JP3997553B2 - Computer system and karaoke system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer system and a karaoke system that can preferentially provide an information service that matches the interests of individual users.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, a communication karaoke system that supplies karaoke performance information via a communication line from a host computer of a center station to a karaoke terminal installed in each store such as a karaoke snack is widely used. In particular, in recent years, a communication karaoke system is known in which a commercial message (CM) supplied from a center station is reproduced using the time between performances of songs and broadcasted. The introduction of new music and various other information are provided to the user according to the CM being flown.
Furthermore, not only commercials but also karaoke systems that provide information services such as games and travel guidance have been proposed.
As described above, the information services provided in the recent karaoke systems are various and the options are increasing, but the customers are not necessarily interested in all of them. In view of this, it has conventionally been proposed that only the commercial area dedicated to the store, the area where the store is located, the time of service, and so on.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, for example, in the case of providing individual services to a limited customer or a group such as a karaoke box, the needs of individual customers can be obtained even if the conventionally proposed method is adopted. There is a limit to dealing with In such a case, if the customer searches for and selects necessary information, the burden on the customer increases. On the other hand, if information that the customer does not show any interest is supplied unilaterally, the customer may be bored or even the information that is needed may be overlooked.
[0004]
The present invention is made under such a background, and is a computer that can preferentially supply information services (CM broadcast, karaoke performance, game play, etc.) that individual users will be interested in. It aims to provide a system and a karaoke system.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention described in claim 1 includes personal information storage means for storing personal information relating to each user, presentation information storage means for storing various types of presentation information to be supplied to the users, and identification information unique to each user. Authentication means for authenticating a user based on the above, personal information reading means for reading out personal information of the user authenticated by the authentication means from the personal information storage means, Based on the personal information read out by the personal information reading means, the degree of suitability of each piece of presentation information for each of the plurality of users is represented by a numerical value, and each of the groups of the plurality of users is calculated by calculating the numerical value. Representing the suitability of the presentation information as a numerical value, and ordering each presentation information in descending order of the numerical value, and based on the order, schedule creation means for creating a schedule for outputting the presentation information; The schedule Create Means Create And a presentation information output unit that reads and outputs the presentation information from the presentation information storage unit according to the schedule.
[0007]
Claims 2 The described invention includes personal information storage means for storing personal information relating to each user, performance information storage means for storing karaoke performance information in association with the title information of each song, and identification information unique to each user. Based on authentication means for authenticating a user based on the information, personal information reading means for reading personal information of the user authenticated by the authentication means from the personal information storage means, and personal information read by the personal information reading means Conformity determining means for determining a song suitable for the user, a music selection screen display means for displaying the title information of the music according to the determination result of the compatibility determination means, and the title information displayed by the music selection screen display means The music selection operation detecting means for detecting the music selection operation of the user, and the performance information of the music selected by the user based on the detection result of the music selection operation detecting means A karaoke performance for synthesizing musical sounds based on performance information read out from the performance information storage means and performance information read out by the performance information reading means, and mixing and outputting the synthesized sound and sound input from the microphone Means, and presentation information storage means for storing various presentation information to be supplied to the user, Based on the personal information read out by the personal information reading means, the degree of suitability of each piece of presentation information for each of the plurality of users is represented by a numerical value, and each of the groups of the plurality of users is calculated by calculating the numerical value. Representing the suitability of the presentation information as a numerical value, and ordering each presentation information in descending order of the numerical value, and based on the order, schedule creation means for creating a schedule for outputting the presentation information; Between the outputs based on the performance information by the karaoke performance means, the schedule Create Means Create And a presentation information output unit that reads and outputs the presentation information from the presentation information storage unit according to the schedule.
[0009]
Claims 3 The described invention is claimed. 2 In the described invention, it comprises music selection result recording means for recording a music selection result by each user based on a detection result of the music selection operation detection means, and the personal information storage means stores a past music selection result by each user as a music selection history. The personal information is updated on the basis of the music selection result recorded by the music selection result recording means, and the suitability judging means judges the suitable music based on the music selection history of each user. It is characterized by that.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
A: Configuration of the embodiment
(1) Overall configuration
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer installed in the center station, which provides information (hereinafter collectively referred to as CM information) that provides various information services such as karaoke performance, game play, and CM broadcast. A database DB storing customer personal information (details will be described later) is held. 2, 2,... Are karaoke terminals installed in each store, and each is connected to the host computer 1 via a communication line N.
[0011]
The host computer 1 periodically distributes CM information that is the basis of the information service to each karaoke terminal 2, 2,. For example, for karaoke data distributed as CM information, performance data (MIDI data), lyrics data (including data that synchronizes performance and lyrics) and image control data (images prepared on the karaoke terminal 2 side) are selected. The karaoke terminal 2 performs accompaniment performance based on performance data, lyrics display based on lyrics data, and image display corresponding to image control data.
[0012]
The karaoke terminal 2 provides various information services in an interactive manner with the operator by displaying a selection menu of information services distributed as CM information.
[0013]
(2) Configuration of karaoke terminal
Next, the configuration of the karaoke terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 2, 21 is a modem or ISDN (Integrated Sarvices).
A communication interface such as a digital network, and is connected to the host computer 1 via a communication line N. Reference numeral 22 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which executes a system program stored in the ROM 23 and controls each unit connected via the bus BUS. Thereby, the CPU 22 reproduces the CM information supplied from the host computer 1 and performs various service processes such as karaoke performance, game play, and CM broadcast.
[0014]
A hard disk 24 stores CM information (karaoke data, CM files, etc.) supplied from the host computer 1. Reference numeral 25 denotes a RAM, which is used as a work area for the CPU 22.
[0015]
An operation panel 26 detects pressing operations of various key switches (start key, cancel key, up / down key, numeric keypad, etc.) by the operator, and supplies a signal corresponding to the operation to the CPU 22. On this operation panel 26, selection of information selection menu displayed on the display 34 is performed in addition to instruction selection for karaoke performance such as music selection (that is, input of music number), start and stop of performance, volume, and the like. Is called.
[0016]
Further, the operation panel 26 is provided with a receiving unit that receives a transmission signal of the remote controller RMC shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller RMC has a start key STK, a cancel key CLK, an up key UPK, a down key DWK, a ten key TK, a transfer key TXK, a memory set key MSK, and a performance stop key SPK. Thus, the remote controller RMC has the same keys as the various keys provided on the operation panel 26, and is configured to perform the same operation as the operation panel 26.
[0017]
A memory (not shown) is provided in the remote controller RMC, and the numeric keypad TK is temporarily stored in the memory and then transferred to the operation panel 26 side. In this case, the numeric keypad TK is used for designating the karaoke song number. For example, when the song number is “12345”, the numeric keypad TK is set to (1), (2), (3), (4). , (5) in this order, and then press the memory set key MSK. As a result, the numerical value “12345” is temporarily stored in the memory. When the transfer key TXK is pressed, a transmission signal corresponding to the numerical value in the memory is transferred to the operation panel 26. For other keys on the remote controller RMC, a corresponding transmission signal is immediately output when the key is pressed.
[0018]
Next, reference numeral 27 shown in FIG. 2 denotes a musical sound synthesizer that generates a musical sound signal corresponding to MIDI information (MIDI information for karaoke performance or BGM performance) sequentially supplied by the CPU 22 and outputs it to the mixer 28. To do. The mixer 28 mixes the musical sound signal supplied from the musical sound synthesizer 27 and the audio signal captured from the microphone 29 and outputs the mixed signal to the sound system 30. However, in the case of BGM performance, the mixer 28 outputs the musical tone signal supplied from the musical tone synthesis device 27 to the sound system 30 as it is.
[0019]
Reference numeral 31 denotes an audio decoder, which converts ADPCM information (used in a service for providing audio guidance) read from the CM data file by the CPU 22 into an analog audio signal and outputs it to the sound system 30. . The sound system 30 amplifies the musical sound signal supplied from the mixer 28 or the audio signal supplied from the audio decoder, and emits the sound from the speaker SP.
[0020]
Next, 32 is an image reproducing device, which reads out image information corresponding to the image control data in the karaoke data instructed to be reproduced from the CD-ROM 33 in the CD changer 60 and transfers it to the image composition device 34. The image composition device 34 is font information corresponding to the image information supplied from the image reproduction device 32 and the lyric information in the karaoke data read by the CPU 22 (this font information is stored in the image composition device 34). Are combined and displayed on the display 35. As a result, the lyrics are displayed on the background image in a spurious manner. The image composition device 34 once expands an image to be displayed into a VRAM (video RAM) into a dot map, and then outputs the image to the display 35.
[0021]
Reference numeral 36 denotes an image decoder, which decompresses still image or moving image compressed image information (image information conforming to MPEG, JPEG, etc.) such as menus and icons supplied from the host computer 1 as part of CM information. An analog video signal is converted and displayed on the display 35.
[0022]
Reference numeral 60 denotes a CD changer, which selects a CD (compact disc) or CD-ROM 33 under the control of the CPU 22 and reads out the music information of the designated track, or reads out the image information as described above to read out the image information. To send.
[0023]
Reference numeral 70 denotes a card terminal installed at the front of a karaoke store or the like. The card terminal 70 reads the recorded information (customer ID number) from an ID card inserted into a card insertion slot (not shown) and outputs it to the CPU 22. As a result, customer authentication is performed.
[0024]
(3) Data structure
Next, the data structure of various data used in this embodiment will be described.
(1) CM information
In the karaoke system of this embodiment, CMs are broadcast in two ways. One is a CM (hereinafter referred to as a spot CM) that is unilaterally broadcast regardless of the customer's intention between karaoke performances, and the other is displayed on the display 35 as in karaoke performance or game play. This is a CM (hereinafter referred to as an interactive CM) that is broadcast when a customer interactively selects an information selection menu.
[0025]
Accordingly, the CM information for the spot CM is stored in the database DB as a collection of CM data (consisting of moving image data, text data, ADPCM data, etc.) simply for broadcasting individual CMs. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a hierarchical menu is configured for each genre of information service such as “karaoke”, “game”, “new product information”, “entertainment information”, “new music introduction”, etc. Reproduction data such as karaoke data, game data, and CM data is stored in the database DB in association with the information of the hierarchical menu.
Then, the CM information of these spot CMs and interactive CMs is periodically distributed to each karaoke terminal 2, 2,.
[0026]
(2) Personal information
Next, personal information is stored in the database DB of the host computer 1 in the same manner as the CM information described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, this personal information includes, for each customer, attribute data input at the time of customer registration such as ID number, name, age, sex, address, occupation, hobby, etc. The service history information indicating what kind of information service is received is configured. The service history information is recorded, for example, the number of menu selections and the number of requests for karaoke songs. This personal information is supplied from the host computer 1 to the karaoke terminal 2 of the store when the customer visits the karaoke store.
[0027]
(3) Customer image table
The customer image table is a data table created on the basis of personal information at the time of service provision in the karaoke terminal 2, and is composed of a customer ID number and an attribute code indicating the feature of the customer as shown in FIG. 6, for example. The This attribute code expresses information indicating a general customer image formed from attribute data such as customer's age, sex, occupation, hobbies and the like by coding according to a predetermined rule. Used for creation.
[0028]
(4) Schedule table
The schedule table is a table that holds the order of spot CMs to be broadcast on the karaoke terminal 2, and for example, as shown in FIG. 7, CM codes (identifiers of individual CM files) in the order of broadcasting for each customer ID number. Consists of forms that hold. This broadcast order is determined based on attribute codes and service history information held in the customer image table so as to preferentially broadcast CMs that the customer will be interested in.
[0029]
(5) Menu configuration table
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the menu configuration table is a table that holds information related to the arrangement order of menus in each layer in the hierarchical menu of the interactive CM. That is, in the present embodiment, the arrangement order of the menus in each hierarchy in the interactive CM hierarchy menu is rearranged so as to be adapted to each customer. This arrangement order is determined based on attribute codes and service history information held in the customer image table so that menus are arranged in the order of CMs that the customer is likely to be interested in, as in the case of the spot CM. Is done. However, menus are rearranged only between menus in each hierarchy, and the hierarchical structure itself is determined in advance, so that menus are not rearranged across hierarchies.
[0030]
B: Operation of the embodiment
(1) Overall operation
Next, the overall operation of this karaoke system will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. However, in the following, description will be given separately for each process of (1) ID registration, (2) ID recognition, (3) ID search, (4) service provision, and (5) service history update.
[0031]
(1) ID registration
First, in the ID registration process P1, when a new customer visits the store, an employee or the like inputs data from a dedicated registration terminal (not shown) such as a personal computer installed in the store for customer registration, and the center station The ID of the customer is registered in the database DB on the side. That is, the data input here is attribute data such as the customer's name, address, gender, age, occupation, hobby, etc., and these attribute data are added with ID numbers that are unique to the customer as initial data. After that, it is transferred to the host computer 1 and added to the personal information in the database DB. On the other hand, on the store side, an ID card recording the same ID number as above is issued to the customer.
[0032]
(2) ID recognition
When the ID registration is completed, the service can be provided to the customer thereafter. That is, in the ID recognition process P2, when the registered customer ID card is inserted into the card insertion slot of the card terminal 70, the CPU 22 reads the ID number recorded on the ID card and determines whether or not it is an appropriate number. Check. If the ID number is not appropriate, the ID card is ejected and an error message indicating that the ID number is not appropriate is output. If the ID number is appropriate, the ID number is transferred to the host computer 1.
[0033]
(3) ID search
In the ID search process P3, the host computer 1 collates the ID number received from the store side with the ID number registered in the database DB. When a matching ID number is found in the database DB, the personal information (the customer's attribute data and service history information) corresponding to the ID number is read from the database DB, and the read personal information is returned to the store side along with the ID number. To do.
[0034]
(4) Service provision
On the store side, when personal information is transferred from the host computer 1, the personal information is received, and a service providing process P <b> 4 is performed according to the operation of the operation panel 26 or the remote controller RMC by the customer. Details of the service providing process P4 will be described later.
Further, during the service providing process P4, service history information indicating what service the customer has used is recorded. As described above, the service history information includes, for example, the number of menu selections and the number of requests for karaoke songs.
[0035]
▲ 5 ▼ Service history update
Then, when the use of the service by the customer is completed on the store side, the service history update process P5 is performed. That is, the service history information for the customer recorded during the execution of the service providing process P4 is transmitted to the host computer 1 together with the ID number. In the host computer 1, based on the service history information received from the store side, data related to the service history is updated among the personal information of the customer.
[0036]
Thus, when the customer visits the store again, the above-described processes (2) ID recognition, (3) ID search, (4) service provision, and (5) service history update are repeated.
[0037]
(2) Details of service provision processing
Next, details of the service providing process P4 on the store side will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. Below, (1) customer image table creation, (2) schedule table creation, (3) menu configuration table creation, (4) service provision, (5) last train information provision (one of service provision), and (6) Each process of service history recording will be described separately.
[0038]
▲ 1 ▼ Customer image table creation
As a pre-process of the service providing process P4, a customer image table is first created based on the personal information transferred from the host computer 1. That is, an attribute code indicating a comprehensive image of the customer is generated based on the attribute data such as the customer's age, sex, occupation, and hobby, and is set in the customer image table in association with the ID number.
[0039]
(2) Schedule table creation
Then, from the attribute code and the service history information included in the personal information, the suitability of each CM program for the customer is expressed by numerical information, and the spot CMs to be broadcast are ordered. For example, if the customer is a male in his twenties and enjoys marine sports, CM information on marine sports tools and marine resorts is closely related, so a high number is assigned, and CM information on female cosmetics is related. Assign a low number because it is thin. As a result, CM codes corresponding to the CM programs are arranged in descending order of numerical values, and a spot CM schedule table is created.
[0040]
(3) Menu configuration table creation
On the other hand, for the interactive CM, for example, when the “game play” menu is recently selected from the customer service history information, but it is determined that the “new music information” menu is hardly selected, Assign a high number to the “Game Play” menu and a low number to the “New Music Information” menu. As a result, the menus of the interactive CM are ranked in descending order for each level, and a menu configuration table is created.
[0041]
As for karaoke performance, it is possible to start the performance at any time by specifying the song number from the numeric keypad of the remote controller RMC. It is also possible to start a performance by displaying a list and selecting a desired song from the list. In determining the order of the song list in this case, the menu configuration table is created so that it is ranked in accordance with the number of past requests.
However, in creating the menu configuration table, not only the service history information described above but also the customer attribute code is considered.
[0042]
(4) Service provision
Thus, the spot CM is appropriately broadcast between karaoke performances according to the contents of the schedule table, while the menu of the interactive CM is displayed on the display 35 with a menu structure corresponding to the contents of the menu structure table. In the interactive CM, information services such as karaoke performance, game play, and new product information are provided according to the menu selection operation of the customer.
[0043]
(5) Provision of last train information (one of service provision)
There is a service for providing last train information in the interactive CM menu. That is, at the karaoke terminal 2 of each store, the last train information of the transportation related to the location of the store is held on the hard disk 24. When the customer selects the “last train information” menu, the information from the customer's address information The transportation facility used by the customer is specified, and the last train time and the like are displayed on the display 35. As a result, the customer can enjoy the service of the karaoke system without worrying about the uncertain end time or until the end of the end time.
[0044]
(6) Service history record
While providing such services, menu selection history, karaoke song request history, etc. are recorded as needed. This recorded information is transferred to the host computer 1 at the end of the service when the customer returns, and the service history information in the database DB is thereby updated.
[0045]
In this way, the customer's characteristics and past service history are reflected at the next service provision, and it becomes possible to preferentially provide a service that matches the customer (that is, a service that the customer may be interested in). .
[0046]
C: Modification
(1) The present invention is particularly useful when providing a service to a group of customers who are likely to have a common target of interest, such as a karaoke box. The present invention is not limited to such a karaoke system, but can be applied to other computer systems.
[0047]
(2) When it is necessary to check the fitness level of CM information for a plurality of people, such as when a plurality of customers form a group, for example, an average of values indicating the fitness level of each person is calculated. The degree of conformity with respect to the characteristics of the entire group may be obtained by taking an OR operation or an AND operation.
[0048]
(3) Further, the means for authenticating the customer is not limited to the ID card and the ID card terminal 70 as in the above embodiment. For example, the voice of the customer recorded from the microphone is analyzed by voiceprint analysis such as formant analysis. Other methods such as identification may be employed.
[0049]
(4) In the above embodiment, when creating a schedule table or a menu configuration table, CM data and information selection menus are ranked. May be excluded from the service target. For example, information selection processing such as not broadcasting a CM that is not related to the customer or not displaying the menu itself may be combined.
[0050]
(5) Further, in the above embodiment, the service history information of the user is transferred to the database DB of the host computer 1 and updated as needed. For example, the service history information of each user is totaled, and the total result is displayed. If feedback is given to the CM information provider (sponsor etc.) as information indicating the consumption tendency of the user, it can be used for proposal of new CM information, development of new products, and the like.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a computer system or a karaoke system, an information service (CM broadcast, karaoke performance, game play, etc.) that a user may be interested in can be preferentially supplied. This makes it possible to provide services that meet the needs of individual users.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke terminal 2 in the same embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing an operation unit of a remote controller RMC in the same embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of CM information of an interactive CM in the same embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of personal information in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a customer image table in the same embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schedule table in the same embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a menu configuration table in the same embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram for explaining the overall operation of the embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram for explaining detailed operations in the karaoke terminal 2 of the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 2 ... Karaoke terminal, 21 ... Communication interface, 22 ... CPU, 23 ... ROM, 24 ... Hard disk, 25 ... ROM, 26 ... Operation panel, 27 ... Music synthesizer , 28... Mixer, 29... Microphone, 30... Sound system, 31... Audio decoder, 32. ...... Image decoder, 60 ... CD changer, 70 ... Card terminal, BUS ... Bus, DB ... Database, N ... Communication line, RMC ... Remote control, SP ... Speaker.

Claims (3)

Personal information storage means for storing personal information about each user;
Presentation information storage means for storing various presentation information to be supplied to the user;
An authentication means for authenticating the user based on identification information unique to each user;
Personal information reading means for reading out personal information of the user authenticated by the authentication means from the personal information storage means;
Based on the personal information read out by the personal information reading means, the degree of suitability of each piece of presentation information for each of the plurality of users is represented by a numerical value, and each of the groups of the plurality of users is calculated by calculating the numerical value. Representing the suitability of the presentation information as a numerical value, and ordering each presentation information in descending order of the numerical value, and based on the order, schedule creation means for creating a schedule for outputting the presentation information;
A computer system comprising: presentation information output means for reading and outputting presentation information from the presentation information storage means in accordance with a schedule created by the schedule creation means. Personal information storage means for storing personal information about each user;
Performance information storage means for storing karaoke performance information in association with the title information of each song;
An authentication means for authenticating the user based on identification information unique to each user;
Personal information reading means for reading out personal information of the user authenticated by the authentication means from the personal information storage means;
Suitability determination means for determining a song that matches the user based on the personal information read by the personal information reading means;
Music selection screen display means for displaying song title information in accordance with the determination result of the suitability determination means;
Music selection operation detection means for detecting a user's music selection operation for the title information displayed by the music selection screen display means;
Performance information reading means for reading performance information of the music selected by the user based on the detection result of the music selection operation detection means from the performance information storage means;
Karaoke performance means for synthesizing a musical sound based on the performance information read by the performance information reading means, and mixing and outputting the synthesized sound and sound input from a microphone;
Presentation information storage means for storing various presentation information to be supplied to the user;
Based on the personal information read out by the personal information reading means, the degree of suitability of each piece of presentation information for each of the plurality of users is represented by a numerical value, and each of the groups of the plurality of users is calculated by calculating the numerical value. Representing the suitability of the presentation information as a numerical value, and ordering each presentation information in descending order of the numerical value, and based on the order, schedule creation means for creating a schedule for outputting the presentation information;
And a presentation information output means for reading out and outputting the presentation information from the presentation information storage means according to the schedule created by the schedule creation means between outputs based on the performance information by the karaoke performance means. Karaoke system. Music selection result recording means for recording the music selection result by each user based on the detection result of the music selection operation detection means;
The personal information storage means stores past music selection results by each user as personal information related to the music selection history, and the personal information is updated based on the music selection results recorded by the music selection result recording means.
The karaoke system according to claim 2 , wherein the matching determination unit determines a matching song based on a music selection history of each user.

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