System for managing a plurality of computer jukeboxes

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.

1 . A system for downloading advertisements to a computer jukebox comprising: 
 at least one computer jukebox having a memory storing advertisement data including the advertisements;    a satellite in communication with said at least one computer jukebox;    a satellite link allowing communication between said at least one computer jukebox and said satellite, said computer jukebox receiving advertisement data representing at least one advertisement from said satellite through said satellite link.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a central management system that transmits said advertisement data to said satellite, said at least one computer jukebox downloading said advertisement data transmitted from central management system to said satellite.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said advertisement data is digital advertisement data.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one video display for broadcasting said at least one advertisement.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer jukebox receives song data representing at least one song from said satellite through said satellite link.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said at least one computer jukebox and said central management system tracks a number of times said advertisement is run by said computer jukebox for billing purposes.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said advertisement includes digital data representing an identity of said advertisement, a number of times and when said advertisement is to be run on by said computer jukebox.  
     
     
         8 . A system comprising: 
 a communication interface for receiving digital song data comprising a plurality of digitally-compressed songs;    a data storage unit storing said digital song data;    a song selection device actuable by a user for generating a song selection signal representing at least one selected digitally compressed song from said digital song data;    a processor responsive to said song selection signal for accessing said at least one selected digitally-compressed song from said data storage unit;    at least one audio speaker;    a decompression unit operatively connected to said data storage unit, wherein said decompression unit decompresses said at least one selected digitally-compressed song into at least one decompressed song; and    a digital to analog converter coupled to said data storage unit and said at least one audio speaker, wherein said digital to analog converter is configured to convert said at least one decompressed song to an analog signal that is played through said at least one audio speaker.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said decompression unit comprises at least one of a decompression circuit and decompression software.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a remote host computer, wherein said host computer comprises a memory storing said digital song data, and wherein said data storage unit receives said digital song data from said host computer through said communication interface.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said host computer receives said digital song data from a compact disc read only memory (CDROM) reader.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a display, wherein said processor provides an index of the plurality of digitally-compressed songs on said display.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said index of the plurality of digitally-compressed songs are arranged alphabetically by one of artist and title.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said song selection device is operable to scroll said index of the plurality of digitally-compressed songs on said display.  
     
     
         15 . A system for storing and playing a song comprising: 
 a communication interface for receiving a digitally-compressed song;    a data storage unit storing said digitally-compressed song;    a song selection device actuable by a user for generating a song selection signal representing said digitally-compressed song stored within said data storage unit;    a processor responsive to said song selection signal for accessing said digitally compressed song from said song data storage unit;    at least one audio speaker; and    a digital to analog converter coupled to said data storage unit and said at least one audio speaker, wherein said digital to analog converter is configured to convert said digitally compressed song to an analog signal that is played through said at least one audio speaker.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said data storage unit stores a plurality of digitally-compressed songs.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said data storage unit further stores a catalog file including data for each stored digitally-compressed song representing the identity of the song and the location in said song data storage unit of the digital data representing the song.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said song selection device is a song selection key.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said data storage unit provides both read and write access.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a remote host computer, wherein said host computer comprises a memory storing said digitally-compressed song, and wherein said data storage unit receives said digitally-compressed song from said host computer through said communication interface.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said host computer receives said digitally-compressed song from a compact disc read only memory (CDROM) reader.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a decompression unit, wherein said decompression unit decompresses said digitally-compressed song.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a display and a plurality of digitally-compressed songs, and wherein said processor provides an index of the plurality of digitally-compressed songs on said display.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said index of the plurality of digitally-compressed songs are arranged alphabetically by one of artist and title.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said song selection device is operable to scroll said index of the plurality of songs on said display.  
     
     
         26 . An audio-production system comprising: 
 a song selection device actuable by a user for generating a song selection signal representing a song;    a song data storage unit storing digital song data representing said song;    a communication interface for receiving said digital song data;    a digital to analog converter coupled to said song data storage unit, wherein said digital to analog converter is configured to convert said digital song data to an analog signal; and    a processor responsive to said song selection signal for accessing said digital song data from said song data storage unit.    
     
     
         27 . The audio-production system of  claim 26 , wherein said digital song data comprises a plurality of songs.  
     
     
         28 . The audio-production system of  claim 27 , wherein said song data storage unit further stores a catalog file including data for each stored song representing an identity of the song and a location in said song data storage unit of the digital data representing the song.  
     
     
         29 . The audio-production system of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one audio speaker, wherein said digital to analog converter is further coupled to said at least one audio speaker.  
     
     
         30 . The audio production system of  claim 26 , wherein said song selection device is a song selection key.  
     
     
         31 . The audio production system of  claim 26 , wherein said song data storage unit provides both read and write access.  
     
     
         32 . The audio production system of  claim 26 , wherein said digital song data comprises: 
 a title field, containing a name of the song; and    a classification field, containing a type of music of the song.    
     
     
         33 . The audio production system of  claim 26 , further comprising a remote host computer, wherein said host computer comprises a memory storing said digital song data, and wherein said song data storage unit receives said digital song data from said host computer through said communication interface.  
     
     
         34 . The audio production system of  claim 33 , wherein said host computer receives said digital song data from a compact disc read only memory (CDROM) reader.  
     
     
         35 . The audio production system of  claim 26 , further comprising a decompression unit, wherein said digital song data is compressed digital song data, and wherein said decompression unit decompresses said compressed digital song data to play the song represented by said digital song data.  
     
     
         36 . The audio production system of  claim 26 , further comprising a display, wherein said digital song data represents a plurality of songs, and wherein said processor provides an index of the plurality of songs on said display.  
     
     
         37 . The audio product system of  claim 36 , wherein said index of the plurality of songs are arranged alphabetically by one of artist and title.  
     
     
         38 . The audio production system of  claim 36 , wherein said song selection device is operable to scroll said index of the plurality of songs on said display.