CA2639490A1 - Networked digital media review & play system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for the play of digital content in a public establishment includes an in-house digital content play system, a web accessible digital content server, a media center connected to the in-house digital content play system and in communication with the digital content server to receive digital content, and independent web enabled or text messaging enabled devices of users. These independent web enabled or text messaging enabled devices allow a user to access the digital content server and select digital content for play on the in-house digital content play system.

Description

TITLE: NETWORKED DIGITAL MEDIA REVIEW AND PLAY SYSTEM
Draft September 9, 2008 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for play authorized of multimedia content in a public establishment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is common in public establishments to have an in-house audio/video system play music and/or video recordings in accordance with the particular decisions of the owner or on a client selected basis such as would be common with jukeboxes. It is also known to have game terminals suitable for more selected viewing of video content and/or the playing of video games. Various arrangements for the appropriate payment of copyright or performance fees are prearranged by the owner based on contents of the database. Typically, the database is onsite.

The ability to store a host of audio or video files on personal portable devices has allowed users to easily transport their music or video files for selective personal play at diverse locations or activities. Due to the low cost capability to store digital content, the selected music and/or video may vary widely. It is also now quite cost effective to store a large number of video or audio files suitable for play on a public system. These personal and commercial systems may also provide summary information, ID tags, , allowing music and/or videos to be easily identified, categorized and sorted.
For certain applications, it would be desirable as a customer or user, to have certain personal audio and/or video files available for play in a public establishment. For example, if a large group is meeting at a particular restaurant or establishment, it would be desirable to schedule both the audio and video content that will be played at that point in time using the in-house system and/or selected devices within the public establishment. Furthermore, it would be desirable from the establishment's point of view that this function be carried out in an automated or semi-automated manner as determined by the owner. In such an automated system it would be desirable to include the ability to pay for the playing of particular audio and video content including any licensing or performance fees as may be legally required. It would also be desirable to specify particular devices within the establishment for selective play of the audio and video content.

Various arrangements are disclosed in the present application for carrying out these functions and variations thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A system for play of a digital content in a public establishment according to the present invention comprises an in-house digital content play system, a media center connected to the in-house digital content play system and in communication with a remote accessible digital content server to receive digital content. The remote accessible digital content server includes a text messaging communication function for receiving text messages authorizing digital content for play on the in-house system. Independent text enabled devices of independent users allow access to the digital content server using the message communication function to order digital content for play on the in-house digital content play system. The remote web accessible digital content server communicates with the in-house digital content play system and at least authorizes play of an ordered digital content. The media center provides to the in-house digital content play system the ordered digital content for play thereof on the in-house digital content play system.

In an aspect of the invention, the text messaging communication function includes SMS communications and at least some of the independent text enabled devices communicate with said digital content server using SMS
messaging.

In a further aspect of the invention, the media center receives and provides the digital content as streamed digital content to the in-house digital content play system.

In a different aspect of the invention, the system includes terminal devices located in the public establishment and in communication with the digital content server. The terminal devices include software allowing users to select digital content for play on the in-house system and the terminal devices communicate the selections to the digital content server. The digital content server thereafter provides the digital content to the media center preferably as streamed digital content.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the system includes menus of listed digital content available for play in the commercial establishment with the menus being available in the commercial establishments. Preferably, the menus are printed and made available to patrons of the public establishment.

According to an aspect of the invention, digital content for play can be ordered by using SMS text messaging or placing an order with an order staff assigned to patron by the commercial establishment.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the menus include codes assigned to uniquely identify digital content for play. Preferably these codes also identify the commercial establishment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic overview of the system;
Figure 2 is a schematic of an alternate system;
Figure 3 is a schematic of the equipment in the commercial establishment of the alternate system;
Figure 4 is a schematic of the Digital Content Management System and Licensing Authorities of the alternate system;
Figure 5 is a schematic showing further details of the Music on Demand Provider and the Content Provider illustrated in the alternate system of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a schematic showing details of the media center used to act as a control arrangement;
Figures 7 and 8 are schematics of alternate arrangements;
Figures 9 through 14 show a series of user access menus for inputting instructions to the system; and Figures 15 and 16 show variations of the systems;
Figure 17 is a schematic overview of a modified game and jukebox system;
Figure 18 is a schematic overview of a simplified game and music system;

Figure 19 is a schematic of a system where selections can be ordered using text messaging sent by an end user's device or a simplified provided device to a remote server having text messaging communication capabilities;
Figure 20 is a screen shot of an initial screen presented to a user contacting the iTouch music website for ordering a digital record for play at a desired location;
Figure 21 is a partial screen used for the user to identify the particular location at which he wishes a particular digital record to be played;
Figure 22 is a screen shot showing various types of selections available at a particular selected location;
Figure 23 is a further screen shot where the user has selected the category "dance";
Figure 24 is a screen shot showing a particular selection made by the user; and Figure 25 is a screen shot showing confirmation that an order has been placed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The media play system 2 shown in Figure 1 is for use in a commercial or public establishment generally indicated as 4. Such commercial establishments include restaurants, night clubs and other public entertainment facilities or businesses. The performance or play of digital content, subject to copyright protection, (audio video, game contents, etc.) in public establishments requires appropriate authorization.
Shown within the commercial establishment is a first in-house system 6 and a second in-house system 8. The in-house systems 6 and 8, each typically include an amplifier 9 for receiving a signal from one or more source devices such as a CD player, hard drive, receiver etc. The signal is appropriately processed and provided to the speakers 13. This type of device can also control the video source signal. The media center 10 provides a communication and control switch function for integrating control gate 20 into existing systems.

Preferably, the various sources of multi-media content are connected to the media center 10 and the media center 10 provides the appropriate signal to one or more of the in-house systems 6 and 8. The control gate 20 can interrupt signals from other sources to the amplifier and essentially override other sources as may be required. In this way, the control gate and media center provide a switch function for controlling the content on the in-house systems.
Advantageously, the control gate and media center 10 cooperate with existing audio/video systems.

The first in-house system 6 includes an audio link 11 connecting a pair of speakers 13 to the media center 10. A video link 15 connects the media center 10 to a display screen 17. The media center 10 includes a connection 12 to the local Ethernet network 14 and is typically in communication with the digital management system 40 over the INTERNET. The digital management system can store and provide audio and video content to the in-house system 6 in a somewhat conventional manner as the content and licensing provisions have been established, allowing the digital management system to provide or authorize the specific use of the digital content. Preferably, the digital management system is remotely located but this system could be located on site. The local Ethernet network can include a wireless transmission and receive capability 19 for communication with other related components, including an INTERNET connection with the remotely located server 42 of the digital management system.

The second in-house system 8 includes a pair of speakers 21, a display screen 23 and signal processing arrangement, and a direct digital link 25 connecting these components to the control gate 20. This embodiment also includes the control of signals to the in-house system 8. This arrangement may be appropriate for less sophisticated applications or systems as a separate media center 10 is not used.
The control gate 20 allows effective communication with any of a series of personal digital content devices such as the cell phone 22, the handheld game console 24, and/or the IPod/PDA 26. These personal digital content devices are owned by a customer and are capable of communicating 3 5 in a wireless communication with the control gate 20. In addition, there can be a hard wire connection such as a USB connection 28 connecting a video player and/or IPod/PDA 26 with the control gate 20. Any of the personal digital content devices can include a suitable arrangement for effective communication with the control gate 20 including (as examples) a digital connection such as WiFi, infrared, GPRS, 3G, Bluetooth, HDMI and Optical Link, or by an analog link. These personal digital content devices are controlled by the user and digital files contained therein or identification information of the particular files can be effectively communicated to the control gate 20 for eventual play on the in-house system 8. The actual digital content can be provided from different sources in communication with the control gate.
The control gate 20 provides a coordinating function used to identify the content about to be played on the in-house system 8. This content or summary identification information can be communicated to the communication server 42 over the local Ethernet network 14and reviewed by the digital processing server 44. In this way, the content about to be played on the in-house system 8 can be audited to provide the appropriate tracking of digital media content played in the commercial establishment. For example, if the audio content includes a series of songs, these songs can be identified and appropriately authorized for play on the in-house system 8.
This authorization can also be used with respect to video content. The actual files or media content played may be provided by a local or remote database.
In some cases, the material being forwarded by one of the personal digital content devices will not be subject to copyright provisions, as the owner is unknown, or perhaps the user is already the owner. Therefore there may be some material that can be used with the in-house system 8 without authorization from the digital content Management System. For example, a certain office group may plan a marketing or sales meeting and wish to display this audio/video content for review in a more informal session. As the copyright owner is effectively the owner of the personal digital content, no further compensation would be required.

In contrast, particularly for audio content, the material may be music and this music or summary identification information may be reviewed to determine whether authorization is required. As technology advances, the music content can be analyzed to compare it to a host of known digital content for appropriate identification and any required authorization.

The control gate 20 includes the direct audio/video/digital link 25 to the in-house system 8. With this system, the customer who owns one of the personal digital content devices 22, 24, and 26, for example, has loaded these devices with music, video games, digital pictures, multimedia files, etc. that they wish to play on the in-house system 8. A suitable connection is made with the control gate 20 that typically includes a touch screen and software for effective communication with these devices. The information is then provided to the in-house system 8. The digital management system 40 reviews digital content or 1D information communicated thereto by the control gate and the data processing server 44 reviews and tracks the digital content for reporting to the appropriate Content Providers.

With this system, users of portable devices can have the content stored internally or can have access to an external source, for example, a satellite radio receiver or a source of streaming audio and/or video content.
The important aspect is that the customer is in control of identifying the digital content. The control gate 20 is cortnected to the in-house multimedia system at the commercial establishment and transmits the user's selection to the system. The control gate 20 is connected to a digital control management system that verifies the content and tracks copyright payment information.
This digital control management system process is typically carried out remotely of the commercial establishment. The control gate allows play of the selection through the above mentioned audio or video connection. The control gate 20 is preferably part of other systems that include a payment facility such as a video game terminal and/or a digital jukebox. As can be appreciated, this particular ability to allow the user to provide or identify the audio or video content, can advantageously supplement existing digital or video systems.
The control gate 20 provides the ability to select audio/video files to be played and/or the personal digital content device allows the user to select the files. The system is capable functionirig in both of these manners. As the capability of personal digital content devices continues to expand, their use as an input device to select files will also expand.

With this arrangement, the control gate 20 coordinates examination of the content to be played by the customer and appropriately classifies this information in combination with the digital content management system 40.
The digital content management system 40 provides the results of the review of the content to the control gate and the appropriate authorization for this play of the selected digital content. This content can also include real time streaming of audio and/or video content to the control gate.

The digital content management system 40 includes a bookkeeping function to record and process all the payment information and content identifying information including the digital content title (ID), number of times played, and/or the duration of each, and the total play time, depending on the content. This also provides copyright control and monitoring. For example, the control gate 20 can be set to operate and prohibit playing music that is not recognized by the digital content management system. In other cases, there may be certain owner or manual override provisions that allow the playing of music which is not recognized. In this way, unrecognized content can be prohibited or subject to authorized override. The digital content management system also provides effective accounting control and based thereon, provides reports for submission to the various copyright owners, label companies, software manufacturers, etc.

For the purpose of clarity and to better understand the operation of the system, the various components and functions have been separated. In implementing the system, these components may be combined. For example, the control gate may be part of the in-house system or integrated with the digital content management system or integrated with both of these functions.
For example, the control gate could be a combination game/jukebox/input terminal available to customers. It could also be a modified jukebox having this terminal user file identification transfer/interaction capability.

There are also other arrangements for accessing audio/video files available for play in a public establishment and these arrangements can be used with the control gate function disclosed in the present application.
Accessing authorized databases remotely located or onsite, provides a system that is less vulnerable to unauthorized play of material protected by copyright provisions while still satisfying or expanding the authorized play of material.

It is also possible to have the personal digital content devices include a separate function for interacting with public audio/video systems.
These separate functions could be provided with the device or downloaded thereto. For example, known Music on Demand systems could be used with the present system to provide the appropriate authorization capability.

The digital content management system is authorized and tracks, and/or the play of the digital content. It is also possible for the control gate 20 to allow a user to communicate with an independent provider such as a Music on Demand provider. For example, a user can use the control gate 20 to access his account with the Music on Demand provider. This account can include a list of favourite music to simplify the selecting process for the user.
The user can select the desired content and this content and/or identification information can be provided to the control gate. This content is preferably tracked as previously outlined by the digital content management system. It is also possible for authorization to be provided by the Music on Demand provider. For example, communication by the user using the control gate identifies this request as associated with use in a public establishment. The content could be streamed to the gate or transferred and temporarily stored, if authorized. Basically, the independent provider can be authorized from a copyright holder or group for authorizing this performance. Tracking can be provided by the control gate and/or the digital content management system regarding payments to the independent provider.
The present invention also includes the authorization of personal digital content devices for play of audio/video files on public audio/video systems by providing software to control this function.

The above system has been described primarily with respect to music and video content, however, it is also applicable to games and other forms of copyright material.

Although the digital content management system 40 can provide information feedback to the control gate 20 regarding the fee for playing of the copywritten material, this fee is preferably included in the cost per play charged by the control gate 20. With this arrangement, the digital content management system has authorized license provisions ' with the copyright owners or group providers.

The present invention and system provides an effective approach for the operator while allowing existing in-house audio and video systems to be used in a different manner and provide an additional income stream.
Furthermore, it allows the operator to customize this in-house system for small group presentations. As can be appreciated, this could be suitable for business group lunches, etc.
As can be appreciated, the digital content management system will serve a large number of control gates at many commercial establishments.
There are many variations of this arrangement including the ability for the personal digital content devices merely to provide a list of the appropriate content to be played. IPod devices record the digital content in a manner easily used by the system. This list could have been derived from a pre-approved list available from the establishment or from the digital content system 40. For example, the material that is available for play could be provided on a website, etc., and the user could effectively pre-plan the particular material to be played.

The present system allows customers the capability of having their devices communicate with the audio/video system of a public establishment, in a convenient and effective manner. In a preferred embodiment, these devices provide identification tags that are used to identify the digital content to be played from an appropriate source, such as an authorized database of the audio/video system of the public establishment or a remote associated or independent database available to the audio/video system.
The above approach, where the personal digital content devices provide identification information of digital content to be played and the audio/video system matches the identification information with digital content authorized for play on a public system, is a preferred arrangement that reduces legal issues regarding transmission of files. The files of the personal devices, not normally authorized for public play, are not played on the audio/video system as only the identification information is used to determine the files and making the files available from an authorized source.
An alternate arrangement is shown in Figures 2 through 6. The networked entertainment performing system 100 shown in Figure 2 is a networked system that is particularly suitable for commercial establishments such as restaurants and bars. A commercial establishment is generally shown as 102 and includes in-house audio/video systems 104 and 106 connected to the media center 108 which in turn is connected to a local area network such as a local ETHERNET connection to other computer devices within the commercial establishment. In-house system 112 is directly connected to the gate machine 120. This gate machine is physically connected to the local area network 110 and can also include a wireless communication function generally indicated as 122. Similarly, the local area network 110 includes its own wireless connection point indicated as 111. The gate machine 120 includes a physical or wireless connection to any of a number of personal digital content devices generally indicated as 124. For example, the gate machine 120 can communicate with cell phones, handheld game consoles, IPod or PDA type devices. These devices can be connected in a wireless manner or use a USB type connection.

Similarly, the gate machine 120 includes a connection 130 for communicating with known portable memory devices such as memory sticks, internal compact flash memory, portable hard disk devices or other suitable digital memory devices. In this way, the user can bring one of these devices to the commercial establishment and connect with the gate machine or one of the many gate machines provided in the commercial establishment for accessing and using the system in a specialized manner using digital content stored on these user devices.
The overall system includes Music on Demand Service Providers indicated as 142. It is now becoming more common for individual users to enter into a contract with a Music On Demand Provider indicated as 142 for the downloading and playing of music. This capability when used in association with the overall system allows a user to inform the gate machine 120 of a desire to play a particular song authorized by its Music On Demand Service Provider 142. As previously outlined, the gate machine could receive properly authorized digital content from the provider 142. The digital content, can be transferred as streaming video or audio, and forwarded to the in-house system 112 for the performance thereof. In this way, the digital content is not maintained by the system but is merely performed by the system. The authorization for this can be associated with the digital content management system or the Music on Demand Provider. The user will preferably pay the gate machine.

Many different payment arrangements and arrangements for appropriate authorization are possible.

The networked entertainment performing system preferably differs from earlier systems in that the actual digital content is not stored and subsequently performed. The digital content is streamed in real time and played on the particular system. This arrangement for many applications significantly reduces the legal issues associated with the various different content providers.

The remotely located digital content management system 150 as shown in Figures 2 and 4 includes a communication server 152 as well as a data processing server computer 154. Basically, the communication server 152 communicates with various control gates through the local area network 110, and preferably the INTERNET. The data processing server 154 can include license content management software for tracking of the various performing rights. Similarly, the data processing server 154 will include bookkeeping/accounting software for tracking of payments owed to the various providers. The Content Provider 164 communicates directly with the gate machine 120 and additionally communicates with the data processing server 154. The streamed audio/video signal is provided to the gate machine 120, and information with respect to the particular digital content is provided to the license content management software of the data processing server.
Furthermore, the data processing server and the Content Provider 164 are also in communication between the particular accounting systems.

The content provider includes its own accounting system 170 and also includes a Content Validation System indicated as 166. The validation system is part of the Digital Content Server 168 and this is in communication with an Accounting Server shown as 172 and the Provider's Accounting Software indicated as 170. Basically, the Content Provider 164 provides the real time stream signal to the gate machine 120 and also provides a tracking arrangement recorded by the provider's Content Validation System 166, and the Licensed Content Management System 156 of the Data processing server 154. The Bookkeeping/Accounting Software of the Data processing server 154 is shown as 158.

The Content Provider 164 is shown with a number of particular parties such as MusicNET* Sony*, BMG*, EMI*, Warner Music*, and Universal*, for authorizing particular digital content. Other digital content may be authorized by the Licensing Authorities indicated as 178 which can include a number of different sources. Once again, the licensing authorities communicate with the License Content Management Software 156 of the of the Data processing server 154. Preferably, these systems provide the content or authorization for play.

Preferably, this particular system provides a networked arrangement for accommodating a host of sources for providing digital content to commercial establishments without the commercial establishment storing the content. The actual commercial establishment has equipment that typically receives the signal and reproduces or performs the particular work without the separate storing thereof. This significantly reduces the legal requirements in dealing with diverse content providers and their particular rights and control of content.

Additional details of the in-house systems 104 and 106 are shown in Figure 6. The media center 108 cooperates with amplifiers 109 to be able to override other sources of digital content provided to the amplifiers. These other sources are conventional sources for in-house systems such as a tuner 121, a tape unit 123 and/or a CD/DVD device 125. The control gate 120 and the media center 108 allow automatic overriding of other signals.

Furthermore, a user may have his own work to be performed on the commercial system. This particular source is also accommodated by the system and the system can include particular checks to ensure that the work being performed is not subject to the rights of one of the other providers.

With this system, it is in the interest of the actual commercial providers, such as the Music On Demand Provider 142, the Content Provider shown as 164, and the Licensing Authorities shown as 178, to provide the system at the commercial establishment, with information that allows identification and tracking of particular digital content. In this way, the system allows tracking of authorized users by their particular content provider. If during the performance of the work, the system recognizes the work as one requiring a different authorization, the performance may be terminated. As the system effectively charges the user a fee for the play of digital content, recognition of digital content provided by a user and incorrectly identified as not requiring further authorization, can be discouraged by forfeiture of payments already made.

Furthermore, the present system encourages the play of digital content properly authorized and tracked by the system and discourages unauthorized reproduction and performance.

With further advances in digital rights management, it will be possible to monitor, sample and/or provide summary information of digital content indicated as not requiring copyright compensation. Such information can be used to discourage unauthorized use by requiring further payments, forfeiture of existing payments and/or cancellation of privileges, if such content is recognized as requiring authorization.

The system can also be used to require material provided by a user to be subject to content review and approval prior to performance. This approval can include sampling tests or content control analyzed by the system or operator override for digital content indicated as not requiring authorization.
In Figure 7, an alternate arrangement as shown that operates in a manner similar to the other embodiments. In this case, the Music On Demand Service Provider 200 includes link 202 to the gate machine 204. A user interacts with the gate machine 204 and selects different digital media content from the Music On Demand Service Provider 200. The provider 200 includes different connections with the content provider 206. The digital content is streamed to the gate machine 204 for play on any of the various in-house systems.

A further feature for providing digital content to the gate machine 204 or for use by the media center uses a portable memory device indicated as 209. The operator of the commercial establishment uses a different computer 211 to access the Content Provider 206. Digital content is downloaded to the portable memory device 209. The Operator then provides this digital content to the gate machine 204. This arrangement is useful where the real time streaming of digital content to the gate machine is not practical or reliable.
Various safeguards can be provided, such as coding and/or time limited, or authorization requirement to protect unauthorized use of the digital content.

A further modification of the system is shown in Figure 8. The system 300 for the public establishment includes the Digital Rights Management System 302 that allows effective communication with either of the in-house systems 304 or 306. A remote control device 308 allows the user to use the in-house systems, and in particular, the video screens thereof, as an effective input device. Basically, the remote control allows the user to access various menus and input the desired controls. With this arrangement, the Digital Rights Management Media Center 302 allows the in-house system to perform a number of the functions of the gate machine identified in the early systems.

The Music On Demand Service Provider 310 now includes a communication link 312 with the Digital Rights Management Media Center 302. The media center 302 also controls and is connected to the media storage module 314 that allows for recording of different digital content on different types of devices. For example, these could be user accessible media memory devices, generally indicated as 316, or internal memory devices such as compact flash hard drives etc. generally shown as 318. A user can request that the Music On Demand Service Provider 310 authorize the sale of a particular music selection or video selection and transfer to his portable memory device 316 or an internal of a particular device. With this option, a user is not only able to authorize the play of digital content, he is also able to purchase digital content and store the same on removable memory devices or internal memory devices. The particular costs and eventual accounting with the Music On Demand Service Provider and/or the content provider 320 is made through the Digital Content Management System identified as 322. The charge to the user is made by the control gate.

A further variation of this system is the possibility for the gate machine to cooperate with an operator controlled memory stick or other memory device. For example, the gate machine does not have good communication with the Digital Content Management System. It is possible for an operator to use a home computer or other system that does have good communication to download certain digital content or digital files to the portable memory device. These would be downloaded and would be specific for use in association with the Digital Rights Management System shown in the drawings.

The gate machine would then have access to this digital content for play on the system. It would track the use of the digital content and provide batch-type reporting to the Digital Content Management System and eventual communication to the content provider with the appropriate payments, etc.
This digital content can be effectively managed by the content provider by providing necessary time limits where the digital content is accessible and/or particular codes necessary for further accessing of the files. Such passwords and other control parameters can be provided as the system contacts the Digital Contact Management System on a predetermined basis.

Figures 9 through 14 are a series of schematic screen shots presented to a user accessing the control gate or using the remote control of the system 300 shown in Figure 8. Screen shot 400 includes four options, namely a music/video option 402, a tournament option 406, a game option 408, or a personalized option shown as 410. In addition, the screen shows the credits currently available to the user indicated as 412. A Help button is indicated as 414.

Figure 10 is presented to the user when he has selected the music/video option indicated as 402. The screen shot 420 provides the user with the ability to go to the game option 408 or the game tournament option 406, or the personal option indicated as 410.

In Figure 10, the user is now able to access music on demand indicated as 422, iTouch Music indicated as 424, personal digital content 426, or Touch Tunes indicated as 428. These are all particular sources of digital media content.
In Figure 11, the user has activated the music on demand option 422 and is now presented with different sources of music on demand, such a Yahoo! Music 430, MusicNET, Rogers Music Store 432, AOL On-Line indicated as 434 or XM2 Satellite Radio indicated as 436. In this screen 429 of Figure 11, the user can return to the options of Figure 9 by actuating any of the options 406, 408 or 410, or can return to the screen of Figure 10 by using the various controls provided as 422, 424, 426 and 428.

The screen shot 440 of Figure 12 is presented when the user has selected Yahoo! Music 430. The user is presented with a sign in option 442 or create a new account option 444. This Sign In option allows the user access to his play list. Option 446 allows the user to access various listings within Yahoo! Earlier options presented to the user are also provided as generally indicated at 448.
In Figure 13, the user has selected Yahoo! Music Selected indicated as 450. This is presented in the screen shot indicated as 449. Various albums can be selected or different albums can be selected by using the slide bar control indicated as 452.
A series of control selections are also provided generally at 454 to allow a user to proceed to a desired album more quickly.

In the screen shot 460 of Figure 14, the user has selected song 6 indicated as 462. The user is presented different options, namely the "buy"
option 464 or the "play" option 466. If the "buy" option 464 is selected, the user would provide a device having appropriate memory storage to the control gate and connected to the same. He could also provide a portable memory device, such as a memory stick. For the "play" option 466, the charge is lower and this digital content can be provided to the control gate or the media center.

It is preferable that the various menus provided to the user allow the user to return to higher levels quickly. For example, the user can merely select the tournament option from the screen shot of 460 to return to these particular selections and options available to him. This allows a fast interaction with the control gate for inputting the necessary information.

Figure 15 shows an alternate system including use of portable memory devices for use with the media center for receiving digital content.

Figure 16 shows a further alternate system 600.

Two modified systems are shown in Figures 17 and 18.

The combined system 500 shown in Figure 17 includes game terminals 502 directly connected to the local area network 504 or connected to the network by a wireless connection through the access point 506. These game terminals can communicate with individuals' personal digital content devices exemplified as the cell phone 513, a handheld game console 515 and an IPod/PDA device 517. As previously described, the user's own digital content can be effectively played on one of the house systems 514 or 516 if certain steps and authorization steps are satisfied as described in the earlier embodiment. The system 500 includes the media center 509 in communication with the local area network 504. The media center 509 is able to receive and play a number of different types of digital records including digital records that are effectively streamed to the media center 509 by the processing server indicated as 510. This data processing server communicates with the media center through the router 511 as one example embodiment.

In a further embodiment, the media center 509 includes its own amplifier associated with a separate output for speaker connections. With this arrangement the media center can output directly to speakers and does not require an in-house system. Connection to an in-house system can be made using separate output channels.

A further embodiment of the modified system 500 is indicated by the web-enabled devices i.e. the cell phone 519 and the PDA device 521.
These web enabled devices can communicate with the data processing server 510 using the internet and their particular service provider. In this arrangement, the user can use their own web-enabled device to effectively communicate with the system 500. For example, a user of the cell phone 519 can access the web and form a connection with the digital content management system 510. The data processing server communicates with the system 500 through the router indicated as 511. As a result of the communication between the cell phone 519 and the data processing server, the user has access to various web pages (or menus) that allow for convenient and effective ordering of music that is intended to be played on a particular in-house system such as system 514. The communication with the digital content management system 510 by the cell phone will allow for identification of the particular commercial establishment that the user wishes to communicate with and arrange for the proper ordering of songs. See Figures through 22 for an example of the selection process.
When the user connects to the digital content management system 510 various play lists available for the particular location can be reviewed and selected for play. The fee for ordering such songs is charged to the customer's mobile bill by their service provider.
It will also be possible for the user to log in and access their account associated with the digital content management system 510 and access their own play lists and other capabilities as previously described. This modified system also allows for other payment arrangements associated with an earlier authorization of their account. The effective licensing of the material for playback on the system is carried out in the manner previously described.
With this arrangement, a song ordered by a user using his web-enabled cell phone forms a communication between the cell phone and the digital content management system 510 which provides the necessary identification of the content and provides the content and notifies a JVL gate machine on location about the particular digital content to be played. The gate machine 502 adds the song to the location queue list and the song is played in its normal turn. Payment for the song can be based on the user's account or paid by the service provider.

This type of arrangement also can operate with the reduced system shown in Figure 18. In this case, the digital content management system 510 communicates to the wireless router shown as 551 which communicates with the media center 553. The media center 553 can then appropriately provide the digital content that has been provided from the digital content management system 510 to the appropriate in-house system 555 or 557. The reduced system of Figure 18 allows for convenient authorization of music by users using their own web-enabled devices. This arrangement can also be used for authorization for game or tournament play on a particular game terminal, and/or the sale and downloading of games to the user's web enabled device.

In order to serve larger locations, it is important to have more than one gate machine 502 available for customers to purchase songs. Customers can purchase songs simultaneously from multiple machines, and in order to process the various requests a mechanism is required for effective queue management. The various requests are entered into a common queue and the playback goes without interruption. In some establishments, there may be separate and distinct in-house playback systems, and separate queues can be available for each such system.

In order to carry out this queuing of digital records, a number of different options are available.

A first option is based on server-based queue management, and in this scheme all song requests go to a common remote digital content management system 510 that maintains an independent queue for each of the locations where gate machines are installed. When the player orders a song via one of the allowed devices, such as a gate machine, a personal device connected to a local area network or personal devices connected to a digital content management system via the web, the request is added to the queue managed by the server for that particular location. The state of the queue is updated by the server via communications by the gate machines and media center installed on location by a particular communication protocol established therebetween. One possible approach for this communication protocol is to have the particular gate machine or media center make a request to the server when a song that is currently being played is close to being completed. The server can then respond with the track ID of the next song in the queue and removes that song from the particular queue.

A different approach for the queue management is a collective management of the queue by the gate machines. Multiple JVL gate machines installed at the same location communicate with each other regarding the particular queue. Each machine keeps a portion of the queue and at any given time one machine is designated as the manager of the queue. When the media center notifies the gate machines that it needs another song the queue manager responds by sending the track ID of the next song in the queue to the media center, removes that song from the queue and sends updated queue information to all of the gate machines at that location. If the machine designated as the queue manager fails to process the request from the media center within specified time intervals, the next gate machine becomes the queue manager and processes the request in a regular manner. The order in which machines are designated to become queue managers is created when machines are connected to the local area network and is updated when any of the machines is turned off or fails to respond to media center requests for a next song. In this scenario, when a song is ordered via web-enabled devices, the server requests one of the gate machines at the location to add this song to the queue.

A further option for queue management is a system carried out by the media center. In this embodiment, the media center has the ability to keep the list of tracked, scheduled digital records for playback. When a user orders a song via the gate machine or one of the personal devices, this request is immediately passed to the media center. The media adds the ID of the song to a list and when the playback of the current song is almost complete, it takes the next track ID from its list, communicates with the digital content management system 510 and receives the stream of digital content. The track ID for the particular song is then removed from the list.

A further modification of the system described in the application is a bidding process associated with the purchase and playback of a song or digital content. In this embodiment, it is possible for customers at the location to compete for control of the in-house audio system to obtain a priority for the play of digital content they have ordered or wish to order. The system provides a discount if the user accepts the premise that the particular selected song will merely be added to the location queue and played in its normal turn. The user, when completing the purchase of a song for play on the system, is presented with the option "Play Now". If this option is exercised the song is added to the head of the location queue and will be played as soon as the current song is ordered. The second option available to the user is "Play In Turn". Under this option a discounted price is associated with the playing of the digital record. When the user selects this option the song is added to the tail of the queue and the selected song is played after all of the songs in front of it have been played.

With this system, a bidding arrangement is established and the price of the "Play Now" option is dynamic and is not fixed. When a user selects the "Play Now" option, the system checks the price paid for the song currently at the head of the queue and offers the "Play Now" option at a higher price. For example, player A selects the "Play Now" option first and is charged two credits for that service. Subsequently player B is offered the "Play Now" option to play their song in front of player A's song, for a price of three credits, as player A had already authorized playing for a cost of two credits. If player B accepts the additional cost associated with the "Play Now"
option and pays three credits for the song, his selection is placed at the head of the queue. If player C is now presented with the "Play Now" option, the cost for him for this particular option will be four credits. Once the song selected by player A has started to play, the song of player B is moved to the 2 5 head of the queue. At that point, the price of the "Play Now" option for player C drops to 3 credits. The price of the "Play Now" option is variable;
however, the discounted price for the "Play In Turn" option preferably always remains the same.

In a variant of this bidding process, a fixed price for the "Play Now" option can be used. In this case, there are two priority lists, one for players who opt to pay full price, and the second for those who selected a discounted price. For example, player A selects the "Play Now" option and is charged the full price of two credits. The song ordered by player A is placed at the head of the queue. Player B selects the "Play In Turn" option for a discounted price of one credit and that song is placed at the end of the queue.
Player C subsequently selects the "Play Now" option and that song is placed after the song of player A and before the song of player B. If player C
selects the "Play In Turn" option, that song is placed at the end of the queue.

A further feature of the present system is possible in that the digital content management system 510 is serving multiple locations in various geographic locations. As a result of this authorization step, the digital content management system 510 tracks songs that are popular in different geographic locations. As part of the play selection, a user can select a particular geographic location and the server will provide a printed menu of the most popular songs played at that particular location or geographic region.

Figure 19 is a schematic overview of an alternate embodiment of the system that allows for ordering of particular audio or video digital records for play on a public system such as found in a restaurant or bar. The system 600 allows any GSM phone or device to order music or other digital records for play on an in-house audio system 610. The system includes a gate system 601 that provides a web interface to a computer 602 used by a location or other user. This computer preferably includes a printer 603 that allows the user to print menus of musical selections. These menus can be customized by the particular operator for his location if he prefers to have a certain type of music played in his establishment. It is also possible to select menus already available on the server. In any event, a series of printed menus are created or selected by the operator and printed by the operator. These printed menus are then made available at the individual tables and other locations for review by the patrons. The gate system 601 simplifies the creation of these menus and provides documents suitable for printing by the operator.

The menus provide a listing of possible selections and each of these selections includes a unique number or code that identifies the various songs as well as the particular location of the establishment. The end user (i.e.
the patron) uses this unique number or code to order the song by means of a text message as will be further described. As the location information is also associated with this unique number or code, the particular selected song can be provided by the server to the media box indicated as 608 for eventual play on the house audio system 610. Depending upon the particular licenses provided, this digital record can be provided as a streamed digital signal or can be provided for temporary storage for play or can be accessed in a controlled manner from a database. Therefore, there are various approaches for providing of the actual record for play on the system and there are various systems that allow for the proper authorized play of such records and the appropriate payment to the authorized body. All of these systems include various tracking capabilities.

The patron, who may be in a restaurant, for example, has provided to him the various musical menus. These menus can be separately provided, or can be provided in association with the food and beverage menus. Any selection on the menu may be ordered in a number of different ways, but preferably includes using a SMS text messaging arrangement. The end patron using, for example, his cell phone with GMS capability, directs a text message to the SMS gateway indicated as 607. This is provided to the gateway 607 by means of the mobile service provider indicated as 608. Customers that are interested in ordering the song enter the code printed and may also provide the song name. This information or at least the unique code is sent as a SMS
message to a phone number address indicated on the menu. The message reaches the mobile service provider indicated as 606 and it is forwarded to the SMS gateway 607. The gateway accepts the message and communicates this message to the gate system indicated as 601. The gate system 601 processes the number supplied in the message to identify the location from which the request was sent, and to also identify the particular song selected.

These menus can also be used by a patron to order a digital selection by communicating this information to serving staff of the establishment. The serving staff send this information to the server and charge the patron.

The gate system 601 identifies the address of the media box 608 provided at the particular location, and this media box is connected for effective communication with the various music content providers 609 and the JVL gate system 601. The gate system 601, on receiving a particular request, identifies the particular ID of the media box to be sent the digital record, and creates an order that contains all the information required by the media box to facilitate playback.

The media box 608 receives the order and authorizes itself on the network having the associated music content provider servers indicated as 609.

Depending upon the particular arrangement for play of authorized digital records, the media box will receive the record for play on the in-house system indicated as 610. In the example shown, this is an audio system, but it could equally be a combined audio/video system or a video system.

Payment arrangements can vary from prepaid arrangements to charges to the user's device or associated with the patron's bill. This last option typically requires the patron being given an authorization code that is provided to the gateway system 601 and confirmed to the establishment's billing system.
The above system describes a particular arrangement for the convenient production of musical menus that allow an operator to provide customized play lists to his patrons for selection. It also describes a simple arrangement for ordering of such music using text messaging. One of the prime advantages of text messaging is the low cost associated therewith and the popularity of text messaging in general.

Other arrangements for ordering of music can also be provided using the text messaging arrangement generally described. For example, it is also possible for an end user to send a text message to the SMS gateway 607 and the gateway provides an appropriate reply message that allows a user to select a particular song for play. This original text message will include preferably the location for the song to be played and perhaps a code for the desired category of the desired selection. The reply text could also include such categories as title, artist, album name, etc. that can be effectively filled in or copied and filled in by the end user for further forwarding to the SMS
gateway 607. Basically, the end user can start to qualify the particular musical requests. If this second message is sufficient to uniquely identify a particular musical selection, a return text can be sent identifying the particular record and seeking confirmation. If the particular selection criteria has not uniquely identified a particular selection for play, a return message can be sent to assist the end user in selecting a particular record. For example, if the end user is merely sent information with respect to a particular artist, a number of albums of that artist can be sent in a return text to assist the user in identifying a particular album. Once a particular album has been selected by the end user in a further text sent to the gateway, the gateway can then return the particular records of that album allowing the end user to make a final selection and confirmation.

With this text ordering system, the user's device is uniquely identified and as such the gateway 607 and/or the server associated therewith can include information with respect to the user's previous selections or preferred music selections. This information can be used to simplify the ordering process.

The above-described systems have assumed that the end user is in the location that he wishes the particular musical selection to be played. It is also possible for this system to allow the particular musical or video record to be played at a different location identified by a unique address. For example, a person may know of a particular party at a particular location having this type of system. That user can effectively order a song for play at that particular location using this system. Effectively, he can send a text message to identify the particular location and the particular song that he wishes to have played and perhaps even a particular time or general time at which the song is to be played. This type of remote ordering for play at a different location can also apply to web-based enabled portable systems of users. In this way, a portable web-based enabled system can access a server, select a particular location in which a song is to be played, and then identify that particular song. Suitable payment arrangements are settled, and the particular song or digital record can then be queued for play at that location in accordance with the instructions. Such instructions can also include particular time periods and perhaps other information such as a dedication or other message for a particular patron.

The actual payment arrangement can take any of a host of known forms.
The present application describes how a user can use text messaging or an Internet communication to order music at a particular location. Figures 20 through 25 show a series of screen shots where a user has completed a transaction for the play of a musical selection at a particular selected location using a web based arrangement.

The screen shot 700 in Figure 20 is the initial screen presented to a user who has used his web-based enabled personal device to access the iTouch music web page at iTouchMusic.com. The user then appropriately selects the browse button which presents the location identification screen shown as 702 in Figure 21. This is a partial screen shot having a series of locations identified as 1 through 6 and a pub location identified. The user can select any of these locations, and these locations define where the particular selection will be played.

Figure 22 shows screen shots 704 where the user selected location 1 and this is identified at 706 in the screen shot, and various further categories are shown as "alternative", "classical", "country", "dance", etc. This screen allows the user to further define his particular selection the "dance"
category 708 is activated, and the user is taken to the screen shot 710 shown in Figure 23. This is only partial screen shot, and is a scrollable selection, or one can use the alphabetical qualification indicated as 712.

In this case, the user activated the selection indicated as 714 and is taken to the screen shot shown as 716 in Figure 24. Details of the particular selection are shown at 718 and the location where the record will be played is shown at 720. The user is then presented with the option to actuate the cancel button indicated as 722, or to confirm confirmation of the order by actuating the actuator 724. By actuating the actuator 724, the person is taken to the screen shot 730 shown in Figure 25. The particular selection has been confirmed, and confirmation that the selection has been placed in the location 3 o queue has been provided. There are various options that may be available to the user, such as paying a premium for play of the particular selection at a specific point in time, or in preference to other selections as has been previously described. With this system, the user is able to use his device for communication with a web server for play of a particular recording at a particular location and in a particular manner or queue.

CA 026394900.2008-09-09 Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A system for play of a digital content in a public establishment comprising:
an in-house digital content play system;
a media center connected to said in-house digital content play system and in communication with a remote accessible digital content server to receive digital content from said digital content server;
said remote accessible digital content server including a text messaging communication function for receiving text messages authorizing digital content for play on said in-house system;
independent text enabled devices of independent users allowing access to said digital content server using said message communication function to order digital content for play on said in-house digital content play system;
said remote accessible digital content server communicating with said in-house digital content play system and at least authorizing play of ordered digital content; and said media center providing to said in-house digital content play system said ordered digital content for play thereof on said in-house digital content play system.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said text messaging communication function includes SMS communications and at least some of said independent text enabled devices communicate with said digital content server using SMS messaging.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said remote accessible digital content server is accessible by web access; and independent web enabled devices of independent users allowing access to said web accessible digital content server and ordering and authorizing payment of digital content for play on said in-house digital content play system.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said media center receives and provides said digital content as streamed digital content to said in-house digital content play system.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 including terminal devices located in the public establishment and in communication with said digital content server, said terminal devices including software allowing users to select digital content for play on said in-house system and said terminal devices communicating said selections to said digital content server, said digital content server thereafter providing said digital content to said media center as streamed digital content.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said digital content server includes a queue management function for the system and provides streamed digital content to the media center based on the queue management function.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5 including a queue management system allowing a user to select a higher price option for earlier play of selected digital content.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 including a fixed price for play of digital content added to the end of a queue of the queue management system.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8 including a variable price for the play of digital content to be added to the head of a queue of the queue management system.

10. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said media center includes a queue management function for establishing the order of play of digital content and instructs said digital content server with respect to the next digital content to be played.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 including menus of listed digital content available for play in said commercial establishment with said menus being available in said commercial establishments.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said menus are printed and made available to patrons of the public establishment.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein digital content can be ordered by using SMS text messaging or placing an order with an order staff assigned to patron by the commercial establishment.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said menus include codes assigned to uniquely identify digital content for play.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said codes include a location identification code identifying the commercial establishment or the media centre of the commercial establishment.