Abstract:
A combination entertainment system for providing both jukebox and game entertainment is disclosed. The entertainment system comprises a jukebox subsystem, a dart game subsystem, and a control subsystem that coordinates a jukebox mode of operation and a dart game mode of operation. Also disclosed is a method of operation for the combination jukebox and game entertainment system. The method transfers operation between game, jukebox, and advertisement modes of operation, based on patron input and the current operating mode of the system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/309,400, filed May 11, 1999; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/975,612, filed Nov. 21, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,765, issued Jul. 27, 1999; which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/638,022, filed Apr. 25, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,398, issued Dec. 8, 1998. Further, this application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/502,875, filed Feb. 11, 2000; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/076,849, filed May 12, 1998; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/584,253, filed Jan. 11, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,889; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/268,782, filed Jun. 30, 1994, now abandoned; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/846,707, filed Mar. 6, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,302. In addition, this application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/426,047, filed Oct. 25, 1999. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to electronic entertainment devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a combination jukebox and electronic game(s).  
           [0004]    Electronic entertainment devices are common in many types of establishments, including arcades, taverns, restaurants and nightclubs. Dart games are among the most popular electronic entertainment devices. Of course, music is also one of the most popular forms of entertainment, but require establishments to provide separate electronic music devices (e.g., expensive jukeboxes) that enable patrons to select and play desired music.  
           [0005]    Floor space is a valuable commodity for many entertainment establishments. Electronic entertainment devices and jukeboxes, however, occupy valuable floor space that could otherwise be profitably used, for example, for additional customer seating. An important consideration, therefore, in the design of new electronic entertainment devices is reducing their footprint.  
           [0006]    Another important concern is operating expense, including taxes, fees, electricity, and maintenance expenses incurred for each electronic entertainment device or jukebox operated. Reducing the number of operational gaming systems in an entertainment establishment may in many instances reduce overall operating expenses.  
           [0007]    A further consideration is the initial cost associated with providing an establishment with jukeboxes and each gaming system. Because of their sophisticated capabilities and complex structure, electronic entertainment devices are typically significant investments. An establishment owner may therefore need to invest a substantial sum of money to adequately meet patron demand for entertainment.  
           [0008]    A need has long existed for a combination jukebox and electronic game that provides multiple functionalities in a single entertainment system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is an object of present invention to provide an entertainment system including a jukebox and at least one electronic game.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for combining jukebox and electronic game(s) functionality in a single unit.  
           [0011]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for combining jukebox and dart game functionality in a single unit in which system components are shared between jukebox functions and dart game functions.  
           [0012]    One or more of the foregoing objects is met in whole or in part by a preferred embodiment of an entertainment system including jukebox and dart game functionality. The entertainment system includes a game subsystem (including, for example, a dart board and dart board interface), and a jukebox subsystem (including, for example, music data decoding hardware and high quality sound output devices). The entertainment system further includes a control subsystem for directing and supervising overall operation of the entertainment system. The combined operation of the jukebox subsystem and the control subsystem provides a jukebox mode of operation. In addition, the combined operation of the game subsystem and the control subsystem provides a dart game mode of operation. The control subsystem may also provide for display of advertising and other information services (e.g., weather reports and news headlines).  
           [0013]    The present invention also provides a method of operation of an entertainment system providing an electronic game(s) and jukebox functionality. The system operates in a current mode of operation that may be, for example, a jukebox mode, a dart game mode or an advertising mode. The method includes receiving a mode command from a patron. The method then determines a next mode of operation based on factors including the mode command received from the patron and the current mode of operation. The mode of operation of the entertainment system is then set to a determined next mode. Upon completion of a particular mode of operation, the entertainment system may automatically resume operation in the previous mode (or any other mode).  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level block diagram of a combination entertainment system.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a combination jukebox and dart game entertainment system.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of operation of a combination jukebox and dart game entertainment system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a combination entertainment system  100 . The combination entertainment system  100  includes a game subsystem  102 , a jukebox subsystem  104 , and a control subsystem  106 . The game subsystem  102  includes the hardware and software that implement an electronic game (e.g., one or more variants of the game of darts). The jukebox subsystem  104  includes the hardware and software that implement a computer jukebox, and the control subsystem  106  includes the hardware and software that exercise coordinated control over the game subsystem  102  and the jukebox subsystem  104 . The computer jukebox subsystem  104  may, for example, download and store digitized songs on its hard drive for subsequent playback, or may play digitized songs by receiving and processing song data streamed directly from a remote server. Examples of a jukebox subsystem are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,355,302; 5,781,889; 5,848,398 and 5,930,765, which are incorporated, in total, herein by reference thereto, and which are assigned to the assignee of the present application. However, those skilled in this art will recognize that other jukebox subsystems may also be used. Although described below with reference to dart games, it is noted that the jukebox subsystem  104  may be combined with any type or kind of electronic game (e.g., a video poker game, golf games, etc.) or entertainment device (e.g., an arcade video game).  
         [0018]    Turning now to FIG. 2, that figure shows a detailed block diagram of a combination entertainment system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The entertainment system  200  implements a combined jukebox and dart game and includes a dart head target  202 , and, optionally, additional targets such as the second dart head target  204 . The lights  206  are provided to communicate information or provide an attractive display for the patron, and the buttons  208  accept input from the patron. Some or all of the lights  206  and buttons  208  may be used for both jukebox mode and dart game mode of the entertainment system  200 . A sound card  210  preferably provides dart game specific sound. The entertainment system  200  accepts payment through a coin mechanism  260  and/or a bill acceptance mechanism  262 .  
         [0019]    The entertainment system  200  preferably includes an audio data decoder  220 . The data decoder  220  receives encoded audio data and produces decoded audio information. The data decoder  220  may be a decoder for any one or more popular encoding techniques including, for example, MP 3 , MS Audio  4 , Madison Project, Liquid Audio and A 2 B. The data decoder  220  may be implemented in hardware only, or may be implemented using a processor executing decoding software. The data decoder  220  provides decoded audio information to a high quality sound card  222  or digital to analog converter, which provides music output at the desired quality for jukebox operation. The pre-amp  224 , in turn, generates a pre-amplified output signal for the amplifier  226  that, in turn, provides the final amplification of the audio signal to a desired power level for the speakers  230 . A power supply  228  supplies the necessary power to the amplifier  226 . A jukebox interface  232  is preferably provided that allows a patron to easily select or request songs. To that end, the jukebox interface  232  may be, for example, a touch screen in place over the display device  282 .  
         [0020]    Also shown in FIG. 2 is a motherboard  250  that provides control over the operation of the entertainment system  200 . In particular, the motherboard  250  (through its CPU and associated software) exercises control over jukebox and dart game modes of operation, as discussed in more detail below with respect to FIG. 3.  
         [0021]    The motherboard  250  communicates with a mass data storage device  252 , such as a hard disk drive. The mass data storage device  252  stores data for use for dart game, jukebox, and advertisement operation. Removable portable media  254  (e.g., a removable disk system) may also be provided for transferring data to and from the system  200 .  
         [0022]    As noted above, the game subsystem  102  includes the hardware and software used to implement game functionality. As shown in FIG. 2, the dart game subsystem may include dart game specific hardware, such as the dart targets  202 ,  204  and the sound card  210 , used only for dart game mode. Similarly, the jukebox subsystem  104  may include jukebox only hardware, such as the audio decoder  220 , the preamplifier  224 , and the amplifier  226 , used only for jukebox mode. In addition, the game subsystem  102  and the jukebox subsystem  104  may include common components used for both modes of operation. As an example, the game subsystem  102  and the jukebox subsystem  104  share use of the I/O board  270 , video card  280 , and video display device  282 . The control subsystem  104 , as noted above, includes the hardware and software to exercise control over the entertainment system. To that end, the control subsystem  104  may generally be considered to include the motherboard  250 , CPU  284 , and memory  286  (which stores the program executed by the CPU  284 ).  
         [0023]    Still referring to FIG. 2, the entertainment system  200  also includes a communications interface  256  (for example, a modem card) and/or a network card  258 . The communications interface  256  and network card  258  allow the entertainment system  200  to communicate data (e.g., new digitized songs or dart game programs) between the system  200  and a remote station, or to connect to and share game or tournament data, as examples, with other entertainment systems.  
         [0024]    An I/O board  270 , (including, for example, data buffers and read/write control logic) coupled to the motherboard  250 , controls input and output operations for the entertainment system  200 . As an example, the dart head target  204  provides input representative of dart hits, and is accordingly coupled to the I/O board  270 . In a similar fashion, the coin mechanism  260  and bill acceptance mechanism  262  are coupled to the I/O board  270 , as are the output lights  206  and input buttons  208 . The I/O board  270  is also coupled to the pre-amp  224  to enable or disable jukebox music output.  
         [0025]    The entertainment system  200  uses a video card  280  and video display device  282  to present to the patron game information, jukebox song selection information, advertisement information, and the like.  
         [0026]    In an alternate embodiment, the jukebox interface  232  may be physically separated from the entertainment system  200  itself, although still connected to, controlled by, and processed by the CPU  284 . Thus, for example, a touchpad, keyboard, mouse, or other pointing device may be provided some distance from the dart target  202 . The jukebox interface  232  thereby allows players to make music selections while other players interact with the dart game.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 3, that figure shows a flow chart  300  of the operation of the entertainment system  200 . When the system  200  is turned on or reset, operation begins at block  301 . The system  200  checks, at step  302 , whether a song was interrupted the last time the system  200  was operating. If song play was interrupted, the system  200  resumes playing songs in the background at step  303 .  
         [0028]    After checking for song play interruption and resuming song play at steps  302  and  303  (if necessary) , the system  200  checks to see, at step  304 , if dart game play was interrupted the last time the system  200  was operating. If dart game play was interrupted, the system  200  resumes dart game play at steps  318  and  320 . If a dart game was not interrupted, the system  200  enters the advertising mode at step  306 .  
         [0029]    In advertising mode  306 , the system  200  outputs advertising information on the video display  282 . Once in advertising mode  306 , the system  200  waits for a patron to select either the dart game mode or the jukebox mode of operation.  
         [0030]    The flow chart  300  illustrates two techniques for checking for a patron mode request input. In the first technique, the system  200  polls a dart button at step  308  to determine if a patron has requested dart game mode. If dart game mode has not been requested, the system  200  polls a jukebox button at step  330  to determine if jukebox mode has been requested by a patron. If neither dart game mode nor jukebox mode has been requested by a patron, system operation returns to the advertising mode step  306 , where the dart game mode check  308  and jukebox mode check  330  are made again. The polling loop of steps  306 ,  308  and  330  continues until the patron inputs a mode selection.  
         [0031]    As a second technique, the system  200  may respond to interrupts to check for patron requests. If the patron makes a mode request, the system  200  generates an interrupt to the CPU  284 . In the flow diagram  300 , the mode request interrupt service routine starts at step  309  and checks for the service button pressed at steps  308  and  330 . The polling technique and interrupt technique for patron mode request detection may alternatively be used separately or in combination.  
         [0032]    Returning to step  308 , when the system  200  determines that the patron selected the dart game mode, the system  200  displays a dart game menu to the patron at step  310 . The dart game menu preferably displays a list of dart game options including, for example, the number of players or the specific dart game variation. The system  200  subsequently performs a game check at step  312  to determine whether the patron has yet chosen a specific dart game.  
         [0033]    If a dart game was chosen, the system  200  performs a money check at step  314  to determine if the patron deposited the appropriate amount of money. If a specific dart game is not selected or dart game money is not provided within a predetermined time period (during which the system  200  waits for input at step  316 ), system operation returns to the advertising mode at step  306 .  
         [0034]    However, if a patron selects a specific dart game and provides an appropriate amount of money within the set time period, dart game play begins at step  318 . The system  200  checks for the game to be completed at step  320 . If the game is not over, system operation continues back at the dart game play step  318 . If the game is complete, the system  200  returns to displaying the dart game menu at step  310 .  
         [0035]    Returning to step  330 , when the system  200  detects a jukebox mode request, the system  200  performs a game-in-progress check at step  331 . If a game is currently in progress, the system preferably resumes operation at the game playing step  318 . Thus, in one embodiment, a request for jukebox mode is not allowed to interrupt a dart game in progress. However, in an alternative embodiment, the system  200  may allow a jukebox mode request to temporarily interrupt a game. The game may then resume upon the completion of jukebox mode.  
         [0036]    Returning to step  331 , if it is determined that no dart game is in progress, the system  200  displays a song selection screen at step  332 . The system next performs a song selection check at step  334 . If the system  200  determines that song selection has occurred, the system  200  checks deposited funds at step  336 . If the system  200  determines that the appropriate amount of money to play the requested songs has been deposited, the system queues the songs for play at step  338 . The system  200  then plays the songs in the background at step  340 .  
         [0037]    The system  200  may thereby provide high quality music entertainment in the background while patrons play a game. As shown in FIG. 3, the system  200  checks the dart button at step  341 , thereby enabling a patron to quickly return to the game mode at step  310 .  
         [0038]    The system  200  also monitors for additional song selections at step  342 . A song selection timeout at step  342  results in the system returning to advertising mode at step  306 .  
         [0039]    Thus, when the current mode is the dart game mode, the entertainment system  200  allows a patron to play a dart game. When the current mode switches to jukebox mode, the entertainment system  200  allows a patron to select songs and optionally have those songs played in the background while playing a game. The entertainment system  200  also provides an advertising mode as a current mode of operation that allows an establishment owner to increase revenues through advertising. The entertainment system  200  reverts automatically, in certain instances as shown in FIG. 3, to a mode of operation prior to the current mode of operation (i.e., a previous mode of operation) to allow the entertainment system  200 , for example, to continue to display advertising.  
         [0040]    Ad The present invention thereby provides a single entertainment system  200  that includes both jukebox and game functionalities. The system  200  reduces floor space requirements while maintaining the level of entertainment provided. The system  200  also provides cost savings by reducing the number of individual systems required by an establishment for a given amount of entertainment. The system further provides cost savings by sharing expensive system components between game and jukebox operation, thereby reducing the overall number of system components necessary to provide game and jukebox entertainment.  
         [0041]    While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. In this regard, the invention, as described above, has focused primarily on enhancements where the electronic game, or game subsystem, is an electronic dart game. However, those skilled in the art should recognize and appreciate that other electronic game(s) could be used in place of or in substitution for the electronic dart game described. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover such modifications as incorporate those features, which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.