the local jukebox location is separate from the central storage location, and storing a complete menu at said central storage location; a communication means between said central storage location and said local jukeboxes, wherein the local jukeboxes download desired information automatically during a broadcast from the central storage location; and a scheduler for coordinating transmission from said central storage location to said local jukeboxes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes comprising: a central storage location including available songs, graphics, and titles; a menuing system, said menuing system includes storing a portion of a menu at a local jukebox location, wherein the local jukebox location is separate from the central storage location, and storing a complete menu at said central storage location; a communication means between said central storage location and said local jukeboxes, wherein the local jukeboxes download desired information automatically during a broadcast from the central storage location; and a scheduler for coordinating transmission from said central storage location to said local jukeboxes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes as claimed in claim 1, wherein said menuing system includes a statistical replacement algorithm for retrieving additional portions of a menu based upon local accesses to said local jukebox.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes as claimed in claim 1, wherein said songs are placed on said local jukebox based upon user inquiries about availability.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the local jukeboxes initiate communication with the central storage location and said music is retrieved by said local jukeboxes automatically based upon actual user preferences at a jukebox location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scheduler arranges the broadcast of songs simultaneously to a plurality of jukeboxes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scheduler delays transmission of music within a requested time frame to improve transmission times and minimize costs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission occurs automatically for non-interactive updates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A music distribution system for local digital electronic jukeboxes as claimed in claim 1, wherein said local jukebox includes an advanced payment system to allow automatic access to said central storage system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for optimally transmitting music selections in a music distribution system comprising: maintaining statistics in a digital electronic jukebox, regarding a number of times a node in a menu hierarchy is reviewed by a user; using said statistics to indicate when a node has been reviewed a predetermined number of times; sending a request automatically for updated music from said jukebox to a central storage location, based on said statistics determined in said jukebox; receiving requested music within a time period specified in the request at said jukebox; said receiving step further including transmitting music from said central storage location to a plurality of jukeboxes simultaneously; and storing a portion of said menu hierarchy at said jukebox.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for optimally transmitting music selections in a music distribution system comprising: maintaining statistics in a digital electronic jukebox, regarding a number of times a node in a menu hierarchy is reviewed by a user; using said statistics to indicate when a node has been reviewed a predetermined number of times; sending a request automatically for updated music from said jukebox to a central storage location, based on said statistics determined in said jukebox; receiving requested music within a time period specified in the request at said jukebox; said receiving step further including transmitting music from said central storage location to a plurality of jukeboxes simultaneously; and storing a portion of said menu hierarchy at said jukebox.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for optimally transmitting music selections in a music distribution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said menu hierarchy includes levels for music types, subtypes, albums, and songs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for optimally transmitting music selections in a music distribution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said statistics represent actual user preferences at said jukebox location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method for optimally transmitting music selections in a music distribution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmitting is coordinated by delaying transmission times of a portion of the requested music within a delay time period defined in the request and according to a schedule to increase transmission efficiency and minimize costs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A music distribution system comprising: a central storage location including available songs, graphics and titles; a plurality of local computer jukeboxes separate from the central storage location; and at least one regional storage location separate from and communicating with the central storage location and the plurality of local computer jukeboxes, the at least one regional storage location storing a portion of the available songs and transferring available songs to the computer jukeboxes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A music distribution system comprising: a central storage location including available songs, graphics and titles; a plurality of local computer jukeboxes separate from the central storage location; and at least one regional storage location separate from and communicating with the central storage location and the plurality of local computer jukeboxes, the at least one regional storage location storing a portion of the available songs and transferring available songs to the computer jukeboxes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The music distribution system of claim 13, further comprising: a first communications system between said central storage location and said at least one regional storage location; and a second communications system between said at least one regional storage location and each of said plurality of computer jukeboxes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The music distribution system of claim 14, wherein said first communications system includes one of a satellite transmission system, a telephone line, and a mailed diskette.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The music distribution system of claim 14, wherein said second communications system includes one of a satellite transmission system, a telephone line, and a mailed diskette.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The music distribution system of claim 14, wherein said at least one regional storage location includes a master jukebox.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer jukebox comprising: reception means for receiving songs from a central storage location; a memory for storing songs; playing means for playing stored songs; an interface for outputting signals to control a compact disk changer to select and play a desired song.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer jukebox comprising: reception means for receiving songs from a central storage location; a memory for storing songs; playing means for playing stored songs; an interface for outputting signals to control a compact disk changer to select and play a desired song.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
The computer jukebox of claim 18, further comprising: user selection means for selecting a song stored in one of said memory and on a compact disk in an attached compact disk changer; and means for outputting control signals to said compact disk changer through said interface to execute a selected song on a compact disk.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The music distribution system of claim 1, further including: a data structure that relates similar songs, wherein the similar songs have a high probability of being preferred by users of a particular location.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The music distribution system of claim 20, wherein the probability is defined by a local jukebox.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The music distribution system of claim 20, wherein the probability is defined by a central storage system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The music distribution system of claim 2, wherein the local accesses to the local jukebox define a mix of music categories in which a percentage of songs for a given category is determined by user preferences.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
The music distribution system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler arranges the broadcast of songs automatically based on at least one of: user preferences at a jukebox location, anticipated use of similar songs which are available on the local jukebox, local music menu profiles and songs automatically transmitted from the central storage location to the local jukebox without a request.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The music distribution system of claim 4, wherein the music is retrieved in advance of an automatic update based on an anticipated use of similar songs which are locally accessed songs, local music menu profiles and songs automatically transmitted from the central storage location to the local jukebox without a request.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The music distribution system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler accumulates requests for each different song within a time period defined in the request, and wherein one broadcast is performed for the combination of the accumulated requests.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method for optimally transmitting music selections of claim 9, further comprising: broadcasting a list of new available songs from a central storage location to a plurality of local jukeboxes; downloading said list into a local jukebox; downloading requested songs automatically during the broadcasting from the central storage location into the local jukebox; loading credits through payments in said local jukebox; decreasing a number of credits corresponding to a number of downloaded songs.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method for optimally transmitting music selections of claim 9, wherein the music is retrieved from a hierarchy of classes of music, wherein the hierarchy is stored in its entirety in the central storage location.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method for optimally transmitting music selections of claim 9, further including: deferring transmission of music based on local user needs; and transmitting music requested based on local user needs from said central storage location simultaneously to multiple jukeboxes, when requested delivery times overlap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |