WO2005015561A1

WO2005015561A1 - Machine and method for the official issuing of music discs

Info

Publication number: WO2005015561A1
Application number: PCT/ES2004/000280
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Cabedo Enguix
Original assignee: Antonio Cabedo Enguix
Priority date: 2003-07-30
Filing date: 2004-06-17
Publication date: 2005-02-17
Also published as: ES2222826A1; ES2222826B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine and a method for the official issuing of music discs, which assigns corresponding quotas to official or private bodies in accordance with the rights thereof in terms of music production. The inventive machine is controlled by a computer which also controls the disc production process logic. According to the invention, a sequence of screens is used to guide the user in the production of the music disc to be recorded. In addition, it is possible to listen to songs and pre-view videoclips. The machine comprises a purse unit which collects the recording, listening or viewing costs. Said machine further comprises an external connection which can be used to control the royalties of the bodies involved and to update the songs and royalties periodically, thereby establishing an official, independent point for the legal sale of music.

Description

MACHINE DISK OFFICIAL EXPENDITION MACHINE AND PROCEDURE

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a machine and an official method of selling music discs. The procedure of recording discs on the machine allows accounting for the percentage corresponding to the rights of the official or private collaborating entities in the record production.

The object of the invention is to offer an autonomous point of recording and legal sale of music discs on demand, facing piracy in the record market and even being able to access discontinued discs, being understood as "discs" to any support of music files .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a history of recording information in which a permanent connection (via telephone or ISDN) is necessary for data transmission. When a recording is requested, the system must transmit the data, with the consequent increase in complexity in the system. An example of this type of systems is the one presented in the Spanish utility model U 200001004, which includes an automated point of sale of video, audio, multimedia or software works in which an ISDN connection is necessary. Other copying equipment allow copies from disk to disk. The machine allows the user to make a copy from one disk to another disk, the user must introduce both discs into the machine to make the copy. This type of machine does not prevent fraud that is committed by illegally copying discs protected by intellectual property. Such equipment is the one presented in the Spanish patent ES 20000466, which allows copying or duplication of computer media.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention that is recommended solves the problem of illegal copying of discs, reducing losses and generating other income. The information recorded by the user is controlled and supervised, so that income relative to the fees corresponding to the various official and private entities is allocated. Thus, piracy can be tackled, since the price of records may be similar to that of the illegal market.

Another advantage of the invention is the high volume of the disc catalog, which also allows to recover and re-sell discontinued discs because its manufacture is no longer profitable due to its low sale. The costs of the sales system are reduced, as there are no surpluses (for unsold discs). In addition, the entire sales process is carried out by the user. The point of sale is transportable, takes up little space and can be installed in places where a record shop would not be profitable (service areas, train or bus stations, airports).

The invention is embodied in an official music disc vending machine. The machine is associated with a procedure for selling the discs that guides the user in obtaining a music disc.

The machine consists of a body formed by a lower part, an intermediate part and an upper part where the screen stands out. From the screen the user is guided in obtaining the discs. The screen can be touch; if it is not, a keyboard and / or a mouse must be included. Speakers are placed on the sides of the screen to listen to songs.

The recorder stands out in the middle of the machine, where the already recorded disc comes out. Next to it are the keyboard and mouse, if necessary. An instruction manual can also be included in this part. Another optional element that the machine can include is a radio, which could be tuned to the chain that signed a contract with the vending machine manager.

At the bottom of the machine, a computer or central unit stands out, which is where the machine's logic and the procedure for obtaining discs are processed. In the hard disk of this central unit the songs and the archives are stored with the information related to the quotas for the different official or private entities. Through an external connection of the computer inaccessible to users, you can enter and extract information, both new songs as of the control of the rights of the affected entities. This external connection can be realized through a physical network connection (local network or Internet), through which the collaborating entities would access, through an access code, the ordinate.

On the front surface of this lower part are the coin purse, the print output of the covers (with the printer inside) and a vending unit for virgin discs and output of the disc case. More speakers can be included on the side of this lower part. Other interior elements to this lower part of the machine are the virgin disk store and the disk case store.

At the rear of the machine are the connection to the mains and the device to turn the machine on and off.

The procedure of selling discs allows the user to legally record their discs. The user can choose between recording an artist's album, recording individual songs to taste (from the same or different artists) or recording published record compilations. You can also listen to the songs you choose at a certain price, and you can buy blank discs for recording or for personal use. Another possibility that can be included is the display of video clips and subsequent DVD recording. These options are presented on the screen to the user, together with a notice informing that the recordings made respect the fees and rights of the official and private entities affected. After making a first language selection, the first selection (artists, songs, compilations or listening) would proceed. Then you choose the style of music you want to choose. Possible styles will be displayed on the screen, next to the options to return to the previous screen or continue to the next. If you chose to buy a virgin disc, the amount will be indicated on the screen, after which the disc is automatically released.

After choosing the desired music style, the search option is selected by selecting alphabetically. Again it is allowed to return to the previous screen or continue to the next one.

Listed below are the elements that begin with the chosen letter. In the case of artists or compilations, artists or compilations that begin with that letter are listed, along with the options to go back, follow the next screen, go to the main menu or go to the top of the page (as the list can comprise several pages). When it comes to lists of songs or songs to listen to, the songs that begin with that letter are displayed, next to the artist or group to which the song corresponds. The selected songs will be displayed in a "selected songs" menu located on the screen. Next to the songs in the "selected songs" menu, the "cancel" option is displayed, which allows you to delete that song from the selected list. Once the "selected songs" menu is completed, or when the disc capacity is full, the "record" or "listen" option, visible on the screen, will be pressed. This option shows the amount of the selected recording or listening on the screen, which is a function of the number of songs chosen. After entering the amount, the recording or listening process is carried out. The recording, once finished, will give the user the disc next to the case, the cover and a list with the recorded songs.

At the time of recording, the percentage of rights is automatically calculated for all entities and organizations, official and private, that have signed a contract with the manager and / or distributor of this music recording medium.

When the list by one letter corresponds to artists and a specific artist or group is chosen, the discs published by that artist will be shown below, with the songs that each disc contains. You can also include the album cover. If a disc is chosen and then the burn option, the disc is recorded, upon request of the amount of the disc.

When a specific compilation is chosen from the list by letter of compilations, the list of songs in the compilation and optionally the cover image are shown on the next screen. If the record option is chosen and the necessary amount is entered, the recording process begins.

In all possible recording and listening options, as well as in the sale of blank discs, one or several files are updated in which the number of discs and songs sold is managed, together with the percentages allocated to each of the different entities Official or private, as agreed. In internal storage media associated to the computer of said machine (hard disk, etc.), all the information for the production of the music disc is stored locally, both the updated database of the songs and the update of the canons, by the official or private entities who own or manage the rights of music production.

In addition, this information is accessible, through a key by official or private entities, through the external connector of the network computer. A manager of these entities can access the machine, connecting their computer to the external network connection, to make the exchange of musical information and the updated fees, in addition to being able to control this data.

In this way, the machine constitutes an official and legal point of sale of music discs containing all the necessary information for a user to record and buy a music disc, without the need for the Internet as an external database, but only for one possible periodic information update and supervision. In the distribution of this type of machines by different locations of physical points of sale (record stores, etc.), the update, exchange and control of periodic information, through the external connection that allows the manager to individually configure each machine , even establishing that a machine has a different music topology from another, without having to go through a central Internet unit for all machines. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with an example of practical implementation thereof, figures are included as an integral part of said description. and not limited to the machine and the scheme of the procedure for the official sale of discs in accordance with the object of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a front view of the official music disc vending machine.

Figure 2. - shows a profile view of the machine.

Figure 3. - presents a block diagram of the machine.

Figure 4.- shows a diagram of the sequence of screens with the operating procedure of the machine.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of Figures 1 and 2 it can be seen how the machine that is proposed has three bodies or parts, upper (1), middle (2) and lower (3), forming a single set.

In the upper part (1) the screen (4) is distinguished, which in a preferred embodiment is a touch screen, and the user will press with the finger the options you want to select. In another preferred embodiment, the screen is conventional and is accompanied by a keyboard or mouse (6). This part also includes speakers (5) for which you can listen, when that is the option selected.

In the middle part of the machine is the keyboard or mouse (6) already mentioned. In this same part of the machine is the recorder (7), where the already recorded disc will come out. In the preferred embodiment the recorder corresponds to compact discs or CDs, although the invention is not limited to this type of discs. In the preferred embodiment of the invention it is the user who must insert a blank disc into the recorder to start the recording process (which can be purchased from the machine itself). In another preferred embodiment it is the machine itself that automatically places the virgin disc in the recorder at the beginning of the recording process. The disc, once recorded, will be delivered to the user through a mobile tray of the recorder (7), which leaves the body of the machine. In another preferred embodiment, which gives the machine greater robustness, the disk will be delivered to the user by means of a slot of thickness somewhat greater than the thickness of the disk. In this same intermediate part an instruction manual (8) can be presented in which it is also reported that the machine constitutes an official point of sale of discs. At the bottom of the machine (3) we find a printer (9) in which the album covers are created with the list of songs. On the covers it is printed: the title of the reproduced works, the names of the authors of the music and the letters of the musical compositions, names of the arrangers and adapters if any of the lyrics and music, the name of the editor of each of the compositions and the acronym of the Spanish copyright management company (SGAE) or equivalent. Likewise, legal texts such as "All rights of the phonographic producer and the owner of the recorded work are reserved. All exceptions are forbidden, duplication, rental and lending are prohibited, as well as the use of this CD for public execution and broadcasting ".

The printer has an outlet (10) where the cover is delivered to the user. Next to the printer (9), there is a coin element (11), with which the payment of the recordings is managed, with its coin entry slots (12) and change output (13). Other elements of the machine are the disk store (14) and the disk case store (15). In relation to these stores is the output of virgin discs and disc cases (16).

The central element of the lower part is the computer (17), which directs the logic of the machine and governs the procedure for obtaining discs. The other elements (screen, speakers, keyboard or mouse, printer, recorder, vending of virgin discs, purse) are directed by the computer, as can be seen in Figure 3. Said computer (17) has local internal storage means ( 26) which consist of a hard disk where the songs are stored, as well as the archives with the information related to the quotas for the different official or private entities. Through an external connection (18) of the computer (17), inaccessible to users, information can be entered and extracted, both from new songs and from the control of the rights of the entities involved in relation to the units and songs sold, heard or recorded . This external connection (18) can be realized by means of an Internet connection, through which the collaborating entities would access the computer by means of an access code.

Other elements of the machine are: at the bottom, the ventilation grill of the computer (19), the side speakers (20) and the connection to the mains (21). A radio (22) can be included in the middle part, which would be tuned to the station that established an agreement with the machine manager. On the back of the machine there will be a switch (23) on and off the machine.

On the front panel of the machine, optionally a connection for mobile phones (24) is provided via cable to record the music on a user's mobile phone. An optical data reader (25) can also be incorporated for infrared download of files in IPOD format, etc.

The procedure of selling discs, once the language has been selected, is included in the screen scheme of Figure 4. The first screen (31) allows you to choose between the "Artists" options (record an album of an artist or group), "Songs" (record single songs to taste, from the same or different artists), "Compilations" (record published record compilations), "Listen" (listen to the songs that you choose). These options are shown to the user on the first selection screen (31), together with a notice informing that the recordings made with the machine respect the legality and rights of the official and private entities affected. This screen may also include the options "Sale CDs" (in the preferred embodiment in which virgin discs are also sold) and "Video clip" (to watch a video clip and / or burn that video clip in DVD format, in a preferred embodiment that includes this option). If the "Sale CD" s is chosen, the amount of the virgin disc is indicated on the screen, and the user is expected to enter the money.After making the first selection, the desired music style (32) is chosen. In a preferred embodiment the style options would be "Rock-Pop", "Blues", "Jazz", "Folk", "Flamenco", "Classical", "Ethnic", "New-Age", "Light" and " Others ", which would be included in the same style screen. The buttons (at the bottom of the screen)" follow "the next style screen and" return "to the previous screen are included. Once you have chosen the style of music to listen to, the option is to define the search by selecting in alphabetical order (33). Again, it is possible to return to the previous screen or continue to the next one.The following selection screen (34) shows the listings of the elements that begin with the selected letter. In the case of artists or compilations, artists are listed or compiled torios that begin with that letter, next to the options to go back, follow to the next screen, go to the main menu or go to the top of the page (when the list includes several pages). When it comes to lists of songs or songs to listen to, the songs that begin with the chosen letter are displayed, next to the artist or group to which each song corresponds. The songs that are selected are displayed in the "Selected songs" menu located at the bottom right of the screen. The "Cancel" option is displayed next to each selected song, which allows you to delete a song from the "Selected songs" menu. Once the "selected songs" menu is completed, or when the disc capacity is full, the "Record" or "Listen" option, visible on the screen, will be pressed. After this option, the amount of the selected recording or listening is displayed, which is a function of the number of songs chosen. After entering the amount, the recording or listening process is carried out. After the recording, the disc is delivered to the user next to the case, the cover and a list of the recorded songs.

At the time of recording, the percentage of the rights of all entities and organizations, official and private, that have signed a contract with the manager and / or distributor of this music recording medium is automatically calculated.

When the list by one letter corresponds to artists and a specific artist or group is chosen, the discs published by that artist (35) are shown below, with the songs that each disc contains, and the album cover can also be shown in one embodiment Preferred of the invention. If a disc is chosen and then the "Burn" option, the disc is recorded, upon request of the amount of the disc. When a specific compilation is chosen from the list by letter of compilations, the list of songs of the compilation (35) is shown on the following screen, the cover image being able to be shown in a preferred embodiment of the invention. When the option "Record" is selected and after entering the necessary amount, the recording process begins. In the different recording, listening and selling options executed by the machine, files are updated on the hard disk of the computer in which the number of discs and songs sold is managed. In these files, the percentages for official or private entities are obtained as agreed with the manager and / or distributor of the official music sales machine.

In view of this description and set of figures, the person skilled in the art will be able to understand that the embodiments of the invention that have been described can be combined in multiple ways within the scope of the invention. The invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that multiple variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments without departing from the object of the claimed invention.

Claims

1.- Vending machine for music discs that allocate quotas corresponding to official or private entities in proportion to their rights over recorded, listened to musical works or on the sale of virgin records, which includes a computer (17) that governs logic of the machine and the procedure for obtaining discs, characterized in that it has local internal storage means (26), associated with the computer (17), where all the musical information and fees related to the rights to musical works are stored which is used during the recording of the discs, apart from an external connection (18) to the computer (17) through which the official and private entities involved exchange with said storage media (26) periodically, outside the recording process and sale of the discs to the user, the updated information of the songs and the canons, constituting a legal autonomous point of distribution of and music

2. A music disc vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said storage means (26) consist of at least one hard disk.

3.- Vending machine for music discs according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external connection (18) to the computer is an Internet connection through which, through a password, the marketed music is updated and are managed the corresponding fees by official and private entities involved

4. - Music disc vending machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it incorporates a connection for mobile phones (24) via cable to record the music on a user's mobile phone.

5.- Vending machine for music discs according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it incorporates an optical reader (25) for downloading music.

6. - Vending machine for music discs according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it incorporates a screen (4).

7.- Vending machine for music discs according to claim 6, characterized in that the screen (4) is tactile.

8. - Music disc vending machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the screen (4) is conventional and incorporates a keyboard or mouse (6).

9.- Music disc vending machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it incorporates a disc recorder (7).

10.- Vending machine for music discs according to claim 9, characterized in that the disc recorder (7) has access means by which the user inserts virgin discs from the outside for recording.

11. A music disc vending machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said access means of the disc recorder (7) is a mobile tray.

12. - Music disc vending machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said access means of the disc recorder (7) is a slot thicker than the disc.

13. - Music disc vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a blank disc store (14), a disc case store (15), and a dispenser (16) by which it is made the output of said virgin discs or said disk covers.

14.- Music disc vending machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the disc recorder (7) has disc transfer means that connect with the virgin disc store (14) to automatically obtain virgin discs inside the machine for recording

15.- Vending machine for music discs according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has speakers (5) and side speakers (20), to listen to the music of the selected songs or a radio (22) that it incorporates.

16.- Vending machine for music records according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a cover printer (9), which prints legends related to the musical work and legal notices in relation to the rights over its use, in said covers.

17.- Vending machine for music discs according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a wallet (11) to collect the amount corresponding to the recording of the musical works ^' including the fees for the rights.

18.- Procedure for issuing music discs characterized in that it comprises the following stages: - selection (31) among the artist, song or compilation that the user wishes to record on the disc; - selection (32) of the music style that the user wishes to record, - selection (33) in alphabetical order of the artist, song or compilation according to the first selection (31); - selection (34) of the listings of artists, songs or compilations according to the previous selection (33); - update of files to manage the musical works sold, selected among compilations, songs or complete albums of an artist, and obtain the corresponding fees to the official or private entities in proportion to their rights over the musical works; recording of the selected musical works, corresponding to the entire album of an artist or group of artists, record compilations, or single songs of one or more artists. - calculation of quotas during recording; - allocation of quotas corresponding to the official or private entities in proportion to their rights over the musical works recorded for billing.

19- Procedure for issuing music discs according to claim 18, characterized in that in the first selection stage (31) the listening of the selected songs according to the following selection stages (32, 33, 34) is included.

20.- Procedure for issuing music discs according to claims 18 or 19, characterized in that in the first selection stage (31) the viewing of music videos is included for later recording with the corresponding allocation of quotas.

21. Procedure for issuing music discs according to any of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the sale of virgin discs is included in the first selection stage (31), both for recording on the machine and for personal use, with the corresponding allocation of quotas.