US 7,657,910 B1Granted

Distributed electronic entertainment method and apparatus

AssigneeE-Cast, Inc.

InventorsRoger McAulay, Samuel Cohen

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Abstract

A distributed electronic entertainment method and apparatus are described. In one embodiment, a central management resource is coupled to multiple out-of-home venues through a wide area network (WAN). The central management resource stores content and performs management, monitoring and entertainment content delivery functions. At each venue at least one entertainment unit is coupled to the WAN. Multiple entertainment units in a venue are coupled to each other through a local area network (LAN). In one embodiment, an entertainment unit includes a user interface that comprises at least one graphical user interface (GUI). The entertainment unit further comprises a local memory device that stores entertainment content comprising music, a peripheral interface, and a user input device. A plurality of peripheral devices are coupled to the at least one entertainment unit via the peripheral interface, wherein a user, through the user input device and the user interface, performs at least one activity from a group comprising, playing music, playing electronic games, viewing television content, and browsing the Internet.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A first network entertainment unit, comprising:

a local area network (LAN) interface, through which the first network entertainment unit is configured to communicate with a second network entertainment unit in a venue, wherein the first network entertainment unit and the second network entertainment unit are both located in the venue;
a wide area network (WAN) interface, via which the first network entertainment unit is coupled to a remote central resource, wherein the remote central resource stores entertainment content items available to be retrieved by the first network entertainment unit for performance by the first network entertainment unit;
a user interface, comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) and a user input device, that interacts with a user to allow the user to select one or more entertainment content items;
a local memory that stores a plurality of the entertainment content items and a master list of all of the entertainment content items, including entertainment content items available from a remote central resource;
and
content management logic that, when a selected entertainment content item is not stored in the local memory of the first network entertainment unit, causes;
i) requesting over the LAN interface the selected entertainment content item;
ii) when the selected entertainment content item is not stored in the second network entertainment unit, requesting over the WAN interface the selected entertainment content item;
iii) receiving the requested entertainment content item via the WAN interface;
and
iv) performing the received entertainment content item by the first network entertainment unit.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/519,008Filed 3 Mar 2000 · us provisional application
Priority: 26 Jul 1999
Granted: 2 Feb 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification37 codes

A63F 13/31
Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection…:…
A63F 13/2145
For locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads: the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
A63F 13/215
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
A63F 13/32
Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection…: using…