Jukebox Audio Monitoring With Fingerprinting for License Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The proliferation of using auxiliary audio inputs in jukebox systems for unlicensed music playback leads to violations of public performance rights, resulting in uncompensated artists and lost revenue for operators, with existing systems lacking effective monitoring and tracking capabilities.

Innovation Solution

Implement a monitor subsystem in digital jukebox devices to capture audio segments, apply fingerprinting or watermarking algorithms to identify unlicensed content, and log violations, triggering notifications or corrective actions when thresholds are met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If auxiliary audio inputs are provided in jukebox systems for flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but unlicensed music playback violations occur more frequently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio input flexibilityVSAvoidunlicensed music playback violations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the auxiliary audio input and provides feedback by comparing captured audio segments against the licensed media catalog. When unlicensed content is detected, the system generates violation notifications and logs, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that enables real-time detection and response to copyright violations while maintaining the auxiliary input functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The monitor subsystem acts as an intermediary between the auxiliary audio input and the jukebox system. It captures audio from the auxiliary input, processes it through fingerprinting algorithms, and interfaces with the licensed media catalog to determine compliance. This intermediary layer enables the system to maintain flexible audio input capabilities while enforcing copyright compliance through automated monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If monitoring and tracking capabilities are implemented to detect unlicensed content, then compliance detection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunlicensed content detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex manual monitoring and verification processes with automated acoustic fingerprinting technology. Instead of requiring human review of audio content, the monitor subsystem uses digital signal processing and pattern recognition algorithms to automatically identify and classify audio segments, significantly reducing operational complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitor subsystem creates digital copies (audio segments) of the auxiliary input for analysis without affecting the original audio stream. By working with captured segments rather than the full continuous audio flow, and by comparing these copies against the licensed media catalog, the system achieves accurate violation detection with minimal impact on system performance and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Speed

If audio segments are captured and analyzed in real-time to identify violations, then violation detection speed is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviolation detection speedVSAvoidmonitoring system energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously analyzing every audio segment, the system employs periodic sampling of the auxiliary input. The monitor subsystem captures audio at intervals and analyzes these discrete segments against the licensed media catalog. This periodic approach maintains effective violation detection capability while significantly reducing computational load and energy consumption compared to continuous real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system analyzes only the necessary portions of the audio stream - specific captured segments that are likely to contain identifiable content - rather than processing the entire continuous audio flow. By focusing computational resources on partial analysis of selected segments, the system achieves effective violation detection with reduced energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12430408B2Systems and/or methods for monitoring audio inputs to jukebox devices

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 TOUCHTUNES MUSIC CO LLC

AI summary

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for detecting unlicensed music on a digital jukebox device. A monitoring module, system, subsystem or the like determines whether audio is being provided to the digital jukebox device from an external source for reproduction via a speaker system connected to the jukebox device in place of jukebox media available directly to the jukebox device. When audio is being provided from the external source: at least a portion of the audio being provided to the digital jukebox device from the external source for reproduction via the jukebox device is captured; it is detected whether the captured portion corresponds to audio content that should be licensed; and a log of possible license violations is updated as appropriate. A notification concerning the log of possible violations is generated when a number of possible violations meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold in a predetermined time period.