U.S. Patent No. 10,963,132: Digital jukebox device with improved karaoke-related user interfaces, and associated methods

Issued March 30, 2021, to TouchTunes Music Corp.
Filed: September 17, 2020 (claiming priority to March 18, 2009)

Overview:

U.S. Patent No. 10,963,132 (the ‘132 patent) is one of many patents concerning an entertainment system or jukebox with an interactive user interface (“UI”) which can access social network information. The ‘132 patent sets out a jukebox device with a touch screen display, allowing users to flip through digital songbooks for a pay-for-play jukebox and karaoke machine. Processing resources and the touch screen display cooperate to cause the device to function in different pay-for-play modes. The display presents a first set of screens that list various media available for playback, resembling pages of a book. Each page has a maximum number of entries corresponding to a subset of the total media available, including at least a song name. The screens dynamically rearrange when an input is received indicating a letter for a song name or an artist, so that the listed entries starting with that letter are at the top of a newly turned page.

The UI is 3D and intends to be easy to use; it has clear buttons and also can be interacted with via touch. When touch is used, it tracks the user input so the page turning animation follows a user’s touch.

The ‘132 patent also allows users to set up accounts with photo avatars for the device’s pay-for-play karaoke with certain social media accounts. The display can be configured to display a performer identifier screen which identifies the user who selected the song in the pay-for-play karaoke mode. This can be determined automatically if a user logs into a jukebox device. The avatar can be retrieved from the social media account or taken with a camera connected to the device.

There are a huge variety of appearances and other features this device could have. Ultimately, the ‘132 patent aims to be fun and easy to use. The game modes pictured at the top like, Dareoke, look fun!

Abstract:

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, certain exemplary embodiments relate to jukebox systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features along with karaoke jukebox and/or photobooth features. A combined karaoke/photobooth/jukebox may enable more integrated performance-like experiences in an in-home or out-of-home location or venue. By leveraging vast audio media libraries, trusted rights-respecting network infrastructure, and on-site image/video capturing from integrated recorders and/or remote portable devices, a more sociable experience may be created for karaoke jukebox patrons, e.g., where custom content can be generated and shared in a safe and legally appropriate manner.

Illustrative Claim:

1. A jukebox device, comprising: processing resources, including at least one processor and a memory; and a touch screen display device, wherein the processing resources and the touch screen display device cooperate with one another to cause the jukebox device to function in at least a pay-for-play jukebox mode and a different pay-for-play karaoke mode, wherein the processing resources is configured to present, on the touch screen display device in one or both said modes, a first set of screens that each list at least a portion of instances of media available for playback via the jukebox in a manner that resembles a book having multiple pages, each said page including at most a predefined maximum number of entries corresponding to a subset of instances of said media available for playback via the jukebox, and each said entry indicating at least a song name associated with the corresponding instance of media that is selectable for playback via the jukebox device, and wherein the first set of screens each include a common set of control elements for re-organizing and navigating through the book, and wherein said re-organizing includes dynamically rearranging, when an input is received indicating a letter for a song name or an artist, the listed portions of the instances of media such that ones of said entries starting with the indicated letter are listed starting at the top of a newly turned page in said book by dynamically reformatting the newly turned page to cause said entries that ordinarily would not appear at the start of a page to be adjusted accordingly to start at the top of the newly turned page.