Musical CD creation unit

Abstract

A new Musical CD Creation Unit for providing both review and recording functions for the automated merchandising of music entertainment on recordable CDs. The inventive device includes a storage means, a selection means, and a production means. A CD jukebox of the kind commonly available and used in commercial markets provides is used to store musical selections. A computer terminal having a display monitor and input means, such as a computer keyboard or a touch screen allows a customer to review and create a musical selection to be reproduced on a recordable CD. Predetermined musical selections allow a customer to make selections based on music type, such as jazz, pop, rock, country, soul, gospel, or blues, popularity, such as “Top 20 Hits,” artist, or other options. To provide fully automated merchandising capabilities, the Musical CD Creation Unit has “vending” features including a purchase amount display, a magnetic card reader for credit cards, and a currency changer for cash such that a customer can purchase the recordable CD without assistance from store personnel.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:  
     
       1. A unit for creating a customized digital audio product on a recordable digital medium, comprising: 
       a storage means for storing a plurality of digital musical selections;  
       a selection means connected with said storage means for selectively reviewing said plurality of digital musical selections and selecting a user-selected musical compilation from said plurality of digital musical selections to be compiled into said customized digital audio product,  
       said selection means including a plurality of preselected musical compilations each corresponding to a specific musical criterion, wherein said specific musical criterion comprises at least one of a selected musical artist, a selected musical type, and a selected musical popularity,  
       said selection means including an audio output means for enabling a user to listen to a selected one of said plurality of digital musical selections;  
       a production means connected with said selection means and said storage means for reproducing at least one of said user-selected musical compilation and one of said plurality of preselected musical compilations on said recordable digital medium to create said customized digital audio product; and  
       a payment means for permitting on-site purchase of said customized digital audio product.  
     
     
       2. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said storage means comprises a compact disc jukebox. 
     
     
       3. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said selection means comprises a computer terminal having a display monitor and an input means. 
     
     
       4. The unit of  claim 3 , wherein said input means comprises a computer keyboard. 
     
     
       5. The unit of  claim 3 , wherein said input means comprises a computer touch screen. 
     
     
       6. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said production means comprises a compact disc recorder for reproducing said musical compilation on a recordable compact disc. 
     
     
       7. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said production means includes a dispenser for on-site dispensing of said recordable digital medium from said production means after said customized digital audio product has been created. 
     
     
       8. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said payment means includes a purchase amount display. 
     
     
       9. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said payment means includes a magnetic card reader for credit cards. 
     
     
       10. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said payment means includes a currency changer for cash. 
     
     
       11. A unit for creating a customized digital audio product on a recordable compact disc, comprising: 
       a storage means for storing a plurality of digital musical selections;  
       a selection means connected to said storage means for selectively reviewing said plurality of digital musical selections and selecting a user-selected musical compilation from said plurality of digital musical selections to be compiled into said customized digital audio product, wherein said selection means comprises an on-site computer terminal including a display monitor and an input means,  
       said selection means including a plurality of preselected musical compilations corresponding to a specific musical criterion, wherein said specific musical criterion comprises at least one of a selected musical artist, a selected musical type, and a selected musical popularity,  
       said selection means including an audio output means for enabling a user to listen to a selected one of said plurality of digital musical selections;  
       a production means connected to said selection means and said storage means for reproducing at least one of said user-selected musical compilation and one of said plurality of preselected musical compilations on said recordable compact disc to create said customized digital audio product, wherein said production means comprises an on-site compact disc recorder for reproducing said musical compilation on said recordable compact disc; and  
       a payment means for permitting on-site purchase of said customized digital audio product without assistance from store personnel, wherein said payment means includes at least one of a magnetic card reader for credit cards and a currency changer for cash.  
     
     
       12. The unit of  claim 11 , wherein said input means comprises a computer keyboard. 
     
     
       13. The unit of  claim 11 , wherein said input means comprises a computer touch screen. 
     
     
       14. The unit of  claim 11 , wherein said audio output means comprises a pair of headphones. 
     
     
       15. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said storage means comprises a library of digital musical selections.  
     
     
       16. The unit of  claim 1 , wherein said storage means comprises at least one compact disk.  
     
     
       17. The unit of  claim 11  wherein said storage means comprises a library of digital musical selections.  
     
     
       18. The unit of  claim 11 , wherein said storage means comprises at least one compact disk.