JUKE BOXThis invention relates to juke boxes and to control systems for juke boxes.
Conventional juke box systems comprise a play unit loaded with a library of different works, a selection unit, and control means responsive to the selection unit for controlling the play unit so as to play a selected work.
The works may be audio works recorded on disc or tape, or may be video works which will usually be recorded on tape, but could alternatively be recorded on disc.
When reproducing works from conventional discs the library of available works has been limited by the size of the storage unit. However, the advent of the compact disc and of improved tape technology have made it possible for a library of a given physical size to contain a much larger number of works which may be selected for play. In turn, this has created the problem of providing a selection unit capable of showing details of the whole library and of effective management of juke box systems with libraries of this size.
According to a first aspect of the invention a juke box selector unit comprises a first display means listing a plurality of playable units each of which carries a plurality of different works, selection means operable on user selection of a selected playable unit to generate a select signal representative of that playable unit, a second display means for displaying information provided in response to the generated select signal, the displayed information identifying each of the different works carried by the selected playable unit, and data input means usable for choice of any individual work from the displayed information, the data input means being responsive to generate a choice signal for initiating play of the chosen individual work.
Such a selector unit makes possible rapid selection from a large library of works within the limitations of having the selector unit of acceptable clarity and size.
For example, if each playable unit is a compact disc it is not uncommon for such discs to carry up to twenty different works. If, say, one hundred compact discs are provided then the first display means will list the titles and artists of those discs, which can readily be done in a format similar to those currently in use. However, selection of any one disc will then cause details of the works on that disc to be shown on the second display means, and a choice can thus be made therefrom. Thus, by having a first and second display means it is possible to choose by way of such a selector unit any work from the full repertory of two thousand. Compact discs are here referred to simply as an example, it will be appreciated that the same principles apply whatever type of playable unit is used.Indeed there may be a mixture of different types of playable unit, for example some works being audio works from compact disc or tape, and other works being video works from video tape or disc.
Conveniently the first display means is a chart listing a plurality of playable units and the selection means. is a plurality of selector switches, one selector switch being associated with each chart entry.
Alternatively, the display means may be a chart listing a plurality of playable units and showing an identification code for each playable unit and the selection means comprises means by which the identification code of a chosen playable unit may be entered.
The second display means may conveniently be a screen for displaying electronically provided information identifying each of the different works on a selected playable unit, the information including an identity code for each individual work. The data input means then conveniently comprises means by which the identity code of a chosen individual work may be entered.
The screen may be a cathode ray tube monitor, a television screen, a liquid crystal display screen, a plasma display screen or any other type of electronically driven unit.
There are clearly many different ways in which the screen may display the information. For example, a simple list of the works on the selected playable unit may be shown, either simultaneously or sequentially. Particularly if sequential presentation is used, however, the information may be expanded to include other information regarding each work, for example its current rating in the popularity charts, the length of playing time, biographical notes on the artist and so forth.
Split screen techniques may be used, part of the screen carrying information on the works on the selected playable unit and part carrying other material.
The selector unit is desirably microprocessor controlled, the microprocessor being responsive to the select signals to provide appropriate information to the second display means, and being responsive to the choice signals to initiate play of the selected work. The microprocessor may be incorporated in or remote from the selector unit, and a given microprocessor may be connected to and control a plurality of selector units.
Management of juke box systems that make available a library of the size that can be handled by the selector unit of the invention will inevitably entail more complicated management than has hitherto been the case, and the invention also seeks to facilitate juke box management.
According to a second aspect of the invention a juke box system comprises a store of different works; display means for displaying electronically provided information relating to each of the works; user-responsive selection means for generating signal means corresponding to a selected individual work; and a microprocessor having a removable memory device with first and second memory regions, the first memory region carrying data relating to each of the works, read means for feeding the data from the first memory region as electronic information for display on the display means, and write means responsive to the signal means to write to the second memory region data indicating each selection made.
The removable memory device can be loaded at a control centre with the required data relating to each of the playable works, that data being written into the first memory region. The memory device, together with the library of works are, initially, delivered with the juke box system to the location where it is to be installed.
During operation of the system, data is read from the first memory region to assist in choosing works to be played and data is written into the second memory region indicating each selection that is made, so building up information which can be analysed to determine the frequency of play and thus the popularity of individual works within the library. Desirably, additional data is also written into the second memory region, recording, for example the cash takings at the or each selector unit. When the juke box system is to be serviced by collecting the cash and effecting any necessary updating then the memory device is simply removed and replaced by a fresh memory device, individual works also being replaced as required. The removed memory device is returned to the control centre and the data held thereby is analysed.
A rapid indication is thus gained of the popularity of individual works, and that data can be used in periodically updating the selection of works.
It is particularly effective if a system of this type is used in conjunction with the selector unit of the invention, although the two may be used separately.
When used in conjunction, and in accordance with a third aspect of the invention a juke box system comprises a first display means listing a plurality of playable units each of which carries a plurality of different works; second display means for displaying electronically provided information relating to each individual work carried by a playable unit; selection means operable on user selection of a selected playable unit to generate a select signal representative of that playable unit and a subsequent choice signal corresponding to a chosen individual work from that unit; means responsive to the select signal to place the selected playable unit into a condition for play; means responsive to the choice signal to initiate play of the chosen individual work; and a microprocessor having a removable memory device with first and second memory regions, the first memory region carrying a plurality of data sets each of which corresponds to a different playable unit and, within each data set, a plurality of data subsets each of which corresponds to a different playable work, read means responsive to each select signal for reading each data sub-set comprised within the data set defined by that select signal and for feeding the read data as electronic information for display on the second display means, and write means responsive to the choice signal to write to the second memory region data indicating the unit and/or the work chosen.
In order that the invention may be better understood a specific embodiment of a juke box system embodying all the aforesaid aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic layout of the unit.
Referring to the drawing, a juke box system comprises a play unit 1 in which is stored a plurality of compact discs, each having a plurality of tracks, each track carrying an individual work. Each disc, when selected as will be described, can be moved into a playable position, and a playing head can be moved to play a chosen track, the output signals being fed to one or more loudspeaker sets as desired.
The play unit has an associated microprocessor 2. The microprocessor includes a central processing unit with a permanent control memory, and has the facility whereby a removable memory device 3 may be loaded into and removed from the unit. The memory device 3 has a first memory section M1, which may, for example, be a battery-backed PA or a PROM, carrying data relating to each individual work on each disc, and a second memory region M2, which will usually be random access memory. The removable memory device may take any suitable available form. One convenient form is disc, which may be a simple floppy disc of the required size, or may be a floppy disc housed in and protected by a more rigid jacket, or may be a suitable hard disc. Alternatively the removable device may be in the form of a memory card.The two memory regions may be physically separate on the removable memory device, or they may be determined by the availability of different areas for different reading and writing functions of the microprocessor. Generally, a single physical entity will carry both memory regions, but different physical devices within a common carrier unit could be used, or even separate carrier units, one for the first memory and one for the second memory, the two together then forming the memory device. The preferred arranged arrangement is to use a memory card, whereon all memory is RAM, different memory areas being dedicated to constitute the required first and second memory regions.
Detailed description of the central processing unit and the memory device is not thought to be necessary, as the functions of this unit will be fully apparent from the following description, and design to fulfill those functions is within the ordinary competence of those skilled in this field.
The microprocessor is linked to a selector unit shown generally as 4 by at least four groups of buses or lines 5 to 8. Although shown connected to only one selector unit it will be understood that a single microprocessor may support a plurality of selector units, to which it will have similar connections. The microprocessor will then incorporate logic that may inhibit operation of other selector units until all choices made from a first selector unit have been played, that may accept choices from a number of selector units and store them to be played in any given order or that may otherwise give priority to or inhibit choices from certain of the selector units. The following description is given in terms of operation of one selector unit only, but within any imposed priority or inhibit controls it is generally applicable to a system utilising a plurality of selector units.
The selector unit comprises a first display means in the form of a table 9 incorporating cards or other inserts that carry the name and artist(s) of each compact disc stored within the play unit 1, and includes cash receiving means 10. Each entry has a push button such as 10 positioned alongside the entry and, once cash has been inserted as required, pushing of any required button 10 will cause a select signal representative of the selected compact disc to be generated and to be fed on line group 5 to the microprocessor 2. The cash receiving means is such as to generate appropriate signals on line group 6, corresponding to the value of the cash inserted.
The selector unit also includes a second display unit in the form of a cathode ray tube monitor 12, with an associated numeric or alphanumeric key pad 13. Information is provided to the monitor 12 electronically from microprocessor 2 on line group 7, and information from the key pad 13 is provided to the microprocessor on line group 8.
Operation is as follows. After inserting the necessary cash, a selection of a required compact disc is made by pushing one of the buttons 10. In response to the select signal thus provided on line group 5 the microprocessor 2 causes the section of memory M1 that corresponds to the chosen compact disc to be read. The data is passed electronically on line group 7 and is decoded and displayed on the monitor 12. The data will, at minimum, include the names of the individual works on the chosen disc, together with a numeric or alphanumeric code for that work. In order to select an individual work, the code for that work is punched into the key pad 15 and the resultant choice signal is fed on line 8 to the microprocessor 2. This causes the microprocessor 2 to control the play unit 1 in such a way that the chosen work is played.
The actual control sequence within play unit 1 is not critical. For example, receipt of the select signal by the microprocessor may initiate movement of the selected disc to the play position, and receipt of the choice signal will then simply move the play head to the chosen track.
Alternatively, both movements may occur only after the choice signal has been received.
The receipt of the select signal on line group 5 and/or the choice signal on line group 8 also causes the microprocessor to write into the second memory region M2 data indicating the particular disc and/or the particular work that has been chosen. If a simple record of disc choice is required, then the necessary data may be written after receipt of the select signal. However, if the more comprehensive indication of individual works chosen is necessary then the data can only be written after receipt of the choice signal. Additional information may also be written into the second memory region M2. This may include, for example, a record of the cash receipts of the or each selector unit controlled by the microprocessor.
As has already been described, the memory device is removable. Thus, after a period of operation it may be removed from the microprocessor, usually at the same time as cash is collected from the selector units. Following such removal the memory device will be returned to a control centre, at which the data collected in the second memory region is analysed. If cash takings are recorded then this will, of course, provide the necessary check on the cash returned by the collector. An analysis of the frequency with which individual discs and/or works have been played will rapidly give a popularity indication for the items available at any one juke box installation.
Accordingly, discs that are proved to be unpopular can be changed when the juke box is next visited by the collector, who will also install a new removable memory device in which the first memory section M1 has been loaded with data relating to the new selections. The entries on the chart 9 will also be updated accordingly.
If desired, while the work is being played the system may be arranged so that a further part of the memory device M1 is interrogated and feeds additional data to the monitor 12 which can show, for example, the title and artist of the work currently playing, together with any other desired information concerning them.
Obviously, when sufficient cash has been inserted to allow selection of a plurality of works the user will wish to make all his selections in a single visit to the selector unit. Thus, the microprocessor will include storage means that allow multiple choice to be effected, the user conveniently being prompted by commands on the monitor 12, which can also show the remaining cash value available. In response to operation of each individual button 10 the monitor will show the works on the selected disc, and selection of an individual work must then be made by way of the key pad 13 before a further select signal is accepted from another of the buttons 10. Logic may be incorporated that allows a cancellation or change of any selection made either through the buttons 10 or through the key pad 13, the number of allowable changes being programmed into the microprocessor.
The foregoing description has simply been of a sequence for selecting and playing a chosen work or works.
When the system is in the standby mode, a further memory section of the microprocessor may be read so that attract material is displayed on the screen of the monitor or similar unit. The attract material may include suitable graphics, information relating to the library of works within the system showing, for example, the currently most popular works, and any other appropriate material.
Alternatively, or in addition, part of the otherwise free screen time may be taken up with the display of advertisements also read from. data carried by the microprocessor, or alternatively fed from a separate video play unit operated under control of the microprocessor.
The selector unit and microprocessor may have additional functions that are available through the key pad 13. For example, there may be a facility to search for and display all individual works falling within one recognised musical category, for example so-called "Country & BR<Western", "Middle of the Road" or "Heavy Metal".
Other modifications and extensions of the system will be evident.