Abstract:
A combined game terminal and pay to play audio entertainment system including a promotional draw associated with at least one game provided at said game terminal and purchases completed at the game terminal for audio selections played by the audio entertainment system. The game terminal cooperates with a remote promotional server that administers a promotional draw based on particular game selections and/or qualifying audio selections made at the game terminal by a registered customer. The game terminal and the game promotional server extend the “qualifying purchase” to include purchases for audio selections. In this way, cross promotion of game and audio selections is provided at the game terminal and qualifying entries are preferably combined in a single draw.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a combined game terminal and jukebox system that allows a user of the game terminal to select and play music on a connected jukebox. In particular, the invention is directed to a game terminal jukebox system that includes an option to enter a sweepstakes draw upon activation of a particular game or the selection of music at the game terminal to be played by the jukebox. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Game terminals have continued to change with technological advances and the merging of technologies, particularly with respect to entertainment and communication systems. Cell phones are no longer dedicated communication devices, as they often include a game terminal function, a personal data assistant function, a music playing function, a portable memory storage function, a text messaging function and a computing function. 
         [0003]    For several years, game terminals have also been used as remote input and payment devices for use in association with audio and/or video entertainment systems such as a jukebox. The payment system for the game terminal is used to enter the correct payment with respect to a selected game or song to be played on the jukebox. 
         [0004]    Our earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,139 discloses a game promotion system where certain games can be played in a sweepstake mode where the payment with respect to the particular game also allows a player the option to enter a random draw or other promotion for prizes. 
         [0005]    Incentive systems have been commonly used to promote a particular product and/or to encourage a potential customer to complete an initial purchase. 
         [0006]    In the present invention a combined cross promotion of a gaming system with a connected audio and/or video entertainment system is cost effectively realized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A combined game terminal and pay to play audio entertainment system according to the present invention includes a promotional draw associated with at least one game provided at the game terminal and purchases completed at the game terminal for audio selections played by the audio entertainment system. The game terminal cooperates with a remote promotional server that administers a promotional draw based on particular game selections and/or qualifying audio selections made at the game terminal by a registered customer. The game terminal and the game promotional server extend the “qualifying purchase” to include purchases for audio selections. 
         [0008]    The game terminal operates in its normal manner and accommodates registration of both types of customers with the promotional server. No changes are required for the audio system. The game terminal merely acts as a remote terminal for the pay to play audio system and game terminal users of the audio system can register and enter in a promotional draw or other promotion that is legal for the particular jurisdiction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of the cooperation between the game system and the jukebox; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a screen shot of a game terminal that has the option to cooperate with a jukebox for the playing of music; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a screen shot of the game terminal allowing a user to sign in, create a new account, or decline the option for entering the sweepstake with respect to the playing of music; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a screen shot of the login screen on the game terminal; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a screen shot of the game terminal where a user has decided to create an account; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a screen is shot of the game terminal where the user declined the option to enter the sweepstakes with respect to the purchase of a song; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a screen shot of the game terminal where the player is provided notice of the possibility for entering the tournament; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a screen shot of the player about to select the option for playing of a song; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a schematic of the combined cross promotion system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The schematic  2  of  FIG. 1  allows cooperation between a game terminal  5  in combination with a music jukebox generally indicated as  7 . The jukebox could also be a pay to play audio and/or video system typically located in the same business establishment. Basically, the game terminal  5  and the jukebox  7  are in communication with each other typically in a restaurant or bar establishment. The game terminal  5  allows a user to play a number of different games and some of these games include the option to enter a random draw tournament associated with a particular game, such as a system as marketed by JVL under the trade-mark TOUCH AND WIN. The game terminal has at least one game that is operating in a TOUCH AND WIN mode, and thus, is in communication with a remote JVL server indicated as  95 . A player who selects a TOUCH AND WIN game is also provided with the option for signing whereby his game selection will automatically qualify him for one entry in the random draw or other promotion. 
         [0020]    The JVL game terminal  5  also includes the option for the user to select music to be played on the jukebox  7 . Basically, in this mode, the game terminal is used as a remote entry payment terminal for the jukebox  7 . In the present system, a user who has activated the game terminal and selected music for play, is also provided with the option for entering the ongoing TOUCH AND WIN tournament. In this way, the use of the game terminal for selecting of music is promoted in combination with the promotion of the particular TOUCH AND WIN game. The user who has activated either a game or a music selection that qualifies for the TOUCH AND WIN tournament, enters his particular name and password and this qualifying entry is passed on to the remotely located JVL server  95  by the game terminal. This server is typically in communication with the game terminal over the INTERNET or using other known communication arrangements. 
         [0021]    Typically, the game terminal  5  includes operator control menus for programming of the terminal and the promotions available for use of the terminal. In the TOUCH AND WIN tournament many terminals are in communication with the game server and a network tournament is defined. In this case, the game server may inform the game terminal of what tournaments are running or about to run. In any event, the operator may authorize or program this terminal such that music selections also qualify for the tournament. In the same manner the terminal could allow the operator to select a game or games that are eligible for the TOUCH AND WIN tournament. Thus different possible options provided at the game terminal could be eligible for the same promotion. Similarly, different terminals could be programmed differently with a pooling of entries in the draw. 
         [0022]    The JVL game terminal  5  has an initial variable promoting game screen generally indicated as  10 . A previously registered user of the system will sign on the terminal. If the user selects a TOUCH AND WIN game, the draw entry information is effectively communicated to the remote game server  95 . If this registered user selects the music jukebox option screen shot  72  is produced for the user to make a music selection. If the registered user makes a music selection screen shot  68  is produced informing the user his selection is being processed by the music jukebox  7 . In this example, the operator has programmed the terminal such that the selection of music qualifies for entry in the TOUCH AND WIN draw, and screen shot  68  informs the registered user of his entry in the draw. 
         [0023]    If the terminal is not in use screen shot  10  is typically presented. If a user engages the terminal and activates the music jukebox control and the TOUCH AND WIN promotion for music is activated, he is taken to screen shot  30 . In screen shot  30  the user is given the option to create a new account by touching control  34 , or “Sign In” by touching control  32  or declining registration by touching the “No Thanks” control  36 . 
         [0024]    If the user activates control  32  “Sign In” screen shot  44  is produced and the user “Signs In” by entering his name and password. If the user activates “Create New Account” control  34 , screen shot  54  is produced and the user create an account by entering his name at  56  and entering his password twice at  58  and  60  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0025]    If the user selects “No Thanks” control  36  screen shot  64  is produced indicating a connection is being made to the jukebox music device  7 . 
         [0026]    In some cases the promotion with respect to music selections will not be available and the user would skip any registrations steps and merely execute the necessary music selection steps. 
         [0027]    From  FIG. 1 , it can be appreciated that the current game terminal  5  includes a TOUCH AND WIN tournament system that is being promoted with respect to at least one of the games that are available for play on the terminal. In addition, the game terminal  5  allows the user to select a particular song for play by the jukebox  7  or a different music providing system  64 . As with a conventional jukebox system, the music is played in a particular order and the newly requested song will enter a queue. In addition to ordering of a song, the user will be offered the option for entering the TOUCH AND WIN draw if the cross promotion is activated. In this way, the use of the game terminal for initially ordering of music is cross-promoted with the game terminal and the associated TOUCH AND WIN draw system. 
         [0028]    With this system, the game terminal communicates with the game server in its normal manner and communicates with the jukebox in the conventional manner. The software of the game terminal is modified to allow this cross promotion of products activated and paid for at the game terminal. The game terminal expects and interacts with registered users and provides registered users with the option for entering the ongoing promotion. The game terminal is easily programmed to have this promotion associated with different product offerings available at the terminal. 
         [0029]    Details of the individual screen shots of  FIG. 1  are shown in  FIGS. 2 through 8 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows the screen shot  10  with a series of options provided on the right hand side. These options include different active areas of the screen where the user can indicate his particular selection. In the screen shot of  FIG. 2 , the person has indicated his initial selection as ICN which stands for Inter Challenge Network identified as  14 . The arrow at the left hand side of this active area shows it as the present selection. This particular selection is used to challenge other players provided at other game terminals within the premise. The user could also activate classic games identified as  16  or new games identified as  18 . Music jukebox selection is identified as  20 . The screen shot  10  also includes the promotion area identified as  24  which is encouraging a potential user to play a tournament game and have a chance to win any of the advertised prizes. At the base of the screen shot  10 , is an indication of the number of credits this particular user has. These credits are shown at  22 . 
         [0031]    In the screen shot of  FIG. 3 , the user has activated the music jukebox area  20  in  FIG. 2  screen shot  30  is presented. If this user has previously registered with the system, he can activate the “sign in” option at  32 . If this user has not signed in previously, he can create a new account as indicated at  34 . The option “no thanks” is shown at  36 . The screen shot  30  also includes an area  38  that allows him to understand the various options that are available. 
         [0032]    The screen shot  44  of  FIG. 44  is produced when the user used the “sign in” option  32  of  FIG. 3 . The user signs in with his particular name and also enters his appropriate password. The password spot is indicated at  48  and the login name is indicated at  46 . The player or user would use the keyboard area produced on the touch screen. 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 5 , a slightly different screen shot  54  is shown that is produced when the user has activated the “create new account” area  34  of  FIG. 3 . In this case, the user then enters the appropriate name that he wishes to create and enters the password two times as indicated in the areas  56  and  58 . Additional information, such as contact information, is provided and eventually stored on the server  95 . A signed on user of the game terminal will qualify for a TOUCH AND WIN promotion when the terminal is used to play the appropriate game or when this promotion is also tied to the ordering of music or other entertainment services or product offerings available through or at the terminal. Thus, a customer who merely wishes to order music can also have the option for entering the promotional random draw tournament. 
         [0034]    Screen shot  64  of  FIG. 6  is presented when the user has decided not to register with the system when he selected the particular music option. Therefore, in this case, the user would have hit the “no thanks” option  36  of  FIG. 3 . A short delay occurs as the game terminal communicates with the jukebox indicated as  7  in the schematic of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0035]    Screen shot  68  of  FIG. 7  is produced when the user has selected the music option and has additionally signed in at  32  of the screen shot of  FIG. 3 . A notice is provided on the screen that the person is eligible to participate in the random draw for the current tournament. 
         [0036]    The screen shot of  FIG. 8  is provided on the game terminal when the music option has been selected by the user. The promotion with respect to the ordering of music on the game terminal is provided in the promotional area  24 . 
         [0037]    The game system  100  as shown in  FIG. 9  has a number of game terminals  102  connected through a local area network  104  that includes a wireless connection point  106 . Access to the remote tournament management server  108  is typically via the INTERNET. The system  100  also includes access to a remote jukebox system or other music and/or video system  110 . Access to this system is also through the INTERNET. A series of music selection terminals  112  are connected to the local area network  204  and also to the In House audio/video system  114 . With this arrangement the cross promotion of both pay to play music and/or video selections with tournament game systems is easily provided. 
         [0038]    From the above it can be appreciated that a convenient and effective cross promotion of a game system and music system has provided where incentives typically used in association with a particular game and a random draw sweepstakes type application has been made available to the user who additionally selects music to be played on a related jukebox. 
         [0039]    The system can also be specific to certain songs on the jukebox if this is desired. For example, as certain games are promoted in association with the TOUCH AND WIN random draw, it may be appropriate that certain songs that are available on the jukebox have this option available to them. In this case, the particular selection that is shown on the game terminal will also provide an indication of which selections provide the option for the entering the random draw. It is also possible with this system that there could be a number of combined prizes based on the random draw where the user selected either a game or a music choice and there could be additional, lesser prizes, for selections made for music. Thus, the system is capable of carrying cross promotions of games and music, as well as also maintaining individual promotions with respect to games or music selections. 
         [0040]    It can be appreciated that the game terminal and its communication with the remote server can provide this information on an ongoing or batch basis and maintain each of the entries, as well as associating these entries with at least one tournament of sweepstake. As indicated above, one entry with respect to either the game or the music may also provide entry in a sub-prize or separate sweepstake. This system provides flexibility for the operator and provides a simple cross promotion. Furthermore, it provides an effective information terminal to allow for promotion of these activities with respect to each type of user, as well as providing information with respect to winners of these tournaments. Such information can be downloaded to the terminals and provided on different access screens of the terminal. 
         [0041]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.