Patent ID: 8726330

Claim:
A method of operating a jukebox system, the method comprising: providing at least one jukebox device, each said jukebox device including: a microprocessor, a storage location configured to store digitized and compressed audiovisual items that may be played on the jukebox device in response to requests by a user, a display configured to display video, an audio arrangement configured to provide audio, a communication system connected to an audiovisual distribution server configured to enable the jukebox device to communicate with the audiovisual distribution server for at least the distribution of data containing the audiovisual items, and a multitasking operating system configured to enable operation of the microprocessor, the display, the audio arrangement, and the communication system to operate in a user mode and/or in a manager mode; selectively downloading, to the storage location, the digitally distributed data containing audiovisual items; providing (1) a registration mode of the jukebox device, as a part of the manager mode, in which the jukebox device is operable to initiate and perform system registration functions and is inoperable to play audiovisual items stored in the jukebox device, and (2) a service mode in which the jukebox device is operable to play the audiovisual items stored in the storage location upon selection by the user, the service mode being disabled when the jukebox device is in said registration mode; enabling, at least initially, the registration mode of the jukebox device; and providing a server remote from the jukebox device that is accessible by the jukebox device through the distribution network and is operable to register the jukebox device via the registration mode of the jukebox device by performing a registration process while in communication with the jukebox device, the registration process resulting in the disabled service mode being enabled so that the audiovisual items become playable on the jukebox device after registration and so that user and/or manager modes become(s) operational, the jukebox device being configured to operate in said registration mode when said jukebox device has not been registered by the server, wherein the service mode enables standalone operation of the jukebox device, and wherein the jukebox device is further provided with a management mode, the management mode providing an interface enabling management functions to be used and including at least a display of usage statistics including a count of uses of any particular title choice.