Abstract:
Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor device associated with a payment device primarily including means for storing, inter alia, in digital format the visual and sound information to be used. The system is associated through interfaces with display means and sound playback means for providing a multimedia environment. The system is controlled by a multitask operating system including a tool and service library integrated into the storage means. The system, which is also associated through an interface with a telecommunications modem, is optionally connected to an audiovisual data distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, said telecommunications function also being controlled by said multitask operating system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a payment-triggered audiovisual reproduction system. 
         [0002]    These audiovisual reproduction systems are generally found in cafes or pubs. This type of system is composed of a sound reproduction machine usually called a jukebox linked to a monitor which displays video images or video clips. To do this, the jukebox is equipped with a compact video disk player and a compact video disk library and includes selection buttons which locate the titles of pieces of music that are available. Payment of a proper fee followed by one or more selections authorizes activation of the system with automatic loading in the player of the disk on which the selected piece is found. Subsequently, the desired audiovisual reproduction is played. 
         [0003]    These systems, although allowing reliable and good quality reproduction, nevertheless have major defects. A first defect relates to the space necessary for storing the library; this consequently entails that the system will have large dimensions. Another defect of these systems relates to the mostly mechanical components using sophisticated techniques, which in turn, have high fault rates. Moreover, it is unusual for all the songs on a disk to be regularly heard, but unwanted songs cannot be eliminated from the disk, and the disk occupies physical space. Another problem is caused by the companies that manage and distribute these systems, placing in the circuit a limited number of identical disks and imposing a certain rotation on their customers. As a result, customers must wait when a disk is not available. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The object of the invention is to eliminate the various defects of the prior art systems. The invention proposes an intelligent digital audiovisual system which is practical to implement, compact, reliable, and enables storage at the title level as well as easy deletion or insertion of titles not listened to or wanted, respectively, while maintaining a large song library and outputting a high level of reproduction quality. 
         [0005]    To do this, the audiovisual reproduction system according to the invention is developed around a microprocessor device linked to a payment device. The system includes a memory for storing in digital form the audio and visual information to be used. The microprocessor device is also linked via interfaces to a display and audio reproduction structure allowing formation of a multimedia environment. The ensemble is managed by a multitask operating system including a library of tools and services integrated in the memory. 
         [0006]    Thus, all the audiovisual information to be used is digitized and stored in the memory and can be re-read with high fidelity, allowing the audiovisual reproduction system according to the invention to output high-quality songs and graphics. 
         [0007]    A new title can be easily introduced into the memory, and a little heard or undesirable title can be easily deleted from the memory. With musical selections, corresponding album covers can likewise be stored in digitized form. The memory stores a minimum of 350 to 400 titles and can be expanded without any difficulty. The simplicity of operation and absence of mechanical components in the system for reproduction of audiovisual information greatly reduce the number of failures, which results in lower cost maintenance. Moreover, the multitask operating system, which includes a library containing a set of tools and services, makes it possible to greatly facilitate operation due to its integration in the memory and the resulting high flexibility. In particular, with the multitask operating system, it is possible to create a multimedia environment by simply and simultaneously managing audio reproduction, video or graphics display and video animation. In addition, since the audiovisual information is digitized and stored in the memory, it uses much less space than for a traditional audiovisual reproduction system, and consequently, the dimensions of the system according to the invention are reduced. Consequently, the dimensions of the housing in which the system is located are greatly reduced, and the cost of the ensemble is likewise greatly reduced. The external appearance of the housing of course can be easily adapted to the nature of the establishment. 
         [0008]    Advantageously, the audiovisual reproduction system is moreover linked via an interface to a telecommunications modem, the system then being connected to an audiovisual data distribution system by the telecommunications modem and telecommunications lines, this telecommunications function is likewise managed by the multitask operating system included in the library of tools and services integrated in the memory. 
         [0009]    Connection to the audiovisual data distribution network, of a proprietary type, then authorizes the return and quasi-immediate insertion of the desired titles in the memory of this system. The telecommunications lines are preferably high speed telecommunication lines. The multitask operating system, while allowing the formation of a multimedia environment, at the same time allows use of the telecommunications services included in the library of tools and services. 
         [0010]    Notably the system can easily be provided with a timer for automatic and periodic activation after a predetermined period of nonuse. This timing function is written into the memory and managed by the multitask operating system. These automatic and periodic activations for partial or complete audiovisual reproductions make it possible to draw customer attention and consequently increase revenues. 
         [0011]    Characteristically, the memory stores a catalog of titles relating to available audiovisual data with the corresponding fees. The selection of a title automatically triggers internal processing which totals the sums relative to a chosen title. Thus, the system provides an accurate calculation and verification of fees. 
         [0012]    Likewise, each choice of a title is counted for display of use statistics, the display being triggered by activating a predetermined function. According to this characteristic, the system manager or owner is allowed to display, after activating the predetermined function, the statistical total of the various uses. This information guides him in the choice of titles to be retained or discarded. The receipts relative to the fees paid which are thus counted exactly are recovered by the system manager or owner by a key. 
         [0013]    The audiovisual reproduction system preferably uses the aforementioned listed components, although certainly additional components could be used, and the invention is not meant to be limited. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The following description with reference to the attached drawings, given using a non-limiting example, will explain how the invention can be accomplished. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of the audiovisual reproduction jukebox system according to the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the jukebox system; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing the specific service modules of a task managed by the multitask operating system, the ensemble of modules being included in a library stored in the memory. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The hardware components according to the present invention will first be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0019]    The microprocessor device  22  to be used is a high performance PC-compatible system, such as an Intel 80486 DX/2 system which has memory and the following characteristics.
       compatibility with the local Vesa bus,   processor cache memory: 256 kB,   RAM of 32 MB,   high performance parallel and serial ports,   SVGA microprocessor graphics adapter,   type SCSI/2 bus type controller,   self-powered static RAM.       
 
         [0027]    The display consists essentially of:
       a 14 inch (35.56 cm) flat screen video monitor without interleaving of the SVGA type, with high resolution and low radiation, which is used for video reproduction (for example, the covers of the albums of the musical selection), graphics or video clips,   a 14 inch (35.56 cm) touch screen “Intelli Touch” from Elo Touch Systems Inc. which includes a glass coated board using “advanced surface wave technology” and an AT type bus controller. This touch screen allows display of various selection data used by the customers and command and management control information used by the system manager or owner. It is likewise used for maintenance purposes in combination with an external keyboard that can be connected to the system which has a keyboard connector for this purpose, controlled by a key lock.       
 
         [0030]    Likewise comprising part of the memory, storage modules  240 ,  246  using hard disks of the high speed and high capacity SCSI type are connected to the memory in the microprocessor device. These modules allow storage of audiovisual data. 
         [0031]    A high speed 28.8 k/bps telecommunications modem adapter  26  is integrated to enable the connection to the audiovisual data distribution network  28  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0032]    To reproduce the audio data of the musical selections, the system includes integrated amplified loudspeakers  30  and is equipped with commercial electronic cards of the music synthesizer type which are provided to support a large number of input sources while providing an output with CD (compact disk) type quality, in particular.
       a microprocessor multimedia audio adapter of the “Sound Blaster” type SBP32AWE from Creative Labs Inc.       
 
         [0034]    A thermally controlled 240 watt ventilated power supply  32  provides power to the system. This power supply is protected against surges and harmonics. 
         [0035]    The audiovisual reproduction system and especially the microprocessor device are configurable equally by remote control  14 , for which the following are used:
       an infrared remote control  14  from Mind Path Technologies Inc., an emitter which has fifteen control keys for the microprocessor system and eight control keys for the projection device.   an infrared receiver  14   b  with serial adapter from Mind Path Technologies Inc.       
 
         [0038]    A fee payment device  34  from National Rejectors Inc. is likewise integrated into the system. It is also possible to use any other device which allows receipt of any type of payment by coins, bills, tokens, magnetic chip cards or a combination of means of payment. 
         [0039]    To house the system a chassis or frame of steel with external customizable fittings is also provided. 
         [0040]    A wireless microphone  38  is incorporated into the system allowing transformation of the latter into a powerful public address system or possibly a karaoke machine. A wireless loudspeaker system can also be used by the system. Finally, remote control allows, for example from behind the bar, access to and control of various commands such as:
       microphone start/stop command,   loudspeaker muting command,   audio volume control command,   command to cancel the musical selection being played.       
 
         [0045]    The choice of software developed or used to operate the audiovisual reproduction system has been oriented to be user-friendly. From this perspective all the characteristics of the system can be controlled via the easy-to-use graphics touch screen in cooperation with an auxiliary voice synthesis system. 
         [0046]    To do this, on the touch screen used for control and assistance, at least four control panels can be selected. The first title selection panel helps customers find and select a desired title. A second management control panel controls volume, bass, treble or panoramic control on the video monitor. A third panel scans the title database, for private use, to allow the system manager or owner to examine the database containing the available titles via the audiovisual data distribution network to control and retrieve the titles. A fourth statistics panel, for private use, provides statistical estimations and calculations relative to the titles. 
         [0047]    Customer selections of musical pieces are greatly simplified by the graphics interface which has facilities such as browsing the available titles according to various selection criteria, for example title, composer, category, etc. Moreover, when a musical piece is chosen, the album cover to which it belongs can be displayed at the same time as certain statistical data such as the composer of the piece, its length, album label, etc. 
         [0048]    For this purpose, the system operating software has been developed around a library of tools and services largely oriented to the audiovisual domain in a multimedia environment. This library advantageously includes a multitask operating system which efficiently enables simultaneous execution of multiple fragments of code. The operating software thus allows concurrent execution, in an orderly manner and avoiding any conflict, of operations performed on the display, audio reproduction structure as well as management of the telecommunications lines via the distribution network. In addition, the software has high flexibility since it allows the owner of the establishment to use options not available before, such as:
       automatic withdrawal to an auxiliary source, for example, a FM tuner, during inactivity of the main function,   remote control of the audio volume,   cancelling or skipping a musical piece,   superposition of a microphone on the existing sound for public address or to convert the system into a karaoke machine,   amplifier control with respect to output power, right or left channel balance, control of base or treble frequencies,   automatic activation of audiovisual reproduction at controllable intervals when the system is inactive.       
 
         [0055]    Advantageously, the audiovisual data distribution network is an integral part of the system environment according to the invention and it allows the manager or owner of the system to exploit new and powerful possibilities and services such as:
       remote technical assistance: either for problems of minor malfunctions by assisting the system manager or owner, or for more major problems by assisting the technicians in locating the fault and the defective component,   management of security: each system is connected to a local controller system according to a preestablished time pattern for acquisition of an approval signal in the form of a registration number which authorizes its operation. In addition, if cheating is detected or the system can no longer communicate via the network, the system automatically stops working,   acquisition of musical pieces with the album covers: the system manager or owner can select and acquire musical pieces by browsing the selection database. Transfer of a musical piece with its album cover and integration into the list of available titles are done within a very short time,   upgrading of the system: corrective maintenance of major or minor problems relative to the system operating software, improvements or upgrades are enabled via the telecommunications lines through the distribution network. Only a few minutes are necessary to transfer these modifications to any network system,   collection of statistics: all statistics and data internal to a system are rapidly available to be compiled via the distribution network, the statistics allowing specific and efficient analysis of the entire market situation,   billing: the distribution network automatically calls the system which has registered the amounts collected by the system following payment by the user, calculates the composer royalties which the system manager or owner must pay to the distribution network company, and produces the appropriate accounts,   marketing and promotion: at the request of a title supplier for promotional purposes high fidelity digital reproduction of a title is available to the system manager or owner during subsequent hours via the distribution network. Digitization of the musical selections which are made available via the distribution network is done using various commercially available software tools, which provide standard formatted data files.       
 
         [0063]    The digitized audiovisual data are stored in a format which uses standard compression. The system decompresses the musical selections stored in the storage means at the instant at which they are reproduced; this allows a considerable reduction in the memory space necessary to store them, while optimizing the delays during transfer via the telecommunications lines. 
         [0064]    Each selection is available according to two digitized formats: with a hi-fi quality or CD quality. This authorizes an advantageous balance between the necessary memory space and the required reproduction quality which depends on the effective noise level in the establishment and the quality requirement. 
         [0065]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , it is noted that while all the modules described separately seem to be used sequentially, in reality the specific tasks of the modules are executed simultaneously in an environment using the multitask operating system. Consequently the flowchart of  FIG. 3  indicates the specific operations which the module must perform and not a branch toward this module which would invalidate all the operations performed by the other modules. 
         [0066]    The first module, labeled SSM, is the system startup module. This module does only one thing, and consequently, it is loaded automatically when the system is powered up. If the system is started with a correct registration number, it then directly enters the “in service” mode of the module labeled RRM. 
         [0067]    The REG module is the registration mode module which, when it is activated for the first time or when approval for a new registration is necessary, indicates its software serial number and requests that the user enters his coordinates, such as the name of the establishment, address and telephone number. When the system is not registered, it operates only for registration, providing the manager with the appropriate information necessary to activate it. Once the user has finished entering the necessary information, the system proceeds to register itself for a predetermined registration period and then activates itself completely. Before the registration period expires, the system attempts to establish a telecommunications link to a server  28  via the distribution network  29 . If a connection is established, it renews its registration with its software serial number and provides to the server the additional user information furnished by the customer. When the registration period expires before the system is able to establish a link and renew its registration, it is invalidated after a configurable grace period has expired and sends the message “out of service”. When the manager inserts his key, he is guided for system registration. It is possible to register the system by telephone when a telecommunications line problem or telephone line fault occurs. When a system is registered and activated by the telecommunications network or via a telephone call to the distribution network headquarters, it becomes completely operational in two modes, “user” and “manager” (for system maintenance) for another registration period. 
         [0068]    The RMM module enters the “in service” mode when its registration number has been validated. In this mode, the system is ready to handle any request which can be triggered by various predefined events such as:
       customers touching the screen: when a customer or user touches the screen, the system transfers control of the foreground session to the CBSM module  19  of the customer browsing and selection mode,   telecommunications network server call requests: when the system detects a loop on the phone line, it emits an asynchronous background procedure: the telecommunications services mode of the TSM module  17 ,   requests concerning the key switch: when the manager turns the key switch, the system hands over control of its foreground session to the management mode MMM module  12 ,   reception of a remote control signal: when a command is received, it is processed in a background session by the system command SCM module  15  while the foreground session remains available for other interventions,   appearance of end of timing, showing inactivity of the system: when one of the various timers is activated, control is temporarily handed over to the inactivity routines IRM module for processing.       
 
         [0074]    The system remains in the “in service” mode until one of the above described events takes place. 
         [0075]    The IRM module  11  is the inactivity routines module. It contains the routines that perform predetermined functions which it can call on when the system is inactive and when a predefined but adjustable time interval has expired. The aforementioned list of functions that the system can handle is of course not limited, and new functions which would be desirable to add to the overall system of the distribution network could be added very easily at any time and as soon as they are created using the remote control services for software upgrading. Such functions can be offered and added for example when requirements have been confirmed regarding management of the ensemble of systems or simply for a given system. Some of these proposed functions with the system are described below:
       display of an album cover to announce its presence or its future integration into the system: the system displays a full screen of announcements showing the album covers for a desired interval. Different panoramic effects can be used, zoom forward and back, for example, on the covers of each album to draw the attention of the customers,   broadcast of parts of musical pieces present in the system: the manager in this case can control and sample the pieces broadcast during a specific interval and can have these pieces correspond to the album covers on the screen,   reproduction of complete selections for internal promotional proposes: the manager can impose a period of defined inactivity after which a randomly selected musical selection is reproduced. At the end of this period, a musical selection is thus taken randomly in the system, then played in its entirety without payment of fees,   audio reproductions for external promotional purposes: this option works in the same way as the preceding one, except that it authorizes the system to accept playing of the promotional musical selections for which third parties have paid and which are distributed freely over the telecommunications network,   promotional spoken announcements of new musical selections: according to this option, it is possible to verbally promote newly added selections or to add them in the near future to the system via loudspeakers integrated into the system,   withdrawal to an auxiliary source: at his discretion the manager can request that the system, when inactive, withdraw to an auxiliary source. For example, when this option is activated and when a FM tuner is connected to the system inputs and the system is inactive, the system directs its auxiliary source input to its main output after the delay determined by the inactivity has expired.       
 
         [0082]    The SCM module  15  is the system commands module. This module allows functions that control the system to accept a required input by an infrared remote control device  14 . These functions are handled instantaneously without the process being stopped. A large number of these functions are possible, only some are listed below, in a non-limiting manner:
       audio volume control of the played selections,   audio volume control from the auxiliary played source,   microphone start/stop command,   microphone audio volume control,   balance control, left channel, right channel,   control of base frequency level,   control of treble frequency level,   command to cancel or skip a musical selection,   panoramic effects command, zoom forward, zoom back,   triggering of zeroing of the software program.       
 
         [0093]    The MMM module  12  is the management mode module. This module is triggered when the key switch is turned by the manager. The display of an ordinary screen is replaced by a display specific to system management. With this new display, the manager can control all the settings that are possible with remote control. He can likewise take control of additional low level commands allowing for an example definition of commands to be validated or invalidated on the remote control. He is also able to define a maximum of high and low levels for each system output source, these limits defining the range available on the remote control. Using this screen, the manager can access the mode of new selection acquisition by touching a button located on the touch screen. When the manager has succeeded in defining these commands as well as the system configuration, it is then enough to remove the key, and the system returns automatically to the “in service” mode. 
         [0094]    The NSAM module is the new selections acquisition mode module. When this mode is activated, a new control screen appears. This mode is designed to assist the manager regarding the location for fast and efficient acquisition of titles of musical selections. To do this, the screen offers different options such as:
       search by title,   search by artist,   search by category (pop, rock country, etc.),   alphabetic sorting,   sorting by issue date.       
 
         [0100]    The manager can browse the ensemble of available titles and select them by simply touching their designation on the screen to load them. Once the selections have been made and the manager has exited the module, the system automatically sends the list of selections to the telecommunications services mode module for processing, and then returns with foreground control to the management mode. 
         [0101]    The CBSM module  19  is the customer browsing and selection mode module. Access to this module is triggered from the “in service” mode by touching the screen. When the customer touches the screen, the screen display disappears to make room for a menu provided for convenient browsing assisted by digitized voice messages to guide the user in his choice of musical selections. 
         [0102]    The TSM module is the telecommunications services mode module. The TSM module allows management of all management services available on the distribution network. All the tasks specific to telecommunications are managed like the background tasks of the system. These tasks always use only the processing time remaining once the system has completed all its foreground tasks. Thus, when the system is busy with one of its higher priority tasks, the TSM module automatically will try to reduce the limits on system resources and recover all the microprocessor processing time left available. Some of these tasks managed by this module are listed below:
       transfer of audio or video data,   automated accounting of the fees for musical selections,   accounting of musical selection use,   collection of statistics,   system diagnostics,   system security (integrity),   monitoring of the selection inventory,   configuration verification,   upgrading of software.       
 
         [0112]    The SSC module is the system security control module. Each system is linked to a local system controller according to a preestablished time pattern for acquisition of an approval signal in the form of the registration number, authorizing it to operate. In addition, if cheating has been detected or the system cannot communicate via the network, the system automatically stops working. 
         [0113]    The audio visual reproduction system according to the invention has a large number of advantages over systems of the prior art. This powerful system, which uses a computer, can store and reproduce any musical selection while maintaining its original quality. It allows simple and efficient replacement of all mechanical and sophisticated electronic devices of the prior art, which were sources of failures, such as the disk changing arm, lasers, etc., thus greatly reducing maintenance costs. It is simple and compact. The managers or owners of this system can efficiently monitor the titles of the musical selections since they uniquely command the desired titles, thus bypassing a distribution company which ordinarily only acquires a small number of unique titles, then imposes a rotation on their customers. With the present invention, it is possible to acquire only specific titles and at reduced prices, as well as entire CD albums if desired. Consequently, management costs can be significantly reduced. With the integrated interactive video module, this system can also be used for promotional purposes, market research or even as a karaoke machine. Finally, use of a multitask operating system enables simultaneous management providing a major advantage over prior art devices.