JP2002006870A - Duet partner introducing system and method for introducing partner of duet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support the work to find out the partners for making duet of a KARAOKE sing-along machine. SOLUTION: Accompaniment data of musical pieces is accumulated in a system host 10. KARAOKE sing-along machine terminals (20a, 20b, etc.), perform playing of musical pieces in accordance with the accompaniment data forwarded through a communication circuit 30 from the system host 1. The system host 10 extracts the candidates of the partners of the duet complying with the requests from the respective users respectively using the plural KARAOKE sing-along machine terminals (20a, 20b, etc.), according to the requests for the introduction of the partners for making the duet. The KARAOKE sing-along machine terminals (20a, 20b, etc.), presents the information on the candidates of the partners of the duet which are the results of the extraction to the users using the KARAOKE sing-along machine terminals (20a, 20b, etc.).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique used for karaoke, and more particularly to a technique used in a so-called communication type karaoke system for providing karaoke accompaniment data via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a so-called communication type karaoke system that provides karaoke accompaniment data via a network. This system is, for example, MIDI
It is composed of an accompaniment server that stores accompaniment data, which is (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data, and a karaoke terminal that downloads accompaniment data from the accompaniment server and automatically plays the accompaniment music.

In this system, first, a user operates a karaoke terminal to send a request for accompaniment data of a desired music to an accompaniment music server. The accompaniment music server returns the accompaniment data of the desired music to the karaoke terminal in response to the request.
At the karaoke terminal, an automatic performance is performed based on the returned accompaniment data, and the user sings along with the automatic performance.

Conventionally, a karaoke business using such a communication type karaoke system has been performed. In this method, a karaoke system administrator receives compensation from a user for providing accompaniment data.

[0005]

Now, consider a case where a duet is performed using this karaoke system. Karaoke terminals are often equipped with two (or more) microphones, and a partner sings using each microphone to perform a duet. However, even if a plurality of people play karaoke at the same place, it is not always possible to obtain a partner for performing a duet out of them. For example, it is impossible to sing a mixed gender duet in a same-sex group. However, in such cases, it may be possible to find a duet partner by looking for other groups that are using the system at the same time.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to assist in finding a partner who performs a karaoke duet.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a karaoke system is provided in addition to the conventional communication type karaoke system which obtains a price for providing accompaniment data of karaoke from a user. It is suitable for use in carrying out a karaoke business in which a user who uses a karaoke terminal in a different place finds a partner who performs a duet (a referral fee) and also obtains a fee from the user. Things.

According to the present invention, data can be exchanged between a system host in which accompaniment data of music is stored and the system host via a communication line, and transmitted from the system host via the communication line. It is assumed that the system used for karaoke includes a plurality of karaoke terminals that perform the music based on the accompaniment data.

A duet partner introduction system according to the present invention uses a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system in response to a request from the karaoke terminal to introduce a partner for performing a duet. Partner candidate extracting means for extracting a duet partner candidate that meets the request from each user; and information about the duet partner candidate which is a result of the extraction by the partner candidate extracting means. And a partner candidate presenting means for presenting to a user who uses the above.

[0010] According to the above configuration, a duet partner candidate is searched for from among the users using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the karaoke system, so that the possibility of finding a partner increases. . And if you can find a partner using this system, you can enjoy karaoke more deeply by doing a duet with that partner.

The system host and the karaoke terminal constituting the duet partner introduction system described above are a sub-combination of the duet partner introduction system according to the present invention. That is, data can be exchanged between a system host in which accompaniment data of music is stored and the system host via a communication line, and the accompaniment data transmitted from the system host via the communication line. A signal transmitted from the karaoke terminal to the system host in the system used for karaoke, comprising a plurality of karaoke terminals that perform the music based on the karaoke terminal, and indicating a request to introduce a partner for performing a duet. A partner introduction request signal receiving means for receiving a partner introduction request signal, and a request indicated in the partner introduction request signal from each user using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system. Partner candidate extracting means for extracting candidate duet partners, said partner And partner candidate information sending means for sending information about the duet partner candidate, which is the result of the extraction by the supplemental extracting means, to the karaoke terminal that is the source of the partner introduction request signal. The system host also relates to the present invention.

Further, data can be exchanged between a system host in which accompaniment data of music is stored and the system host via a communication line, and sent from the system host via the communication line. A partner introduction request, which is a signal indicating a request to introduce a partner for performing a duet to the karaoke terminal in a system used for karaoke, comprising a plurality of karaoke terminals performing the music based on the accompaniment data. A partner introduction request signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the system host; and a partner introduction request signal transmitted from the system host to each of the users using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system. Duet partner candidates extracted as meeting the requirements set out in The present invention also relates to a karaoke terminal configured to include partner candidate information receiving means for receiving information about the karaoke terminal, and partner candidate presenting means for presenting information about the duet partner candidate to a user of the karaoke terminal. It is related to.

In the above-described system host according to the present invention, the information is transmitted from each of a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system, and is information for specifying a user who uses the karaoke terminal. It may be configured to further include user information storage means for storing user information, and user information transmission means for transmitting the user information to each karaoke terminal.

According to this configuration, information (for example, the name and abbreviation of the user) specifying each user who uses each karaoke terminal is provided to the user of each karaoke terminal. The user can grasp the usage status of another karaoke terminal.

In the above-described system host according to the present invention, there is further provided personal information storage means for storing personal information of each user who uses a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system. The partner candidate extracting means, the personal information matching the conditions as a duet partner indicated in the partner introduction request signal, the user stored in the personal information storage means as a duet partner candidate You may comprise so that it may extract.

The personal information referred to here is, for example, a profile of a user (information such as gender, age, occupation, character, and favorite music genre). According to this configuration, by setting the condition of personal information desired as a duet partner in the partner introduction request signal, a partner candidate meeting the desired condition can be searched for.

In the above-mentioned system host according to the present invention, the information about the duet partner candidate obtained as a result of the extraction by the partner candidate extracting means is used by the karaoke terminal which is the source of the partner introduction request signal. It may be configured to further include a billing means for calculating a charge imposed on the user as the consideration provided to the user.

According to this configuration, when carrying out the karaoke business using the present invention described above, the work load for collecting the consideration (introduction fee) for providing information on the duet partner candidates is reduced. be able to. Further, in the karaoke terminal according to the present invention described above, a partner request signal, which is a signal for notifying a duet partner request to a duet partner candidate related to the information presented by the partner candidate presenting means, is transmitted. May be further provided.

According to this configuration, the karaoke terminal can make a duet request to the partner candidate. At this time, the karaoke terminal is provided with a partner request signal receiving means for receiving the partner request signal, and a karaoke terminal from which the partner request signal is transmitted, the response of acceptance or rejection of the request notified by the partner request signal. And a reply signal transmitting means for transmitting a reply signal which is a signal for notifying the user of the above, and a reply signal receiving means for receiving the reply signal.

According to this configuration, the karaoke terminal can reply to the request of the duet whether to grant or reject the request. Further, in the karaoke terminal according to the present invention described above, data indicating an utterance signal which is a signal obtained by utterance of a user of the karaoke terminal is provided by the partner of the duet according to the information presented by the partner candidate presenting means. Voice signal data transmitting means for transmitting to the karaoke terminal used by the candidate; and receiving data indicating the utterance signal transmitted from another karaoke terminal constituting the system, and transmitting the other karaoke terminal from the data. And audio signal data reproducing means for reproducing the utterance of the user to use.

According to this configuration, the data indicating the utterance signal of the duet partner is exchanged between the karaoke terminals, and the utterance of each partner is reproduced by the other party's karaoke terminal. And a duet.

Data can be exchanged between a system host in which accompaniment data of music is stored and the system host via a communication line, and transmitted from the system host via the communication line. A method for introducing a duet partner, which is performed using a system including a plurality of karaoke terminals that perform the music based on the accompaniment data, according to a request for introduction of a duet partner. Extracting candidate duet partners that meet the request from each user using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system, and selecting the duet partner candidates that are the result of the extraction. To introduce the information of the duet partner to the user who uses the karaoke terminal. Are those according to the bright, the same operation and effect as duet partners introducing system according to the present invention described above.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a karaoke system that embodies the present invention. A karaoke system (hereinafter, referred to as “this system”) shown in FIG. 1 includes a system host 10 and a plurality of karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,
) Are connected via a communication line 30, and the system host 10 and the karaoke terminals (20a, 20a) are connected.
b,...).

The use of this system is a membership system.
Only members can perform karaoke with this system. Then, between the administrator of the system and the member, it is determined in advance how to pay the fee (for example, automatic payment using a bank account or a credit company).

In FIG. 1, the system host 10
The karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) Of the karaoke accompaniment data according to the request from the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...).
b, ...), karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,
..), Processing for receiving a duet request, mediating the duet request, charging the system usage fee to the member, relaying data transfer between the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) During the duet, and the like.

The system host 10 includes a CPU 11, an RO
M12, RAM 13, HDD 14, modem 15, and billing unit 16 are provided. The CPU 11 has a ROM 1
2 in accordance with the control program stored in the system host 10 while using the RAM 13 as a work area.
It is a central processing unit that controls the entire operation.

The ROM 12 is a read-only memory in which a control program for controlling the entire system host 10 executed by the CPU 11 is stored in advance. RAM
Reference numeral 13 denotes a random access memory used as a work area for processing by the CPU 11 and for storing various setting parameters.

The HDD 14 is a hard disk drive,
For example, karaoke music accompaniment data (including lyrics data) which is MIDI data, karaoke terminals (20a, 20a)
b,...), image data constituting a screen to be displayed on the display unit 26, and information on members who can use the system (member numbers and names, and duet partners such as member profiles such as gender, age, occupation, and preferences). Personal information for searching) is accumulated.

The modem 15 connects the system host 10 to the communication line 30. Data can be exchanged between the CPU 11 and the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) Via the communication line 30. To do. Billing unit 1
6 is a charge (song provision fee) for providing karaoke accompaniment data and a support operation for searching for a duet partner imposed on a user who uses the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...). In order to collect the consideration (introduction fee), the billing amount is calculated, and the payment is settled by means previously agreed with the member. (Transmission to the credit company).

The karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) Are installed in different places (for example, in each karaoke room), and are operated by users as members. And
Sending a request for downloading accompaniment data of a desired karaoke song to the system host 10, automatic performance of accompaniment based on the accompaniment data sent from the system host 10, sending a request for a duet to the system host 10, and a request for a duet Is performed, such as presenting the result to the user.

Each of the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) Has the same configuration. Therefore, here, the configuration of the karaoke terminal 20a will be described. The karaoke terminal 20a includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23,
The system includes an HDD 24, a modem 25, a display unit 26, a karaoke processing unit 27, a microphone 28, and a speaker 29.

The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the entire karaoke terminal 20a in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 22 while using the RAM 23 as a work area. The ROM 22 is a CPU 2
This is a read-only memory in which a control program for controlling the entire karaoke terminal 20a executed in 1 is stored in advance.

The RAM 23 is a random access memory used as a work area for processing by the CPU 21 and for storing various setting parameters. The HDD 24 is a hard disk device, and the display unit 2
6 stores image data constituting a screen to be displayed, and temporarily stores accompaniment data of karaoke songs downloaded from the system host 10.

The modem 25 connects the karaoke terminal 20a and the communication line 30. The modem 25 transmits and receives data between the CPU 21 and the system host 10 or another karaoke terminal (20b,...) Through the communication line 30. To be able to do so. The display unit 26 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal).
Display), and displays various information under the control of the CPU 21 to display the karaoke terminal 20a.
To the user. Further, a touch switch is provided on the display surface of the display unit 26. When a user touches a display portion of the icon button when an icon button described later is displayed on the display unit 26, the icon button is pressed. Can be turned on.

The karaoke processing unit 27 is a system host 1
Automatic performance processing of accompaniment based on the accompaniment data sent from 0, or signal processing for realizing various functions provided in the conventional karaoke apparatus, such as key control and microphone echo, is performed.

The microphone 28 is used when the user of the karaoke terminal 20a sings, and picks up the voice of the user and converts it into an audio signal. The speaker 29 is a karaoke processing unit 2
7, a music signal obtained by the automatic performance processing of the karaoke processing unit 27, an audio signal which is a user's uttered sound to which an echo (reverberant sound) is added after being picked up by the microphone 28, and the like are emitted. Sound.

The communication line 30 is a dedicated line if the distance between the system host 10 and each karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) Is relatively short (for example, installed in the same building). However, if they are installed in remote places, for example, a public telephone network or the Internet may be used.

The present system is configured as described above. Next, the operation of the system host 10 will be described in detail. 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate control of each component of the system host 10 performed by the CPU 11 of the system host 10 reading and executing a control program stored in the ROM 12. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the control process to be performed.

This control process is executed by the CPU 11 immediately after the system host 10 is powered on.
The execution is started after an initialization process in which the internal registers of the PU 11 and the RAM 13 are initialized. First, in S101 of FIG. 2, it is determined whether a signal requesting connection of a line for data transfer has been sent from the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) To the system host 10 via the communication line 30. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S102, and if No, the process proceeds to S107.

In step S102, a line connection process is executed, and the CPU 11 of the system host 10 and the karaoke terminal (here, the karaoke terminal 20) from which the line connection request is sent.
a) A line connection request is sent from a)
U15, modem 15, communication line 30, modem 2
5, a logical line through which data can be exchanged with each other is established.

In S103, it is determined whether or not identification data (for example, a member number) of the member operating the karaoke terminal 20a transmitted from the karaoke terminal 20a to the system host 10 has been received. S
The process proceeds to 104, and if No, the process proceeds to S107.

In S104, the identification data of the member determined to have been received in the previous step is stored in the RAM 13. In S105, the image data is read from the HDD 14, and a screen (Karaoke room use status display screen) indicating the karaoke terminal to which the line is currently logically connected with the system host 10 is created. The screen is sent to each karaoke terminal (20a, 20b, ...).

Here, FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 will be described. Each of these figures shows a karaoke terminal (20a, 20a).
b,...) on the display unit 26. When each of these screens is displayed on the display unit 26, a cursor pointer is also displayed on these screens as necessary. The cursor pointer can be moved to an arbitrary position on the screen according to an operation on an input unit (not shown) provided in the karaoke processing unit 27 performed by a user of the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b, ...). .

In each of these figures, the karaoke room use status display screen created by the above-described processing of S105 is shown in FIG. 6 (A). On this screen, a usage status display 41 in which the name of the current user of each karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) Is displayed,
The icon buttons (42a, 42b) which are displayed as "Song list request" or "End", which can be turned on by touching "."

Returning to the description of FIG. In S107, it is determined whether or not any one of the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) Has finished using the karaoke terminal and has received a disconnection signal requesting disconnection of the logical line connection.
If s, proceed to S108, if No, S110 (FIG. 3)
Proceed to.

In S108, a process of disconnecting a logical line connection with the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) That transmitted the disconnection signal determined to have been transmitted in the previous step is performed. In S109, R
Of the member identification data stored in AM13, S
The karaoke terminal (20a, 20a, 2b) that has transmitted the disconnection signal determined to have been transmitted by the process of 107
0b,...) Are deleted. After this process, the process returns to S105, and a karaoke room use status display screen for the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) For which the logical line connection with the system host 10 is maintained is created again. Thereafter, the above-described processing is repeated.

Referring to FIG. 3, in S110, a list (song list) of accompaniment data of karaoke songs stored in the HDD 14 of the system host 10 is transmitted from any of the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...). It is determined whether the request signal has been sent and received, and the determination result is Y
Only in the case of es, in S111, the data of the screen showing the requested song list stored in the HDD 14 is read and the karaoke terminal (2
0a, 20b,...) To the communication line 30.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen showing a music list.
This is shown in (B). On this screen, an icon button 42c on which “song decision” is displayed is shown together with the song title list 43 described above. In S112, the karaoke terminal (20a, 20a) outputs a tune selection signal, which is a signal indicating the result of selecting a tune from the tune name list 43 described above.
b,...)
If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S113, and if No, the process proceeds to S113.
Proceed to 116.

At S113, the accompaniment data of the music corresponding to the music selection signal determined to have been sent in the previous step is transmitted to the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) Which is the source of the music selection signal. It is transmitted to the line 30. In S114, a billing process is executed, and the billing unit 16 is controlled to collect the price (song provision fee) for the transmission of the karaoke accompaniment data.
a, 20b,...) are calculated, and a process is performed to settle the amount by means determined in advance with the member, and the result is obtained. The data (billing information) is transmitted to a financial institution such as a bank or a credit company. Further, at S115, the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) Used by the member.
Is transmitted to the communication line 30.

In S116, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating a duet request for requesting introduction of a duet partner has been sent and received from any of the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...). Only in this case, in S117, the search screen stored in the HDD 24 is read and the karaoke terminal (20
a, 20b,...) to the communication line 30.

FIG. 7C shows an example of the search screen. This screen shows a search condition input field 44 in which a condition for searching for a partner is input, and an icon button 42d displaying "Send". S1
At 18, the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,
…)), And it is determined whether it has been received. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S119, and if No, S12.
Go to 3 (FIG. 4).

In S119, a search process is executed, and based on the search data determined to have been received in the previous step,
Information on members who are currently using any of the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b, ...) is retrieved. And
In S120, the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...), Which is the source of the search condition, displays a search result screen showing information identifying the member extracted as a result of the search.
Will be sent to.

FIG. 7D shows an example of the search result screen. In this screen, a search result display field 45 for introducing the name and profile of a member who is a candidate for a duet partner extracted as a result of the above-described search processing is displayed.
And the icon button 42e on which the display of "decide partner" is displayed.

Referring to FIG. 4, a billing process is executed in S121, and the billing unit 16 is controlled to collect a fee (referral fee) for the introduction of the duet partner, so that the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b, …)), An amount charged to the member who is the user is calculated, and a process for causing the amount to be settled by means previously agreed with the member is executed. The resulting data (charging) Information) is transmitted to financial institutions such as banks and credit companies. Further, S1
At 22, the karaoke terminal (20
a, 20b,...) is transmitted to the communication line 30.

In S123, the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...) Sends a partner designation signal which is a signal notifying that the member selected from the search result display field 45 on the search result screen described above is desired as a duet partner. It is determined whether or not the karaoke terminal has been sent and received, and only when the determination result is Yes, in S124, a request signal that is a signal for requesting a duet partner is transmitted to the karaoke terminal used by the selected member ( 20
a, 20b,...) to the communication line 30.

In the following description, it is assumed that a partner designation signal has been transmitted from the karaoke terminal 20a, and the request signal transmitted from the system host 10 in response to the partner designation signal indicates that the member using the karaoke terminal 20b is duet. You will be notified that you wish to be a partner of

In S125, it is determined whether or not an acceptance signal for accepting the request is transmitted from the karaoke terminal 20b and received in response to the request signal for requesting the duet partner. If the determination result is Yes, S126 is performed.
If No, the process proceeds to S130 (FIG. 5).

At S126, the karaoke terminal 20a, which is the source of the request signal corresponding to the acceptance signal determined to have been received at S125, has already been sent (S113).
The accompaniment data of the karaoke song (the process of FIG. 3) is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the karaoke terminal 20b that is the source of the acceptance signal.

In S127, a billing process is executed, and the billing unit 16 is controlled to collect the price (song providing fee) for sending the karaoke accompaniment data, so that the karaoke terminal which is the source of the acceptance signal is collected. A process is performed to calculate the amount charged to the member on the accepting side of the duet that is the user of the 20b, and to settle the amount by means previously agreed with the member. The data (billing information) is transmitted to a financial institution such as a bank or a credit company. Further, in S128, the billing information is transmitted to the karaoke terminal 20b used by the member via the communication line 30.

It should be noted that the fee for providing the music for sending the accompaniment data to the karaoke terminal 20b on the duet accepting side is not imposed on the duet accepting member, but on the duet requesting member. Is also good. S12
At 9, the acceptance signal indicating that the karaoke terminal 20b on the accepting side has accepted the duet request is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the karaoke terminal 20a on the requesting side.

Referring to FIG. 5, in S130, it is determined whether or not a rejection signal for rejecting the request is transmitted from the karaoke terminal 20b and received in response to the request signal transmitted from the karaoke terminal 20a. Only in the case of Yes, the rejection signal is transmitted to the requesting karaoke terminal 20a to the communication line 30 in S131.

At S132, the karaoke terminal 20 on the requesting side
It is determined whether or not data (packet data) indicating an audio signal obtained by picking up the voice sung by the user “a” by the microphone 28 has been transmitted from the karaoke terminal 20a and received, and the determination result is “Yes”. Only in this case, in S133, the data indicating the audio signal is transmitted to the karaoke terminal 20b on the accepting side and transmitted to the communication line 30.

At S134, the karaoke terminal 20 on the accepting side
The data (packet data) indicating the voice signal obtained by the voice sung by the user b being picked up by the microphone 28 is
It is determined whether or not the message is sent from the karaoke terminal 20b and received. Only when the determination result is Yes, the data indicating the audio signal is transmitted to the requesting karaoke terminal 20a via the communication line 30 in S135. .

In S136, it is determined whether or not a music start signal, which is a signal transmitted to the communication line 30 from the karaoke terminal 20a on the requesting side, has been received in accordance with the start timing of the automatic performance based on the accompaniment data. The result is Y
Only in the case of es, the music start signal is sent to the accepting karaoke terminal 20b in S137.
Sent to.

After the above processing, the flow returns to S101 (FIG. 2), and the above-described control processing is repeated from the beginning. CPU
11 transmits the karaoke accompaniment data to the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) In response to the request from the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...), And performs the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,. ), The system host 10 performs processing such as receiving a duet request, mediating a duet request, charging a system usage fee to a member, and relaying data transfer between karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) During a duet. Is achieved.

Next, the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,
) Will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of control processing performed by the CPU 21 of the karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...). In addition, karaoke terminals (20a, 20b, ...)
Perform the same operation, the operation of the karaoke terminal 20a will be described here.

First, in S201, an initialization process is executed, and an internal register or RA
Processing such as initialization of M23 is performed. S20
2, a signal indicating a connection request for requesting a physical connection of a line used for data exchange with the system host 10 is sent to the system host 10 and the communication line 30.
Sent to.

In S203, the system host 10 receives the reply sent to the karaoke terminal 20a by executing the line connection processing (the processing of S102 (FIG. 2)). Then, a logical line through which data can be exchanged between the CPU 21 of the karaoke terminal 20a and the CPU 11 of the system host 10 via the modem 25, the communication line 30, and the modem 15 is established.

In S204, the identification data of the member operating the karaoke terminal 20a (for example, the member number) is transmitted to the system host 10 via the communication line 30. S2
05, the karaoke terminal 20a
It is determined whether or not the data indicating the karaoke room usage status display screen (the screen illustrated in FIG. 6A) transmitted to the karaoke room is received. Only when the determination result is Yes, the The display unit 26 displays a karaoke room use status display screen. Karaoke terminal 20a
Can see the usage status of the other terminals (20b,...) By looking at the karaoke room usage status display screen. For example, if it is determined that there are many users of the system, it is possible to estimate that there is a high possibility that a duet partner can be acquired.

In S207, a music selection process is performed. The song selection process is a process of selecting a song from a list displayed on the above-described song list screen (the screen illustrated in FIG. 6B) and receiving accompaniment data of the song from the system host 10. In S208, a duet request process is executed. The duet request process is a process of requesting the system host 10 to introduce a duet partner and, as a result, requesting a duet to a candidate selected from a search result of a partner candidate sent from the system host 10. It is.

At S209, a duet acceptance process is executed. The duet acceptance process is performed for another karaoke terminal (20
b,...), a response is sent as to whether or not to accept the duet request. If the duet request is accepted, accompaniment data of the karaoke song to be duet is transmitted from the system host 10. This is the receiving process.

At S210, a reproducing process is executed. The reproduction process is a process of performing the duet music automatically, and transmitting and receiving an audio signal indicating the voice of the user of the karaoke terminal 20a and an audio signal of the duet partner to reproduce the music. The details of the above-described music selection processing, duet request processing, duet acceptance processing, and reproduction processing will be described later.

In S211, it is determined whether the user of the karaoke terminal 20a has turned on the "end" icon button 42b, and if the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S211.
If No, the process returns to S205 and the above-described processing is repeated. In S212, a disconnection signal requesting the system host 10 to disconnect the logical line established with the karaoke terminal 20a is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the system host 10.

At S213, a process of disconnecting the logical line established by the line connection process executed at S203 is performed. After this processing, FIG.
Is completed. Next, the CPU 21
The details of the music selection process executed in S207 of FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of the music selection processing.

First, a karaoke room usage status screen (FIG. 6)
In S301 executed when the screen illustrated in (A) is displayed on the display unit 26, it is determined whether or not the user of the karaoke terminal 20a has turned on the “song list request” icon button 42a. If the determination result is Yes, S3
Go to 02. On the other hand, if the result of this determination is No, the music selection process ends immediately and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

In S302, the HD of the system host 10
A signal (song list request signal) requesting transmission of a list (song list) of accompaniment data of karaoke songs stored in D14 is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the system host 10. In S303, it is determined whether or not data indicating the above-described song list screen (the screen illustrated in FIG. 6B) transmitted from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a has been received, and the data is received. Until S3
03 is repeated.

In S304, the received music list screen is displayed on the display unit 26. In S305, the karaoke terminal 2
It is determined whether or not the user 0a has turned on the "song determination" icon button 42c, and the process of S305 is repeated until the button 42c is turned on.

In step S306, a signal including information indicating a song in the song title list 43 selected by the current position of the cursor pointer moved according to an operation on an input unit (not shown) provided in the karaoke processing unit 27 Is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the system host 10.

In S307, it is determined whether or not the accompaniment data of the music selected in the previous step, which is sent from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a, has been received.
The process of S307 is repeated until the reception of this data ends. In S308, the accompaniment data received in the previous step is stored in the RAM 23.

At S309, the accounting information for the accompaniment data received at S307, which is sent from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a, is received. After the end of this process, the music selection process ends, and the process returns to the process shown in FIG. Next, the CPU 21 executes S2 in FIG.
Details of the duet request process executed in 08 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of the duet request processing.

First, in S401, it is determined whether or not a duet request requesting introduction of a duet partner has been made to the karaoke terminal 20a by the user of the karaoke terminal 20a operating the input unit (not shown) of the karaoke processing unit 27. Is determined, and if the determination result is Yes, S40
Proceed to 2. On the other hand, if the result of this determination is No, the duet request process ends immediately and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

In S 402, a duet request signal indicating a duet request for requesting introduction of a duet partner is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the system host 10. In S403, the above-described search screen (FIG. 7) transmitted from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a.
It is determined whether or not data indicating (screen exemplified in (C)) has been received, and the process of S403 is repeated until this data is received.

In S404, the received search screen is displayed on the display unit 26. In S405, the "send" icon button 42d of the search screen is turned on, so that data (search data) indicating the content input by moving the cursor pointer into the search condition input field 44 on the search screen is displayed. The data is transmitted to the communication line 30 addressed to the system host 10.

At S406, as a result of the search processing (processing at S119 (FIG. 3)) performed at system host 10 based on the search data transmitted at the previous step and transmitted from system host 10 to karaoke terminal 20a. It is determined whether or not data indicating a search result screen (the screen illustrated in FIG. 7 (D)) indicating the extracted duet partner candidates is received, and S406 is performed until the reception of the data is completed. Is repeated.

In S407, the received search result screen is displayed on the display unit 26. In S408, billing information on the execution of the search processing performed in the system host 10 transmitted from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a is received.

In step S409, the "decision partner" icon button 42e of the search result screen is turned on, so that the cursor pointer is displayed from a plurality of duet partner candidates indicated in the search result display column 45 on the search result screen. Is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the system host 10, which is a signal including information indicating the candidate selected by the current position of the system host 10. The partner designation signal is a signal indicating a request to the selected duet partner candidate to be a duet partner.

At S410, a reply signal (a signal sent from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a) indicating that the duet partner designated by the above-mentioned partner designation signal notifies the acceptability of the duet. It is determined whether or not the above-described acceptance signal and rejection signal have been received), and the process of S410 is repeated until the response signal is received.

In S411, a response screen is created based on the image data read from the HDD 24 and the response signal, and is displayed on the display unit 26. Figure 8 shows an example of a response screen
This is shown in (E). On this screen, the content of the reply to the duet request is shown according to the reply signal.

In S412, the reply signal determined to have been received in the previous step is checked, and if the reply signal is an acceptance signal, the duet flag DF is set to "1" in S413. On the other hand, if the reply signal is an acceptance signal, the duet flag DF is not changed.

It should be noted that the duet flag DF corresponds to S in FIG.
Initially, it is set to “0” in the initialization processing shown in 201. After the above processing is completed, the duet request processing ends, and the processing returns to the processing shown in FIG.

Next, in step S209 of FIG.
Will be described in detail. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of the duet acceptance process. First, in S501, it is determined whether or not a request signal transmitted from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a, which is a signal for requesting a duet partner, has been received.
If so, the process proceeds to S502. On the other hand, if the result of this determination is No, the duet acceptance process ends immediately and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

In S502, a duet request screen is created based on the image data read from the HDD 24 and the request signal, and is displayed on the display unit 26. An example of a duet request screen is shown in FIG. On this screen,
A display notifying that a duet request has been received,
Icon buttons (42f, 42g) displaying "OK" and "NO" are shown.

In S503, it is checked which of the icon buttons (42f and 42g) the user of the karaoke terminal 20a has turned on is displayed on the duet request screen.
If the "OK" icon button 42f is turned on, an acceptance signal notifying the requester that the duet request has been accepted is transmitted to the system host 10 via the communication line 30 in S504, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S506. . On the other hand, in S503, the “NO” icon button 4
If 2g is turned on, a rejection signal notifying the requestor that the duet request has been rejected is sent to the communication line 30 to the system host 10 in S505, and thereafter, the duet acceptance processing ends. It returns to the process shown in FIG.

In S506, it is determined whether or not the accompaniment data of the karaoke tune for which the duet is to be performed, which is transmitted from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a and has already been selected by the duet requester, has been received. Until the reception of is completed, the processing of S506 is repeated.

In S507, the accompaniment data received in the previous step is stored in the RAM 23. S50
At 8, the accounting information about the accompaniment data received at S507, which is sent from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a, is received.

In S509, the aforementioned duet flag D is set.
F is set to "2". Thereafter, the duet acceptance process ends, and the process returns to the process shown in FIG. Next, the details of the reproduction processing executed by the CPU 21 in S210 of FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the reproduction processing.

First, in S601, it is determined whether the duet flag DF is set to a value other than "2", that is, the duet flag DF is "1" (this karaoke terminal 20a is a duet requester) or It is determined whether "0" (the karaoke terminal 20a has been refused the duet request or has not made a duet request) is set. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S602, If the terminal 20a is the duet acceptor), then S60
Proceed to 6.

In S602, a reproduction screen for the duet request side is created based on the image data read from the HDD 24 and the accompaniment data sent from the system host 10, and is displayed on the display unit 26. An example of a playback screen for a duet requester is shown in FIG. This screen shows the lyrics of the karaoke tune included in the accompaniment data sent from the system host 10, and the icon button 42h displaying "start".

At S603, it is determined whether or not the user of the karaoke terminal 20a has turned on the "start" icon button 42h, and the process of S603 is repeated until the button 42h is turned on. In S604, it is determined whether or not the duet flag DF is set to "1", and only when the determination result is Yes, the timing of starting the automatic performance of the tune to be duet in S605 is sent to the accepting side of the duet. A music start signal, which is a signal to be transmitted, is transmitted to the communication line 30 to the system host 10. After this processing, the process proceeds to S608.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination processing in S601 is No, in S606, the duet acceptance side is determined based on the image data read from the HDD 24 and the accompaniment data sent from the system host 10. Is created and displayed on the display unit 26.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a playback screen for a duet acceptor.
This is shown in (H). On this screen, the lyrics of the karaoke tune included in the accompaniment data sent from the system host 10 are shown, and the "start" display existing on the duet requesting side reproduction screen in FIG. 8 (G) is displayed. There is no icon button 42h displayed.

In S607, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned music start signal transmitted from the system host 10 to the karaoke terminal 20a has been received, and the processing of S607 is repeated until this signal is received. In S608,
The accompaniment data is sequentially passed to the karaoke processing section 27 at a predetermined timing, and the corresponding musical sound is generated. Then, the sound is reproduced from the speaker 29 together with the singing voice of the user collected by the microphone 28 (or subjected to sound effect processing such as echo according to the setting of the karaoke processing unit 27).

In S609, the duet flag is set to “1”.
Or it is determined whether or not it is set to "2",
If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S610, and if No, S61.
Proceed to 3 respectively. In S610, the karaoke terminal 20a
The data (packet data) indicating the voice signal obtained by collecting the voice sung by the user with the microphone 28 via the system host 10 is assumed to be a karaoke terminal (tentatively 20b) used by a duet partner. ) Is transmitted to the communication line 30.

In S611, it is determined whether or not data (packet data) indicating a voice signal, which is a voice sung by a partner who is a duet partner, transmitted to the karaoke terminal 20a via the system host 10 has been received. Then, only when the determination result is Yes, in S612, the karaoke processing unit 27 reproduces the original audio signal, emits the sound from the speaker 29, and reproduces it.

In S613, the karaoke processing section 27 determines whether or not the accompaniment data of the music being played has ended. If the result of this determination is Yes, the duet flag DF is set to "0", which is the initial state, in S614, and thereafter the reproduction processing shown in FIG.
The process returns to the process indicated by. On the other hand, if the determination result in S613 is No, the display of the lyrics of the karaoke song in the playback screen (the screen illustrated in FIG. 8 (G) or FIG. 8 (H)) displayed on the display unit 26 in S615 is automatically performed. The process proceeds in accordance with the progress of the performance, and thereafter returns to S608 and the above-described processing is repeated.

The CPU 21 performs the above-described processing to send a request to download the accompaniment data of the karaoke song to the system host 10, to automatically perform the accompaniment based on the transmitted accompaniment data, to request the duet, and to request the duet. The karaoke terminal 20a implements a process such as presenting a result to the karaoke terminal 20a.

In the present system, a signal indicating a duet request or a reply and voice data of a partner at the time of the duet are relayed between the karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) Via the system host 10. However, the present system may be configured so that karaoke terminals (20a, 20b,...) Are directly exchanged between the karaoke terminals without relaying the system host 10.

Further, an image of the singing of the partner is displayed on the other party's karaoke terminal (20a, 20b,...),

[0109]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides
A system host where music accompaniment data is stored,
Data can be exchanged with the system host via a communication line, and from a plurality of karaoke terminals performing the music based on the accompaniment data sent from the system host via the communication line. In response to a request to introduce a partner for performing a duet in a system, extraction of candidates for a duet partner that meets the request from each user using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system And information about the duet partner candidate, which is the result of the extraction, is presented to the user who uses the karaoke terminal.

By doing so, duet partner candidates are searched for from among the users who use a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the karaoke system, and the possibility of finding a partner is increased. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to support the operation of searching for a partner who performs a karaoke duet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a karaoke system that embodies the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating processing contents of control processing performed by a CPU of a system host.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating processing contents of control processing performed by a CPU of a system host.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating processing contents of control processing performed by the CPU of the system host.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 4) illustrating processing contents of control processing performed by the CPU of the system host.

FIG. 6 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the karaoke terminal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the karaoke terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the karaoke terminal.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of control processing performed by the CPU of the karaoke terminal.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of a music selection process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of a duet request process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of a duet acceptance process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the reproduction processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 System host 11, 21 CPU 12, 22 ROM 13, 23 RAM 14, 24 HDD 15, 25 Modem 16 Billing unit 20a, 20b Karaoke terminal 26 Display unit 27 Karaoke processing unit 28 Microphone 29 Speaker 30 Communication line 41 Usage status 42a , 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h Icon button 43 Song name list 44 Search condition input field 45 Search result display field

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A system host in which accompaniment data of music is stored, and data can be exchanged between the system host via a communication line and transmitted from the system host via the communication line. A system used for karaoke, comprising a plurality of karaoke terminals for performing the music based on the accompaniment data, wherein the system is provided by the karaoke terminal in response to a request for introduction of a partner for performing a duet. A candidate candidate extracting means for extracting a duet partner candidate that meets the request from the users who use the plurality of karaoke terminals respectively, and a result of the extraction by the partner candidate extracting means. Present information about the duet partner candidate to a user using the karaoke terminal Duet partner introducing system characterized by having a partner candidate presentation module that, the. 2. A system host in which accompaniment data of music is stored, and data can be exchanged between the system host via a communication line, and transmitted from the system host via the communication line. A request for introduction of a partner for performing a duet sent from the karaoke terminal in the system host in the system used for karaoke, the system host comprising a plurality of karaoke terminals performing the music based on the accompaniment data. A partner introduction request signal receiving means for receiving a partner introduction request signal that is a signal indicating the following: a request indicated by the partner introduction request signal from each user using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system. Partner candidate extracting means for extracting a candidate for a duet partner conforming to Partner candidate information transmitting means for transmitting information on the duet partner candidates as a result of the extraction by the partner candidate extracting means to a karaoke terminal which is a sender of the partner introduction request signal. And the system host. 3. A user information storage for storing information sent from each of a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system, the user information being information for specifying a user who uses the karaoke terminal. 3. The system host according to claim 2, further comprising: means; and user information sending means for sending the user information to each karaoke terminal. 4. A personal information storage means for storing personal information of each user who uses a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system, wherein the partner candidate extracting means includes the partner introduction. The personal information meeting the condition as a duet partner indicated in the request signal, and extracts the user stored in the personal information storage unit as a duet partner candidate. 3. The system host according to 2. 5. The user of the karaoke terminal which is a sender of the partner introduction request signal is provided with information on the candidate of the duet partner, which is a result of the extraction by the partner candidate extracting means, as a consideration. 3. The system host according to claim 2, further comprising a charging unit for calculating a charge imposed on the system host. 6. Data can be exchanged between a system host in which accompaniment data of music is stored and the system host via a communication line, and transmitted from the system host via the communication line. A partner introduction request, which is a signal indicating a request for introduction of a partner for performing a duet at the karaoke terminal in a system used for karaoke, comprising a plurality of karaoke terminals performing the music based on the accompaniment data. A partner introduction request signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the system host; and a partner introduction request signal transmitted from the system host, from each user using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system. Duet partner's weather extracted as meeting the requirements set out in Karaoke terminal, characterized in that it has a partner candidate information receiving means for receiving information about, and a partner candidate presentation means for presenting information about the partner candidates for the duet user of the karaoke terminal. 7. A partner request signal transmitting means for transmitting a partner request signal, which is a signal notifying a request to become a duet partner to a duet partner candidate related to the information presented by the partner candidate presenting means. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:
A karaoke terminal according to. 8. Use of a partner request signal receiving means for receiving the partner request signal, and use of a karaoke terminal which is a source of the partner request signal for replying to acceptance or rejection of the request notified by the partner request signal. The karaoke terminal according to claim 7, further comprising: a reply signal transmitting means for transmitting a reply signal that is a signal for notifying a user; and a reply signal receiving means for receiving the reply signal. 9. A karaoke terminal used by a duet partner candidate based on the information presented by the partner candidate presentation means, the data representing an utterance signal which is a signal obtained by uttering the karaoke terminal user. Voice signal data transmitting means for transmitting to the karaoke terminal, and receiving data indicating the vocal signal transmitted from another karaoke terminal constituting the system, and uttering a user who uses the other karaoke terminal from the data. The karaoke terminal according to claim 6, further comprising: audio signal data reproducing means for reproducing. 10. A system host, in which accompaniment data of music is stored, can exchange data with the system host via a communication line, and data is transmitted from the system host via the communication line. A method for introducing a duet partner, which is performed using a system including a plurality of karaoke terminals that perform the music based on the accompaniment data, in response to a request for introduction of a partner for performing a duet. Extracting candidate duet partners that meet the request from each user using a plurality of karaoke terminals constituting the system, and selecting the duet partner candidates that are the result of the extraction. Presenting the information to a user using the karaoke terminal, a duet partner How to introduce.