Abstract:
A computer jukebox capable of receiving and storing advertisement data representing a plurality of advertisement from a remote central management system by way of a transmission link between the computer jukebox and the central management system, comprising a communication interface, a programmable computer memory and a processor. The computer jukebox downloads advertisement data. The communication interface receives advertisement data from the remote central management system by way of the transmission link. The advertisement data represents an identity of each of the plurality of advertisements, and data representing times for each of the advertisements to be run. The programmable computer memory stores the advertisement data. The processor runs the plurality of advertisements according to the advertisement data.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/309,400, filed May 11, 1999, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/975,612, filed Nov. 21, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/638,022, filed Apr. 25, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,398, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/584,253, filed Jan. 11, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,889, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/268,782, filed Jun. 30, 1994, now abandoned, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 07/846,707, filed Mar. 6, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,302, which is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 07/538,981, filed Jun. 15, 1990, now abandoned. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a jukebox system, and more particularly to such a system including one or more computer jukeboxes that can be managed from a remote location.  
           [0003]    Heretofore, an assortment of musical recordings found in a jukebox consists of a plurality of records, each record containing a specific recording. Traditionally, these records are grooved phonograph records. After a patron makes a selection, the selected phonograph record is mechanically removed from a storage rack within the jukebox, and the phonograph record is placed upon rotating platform. A stylus which is connected to a speaker system is then placed upon the rotating phonograph record, resulting in the phonograph record being played by the jukebox. For each selection, a separate phonograph record must be removed from the storage rack in order to be played by the jukebox.  
           [0004]    Conventional jukeboxes have also implemented compact disks as means for creating an assortment of musical songs. Compact disks provide the improved sound quality made possible by digital recordings. The same technique, however, is used to play compact disks. A separate compact disk corresponding to each selection must be removed from a storage rack in order for the jukebox to play the selection. Updating conventional jukeboxes is a costly and time consuming task. Routemen must periodically travel to each jukebox location and replace the existing recordings of each jukebox with up-to-date records. The existing recordings are no longer used by the jukebox once removed, thus making the conventional method wasteful.  
           [0005]    Routemen must also travel to each jukebox location to keep a tally of the number of times each musical recording is selected in order to determine royalty fees. It is known to provide a jukebox with a counter that keeps track of the number of times each musical recording is selected, but routemen must still travel to each jukebox location to obtain this information. Such a process requires an excessive number of people to visit each jukebox location periodically and visually read the information off the counter within each jukebox. Since the number of jukeboxes in operation is quite large, the employment of routemen to obtain such data involves a considerable expense. Furthermore, the ever changing nature of the recording industry requires that such data be gathered frequently in order to keep abreast of a continually changing market.  
           [0006]    Conventional jukeboxes display a selection menu allowing a patron to select a particular recording that he or she may want to hear. When that song is being played, a video accompanying the song is typically displayed on the screen. However, when the jukebox is not being used either the selection menu is still continually displayed or the screen is blank.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for managing a plurality of computer jukeboxes which is capable of eliminating the necessity for routemen to change records in the jukeboxes. The computer jukeboxes store recordings in memory, thus enabling routemen to simply load new recordings into the memory of each computer jukebox.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to eliminate a necessity for routemen by enabling new recordings and selection menus to be downloaded to each computer jukebox via a transmission link. In that regard, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which eliminates the material waste usually associated with updating jukeboxes. Instead of throwing away old recordings and replacing them with new ones, as is the conventional procedure, the present invention eliminates this waste by enabling new recordings to simply be downloaded into the memory of each computer jukebox. The old recordings are simply erased, if necessary.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus which is capable of remotely obtaining jukebox usage data, thus eliminating a necessity for routemen to do this task. The present invention utilizes a computer jukebox, which as part of its software programming, stores the number of times each musical recording is played and the number of credits that have been awarded. This data is uploaded to a central control device via a transmission link.  
           [0010]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus utilizing modern computer technology to digitally store and play musical records. The jukebox of the present invention is basically a computer having a sophisticated audio production capability, the computer storing digitized song data in a computer memory. Because conventional jukeboxes maintain compact discs or records in the jukebox, theft of the compact disc/records has been a problem, this problem being eliminated by the present invention&#39;s utilization of a computer memory to store the digitized song data.  
           [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of being used with the remote management of jukeboxes via public telephone lines without interfering with an establishments&#39; use of their own phone lines.  
           [0012]    Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for downloading and storing advertisements to a computer jukebox, and then running the advertisements on a screen associated with the computer jukebox at specified times. Additionally, the jukebox may also be associated with an electronic game so that advertisements not be run on a screen of the electronic game when the game is not being played.  
           [0013]    It is a related object of the present invention to track the number of times a particular advertisement is actually run so that the advertiser can be appropriately billed. This information is uploaded to the central control device via the transmission link.  
           [0014]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the computer jukebox system of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an illustration of the data structure of an individual song record stored in a master library catalog illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a flow-chart illustrating the procedure for storing new songs in a bulk storage unit illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 4A and B are flow-charts illustrating the software procedures used by the central management system and the jukebox respectively in managing the song library of the jukebox.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a flow-chart illustrating the specific operation of the jukebox in interfacing with a user.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    In accordance with the, present invention as shown in FIG. 1, a central management system  11  monitors and updates the available selection of music at a number of remotely located jukeboxes such as a jukebox  13 . Particularly, the central management system  11  monitors each jukebox  13  to determine the number of times each song has been played. From these numbers, the central management system  11  can calculate the royalty payments that are due. More importantly, the central management system  11  can identify those specific songs which need to be replaced in each jukebox on an individual basis, the central management system communicating replacement songs to each jukebox  13  to update the available music selection therein as needed.  
         [0021]    Each jukebox  13  is basically a computer having sophisticated audio production capability wherein each computer jukebox  13  is programmed to play songs that have been digitally compressed and stored in a large-volume data storage unit  93 . The storage unit  93  may be an optical memory or any other available large volume nonvolatile computer memory that provides both read and write access.  
         [0022]    The central management system  11  communicates with each computer jukebox  13  via a transmission link  15 . The central management system  11  and each jukebox  13  use respective modems  17  and  19  to maintain serial communication on the transmission link  15 . The transmission link  15  may be a cable system such as public or private telephone lines or the like. However, the modems  17  and  19  may be replaced with RF (radio frequency) transceivers and associated antennas. In the latter instance the transmission link  15  is an RF link.  
         [0023]    Additionally, in another embodiment, an audio codec may be included as part of the central management system  11 . The audio codec receives analog audio input, converts it into digital bytes, and then compresses these bytes via known audio compression methods for economic transmission, such as by the commercially available “MUSICAM.RTM.” algorithm. The compressed digital audio can than be transmitted to the jukebox  13  by the transmission link  15  which, in addition to the above described system such as telephone lines, cable, RF links or modems, can include transmission via a sub carrier to utilize certain FM channels. In this embodiment, the audio information is transmitted in packets of a predetermined length. Each packet is organized such that a header is transmitted first. The header is followed by the compressed audio data and then by a trailer containing an error detection method to ensure that the audio was transferred properly.  
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the central management system  11  transmits the compressed audio data via satellite or cellular telephone systems. In either of these cases, the transmission link  15  is a satellite uplink or a cellular uplink. In yet another embodiment, the audio information may be stored on a portable infra red device, and the information may be transmitted from the device via infra red rays to the computer jukebox  13 . As discussed in more detail below, the central management system  11  can transmit other information, specifically video and graphic information via the transmission link  15  to the computer jukebox  13 .  
         [0025]    Specifically, the central management system  11  includes a host computer  21  which maintains a master library  23  of songs and associated graphics which are stored in a compressed digital form in a bulk storage unit  25 . The bulk storage unit  25  is capable of storing vast amounts of digital data, and may take the form of a read-write optical storage device. The host computer  21  indexes the master library  23  by using a master catalog  27  which is also maintained in the bulk storage unit  25 .  
         [0026]    The master catalog  27  stores a song record  29 , as illustrated in FIG. 2, for each song stored in the master library  23 . Each song record  29  associates information in the following fields: a) title field  31 , containing the name of the song; b) a classification field  33 , containing the type of music, i.e., country, pop, jazz, classical, etc.; c) a song address field  37 , containing the beginning address in the bulk storage unit  25  of the compressed digital data of the song; d) a song size field  39 , containing the number of bytes in length of the compressed digital data; e) a graphics address field  41 , containing the beginning address in the bulk storage unit  25  of the compressed digital data of a graphics image, if any, to be associated with the song; f) a graphics size field  43 , containing the number of bytes in length of the compressed graphics image; and g) a play count field  45 , containing a count which indicates the number of times this specific song has been played. By parsing the master catalog  27 , the host computer  21  can quickly locate all available information relating to any available song. The master catalog  27  also stores data particular to each jukebox such as the number of times each available song has been played, the coin intake for that jukebox, etc. The data particular to each jukebox is uploaded from the jukebox to the central management system  11  to update the master catalog  27 .  
         [0027]    Returning to FIG. 1, in order to add to the master library  23  and associated master catalog  27 , the host computer  21  receives, has compressed and stores in the bulk storage unit  25  digital data representing the new song and associated pictorial graphics. The host computer  21  receives the digital data for storage from three sources: 1) a compact disc read only memory (CDROM) reader  51 , which reads CDROMS; 2) a graphics scanner  53 , which digitizes pictorial graphic images; and 3) an analog to digital (A/D) reader/converter  55 , which reads analog data from both tapes and records and then converts the analog data into digital data. A compression circuit  52  using an adaptive-delta, pulse-code-modulation compression scheme compresses the digital data before it is stored. Other compression schemes may also be used. The compression circuit  52  might also be fully replaced by a software algorithm, such as MUSICAM.RTM., which is executed by the host computer  21 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 more specifically illustrates the operation of the host computer  21  in adding new songs to the master library  23 . At a block  61 , the user is initially prompted by the host computer  21  to enter a new song title and category. The host computer  21  writes this information into the title field  31  and classification field  33  of a new song record  29  at a block  63 . Next, at a block  65 , the host computer  21  prompts the user to place either a CDROM into the reader  51  or a record or tape into the reader/converter  55 . After the user has completed this placement, at a block  67  the host computer  21  identifies available storage space in the bulk storage unit  25  by analyzing the space in use as described in the current list of song records  29  in the master catalog  27 . The beginning address of this available storage space is placed in the song address field  37  of the new song record  29 . Thereafter, at a block  69 , the host computer  21  provides a read enable signal on a bus  50  to either the reader  51  or reader/converter  55 . Either the reader  51  or reader/converter  55  responds by reading and sending digital data representing the new song to the host computer  21  via the bus  50 . Utilizing a bus  54 , the host computer  21  forwards the digital data received to the compression circuit  52 , receives compressed digital data from the compression circuit  52  and writes the compressed digital data into the bulk storage unit  25 . At a block  71 , upon reaching the end of the digital data output, i.e., the end of a song, the host computer  21  writes the byte length of the digital output into the song size field  39 .  
         [0029]    The host computer  21  at a block  73  prompts the user to load a picture, such as an album cover, into the graphics scanner  53 . At a block  75 , the host computer  21  identifies further available storage space in the bulk storage unit  25  and places the beginning address thereof into the graphics address field  41 . Once a picture is loaded, the host computer  21  at block  77 , using the bus  50 , provides a read enable signal to the scanner  53  which responds via bus  50  by digitizing the picture and transferring the digitized output to the host computer  21 . At a block  79 , using the bus  54 , the host computer  21  forwards the digitized data of the picture to the compression circuit  52 , receives compressed digitized data from the compression circuit  52 , and writes the compressed digitized data into the bulk storage unit  25 . At a block  81 , upon reaching the end of the digitized output, i.e., the end of the picture, the host computer  21  places the byte length of the digitized output into the graphics size field  43 . Finally, at a block  83 , the host computer  21  sets the play count field  45  to zero (0). This flow-chart is repeated as necessary until all of the new songs are added to the master library  27 . It is noted that the operator can also delete, modify or replace any specific song record  29  found in the master catalog  27  and master library  23 .  
         [0030]    Returning to FIG. 1, each computer jukebox  13  plays songs and displays graphics which are stored locally in the large-volume data storage unit  93 . The storage unit  93  of the jukebox  13  contains a subset of the songs found in the master library  23  maintained by the central management system  11 . More specifically, the storage unit  93  of the jukebox  13  stores a song library  91  which is a corresponding subset of the master library  23 . The song library  91  contains all of the currently available song selections and associated pictorial graphics for the jukebox  13 . The storage unit  93  also stores a catalog  95  that is an index into the local song library  91 . The catalog  95  is similar to the master catalog  27 . Both the song library  91  and associated catalog  95  are monitored and updated by the central management system  11  as needed via the transmission link  15 . The jukebox  13  permits this monitoring and updating at any time with no impact on its end-user performance.  
         [0031]    The jukebox  13  also includes a processing circuit  121  which contains a microprocessor  121 A, read only memory (ROM)  121 B and random access memory (RAM)  121 C. As in conventional computer systems, the microprocessor  121 A operates in accordance with the software program contained in the ROM  121 B and utilizes the RAM  121 C for scratch-pad memory. The processing circuit  121  may also contain a decompression circuit (not shown) or may perform decompression using a software algorithm stored in the ROM  121 B depending on the type of data compression scheme used by the central management system  11 . In either case, decompression is necessary to decompress the compressed data received from the central control system  11  so that the song can be played and associated graphics image displayed.  
         [0032]    The processing circuit  121  controls the operation and flow of data into and out of the jukebox  13  through the modem  19  via a bus  124 . Using the bus  124 , the processing circuit  121  also controls a visual display  125 , one or more selection keys  123  and a coin/bill detector  126  to provide the user with an interactive interface to the jukebox  13 . The keys  123  provide signals representing user inputs such as displayed song selection. The display  125  displays alpha numeric information as well as pictorial graphics to interface with the user. The coin/bill detector  126  is responsive to one or more coins or bills input by a customer to determine whether the proper amount of money has been input and to provide money detect signals coupled to the processing circuit. The processing circuit  121  further controls, via the bus  124 , an audio reproduction circuit  127  coupled to a speaker system  129  along a bus  131  to provide an audio output to the user.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow-charts illustrating the software procedures respectively used by the central management system  11  and the jukebox  13  in managing the song library  91  of the jukebox  13 . At a block  101 , the central management system  11  initiates communication with one of the jukeboxes  13  via the transmission link  15 .  
         [0034]    Immediately thereafter, at a block  103 , the management system  11  requests that the jukebox data be sent including a copy of the catalog  95 . At a corresponding block  141 , the jukebox  13  responds by sending the copy of the catalog file as well as other jukebox data including total money intake over a period of time. The data sent from the jukebox to the management station may also include customer requests for new songs, a customer utilizing the display and keyboard of the jukebox  13  to enter song request data as discussed below. Thereafter, at a block  105 , by examining each play count field  45  in the copy of the catalog  95  received, the management system  11  determines the royalty amount due per song and whether to replace or update specific song entries stored in the jukebox  13 . The management system  11  also determines the total money intake from the play count information and compares this value to the total money intake value received from the jukebox to provide a check. At an inquiry block  107 , if no replacements are necessary, the management system  11  branches to a block  109  to terminate communication with the jukebox  13 . If, however, replacements are necessary, the management system  11  branches to download the changes. Particularly, at a block  111 , the management system  11  downloads to the jukebox  13  the song records  29  of both the song to be replaced and the replacement song. In a corresponding block  143 , the jukebox  13  replaces the song record  29  in the catalog  95 .  
         [0035]    Thereafter, the jukebox  13  identifies available storage space in the storage unit  93  based on the song size field  39  of the new song, and writes the beginning address thereof into the song address field  37  in a corresponding block  145 . Afterwards, at a block  113 , the central management system  11  downloads the compressed digital data of the song to the jukebox  13 . Afterwards, at a block  113  the central management system  11  downloads the compressed digital data of the song to the jukebox  13 . At a corresponding block  147 , the jukebox  13  receives and writes the data into the song library  91 . Next, at a corresponding block  149 , the jukebox  13  identifies available storage space in the storage unit  93  based on the graphics size field  43 , and writes the beginning address thereof into the graphics address field  41  of the new song. Thereafter, at a block  115 , the management system  11  downloads the compressed digitized data of the picture to the jukebox  13 . The jukebox, at a corresponding block  151 , receives and writes the data into the song library  91 . Finally, the block  107  is again encountered. If further replacements need to be made, the blocks  111 ,  113  and  115  are repeated until complete. At a corresponding block  153 , the jukebox similarly repeats the corresponding blocks  143  through  151  until no further replacements need to be made. A further block placed immediately above the block  107  may also be used, wherein the central management system  11  sends a delete, modify, add or replace command to the jukebox  13  before downloading into the song library  93 . In this way, the management system  11  receives additional flexibility in updating the jukebox  13 . It is noted that the jukebox  13  can also initiate communications with the management system  11  at predetermined times or if the jukebox determines that an event has occurred that the management system  11  should be aware of.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 is a flow-chart illustrating the specific operation of the processing circuit  121  of the jukebox  13  in interfacing with the user. At a block  161 , if no song selection is playing, the processing circuit  121  operates in a user attract mode, displaying a random sequence of available graphic images on the visual display  125 . More particularly, the processing circuit  121  randomly selects a starting address of the compressed graphics data from the available song records  29  in the catalog  95 . From that starting address, the circuit  121  retrieves the data from the song library  91  via the bus  124 . The circuit  121  decompresses and transfers the data along the bus  124  to the visual display  125  for display. Thereafter, the circuit  121  again randomly selects a starting address of available graphics data and this cycle repeats. If, however, a song selection is being played when the block  161  is encountered, the attract mode sequencing does not occur. Instead, the circuit  121  displays the associated graphics image of the song being played on the display  125 . During the attract mode the processing circuit  121  may also control the display  125  to present a prompt requesting customers to enter new song requests. The new song request data entered by a customer using the keyboard is stored and uploaded to the management system  11  to aid the system  11  in determining whether new song data should be downloaded to the jukebox.  
         [0037]    At a block  163 , the processing circuit  121  responds to a signal indicating user interest from the selection keys  123  by providing on the display  125  those music categories, i.e., country, rock, jazz, etc., found in the catalog  95 . At a block  165 , the circuit  121  responds to a signal indicating a category selection from the keys  123  by providing on the display  125  an index of available songs, arranged alphabetically either by artist or title, which can be scrolled and selected using the keys  123 . Upon selection of a specific song, the circuit  121  encounters an inquiry block  167 . If at the block  167  the circuit  121  determines from the signal received from the money detector  125  that a sufficient amount of money has not been deposited, a branch to a block  169  occurs. At the block  169 , using the display  125 , the circuit  121  prompts the user to deposit money into the coin/bill detector  126 , then branches back to the block  161 . However, if sufficient moneys have been deposited, the circuit  121  branches to a block  171  wherein the circuit  121  updates the play count field of the selected song&#39;s record in the catalog file  95  and money intake data stored in the memory. The circuit also places the song record  29  corresponding to the selected song into a queue of song records to be played. After the selection is queued, the circuit  121  encounters an inquiry block  153 . If the total number of selections purchased have been selected, the circuit  121  branches back to the block  161 . Otherwise, if further purchased selections are forthcoming, the circuit  121  branches back to the block  163 ., In this manner, all of the selections are made and placed in the queue. Upon completion of playing a queued-up, selected song, the circuit  121  removes the corresponding song record  29  from the queue, selects the next song record in the queue, begins to play that next song, and executes the block  161 . It is noted that the song queue can be displayed on the display  125  in order to show customers what songs have already been selected prior to making their selection.  
         [0038]    More specifically, referring back to FIG. 1, once a specific song has been selected and queued-up, the processing circuit  121  first identifies the beginning address of the compressed digital data from the song address field  37  of the song record  29  in the queue. From this address, using the bus  124 , the circuit  121  reads the compressed digital data out of the storage unit  93 , decompresses that data, and sends the decompressed digital data to the audio reproduction circuit  127 . The audio reproduction circuit  127 , commonly found in CDROM readers and associated amplifiers, converts the digital data to an analog signal which is amplified and used to drive the speaker system  129  via the bus  131 . After a selected song finishes playing, the processing circuit  121  deletes the song record  29  of the selected song from the queue, increments the play count field  45  associated with that song in the catalog  95 , and begins playing the next selected song in the queue if any exists. The process set forth in the flow-chart detailed in FIG. 5 is then repeated.  
         [0039]    While the present invention is being described and illustrated in accordance with the preferred embodiment enabling new recordings and computer usage data to be transferred via the transmission line  15 , the monitoring and updating may also be directly transferred. In this latter embodiment, routemen physically visit the location of each computer jukebox  13 . During these visits, the routemen carry a portable management system  181  which has only a subset of potential replacement songs stored in a subset library and associated catalog (not shown) on a portable bulk storage unit  183 . The subset library is loaded by the portable management system  181  onto the portable bulk storage unit  183  either directly from the bulk storage unit  25  or indirectly as is initially done by the central management system  11  (described above). In all other ways, the portable management system  181  operates the same as the central management system  11 , collecting the catalog  95  of each jukebox  13  and updating or replacing as necessary. To accomplish this, the portable management system  181  communicates at a very high rate of speed with the jukebox  13  via a parallel communication link  185  and a direct memory access (DMA) link  187 .  
         [0040]    Additionally, the routemen may simply exchange the “old” storage unit  93  with a pre-loaded storage unit (not shown). The central management system  11  may later read the “old” storage unit  93  to gather the information from the catalog  95 . Such an embodiment still enjoys the other advantages made possible by the computer jukeboxes  13  described herein.  
         [0041]    Additionally, the visual display  125  can be directed to display various advertisements. The advertisements are downloaded from the central management system  11  to selected computer jukeboxes  13  via the transmission link  15 . Also downloaded with the advertisements is digital data representing the identity of each advertisement, the number of times, and when each of the advertisements is to be run. The advertisement data is stored at a separate location on the storage unit  93  so that they can be easily located and tracked.  
         [0042]    The advertisements like the audio data are preferably sent to the computer jukebox  13  in compressed form, using a known compression scheme. The compressed data is preferably sent in packets that contain a header. The header contains information about the advertisement including how many times a day the advertisement should be run and at what times. The advertisements can then be displayed at the predetermined times on the visual display  125 .  
         [0043]    In the preferred embodiment, if a conflict arises between a song being played and the time for an advertisement to be played, the conflict is resolved as follows. If the song contains audio only and no associated graphics being shown on the visual display  125 , then the advertisement, if it is video only, will be played simultaneously. If the advertisement contains video data and audio data, the advertisement will be run at the next available time slot or be shipped altogether. As each jukebox  13  tracks when an advertisement starts and when it stops, if a particular advertisement is never run, then the central management system will receive such information and the advertiser will be billed accordingly.  
         [0044]    The advertisements are also stored in the storage unit  93 . Because there is bilateral communication between the central management system  11  and the computer jukeboxes  13 , the central management system  11  can track the number of times each advertisement is actually run for billing and royalty purposes by having this information uploaded from the computer jukebox  13  to the central management system  11 . The transmission link  15  that&#39;s used to download or transmit these advertisements can be any of the means disclosed above, including, modems  17 ,  19 , a cable system, a RF link, a satellite link, a cellular telephone link, or a portable handheld device.  
         [0045]    The downloading and storing of advertisements is completed by the same apparatus and method as described above in connection with FIGS. 1 through 5.  
         [0046]    In yet another embodiment, the computer jukebox  13  is associated with an electronic game, such as an electronic dart game. In the embodiment, the advertisements are also played on the visual display  125  associated with the electronic game when the game is not being played.  
         [0047]    Additionally, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described hereinabove are merely illustrative and that other modifications and adaptations may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.