JP2002041064A - Playing reservation control method for karaoke system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a playing reservation control method for a karaoke system suitable to be used in a party hall. SOLUTION: The playing reservation control method for the karaoke system includes an ordinary playing reservation table, an ordinary playing input receiving means that writes an input music number into the ordinary playing reservation table in order, an ordinary reservation list display means that displays a music title list based on the ordinary playing reservation table, an ordinary playing sequence control means that picks up the music number written in the ordinary playing reservation table and sends the music number to a karaoke playing means to perform the music, a prior reservation table formed in a non-volatile memory section, a prior reservation receiving means that writes the input music number into the prior reservation table, a prior reservation list display means that displays the music title list based on the prior reservation table, and a prior reserved music playing sequence that picks up the music number written in the prior reservation table and sends the music number to the karaoke playing means to play the music.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a performance reservation control method in a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly, to a performance reservation control corresponding to a use mode of a karaoke apparatus in which a music piece scheduled to be played later is registered in advance. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a general karaoke apparatus manages a music number input by a user as a queue for performance reservation, and plays karaoke music sequentially according to the reservation order. FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a general karaoke apparatus. According to this figure,
The karaoke song reservation management and performance control will be described.

The central control unit 2 has a CPU, a RAM,
A microcomputer including a ROM, which performs data communication with peripheral components via a data bus 100 and a control bus 110,
The karaoke apparatus 1 is supervised. The hard disk drive 3 generates music generation data which is the origin of the karaoke accompaniment music described in the MIDI format for many karaoke songs and lyrics rendering data which is the generation origin of the lyrics image drawn in synchronization with the music performance And are stored.

The lyrics rendering data is a character string in which all the lyrics characters are divided into appropriate bars, and information such as the display / deletion order of the character strings (lyric rendering sequence) and the display positions of the character strings, as well as the character strings, Each information is described, such as display / deletion timing of a character and color change timing (singing timing instruction) of each character in a character string.

[0005] The CD-ROM changer 13 divides and stores long-time video data (MPEG1 format or the like) from which a mood video used as a background of a lyric image is generated on a large number of CD-ROMs. ing. And C
One or a plurality of players including a D-ROM drive device and a video data decoding circuit are built in. The CD-ROM changer 13 drives an appropriate CD-ROM with a built-in player under the control of the central control unit 2, decodes video data at an appropriate recording position, and outputs it as a mood video signal. .

<Performance Reservation Management and Performance Sequence Control> The central control unit 2 receives, via the operation control unit 7, the music number of the requested music specified and input by the user interface such as the remote control transmitter 5 and the operation panel 6. Then, a performance reservation table in which the input order and the music number are associated with each other is created and stored in the RAM, and is managed as a music performance reservation queue. The central control unit 2 controls the performance sequence based on the performance reservation table. That is, music numbers described in the performance reservation table are picked up in the order of their performance, and music generation data and lyrics rendering data corresponding to the music numbers are extracted from the hard disk device 3 and processed.

[0007] The music generation data is sequentially transferred to the synthesizer 8. The audio signal of the accompaniment music generated here is input to the mixing amplifier 9 together with the audio signal input from the microphone 11, and both audio signals are mixed and output from the speaker 10.

On the other hand, the lyrics rendering data is processed in synchronism with the music generation data, a lyrics image synchronized with the accompaniment music is generated, and the bitmap is sequentially developed in the video RAM 12. The video controller 14 superimposes the lyrics image on a video signal of an appropriate mood video reproduced by the CD-ROM changer 13 and outputs a mood video containing the lyrics image to the display 15.

The central control unit 2 performs music performance processing and performance reservation management in parallel, deletes the music number from the performance reservation table for the music that has been played, and deletes the music in the lower performance order. The playing order of the numbers is sequentially increased. The newly reserved music number is stored below the music number in the last performance order of the performance reservation table. In addition, a process is also performed in which the song title corresponding to the song number is described in the performance reservation table, and the song title list is displayed on the display 15 at an appropriate time such as when the performance process is suspended.

The central control unit 2 also controls a performance sequence corresponding to an interrupt performance instruction by a user input. When the interrupt reservation registration of a certain music is received by the user input, the interrupted music number is entered before the music number to be played next in the performance reservation table, and the performance order of the music numbers after the next music is reset. Move down one by one. As a result, after the interrupted registered music is played instead of the next music, the performance sequence according to the original performance reservation table is restarted.

[0011]

The karaoke apparatus is used not only in a karaoke facility such as a karaoke box but also in a party venue such as a wedding or a banquet. The present applicants first invented a karaoke apparatus suitable for party use, and filed a patent application (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
20868). This karaoke device is intended for use in a facility with multiple party venues, and is a "independent karaoke playback system" that integrates the karaoke device itself and attached devices such as a display and speakers in a movable body equipped with casters. Device ". For this reason, the karaoke apparatus can be moved to a required place and temporarily installed / used without permanently installing the karaoke apparatus in all of the plurality of party venues. FIG. 2 shows an external view of the stand-alone karaoke reproducing apparatus.

When a karaoke apparatus is used at a party venue, the music to be played and the order of the music are often known in advance. Therefore, the party venue may provide a karaoke apparatus with a pre-reservation service for registering the performance-scheduled music on a karaoke apparatus in response to a request from the party organizer. If you use this service,
The party organizer or the facilitator need only issue a performance instruction at the party venue without performing a performance reservation operation, and the party can proceed smoothly. However, in the stand-alone karaoke reproducing apparatus described above, the power must be turned off each time the apparatus is moved / installed, and the performance reservation table stored in the RAM volatilizes due to the movement / installation. In a facility such as a wedding hall where parties are held a plurality of times a day at each of a plurality of party venues, the above-mentioned advance reservation service cannot be provided. Even if a karaoke device is permanently installed at all party venues without using a stand-alone karaoke playback device, the karaoke device will usually be turned off once the party venue is closed. Applicable only for performances of the day. Even if the power is always turned on, it is difficult to provide the advance reservation service if two or more parties are continuously held in the same venue.

[0013] Further, there is a case where a party organizer or a person in charge of the party tries to play the music by interrupting appropriate music at a good timing in consideration of the atmosphere and the interval of the place, thereby enlivening the place. Due to the progress of the party, the number of songs played by interruption reservation is not limited to one song. If registration work related to interruption performance reservation was performed one by one at the party venue,
On the contrary, the place becomes white. If registration takes a lot of time, the progress of the party itself will be interrupted.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus,
The purpose is to provide a performance reservation control method suitable for use at a party venue.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a normal performance reservation table created in an appropriate storage means and a music number input in a predetermined procedure are stored in the normal performance reservation table. A normal reservation input receiving means for sequentially filling in the normal reservation table; a normal reservation list display means for displaying a music title list based on the music numbers written in the normal performance reservation table; A normal performance sequence control means for picking up the selected music numbers in a predetermined order and transmitting the music numbers to the karaoke performance means to play the corresponding music pieces; a pre-reservation table created in an appropriate nonvolatile storage means; A pre-reservation receiving means for writing the music number entered in the advance reservation table in the pre-reservation table; and a music title list based on the music number entered in the advance reservation table. A pre-reservation list display means for displaying the pre-reserved music performance sequence control means for picking up the music numbers written in the pre-reservation table in a predetermined order, transmitting the picked-up music numbers to the karaoke performance means, and playing the pertinent music. A karaoke apparatus equipped with a reservation performance control method.

In the first invention, a unique table number is assigned to the advance reservation table in the same format as the music number, and this table number is entered in the normal performance reservation table. A second aspect of the present invention is a reserved performance control method in a karaoke apparatus which activates the advance reservation list display means and the advance reservation music performance sequence control means when the table number is picked up by the performance sequence control means.

According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, a plurality of the advance reservation tables can be created, and each of the advance reservation tables is assigned a different table number. And

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, when the reserved music is not registered in the normal performance reservation table, the advance reservation list display means is provided by a predetermined input operation. A karaoke apparatus for activating the pre-reserved performance sequence control means has a reserved performance control method.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a performance reservation control method in a karaoke apparatus, and the hardware configuration of the karaoke apparatus itself is almost the same as that of a conventional karaoke apparatus. The data structure and programs (software resources) processed by the central control unit 2 are different, such as the user interface environment involved in the performance reservation registration operation, the performance reservation table management method, and the performance sequence control based on the performance reservation table. ing. Hereinafter, the data processing and operation of an embodiment of a karaoke apparatus adopting the performance reservation control system of the present invention will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

=== Performance Reservation Table === The performance reservation system of the present invention manages two types of performance reservation tables. One is a performance reservation table (normal performance reservation table) registered / managed in the conventional karaoke apparatus, and the other is a pre-reservation table forming a main part of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the advance reservation table. The table configuration in which the performance order, music number, and music name are associated with each other is the same as that of the normal performance reservation table, but the table itself is identified and managed by a table number having the same format as the music number. Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of advance reservation tables can be created, and one of the music numbers in a predetermined music number range is assigned to the table number. Such an advance reservation table is stored in a nonvolatile storage unit such as the hard disk device 3.

=== Creation of Advance Reservation Table === In the present embodiment, an interactive user interface environment through the display 15 is provided to create the advance reservation table. That is, the central control unit 2
When the mode for creating the advance reservation table is activated by a predetermined user input, in response to various user inputs relating to the procedure for creating the advance reservation table, the predetermined image data stored in the hard disk device 3 is developed on the video RAM 12. To go. FIG. 4 shows an outline of the user interface environment, and illustrates transition states of screens sequentially displayed on a display in (A) to (C).

In accordance with a predetermined user input, a menu screen (A) for activating an additional function other than the normal karaoke music performance mode is called. In this embodiment, a menu screen (A) is displayed when a predetermined music number is key-inputted in the same manner as in the performance reservation. Next, when a "song number memo" to create a pre-reservation table is instructed in accordance with the instruction displayed on the screen (A), the central control unit 2 sets a pre-reservation table creation area in the internal RAM. And (B)
The song number memo screen shown in is displayed. This screen displays the table number of the advance reservation table to be created and the procedure for creating the table.

When the user operates the operation panel 6 or the like in accordance with the instructions on the screen and sequentially inputs the music numbers, the central control unit 2 registers the music numbers in the advance reservation table created in the creation area. I will do it. Further, each time a song number for one song is input, a song name associated with the number is specified, and a screen (C) for displaying the song title in place of the number is generated. Then, when the music numbers of the required number of music pieces are input and the registration of the advance reservation table is instructed by a predetermined key input, the advance reservation table created in the RAM is copied to the hard disk device 3 and stored.

If the user wants to change the created advance reservation table, the user activates the preceding music number memo function and designates the table number to be changed. Thereby, a list of music names registered in the table is displayed. To change the table, as in the case of creating a new table, the user can move the cursor key to specify the name of the song to be changed, and enter the song number of the song to be replaced with the song.

=== Pre-Reserved Music Performance Sequence === The central control unit 2 controls the normal performance sequence for performing the music performance based on the normal performance reservation table, and the advance reservation for performing the music performance based on the pre-reservation table. The music registered in each table is played while appropriately switching the music performance sequence control. In the present embodiment, two switching systems, a normal reservation interlocking system and an interrupt switching system, are mounted as the switching system. Also, there are various types of pre-reserved music performance sequence control itself activated by these methods.

<Normal reservation interlocking method> A music number and a table number are input from the remote control transmitter 5 and the operation panel 6. The table number is registered as a music number in the normal performance reservation table created in the RAM. Central control unit 2
Manages the queue of music performance processing by using the normal performance reservation table, and when a table number is picked up as a processing target, retrieves the corresponding advance reservation table from the hard disk drive 3 and is described in the table. The music numbers are sequentially picked up in accordance with the playing order, and the music generation data corresponding to the picked music numbers is processed. When the performance of all the music pieces described in the advance reservation table is completed, the music number of the next music piece in the normal performance reservation table is picked up by the normal performance sequence control, and the performance control of the music piece is performed.

<Interrupt Switching Method> When the table number of the advance reservation table is input as the number of the interrupted performance reserved music, this table number is written in the highest performance order of the normal performance reservation table at the time of input. As soon as the data processing of the music being performed is completed, the control is switched to the pre-reserved music performance sequence control, the music numbers described in the pre-reservation table are sequentially picked up, and the corresponding music is sequentially played.

<Pre-ordered music performance sequence control> As a method of the pre-ordered music performance sequence control, as described above, a method of automatically playing all the songs registered in the advance reservation table, and a method of setting by user input. There is a control method. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a screen displayed on the display 15 when performing the user setting.

This screen shows a song name list described in the advance reservation table and a procedure and a method for user setting the performance sequence of the advance reservation music. In the present embodiment, settings for switching whether or not to sequentially play all registered songs in the advance reservation table in order, and settings for playing only one song of an arbitrary song can be made.

When a pre-reserved music performance sequence is set by a user input, the central control unit 2 appropriately controls the performance according to the setting. Note that a pre-reserved music performance sequence is set when the pre-reserved music table is created, and when this table number is picked up by the normal reserved music sequence control, the registered music in the pre-reserved music table is continuously played according to the setting, It is also possible to display the setting screen of the pre-reserved music performance sequence shown above. Of course, the setting screen of the pre-reserved music performance sequence control may be displayed unconditionally.

In this embodiment, when a pre-order table has been created and no music number is registered in the normal play reservation table, a predetermined user input such as inputting a table number is performed. A pre-reservation table setting screen is displayed, and the pre-reserved music performance sequence control is activated.

[0032]

According to the performance reservation control method of the present invention, the advance reservation table is stored in the nonvolatile storage unit. Therefore, even in the situation where the power of the karaoke device is turned off, pre-register and register the music that you want to play at a later date,
On the day of using the karaoke apparatus, complicated reservation registration work can be eliminated.

The advance reservation table is managed using a table number having the same format as the music number as an identifier.
A music performance can be performed while flexibly switching between a normal performance sequence control based on a normal performance reservation table created by a normal performance reservation control method and a pre-reserved music performance sequence control based on a pre-reservation table.

It is also possible to activate the pre-ordered music performance sequence control at an arbitrary timing, and when using a karaoke apparatus for a party or the like, the party organizer or the facilitator can quickly play an appropriate music at an arbitrary timing. Can be played. Thereby, the party place can be surely excited. Of course, there is no time involved in registration work at the party venue, so there is no delay in the progress of the party.

By creating a plurality of advance reservation tables,
Even in a usage mode in which one karaoke apparatus is temporarily moved / installed while being carried around at a plurality of venues, it is possible to cope with advance reservation registration of music.

The user can receive a user input for displaying a music list corresponding to the contents of the advance reservation table and activating the advance reservation music performance control sequence at any time. It can respond flexibly to various usage patterns.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional karaoke apparatus as a functional block diagram.

FIG. 2 shows an external view of a stand-alone karaoke reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a pre-reservation table processed in an embodiment of a karaoke apparatus employing the performance reservation control method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a screen displayed on the display of the embodiment when creating the advance reservation table, and shows transition states of the screen in the order of (A) to (C).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a setting screen of a pre-reserved performance sequence displayed on the display of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Karaoke apparatus 2 Central control unit 3 Hard disk drive 6 Operation panel 15 Display

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A normal performance reservation table created in an appropriate storage unit, a normal reservation input receiving unit for sequentially writing music numbers input in a predetermined procedure in the normal performance reservation table, Normal reservation list display means for displaying a music title list based on the music numbers entered in the performance reservation table, and music numbers entered in the normal performance reservation table are picked up in a predetermined order and transmitted to the karaoke performance means. A normal performance sequence control means for playing the corresponding music, a pre-reservation table created in an appropriate nonvolatile storage means, and a pre-reservation for writing a music number inputted in a predetermined procedure in the pre-reservation table Receiving means; pre-reservation list display means for displaying a music title list based on the music numbers entered in the pre-reservation table; A pre-reserved music performance sequence control means for picking up music numbers written in the bull in a predetermined order and transmitting the picked-up music numbers to the karaoke performance means to play the corresponding music. method. 2. The pre-reservation table according to claim 1, wherein a unique table number is assigned to the advance reservation table in the same format as the music number, and the table number is entered in the normal performance reservation table. A reserved performance control method in a karaoke apparatus, wherein the pre-reserved list display means and the pre-reserved music performance sequence control means are activated when the table number is picked up by a normal performance sequence control means. 3. The reservation performance control in a karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said advance reservation tables can be created, and different table numbers are assigned to each of said advance reservation tables. method. 4. The pre-reserved list display means and the pre-reserved performance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when a reserved music is not registered in the normal performance reservation table, a predetermined input operation is performed. A reservation performance control method in a karaoke apparatus, wherein a sequence control means is activated.