Pay-per-play audiovisual system with touch screen interface

Abstract

An audiovisual reproduction system triggered by payment from a user is developed around a microprocessor device. The system includes memory containing, in compressed digital form, audio and visual information, and a display and digital audio reproduction unit, for creating a multimedia environment. The display includes a video monitor and an interactive user interface which reacts to external events and translates the external events for a multitasking operating system as events activating, via a graphical module of a library of integrated tools and services, a display of windows or frames providing control of physical operating parameters of the audiovisual reproduction system. The external events includes at least a down-event where the user contacts a representation displayed on the touch screen, selecting a parameter to modify, and an up-event where the use breaks contact with the screen, which triggers modification of the selected parameter, saving the parameter in the memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jukebox device, comprising:
 at least one processor;   one or more memory areas that store audiovisual items playable on the jukebox apparatus in response to a request by a customer and at least one system operating parameter of the jukebox apparatus;   a display device configured to display a user interface configured to facilitate user interaction with the jukebox device for at least selecting one or more audiovisual items for playback via the jukebox device when the jukebox device is in an operating mode; and   a multitasking operating system configured to enable simultaneous operation of the at least one processor and the display device,   wherein a status of the multitasking operating system is backed up for potential subsequent jukebox device recovery, automatically and without human intervention, to a file each time a predetermined event from a plurality of predetermined events occurs, the predetermined events including at least providing credits to the jukebox device and selection of an audiovisual item for playback on the jukebox device.   
     
     
         2 . The jukebox device of  claim 1 , wherein the list of predetermined events also includes completed playback of an audiovisual item. 
     
     
         3 . The jukebox device of  claim 1 , wherein the file is stored in a format that is not human readable. 
     
     
         4 . The jukebox device of  claim 1 , wherein the status includes at least some operating parameters of the jukebox device. 
     
     
         5 . The jukebox device of  claim 4 , wherein the jukebox device is configured to read backed up status information from the file upon startup. 
     
     
         6 . The jukebox device of  claim 4 , wherein the operating parameters include master, jukebox, auxiliary input, and/or microphone volume level(s). 
     
     
         7 . The jukebox device of  claim 4 , wherein the operating parameters include treble and bass levels, and/or balance. 
     
     
         8 . The jukebox device of  claim 4 , wherein the operating parameters include a price for playing a single audiovisual item, or a number of audiovisual items playable for a price. 
     
     
         9 . The jukebox device of  claim 4 , wherein the operating parameters include inactivity delay, and an indication as to whether and which of a promotion mode, auxiliary source, and/or selection sampling mode, should be started after an inactivity delay is detected. 
     
     
         10 . The jukebox device of  claim 1 , wherein the display device is further configured to display a manager module, the manager module being configured to enable a manager to change operating parameters of the jukebox device, at least some of the operating parameters that is/are changeable by the manager module being backed up in the file. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a jukebox device, the jukebox device comprising at least one processor, one or more memory areas that store audiovisual items playable on the jukebox apparatus in response to a request by a customer and at least one system operating parameter of the jukebox apparatus, a display device configured to display a user interface configured to facilitate user interaction with the jukebox device for at least selecting one or more audiovisual items for playback via the jukebox device when the jukebox device is in an operating mode, and a multitasking operating system configured to enable simultaneous operation of the at least one processor and the display device, the method comprising:
 detecting each occurrence an event from a plurality of predetermined events, the predetermined events including at least providing credits to the jukebox device and selection of an audiovisual item for playback on the jukebox device; and   in response to said detecting, backing up a status of the multitasking operating system to a file stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, automatically and without human intervention, for potential subsequent jukebox device recovery.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the list of predetermined events also includes completed playback of an audiovisual item. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the file is stored in a format that is not human readable. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the status includes at least some operating parameters of the jukebox device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising reading backed up status information from the file upon jukebox device startup. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the operating parameters include master, jukebox, auxiliary input, and/or microphone volume level(s). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the operating parameters include treble and bass levels, and/or balance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the operating parameters include a price for playing a single audiovisual item, or a number of audiovisual items playable for a price. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the operating parameters include inactivity delay, and an indication as to whether and which of a promotion mode, auxiliary source, and/or selection sampling mode, should be started after an inactivity delay is detected. 
     
     
         20 . The jukebox device of  claim 1 , wherein the display device is further configured to display a manager module, the manager module being configured to enable a manager to change operating parameters of the jukebox device, at least some of the operating parameters that is/are changeable by the manager module being backed up in the file.