JP2007171335A - Karaoke contest system performing song contest with sponsor, contest server, and karaoke device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Karaoke contest system, in which performing a karaoke contest for offering prizes, that is, the Karaoke contest for offering prize to high ranking winners, for making it successful as a model for business. <P>SOLUTION: A contest server stores subject song information including a contest content, a ranking table for each song, and singer information, and returns the subject song information and the ranking table in accordance with to request of a Karaoke device, and updates the ranking table of the song, by receiving combination of a song ID, a singer ID and a score data from the Karaoke device, and determines and outputs the award winners, when a contest performing period ends. The Karaoke device transmits telegraphic message for requesting the subject song listing which is input by a user, and shows information regarding the subject song, by storing returned song information and the ranking table, to the user. Then, the acquired song ID which is input by the user is transmitted to the contest server, and the ranking table of the song is received by return, and ranking based on the score data when playing the song of the song ID is displayed, and the combination of the song ID, the singer ID acquired with the song ID, and the score data are transmitted to the contest server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system that uses a karaoke device having a singing scoring function and a network communication function, and performs a karaoke competition among users of a large number of karaoke devices existing in a wide area.

  The well-known karaoke singing scoring function is a function that presents the skill of the singing to the singer, and the singing voice of the singer is compared with the main melody of the music. For example, scoring is performed sequentially for each appropriate scoring section, and a score of 100 points is sequentially output, and the average value of the scores is calculated throughout the music, and the final score is displayed. There is also a karaoke scoring device that calculates the elapsed score by averaging the scores for each scoring interval during the performance and displays the elapsed score (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, there is also a function to implement a karaoke contest where the skill of karaoke singing can be competed at the national level by linking karaoke devices in various places equipped with a singing scoring function by utilizing the broadband communication network in the communication karaoke system. In this karaoke contest, singers registered as members of the contest are identified and managed by ID, and the score by the singing scoring function of the karaoke device is uploaded to a server computer (contest server) on the network together with the singer's ID. The contest server announces a singer who has obtained a high score for each song based on the singing score collected from a large number of karaoke apparatuses on a website operated by the karaoke company. The following Patent Document 2 describes a technique for performing this karaoke competition, and Patent Document 3 describes in detail a user interface of a karaoke apparatus that identifies and manages a singer by ID. The following Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2 describe the contents of services related to a karaoke competition that is actually being implemented.
JP-A-11-95775 JP 2005-99288 A JP 2005-134570 A Daiichi Kosho Co., Ltd., “Ranking Battle DAM Station”, [online], [searched on September 13, 2005], Internet <URL: http://www.clubdam.com/damstation/rankingbattle/index.html > Daiichi Kosho Co., Ltd., “Ranking Battle Special DAM Station”, [online], [searched on September 13, 2005], Internet <URL: http://www.clubdam.com/damstation/rankingbattle_special/index. html>

  Karaoke companies offer various services associated with the performance of karaoke music, which is a basic service, for a fee, and are exploring new business models using karaoke as a keyword. As for the karaoke contest, the top prize winners are awarded a certificate (see Non-Patent Document 2). However, this awarding service is aimed at the top prize winners who are a part of many karaoke contest participants, so a large increase in profits cannot be expected. In addition, the top prize winner does not always purchase a certificate. Therefore, it may be possible to collect the participation fee from the singer and carry out the karaoke raoke competition itself for a fee.

  However, the conventional karaoke contest system has a simple rule of competing ranks based on the scoring results, so singers are confident in singing ability and try their abilities. Unless there is a clear purpose, there is no motivation to actively participate in the competition. If a contest is charged, the number of participants in the contest may decrease dramatically. In order for a karaoke company to succeed in a paid karaoke contest as a business model, it is necessary to show a policy for singers to actively participate in the contest, and a pay-for-use name. Of course, karaoke contests can be used as a business model if more singers can be motivated to use more basic karaoke services for the purpose of participating in contests without paying contests. Can be established.

  In order to make the karaoke contest successful as a business model, the present inventors considered giving a prize to the top prize winner. However, if a karaoke company prepares a prize for each competition opportunity, it cannot expect a significant increase in profits. The objective of this invention is providing the karaoke contest system for making the karaoke contest which awards a prize to a top prize winner succeed as a business model.

  The inventors of the present invention have thought that the karaoke contest can be a successful business model if soliciting sponsors who provide prizes. And if the implementation method of the karaoke contest by a karaoke contest system can be convinced that the sponsor can obtain profits and advantages commensurate with the provision of prizes, the object of the present invention is achieved.

The karaoke contest system according to the present invention is specified by the following items (1) to (19).
(1) The contest server is a karaoke contest system that can communicate with a large number of karaoke apparatuses via a communication network. (2) The contest server includes a subject song information database, a ranking table database, and a singer information database. , Subject song information transmission processing, ranking table update processing, and award processing (3) The subject song information database corresponds to the song ID of the subject song information including a set of sponsor information, implementation period, and award essentials (4) The rank table database uses a set of singer IDs and scoring data as a rank table, and stores a plurality of the rank tables in association with music IDs (5) singer information The database stores a plurality of pieces of attribute information of the singer in association with the singer ID. (6) The task song information transmission process is performed from the karaoke device to the task song. When the viewing request message is received, the contents of the assignment song database and the ranking table database are transmitted to the karaoke device. (7) The ranking table update process receives a set of song ID, singer ID, and scoring data from the karaoke device. (8) When the award process is completed, the award process is performed in the award guideline, the rank table, and the singer information database of the subject song when the period of implementation of the subject song in the subject song information database expires. (9) The karaoke apparatus has a user interface, performance means, scoring means, and control means. (10) The user interface is a user according to control of the control means. (11) The performance means outputs the accompaniment music of the specified karaoke music according to the control of the control means. (12) The scoring means evaluates the skill of the singing voice according to the accompaniment music according to the control of the control means and outputs the scoring data. (13) The control means receives user input of the task song browsing request. When there is, the request message is sent to the competition server and the first to fifth processes are performed. (14) The first process is the contents of the task song information database and the ranking table database received from the competition server. Memorize | store and make a user present the information regarding a subject music (15) 2nd process acquires music ID and the singer ID matched with this with user interface (16) 3rd process Prior to the performance of the accompaniment music of the music ID acquired in the second process, the music ID is transmitted to the contest server, and the music ranking table is received from the contest server. (17) The fourth process causes the performance means to play the accompaniment music of the music ID acquired in the second process. (18) The fifth process scores the singing voice during the performance by the fourth process, and the scoring data. The rank is obtained in light of the rank table received in the third process, and at least the rank obtained at the end of the singing section is displayed. (19) The sixth process includes the scoring data output in the fifth process, Associating the song ID and singer ID acquired in 2 processes and sending them to the contest server

The present invention extends to a contest server and a karaoke apparatus constituting the contest system, and the contest server is specified by the following items (21) to (27).
(21) Consists of a computer that can communicate with a number of karaoke apparatuses via a communication network, and includes a task song information database, a ranking table database, and a singer information database, a task song information transmission process, and a ranking table. Perform update process and award process (22) The task song information database stores a plurality of task song information including a set of sponsor information, an implementation period, and an award guideline in association with the song ID (23) The table database uses a set of pairs of singer IDs and scoring data as a rank table, and stores a plurality of the rank tables in association with music IDs. (24) The singer information database sings the singer's attribute information. (25) When the assignment song information transmission process receives the assignment song browsing request message from the karaoke device, the assignment song database and Sending the contents of the rank table database to the karaoke device (26) The rank table update process updates the corresponding rank table when a set of song ID, singer ID, and scoring data is received from the karaoke device ( 27) The award process is to determine and output the award winner based on the award guidelines, ranking table, and singer information database for the subject song when the duration of the subject song in the subject song information database expires.

The karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is specified by the following items (31) to (41).
(31) The karaoke apparatus is provided with a user interface, performance means, scoring means, and control means. (32) The user interface presents information to the user and controls user input according to control of the control means. Receiving (33) the performance means acoustically outputs the accompaniment music of the specified karaoke piece according to the control of the control means (34) the scoring means performs the skill of the singing voice according to the accompaniment music according to the control of the control means Evaluating and outputting scoring data (35) When there is a user input of the task song browsing request, the control means transmits a telegram of the request to the contest server and performs the first to fifth processes. (36) The first process stores the contents of the task song information database and the ranking table database received from the contest server, and presents information about the task song to the user (37) The second process obtains the song ID of the subject song and the singer ID associated therewith by the user interface. (38) The third process is an accompaniment of the song ID obtained in the second process. Prior to the performance of music, the music ID is sent to the contest server, the rank table of the music is received from the contest server,
(39) The fourth process causes the performance means to perform the accompaniment music of the music ID acquired in the second process. (40) The fifth process scores the singing voice during the performance by the fourth process, and the scoring data. The rank is obtained in light of the rank table received in the third process, and at least the rank obtained at the end of the singing section is displayed (41) The sixth process includes the scoring data output in the fifth process, Associating the song ID and singer ID acquired in 2 processes and sending them to the contest server

  Karaoke companies are trying to increase profitability by providing users with additional services associated with karaoke for a fee. Karaoke contest is an important additional service, but the conventional karaoke contest system could not give motivation for singers to actively participate in the contest. Even if the karaoke contest service is charged in this situation, it is not possible to expect an increase in profits. On the contrary, the number of participants in the karaoke contest is reduced, and the karaoke contest system built by the karaoke company at high cost is wasted.

  However, in the karaoke contest system of the present invention, a prize can be awarded to a prizewinner, and the user's willingness to participate in the karaoke contest can be enhanced. Therefore, even if the karaoke contest is charged, participants can be sufficiently collected and profits can be improved. Even if there is no charge, the number of people who use karaoke for the purpose of participating in the karaoke contest, that is, for obtaining prizes, can be expected to improve profits.

  In addition, since the prize is offered from the sponsor, a karaoke contest can be implemented without costing the prize. Sponsors can also have the opportunity to present information about themselves to karaoke users, saving advertising expenses and improving their visibility. Thus, in the competition system of this invention, a karaoke competition can be made successful as a business model.

=== Network and system configuration ===
FIG. 1 shows a network configuration of a contest karaoke system in an embodiment of the present invention. The contest karaoke system 1 of the present embodiment is basically the same as the network configuration in the communication karaoke system, and the LAN 110 and karaoke music laid in karaoke stores 100 in various places on a VPN (Virtual Private Network) 70b using the Internet 70a. The accompaniment music and the karaoke data that is the origin of the generation of the lyric image are accumulated, and the host device 90 that distributes the karaoke data of the new music to the karaoke device 2 in a timely manner is connected to the VPN 70b to construct a wide area intranet.

  The host device 90 of this embodiment stores karaoke data in association with the song ID in the song database 91 for each of a large number of karaoke songs, and distributes it to the karaoke device 2 in a timely manner. In addition, the host device has a function as a competition server, stores and manages various information related to the karaoke competition in a predetermined database (92 to 94), and stores and manages information in the accompanying databases (91 to 94). A karaoke contest is carried out while communicating with the karaoke device 2.

  The karaoke apparatus 2 installed in each guest room 120 of the karaoke store 100 in each place includes a main body (hereinafter referred to as a karaoke performance terminal) 2a of the karaoke apparatus 2, a user interface mainly including a touch panel, and a music search function. The apparatus (karaoke utilization terminal) 30 is comprised. The karaoke performance terminal 2 a is connected to the VPN 70 b via the router 60 and communicates with the host device 90. The utilization terminal 30 includes a wireless LAN interface of a predetermined standard, and is connected to the LAN 110 via the wireless access point 50 via the wireless LAN interface, and communicates with the karaoke performance terminal 2a and the host device 90.

=== Outline of Karao Competition ===
In the karaoke competition system 1 of this embodiment, the karaoke performance terminal 2a, the utilization terminal 30, and the host device 90 communicate with each other, and the well-known singing scoring function in the karaoke performance terminal 2a and the database management function in the host device 90 are linked. Karaoke competition. And when the karaoke performance terminal 2a sings a certain tune, the karaoke performance terminal 2a provides the latest score ranking table (hereinafter referred to as a rank table) of the tunes prepared by the host device 90 by the karaoke performance terminal 2a. While presenting to the user, the scoring result immediately after singing is immediately reflected in the ranking table, and the scoring result is transmitted to the host device 90. The host device 90 updates the ranking table as needed based on the sent scoring results.

  The karaoke contest system 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the task tune, but for all tunes when the member sings, in addition to the karaoke contest (ordinary contest) in which the ranking of the singing scores is competed for each song, a predetermined task song For example, a karaoke contest (contest with sweepstakes) in which a prize provided by a sponsor is awarded, for example, a singer of a predetermined rank in the ranking table as an award recipient. For this purpose, the host device 90 stores and manages the subject song information such as sponsors and awarding requirements in the subject song information database 94 in association with the song ID of the subject song.

  Hereinafter, functions of each component (the karaoke performance terminal 2a, the utilization terminal 30, and the host device 90) of the karaoke contest system 1 will be described, and an implementation procedure of the karaoke contest with prizes based on the functions will be described.

=== Basic configuration and functions of karaoke equipment ===
FIG. 2 shows a functional block configuration of the karaoke performance terminal 2a, and FIGS. 3A and 3B show an appearance of the utilization terminal 30 and a block configuration of the utilization terminal 30. FIG. The karaoke performance terminal 2a has substantially the same hardware configuration as a performance terminal of a known communication karaoke system. The central control unit 11 controls each peripheral component unit to control the karaoke performance terminal 2a, and the hard disk device 12 includes accompaniment music data mainly composed of MIDI data and generation origins of lyrics images for many karaoke songs. Karaoke data including lyric rendering data is accumulated. In addition, table of contents information such as song titles and artist names, video data for a long time in a predetermined format, and script data that defines the video data processing sequence (storage location and processing order of video data to be processed, etc.) are also stored. Has been. The central control unit 11 identifies karaoke data, table of contents information, script data, and the like of each music piece by the music piece ID, and manages this as a karaoke database. Then, the karaoke data is received from the host device 90 connected in a timely manner via the network interface 22 and the contents of the karaoke database are updated.

  The utilization terminal 30 includes a user interface mainly including a touch panel 33 in which a liquid crystal display (LCD) 31 and a touch sensor 32 are stacked, and is stored in the karaoke apparatus 2 in an external storage 35 such as a built-in flash memory or a hard disk device. The table of contents information similar to the information stored therein and various image information displayed on the touch panel 33 are stored. In addition, location information (such as an IP address) about the karaoke performance terminal 2a in the same guest room to be operated such as performance reservation is also stored in the external storage 35.

  The remote control unit 34 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a video RAM, and the like, develops various image information and character information into a video RAM based on input information to the touch panel 33, and displays an LCD based on the bitmap data. The driver 36 is driven to display appropriate information on the touch panel 33. The table of contents information stored in the external storage 35 is managed as a music index database.

  The remote controller control unit 34 accepts a fragment of the table of contents information as a query through dialogue with the user via the touch panel 33, extracts the table of contents information of the corresponding karaoke song from the song index database, and presents it. When the karaoke song is finally specified as one song on the utilization terminal 30 and a user input is made to reserve the song, the remote control unit 34 codes the performance reservation command including the song ID. Is transmitted to the karaoke performance terminal 2a in the same guest room 120 via the LAN 110 connected via the wireless LAN interface 37.

  The central control unit 11 of the karaoke performance terminal 2 a receives the music ID transmitted from the utilization terminal 30 via the LAN 110 via the network interface 22. Alternatively, the music ID input to the operation panel 14 disposed in the karaoke performance terminal 2 a is received via the operation control unit 13. The received music ID is stored in an internal RAM and managed in a performance processing queue. Then, music IDs are sequentially extracted from the queue, the corresponding karaoke data is read from the hard disk device 12, and the accompaniment music data in the karaoke data is transferred to the synthesizer 18 to generate accompaniment music.

  On the other hand, as for the lyric rendering data, the lyric image in which the portion to be sung is changed in color in synchronization with the accompaniment music is sequentially developed in the video RAM 15 as a bitmap. Also, predetermined moving image data is sequentially transferred to the video control unit 16 in a predetermined order based on the script data, and the background moving image of the lyrics image is decoded.

  The mixing amplifier 19 mixes and amplifies the accompaniment music and the singing voice input to the microphone 21 and outputs the sound from the speaker 20. The video control unit 16 superimposes the lyric image on the decoded moving image and displays it on the display 17.

=== Singing scoring function ===
The karaoke performance terminal 2a has a singing scoring function that evaluates the skill of the singing state in accordance with the accompaniment music by the same technique as the karaoke scoring device described in Patent Document 1. And the singing scoring part 23 is provided as hardware for implement | achieving the function. When the central control unit 11 receives a user input indicating that the singing scoring function is used, the central control unit 11 sequentially transfers the music information of the main melody in the karaoke data of the performance music to the singing scoring unit 23. The singing scoring unit 23 samples the singing voice signal input from the microphone 21 and converts it into digital singing voice data, and extracts the singing voice pitch from this singing voice data. Then, the pitch reference value is compared with the singing voice pitch, and the score based on the comparison result is sequentially output for each appropriate section, for example, for each measure. In the present embodiment, the section score of 100 points is output sequentially. When the performance of all the singing parts is finished, such as after the performance is finished, the central control unit 11 totals the section scores that have been sequentially output from the singing scoring unit 23 so far, and the average score (final score) is used as the scoring result. Displayed on the display 17.

=== Host device ===
In the present embodiment, the host device 90 includes a song database 91 that stores and manages karaoke data and table of contents information about a large number of karaoke songs in association with song IDs, and communicates with the karaoke device 2 in a timely manner to obtain karaoke data. It has a basic function as a well-known music distribution server in a distributed online karaoke system.

  In addition, it has a function as a contest server for performing a karaoke contest, the user who is registered as a member of the contest is identified and managed by the singer ID, and the singer ID and the member corresponding to the ID in the singer information database 92 Attribute information such as personal information (name, contact information, face photo, etc.), performance reservation history, singing grading history, and the identifier (team ID) of the team to which the user belongs is stored and managed.

  In the rank table database 93, the music ID from the karaoke performance terminal 2a, the singer ID of the person who sang the music corresponding to the number, and the final score when the music is sung are associated and stored and managed. Yes. The subject song information database stores and manages the subject song information including a set of sponsor information, an implementation period, and awards guidelines in association with the song ID. The sponsor information is an advertisement related to a sponsor who provides a prize, and may be a mere sponsor name, or may be content including video or audio. In addition, the awarding guidelines include the contents of prizes and information related to the awarding of prizes.

=== Member Registration ===
In the competition with prizes, which is implemented by the karaoke competition system 1 of the present embodiment, prizes are awarded to a specific singer who is a recipient. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the winners and deliver the prizes reliably. Therefore, the person who wants to participate in the contest with a sweepstakes pre-registers the singer ID for identifying himself and personal information including the team ID in the singer information database 92 of the host device 90, and qualifies as a member. Trying to get. The utilization terminal 30 functions as an information input terminal for performing a member registration procedure or performing an authentication procedure when a registered member uses the competition system 1.

  The technique described in Patent Document 3 is used as the technique related to member registration and member authentication in this embodiment. Specifically, the karaoke company gives the member a non-contact type IC card having a prepaid electronic money function that allows additional payment, and uses the IC card identification number (card ID) as a singer ID. . The utilization terminal 30 has a function of reading information stored in the IC card, and the user puts his IC card on the antenna 38 of the utilization terminal 30 prior to using the karaoke performance terminal 2a. The remote control unit 34 of the utilization terminal 30 acquires the card ID of the IC card via the card interface 39 and transmits it to the host device 90.

  The host device 90 makes an inquiry to the singer information database 92 using the received card ID as a singer ID, and returns personal information corresponding to the singer ID to the utilization terminal 30 if there is a corresponding member. As a result, the member is logged in to the host device 90. If there is no corresponding member, that is, if the singer ID is not yet registered in the singer information database 92, the user who attempted to log in with an IC card is returned to the utilization terminal 30 as a new member, The remote control control unit 34 causes the touch panel 33 to display guidance that prompts the user to input personal information. If personal information is input, the set of the previously acquired card ID and personal information is transmitted to the host device 90. Thereby, the user is registered as a member.

  In addition, the utilization terminal 30 displays on the touch panel 33 a button in which the member's face photo included in the personal information is displayed as an icon, and includes the icon identification information (icon ID), the image data of the member's face photo, and the singer ID. The correspondence is transferred to the karaoke performance terminal 2a. The karaoke performance terminal 2a stores these correspondences, and recognizes the correspondence between the icon ID and the singer ID based on the correspondence between the icon ID and the image data transferred from the utilization terminal 30. Accordingly, when the member designates his / her icon and performs a music selection operation, the ID of the icon is transferred to the karaoke performance terminal 2a together with the song ID of the requested song, and the karaoke performance terminal 2a is a singer ID corresponding to the icon ID. As a scoring result when the singer sings, the final score after the end of the singing can be sent to the host device 90 in association with the music ID and the singer ID. Further, even when an instruction is sent to the karaoke performance terminal 2a, the karaoke performance terminal 2a can specify a member who has performed the operation by instructing an icon and performing a predetermined operation.

=== Procedure for a contest with sweepstakes ===
FIG. 4 shows a flow of processing when the karaoke contest system 1 performs a contest with prizes. The karaoke company shall notify the host of a contest with a sweepstakes through an advertisement on a website or a paper medium, or a store poster. First, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the utilization terminal 30 and inputs that the contest theme song with a sweepstakes is to be browsed, the utilization terminal 30 sends a request for viewing the subject song to the karaoke performance terminal 2a, and the karaoke performance terminal 2a transfers this request to the host device 90 (s1 to s3). When the host device 90 receives the task song browsing request, the host device 90 acquires task song information from the task song information database, acquires a ranking table for the task songs from the ranking table database, and sends the acquired information to the karaoke performance terminal 2a. Return (s4 to s6). The karaoke performance terminal 2a stores the ranking table and the task song information sent from the host device 90, and appropriately displays information on the task song (s7, s8). In this embodiment, the contents related to the contest with a prize and the ranking table of the award qualifiers of each subject song are displayed on the display 17 while changing the screen. Moreover, the code | symbol which shows that it is a subject music is added to the music ID of a subject music, and it transfers to the utilization terminal 30, and this utilization terminal 30 memorize | stores this (s9, s10). FIGS. 5A and 5B show a content display screen for the competition and a ranking table for a certain subject song. The content screen 130a of the competition displays a list of prizes 132, sponsors 133, competition deadline 134, ranking 135 of the winners for each assignment song 131, and assignment song 136 and the assignment song 136 The award corresponding rank 137, the award candidate's score 138, and information (nickname, residence, gender) 139 about the award candidate up to now are displayed.

  The utilization terminal 30 is provided with a dedicated screen (contest reception screen) for accepting participation in a contest with a sweepstakes. A person who wishes to participate in a contest with a sweepstakes calls this reception screen and reserves the performance of an assignment song. I do. 6 to 9 show screen transitions until the reception screen is displayed on the utilization terminal 30. FIG. The initial screen 140 has a button 141 for instructing participation in the karaoke contest (FIG. 6). When this button 141 is instructed, screens in which the subject songs of the karaoke contest are selectable (FIGS. 7 and 150). ) Is displayed. When the singer selects his / her icon 151 in the state where the screen 150 is displayed, and selects and designates one of the theme songs 152, the utilization terminal 30 stores the icon ID, and the contest reception screen ( 8 and 160) are displayed. In the present embodiment, the participation fee is collected from the participant of the contest with a prize, and the participation fee is settled by electronic money at the stage of instructing participation in the contest with a prize. The contest reception screen 160 displays a guidance message 161 that prompts the singer to trick the IC card into the antenna. The singer tricks the IC card according to the guidance, and the reservation button 162 of the contest reception screen is displayed. When instructed, the electronic money settlement is completed by a predetermined procedure, for example, an amount equivalent to the participation fee is transferred from the electronic money balance in the IC card to a predetermined account of the karaoke business. In this way, by collecting the participation fee for each opportunity to accept the instruction to participate in the karaoke contest, it is possible to cope with the case where the subject song is sung without participating in the karaoke contest.

  When the utilization terminal 30 completes the settlement of the contest participation fee, the performance reservation command including the icon ID corresponding to the singer ID, the song ID of the theme song, and the instruction to participate in the contest with prizes is given to the karaoke performance terminal 2a. Is displayed, and a confirmation screen (170 in FIG. 9) indicating that the performance reservation has been completed is displayed.

  When the central control unit 11 of the karaoke performance terminal 2a receives a performance reservation command including information on an instruction to participate in a contest with a prize, the music corresponding to the music ID is regarded as a contest application with a prize and the music ID and the corresponding song. The person ID and the information indicating that it is a contest participation piece with a prize are associated and registered in the queue (s11, s12 → s13 → s14, s15). In addition, about the music reserved by the member who does not participate in a contest with a prize, music ID and corresponding singer ID are matched and registered into a queue (s11, s12-> s13-> s15). For performance reservations from members other than members, only the music ID is registered (s11 → s12 → s15).

  The karaoke performance terminal 2a sequentially monitors the contents of the queue, and sends the song ID of the song to the host device 90 at an appropriate time, for example, when the performance order of the song in the queue becomes first. Then, a ranking table of the music is returned (s16 to s19). This ranking table is a ranking table for the normal competition, and is different from the award candidate ranking table (FIG. 5) in the previous assignment. FIG. 10 shows a display screen of the ranking table for the normal competition. In this ranking table screen 180, the table of contents information 181 of the music that has started playing, the score up to the upper predetermined ranking, and the predetermined personal information (nickname, prefecture of residence, gender) about the singer are described. Is displayed. Then, the singing scoring function is activated and the performance of the music is started. (S20-s22).

  The central control unit 11 counts the scores for each section that the singing scoring unit 23 sequentially outputs during the performance, and calculates the average value of the scores for each section after the performance is started as the progress score. Then, the progress score is compared with each score in the ranking table, and the current ranking of the progress score is monitored as needed, and a bitmap image reflecting the progress score is sequentially generated, and the generation screen is displayed on the display 17. Is displayed (s23). FIG. 11 shows a screen for displaying the progress score. In this screen 190, in addition to the lyrics 191, an elapsed score 192 and a rank 193 from the start of singing to the present time are displayed. Further, the central control unit 11 reflects the final performance score in the ranking table after the completion of the performance of the competition application music (s24 → s25, s26). FIG. 12 shows an outline of a ranking table displayed on the display 17 of the karaoke performance terminal 2a after the performance is completed. On this screen 200, a ranking table 201, a final score 202, and a ranking 203 are displayed. In the ranking table 201, an arrow 204 is displayed in the ranking column corresponding to the current score.

  When the performance of the music is finished, if the music is a contest application music, the central control unit 11 transmits a contest participation request including a final score, a music ID, and a singer ID to the host device 90 (s27 → s28 → s30). If the music is reserved by a member who does not participate in the contest with a prize, a normal contest participation request including the final score, music ID, and singer ID is transmitted to the host device (s27 → s28 → s29). If it is a reserved music by a non-member, nothing is transmitted (s27 → s16).

  The host device 90 associates the award qualified person information indicating that it is a participation in a contest with a prize with respect to a combination of a singer ID, a music ID, and a final score received as a contest participation request with a prize. And update the ranking table database. For the combination of the singer ID, the song ID, and the final score received as the normal competition participation request, the ranking table database 93 is updated without associating the award qualified person information (s31).

  The host device 90 individually compares the final score sent from the karaoke performance terminal 2a with the stored final score according to the presence / absence of correspondence of the qualified person information when the ranking table database 93 is updated (s31). The higher score is adopted. That is, when the same singer sings the same assignment, it distinguishes between when it participates in a contest with sweepstakes and when it does not, and the score when participating in the contest with sweepstakes is overwritten by the score when not participating I'm trying not to be done.

=== About giving and receiving prizes ===
The host device 90 sequentially refers to the subject song information database 94 and identifies a karaoke contest in which the holding period has expired. Then, with reference to the ranking table database 93, a ranking table is created with the final score associated with the award-qualified person information for the tune of the karaoke contest, and based on the ranking table and the awarding guidelines in the tune information. Identify the members who will receive the award. Then, the contact information included in the singer information about the identified member is acquired from the singer information database 92, and the process proceeds to a process of notifying that the contact has been made as a winner. In this embodiment, an e-mail address is registered as a contact address, and the host device 90 sends an e-mail describing a prize receiving method and the like to the address. In addition, when the member who has become the winner comes to the karaoke store and logs in to the host device 90, the winning fact is returned to the utilization terminal 30 that has performed the login operation, or the karaoke performance terminal 2a to which the utilization terminal 30 communicates. And notify the member.

=== Timing timing ===
In the above embodiment, the contest participation fee is collected at the time of instructing participation in the contest with prizes. However, it may be possible to charge after seeing the final score and participate in the competition with prizes. As a result, when the singing fails, it is not necessary to pay the contest participation fee, and the user does not have to spend unnecessary money.

It is a network block diagram including the karaoke contest system in the Example of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the karaoke performance terminal which comprises the said karaoke contest system. It is the external view (A) of a karaoke utilization terminal attached to the said karaoke performance terminal, and a functional block diagram (B). It is a flowchart of the process in connection with the contest with a prize which the said karaoke contest system implements. It is the schematic of the award essential point of the contest with a prize displayed on the said karaoke performance terminal. It is the schematic of the initial screen displayed on the said karaoke utilization terminal. In the said karaoke utilization terminal, it is the schematic of the subject music list screen called from the said initial screen. In the said karaoke utilization terminal, it is the schematic of the contest reception screen called from the said subject music list screen. In the said karaoke utilization terminal, it is the screen schematic diagram for making a user confirm that the performance reservation command was sent to the karaoke performance terminal. It is the schematic of the screen of the order table which the said karaoke performance terminal displays prior to a music performance. It is the screen schematic of the progress score which the said karaoke performance terminal displays during a music performance. It is the screen schematic of the ranking table which the said karaoke performance terminal displays after a music performance.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Karaoke contest system 2 Karaoke apparatus 2a Karaoke performance terminal 11 Central control part 12 Hard disk apparatus 23 Singing scoring part 30 Karaoke utilization terminal 90 Host apparatus 92 Singer information database 93 Rank table database 94 Assignment music information database

Claims (3)

A karaoke contest system in which a contest server can communicate with a large number of karaoke devices via a communication network,
The competition server includes a task song information database, a ranking table database, and a singer information database, performs task song information transmission processing, ranking table update processing, and award processing,
The assignment song information database stores a plurality of pieces of assignment song information including a combination of sponsor information, an implementation period, and an award guideline in association with a song ID.
The rank table database uses a set of singers ID and scoring data as a rank table, and stores a plurality of the rank tables in association with music IDs.
The singer information database stores a plurality of singer attribute information in association with the singer ID,
When the assignment song information transmission processing receives the assignment song browsing request message from the karaoke device, the assignment song database and the contents of the ranking table database are transmitted to the karaoke device,
When the rank table update process receives a set of song ID, singer ID, and scoring data from the karaoke device, the corresponding rank table is updated,
The award process determines and outputs the award winners based on the award guideline, ranking table, and singer information database of the subject song when the implementation period of a subject song in the subject song information database expires,
The karaoke apparatus includes a user interface, performance means, scoring means, and control means,
The user interface presents information to the user according to control of the control means and accepts user input,
The performance means outputs the accompaniment music of the specified karaoke music according to the control of the control means,
The scoring means evaluates the skill of the singing voice according to the accompaniment music according to the control of the control means and outputs scoring data,
The control means, when there is a user input of the assignment song browsing request, transmits a message of the request to the contest server, and performs the first to fifth processing,
The first process stores the contents of the subject song information database and the ranking table database received from the contest server, and makes the user present information on the subject song,
The second process acquires the song ID of the task song and the singer ID associated therewith by the user interface,
Prior to the performance of the accompaniment music of the music ID acquired in the second process, the third process transmits the music ID to the contest server, receives the rank table of the music from the contest server,
The fourth process causes the performance means to play the accompaniment music of the music ID acquired in the second process,
In the fifth process, the singing voice is scored during the performance by the fourth process, and the ranking is obtained by comparing the scoring data with the rank table received in the third process, and at least the rank obtained at the end of the singing section is displayed.
The sixth process is a karaoke contest system in which the scoring data output in the fifth process and the music ID / singer ID acquired in the second process are associated with each other and transmitted to the contest server. Consists of a computer that can communicate with a number of karaoke apparatuses via a communication network, and includes a task song information database, a ranking table database, and a singer information database, a task song information transmission process, a ranking table update process, A contest server that performs award processing,
The assignment song information database stores a plurality of pieces of assignment song information including a combination of sponsor information, an implementation period, and an award guideline in association with a song ID.
The rank table database uses a set of singers ID and scoring data as a rank table, and stores a plurality of the rank tables in association with music IDs.
The singer information database stores a plurality of singer attribute information in association with the singer ID,
When the assignment song information transmission processing receives the assignment song browsing request message from the karaoke device, the assignment song database and the contents of the ranking table database are transmitted to the karaoke device,
When the rank table update process receives a set of song ID, singer ID, and scoring data from the karaoke device, the corresponding rank table is updated,
The award process is a contest server that determines and outputs the award winners based on the award guidelines, ranking table, and singer information database for the subject song when the duration of the subject song in the subject song information database expires. A karaoke apparatus comprising a user interface, performance means, scoring means, and control means,
The user interface presents information to the user according to control of the control means and accepts user input,
The performance means outputs the accompaniment music of the specified karaoke music according to the control of the control means,
The scoring means evaluates the skill of the singing voice according to the accompaniment music according to the control of the control means and outputs scoring data,
The control means, when there is a user input of the assignment song browsing request, transmits a message of the request to the contest server, and performs the first to fifth processing,
The first process stores the contents of the subject song information database and the ranking table database received from the contest server, and makes the user present information on the subject song,
The second process acquires the song ID of the task song and the singer ID associated therewith by the user interface,
Prior to the performance of the accompaniment music of the music ID acquired in the second process, the third process transmits the music ID to the contest server, receives the rank table of the music from the contest server,
The fourth process causes the performance means to play the accompaniment music of the music ID acquired in the second process,
In the fifth process, the singing voice is scored during the performance by the fourth process, and the ranking is obtained by comparing the scoring data with the rank table received in the third process, and at least the rank obtained at the end of the singing section is displayed.
The sixth process is a karaoke apparatus in which the scoring data output in the fifth process and the music ID / singer ID acquired in the second process are associated with each other and transmitted to the contest server.