Not much interest in the inventors newsgroup...anyone like to elaborate
on this concept or propose a newsgroup where participants might like to
discuss prototyping this concept?

Introduction

TIRK is proposed as an alternative to the coin-operated music jukebox
found in a public bar or pub. As an alternative, the user is paying for
live music streamed straight off the Internet through a broadband
connection to any worldwide internet radio sites. Selection is made via
a touch-screen GUI (graphic user interface) that categorises internet
radio music stations into both country and music genre categories. (see
www.vtuner.com) Pricing is suggested to be set at the traditional
jukebox level. That is $2 for 5 minutes.

Development Issues

1. Must public performance royalties be paid for and to whom?
2. Can users change their streaming selection once chosen and if so how
to prevent other users hijacking their chosen selections once engaged?
3. Internet radio stations currently follow an ad-hoc development
strategy. Some have introduced subscriber fees whilst others limit
demand simply by cutting off the ability to connect once overloaded.
Would such a device require the manufacturer to engage in a long term
process of pushing along industry restructuring? That would be to
encourage uniform connection standards and network alliance
subscription packages being made available to subscribers. Network
alliances are likely to be especially valuable for foreign language
learners of English and Spanish, where multiple regional variations
would encourage one subscription price for access to multiple "talk
and news" broadcasts across a suitable range of countries. The same
structural network principles would apply to all music genres that do
celebrate regional variations. The long term move from currently
largely free to subscription based access to Internet Radio stations is
likely to be of benefit to not only the capital investment projects of
the radio stations but also of benefit to individuals provided there is
enough flexibility in cross-network subscription package components.
4. The software developed for such kiosks would have to be able to cope
with a variety of streaming formats and player types, although Windows
Mediaplayer and Realnetworks Realplayer are the established industry
standards. While touch-screen GUI design is well established, writing
the software to work seamlessly with a large variety of different
Internet radio stations would however need careful planning. Software
updates would of course be easily managed since the device is
inherently an "always-on" broadband device.

Long-term competition

The long-term threat to such a device is DRM. This is Digital Radio
Mundial and NOT Digital Rights Management which shares the same
acronym. However the DRM standard appears to be a hindered in the
implementation because of equipment costs for radio stations (similar
in context to the delay of HDTV - High Definition Television). It
would however provide a cheaper access alternative to broadband. If
radio stations can digitally broadcast to reach a global audience
(International DAB - Digital Audio Broadcast) then broadband access to
international radio stations would be under competitive threat. However
it should be noted that the ability to pick up such stations on digital
car radios would be the most exciting potential application of the DRM
technology. Also the restrictive capacity of available wireless
frequencies will certainly limit the full development potential of this
competition both in terms of radio station choice and the broadcast
quality achievable.


Conclusion

The TIRK device has a long-term profitable implementation profile,
bringing existing home-based Internet Radio entertainment into bars,
pubs and clubs. Royalties licensing may or may not be an immediate
issue, and in the short-term perhaps an avoidable concern depending on
the proposed public location in which the device is to be used. The
extent to that this issue is avoidable also relates to the long term
challenge for an industry restructuring in this sector to create
Internet radio stations operating within online network alliances. This
would allow both private individuals and Radio Internet Kiosk holders
to subscribe to more effective services. The TIRK device may also have
an unforeseen sales potential amongst certain learning environments
(language colleges) or even in the home for private individuals. Those
individual wanting at home to entertain guests yet avoid the technical
concerns of running an Internet connection or maintaining a home
computer.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+==+=+=+=+=+=
Project First Cup inventions development program supports the frank
exchange of ideas, concepts and prototypes likely to lead to commercial
success. Project First Cup requests acknowledgement as first source
only when things succeed.
Visit www.tide2000.com/feedback
(to discuss this invention and other ideas).

On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 03:26:29 +0000, project-first-cup wrote:

or propose a newsgroup where participants might like to
discuss prototyping this concept?

This is an old idea, the Jukebox companies have had this in the market for
several years now.
Not much interest in the Live media, most applications use the Remote
Music Download to update the box and tailor its local stores to the music
being played in that location.

--
Korbin Dallas
The name was changed to protect the guilty.