Jukebox System

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a jukebox system.

Background of the Invention

Jukeboxes have been around for decades and provide users with the ability to select desired music for reproduction in a convenient manner. Jukeboxes have conveniently been provided in commercial establishments, such as restaurants and bars, in order to provide desired music on demand for patrons thereof for a fee. Typically, jukebox devices are operable to play music in response to receiving a payment from a user such as coins, bills, credits/debit cards and other forms of payment, and having one or more songs selected by the user for play. Optionally, a music service is paid for on a subscription basis by the owner of the commercial establishment, and the selected music is free to the end-user. However, use of a jukebox requires the payment of a fee whether by the user, or the owner of the commercial establishment in which the jukebox is located. For individual users of jukeboxes, the requirement to pay a fee may represent a barrier to using a jukebox, particularly if the jukebox is located in an area where potential users are likely to have little disposable income. Likewise, an owner of a commercial establishment may consider the fee for a subscription service to be too high or uneconomic. Again, this may particularly be the case where the commercial establishment is located in an area in which patrons of the establishment have little disposal income and the establishment operates on low profit margins.

Additionally, jukeboxes are generally associated with popular culture and young people, who are again likely to have little disposable income.

Summary of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention have been devised with the foregoing in mind.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a jukebox system, comprising a jukebox device and a reader for reading an image from an item bearing the image. The jukebox device is operative to play an instance of media in dependence on a signal output by the reader corresponding to an image read by the reader. The item bearing the image may be any handheld and easily available item; for example an item of commerce and typically will be one associated with youth and popular culture such as a container for a branded consumable product, for example a Coca Cola ^® or Pepsi Cola ^® bottle or can.

Using a container for a consumable product as the carrier medium for the image, in dependence on which a jukebox plays an instance of media, is likely to be attractive to consumers since with their purchase of the consumable product they get the opportunity to play a piece of music or a music video, for example from a jukebox. This reduces the barrier to using a jukebox for people with limited disposable income since by purchasing a consumable product they get the opportunity to play an instance of media from a jukebox. If the consumable product is a branded product the purchaser is likely to have a high level of trust in the brand owner, and have a high degree of confidence that the jukebox service offered through the branded product will meet their expectations. That is to say, the purchaser will trust the brand and therefore trust that they will have played to them music, a music video or some other instance of media.

A jukebox system in accordance with this aspect of the present invention is likely to be attractive to brand owners of consumable products as a means to provide reward to customers for brand loyalty. Conventionally, brand owners reward customer loyalty by providing rewards in the form of vouchers for future purchases of the product or related products, credit against future purchases or in more sophisticated systems the opportunity to collect reward "points", which may be redeemed to acquire desirable items such as electronic

equipment, music CDs and other such items that are likely to be attracted to the brand owners customer base. However, the provision of vouchers, and even the more complex award system, are open to fraud.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a brand owner is able to link the reward, playing of a music video for example, directly to the product the customer has purchased and thereby to the brand. This makes an instant and powerful connection between the product and the brand, and enhances the strength of brand awareness and loyalty.

The jukebox device may be operative to respond to the signal corresponding to the image to authorise a user to select an instance of media and responsive to a user selection play the instance of media. Such a system puts the user in control of their selection. This further enhances the value of any brand associated with the item in the user's mind due to the value-added services.

Optionally, or additionally, the jukebox device may be responsive to the signal to play an instance of media corresponding to a one of a plurality of instance categories identified by the signal from the plurality of instance categories. For example, the image may identify a type or category of instance such as rock and roll music, country and western music, rap music and so forth. Thus, a brand owner can control the types of music a purchaser of their product can play. This allows a brand owner to ensure only music categories they wish to be associated with their brand are playable by the customer.

The customer may be able to select which instance from the identified category they want to be played; or the jukebox may be operative to play a random selection of an instance from the identified category or the next instance on a play list for the identified category.

In a further embodiment, the jukebox may be responsive to the signal to play an instance of media identified by the signal. The image may

identify a particular instance of media, such as a particular song, piece of music or music video to be played by the jukebox device.

Suitably, the jukebox system includes a vending machine responsive to user selective actuation to dispense the item having the image identifying one of the plurality of instance categories or to dispense the item having the image identifying the instance of media. A vending machine is a particularly suitable point of sale for items sold under brands such a Coca Cola ^® and other drinks or confectionary brands as it is a familiar outlet for such items.

In a particular embodiment in accordance with the present invention the jukebox device is operative to play automatically the instance of media, or at least an instance from a instance category, identified by the image. By automatically playing an instance of media the flow of instances is maintained substantially uninterrupted, which will reduce the gap between their output thereby reducing the delay for other users. Furthermore, the user interface is simplified in that there is no need for a user interface to initiate playing of an instance of media. By reducing the need for a user interface, there is provided a greater area for the output channels of the jukebox device. This is particularly important if music videos are to be played because the larger the screen the more attractive use of the jukebox will be. Furthermore, if viewer interface buttons are not required, then the design of the jukebox may be made more streamlined. Additionally, a consumer benefits from a substantially instant reward if they have to do nothing but allow their selected item to be read by the reader.

It is helpful if the reader is configured to receive the item in a manner that assists reading of the image, i.e. a reading position, since it makes the reader simple to use. This is particularly important if the jukebox system is being utilised in an area in which there is little technical sophistication or familiarity. In particular, configuring the reader in a manner so that it can receive the item easily for reading the image reduces barriers and inhibitions to using the jukebox system.

It is particularly advantageous if the reader is configured to support the item whilst reading the image, which makes the system even easier to use, and may provide control over the orientation of the item relative to the reader.

Typically, the jukebox system comprises a store for storing instances of digital media, which is a convenient form of media. For example, the store may be local to the jukebox system and comprise a plurality of CD-ROMs, digital tapes or even a solid state memory for storing instances of digital media. Such media may be maintained locally, and simply switched in and out if the instances of media offered by the jukebox device need to be changed.

Optionally, or additionally, the store may be remote from the jukebox, and accessible by the jukebox device over a communications network.

This is particularly advantageous in that it allows instances of digital media to be stored on a centralised server or server system. By centralising instances of digital media, centralised control and distribution may be achieved electronically without the need for physical media to be distributed and loaded onto individual jukebox devices.

Optionally, a jukebox device may have both a local and a remote store.

The local store may comprise electrically erasable and storable media for receiving a selection of instances to be stored locally in order to provide local updates. Thus, it would be unnecessary to access instances of digital media over a network each time one is to be played, since it may be accessed locally. This may reduce delay, and increase the reliability and robustness of a system.

Typically, the instance of media is music and/or video.

A typical implementation of the image is a machine-readable code, for example a bar-code. A bar-code is particularly attractive since it is a relatively simple and well-known technology. Furthermore, bar-codes are ubiquitous on branded consumable items, and may be made

unobtrusive on an item label thereby not obscuring or obliterating a brand image.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Specific embodiments in accordance with aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a jukebox system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a jukebox control system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the components of a bar-code reader;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a bar-code read head and an item in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a bar-code reader support arrangement for an item in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a vending machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a graphical representation of a memory storing a play list in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a graphical representation of memory storing a play list in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a graphical representation of the flow control for a jukebox system;

Figure 10 is a graphical representation of the flow control for an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 1 1 is a graphical representation of the flow control for a further embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 12 is a graphical representation of the flow control of a yet further embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a jukebox system 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The term "jukebox" is used to include all phonographs, compact disk players, tape players, video disk players, magnetic disk drives, MP3 players, DVD, CD, or any other apparatus for replaying recorded audio or recorded audio and video from any storage medium, in response to the depositing of a user authorisation token. In general terms, a jukebox plays an "instance of media", which term refers to anything recorded on a storage medium which may be played back by any suitable player such as one of the players mentioned above.

The jukebox system includes a cabinet 2 containing a mechanism for detecting user selections, retrieving and conveying instances of media to a player, and for performing and outputting the instance of media. The cabinet includes a video display 3 and speakers 4. At the front of the cabinet 2 is a display 7 of title strips identifying to a user what instances of media are available from the jukebox. Additionally, a keypad 8 provides a user interface for selecting one or more instances of media, and a display panel 9 for passing information back to the user regarding a current selection or instance of media currently being played by the jukebox system.

Additionally, the cabinet includes a bar-code reader mechanism 5 for reading bar-codes from an item such as an item of commerce, for example a bottle or can containing a beverage.

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a microprocessor control jukebox system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 10 sends information to an alphanumeric display 9 to provide a user with feedback as to the instance of media they have selected or those currently being played. The alphanumeric display may also provide information regarding any incorrect key presses or other interface information. User selections are entered via a user keypad 8 which is read by the control unit 10. The jukebox also includes a bar-code reader 13 which operates in cooperation with the reader mechanism 5 to read bar-codes from items placed in reader mechanism 5. The bar-code information is sent to control unit 10 where it is used to select an instance of media for play by the jukebox, or if used in combination with user input via user keypad 8, to select an instance of media to be played by the jukebox. Instances of media may be stored locally in a storage region 15, and transferred to a media player 16 for output from a jukebox. Optionally, the control unit 10 may access a remote store of instances of media over a network interface 14. An instance of media retrieved over network interface 14 may be stored in storage area 15 before being transferred to player 16, or optionally may be transferred directly to player 16 for output by a jukebox.

Typically, a jukebox includes a "playlist", which is a list in memory 15 of the instances of media selected to be played and the order in which the selections were made. The jukebox first plays the instance of media at the top of the list. Once that instance has been played it is removed from the list and the next instance, now at the top of the list, is played.

Retrieval of one or more instances of media either over network interface 14 or from storage area 15 is by way of instructions for control unit 10. Audio signals from player 16 are output through an audio preamplifier 17 and then to power amplifier 18 and on to speakers 4. The video portion, if present, of any instance of media is sent from player 16 to the video monitor 3.

The control unit 10 also controls the volume and tone control circuit of the audio preamplifier 17. Operator controls may be provided for an operator of the jukebox to adjust volume, and other operating parameters of the jukebox. Power for all the modules illustrated in Figure 2 are provided by power supply 22.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates the components of the barcode reader 13 split into its component parts. A barcode is a symbol 30 comprising a series of light and dark marks 32, 34. An electro-optical system 36 includes a light source for illuminating the barcode symbol 30, and is capable of receiving light reflected back from the barcode 30. The electro-optical system 36 is coupled to a scanning mechanism 38 which causes the light from electro-optical system to scan across symbol 30, and the electro-optical system to capture the reflected light as it is scanned across the barcode. The light and dark regions of the barcode cause local variations in reflectivity and consequently in the reflected light received by the electro-optical system. Thus, as the electro-optical system scans the illuminating light across the barcode 30 so the reflected light varies in intensity, and the electro-optical system outputs an analogue signal 40 which represents a variation in reflected light.

The analogue signal is input to an analogue to digital converter 42 which outputs a digital signal 44 to a processor 46. The processor 46 receives the digital signal 44 and formats it into a suitable format for control unit 10 and outputs the formatted data to the control unit. Optionally, the analogue to digital converter 42 outputs the digital signal 44 directly to control unit 10, which then performs the necessary processing to interpret the bar-code data.

As schematically illustrated in Figure 4, a container 50 bearing a barcode 52 is placed in front of a bar-code reader head 54 so that the barcode 52 may be read. In the illustrated embodiment, the bar-code reader is static and the container 50 is twisted by the user of the jukebox to cause the illuminating light 56 to scan across bar-code 52. The bar-code reader interprets the variations in the intensity of the reflected light in order to read the bar-code.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a bar-code mechanism 5 for supporting a container 60 in a particular orientation for reading a barcode 62 on the container 60. The bar-code reader is static, and in this embodiment the container 60 is moved in a direction substantially along its longitudinal axis in order to have the bar-code scanned by the illuminating light.

In both embodiments illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the purchaser of the product has to move the container in some way in order to have the bar-code read by the bar-code reader, and consequently input the instance of media they wish to have played by the jukebox. By requiring a purchaser of the product to manipulate the product in cooperation with the bar-code reader of the jukebox, a further connection in the mind of the purchaser with the brand and playing the relevant instance of media is made.

Optionally, the above-code reader illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 could be of the scanning type, and the containers 50 and 60 may remain static whilst the bar-code is scanned and read.

An embodiment of the present invention includes a vending machine 70, illustrated in Figure 6. Vending machine 70 may be located near to jukebox 1 or may be remote from it, for example in another area of the premises in which the jukebox is located, or even in other premises. Optionally, the jukebox may be integrated with the vending machine.

Vending machine 70 includes a cabinet 72 which houses products 74 to be dispensed, control circuitry and a mechanism for dispensing product 74. A user interface panel 76 includes various buttons for providing a potential purchaser with a choice of which instance of media (a piece of music or music video for example) they wish to have included with their purchase of the product. Additionally, the vending machine also includes a coin slot 77 for receiving coins for purchasing one or more products.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the user interface panel 76 includes button 78 which correspond to a music type, A, B, C, D ... etc. A purchaser inserts sufficient coins into coin slot 77 to pay for the purchase of a product, and selects their desired product by pressing a button which corresponds to the product of their choice and also corresponds to the type of music they want to hear. The vending machine then dispenses the appropriate product with a bar-code encoding the identification of the music type selected by the purchaser.

Optionally, or additionally, buttons 80 are provided in which a button corresponds to a particular instance of media (music or video track for example). Thus, a user can select a particular product and a particular track they want to have played by the jukebox.

The jukebox may also have conventional selection buttons, i.e. for normal use of the jukebox, and where the product containers do not bear any code which selects a particular type or track to be played by the jukebox.

Optionally, the conventional selected buttons may be provided for a vending machine dispensing products in containers having a bar-code acting merely as an authorisation code for the jukebox. In such an embodiment, a purchase of a particular product provides the purchaser with the opportunity to authorise selection of a track of their choice in the usual way from the jukebox.

An index in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which a purchaser may select a music or video type to be represented by the bar-code on a container is schematically illustrated in Figure 7. The index is suitably stored in memory 15 of the jukebox. Against each signal representative of a music type A, B, C ..., there is a list of instances, 1 , 2, 3, 4 ..., in each type. The list is a "play list" for each music type. When the jukebox reads a bar-code corresponding to music type A, a signal A will be generated and the jukebox will play a one of the instances of media (1 , 2, 3, 4 ...) which are indexed against signal A.

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of an index where the bar-code corresponds to a particular instance of media. The signal is representative of a particular instance of media A, B, C ..., there being just one instance identity corresponding to each signal type.

Figures 7 and 8 schematically illustrate indexes of instance identities, each instance identity pointing to the storage location of the actual instance of media itself. However, this is merely one way of implementing embodiments of the present invention, and other arrangements for identifying particular instances of media may be used, such as look-up tables for example.

The operation of a jukebox in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in Figure 9. The steps illustrated in the flowchart of Figure 9, and other flowcharts illustrating the operation of embodiments of the present invention, will typically be implemented under the control of control unit 10, generally implemented as a microprocessor.

Process control starts at step S1 and proceeds to step S2 where it is determined whether or not the jukebox play list is empty. If the play list is empty then process control flows to step S3 where a music channel, such as MTV is played by the jukebox.

If the decision at step S2 is no then control flows to step 4 where the instance of media at the top of the jukebox play list stored in memory 15 is sent to player 16. At step S5 player 16 starts playing the instance of media transferred to it, and that particular instance is removed from the top of the play list in memory 15. Process control then flows to step S6 where it is determined whether or not the particular instance has finished playing. If the instance has not finished playing then the control flows to step S7 and the instance is continued to be played.

If the particular instance has finished playing then process control flows to step S8 where it is determined whether or not the jukebox play list is empty. If it is empty then process control flows to step S3 where the

MTV channel is played. If the play list is not empty then process

control flows back to step S4 where the instance of media now at the top of the play list is sent to the player and the process continues.

If the play list is empty, and until a new instance of media is entered onto the play list, process control loops through step S3 and step S2, and the jukebox continuously plays the MTV channel.

Figure 10 illustrates the process control flow for an embodiment of the present invention in which the user is allowed to select via the jukebox user interface of which instance of media they wish to have played.

The process starts at step S10 and proceeds to step S1 1 where it determines whether or not a valid code has been input to the bar-code reader. If no valid code is present then the process control loops back to the start of step S1 1 with a short delay at step S16. However, if a valid code is present then the process flows to step S12 where the jukebox authorises a user to select an instance of media.

At step S13 it is determined whether or not the user has made a valid selection, for example, has the user input an instance identity corresponding to one of the instances of media playable by the jukebox. If the selection is not valid then process control flows to step

S14 where a message informing the user that they have made an invalid selection is displayed on the alpha-numeric display 9 and process control flows back to step S1 1 .

If a valid selection has been made at step S13, then process control flows to step S14 where the instance identity input by the user is added to the bottom of the jukebox play list. Process control then flows back to step S1 1 .

Figure 1 1 illustrates the flow control of an embodiment of the present invention when the bar-code borne by a container corresponds to a particular instance of media.

Process control starts at step S18 and flows to step S19 where it is determined whether or not a valid code is present. If no valid code is

present then control flows to step S20 where the process waits for a little while until flowing back to step S19.

If a valid code is present then process control flows to step S21 where the particular instance of media corresponding to the code is identified, and at step S22 that instance identity is added to the bottom of the jukebox play list. Flow control then goes back to step S19.

Figure 12 illustrates the process control flow for an embodiment of the present invention in which a bar-code on a container represents a particular category or type of music.

The process starts at step S25 and flows to step S26 where it is determined whether or not a valid code is present. If no valid code is present then the process flows to step S27 where it waits for a while until returning to step S26. If a valid code is present then process control flows to step S28 where it is determined what music category corresponds to the particular code read by the code reader.

At step S29 the particular music category is looked-up in the index stored in memory 15 and illustrated in Figure 7. The music category play list identified at step S29 comprises a list of instance identities as illustrated in Figure 7.

At step S30 the instance identity at the top of the music category play list is added to the bottom of the jukebox play list. Then, at step S31 , the instance identity that was at the top of a music category play list is moved to the bottom of the music category play list, and flow control returns to step S26.

Thus, the particular instance of media in a particular music category is rotated in a sequential fashion with the other instances of media for that particular category.

It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the processes illustrated and described with reference to Figures 9 to 12 of the drawings may be operated in parallel or at least appear to an

observer as being operated in parallel, with one or more of each other. In particular, the processes illustrated in Figures 10 to 12 are not mutually exclusive, but may be implemented together in the same embodiment of the invention.

Insofar as embodiments of the invention described above are patentable, at least in part, using a software-controlled programmable processing device such as a digital signal processor, microprocessor, or other processing device, data processing apparatus or computer system, it will be appreciated that a computer program for configuring a programmable device, apparatus or system to implement the foregoing described methods, apparatus and system is envisaged as an aspect of the present invention, the computer program may be embodied as source code and undergo compilation for implementation on a processing device, apparatus or system, or may be embodied as object code, for example. A skilled person would readily understand that the term "computer" in its most general sense encompasses programmable devices such as referred to above, and data processing apparatus and computer systems.

Suitably, the computer program is stored on a carrier medium in machine readable form, for example in solid-state memory or magnetic memory such as disk or tape, in particular CD-ROMs and DVDs. The computer program may be supplied from a remote source embodied in the communications medium such as an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrier waves. Such carrier media are also envisaged as aspects of the present invention.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the scope of the invention. For example, the foregoing embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using any item for bearing the bar-code, not just an article of commerce Furthermore, the item may be something other than a bottle, for example a can, or a wrapped chocolate bar. The bar-code may be other than an optically readable bar-code, for example it may be readable by infra-red light, or formed of conductive material and readable by electrical or electronic circuits

such as sensing capacitive or inductive influence on the circuits. Yet further, an image other than a bar-code may be used for example a graphic image or text.

An instance of media may be anything which is stored or recorded on media and not just music or music video. For example, an instance of media may include an educational television programme, tourist information or anything else that a person might wish to hear or view, or extracts of such things. An instance of media may even be a computer session, for example a predetermined period of time on a computer or access to the Internet. Additionally, media may include one or more of solid-state memory or magnetic memory such as disk or tape, in particular CD-ROMs and DVDs, and also an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrier waves.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to a 'stand alone' jukebox, as would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art, the jukebox could be integrated into a vending machine or vice versa. Moreover, the jukebox may be implemented as a portable hand held device such as a cellular telephone. The cellular telephone, or insertable memory for the cellular telephone such as the SIM card, may be pre-loaded with instances of media. The cellular telephone includes an image reader such as a camera or bar-code reader and may be used to read an image or bar-code from an item. The instance of media corresponding to the read image or bar-code may then be played by the cellular telephone. It would be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art that such devices need not be a cellular telephone but maybe some other form of stand alone device, for example an MP3 player such as an iPod or other player device suitably modified to include an image reader.

Optionally, the jukebox may play an extract of a song rather than the full version.

The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed therein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof respective of whether or not it relates to the

claimed invention or mitigates any or all of the problems addressed by the present invention. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formed likely to such features during the prosecution of this application or if any such further applications derived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims and features from respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely any specific combinations enumerated in the claims.