JP2001350482A - Karaoke device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke device in which a spot program is effectively presented on the display of the device during a nonsinging interval of a karaoke music performance. SOLUTION: Karaoke data are added with time interval information which describes time bands of nonsinging interval such as a prelude, an interlude and a postlude included in a karaoke music. Then, the time interval information added to the karaoke data of the music that is reserved for performance and presentation time information added to the program data of a spot program are compared and the spot program having a presentation time which is close to the performance time of the nonsinging interval is assigned to the nonsinging interval included in the karaoke music.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly to a karaoke apparatus for effectively performing a spot program such as an advertisement program during a non-singing section such as a prelude, an interlude, and a follow-up during the performance of a karaoke song. About technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A display of a karaoke apparatus during a musical performance usually displays a landscape image, an animation, a background image such as an CG image together with a lyric image synchronized with karaoke accompaniment music for the purpose of improving the mood of the place. .
Recently, in addition to such a background video playback function, information video for the purpose of notifying customers (introducing the best ten singing songs, introduction of newly introduced songs, introduction of recommended songs, etc.)
There is also a karaoke apparatus having a function of performing a spot program generated in a system different from a background image such as an advertisement image commissioned by a company or a company (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-26518).
No. 9).

[0003] By the way, such a spot program is basically performed during a non-singing section such as a prelude, an interlude, and a follow-up during a karaoke performance so as not to hinder the singing. However, if a spot program is performed between songs as in the former case, the performance of the next reserved karaoke song cannot be started until the performance is over, and the performance reservation is crowded. Can be irritating to customers, especially with time-limited karaoke boxes. Conversely, if the performance is interrupted and the performance is interrupted halfway, the customer will be given an incomplete impression. Furthermore, even if the performance reservation is interrupted, if the karaoke performance is not performed, the customer often looks at the table of contents and is in a harmony, so that sufficient performance effects cannot be obtained. There are many.

On the other hand, when a spot program is performed in a non-singing section included in a karaoke performance as in the latter case, the smooth progress of the karaoke performance is not hindered, and at least the singing is performed during the performance. People look at the display to see the lyrics, and people other than the singer often look at the display by following the lyrics, etc. It is much more effective than it is.

[0005]

It is very effective to perform a spot program in a non-singing section in this way, but the time zone and the number of non-singing sections vary for each karaoke song. Performing a spot program in such a time zone requires a certain mechanism. Also, if the performance time of the spot program is longer than the performance time of each non-singing section, the program will be interrupted halfway, giving the customer an incomplete impression. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a spot program having a performance time appropriate for the performance time of the non-singing section. In addition, the lyric image and background image are usually displayed on the display during karaoke performance,
It is also necessary to take into account such a balance with the video so that the spot program is performed smoothly and effectively.

The present invention has been made based on such a viewpoint, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus capable of effectively performing a spot program on a display of a karaoke apparatus in a non-singing section during performance of a karaoke music piece. With the goal.

[0007]

A karaoke apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving this object is provided with the following items (1) to (6). . (1) A karaoke apparatus which stores a large number of karaoke data in an appropriate storage means, reads karaoke data corresponding to a music piece reserved for performance, and outputs accompaniment music based on the accompaniment music data included in the karaoke data. (2) The video data stored in the appropriate storage means is read out, and a background video based on the read out video data is displayed on a display during a karaoke performance and synchronized with the accompaniment music based on the lyrics rendering data included in the karaoke data. The generated lyric image is generated, combined with the background image, and output to the display. (3) The karaoke data is accompanied by time section information that describes the time zones of non-singing sections other than the singing section such as the prelude, interlude, and subsequent pieces included in the karaoke song.

(4) Program data of a spot program for performing in the non-singing section is stored in an appropriate storage means. Each program data is accompanied by performance time information indicating the performance time of the spot program. (5) The performance which approximates the non-singing section included in the karaoke music piece to the performance time of the non-singing section by comparing the time section information attached to the karaoke data of the music piece reserved for performance with the performance time information. Assign time spot programs. (6) When the performance of a karaoke song is performed, if the performance timing of a certain non-singing section has arrived, the program data of the spot program assigned to the non-singing section is read out, and an image based on this is stored in the relevant non-singing section. Display output to the display.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the karaoke apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein in (5), the performance time is shorter than the performance time in the non-singing section. It is assumed that the spot program with the maximum performance time is assigned.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first and second aspects, wherein the spot program is combined with the background image in the step (6). Means for outputting to the display on the display.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the karaoke apparatus is replaced with the background image being displayed and output in (6). Only the spot program is displayed and output on the display.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the appropriate storage means has the same subject but different performance times. It is assumed that program data of spot programs is stored in a mixed manner.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the performance of each spot program is stored and managed, and When allocating a spot program to a singing section, a spot program to be allocated is determined according to the performance frequency.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the karaoke apparatus according to the sixth aspect, when allocating a spot program to the non-singing section, the performance time of the non-singing section is assigned. In this case, a spot program having a shorter performance time and a lower frequency of performance is preferentially assigned.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the karaoke apparatus according to the sixth aspect, each of the spot programs is assigned a priority, and each of the spot programs is attached to the karaoke device. A spot program is assigned to the non-singing section so that the performance is performed at a performance frequency corresponding to the priority.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the performance time of a spot program already assigned to a non-singing section is set. When the playing time of the non-singing section is shorter than the playing time by a predetermined time or more, the spot program whose playing time is shorter than the remaining playing time obtained by subtracting the playing time from the playing time of the non-singing section is further associated with the non-singing section. Then, when the performance timing of the non-singing section arrives, all the spot programs assigned to the non-singing section are displayed on the display in an appropriate order.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, a spot program having the same theme is repeatedly associated with the non-singing section a plurality of times.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS === Schematic Configuration of Karaoke Apparatus =
== FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The central processing unit 3 is a CPU, a RAM / R
It is the backbone of a computer that includes a memory such as an OM. The central processing unit 3 is connected to a communication line 7 via a communication control device 5 such as a modem or a TA, and communicates with a host device 9 operated by a karaoke company. Karaoke data for tens of thousands of songs is stored in the CD-ROM loaded in the hard disk 11 or the video CD player 13. Karaoke data includes MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface)
e) Accompaniment music data described in a format and lyric rendering data temporally synchronized with the accompaniment music are included. The lyrics rendering data also includes timing definition data for adjusting to the progress of the accompaniment music during playback. CD
-DVD-R loaded in ROM or DVD player 15
OM includes Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
A large number of image data for a background image, which are converted into digital data by a compression method such as, for example, are stored.

The main body of the karaoke apparatus has an operation panel 17 including a display and a keyboard.
9 is also attached. The operation panel 17 and the remote control receiver 21 are connected to the central processing unit 3 via the operation control unit 23. Operation panel 1
When various operation inputs such as performance reservation are performed by the remote control transmitter 7 or the remote controller transmitter 19, the operation input signals are transmitted to the central processing unit 3.
And the response information of the device is transmitted to the operation panel 17.
Will be displayed.

=== Basic Operation of Karaoke Apparatus === The reproduction of music by the karaoke apparatus is performed by the central processing unit 3.
Is performed in the following manner under the control of. When a performance reservation is made by the remote control transmitter 19 or the operation panel 17, the central processing unit 3 sets the music ID of the reserved karaoke music.
Is registered in the reservation table. The central processing unit 3 reads out the karaoke data corresponding to the music ID registered in the reservation table, and sequentially inputs the accompaniment music data included in the karaoke data to the synthesizer. The synthesizer 25 converts the input accompaniment music data into an audio signal and inputs the audio signal to the mixing amplifier 27. The mixing amplifier 27 combines the input audio signal and the singing voice signal from the microphone 29 and outputs the signal from the speaker 31. On the other hand, in synchronization with the audio output, the lyrics rendering data contained in the karaoke data is sequentially converted into a character string, and
3 is written. At this time, the video RAM 33
Is subjected to a color change process indicating the progress of the music. During the performance of the karaoke song, the video control unit 3
Reference numeral 5 denotes a lyric image of the video RAM 33, which outputs a video signal sent from the CD player 13 or the DVD player 15 to the display 37 as a background image, and outputs the lyric image to the display 37.
Numeral 5 synthesizes (superimposes) the lyric image with the background image and outputs it for display.

=== Karaoke Data === The karaoke data in this embodiment is accompanied by time section information in addition to the accompaniment music data and the lyrics rendering data described above. FIG. 2 shows a data structure of the time section information. In the time section information, a prelude start time, a singing melody start time, an interlude start time, a trailer start time, a trailer end time, and the like of the music are described. These times indicate the elapsed time from the start of the performance of the karaoke song, and include the prelude, interlude,
The time zone of the non-singing section of the trailer can be grasped by examining this time section information. For example, in the case of FIG. 2, the prelude is a section of 000000 to 018012 (ms), the first interlude is a section of 059175 to 855654 (ms), 2
The first interlude is a section of 124831-147820 (ms), and the subsequent is a section of 184651-200150 (ms).

=== Spot Program === The hard disk 11 stores program data for a large number of spot programs performed during a non-singing section, organized by program ID. The program data is data stored by a serviceman bringing a recording medium to a place where the karaoke apparatus is installed, or supplied by data communication such as a communication line or CS data broadcasting. Note that program data having a short life cycle, such as a CM program, is mainly supplied to the karaoke apparatus by data communication.

The contents of spot programs reproduced based on the program data are various, such as moving images, still images, and CG images.
The program data is MPEG or JPEG (Jo
It is compressed and encoded in an appropriate data format such as intPhotographic Experts Group. The performance time of the program data is, on average, several seconds to several minutes that can be performed in the non-singing section. The program data is accompanied by performance time information describing the performance time of the program data.

=== Program Assignment === When the karaoke apparatus has made a karaoke music performance reservation,
To each non-singing section included in the reserved karaoke music, a spot program to be performed during the performance time of each non-singing section is assigned. The central processing unit 3 reads out the karaoke data corresponding to the music ID reserved for the performance from the storage resource, compares the time section information attached to the karaoke data with the performance time information attached to the program data, and To the included non-singing sections, the program data having the maximum performance time among the program data whose performance time is shorter than the performance time of each section is allocated. Note that the presentation time of the program data to be allocated does not necessarily have to be strictly shorter than the time of the non-singing section to be associated. The central processing unit 3 stores the program IDs associated in this manner in a memory for each music ID as temporary data having a data structure shown in FIG.

=== Performance of a Spot Program === When the performance of the karaoke music is started, the central processing unit 3 starts measuring the elapsed time from the start. When the timing of the performance of the non-singing section described in the time section information attached to the karaoke data of the karaoke song arrives, the central processing unit 3 performs a spot program associated with the non-singing section. The performance of the spot program is performed by video reproduction software stored in the karaoke apparatus. At the time of the performance of the spot program, the video playback software started by the central processing unit 3 first refers to the temporary data corresponding to the music ID of the karaoke music being played, and reads the program data associated with the non-singing section. Is read from the hard disk 11 and a spot program is reproduced by software reproduction (a karaoke apparatus may be provided with a reproduction board such as an MPEG decoder board to perform hardware reproduction), and the video signal is transmitted to the video control unit 35. input. The video reproduction software controls the video control unit 35 to display and output the spot program on the display 37 in a predetermined stage.

=== Performance Mode === The performance mode of the spot program is determined by an algorithm incorporated in the video reproduction software. For example, the spot program is synthesized with the background video by superimposing.
Display only spot programs instead of background images on display 37
Of the screen, and another window is displayed in the background video, and a spot program is displayed in the window. Also, as described in the above-mentioned publication, an appropriate area such as a band or an L-shape is provided in the display area of the background video and displayed and output in the area, or the background video or the spot program is appropriately sized. In some cases, the image may be reduced and displayed at an appropriate position. Further, at the start of the performance of the spot program or at the end of the performance, effects such as cut, dissolve, and wipe may be performed. In the above case, the background video is not displayed during the performance of the spot program, but during this time, the generation of the background video may continue in the background, and during the performance of the spot program, the reproduction is stopped and the performance of the spot program is stopped. Playback may start at the end.

Since the lyrics video is basically not displayed during the non-singing section, the relationship between the video signal of the lyrics video and the video signal of the spot program usually does not matter as compared with the background video. Depending on the method, the lyric image may be displayed for a few seconds at the beginning of the non-singing section, or the singing part of the next singing section may be displayed before the end of the non-singing section for the convenience of the singer. Lyric images may be displayed. In such a case, for example, a spot program and a video signal of a lyric image are combined and displayed and output.

=== Control of the Number of Performances === By the way, the spot program to be performed is determined by the performance time of the spot program and the length of the non-singing section in the above mechanism. If there is no difference in the performance time of the non-singing sections included in the karaoke music, it is expected that only a specific spot program will be performed many times, and the number of performances for each spot program will vary. In order to prevent this, for example, the number of performances of each spot program is stored and managed as a history, and when allocating a spot program to a non-singing section, for example, the performance time is shorter than the playing time of the non-singing section, and Spot programs with low frequency may be preferentially assigned, and spot programs may be intentionally associated with each other so that the performance frequency of each spot program is equal.

When the spot program is an advertisement video commissioned by a sponsor or the like, a mechanism for achieving the specified performance quota is required. As such a mechanism, for example, it is conceivable to manage the performance quota for each spot program and control the number of performances of each spot program so as to achieve the performance quota while referring to the number of performances of each spot program. . In addition, each spot program may be given a priority according to the performance quota, and the programs may be assigned such that each spot program is performed at a performance frequency corresponding to the priority attached to each program. In this case, A fee according to the priority may be collected from the sponsor.

It is also conceivable to prepare spot programs having the same theme and different performance times as in a TV commercial, and to mix them in storage resources. In this way, a spot program having a length corresponding to the playing time of the non-singing section is adopted from among these spot programs, and a predetermined number of show frequencies are automatically secured for spot programs of the same theme. can do.

=== Other Applications === By the way, if the performance time of the spot program already assigned to the non-singing section is shorter than the playing time of the non-singing section by a predetermined time or more, the playing time of the non-singing section The spot program whose performance time is shorter than the remaining performance time obtained by subtracting the performance time from the above is further associated with the non-singing section, and if the timing of the performance of the non-singing section has arrived, all that has been assigned to the non-singing section If the spot programs are displayed on the display 37 in an appropriate order, the non-singing section can be effectively used. In this case, a spot program having the same theme may be repeatedly associated with one non-singing section a plurality of times.

In this embodiment, the program data of the spot program is stored and managed in the hard disk 11. However, a CD player or DVD player different from the background video CD player 13 or DVD player 15 is prepared. , CD-ROM and DVD-RO set in these
The program data of the spot program may be stored and managed in M.

The video reproduction software may be appropriately updated by downloading from the host device 9. As a result, the host device 9 can manage the stage of the spot program in each karaoke device, and can easily upgrade the version of the video reproduction software.

A plurality of video reproducing softwares identified by a predetermined ID are stored in the karaoke apparatus, while the
A configuration may be made such that D is attached and video playback software is designated for each spot program. This way, for example,
It is possible to perform a spot program in a performance mode suitable for the contents of the spot program, and it is possible to respond more finely to the request of the sponsor. In addition, if the video reproduction software is randomly selected for each spot program, a variety of effects can be easily performed.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, a spot program suitable for the performance time of each non-singing section is allocated, so that the program is not interrupted on the way and the spot program can be smoothly and efficiently. Can be performed.

Further, the present invention only requires a change in software that adds time section information to existing karaoke data, prepares a spot program in the karaoke apparatus, and prepares a program for managing the performance of the spot program in the karaoke apparatus. And can be implemented at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of time section information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of temporary data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Central Processing Unit 11 Hard Disk 13 CD Player 15 DVD Player

Claims (10)

[Claims] An invention that satisfies the following items (1) to (6). (1) A karaoke apparatus which stores a large number of karaoke data in an appropriate storage means, reads karaoke data corresponding to a music piece reserved for performance, and outputs accompaniment music based on the accompaniment music data included in the karaoke data. (2) The video data stored in the appropriate storage means is read out, and a background video based on the read out video data is displayed on a display during a karaoke performance and synchronized with the accompaniment music based on the lyrics rendering data included in the karaoke data. The generated lyric image is generated, combined with the background image, and output to the display. (3) The karaoke data is accompanied by time section information that describes the time zones of non-singing sections other than the singing section such as the prelude, interlude, and subsequent pieces included in the karaoke song. (4) The program data of the spot program for performing in the non-singing section is stored in an appropriate storage means. Each program data is accompanied by performance time information indicating the performance time of the spot program. (5) The performance which approximates the non-singing section included in the karaoke music piece to the performance time of the non-singing section by comparing the time section information attached to the karaoke data of the music piece reserved for performance with the performance time information. Assign time spot programs. (6) When the performance of a karaoke song is performed, if the performance timing of a certain non-singing section has arrived, the program data of the spot program assigned to the non-singing section is read out, and an image based on this is stored in the relevant non-singing section. Display output to the display. 2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in said (5), the non-singing section is assigned a spot program having a maximum performance time among spot programs having a performance time shorter than the performance time. Features. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that combines a spot program with the background video in the step (6) and outputs the synthesized image to the display. I do. 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only the spot program is displayed and output on the display in place of the background video being displayed and output in (6). Features. 5. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein program data of spot programs having the same subject and different performance times are mixedly stored in said appropriate storage means. It is characterized by. 6. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a performance frequency of each spot program is stored and managed, and when the spot program is allocated to the non-singing section, the performance is determined according to the performance frequency. And determining a spot program to be allocated. 7. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when allocating the spot program to the non-singing section, the performance time is shorter than the playing time of the non-singing section.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the spot program with a low performance frequency is preferentially assigned. 8. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a priority is assigned to each spot program, and each spot program is performed at a performance frequency corresponding to the priority assigned to each spot program. A spot program is assigned to a non-singing section. 9. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a performance time of a spot program already assigned to a non-singing section is shorter than a playing time of the non-singing section by a predetermined time or more. If a spot program whose performance time is shorter than the remaining performance time obtained by subtracting the performance time from the performance time of the non-singing section is further associated with the non-singing section, and the performance timing of the non-singing section has arrived. All spot programs assigned to the non-singing section are displayed and output on the display in an appropriate order. 10. A non-singing section according to claim 9, wherein a spot program having the same theme is repeatedly associated with the non-singing section.