JP2008233334A - Music application device, electronic musical instrument and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform license administration of a music application program by an electronic musical instrument. <P>SOLUTION: When the music application program is operated, one or more pieces of license information are acquired from a memory in the electronic musical instrument which is connected to the music application device, in matching with the start indication of the music application program. The license information stored in the memory of the electronic musical instrument is acquired from an external device to be licensed, which is connected via a communications network, beforehand, prior to the music application program is operated. Hence, a universal serial bus (USB) dongle which is conventionally required for the license administration can be dispensed with, and it does not beleaguer a user. Moreover, as the license information is acquired from the external device and additionally stored in the memory of the electronic musical instrument, any time, and it can be easy performed the license administration about a number of music application programs by the one electronic musical instrument. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a music application device capable of operating a predetermined music application program, an electronic musical instrument connected to the music application device and capable of performing a predetermined operation combined with the function of the music application program, and the like The present invention relates to a program used for the apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for managing a license for a predetermined music application program between a music application device and an electronic musical instrument.

Generally, a music application program (software) such as a software synthesizer or a music game operating on a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) is a storage medium such as a compact disk on which the music application program is recorded. A hardware key (for example, a USB dongle) is bundled together and distributed, and the license information of the music application program (a user using the music application program is licensed to use the hardware key). Information that proves that the user is obtained). A music application program stored in the storage medium only on a personal computer (music application device) to which the USB dongle holding the license information is connected via a predetermined interface (for example, a USB interface). Can be installed and operated. In addition, recently, when an electronic musical instrument (hardware) such as a synthesizer is purchased, all or a part of the functions equivalent to the electronic musical instrument or functions such as a use guide and performance lesson related to the electronic musical instrument are provided. The music application program that can be realized above is often bundled, that is, bundled, and in order to install and operate such a music application program (so-called bundle software) on a personal computer, the music application program An electronic musical instrument that can perform a predetermined operation combined with the functions of the electronic application, that is, an electronic musical instrument that can perform an operation associated with the predetermined function realized by the music application program (a purchased electronic musical instrument or a purchased electronic musical instrument). Electronic musical instrument of model A, there is a need to be connected to a personal computer. For example, there is an apparatus described in Patent Document 1 shown below. In the conventional device described in Patent Document 1, predetermined information for identity confirmation is transmitted and received between the electronic musical instrument and the music application device connected to each other, and the identity of the electronic musical instrument ( If it is not possible to confirm that the product is an in-house product or a specific model, the music application device cannot operate the music application program, or the use of some functions is restricted even if it operates. Has been. That is, in this case, the electronic musical instrument itself acts as a hardware key.
JP 2004-212603 A

  Incidentally, when the USB dongle as described above is used for license management of the music application program, there are the following problems. For example, if you do not connect multiple USB dongles according to the number of music application programs you want to use to your computer, you cannot operate multiple music application programs at the same time. A large number of interfaces (USB interfaces) are necessary. In other words, the number of music application programs that can be simultaneously operated is limited according to the number of USB interfaces of the personal computer. In addition, although an electronic musical instrument is connected to a personal computer via a MIDI interface or the like, a USB dongle must be purposely connected to the personal computer via a USB interface or the like, which is troublesome. Each distribution of the music application program must include one USB dongle storing the corresponding license information, which is cumbersome and costly. Since the USB dongle is composed of a small casing, it is easily broken when the user inserts and removes it from the USB interface, and the user easily loses it. On the other hand, when the above-described conventional apparatus is used for license management of a music application program, license information (however, information indicating the identity of the electronic musical instrument) must be stored in advance in the electronic musical instrument. As a matter of course, it is not possible to preset a plurality of license information corresponding to the number of music application programs used by the user, so it would be desirable to add and use a new music application program that requires different license information. In this case, the added music application program could not be operated. Therefore, there has been a demand for an apparatus that can easily perform license management according to an arbitrary music application program that the user wants to use without bothering the user. However, there has been no such device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points. License management of a music application program can be performed with an electronic musical instrument connected to a music application apparatus without using a USB dongle, and with one electronic musical instrument. It is an object of the present invention to provide a music application device, an electronic musical instrument, and a program used for these devices, which can easily manage licenses of a plurality of music application programs.

  A music application apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a music application apparatus used in combination with an electronic musical instrument, and a first connection means for connecting the electronic musical instrument and a predetermined license granted through a communication network A second connection unit for connecting to an external device; an acquisition unit for acquiring license information of a user-desired music application program from a predetermined external device connected to the second connection unit; and the acquired license information Writing means for writing into a memory in the electronic musical instrument connected to the first connecting means, and control means for controlling a music application program for performing an operation in accordance with predetermined information generated from the electronic musical instrument. The control means, in accordance with the start instruction of the music application program, the first connection. One or more stored license information is acquired from the memory in the electronic musical instrument connected to the means, and the acquired one or more license information includes license information of the music application program instructed to start If the license information of the music application program instructed to start is not included, the music application program is not operated or a part of the function is operated. It is characterized in that the operation is limited.

  An electronic musical instrument according to a third aspect of the present invention is an electronic musical instrument used in combination with a music application device that operates a music application program, and is connected to the connection means for connecting the music application device, and connected to the connection means. Storage means for receiving and storing license information from the music application apparatus, and one or more pieces of license information stored in the storage means in response to an instruction to start a music application program in the music application apparatus. In response to the operation of the music application program in the music application apparatus, the generated predetermined information is transmitted to the music application apparatus. Comprising a transmission means.

  According to the present invention, when a music application program is operated in a music application device, it is stored from a memory (storage means) in an electronic musical instrument connected to the music application device in accordance with a start instruction of the music application program. Obtain one or more license information. Based on the acquired one or more pieces of license information, either all the functions of the music application program are operated, or the music application program is not operated or is operated with some functions restricted. The operation of the music application program is controlled to operate in the operation mode. The one or more pieces of license information stored in the memory of the electronic musical instrument are license information of a user-desired music application acquired in advance from a predetermined external device to be licensed connected via a communication network. Before the application program is operated, it is written in the memory in the electronic musical instrument in advance. If the license information of the music application program is stored in the memory in the electronic musical instrument in this way, the USB dongle conventionally required for license management becomes unnecessary, and the USB dongle is purposely bundled or connected. Since there is no need, the user's hand is not troubled in such a point. In particular, if license information that is inevitable or closely related to the operation of the music application is stored in the electronic musical instrument, it is not necessary to use a dedicated dongle only for storing the license information. In addition, even when it is desired to add and use a new music application program, the license information of the music application program can be acquired and stored in the memory in the electronic musical instrument as needed. License management for a large number of music application programs can be easily performed with one electronic musical instrument.

  The present invention may be constructed and implemented not only as an apparatus invention but also as a method invention. Further, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a program of a processor such as a computer or a DSP, or can be implemented in the form of a storage medium storing such a program.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of license information corresponding to each music application program is stored in one electronic musical instrument, and the music application program corresponding to the music application apparatus is operated according to the license information stored in the electronic musical instrument. As a result, the USB dongle is no longer necessary and the user's hand is not troubled, and a plurality of license information corresponding to each of a plurality of music application programs can be collected and managed in one electronic musical instrument. Can be easily performed, and the effect that it is convenient is obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, an embodiment of a hardware configuration of a music application apparatus or an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration showing an embodiment of the overall configuration of any one of the above devices. However, since each of the above devices can be described as using a similar hardware configuration, here, only one diagram of the music application device will be described as a representative.

  The hardware configuration example of the music application device shown here is configured using a personal computer, and the processing for executing various music applications is a predetermined control program corresponding to each music application. This is implemented by executing a software program (not shown). Of course, these processes are not limited to the form of computer software, but can be implemented in the form of a microprogram processed by a DSP (digital signal processor), and are not limited to the form of this type of program. Alternatively, it may be implemented in the form of a dedicated hardware device configured to include an integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit. The music application device according to the present invention is a device capable of operating a music application program related to music performance such as a music game, music lesson, music production, etc., and is not limited to a personal computer. It may be in any product application form such as a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or PDA, a karaoke device, or other multimedia equipment.

  The music application apparatus (personal computer) shown in FIG. 1 is controlled by a microcomputer including a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, and a random access memory (RAM) 3. The CPU 1 controls the operation of the entire music application device. For this CPU 1, via a data and address bus 1D, ROM 2, RAM 3, detection circuit 4, display circuit 5, tone generator circuit 6, external storage device 8, MIDI interface (I / F) 9, communication interface (I / F) 10) The USB controller 11 is connected to each other. Further, the CPU 1 is connected to a timer 1A for measuring the interrupt time and various times in the timer interrupt process (interrupt process). For example, the timer 1A generates a clock pulse, and gives the generated clock pulse to the CPU 1 as a processing timing command or to the CPU 1 as an interrupt command. The CPU 1 executes various processes according to these instructions.

  The ROM 2 stores various programs executed by the CPU 1 and various data. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory that temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 1 executes a predetermined program, or as a memory that stores a currently executed program and related data. A predetermined address area of the RAM 3 is assigned to each function and used as a register, flag, table, memory, or the like. The operation element 4A is, for example, a numeric keypad for inputting numeric data, a keyboard for inputting character data, a mouse for operating a predetermined pointing device displayed on the display 5A, or a special switch, and can be used as an operation element. Anything can be used. The detection circuit 4 detects the operation state of each operation element of the operation element 4A, and outputs switch information corresponding to the operation state to the CPU 1 via the bus 1D. The display circuit 5 displays a predetermined screen (not shown) according to the operation of the music application program, a screen (not shown) for prompting the user to input various information necessary for license acquisition, for example, a liquid crystal display panel ( Of course, various information related to the music application program, the control state of the CPU 1, and the like are displayed as well as being displayed on the display 5A composed of an LCD) or CRT.

  The tone generator circuit 6 can simultaneously generate musical tone signals (for example, audio data) on a plurality of channels, and receives various performance information such as data and MIDI standard music data (MIDI data) given via the address bus 1D. A musical tone signal is generated based on the performance information. The musical sound signal generated from the sound source circuit 6 is given an effect through an effect circuit (not shown) and is produced by a sound system 7 including an amplifier and a speaker. Any conventional configuration may be used for the sound source circuit 6 and the sound system 7. For example, the tone generator circuit 6 may employ any of various tone synthesis methods such as FM, PCM, physical model, formant synthesis, etc., or may be constituted by dedicated hardware, or by software processing by the CPU 1. May be.

  The external storage device 8 stores various data, various control programs executed by the CPU 1, and the like. For example, in the case of a music application device, music data and music application programs are stored, and in the case of an electronic musical instrument, waveform data and license information of individual music application programs (a user using the music application program obtains a license for use). Information that proves that it is a user). Further, when a control program is stored in the external storage device 8 (for example, a hard disk), the CPU 1 is caused to perform the same operation as when the control program is stored in the ROM 2 by reading it into the RAM 3. be able to. In this way, control programs can be easily added and upgraded. The external storage device 7 is not limited to a hard disk (HD), but is detachable such as a flexible disk (FD), compact disk (CD-ROM / CD-RAM), magneto-optical disk (MO), or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Any storage device using various types of external storage media may be used. It may be a non-volatile semiconductor memory.

  The MIDI interface (I / F) 9 inputs MIDI format data (MIDI data) from another externally connected MIDI device 9A or the like to the music application device, or receives MIDI format data from the music application device. This is an interface for outputting to another MIDI device 9A or the like. When an electronic musical instrument is connected to the MIDI interface (I / F) 9, MIDI data can be transmitted / received between the connected electronic musical instrument and the music application device. According to the above, it is possible to generate musical sounds in each other's devices, so that the user can enjoy music application programs such as music games and performance lessons. Note that MIDI data input / output may be performed via the USB controller 11 described later. The communication interface (I / F) 10 is connected to a wired or wireless communication network X such as a LAN, the Internet, or a telephone line, and is connected to the server computer 10A via the communication network X, and the server computer 10A. Is an interface for taking in a control program or various data from the music application device side. That is, when no control program or various data is stored in the ROM 2 or the external storage device 8 (for example, hard disk), it is used for downloading the control program and various data from the server computer 10A. Such a communication interface 10 may be both wired and wireless and may include both.

  A USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller 11 includes one or more USB terminals, and is connected to the music application device and another USB device 13 or a USB hub (HUB) device 12 directly connected to the USB terminal. The USB interface control device performs control to transmit and receive various kinds of information to and from many other USB devices 13 indirectly connected to the USB terminal. The USB hub device 12 includes a large number of USB terminals. One of the USB terminals has a music application device, and each of the remaining terminals of the USB terminal has another USB device 13 (in this case, particularly a USB controller). 11 is connected to secure a communication path for transmitting and receiving various kinds of information between the connected electronic musical instruments and the music application apparatus. By connecting the music application device and the electronic musical instrument via the USB controllers 11 of both devices, in this embodiment, information (license information) relating to the license (license for use) of the music application program executed by the music application device. Transmission / reception and MIDI data transmission / reception can be performed between the music application device and the electronic musical instrument (details will be described later). Note that the USB controller 11 included in the music application device is a so-called USB host controller, and thus the music application device is a USB host device. On the other hand, the USB controller 11 included in the electronic musical instrument is a so-called USB target controller, and thus the electronic musical instrument is a USB target device.

  The electronic musical instrument connected to the music application device via the MIDI interface 9 and / or the USB controller 11 can store the license information of the music application program and generate MIDI data in response to an operation by the performer. In addition to the same components as those of the music application device shown in FIG. 1, a setting operator (not shown), keyboard type, stringed instrument type, wind instrument type, percussion instrument may be used. Any device having a performance operator such as a mold or a body-worn type (or having an operation form) may be used. The setting operation element may include, for example, a music selection switch for selecting music data, and various operation elements for selecting, setting, and controlling a pitch, a timbre, an effect, and the like. The performance operator is, for example, a keyboard provided with a plurality of keys for selecting the pitch of a musical tone, and has a key switch corresponding to each key. ) Can be used not only for musical performance, but also as input means for performing input in accordance with control by a music application program operated on the music application device side. For example, a guide unit such as a keyboard LED for notifying the player of a performance operator to be operated by the electronic musical instrument is provided corresponding to each key, and can be controlled by a music application program from a music application device. In accordance with predetermined information (for example, MIDI data) transmitted together, the corresponding keyboard LED lighting control (guide function) is performed, and a music application is generated according to MIDI data generated based on operation of a performance operator from an electronic musical instrument. A performance lesson may be realized by determining whether or not the performance operation is correctly performed on the apparatus.

Note that the above-described music application device (or electronic musical instrument) is not limited to one in which the operation element 4A, the display 5A, the sound source circuit 6 and the like are built in one device body, but each is configured separately, and has a MIDI interface and various networks. Needless to say, each of the devices may be connected using a communication means such as the above.
In addition, although the music application apparatus mentioned above showed as an example what provided the sound source circuit 6 and the sound system 7, it is not restricted to this, The sound source circuit 6 and the sound system 7 do not need to be provided.

  In the music application apparatus and the electronic musical instrument shown in the present embodiment, the CPU 1 of the music application apparatus starts the operation of a predetermined music application program that realizes a music game or the like in response to a user operation, and the operation of this music application program According to the progress, a musical sound is generated in the electronic musical instrument by outputting MIDI data or the like from the music application apparatus to an electronic musical instrument connected to the music application apparatus in MIDI, or a MIDI sound is generated from the music application apparatus to the electronic musical instrument. Prompt input of data etc. (for example, operation of a performance operator), and control the music application device to execute a predetermined operation corresponding to MIDI data output from the electronic musical instrument Be able to Going on. Further, when the music application program stored in the music application device is operated, all the functions of the music application program are operated if the user has an official license (license). However, if the user has not obtained an official license (license), the music application program will be terminated immediately, or the music application program may be operated with limited functions. I have to. Such music application program license management is performed with an electronic musical instrument connected to the music application device via USB. As described above, the system including the music application apparatus and the electronic musical instrument shown in the present embodiment has a function of operating the music application program and a function of managing licenses of the music application program. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and performance information and audio data such as an electronic musical instrument function that electronically generates musical sounds according to performance information (MIDI data, etc.) are input and processed, or processed performance information and audio data are processed. However, since these other functions may be any publicly known function, description thereof is omitted here.

  Here, an outline of processing for realizing the function of operating the music application program and the function of managing the license of the music application program in the music application apparatus and the electronic musical instrument connected to the music application apparatus via USB and MIDI. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram for explaining an overview of processing for realizing each function in the music application apparatus and the electronic musical instrument connected to the music application apparatus.

  First, a function for operating the music application program will be described. The music processing unit MA of the music application apparatus PC starts a music application program such as a software synthesizer or a sequencer in accordance with a switch operation by the user, and performs predetermined performance information in the order of performance according to the music application program started. (MIDI data, etc.) is output. The MIDI / audio driver unit AD controls the MIDI-connected electronic musical instrument DM so as to generate a musical tone signal (audio data) according to the performance information output from the musical tone processing unit MA. That is, by transmitting performance information output from the musical sound processing unit MA to the electronic musical instrument DM connected to the music application apparatus PC via the USB interface, musical sounds are generated in the electronic musical instrument DM. ing. In the electronic musical instrument DM, performance information transmitted from the music application device PC via the USB interface is sent to the audio function unit AF, and the audio function unit AF generates musical sounds based on the performance information transmitted from the music application device PC. The sound source circuit 6 and the like (see FIG. 1) are controlled so as to be generated. By doing so, MIDI data or the like can be output from the music application apparatus PC to the electronic musical instrument DM connected via USB as needed, and a musical sound can be generated in the electronic musical instrument DM. In addition, this makes it possible to prompt the electronic musical instrument DM to input MIDI data or the like (for example, a performance guide).

  Further, the audio function unit AF of the electronic musical instrument DM monitors the operation status of the performance operator of the electronic musical instrument DM, and when it detects that the performance operator has been operated, a predetermined generated according to the performance operator. Performance information (such as MIDI data) is transmitted to the music application device PC connected via USB. When the music application apparatus PC receives performance information from the electronic musical instrument DM via the USB interface, the received performance information is sent to the MIDI / audio driver AD to generate a musical sound, or music being operated by the musical sound processing section MA. An operation based on the received performance information is performed according to the application program (for example, screen display). In this way, a corresponding predetermined operation can be executed on the music application apparatus PC side in accordance with the output of MIDI data or the like from the electronic musical instrument DM.

  Next, the license management function of the music application program necessary for operating the music application program will be described. The license acquisition unit LS of the music application device PC, for example, is a predetermined input screen for inputting various information necessary for license acquisition (for example, an identification number unique to the music application program, the name and address of the person receiving the license, etc.) A dedicated license acquisition application program for displaying (not shown) on the display 5A, or a general-purpose browser for transmitting / receiving various information to / from the server computer 10A via the communication network X such as the Internet, etc. The user is prompted to input various information necessary for obtaining a license. Then, the license acquisition unit LS sends various information (user input information) necessary for license acquisition input by the user via the communication interface driver unit ID according to the user input via the communication network X to the server computer 10A. Send to. The server computer 10A issues license information based on the received user input information, and returns the issued license information to the music application apparatus PC via the communication network X. When the license information is returned from the server computer 10A, the license acquisition unit LS sends the returned license information to the license management driver unit LD. In accordance with an instruction from the license acquisition unit LS, the license management driver unit LD sends a license information returned from the server computer 10A and a command for writing the license information to the electronic musical instrument DM connected to the music application apparatus PC via USB. Send. When the license management function unit LF of the electronic musical instrument DM receives license information and a command for writing the license information from the music application apparatus PC connected via USB, the license management function unit LF executes the command and stores license information (not shown). ) And store it. As described above, the music application program license information is additionally stored in the electronic musical instrument DM connected via USB to the music application apparatus PC, or the already stored music application program license information is rewritten. To be able to.

  When the musical tone processing unit MA of the music application device PC starts the operation of the music application program, the license management driver unit LD starts from the electronic musical instrument DM connected to the music application device PC by USB. The license information stored in is acquired. The music processing unit MA allows the user who operates the music application program based on the license information acquired from the electronic musical instrument DM by the license management driver LD (that is, the user who uses the music application device PC) to perform the music. It is determined whether or not the user has a license (license) for the application program. If it is determined that the user has a license, all the functions of the music application program are operated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the user has not obtained a license, the music application program cannot be operated at all, or the limited operation is performed so that some functions of the music application program do not operate. In this way, the license management of the music application program to be operated on the music application apparatus PC is performed based on the license information stored in the electronic musical instrument DM connected to the music application apparatus PC via USB.

  Next, specific processing for realizing the above-described music application program license management function in the music application apparatus PC and the electronic musical instrument DM shown in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the “license management process”. This “license management process” is started when the music application apparatus PC and the electronic musical instrument DM are connected to each other via USB.

  As processing of the music application device PC, when the music application device PC and the electronic musical instrument DM are connected by USB, the USB host controller driver unit HD detects the electronic musical instrument DM (USB target device) connected by USB, and the The license management driver associated with the vendor information and function information (see step P11 described later) of the electronic musical instrument sent from the detected electronic musical instrument DM is loaded (step S11). Step S12 starts (activates) the operation of the music application program in response to an operation by the user. In step S13, the music application program whose operation has been started (activated) instructs the license management driver unit LD to read out license information. In step S14, the license management driver unit LD that has received the read instruction passes through the USB host controller driver unit HD and the USB target controller driver unit TD connected via the USB hub device 12, and then the music application device PC. And a command for reading license information of the music application program stored in advance in the electronic musical instrument DM to the electronic musical instrument DM (specifically, the license management function unit LF) connected to the USB.

  In step S15, when the license management driver unit LD receives the license information from the electronic musical instrument DM connected by USB, the license information is sent to the musical tone processing unit MA. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the license information received by the musical tone processing unit MA includes the license information of the music application program started in step S12. When it is determined that the license information received by the music processing unit MA does not include license information of the music application program that has started operation (no in step S16), the music processing unit MA is a user who has not obtained a license. If it is determined that there is, the processing of the music application program is terminated by itself (step S17).

  When it is determined that the license information received by the musical sound processing unit MA includes the license information of the music application program that has started operation (yes in step S16), the music application program is operated to realize its function. (Step S18). In step S19, the license information received from the electronic musical instrument DM is deleted according to the operating state of the music application program, the connection state of the USB connection between the music application apparatus PC and the electronic musical instrument DM, and the like. Specifically, the license information is deleted when an instruction to end the music application program is given or when the USB connection between the music application apparatus PC and the electronic musical instrument DM is removed, and the music application apparatus PC Do not leave license information in After step S19, the process returns to step S12. As a result, every time the user instructs to start (start) the operation of the music application program, the processes in steps S12 to S19 are repeated, and the license management of the corresponding music application program is performed each time.

  On the other hand, as the processing of the electronic musical instrument DM, when the music application device PC and the electronic musical instrument DM are connected by USB, the USB target controller driver unit TD sends the vendor information and function information of the electronic musical instrument DM to the music connected by USB. The data is sent to the application device PC (USB host device) (step P11). In step P12, the license management function unit LF receives a command for reading the license information transmitted from the music application apparatus PC. In step P13, the license management function unit LF reads all license information stored in the external storage device 8 (for example, a nonvolatile memory) according to the command. In step P14, the license management driver unit LD sends all the read license information to the music application device PC via the USB target controller driver unit TD and the USB host controller driver unit HD. Step P15 realizes the function as the electronic musical instrument DM. For example, as is well known, performance information (MIDI data) is generated according to the operation of the performance operator by the user, or the performance information in the music data is sequentially read out and reproduced, and the performance information Is transmitted to the music application device via the MIDI interface 9 to control the music application program running on the music application device PC, or the performance information received from the music application device PC via the MIDI interface 9 A process for generating a musical sound based on the above (that is, a function for operating a music application program) is performed in this step.

  As described above, when the music application program is operated in the music application apparatus PC shown in the present embodiment, the license management based on the license information stored in the electronic musical instrument DM connected to the music application apparatus PC via USB is performed. By doing so, the music application program is prevented from being used illegally. Therefore, the electronic musical instrument DM needs to store license information for each music application program in advance. Therefore, specific processing for realizing acquisition of license information of the music application program in the music application apparatus PC and the electronic musical instrument DM shown in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the “license acquisition process”. This process is started when the music application apparatus PC and the electronic musical instrument DM are connected via the USB interface.

  As processing of the music application device PC, when the music application device PC and the electronic musical instrument DM are connected by USB, the USB host controller driver unit HD detects the electronic musical instrument DM (USB target device) connected by USB, and the A license management driver associated with vendor information and function information (see step P1 described later) of the electronic musical instrument sent from the detected electronic musical instrument DM is loaded (step S1). In step S2, a license acquisition application (license acquisition unit LS) is activated by a user operation. Thereby, an input screen (not shown) for obtaining a license is displayed on the display 5A. In step S3, the license acquisition unit LS acquires license information of a user-desired music application program from the server computer 10A via the communication interface 10 (specifically, the communication interface driver unit ID and the communication network X) in response to a user operation. To do. In step S4, the license acquisition unit LS instructs the license management driver unit LD to write the acquired license information to the electronic musical instrument DM connected via USB. In step S5, the license management driver unit LD sends the license information and a command for writing the license information to the license management function unit LF of the electronic musical instrument DM via the USB host controller driver unit HD and the USB target controller driver unit TD.

  On the other hand, when the music application device PC and the electronic musical instrument DM are connected by USB as processing of the electronic musical instrument DM, the USB target controller driver unit TD is connected to the vendor information and function information of the electronic musical instrument DM by USB. (Step P1). In step P2, the license management function unit LF receives the license information sent from the music application apparatus PC and a command for writing the license information. In step P3, the license management function unit LF writes the license information to the external storage device 8 (for example, a nonvolatile memory) in accordance with the command for writing the license information.

  As described above, since the license management of the music application program operating on the music application device is performed according to the license information stored in the electronic musical instrument connected to the music application device and USB, this occurs when the USB dongle is used. The conventional disadvantages obtained can be avoided. In addition, since the license information is stored in the electronic musical instrument, it becomes easy to add / rewrite license information and the like at any time for the music application program that the user wants to operate.

In the above-described embodiment, the license management for determining whether or not the music application program is to be operated / not to be operated is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the music application program is specified after the operation is started (started). It may be license management that determines whether or not to enable some of the functions according to the presence or absence of license information. Alternatively, the number of resources (for example, the number of simultaneous pronunciations, the number of MIDI tracks, etc.) may be license management that determines the presence or absence of license information.
Note that the license information of the music application program desired by the user can be appropriately deleted from one or more pieces of license information stored in the electronic musical instrument in response to a user operation on the music application apparatus or the electronic musical instrument. May be. For example, when a music application program desired by the user is deleted in the music application device, the corresponding license information may be automatically deleted from the electronic musical instrument connected to the music application device via USB.
In addition, according to the instruction from the music application device, the license information of the user-desired music application program is appropriately transferred between the plurality of electronic musical instruments connected to the USB hub device without using the music application device. The electronic musical instrument may be memorized.

1 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration showing an embodiment of an overall configuration of any one of a music application apparatus and an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. It is a control block diagram for demonstrating the outline | summary of the process which implement | achieves the function which operates a music application program, and the function which performs the license management of a music application program. It is a flowchart which shows one Example of a license management process. It is a flowchart which shows one Example of a license acquisition process.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... detection circuit, 4A ... operator, 5 ... display circuit, 5A ... display, 6 ... sound source circuit, 7 ... sound system, 8 ... external storage device, 9 ... MIDI Interface, 9A ... MIDI device, 10 ... Communication interface, 10A ... Server computer, 11 ... USB controller, 12 ... USB hub device, 13 ... USB device, 1D ... Communication bus, X ... Communication network, PC ... Music application device (PC) ), DM ... electronic musical instrument, LS ... license acquisition unit, MA ... musical sound processing unit, ID ... communication interface driver unit, LD ... license management driver unit, AD ... MIDI / audio driver unit, HD ... USB host controller driver unit, AF ... Audio function part, LF ... License management file Action unit, TD ... USB target controller driver section

Claims (6)

A music application device used in combination with an electronic musical instrument,
First connection means for connecting an electronic musical instrument;
Second connection means for connecting to a predetermined external device for licensing via a communication network;
Acquisition means for acquiring license information of a user desired music application program from a predetermined external device connected to the second connection means;
Writing means for writing the acquired license information into a memory in an electronic musical instrument connected to the first connecting means;
Control means for controlling a music application program that performs an operation according to predetermined information generated from an electronic musical instrument,
The control unit acquires one or more stored license information from the memory in the electronic musical instrument connected to the first connection unit in accordance with a start instruction of the music application program, and acquires the acquired license information. When the license information of the music application program instructed to start is included in one or more license information, all the functions of the music application program are operated, while the music application program instructed to start is operated. A music application apparatus, characterized in that when the license information is not included, the music application program is not operated or is operated with some functions limited.   The apparatus further comprises means for deleting license information of a music application program desired by a user from one or more pieces of license information stored in the memory in the electronic musical instrument connected to the first connection means. The music application device according to 1. An electronic musical instrument used in combination with a music application device that operates a music application program,
A connection means for connecting the music application device;
Storage means for receiving and storing license information from the music application device connected to the connection means;
A return means for returning one or more pieces of license information stored in the storage means to the music application apparatus in response to a music application program start instruction in the music application apparatus;
Generating means for generating predetermined information;
An electronic musical instrument comprising: transmission means for transmitting the generated predetermined information to the music application device in accordance with an operation of a music application program in the music application device.   A means for deleting license information of a user-desired music application program from one or more pieces of license information stored in the storage means in accordance with a deletion instruction from a music application device connected to the connection means. 3. The electronic musical instrument according to 3. On the computer,
A procedure for obtaining license information of a user-desired music application program from a predetermined external device to be licensed connected via a communication network;
A procedure for writing the acquired license information into a memory in an electronic musical instrument connected via a predetermined connection means;
Acquiring stored one or more pieces of license information from the memory in the electronic musical instrument connected via the predetermined connection means in accordance with the start instruction of the music application program;
A procedure for determining whether the acquired one or more license information includes license information of the music application program instructed to start;
If the license information of the music application program instructed to start is included based on the determination, all the functions of the music application program are operated while the license information of the music application program instructed to start is included. If not included, a program for executing a procedure for controlling the music application program not to operate or to operate with some functions limited. On the computer,
Receiving license information from the music application device connected to the predetermined connection means and storing the license information in the predetermined storage means;
A procedure for returning one or more pieces of license information stored in the storage means to the music application device in accordance with a start instruction of the music application program in the music application device;
A procedure for generating predetermined information;
A program for causing the music application device to execute the procedure of transmitting the generated predetermined information according to the operation of the music application program in the music application device.

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