Digital downloading jukebox system with central and local music servers

Abstract
A digital downloading jukebox system including a central server and a plurality of remote jukebox devices each provided with a local server that preferably mirrors the central server and enables selected songs to be immediately downloaded to the jukebox for reproduction. The local server and jukebox may also provide, through control of the central server, song download services to other jukebox devices, such as residential jukeboxes. The jukebox system may also act as a monitoring/management device for other coin operated equipment present in a location where the jukebox is located, thereby enabling the jukebox device to perform updates on other equipment under control of the central server.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to, for example, jukebox systems and, more particularly, to digital downloading jukebox systems of the type which typically include a central server and remote jukebox devices that communicate with the central server for royalty accounting and/or content updates. Exemplary embodiments of the instant invention improve such systems by providing a local server for each jukebox device in the jukebox system network. The local server provides a second and more expansive source of content (i.e., audio and/or visual data) that can be selected by a user of the jukebox device for reproduction on the jukebox device. The local servers preferably provide a mirror of the central server, thereby enabling the entire library of audio and/or visual data to be conveniently available to each jukebox device without the need to download requested content, that is not available on the mass storage device of the jukebox device itself, from the central server. The collective group of local servers may also act as a network of distributed content servers that can be controlled by the central server through each jukebox device to provide services to other devices, such as residential jukebox devices. In addition, the jukebox device and local server can, under control of the central server, operate as a “central hub” or management device for various downloadable coin-operated equipment present in a location with the jukebox device.


BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Jukeboxes have been around for decades and provide users with the ability to select desired music for reproduction in a convenient and advantageous manner. Jukeboxes have conventionally been provided in commercial establishments, such as restaurants and bars, in order to provide desired music on demand for patrons thereof for a fee. Over the last several years, a new generation of jukebox devices have become available that provide significant improvements in the operation thereof for all parties involved. More specifically, the conventional standalone phonorecord and CD jukeboxes are being replaced by digital downloading jukeboxes that are controlled by and communicate with a central server. An example of this new generation jukebox system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,204, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. A leading provider of this new generation of jukebox systems is TouchTunes Music Corporation, headquartered in Montreal, Canada.



FIG. 1 shows an overview of an exemplary embodiment of a digital downloading jukebox system 10 (hereinafter referred to simply as a “jukebox system”). As shown in FIG. 1, the jukebox system 10 includes a central server 12 that contains a master library of audio content (typically music), as well as or alternatively audiovisual content (typically music and associated video or graphics), that can be downloaded therefrom. The jukebox system also includes a series of remote jukebox devices 16, 16a-16f. Each of these jukebox devices are generally located in a bar, restaurant, club or other desired location, and are operable to play music in response to receiving a payment from a user, such as coins, bills, credit/debit card, etc., and having one or more songs selected by the user for play. The jukebox device 16 typically includes a screen 18 that presents information to the user and allows the user to select songs therefrom, as well as an audio system 20 that plays the selected songs. The screen 18 may also be used for displaying song-related video or graphics. The screen 18 may also be used to display advertisements for the jukebox itself in order to attract customers thereto, to display other types of advertisements and/or to display any other desired information.


The jukebox devices 16 (sometimes referred to as simply “jukeboxes” herein) are operable to communicate with the central server 12 through a communications network 14, such as, for example, the Internet. The jukeboxes 16 periodically communicate with the server 12 in order to provide information to the server 12 regarding the specific songs that have been played on the jukebox. The central server then uses this information in order to determine the appropriate royalties and/or other payments that are owed for songs played on each jukebox. Thus, one significant advantage of this new generation of jukeboxes is that the sound reproduction and/or other applicable music rights can be adhered to in a more accurate and reliable manner, thereby assuring the proper royalties are paid to the artists or music owners. The central server 12 can also provide new songs to the jukebox 16 in order to assure that the appropriate or most popular songs are maintained on the jukebox based on the specific customers at that location. Thus, the songs available on each jukebox can be customized through communication with the central server in order to provide the songs and/or types of music that customers generally request at each jukebox location. As described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,204, the central server can also advantageously be used to update the operating software on the jukeboxes in order to, for example, change the operation of the jukebox, such as to provide new or improved features. Thus, another significant advantage of this new generation of jukeboxes is that the songs (or other audio and/or visual content), and the operation of the jukebox itself can be remotely changed as desired without the need to have someone (such as a routeman) personally service the jukebox. Instead, such updates can be done using the central server 12.


As indicated above, the jukebox devices 16 each include a mass storage device, such as a hard drive, which stores the songs and associated video/graphics data (if any), as well as any other desired graphical information for reproduction on the jukebox. The mass storage device of the jukebox typically has limited storage capacity relative to the storage device of the central server 12. As a result, only a fraction of the songs stored on the central server are actually stored on the mass storage device of the jukebox at any one time. There may be other reasons as well, such as for security of the data or limited room in the jukebox itself, for having limited storage capacity on the jukebox and/or limiting the number of songs stored thereon. For example, physical space may be limited on wall-mount jukeboxes or the like, which are designed to be small in size as compared to free standing models. As explained above, the songs on the jukebox can be changed through communication with the central server, but any one jukebox only stores a subset of the complete library of songs maintained by the central server at any one time.


In order to maximize the revenue that a jukebox generates it is important to make the most desired songs available on the jukebox over time. If customers cannot find songs they like on the jukebox, usage of the jukebox (and the revenue generated thereby) will dramatically decrease. On the other hand, it is impossible to predict in advance exactly what a customer at any particular location will desire to play on the jukebox. In fact, there are likely many instances where a customer would have selected a song that exists on the central server but is not currently present on the jukebox. As a result, the jukebox may not be enjoyed and used to its fullest extent. In order to address this problem and increase revenue, jukebox systems have in the past provided a feature which enables the user to search for songs on the central server from the jukebox and request an immediate download of a desired song from the central server to the jukebox for an additional fee. This feature enables the user to play any song in the master library of songs maintained by the central server using the jukebox, regardless of whether or not the specific song is presently stored in the mass storage of the jukebox itself. Thus, the user can first look for desired songs on the local storage of the jukebox and then, if desired, search further on the central server for desired songs. The jukebox device typically charges an additional fee (such as five credits instead on one credit) for an immediate download and play of a song from the central server as opposed to a standard play directly from the jukebox's local storage.


One problem, however, with the immediate downloading feature is that it is desirable to have an immediate and high speed connection with the central server to implement. In addition, the central server and network must be prepared to and capable of handling such requests in a reliable and efficient manner for the feature to properly operate. These requirements cannot always be met and, as a result, implementation of this feature has been limited. For example, many locations that have jukeboxes do not have high speed connections (such as DSL) and instead use dial-up modem connections. Jukeboxes which rely on dial-up connections generally are only designed to communicate with the server periodically and do not allow the user to immediately download a song. They have, however, enabled a user to vote for a song to be downloaded at a later time when the dial-up connection is made. This, of course, is not as satisfying to the user as being able to immediately download a song. Other problems can arise in connection with this download feature if the network or server is not currently available for the download, due to traffic, malfunctions or the like.


For the reasons explained above, there is a need for a jukebox system that overcomes these and other disadvantages. The instant invention is designed to address these and other problems and to provide even further functionality for such jukebox systems.


In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the instant invention, a local content server is provided for each jukebox in the jukebox system. The local server preferably mirrors the master library of songs (and/or other content) on the central server. The local server is installed in close proximity to the jukebox to which it is assigned and preferably in the same restaurant or bar where the jukebox is installed. The local server may even be installed within the housing of the jukebox device itself if space permits. Preferably, however, the local server is simply installed in a convenient location and connected to the jukebox using a high speed connection, such as, for example, Ethernet or the like. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the local server is used to implement the immediate downloading feature described above without the need for a high-speed connection with the central server. In other words, the user can first search the local storage on the jukebox for desired songs and then, if desired, search further on the local server for desired songs. If the desired song is found on the local storage it is played from the local storage for a normal fee. On the other hand, if the song is only found on the local server, the song can be immediately downloaded, at the option of the user, from the local server to the jukebox for playing for a fee that is preferably higher than the normal fee. As a result, the immediate downloading feature can be reliably implemented regardless of the connection type to the central server and regardless of the availability of the network or the central server. Moreover, because the download comes from the local server rather than the central server is transparent to the user.


In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the invention, the local server is periodically updated with data (e.g., songs) to correspond with the contents of the master library of data (e.g., songs). The updating may occur remotely using dial-up or broadband connections, or it may be updated manually by, for example, an operator using an update tool provided by the entity controlling the jukebox system which can be directly connect to the jukebox or local server for the purpose of updating the local server so that the contents correspond to the master library on the central server.


In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the server includes an array of hard drives with associated IDE controller(s), a microprocessor, a flash memory containing the BIOS and the operating system, RAM and an Ethernet controller for communication with the jukebox. Each local server is preferably assigned or registered to the specific jukebox to which it is connected. For security purposes, the data on the local server preferably does not comprise any complete songs. Instead, the jukebox device includes missing data from each song on the local server, so that the jukebox can construct the entire song from the contents of its storage device and the contents of the local server. The data on the local server is also preferably encrypted using the missing data (e.g., one block), thereby preventing songs from being copied or played from the local server by any device other than the jukebox to which it is assigned.


In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the invention, a collection of local servers may be used as a network of distributed servers which can be controlled by the central server to provide music services to other devices which are connectable to the network through which the central server and jukeboxes communicate. For example, the local servers and associated jukebox are used to deliver any requested song to a dedicated residential jukebox device (or other suitable jukebox device) in addition to providing song services to the specific jukebox to which it is connected and assigned.


In accordance with a further exemplary aspect of the invention, the local server and jukebox device are used, under control of the central server, to provide management services for other types of coin operated or payment triggered equipment, such as gaming devices, installed in the same location as the jukebox. In other words, the jukebox system is preferably used to update the functionality of and/or manage other downloading devices present in the same location. As a result, the jukebox functions as a “central hub” for all downloading equipment in a location. This feature is achieved, in one embodiment, by networking all of the downloading devices in a single location together with the jukebox and local file server. The central server can then download information to the local server together with instructions to the jukebox as to which devices should be updated with what data and/or software. The jukebox device and local server can also be used to collect information from the other downloading devices to which it is managing and upload that information to the central server for reporting/accounting purposes. Thus, the owner/operator of the jukebox system can act as a third party service provider to other coin-op companies for the purpose of managing and/or updating their equipment, such as electronic gaming equipment.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, objects and advantages of the instant invention will be further understood by review of the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:



FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional downloading digital jukebox system;



FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the improved downloading digital jukebox system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;



FIG. 3 is an exemplary screen shot showing an initial selection screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the jukebox system of the present invention;



FIG. 4 is another screen shot showing an exemplary search screen for use in searching for songs on the local server in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;



FIG. 5 is another exemplary screen shot showing the results of a search on the local server and providing the user an option of downloading a desired song to the jukebox device for a fee, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;



FIG. 6 is another exemplary screen shot showing an alternative method of allowing access to the downloading feature of the instant invention;



FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the local sever of the instant invention; and



FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an exemplary overall network including commercial jukeboxes and residential jukeboxes, as well as other downloading devices and associated connections that are managed by the jukebox system of the instant invention.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary preferred embodiment of an improved jukebox system 10′. The jukebox system 10′ includes similar elements as shown in FIG. 1 and described above, including a central server 12, communications network 14, and remote jukebox devices 16, 16a-16f. However, the jukebox system 10′ further includes local servers 22, 22a-22f respectively connected to each of the jukebox devices 16, 16a-16f. The central server 12 includes a master library of songs (and/or other content). Each of the jukebox devices includes a subset of the master library on a local storage device of the jukebox. The central server may be used to individually manage the contents of the jukebox device, by monitoring usage of and updating the subset of songs on each of the jukebox devices with the intent of maximizing the usage thereof. The central server 12 periodically receives data from each of the jukeboxes for the purpose of royalty accounting and payment for songs played. The jukebox devices may connect to the network in any suitable manner, such as dial-up modem or broadband modem (e.g., DSL, cable or satellite). The communications network 14 may be any suitable network capable of distributing data (e.g., audiovisual data) from the central server 12 to the jukeboxes 16 and enabling data to be uploaded from the jukeboxes 16 to the central server 12.


The songs (and/or other data) are preferably digitized, compressed and encrypted by the central server 12 prior to sending songs to the jukeboxes for security and bandwidth purposes using known techniques. The songs are then decompressed and decrypted by the jukeboxes for storage and reproduction thereon. Thus, each of the jukeboxes maintains a library of digitized songs for play on the jukebox, wherein the library can be changed or updated through communication by the central server. The jukeboxes preferably also receive and store data constituting images (e.g., still and/or moving video and/or graphical images) that can be displayed on the display 18 of the jukebox device 16. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the jukebox devices have the structure and operation described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,204 referenced above. Thus, the jukebox devices 16 each preferably include one or more microprocessors, such as a main CPU and an audio DSP, a memory, such as a hard drive, for storing songs and/or other content, a display of displaying visual items, an audio arrangement 20 for providing audio, a communication system for enabling the jukebox to communicate with the central server 12 through the communications network 14, and operating software, preferably including a multitasking operating system, that controls the operation of the jukebox. The operating software is also preferably updateable through communication with the central server 12 as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,204 referenced above. The jukeboxes 16 further include one or more payment devices, such as coin, bill and/or credit card input devices, for enabling a customer to pay for usage of the jukebox device in a convenient manner. The screen 18 is preferably a touch screen that enables the user to input selections by touching the screen.


Each jukebox device has a local server 22 that can be accessed by the jukebox device. The local servers are respectively connected to the jukebox devices using Ethernet or other type of local connection. The local servers 22 each preferably include a mirror copy of the master library of musical recordings maintained by the central server 12. The local server 22 can be loaded with the master library by the entity that owns and/or controls the jukebox network prior to shipping the local server and jukebox device to the jukebox distributor or operator. Of course, over time, the local sever will no longer correspond identically to the central server, due to the fact that the central server is preferably continually updated with additional or new songs. Thus, the local servers 22 are also preferably updated periodically to maintain a correspondence with the library on the central server 12. This updating can be done, for example, by the central server 12 through communication with the jukebox devices connected with the local servers 22 using, for example, either dial-up or broadband modems. Alternatively, the updating can be done personally with an update tool that can be connected by a routeman or other person directly to the jukebox or local server for the purpose of updating the contents of the local server. The portable tool could include a removable storage medium, such as a hard drive, that could be returned to and reused by the owner of the jukebox system for future updates. The tool itself could be keep by the operator or other person in charge of maintaining specific jukeboxes for use upon receipt of the updated removable storage medium from the owner of the jukebox system.


For security reasons, the local server 22 preferably does not include all of the digital data that constitutes any one song that is stored on the local server 22. In addition, the part of the song that is on the local server is encrypted. The jukebox device 16 contains the missing part of each of the songs on the local server, thereby enabling the jukebox to assemble the complete song based on the contents of the local server and the memory on the jukebox device. The missing data located on the jukebox is needed in order to decrypt the songs. For example, a single block (or other small fraction) of data for each song may be missing on the local server but present on the jukebox device, and the encryption may be based on the missing block and may proceed on a block by block basis. Thus, none of the blocks can be decrypted without obtaining and/or decrypting a preceding block. This feature provides significant security and prevents or deters theft or other type of unauthorized use or copying of the songs on the local server. Thus, in this embodiment, each local server must be specifically assigned to a specific jukebox device so that the decryption described above can be properly performed.


Content resident on said central server and said jukebox devices may be compressed and encrypted according to a first encryption level. Content resident on said local servers may be encrypted with a second layer of encryption.


In accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment, the local servers may also each be individually registered with and identified to the central server 12, so that the central server can individually manage and monitor each local server. The same is true for the jukebox device itself, i.e., it may also preferably be registered with the central server so that it too can be individually monitored and managed by the central server. As will be understood from the foregoing description, the local servers become an important and advantageous part of the jukebox system by allowing the contents thereof to be accessed by the jukebox device to provide additional services (such as providing additional songs) not available on the jukebox device itself. As will be explained below, the song library of the central server and/or the storage capacity itself can be advantageously used to provide services to other jukeboxes, such as fee-based residential jukeboxes and/or other coin-operated equipment. One preferred use of the local servers may be to provide an immediate song downloading feature for the jukebox device will now be described below in detail with reference to the exemplary screen shots of FIGS. 3-6.



FIG. 3 shows an exemplary screen shot for a music selection screen 30 as displayed on the touch display of the jukebox device. As can be seen in FIG. 3, this selection screen, which is preferably the initial selection screen displayed to a customer, includes graphical representations 32 of the various album covers for songs that are stored in the memory of the jukebox device. The albums covers are shown in alphabetical order and the virtual slide bar 33 can be used to scroll through the available albums. Up and down arrows (34 and 35) are also provided for stepping through the available albums. A “Now Playing” button 36 is also provided for showing information on the song currently playing on the jukebox (if any). A “Top Ten” button 38 is also provided for showing a list of the ten most popular songs on the jukebox. A “Tune Central” (TM of TouchTunes Music Corporation) button 39 is also provided, the function of which will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.


If the user does not see an album of interest in the display of album covers or desires for any reason to search for available songs that are not present on the jukebox device, the user may select the “Tune Central” button 39. When the “Tune Central” button is pressed, the display on the jukebox is changed from that of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4. The exemplary screen shot of FIG. 4 shows a search screen 40 which enables a search to be performed on the local server 22 connected to the jukebox device. This screen 40 provides a virtual keyboard 42 for use in entering a search request. The search can be done by album, artist or song, based on the associated buttons 47. Once a search is typed, the user touches the “Search” button 44 and a search of the contents of the local server is initiated. Input from the virtual keyboard can be cleared using the “Clear” button 46.


When a search is initiated from screen 40, the screen is changes to that shown in FIG. 5 to display the results of the search. As shown in FIG. 5, the results of the search are listed. More particularly, in this example, a list of songs that satisfy the search request are listed. The list could also be by album if the search was album based. The user can scroll through the search results using slide bar 53. The user is also shown a display 55 of the number of current credits and a display 56 of the number of credits that are required to download a song from the local server to the jukebox device. The user can go back to the previous screen by touching the “Back” button 57. If the user selects and song from the search list and then touches the “Get It Now” button 54, the jukebox is operable to immediately download the selected song from the local server to the jukebox for play on the jukebox. The downloaded song can be queued up with any other selected but unplayed songs (if any) for play on the Jukebox. In this example, the download costs five credits instead of one credit like a normal selection from the storage of the jukebox itself. Once the downloaded song is played, it is preferably deleted from the jukebox device (together with any graphical data, such as the album cover graphic) that was also downloaded from the local server in connection with the song download). In this way, the user has the option, through use of the “Tune Central” button, to temporarily obtain on the jukebox any song from the master library of recordings without the need to contact the central server 12. As a result, the jukebox provides a more enjoyable experience for the user, while also increasing revenue generated thereby.



FIG. 6 shows another exemplary screen shot of a song selection screen 60 that is displayed when a user touches an album cover graphic from the screen 30 of FIG. 3. Thus, this screen shows an alternative (or typical) method of selecting a song, wherein the song is selected directly from the subset of songs that are directly available from the storage device of the jukebox itself (rather than the local server). In this example, Joe Cocker's Greatest Hits was selected from the screen of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the resulting screen display 60 shows the selected album graphic 61 and a list of the songs 62 that are available on the jukebox for that album. The jukebox may or may not include all of the songs for a particular album. The available songs can be scrolled through if necessary using scroll bars 63a and 63b. The user has the option, through the “Play” button 65, to select a song from the list for play on the jukebox. A “Play Now” button 66 is also provided for enabling the user to select a priority play of the song, thereby giving the song a higher priority than songs selected using the “Play” button 65. This priority feature preferably requires more play credits than the normal play. A display 67 shows the number of credits available for the user. Button 64 shows other albums for the same artist being shown at 61, thereby enabling a user to easily search through the albums for a particular artist for a desired song.


As also shown in FIG. 6, a “Tune Central” button 68 is displayed that enables the user to search for songs by this same artist on the local server as explained in connection with FIG. 4. In other words, button 68 takes the user to the search screen 40 of FIG. 4 for searching the local server. The user can then proceed to search the local server and select songs therefrom, if desired, as described above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, as explained above, the user can access the local server at various screens in a convenience and efficient manner, depending on the desires of the user when interacting with the jukebox screen.


As can be seen from FIGS. 3-6, the user is provided with the option of playing songs that are resident on the jukebox device itself or, alternatively, selecting songs from the local server for download and play in an efficient and reliable manner, thereby significantly improving the operation of jukebox systems, particularly those that cannot quickly, easily or reliably receive downloads of music on demand from a central server. It is noted that the screen shots of FIGS. 3-6 are only exemplary and any suitable screen configurations can be used to provide the functionality described herein. In addition, the jukebox operator is provided with the ability through operator screens (not shown) to set filters per genre or style of music in order to limit access to the end user and avoid undesirable music being played at a specific location.



FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the electronic elements that define the local server 22 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the local server 22 includes a CPU 72 (e.g., AMD Elan 100 MHz), a flash memory (e.g., 8 MB) containing the BIOS and OS, a pair of master/slave hard drives (82, 84 and 86, 88, respectively), a pair of IDE controllers 78 and 80 for the hard drive pairs respectively, a RAM 76 (e.g., 32 MB), an Ethernet controller for controlling communication with the jukebox device 16, and the appropriate buses interconnecting the various elements. Of course, other configurations or arrangements for the local server 22 may be used. A unique identifier may be provided in the local server for enabling the local server to be uniquely identified and registered by the jukebox and/or central server. The identifier may, for example, be located in the flash memory 74.


As will be appreciated from the description of the invention above, the addition of the local server significantly enhances the operation of the jukebox devices that are part of a jukebox system. However, the local servers also provide other benefits and features that will now be described.


A collection of local servers 22 may be used as a network of distributed servers that can be controlled by the central server 12 through its associated jukebox device 16 to provide music services to other devices. For example, the local servers and associated jukebox can be used to deliver requested songs to a dedicated residential jukebox device (or other suitable jukebox device) in addition to providing song services to the specific jukebox to which it is connected and assigned. Thus, the network of distributed servers can provide a support network for implementing residential jukeboxes of the type which allow a user to download songs for reproduction and/or storage at a residential location for an appropriate fee. As a result, the jukebox system operator can provide and control commercial jukeboxes and well as residential jukeboxes through the jukebox system. In this embodiment, the jukebox device and/or local server are connected to the Internet (or other suitable network) using a broadband modem and is provided with software that can selectively deliver song files to any dedicated residential jukebox device (also connectable to the Internet) under control of the central server. The central server receives requests from a residential jukebox and, by analyzing traffic on the network, provides instructions to a selected jukebox device to download the requested song file (either from its memory or from the local server) to the residential jukebox for a fee or under a subscription plan for the residential jukebox.


In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the invention, the local server and jukebox device are used, under control of the central server, to provide management services for other types of coin operated or payment triggered equipment, such as gaming devices, installed in the same location as (or in close proximity to) the jukebox. In other words, the jukebox system is preferably used to update the functionality of and/or manage other downloading devices present in the same location. As a result, the jukebox becomes a “central hub” for all downloading equipment in a location. This feature is achieved, in one embodiment, by networking all of the downloading devices in a single location together with the jukebox and local file server. The central server can then download information to the local server together with instructions to the jukebox as to which devices should updated with what data and/or software. The jukebox device and central server can also be used to collect information from the other downloading devices to which it is managing and upload that information to the central server for reporting/accounting purposes. Thus, the owner/operator of the jukebox system can act as a third party service provider to other coin-op companies for the purpose of managing and/or updating their equipment.


The large amounts of memory provided by the local servers and the fact that they are provided and accessible at thousands of locations over a well controlled network, turns the jukebox system into a powerful tool that can be used to perform a variety of functions in the coin-op industry. More and more coin-op manufacturers are going towards games that are software upgradeable through their internal hard drives. These updates are done periodically, but as these devices increase there will be an ever increasing need for a system that can reliably and efficiently perform the updates from a remote location. The jukebox system described herein satisfies this need by enabling all suitable electronic coin-op devices at a jukebox location to be managed by the central server using the jukebox and local server at the location. The central server can download software or data updates, store them on the local server and then dispatch the updates to the intended units of equipment in the establishment. Thus, the jukebox system can act as a third party service provider to other companies in the coin-op business, thereby significantly enhancing the functionality of the jukebox system.


As an example, there are currently about 140,000 Merit coin-operated countertop devices in the USA, each of which enables users to play games and the like for a fee. Many of these devices operate with a hard drive that can be upgraded with new software. Merit does this by shipping CD-ROMs to operators who then need to drive to each location and manually update each machine. In accordance with the instant invention, however, all suitable coin-op equipment at a location are connected (directly or indirectly) with the local jukebox and local server assigned thereto. This enables the central server to receive the intended software update for any device, together with information that identifies what devices are to upgraded with what software. The upgrade services are preferably fee based and provide an additional revenue stream for the jukebox system. The central server then downloads the software to the local servers with the upgrade instructions to further download the upgrades to the appropriate device(s).


As explained above, the local server enables songs to be downloaded to a commercial jukebox to which it is assigned or to residential jukeboxes under control of the central server. In addition, the local servers can be used for an on-premise networked application which manages other coin-op devices. These various features of the instant invention are illustrated in FIG. 8.



FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a complete jukebox system network as contemplated by an exemplary embodiment. As explained above, the system includes a central server 12 connected to a communications network 14, a series of commercial jukeboxes 16a, 16b and 16c with associated local music file servers 22a, 22b and 22c, a series of residential jukeboxes 100a, 100b and 100c connected to the network via broadband devices 102a, 102b and 102c, and an on-premise network shown on the right hand side of FIG. 8. This on-premise network includes a jukebox device 16d connected via a router or network hub 110 to a local file server 22d, a number of additional coin-op equipment, such as a dart game 104, a golf game 106 and a countertop videogame 108, and a broadband modem 112 connecting this local network to the communications network 14. With this exemplary configuration as shown in FIG. 8 all of the functionality described herein can be implemented through the jukebox system of the instant invention.


While the preferred aspects of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and/or modifications can be made. Thus, the specific description herein is meant to be exemplary only and is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of appended claims.

Claims
  • 1. A jukebox system, comprising: a jukebox device comprising a jukebox device processor;a jukebox device storage storing a first plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a first fee or number of credits; anda server storing a second plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a second fee or number of credits, at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing a fraction of data, the missing fraction of data being stored in the jukebox device storage,wherein the jukebox device processor is configured to perform the steps of:receiving a selection of the at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing the fraction of data in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device following collection of an appropriate fee or number of credit;receiving an encrypted instance of media from the server based on the selected instance of media;retrieving from the jukebox device storage a missing fraction of data corresponding to the encrypted instance of media;decrypting the encrypted instance of media based on the retrieved missing fraction of data;combining the decrypted instance of media with the retrieved missing fraction of data; andplaying the combined decrypted instance of media.
  • 2. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein the jukebox device storage and server respectively comprise first and second disk drive devices.
  • 3. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein at least some said instances of media in the second plurality of instances of media are not included in the first plurality of instances of media.
  • 4. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein the jukebox device storage and server are updatable independent of one another.
  • 5. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein a selected instance of media from said second plurality of instances of media becomes at least temporarily available on the jukebox device storage.
  • 6. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein each instance of media in the first plurality of instances of media is encrypted according to a first encryption level.
  • 7. The jukebox system of claim 6, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is encrypted with a level of encryption different from the first encryption level.
  • 8. The jukebox system of claim 7, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is missing a fraction of data, said missing fraction of data being stored in separate respective locations and being at least temporarily insertable into the respective instances of media to enable playback by the jukebox device.
  • 9. The jukebox system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of digital downloading devices in the same location as the jukebox device, wherein the jukebox device is configured to update the functionality of and manage each said digital downloading device.
  • 10. The jukebox system of claim 1, wherein: the instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device are divided into first and second subsets of media, the first and second subsets of media being different from one another but each said instance of media in the first and second subsets of media being of one common song data type; andthe jukebox device is further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user corresponding to a selection of an instance of media from the instances of media in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device, the user interface comprising a first display screen configured to receive input from a user for the selection of the instance of media for playback from the first subset of media for the first fee or number of credits, and a second display screen configured to receive input from a user for the selection of the instance of media for playback from at least the second subset of media for the second fee or number of credits.
  • 11. The jukebox system of claim 10, wherein the first display screen includes a list of artists for each said instance of media in the first subset of media.
  • 12. The jukebox system of claim 11, wherein the list includes album art.
  • 13. The jukebox system of claim 11, wherein the second display screen enables the user to enter as search criteria: an artist, a song name, or an album name.
  • 14. The jukebox system of claim 13, wherein the second display screen is configured to display search results after at least some instances of media not included in the first subset of media are searched by the jukebox device for instances of media matching the search criteria.
  • 15. The jukebox system of claim 14, wherein the second subset of media is searched by the jukebox device.
  • 16. The jukebox device of claim 14, wherein the first and second subsets of media are searched by the jukebox device.
  • 17. The jukebox system of claim 14, wherein the search results are selectable by the user in order to initiate playback of the selected search result by the jukebox device for the second fee or number of credits.
  • 18. The jukebox system of claim 10, wherein a user interface element is provided to prompt a user to supply an additional fee or number of credits in order to make the selected instance of media play immediately after a currently playing instance of media.
  • 19. The jukebox device of claim 10, wherein the first and second display screens are arranged differently and include different search options.
  • 20. The jukebox system of claim 1, further comprising a central server storing a master catalog of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device, wherein the server is different from the central server.
  • 21. The jukebox system of claim 20, wherein the server is housed within the jukebox device.
  • 22. A digital audiovisual distribution system, comprising: a plurality of jukebox devices respectively located at a plurality of locations; anda central server including a repository of instances of media distributable to the jukebox devices via a digital audiovisual distribution network;wherein each said jukebox devices comprises: a jukebox device processor;a jukebox device storage storing a first plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a first fee or number of credits;a connection to a server storing a second plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a second fee or number of credits, at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing a fraction of data, the missing fraction of data being stored in the jukebox device storage;wherein the jukebox device processor is configured to perform the steps of:receiving a selection of the at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing the fraction of data in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device following collection of an appropriate fee or number of credit;receiving an encrypted instance of media from the server based on the selected instance of media;retrieving from the jukebox device storage a missing fraction of data corresponding to the encrypted instance of media;decrypting the encrypted instance of media based on the retrieved missing fraction of data;combining the decrypted instance of media with the retrieved missing fraction of data; andplaying the combined decrypted instance of media.
  • 23. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein for each said jukebox, the local storage and local server respectively comprise first and second disk drive devices.
  • 24. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein for each said jukebox, the second plurality of instances of media substantially mirrors the repository of instances of media operably connected to the central server.
  • 25. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein for each said jukebox, the jukebox device storage and server are updatable via the network independent of one another.
  • 26. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein an instance of media from said second plurality of instances of media selected for playback is at least temporarily available on the jukebox device storage.
  • 27. The digital audiovisual distribution system of claim 22, wherein an instance of media stored in the repository of the central server, subsequent to user request, is downloadable to the jukebox device storage of one said jukebox device for a third fee or number of credits, the third fee or number of credits being higher than the first fee or number of credits.
  • 28. A method of operating a jukebox system comprising a jukebox device including a processor, comprising: storing by the jukebox device in a jukebox device storage a first plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a first fee or number of credits;storing by a server a second plurality of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox device for a second fee or number of credits, at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing a fraction of data, the missing fraction of data being stored in the jukebox device storage;receiving by the jukebox device a selection of the at least one instance of the second plurality of instances of media missing the fraction of data in order to initiate playback of the selected instance of media on the jukebox device following collection of an appropriate fee or number of credit;receiving by the jukebox device an encrypted instance of media from the server based on the selected instance of media;retrieving by the jukebox device from the jukebox device storage a missing fraction of data corresponding to the encrypted instance of media;decrypting by the jukebox device the encrypted instance of media based on the retrieved missing fraction of data;combining by the jukebox device the decrypted instance of media with the retrieved missing fraction of data; andplaying by the jukebox device the combined decrypted instance of media.
  • 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the jukebox device storage and server respectively comprise first and second disk drive devices.
  • 30. The method of claim 28, wherein at least some said instances of media in the second plurality of instances of media are not included in the first plurality of instances of media.
  • 31. The method of claim 28, further comprising updating the jukebox device storage and server independent of one another.
  • 32. The method of claim 28, further comprising making available on the jukebox device storage, at least temporarily, a selected instance of media from said second plurality of instances of media.
  • 33. The method of claim 28, wherein each instance of media in the first plurality of instances of media is encrypted according to a first encryption level.
  • 34. The method of claim 33, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is encrypted with a level of encryption different from the first encryption level.
  • 35. The method of claim 34, wherein each instance of media in the second plurality of instances of media is missing a fraction of data, said missing fraction of data being stored in separate respective locations and being at least temporarily insertable into the respective instances of media to enable playback by the jukebox device.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to commonly owned provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/410,832, filed Sep. 16, 2002, entitled “Digital Downloading Jukebox System With Central And Local Music Servers,”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, herein.

US Referenced Citations (717)
Number Name Date Kind
3710137 Stephens, Jr. Jan 1973 A
3807541 Kortenhaus Apr 1974 A
3982620 Kortenhaus Sep 1976 A
4008369 Theurer et al. Feb 1977 A
4064362 Williams Dec 1977 A
4186438 Benson Jan 1980 A
4232295 McConnell Nov 1980 A
4335809 Wain Jun 1982 A
4335908 Burge Jun 1982 A
4336935 Goldfarb Jun 1982 A
4356509 Skerlos et al. Oct 1982 A
4369442 Werth et al. Jan 1983 A
4375287 Smith Mar 1983 A
4412292 Sedam et al. Oct 1983 A
4413260 Siegel et al. Nov 1983 A
4521014 Sitrick Jun 1985 A
4528643 Freeny Jul 1985 A
4558413 Schmidt Dec 1985 A
4572509 Sitrick Feb 1986 A
4577333 Lewis et al. Mar 1986 A
4582324 Koza Apr 1986 A
4588187 Dell May 1986 A
4593904 Graves Jun 1986 A
4597058 Izumi Jun 1986 A
4636951 Harlick Jan 1987 A
4652998 Koza Mar 1987 A
4654799 Ogaki Mar 1987 A
4658093 Hellman Apr 1987 A
4667802 Verduin et al. May 1987 A
4674055 Ogaki et al. Jun 1987 A
4675538 Epstein Jun 1987 A
4677311 Morita Jun 1987 A
4677565 Ogaki Jun 1987 A
4696527 Ding et al. Sep 1987 A
4703465 Parker Oct 1987 A
4704725 Harvey et al. Nov 1987 A
4707804 Leal Nov 1987 A
4722053 Dubno Jan 1988 A
4761684 Clark Aug 1988 A
4766581 Korn et al. Aug 1988 A
4787050 Suzuki Nov 1988 A
4792849 McCalley Dec 1988 A
4807052 Amano Feb 1989 A
4811325 Sharples Mar 1989 A
4814972 Winter et al. Mar 1989 A
4815868 Speicher Mar 1989 A
4825054 Rust Apr 1989 A
4829570 Schotz May 1989 A
4852154 Lewis et al. Jul 1989 A
4857714 Sunyich Aug 1989 A
4868832 Marrington Sep 1989 A
4885694 Pray et al. Dec 1989 A
4905279 Nishio Feb 1990 A
4920432 Eggers Apr 1990 A
4922420 Nakagawa May 1990 A
4924378 Hershey May 1990 A
4926485 Yamashita May 1990 A
4937807 Weitz Jun 1990 A
4949187 Cohen Aug 1990 A
4953159 Hayden et al. Aug 1990 A
4956768 Sidi Sep 1990 A
4958835 Tashiro Sep 1990 A
4965675 Hori et al. Oct 1990 A
4977593 Ballance Dec 1990 A
4999806 Chernow Mar 1991 A
5008814 Mathur Apr 1991 A
5012121 Hammond Apr 1991 A
5027426 Chiocca Jun 1991 A
5041921 Scheffler Aug 1991 A
5046093 Wachob Sep 1991 A
5053758 Cornett et al. Oct 1991 A
5058089 Yoshimaru Oct 1991 A
5077607 Johnson et al. Dec 1991 A
5081534 Geiger et al. Jan 1992 A
5101451 Ash et al. Mar 1992 A
5101499 Streck et al. Mar 1992 A
5106097 Levine Apr 1992 A
5117407 Vogel May 1992 A
D327687 Arbitor Jul 1992 S
5128862 Mueller Jul 1992 A
5138712 Corbin Aug 1992 A
5148159 Clark et al. Sep 1992 A
5155847 Kirouac Oct 1992 A
5159678 Wengelski et al. Oct 1992 A
5163131 Row Nov 1992 A
5166886 Molnar Nov 1992 A
D332096 Wolff et al. Dec 1992 S
5172413 Bradley et al. Dec 1992 A
5180309 Egnor Jan 1993 A
5189630 Barstow et al. Feb 1993 A
5191573 Hair Mar 1993 A
5191611 Lang Mar 1993 A
5192999 Graczyk Mar 1993 A
5197094 Tillery Mar 1993 A
5203028 Shiraishi Apr 1993 A
5210854 Beaverton et al. May 1993 A
5214761 Barrett et al. May 1993 A
5222134 Waite et al. Jun 1993 A
5228015 Arbiter et al. Jul 1993 A
5231157 Herzig et al. Jul 1993 A
5237157 Kaplan Aug 1993 A
5237322 Heberle Aug 1993 A
5239480 Huegel Aug 1993 A
5250747 Tsumura Oct 1993 A
5252775 Urano Oct 1993 A
5260999 Wyman Nov 1993 A
5261104 Bertram et al. Nov 1993 A
5262875 Mincer Nov 1993 A
5276866 Paolini Jan 1994 A
5278904 Servi Jan 1994 A
5282028 Johnson et al. Jan 1994 A
5289476 Johnson et al. Feb 1994 A
5289546 Hetherington Feb 1994 A
5315161 Robinson May 1994 A
5315711 Barone et al. May 1994 A
5319455 Hoarty et al. Jun 1994 A
5321846 Yokota et al. Jun 1994 A
5327230 Dockery Jul 1994 A
5335313 Douglas Aug 1994 A
5339095 Redford Aug 1994 A
5339413 Koval Aug 1994 A
5341350 Frank Aug 1994 A
5355302 Martin et al. Oct 1994 A
5357276 Banker Oct 1994 A
5369778 SanSoucie Nov 1994 A
5375206 Hunter Dec 1994 A
5386251 Movshovich Jan 1995 A
5389950 Bouton Feb 1995 A
5404505 Levinson Apr 1995 A
5406634 Anderson et al. Apr 1995 A
5408417 Wilder Apr 1995 A
5410326 Goldstein Apr 1995 A
5410703 Nilsson et al. Apr 1995 A
5418713 Allen May 1995 A
5420923 Beyers May 1995 A
5428252 Walker Jun 1995 A
5428606 Moskowitz Jun 1995 A
5431492 Rothschild Jul 1995 A
5440632 Bacon et al. Aug 1995 A
5444499 Saitoh Aug 1995 A
5445295 Brown Aug 1995 A
5455619 Truckenmiller et al. Oct 1995 A
5455926 Keele Oct 1995 A
5457305 Akel Oct 1995 A
5465213 Ross Nov 1995 A
5465329 Whisler Nov 1995 A
5467326 Miyashita et al. Nov 1995 A
5469370 Ostrover et al. Nov 1995 A
5469573 McGill et al. Nov 1995 A
5471576 Yee Nov 1995 A
5473746 Pritt et al. Dec 1995 A
5475835 Hickey Dec 1995 A
5481509 Knowles Jan 1996 A
5487167 Dinallo et al. Jan 1996 A
5489103 Okamoto Feb 1996 A
5495610 Shing Feb 1996 A
5496178 Back Mar 1996 A
5499921 Sone Mar 1996 A
5511000 Kaloi Apr 1996 A
5513117 Small Apr 1996 A
5515173 Mankovitz et al. May 1996 A
5519435 Anderson May 1996 A
5519457 Nishigaki et al. May 1996 A
5521631 Budow et al. May 1996 A
5521918 Kim May 1996 A
5521922 Fujinami et al. May 1996 A
5523781 Brusaw Jun 1996 A
5528732 Klotz Jun 1996 A
5532734 Goertz Jul 1996 A
5532991 Sasaki Jul 1996 A
5546039 Hewitt et al. Aug 1996 A
5548729 Akiyoshi Aug 1996 A
5550577 Verbiest Aug 1996 A
5554968 Lee Sep 1996 A
5555244 Gupta Sep 1996 A
5557515 Abbruzzese et al. Sep 1996 A
5557541 Schulhof Sep 1996 A
5557724 Sampat et al. Sep 1996 A
5559505 McNair Sep 1996 A
5559549 Hendricks Sep 1996 A
5559714 Banks et al. Sep 1996 A
5561709 Remillard Oct 1996 A
5565908 Ahmad Oct 1996 A
5566237 Dobbs Oct 1996 A
5570363 Holm Oct 1996 A
5578999 Matsuzawa et al. Nov 1996 A
5579404 Fielder et al. Nov 1996 A
5583561 Baker et al. Dec 1996 A
5583937 Ullrich et al. Dec 1996 A
5583994 Rangan Dec 1996 A
5583995 Gardner et al. Dec 1996 A
5592482 Abraham Jan 1997 A
5592551 Lett Jan 1997 A
5592611 Midgely et al. Jan 1997 A
5594509 Florin Jan 1997 A
5596702 Stucka et al. Jan 1997 A
5607099 Yeh et al. Mar 1997 A
5612581 Kageyama Mar 1997 A
5613909 Stelovsky Mar 1997 A
5616876 Cluts Apr 1997 A
5617565 Augenbraun et al. Apr 1997 A
5619247 Russo Apr 1997 A
5619249 Billock et al. Apr 1997 A
5619250 McClellan et al. Apr 1997 A
5619698 Lillich Apr 1997 A
5623666 Pike Apr 1997 A
5631693 Wunderlich et al. May 1997 A
5636276 Brugger Jun 1997 A
5638426 Lewis Jun 1997 A
5642337 Oskay Jun 1997 A
5643831 Ochiai et al. Jul 1997 A
5644714 Kikinis Jul 1997 A
5644766 Coy Jul 1997 A
5654714 Takahashi et al. Aug 1997 A
5659466 Norris et al. Aug 1997 A
5661517 Budow et al. Aug 1997 A
5661802 Nilssen Aug 1997 A
5663756 Blahut et al. Sep 1997 A
5668592 Spaulding Sep 1997 A
5668778 Quazi Sep 1997 A
5668788 Allison Sep 1997 A
5675734 Hair Oct 1997 A
5680533 Yamato et al. Oct 1997 A
5684716 Freeman Nov 1997 A
5689641 Ludwig et al. Nov 1997 A
5691778 Song Nov 1997 A
5691964 Niederlein et al. Nov 1997 A
5696914 Nahaboo et al. Dec 1997 A
5697844 Von Kohorn Dec 1997 A
5703795 Mankovitz Dec 1997 A
5704146 Herring et al. Jan 1998 A
5708811 Arendt Jan 1998 A
5712976 Falcon Jan 1998 A
5713024 Halladay Jan 1998 A
5715416 Baker Feb 1998 A
5717452 Janin et al. Feb 1998 A
5721583 Harada et al. Feb 1998 A
5721815 Ottesen et al. Feb 1998 A
5721827 Logan et al. Feb 1998 A
5721829 Dunn et al. Feb 1998 A
5724525 Beyers et al. Mar 1998 A
5726909 Krikorian Mar 1998 A
5734719 Tsevdos et al. Mar 1998 A
5734961 Castille Mar 1998 A
5739451 Winksy et al. Apr 1998 A
5743745 Reintjes Apr 1998 A
5745391 Topor Apr 1998 A
5748254 Harrison et al. May 1998 A
5748468 Notenboom et al. May 1998 A
5748954 Mauldin May 1998 A
5751336 Aggarwal et al. May 1998 A
5752232 Basore et al. May 1998 A
5757936 Lee May 1998 A
5758340 Nail May 1998 A
5761655 Hoffman Jun 1998 A
5762552 Vuong Jun 1998 A
5774527 Handelman et al. Jun 1998 A
5774668 Choquier Jun 1998 A
5774672 Funahashi Jun 1998 A
5778395 Whiting Jul 1998 A
5781889 Martin et al. Jul 1998 A
5786784 Gaudichon Jul 1998 A
5790172 Imanaka Aug 1998 A
5790671 Cooper Aug 1998 A
5790856 Lillich Aug 1998 A
5790935 Payton Aug 1998 A
5793364 Bolanos et al. Aug 1998 A
5793980 Glaser Aug 1998 A
5798785 Hendricks Aug 1998 A
5802283 Grady et al. Sep 1998 A
5802558 Pierce Sep 1998 A
5802599 Cabrera Sep 1998 A
5805804 Laursen et al. Sep 1998 A
5808224 Kato Sep 1998 A
5809246 Goldman Sep 1998 A
5812643 Schelberg et al. Sep 1998 A
5815146 Youden et al. Sep 1998 A
5825884 Zdepski et al. Oct 1998 A
5828343 MacDonald et al. Oct 1998 A
5831555 Yu et al. Nov 1998 A
5831663 Waterhouse et al. Nov 1998 A
5832024 Schotz et al. Nov 1998 A
5832287 Atalla Nov 1998 A
5835843 Haddad Nov 1998 A
5842869 McGregor et al. Dec 1998 A
5845104 Rao Dec 1998 A
5845256 Pescitelli et al. Dec 1998 A
5848398 Martin Dec 1998 A
5851149 Xidos et al. Dec 1998 A
5854887 Kindell Dec 1998 A
5857020 Peterson Jan 1999 A
5857707 Devlin Jan 1999 A
5862324 Collins Jan 1999 A
5864811 Tran et al. Jan 1999 A
5864868 Contois Jan 1999 A
5864870 Guck Jan 1999 A
5867714 Todd Feb 1999 A
5870721 Norris Feb 1999 A
5880386 Wachi et al. Mar 1999 A
5880769 Nemirofsky et al. Mar 1999 A
5884028 Kindell Mar 1999 A
5884298 Smith Mar 1999 A
5887139 Madison, Jr. et al. Mar 1999 A
5887193 Takahashi Mar 1999 A
5893162 Lau et al. Apr 1999 A
5895455 Bellinger et al. Apr 1999 A
5896094 Narisada et al. Apr 1999 A
5903266 Berstis et al. May 1999 A
5913040 Rakavy Jun 1999 A
5914712 Sartain et al. Jun 1999 A
5915094 Kouloheris Jun 1999 A
5915238 Tjaden Jun 1999 A
5917537 Lightfoot Jun 1999 A
5917835 Barrett Jun 1999 A
5918213 Bernard et al. Jun 1999 A
5920700 Gordon et al. Jul 1999 A
5920702 Bleidt et al. Jul 1999 A
5923885 Johnson Jul 1999 A
5926531 Petite Jul 1999 A
5926624 Katz et al. Jul 1999 A
5930765 Martin Jul 1999 A
5931908 Gerba Aug 1999 A
5933090 Christenson Aug 1999 A
5940504 Griswold Aug 1999 A
5949411 Doerr et al. Sep 1999 A
5949688 Montoya Sep 1999 A
5953005 Liu Sep 1999 A
5953429 Wakai et al. Sep 1999 A
5956716 Kenner et al. Sep 1999 A
5959869 Miller Sep 1999 A
5959945 Kleiman Sep 1999 A
5960167 Roberts et al. Sep 1999 A
5963916 Kaplan Oct 1999 A
5966495 Takahashi Oct 1999 A
5970467 Alavi Oct 1999 A
5978855 Metz Nov 1999 A
5978912 Rakavy et al. Nov 1999 A
5980261 Mino et al. Nov 1999 A
5999499 Pines et al. Dec 1999 A
5999624 Hopkins Dec 1999 A
6002720 Yurt Dec 1999 A
6005599 Asai et al. Dec 1999 A
6008735 Chiloyan et al. Dec 1999 A
6009274 Fletcher Dec 1999 A
6011758 Dockes et al. Jan 2000 A
6018337 Peters Jan 2000 A
6018726 Tsumura Jan 2000 A
6021386 Davis Feb 2000 A
6023705 Bellinger et al. Feb 2000 A
6025868 Russo Feb 2000 A
6026168 Li et al. Feb 2000 A
6034925 Wehmeyer Mar 2000 A
6038591 Wolfe et al. Mar 2000 A
6040829 Croy et al. Mar 2000 A
6041354 Biliris et al. Mar 2000 A
6049891 Inamoto Apr 2000 A
6054987 Richardson Apr 2000 A
6055573 Gardenswartz et al. Apr 2000 A
6057874 Michaud May 2000 A
6067564 Urakoshi et al. May 2000 A
6069672 Claassen May 2000 A
6072982 Haddad Jun 2000 A
6107937 Hamada Aug 2000 A
6118450 Proehl et al. Sep 2000 A
6124804 Kitao et al. Sep 2000 A
6131088 Hill Oct 2000 A
6131121 Mattaway et al. Oct 2000 A
6134547 Huxley et al. Oct 2000 A
6138150 Nichols et al. Oct 2000 A
6146210 Cha et al. Nov 2000 A
6148142 Anderson Nov 2000 A
6151077 Vogel et al. Nov 2000 A
6151634 Glaser Nov 2000 A
6154207 Farris et al. Nov 2000 A
6157935 Tran et al. Dec 2000 A
6161059 Tedesco et al. Dec 2000 A
6167358 Othmer et al. Dec 2000 A
6170060 Mott et al. Jan 2001 B1
6173172 Masuda et al. Jan 2001 B1
6175861 Williams, Jr. et al. Jan 2001 B1
6182126 Nathan et al. Jan 2001 B1
6185184 Mattaway et al. Feb 2001 B1
6185619 Joffe et al. Feb 2001 B1
6191780 Martin et al. Feb 2001 B1
6192340 Abecassis Feb 2001 B1
6195732 Adams et al. Feb 2001 B1
6198408 Cohen Mar 2001 B1
6202060 Tran Mar 2001 B1
6209060 Machida Mar 2001 B1
6212138 Kalis et al. Apr 2001 B1
6216175 Sliger et al. Apr 2001 B1
6216227 Goldstein et al. Apr 2001 B1
6219692 Stiles Apr 2001 B1
6223209 Watson Apr 2001 B1
6226412 Schwab May 2001 B1
6226715 Van Der Wolf et al. May 2001 B1
6240550 Nathan et al. May 2001 B1
6243725 Hempleman et al. Jun 2001 B1
6247022 Yankowski Jun 2001 B1
6256773 Bowman-Amuah Jul 2001 B1
6262569 Carr et al. Jul 2001 B1
6280327 Leifer et al. Aug 2001 B1
6282709 Reha et al. Aug 2001 B1
6288688 Hughes et al. Sep 2001 B1
6288991 Kajiyama et al. Sep 2001 B1
6289382 Bowman-Amuah Sep 2001 B1
6292443 Awazu et al. Sep 2001 B1
6298373 Burns et al. Oct 2001 B1
6301710 Fujiwara Oct 2001 B1
6302793 Fertitta et al. Oct 2001 B1
6308204 Nathan et al. Oct 2001 B1
6311214 Rhoads Oct 2001 B1
6315572 Owens et al. Nov 2001 B1
6323911 Schein et al. Nov 2001 B1
6332025 Takahashi et al. Dec 2001 B2
6336219 Nathan Jan 2002 B1
6341166 Basel Jan 2002 B1
6344862 Williams et al. Feb 2002 B1
6346951 Mastronardi Feb 2002 B1
6353820 Edwards et al. Mar 2002 B1
6356971 Katz et al. Mar 2002 B1
6359616 Ogura et al. Mar 2002 B1
6359661 Nickum Mar 2002 B1
6370580 Kriegsman Apr 2002 B2
6379187 Nishimatsu Apr 2002 B2
6381575 Martin et al. Apr 2002 B1
6384737 Hsu et al. May 2002 B1
6393584 McLaren et al. May 2002 B1
6396480 Schindler et al. May 2002 B1
6397189 Martin et al. May 2002 B1
6407987 Abraham Jun 2002 B1
6408435 Sato Jun 2002 B1
6408437 Hendricks et al. Jun 2002 B1
6421651 Tedesco et al. Jul 2002 B1
6425125 Fries et al. Jul 2002 B1
6430537 Tedesco et al. Aug 2002 B1
6430738 Gross et al. Aug 2002 B1
6434678 Menzel Aug 2002 B1
6438450 DiLorenzo Aug 2002 B1
6442549 Schneider Aug 2002 B1
6446080 Van Ryzin et al. Sep 2002 B1
6446130 Grapes Sep 2002 B1
6449688 Peters et al. Sep 2002 B1
6470496 Kato et al. Oct 2002 B1
6473794 Guheen et al. Oct 2002 B1
6488508 Okamoto Dec 2002 B2
6490432 Wegener Dec 2002 B1
6490570 Numaoka Dec 2002 B1
6493871 McGuire et al. Dec 2002 B1
6496927 McGrane et al. Dec 2002 B1
6498855 Kokkosoulis et al. Dec 2002 B1
6522707 Brandstetter et al. Feb 2003 B1
6535911 Miller et al. Mar 2003 B1
6538558 Sakazume et al. Mar 2003 B2
6543052 Ogasawara Apr 2003 B1
6544122 Araki et al. Apr 2003 B2
6549719 Mankovitz Apr 2003 B2
D475029 Nathan et al. May 2003 S
6560651 Mott et al. May 2003 B2
6570507 Lee et al. May 2003 B1
6571282 Bowman-Amuah May 2003 B1
6577735 Bharat Jun 2003 B1
6578051 Mastronardi et al. Jun 2003 B1
6587403 Keller et al. Jul 2003 B1
6590838 Gerlings et al. Jul 2003 B1
6598230 Ballhorn Jul 2003 B1
6622307 Ho Sep 2003 B1
6628939 Paulsen Sep 2003 B2
6629318 Radha et al. Sep 2003 B1
6643620 Contolini et al. Nov 2003 B1
6643690 Duursma et al. Nov 2003 B2
6654801 Mann et al. Nov 2003 B2
6658090 Harjunen et al. Dec 2003 B1
6662231 Drosset et al. Dec 2003 B1
6702585 Okamoto Mar 2004 B2
6724974 Naruto et al. Apr 2004 B2
6728824 Chen Apr 2004 B1
6728956 Ono Apr 2004 B2
6728966 Arsenault et al. Apr 2004 B1
6744882 Gupta et al. Jun 2004 B1
6751794 McCaleb et al. Jun 2004 B1
6755744 Nathan et al. Jun 2004 B1
6762585 Liao Jul 2004 B2
D495755 Wurz et al. Sep 2004 S
6789215 Rupp et al. Sep 2004 B1
6816578 Kredo et al. Nov 2004 B1
6850252 Hoffberg Feb 2005 B1
6898161 Nathan May 2005 B1
6904592 Johnson Jun 2005 B1
6920614 Schindler et al. Jul 2005 B1
6928653 Ellis et al. Aug 2005 B1
6934700 Ijdens et al. Aug 2005 B1
6942574 LeMay et al. Sep 2005 B1
6974076 Siegel Dec 2005 B1
7024485 Dunning et al. Apr 2006 B2
7073172 Chamberlain Jul 2006 B2
7103583 Baum et al. Sep 2006 B1
7107109 Nathan et al. Sep 2006 B1
7111129 Percival Sep 2006 B2
7114013 Bakke et al. Sep 2006 B2
7124194 Nathan et al. Oct 2006 B2
7160132 Phillips et al. Jan 2007 B2
7181458 Higashi Feb 2007 B1
7188352 Nathan et al. Mar 2007 B2
7195157 Swartz et al. Mar 2007 B2
7198571 LeMay et al. Apr 2007 B2
7205471 Looney et al. Apr 2007 B2
7206417 Nathan Apr 2007 B2
7210141 Nathan et al. Apr 2007 B1
7231656 Nathan Jun 2007 B1
7237198 Chaney Jun 2007 B1
7281652 Foss Oct 2007 B2
7293277 Nathan Nov 2007 B1
D560651 Berkheimer et al. Jan 2008 S
7347723 Daily Mar 2008 B1
D566195 Ichimura et al. Apr 2008 S
7356831 Nathan Apr 2008 B2
7406529 Reed Jul 2008 B2
7415707 Taguchi et al. Aug 2008 B2
7418474 Schwab Aug 2008 B2
7424731 Nathan et al. Sep 2008 B1
7430736 Nguyen et al. Sep 2008 B2
7433832 Bezos et al. Oct 2008 B1
7448057 Nathan Nov 2008 B1
7483958 Elabbady et al. Jan 2009 B1
7500192 Mastronardi Mar 2009 B2
7512632 Mastronardi et al. Mar 2009 B2
7519442 Nathan et al. Apr 2009 B2
7522631 Brown et al. Apr 2009 B1
7533182 Wurtzel et al. May 2009 B2
7549919 Nathan et al. Jun 2009 B1
7574727 Nathan et al. Aug 2009 B2
7634228 White et al. Dec 2009 B2
7647613 Drakoulis et al. Jan 2010 B2
7657910 McAulay Feb 2010 B1
D616414 Nathan et al. May 2010 S
7749083 Nathan et al. Jul 2010 B2
7757264 Nathan Jul 2010 B2
7761538 Lin et al. Jul 2010 B2
7770165 Olson et al. Aug 2010 B2
7778879 Nathan et al. Aug 2010 B2
7783593 Espino Aug 2010 B2
7783774 Nathan et al. Aug 2010 B2
7793331 Nathan et al. Sep 2010 B2
7819734 Nathan et al. Oct 2010 B2
7822687 Brillon et al. Oct 2010 B2
D629382 Nathan et al. Dec 2010 S
7937724 Clark et al. May 2011 B2
D642553 Nathan et al. Aug 2011 S
7992178 Nathan et al. Aug 2011 B1
7996873 Nathan et al. Aug 2011 B1
8015200 Seiflien et al. Sep 2011 B2
8028318 Nathan Sep 2011 B2
8032879 Nathan et al. Oct 2011 B2
8037412 Nathan et al. Oct 2011 B2
8052512 Nathan et al. Nov 2011 B2
8103589 Nathan et al. Jan 2012 B2
8151304 Nathan et al. Apr 2012 B2
8165318 Nathan et al. Apr 2012 B2
8214874 Nathan Jul 2012 B2
D665375 Garneau et al. Aug 2012 S
8292712 Nathan et al. Oct 2012 B2
8325571 Cappello et al. Dec 2012 B2
8332895 Nathan et al. Dec 2012 B2
8429530 Neuman et al. Apr 2013 B2
20010016815 Takahashi et al. Aug 2001 A1
20010023403 Martin et al. Sep 2001 A1
20010030660 Zainoulline Oct 2001 A1
20010030912 Kalis et al. Oct 2001 A1
20010032121 Le Oct 2001 A1
20010037367 Iyer Nov 2001 A1
20010044725 Matsuda et al. Nov 2001 A1
20020002079 Martin et al. Jan 2002 A1
20020002483 Siegel et al. Jan 2002 A1
20020018074 Buil et al. Feb 2002 A1
20020032603 Yeiser Mar 2002 A1
20020040371 Burgess Apr 2002 A1
20020113824 Myers Aug 2002 A1
20020116476 Eyal et al. Aug 2002 A1
20020118949 Jones et al. Aug 2002 A1
20020120925 Logan Aug 2002 A1
20020123331 Lehaff et al. Sep 2002 A1
20020126141 Mastronardi Sep 2002 A1
20020129036 Ho Yuen Lok et al. Sep 2002 A1
20020162104 Raike et al. Oct 2002 A1
20030004833 Pollak et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030005099 Sven et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030006911 Smith et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030008703 Gauselmann Jan 2003 A1
20030014272 Goulet et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030018740 Sonoda et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030027120 Jean Feb 2003 A1
20030031096 Nathan et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030037010 Schmelzer Feb 2003 A1
20030041093 Yamane et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030050058 Walsh et al. Mar 2003 A1
20030064805 Wells Apr 2003 A1
20030065639 Fiennes et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030076380 Yusef et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030088538 Ballard May 2003 A1
20030093790 Logan et al. May 2003 A1
20030101450 Davidsson et al. May 2003 A1
20030104865 Itkis et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030108164 Laurin et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030135424 Davis et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030144910 Flaherty et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030176218 LeMay et al. Sep 2003 A1
20030191753 Hoch Oct 2003 A1
20030208586 Mastronardi et al. Nov 2003 A1
20030225834 Lee et al. Dec 2003 A1
20040010800 Goci Jan 2004 A1
20040025185 Goci et al. Feb 2004 A1
20040085334 Reaney May 2004 A1
20040103150 Ogdon et al. May 2004 A1
20040145477 Easter Jul 2004 A1
20040158555 Seedman et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040204220 Fried et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040205171 Nathan et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040220926 Lamkin et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040243482 Laut Dec 2004 A1
20050048816 Higgins Mar 2005 A1
20050060405 Nathan et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050073782 Nathan Apr 2005 A1
20050086172 Stefik Apr 2005 A1
20050111671 Nathan May 2005 A1
20050125833 Nathan et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050201254 Looney et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050267819 Kaplan Dec 2005 A1
20060018208 Nathan et al. Jan 2006 A1
20060031896 Pulitzer Feb 2006 A1
20060035707 Nguyen et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060062094 Nathan et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060143575 Sauermann Jun 2006 A1
20060227673 Yamashita et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060239131 Nathan et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060293773 Nathan et al. Dec 2006 A1
20070025701 Kawasaki et al. Feb 2007 A1
20070047198 Crooijmans et al. Mar 2007 A1
20070086280 Cappello et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070121430 Nathan May 2007 A1
20070139410 Abe et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070142022 Madonna et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070160224 Nathan Jul 2007 A1
20070204263 Nathan et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070209053 Nathan Sep 2007 A1
20070220052 Kudo et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070247979 Brillon et al. Oct 2007 A1
20080003881 Wu Jan 2008 A1
20080065925 Oliverio et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080066016 Dowdy et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080069545 Nathan et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080077962 Nathan Mar 2008 A1
20080086379 Dion et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080096659 Kreloff et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080137849 Nathan Jun 2008 A1
20080155588 Roberts et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080168807 Dion et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080171594 Fedesna et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080195443 Nathan et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080198271 Malki Aug 2008 A1
20080222199 Tiu et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080239887 Tooker et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080275771 Levine Nov 2008 A1
20080305738 Khedouri et al. Dec 2008 A1
20090030802 Plotnick et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090037969 Nathan et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090042632 Guenster et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090063976 Bull et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090070341 Mastronardi et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090091087 Wasmund Apr 2009 A1
20090100092 Seiflein et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090138111 Mastronardi May 2009 A1
20090168901 Yarmolich et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090172565 Jackson et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090177301 Hayes Jul 2009 A1
20090240721 Giacalone Sep 2009 A1
20090241061 Asai et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090265734 Dion et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090282491 Nathan Nov 2009 A1
20090287696 Galuten Nov 2009 A1
20090298577 Gagner et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090307314 Smith et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090328095 Vinokurov et al. Dec 2009 A1
20100042505 Straus Feb 2010 A1
20100131558 Logan et al. May 2010 A1
20100211818 Nathan et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100241259 Nathan Sep 2010 A1
20100247081 Victoria Pons Sep 2010 A1
20100269066 Nathan Oct 2010 A1
20100299232 Nathan et al. Nov 2010 A1
20100306179 Lim Dec 2010 A1
20110055019 Coleman Mar 2011 A1
20110066943 Brillon et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110173521 Horton et al. Jul 2011 A1
20110246517 Nathan et al. Oct 2011 A1
20110270894 Mastronardi et al. Nov 2011 A1
20110283236 Beaumier et al. Nov 2011 A1
20110298938 Nathan et al. Dec 2011 A1
20110304685 Khedouri et al. Dec 2011 A1
20110321026 Nathan et al. Dec 2011 A1
20120009985 Nathan et al. Jan 2012 A1
20120053713 Nathan Mar 2012 A1
20120095910 Nathan et al. Apr 2012 A1
20120105464 Franceus May 2012 A1
20120143732 Nathan et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120150614 Dion et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120158531 Dion et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120166965 Nathan et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120240140 Nathan Sep 2012 A1
20120323652 Mastronardi et al. Dec 2012 A1
20130021281 Tse et al. Jan 2013 A1
20130040715 Nathan et al. Feb 2013 A1
20130044995 Cappello et al. Feb 2013 A1
20130070093 Rivera et al. Mar 2013 A1
20130091054 Nathan et al. Apr 2013 A1
20140026154 Nathan Jan 2014 A1
20140304117 Nathan et al. Oct 2014 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (167)
Number Date Country
199954012 Apr 2000 AU
2119184 Sep 1994 CA
1340939 Mar 2002 CN
3406058 Aug 1985 DE
3723737 Jan 1988 DE
3820835 Jan 1989 DE
A 3820835 Jan 1989 DE
3815071 Nov 1989 DE
4244198 Jun 1994 DE
19539172 Sep 1996 DE
19610739 Sep 1997 DE
19904007 Aug 2000 DE
0082077 Jun 1983 EP
EU A0082077 Jun 1983 EP
0140593 May 1985 EP
0256921 Feb 1988 EP
0283304 Sep 1988 EP
0283350 Sep 1988 EP
EU A 0283350 Sep 1988 EP
0309298 Mar 1989 EP
EU 0309298 Mar 1989 EP
0313359 Apr 1989 EP
EU A 0313359 Apr 1989 EP
0340787 Nov 1989 EP
0363186 Apr 1990 EP
0 425 168 May 1991 EP
0425168 May 1991 EP
0464562 Jan 1992 EP
0480558 Apr 1992 EP
0498130 Aug 1992 EP
0498130 Aug 1992 EP
0 507 110 Oct 1992 EP
0529834 Mar 1993 EP
0538319 Apr 1993 EP
0631283 Dec 1994 EP
EU A 0631283 Dec 1994 EP
0632371 Jan 1995 EP
0711076 May 1996 EP
0786122 Jul 1997 EP
0817103 Jan 1998 EP
0841616 May 1998 EP
0919964 Jun 1999 EP
0959570 Nov 1999 EP
0 974896 Jan 2000 EP
0974941 Jan 2000 EP
0982695 Mar 2000 EP
1001391 May 2000 EP
1170951 Jan 2002 EP
1288802 Mar 2003 EP
1408427 Apr 2004 EP
1549919 Apr 2004 EP
1962251 Aug 2008 EP
2602352 Feb 1988 FR
A 2602352 Feb 1988 FR
2808906 Nov 2001 FR
2122799 Jan 1984 GB
A 2122799 Jan 1984 GB
2166328 Apr 1986 GB
2170943 Aug 1986 GB
2193420 Feb 1988 GB
2 238680 Jun 1991 GB
2254469 Oct 1992 GB
2259398 Mar 1993 GB
2262170 Jun 1993 GB
2380377 Apr 2003 GB
2505584 Aug 2014 GB
57-173207 Oct 1982 JP
57173207 Oct 1982 JP
58-179892 Oct 1983 JP
60-253082 Dec 1985 JP
61084143 Apr 1986 JP
62-192849 Aug 1987 JP
62-284496 Dec 1987 JP
63-60634 Mar 1988 JP
2-153665 Jun 1990 JP
5-74078 Mar 1993 JP
S-74078 Mar 1993 JP
5122282 May 1993 JP
06-127885 May 1994 JP
07281682 Oct 1995 JP
07-311587 Nov 1995 JP
08-037701 Feb 1996 JP
08-279235 Oct 1996 JP
8274812 Oct 1996 JP
08279235 Oct 1996 JP
08289976 Nov 1996 JP
928918 Feb 1997 JP
9114470 May 1997 JP
9127964 May 1997 JP
09-244900 Sep 1997 JP
10-098344 Apr 1998 JP
10-222537 Aug 1998 JP
11-003088 Jan 1999 JP
11-024686 Jan 1999 JP
11-095768 Apr 1999 JP
2002-83640 Mar 2002 JP
2002-537584 Nov 2002 JP
2003-076380 Mar 2003 JP
2003-084903 Mar 2003 JP
2003-099072 Apr 2003 JP
2005-107267 Apr 2005 JP
2005-184237 Jul 2005 JP
2006-048076 Feb 2006 JP
2007-034253 Feb 2007 JP
2007-041722 Feb 2007 JP
2007-505410 Mar 2007 JP
07504517 Mar 2007 JP
2007-102982 Apr 2007 JP
2007-104072 Apr 2007 JP
2007-128609 May 2007 JP
2007-164078 Jun 2007 JP
2007-164298 Jun 2007 JP
2007-179333 Jul 2007 JP
2007-241748 Sep 2007 JP
2008-058656 Mar 2008 JP
2009-017529 Jan 2009 JP
2009-075540 Apr 2009 JP
514511 Dec 2002 TW
M274284 Sep 2005 TW
M290206 May 2006 TW
WO 8601326 Feb 1986 WO
WO 86 01326 Feb 1986 WO
WO 9000429 Jan 1990 WO
WO 9007843 Jul 1990 WO
WO A 90 07843 Jul 1990 WO
WO 9108542 Jun 1991 WO
WO 9120082 Dec 1991 WO
WO A 91 20082 Dec 1991 WO
WO 9316557 Aug 1993 WO
WO 9318465 Sep 1993 WO
WO A 93 18465 Sep 1993 WO
WO 9321732 Oct 1993 WO
WO 9403894 Feb 1994 WO
WO A 94 03894 Feb 1994 WO
WO 9414273 Jun 1994 WO
WO 9415306 Jul 1994 WO
WO 9415416 Jul 1994 WO
WO 94 15416 Jul 1994 WO
WO 9503609 Feb 1995 WO
WO 95 03609 Feb 1995 WO
WO 9529537 Nov 1995 WO
WO 9612255 Apr 1996 WO
WO 9612256 Apr 1996 WO
WO 9612257 Apr 1996 WO
WO 9612258 Apr 1996 WO
WO 96 12258 Apr 1996 WO
WO 98 07940 Feb 1998 WO
WO 9811487 Mar 1998 WO
WO 9845835 Oct 1998 WO
WO 9935753 Jul 1999 WO
WO 0100290 Jan 2001 WO
WO 0108148 Feb 2001 WO
WO 0171608 Sep 2001 WO
WO 01084353 Nov 2001 WO
WO 02060546 Aug 2002 WO
WO 02095752 Nov 2002 WO
WO 03005743 Jan 2003 WO
WO 03069613 Aug 2003 WO
WO 2004029775 Apr 2004 WO
2005026916 Mar 2005 WO
WO 2006014739 Feb 2006 WO
WO 2006056933 Jun 2006 WO
WO 2006138064 Dec 2006 WO
WO 2007092542 Aug 2007 WO
WO 2008-033853 Mar 2008 WO
WO 2011094330 Aug 2011 WO
WO 2013040603 Mar 2013 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (82)
Entry
Defiler, Frank J. et. al. How Networks Work, Millennium Ed., Que Corporation, Jan. 2000.
Gralla, Preston, How the Internet Works, Millennium Ed., Que Corporation, Aug. 1999.
Waingrow, Kirk. Unix Hints & Hacks, Que Corporation, Indianapolis, IN, 1999.
Kozierok, Charles M. The PC Guide, Site Version 2.2.0, http://www.pcguide.com, Apr. 17, 2001.
White, Ron. How Computers Work, Millennium Ed., Que Corporation, Indianapolis, IN, Sep. 1999.
White, Ron, How Computers Work, Millennium Ed., Que Corporation, Sep. 22, 1999.
Schneier, Bruce. Applied Cryptography, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1996.
“Robotic Wafer Handling System for Class 10 Environments” IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 32, No. 9A, Feb. 1990, pp. 141-143.
“High-speed Opens and Shorts Substrate Tester”, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 33, No. 12, May 1991, pp. 251-259.
Galen A. Grimes, “Chapter 18, Taking Advantage or Web-based Audio.”
Petri Koskelainem “Report on Streamworks™”.
W. Richard Stevens, “TCP/IP Illustrated: vol. 1, the Protocols”.
Nowell Outlaw “Virtual Servers Offer Performance benefits for Networks Imaging”.
Office Action issued on Mar. 4, 2014 in corresponding Japanese Application No. 2008-079311 (with translation), pp. 1-3.
“Ecast Forges Landmark International Technology Partnership”, Business Wire at www.findarticles.com/cf—0/m0EIN/2000—July—25/63663604/print.jhtml, 2 pages, Jul. 25, 2000.
“Ecast Selects Viant to Build Siren Entertainment System (TM)”, ScreamingMedia, PR Newswire San Francisco, industry.java.sum.com/javanews/stories/story2/0,1072,17618,00.html, 3 pages, Aug. 3, 1999.
Derfler et al., “How Networks Work”, Millennium Ed., Que Corporation, Jan. 2000.
European Search Report from EP 1 993 079.
European Search Report issued for European Application No. 08000845.1-1238/1962251, dated Apr. 3, 2009.
Gralla, “How the Internet Works”, Millennium Ed., Que Corporation, Aug. 1999.
Hicks et al., “Dynamic software updating”, ACM PLDI, pp. 13-23, 2001.
iTOUCH 27 New Games brochure, JVL Corporation, 2005, 2 pages.
iTouch 8 Plus brochure, JVL Corporation, 2005, 2 pages.
Kozierok, The PC Guide, Site Version 2.2.0, http://www.pcguide.com, Apr. 17, 2001.
Liang et al., “Dynamic class loading in the Java virtual machine”, ACM OOPSLA, pp. 36-44, 1998.
Look and iTouch brochure, JVL Corporation, 2004, 2 pages.
Megatouch Champ brochure, Merit Industries, Inc., 2005, 2 pages.
Melnik et al., “A mediation infrastructure for digital library services”, ACM DL, pp. 123-132, 2000.
Mod Box Internet brochure, Merit Entertainment, 2006, 2 pages.
Newsome et al., “Proxy compilation of dynamically loaded java classes with MoJo”, ACM LCTES, pp. 204-212, 2002.
Schneier, “Applied Cryptography”, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1996.
Vortex Brochure, JVL Corporation, 2005, 2 pages.
Waingrow, “Unix Hints & Hacks”, Que Corporation, Indianapolis, IN, 1999.
White, “How Computers Work”, Millennium Ed., Que Corporation, Indianapolis, IN, Sep. 1999 (Sep. 22, 1999).
“About Ecast”, date unknown, leaflet.
Ahanger et al.; A Digital On-Demand Video Service Supporting Content-Based Queries; 1993; 9 pages.
Austin Cyber Limits: Name That Tune [online], [retrieved Jul. 23, 2001]. Retrieved from the Internet: <http://www.pbs.ork/klru/austin/games/namethattune.html>.
Back to the Tunes [online], [retrieved Jul. 23, 2001]. Retrieved from the Internet: <http://citc5.hispeed.com/rules.html>.
Bonczek et al, “The DSS Development System”, 1983 National Computer Conference, Anaheim, California, May 16-19, 1983, pp. 441-455.
Chan et al., “Distributed servers architectures for networked video services”, IEEE Trans on Networking, vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 125-136, 2001.
Chen et al., “Optimization of the grouped sweeping scheduling (GSS) with heterogeneous multimedia streams”, ACM Multimedia, pp. 1-7, 1993.
Crutcher et al., “The networked video Jukebox”, IEEE, Trans. on circuits and systems for video technology, vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 105-120, 1994.
“Darts Revolution Again”, Replay Magazine, Mar. 1991, pp. 146-148.
Drews, C.; Pestoni, F.; “Virtual jukebox: reviving a classic,” Proceedings of the 35th Annual Hawaii International Conference System Sciences, pp. 887-893, Jan. 7-10, 2002.
“Ecast Forges Landmark International Technology Partnership”, Business Wire at www.findarticles.com/cf—0/m0EIN/2000—July—25/63663604/print.html, 2 pages, Jul. 25, 2000.
“Foobar 2000 Evaluation Updated,” MonkeyBiz, Aug. 3, 2008, 4 pages (with partial English translation). http://monkeybizinfo.blogspot.jp/2008/08/foobar2000.html.
Gallardo et al., “Tangible Jukebox: back to palpable music”, ACM TEI, pp. 199-202, 2010.
Hewlett-Packard Development Co; HP Open View Storage Data Protector Admin's Guideline Manual Edition; May 2003; Copyright 2003, 60 pages http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c006637931/c00663793.pdf.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 32, No. 9A, Feb. 1990, “Robotic Wafer Handling System for Class 10 Environments” pp. 141-143.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 33, No. 12, May 1991, “High-speed Opens and Shorts Substrate Tester”, pp. 251-259.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 41, No. 1, Jan. 1998, “Safe Mechanism for Installing Operating System Updates with Applications,” pp. 557-559.
Johnny Rockets Name That Tune [online], [retrieved Mar. 7, 2002]. Retrieved from the Internet: <http://www.johnnyrockets.com/docs/funstuff.html>.
Kraiss et al., “Integrated document caching and prefetching in storage hierarchies based on Markov chain predictions”, The VLDB Journal, vol. 7, issue 3, pp. 141-162, 1998.
Ludescher et al., “File Storage Management for TFTF physics data”, IEEE, pp. 856-859, 1992.
Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, Merriam-Webster, Inc., p. 361 (definition of dynamically).
Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Ninth Edition, Merriam Webster, Inc., p. 1148, 1986 (definition of “Stand”).
Mickey B's Jukebox Revue—Name That Tune! [online], [retrieved Jul. 23, 2001]. Retrieved from the Internet: <http://mickeyb.com/tune/>.
Newsome et al., “Proxy compilation of dynamically loaded java classes with MoJo”, ACM LCTES, pp. 204-212, Jun. 2002.
Patent Abstract of Japan vol. 95, No. 010 & JP 07 281682 A (Naguo Yuasa), Oct. 27 1 JP 07 281682, figure 1-6 abrége.
Peter Pawlowski, “Basic Player Whose Appearance and Functions can be Customized Freely ‘Foobar 2000’ v1.0 is Unveiled,” Windows Forest, Japan, Jan. 12, 2010, 3 pages (with partial English translation). http://forest.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2010011213 341870.html.
Pohlmann, “Principles of Digital Audio”, Third Edition, 1995.
PR Newswire, Press Release, “MusicMatch Announces Commerical Availability of Meta Trust Certified MusicMatch jukebox”, New York; Nov. 15, 1999, extracted from Internet, http://proquest.umi.com on Sep. 17, 2002.
Rollins et al., “Pixie: A jukebox architecture to support efficient peer content exchange”, ACM Multimedia, pp. 179-188, 2002.
Sprague et al., “Music selection using the partyvote democratic Jukebox”, ACM AVI, pp. 433-436, 2008.
Stewart, “Ecast Deploys Marimba's Castanet to Power an Internet-Based, Entertainment Management System for the Out-of-Home Market”, Marimba, Press Release, 3 pages, www.marimba.com/news/releases/ecast.dec13.html, Dec. 13, 1999.
Strauss et al., “Information Jukebox a semi public device for presenting multimedia information content”, Pers. Ubiquit Comput, 7, pp. 217-220, 2003.
Tom & Liz's Name That Tune [online], [retrieved Jul. 23, 2001]. Retrieved from the Internet: <http://home.att.net/˜tomnliz/Music.html>.
Notification of Re-Examination in Chinese Application No. 200610005134.8 Nov. 6, 2015.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/358,721, filed Feb. 22, 2006.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/185,974, filed Jul. 21, 2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/222,036, filed Sep. 9, 2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/727,391, filed Mar. 26, 2007.
U.S. Appl. No. 10,661,811, filed Sep. 15, 2003, Digital Downloading Jukebox System with Central and Local Music Servers.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/887,645, filed May 6, 2013, Jukebox with Customizable Avatar.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/902,658, filed Sep. 24, 2007, Digital Downloading Jukebox with Enhanced Communication Features.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/854,426, filed Sep. 15, 2015, Digital Downloading Jukebox System with User-Tailored Music Management, Communications, and Other Tools.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/857,864, filed Sep. 18, 2015, Digital Downloading Jukebox System with User-Tailored Music Management, Communications, and Other Tools.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/883,885, filed Oct. 15, 2015, Digital Downloading Jukebox System with Central and Local Music Servers.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/918,819, filed Oct. 21, 2015, Digital Downloading Jukebox System with User-Tailored Music Management, Communications, and Other Tools.
Patent Abstract of Japan vol. 95, No. 10 & JP 07 281682 A (Naguo Yuasa), Oct. 27, 1 JP 07 281682, figure 1-6 abrége.
Bonczck, Robert H. et al, “The DSS Development System”, 1983 National Computer Conference, Anaheim, California, May 16-19, 1983, pp. 441-455.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 30, No. 5, Oct. 1987, “Method for Automated Assembly of Software Versions”, pp. 353-355.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20050060405 A1 Mar 2005 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60410832 Sep 2002 US