JP2002162967A - Communication terminal device and termination sound reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily change a termination sound pattern by callers and to make the termination sound musically natural. SOLUTION: A portable telephone is equipped with a sound source 12 and a sounder 13 for outputting a sound to the outside, a ROM 6 which holds a scale table TB1 wherein numerals and multiple kinds of timbres are made to correspond to each other, and a termination phrase synthesis part 32 which converts the telephone number of a caller of termination into multiple sound names according to the scale table TB1, allocates the sound names within a specific number of measures according to a rhythm table TB2 held in the ROM 6, and repeatedly reproduce the specific number of measures where the sound name is allocated as a unit to output them as a termination sound by the sounder 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device for outputting a ring tone upon receiving an incoming call and a ring tone reproducing method for outputting a ring tone by such a communication terminal device, and more particularly, to a portable telephone device. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device and a ringtone reproducing method suitable for applying the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a portable telephone or the like, an incoming call pattern can be changed in order to distinguish an incoming call to another portable telephone and a caller. Changing the incoming call pattern includes changing a reproduction pattern of a ring tone or a ring tone (a so-called ringtone, hereinafter, also simply referred to as a ring tone), or emitting an LED (Light Emitting Diode) for displaying an incoming call. Changing the pattern. For example, by setting such an incoming call pattern corresponding to a specific telephone number, the receiver can specify the caller without answering the call. This allows, for example,
The ringing tone allows a foldable mobile phone to know the caller before opening, or to know the caller with the mobile phone closed in a bag or the like.

[0003] Because of this, increasing the types of incoming patterns makes it easier to identify the caller, and various proposals have been made on techniques for setting incoming patterns.

[0004] For example, some mobile phones have a plurality of built-in incoming patterns in advance. For example, some include a plurality of types of ring tone patterns and light emission patterns of LEDs for displaying an incoming call, and these can be selected by a user.

[0005] Some mobile phones allow a user to operate a key to input an original melody as a ring tone. In this case, the user inputs the melody by key operation while looking at the book. In addition, such a function allows the user to input his or her own tune as a ringtone, so that when a call arrives, the user can enjoy the melody to be reproduced in addition to specifying the caller.

[0006] Further, some mobile phones allow a user to download and acquire ringtones from the so-called Internet or the like.

[0007]

As described above, various methods for setting an incoming call pattern have been proposed.
There are various problems such as troublesome setting.

That is, in the case of a built-in function for setting an incoming call pattern, a user is required to perform a predetermined setting operation such as associating with a telephone number in advance.
Furthermore, when such an incoming call pattern is built in, there is also a limitation on the patterns that can be set.

When a melody is input by key operation, there is a case where the input cannot be performed as expected except for a user who has musical knowledge. Also,
When a ringtone is acquired by downloading, it is charged and money is charged.

Further, when a melody is input by one's own work, if the sound source becomes multi-tone, the UI (user interface) becomes complicated and the input is troublesome. This causes the user to avoid using the input function. Further, such a complicated UI requires time and effort in design.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and it is possible to easily change a ring tone pattern for each caller and to make such a ring tone natural in music. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device and a ringtone reproducing method.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a communication terminal device according to the present invention comprises a storage means for storing correspondence between elements constituting information and a plurality of types of pitch names. Based on the correspondence held by the storage means, converts the unique information of the incoming caller into a plurality of pitch names, and assigns the plurality of pitch names to a predetermined number of measures; Ring tone output means for repeatedly reproducing a predetermined number of measures to which a tone name is assigned by the conversion means as a unit and outputting the same as a ring tone by the sound output means;

A communication terminal device having such a configuration is
Correspondence between elements constituting information and a plurality of types of pitch names is stored in the storage means, and based on the correspondence, unique information of the incoming caller is converted into a plurality of pitch names. Is assigned to the predetermined number of measures by the note name conversion means, and the ring tone output means repeats and reproduces the predetermined number of measures to which the note name is assigned in the note name conversion means as a unit and outputs the same to the sound output means. Output as ringtone.

Thus, the communication terminal device assigns a tone name obtained based on the information unique to the caller to a predetermined number of measures, and outputs a ringtone repeatedly reproduced in units of the allocated predetermined number of measures. .

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the ringtone reproducing method according to the present invention is based on the correspondence between elements constituting information and a plurality of types of tone names, and is unique to the caller who has received the call. A conversion step of converting information into a plurality of pitch names, an allocation step of allocating the plurality of pitch names converted in the conversion step to a predetermined number of measures, and a predetermined number of measures to which the pitch names are allocated in the allocation step Is output repeatedly as a unit and output as a ringtone by the sound output means.

According to the ring tone reproducing method, the tone name obtained based on the information unique to the caller is assigned to a predetermined number of measures, and the ring tone reproduced repeatedly is output in units of the assigned predetermined number of measures. I do.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called portable telephone which is a portable telephone device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone includes an antenna 1, a transmission / reception switching unit 2, a transmission unit 3, a reception unit 4, a signal processing unit 20, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 5, and a ROM (Re
ad Only Memory) 6, a display unit 7, amplifiers 8, 9, a microphone 10, a receiver 11, a sound source 12, a sounder 13, and an operation unit 14.

Here, regarding the signal processing unit 20, DS
P (Digital Signal Processor) 21, Codec 22
And a CPU 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 23 includes a telephone number extracting unit 31 and an incoming phrase synthesizing unit 32. Also, the ROM 6
A musical scale table TB1 and a rhythm table TB1 are provided.

In the configuration of such a mobile phone, the sound source 12 and the sounder 13 function as sound output means for outputting sound externally, and the ROM 6 stores numbers as elements constituting information, a plurality of types of note names, and the like. Functions as a storage unit in which the correspondence of
Based on the correspondence held in the ROM 6, the telephone number as unique information of the incoming caller is converted into a plurality of pitch names, and the plurality of pitch names are assigned to a predetermined number of measures. In the function and the function as a note name conversion means, the function as a ring tone output means for repeatedly reproducing a predetermined number of measures to which a note name is assigned as a unit and outputting it as a ring tone by the above sound output means. I have.

First, a description will be given of a calling operation as a caller or a caller and a call receiving operation as a receiver of the portable telephone constructed as described above. First, the calling operation of the mobile phone will be described.

When making a call, the user performs a key operation of the operation unit 14 for inputting the telephone number of the other party or for calling the telephone number registered in the RAM 5 when making a call. Here, the key operation performed by the user is, for example, a key operation of a speed dial number or a dial number. The CPU 30 transmits a transmission request or a connection request from the antenna 1 via the transmission unit 5 and the transmission / reception switching unit 2 in response to the key operation, and connects to the line.

When an incoming call is received, the CPU 30 causes the sounder 13 to sound a ring tone upon receiving an incoming call signal via the antenna 1, the transmission / reception switching unit 2 and the receiving unit 4. Specifically, the CPU 30 controls the sound source 12 to
A predetermined ringtone is output from the sounder 13 at the subsequent stage. Further, at this time, the CPU 30 also performs an incoming call display on the display unit 7. For example, the incoming call display displayed on the display unit 7 includes the name and telephone number of the caller. Here, the ring tone is a main part realized by the present invention, and will be described later in detail.

The user who has heard the ring tone output from the sounder 13 in this manner performs an incoming call response operation using the operation unit 14. For example, the incoming call response operation is performed by operating a predetermined button. Until such an incoming call response operation is performed, the CPU 30 continuously outputs a ring tone from the sounder 13.

When an incoming call response operation is performed, the CPU 30
Transmits an incoming call signal from the transmission unit 3, the transmission / reception switching unit 2 and the antenna 1, and connects the lines.

After the line is connected, each unit constituting the mobile phone operates so as to maintain the communicable state until the line disconnection operation is performed. In a call state, each section of the mobile phone operates as follows.

When transmitting the contents of a call, the mobile phone operates as follows. Audio is input from the microphone 10, and an audio signal output from the microphone 10 is amplified by the amplifier 8. The audio signal amplified by the amplifier 8 is encoded by the codec 22, subjected to digital data processing by the DSP 21 controlled by the CPU 30, and transmitted to the line via the transmission unit 3, the transmission / reception switching unit 2 and the antenna 1. Is done.

On the other hand, when receiving the contents of a call from the other party, the mobile phone operates as follows. The call data input from the other party via the antenna 1, the transmission / reception switching unit 2 and the reception unit 4 is transmitted to the DSP 21 controlled by the CPU 30.
The digital data processing is performed in the
Is decoded as an audio signal. The audio signal decoded by the codec 22 is amplified by the amplifier 9 and output from the receiver 11 as audio.

As described above, the portable telephone performs the calling operation and the receiving operation. Next, generation of a ringtone realized by the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 30 includes a telephone number extracting unit 31 and a terminating phrase synthesizing unit 32. Extract the phone number of The incoming phrase synthesizing unit 32 generates a melody (a so-called ringtone) output as a ringtone based on the telephone number extracted by the telephone number extracting unit 31.

The incoming phrase synthesizing unit 32 generates a melody for a ring tone based on the telephone number as a melody. Specifically, the incoming phrase synthesizing unit 3
2 generates a melody based on the music material stored in the ROM 6.

It can be said that two conditions of a sound arrangement (scale) and a sound duration (rhythm) are necessary as conditions for allowing a human to hear an arbitrary arrangement of note names, that is, a scale melodiously. The ROM 6 is provided with a table as information of music material for generating a melody satisfying such a minimum condition.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the ROM 6 includes a scale table TB1 and a rhythm table TB2. In the scale table TB1, numerals and note names are registered in association with each other. In the rhythm table TB2,
Rhythm is registered. The scale table TB1 and the rhythm table TB2 constitute an information source of the music material. First, the scale table TB1 will be described in detail.

The scale table TB1 is a table for expressing numbers as musical scales, that is, a table in which numbers correspond to note names. And, in fact,
The scale table TB1 is prepared as a plurality of types of tables in which patterns of association (or combination) of numbers and note names are different. The table of the pattern in which the correspondence between the numeral and the note name is different as described above can be selected, and the selection can be made automatically or manually by the user. Below, the scale table TB
The correspondence between the numbers and note names used in No. 1 will be specifically described.

As the scale table TB1, a musical scale (scale) is used to associate numbers with note names. Here, the musical scale refers to a pitch arranged in a certain regular order. Then, using a different scale, a plurality of tables are prepared by associating numbers with note names. Hereinafter, an example of a table of numbers and note names formed by various scales will be described. For example, based on the major scale, a table is prepared in which numbers and note names are associated with each other as shown in the following table. Here, note names are associated with numbers 1, 2,..., 8, 9, 0 in C major from 1 degree to 10 degrees.
That is, pitch names are regularly associated with numbers 1, 2,..., 8, 9, and 0.

[0036]

[Table 1]

Since the scale based on this major scale is a familiar scale, when using numbers and musical names associated with each other based on this major scale, a combination of musical names constituted as an arbitrary combination of numerical sequences is used. Does not become a melody incongruity.

It is also possible to configure a table using a scale that associates pitch names irregularly with numbers 1, 2,..., 8, 9, and 0. As such a scale, there is a so-called pentatonic scale composed of five musical scales. The pentatonic scale can be said to be a scale realized by removing a predetermined note name.

By using the pentatonic scale, note names consisting of five musical scales can be changed to 1, 2,.
Can be associated with the numbers
Can have a band of two octaves. When a number and a note name associated with each other based on such a pentatonic scale are used, a combination of note names configured as an arbitrary combination of sequences forms a melody that sounds relatively natural.

For example, the pentatonic scale includes a blue note pentatonic scale, a so-called Okinawan scale or a Chinese scale.

The correspondence between numbers and pitch names based on the Blue Note pentatonic scale is as shown in the following table.

[0042]

[Table 2]

For example, the example shown in this display is based on Blue Note C. On the basis of such a Blue Note Pentatonic Scale, a combination of note names formed as an arbitrary combination of a number sequence becomes a melody that plays a bluesish and harsh phrase.

The following table shows the correspondence between numbers and note names based on the scale of the so-called Okinawan scale.

[0045]

[Table 3]

On the basis of such a scale of the Okinawa scale, a combination of note names formed as an arbitrary combination of numerical sequences becomes a melody that plays a phrase in the style of Okinawan music.

The following table shows the correspondence between numbers and note names based on the scale of the Chinese scale.

[0048]

[Table 4]

On the basis of such a scale of the Chinese scale, a combination of note names formed as a combination of arbitrary sequences becomes a melody that plays a phrase in a Chinese music style.

In recent years, some mobile phones have a function of outputting a ringtone as a chord. For example, in such a mobile phone, a ringtone is output as a chord by making a sound source for a ringtone compatible with a chord.

For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, a table in which a major chord as a chord root (chord root) is assigned to a number is also prepared, thereby enabling a ring tone to be played as a chord.

In the case where a chord is assigned to a numeral, the chord type may be a minor chord or a 7th chord. As a result, it is possible to change the sound of the chord, and the taste of the chord can be changed.

It is needless to say that even when a chord is assigned to a numeral as described above, it is possible to select from several types of scales as described above.

As described above, the scale table TB1 is configured as a plurality of types of tables in which numbers and note names are associated with each other based on various scales. Next, the rhythm table TB2 will be described in detail.

The rhythm table TB2 is a table that defines a rhythm pattern.

For example, in general, a plurality of pitch names (hereinafter referred to as a pitch name string) obtained by associating numbers with pitch names as described above and converting the incoming telephone number based on such a mapping. ) Can be reproduced at the same speed as it is. However, in this case, the melody to be reproduced is monotonous, and does not have a musically sharp time signature such as a quadruple time.

The rhythm table TB2 eliminates such reproduction, and reproduces a plurality of tone names obtained by converting telephone numbers musically. That is, the rhythm table TB2 defines a rhythm rule for musically generating the note name string. Here, examples of the above-mentioned reproduction at a constant speed include reproduction of musically the same length.

As a rule of the rhythm, for example, 4/4 time is adopted as a basic beat. In the case of 4/4 time signature, a minimum of 4 measures is necessary, so 10 or 11 digits or 12 digits in the future can be considered. Assuming that a sequence is generated, one measure, two measures, or four measures are candidates as a measure unit of one phrase. Thus, in an actual scene, such a measure,
One phrase in units of two or four measures is repeatedly reproduced until an incoming call response operation is performed.

The rhythm table TB2 is composed of a plurality of types of rhythm tables. That is, the rhythm table TB2 prepares various rhythm patterns as a rhythm table. Hereinafter, a specific example of the prepared rhythm table will be described.

For example, a rhythm table is prepared in which a note name string obtained based on a telephone number is assigned with two measures as one phrase.

In this case, when the number of digits of the telephone number is 10 like a telephone number of a current portable telephone, a rhythm table of one phrase as shown in FIG. 3A is prepared. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the number of digits of the telephone number is ten, ten eighth notes and six eight notes are used.
Using a minute rest, they are appropriately arranged to prepare a rhythm table that satisfies the 4/4 time signature of the basic beat in two measures.

When an eighth note is used, one in two measures
Although it is possible to insert six eighth notes, note names obtained based on a telephone number having such a number of digits, assuming that the number is 10 digits, as in a current mobile phone number If the sequence is an eighth note, six eighth notes are left, so an eighth rest is used to satisfy the 4/4 time signature of the basic beat in two measures.

When the telephone number has 11 digits, a rhythm table of one phrase as shown in FIG. 3B is prepared. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the number of digits of the telephone number is 11 digits, 11 eighth notes and 5
Using the eight eighth rests and placing them as appropriate
Prepare a rhythm table that satisfies the 4/4 time signature of the basic beat in measures.

When the telephone number has 12 digits, a rhythm table of one phrase as shown in FIG. 3C is prepared. As shown in FIG. 3C, when the number of digits of the telephone number is 12, 12 eighth notes and 4
Using the eight eighth rests and placing them as appropriate
Prepare a rhythm table that satisfies the 4/4 time signature of the basic beat in measures. In the example shown in FIG. 3C, when the telephone number is 12 digits, three eighth notes and one eighth rest are set as one set (two beats), and the set is four. The set is a rhythm table.

For example, the current telephone number has 10 or 11 digits, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a rhythm table is prepared for other digits. Specifically, as described above, a rhythm table corresponding to a case where the number of digits of a telephone number that is not currently used is 12 digits is prepared. As a result, even in the case where the number of digits increases in the future, sufficient measures can be taken.

As described above, a specific example of the rhythm table TB2 can be given. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the above example, an eighth note is described as a note to be assigned to a number. However, the present invention is not limited to using an eighth note, and other notes such as a dotted eighth note are used. Numerical values can be assigned to notes, sixteenth notes, quarter notes, dotted quarter notes, and the like. In this case, it is needless to say that the bar is arranged in a predetermined number of bars (for example, two bars as described above), and the arrangement also allows musical completion within the bar. In this way, by using arbitrary notes, rhythm tables of various rhythms can be prepared. For example, 4
FIG. 4 shows a rhythm table for a 12-digit telephone number using minute notes.

Although various rhythm tables as described above may be prepared in advance in a mobile phone, they may be registered as generated by the user. For example, when the rhythm table is generated by the user, the part of the rhythm table that can be set by the user includes the number of measures in one phrase, the notes to be used, the arrangement of notes in the measures, and the like.

In the above-described example, a case has been described in which one phrase is formed in units of two measures. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a rhythm table of one phrase can be formed by combining measures having different phrases. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
By combining two different phrases A and B in units of two measures, a rhythm table of one phrase in units of four measures is obtained. As a result, a plurality of different phrases obtained by the telephone number are stored in one phrase (within four measures). Based on such a principle, it is possible to provide a rhythm table in which notes of a multiple of the number of digits of a telephone number are arranged within a predetermined number of measures constituting one phrase, which is a unit of repetition.

As described above, the rhythm table TB2 is
A variety of combinations are available for the number of digits of a mobile phone, various musical notes, and the like.

The ROM 6 stores the above-described scale table TB1 and rhythm table TB2.
The ringtone phrase synthesizing unit 32 generates one phrase of the ringtone according to the setting contents of the scale table TB1 and the rhythm table TB2 stored in the ROM 6 as described above. Specifically, the ringtone phrase synthesizing unit 32 generates one phrase of the ringtone based on the desired music table TB1 and rhythm table TB2 as follows.

Here, the settings of the scale table TB1 and the rhythm table TB2 used for the conversion of the telephone number need to be made at least immediately before the conversion of the telephone number. May be performed automatically or may be set by the user.

For example, as an example of performing the setting automatically,
The setting may be based on a certain rule or may be set at random. For example, the setting is changed according to the day of the week, time, and the like. Further, since the number of digits of the mobile phone is a setting requirement, the rhythm table may be automatically set as appropriate at each time according to the number of digits of the received telephone number. On the other hand, as an example of setting by the user, setting by operating the operation unit 14 and the like can be cited.

The setting information set in this way is stored in a storage means such as the RAM 5 and the like.
When an incoming call is received, the PU 30 reads the setting information stored in the storage means, and selects the scale table TB1 and the rhythm table TB2 based on the setting information.
Then, the CPU 30 generates one phrase to be used as a ring tone from the telephone number based on the selected scale table TB1 and rhythm table TB2.

Based on the scale table TB1 and the rhythm table TB2 set in advance as described above, the ringtone phrase synthesizing section 32 generates one phrase.

For example, when a table in which a number is assigned a major scale is used as the scale table TB1 and a table corresponding to the 11-digit number of the telephone number is used as the rhythm table TB2, FIG. The rhythm pattern shown in the middle (B) is generated as one phrase, and a specific example thereof is one phrase as shown in FIG.

One phrase shown in FIG. 6 has a telephone number
090-1234-5678, Mi (2), Le (2), Mi (2), Eighth rest, Do (1), Le (1), Mi (1), 8
Minute rest, fa (1), se (1), la (1), eighth rest,
This is a scale tone composed of si (1), do (2), eighth rest, eighth rest. In the figure, de (1), les (1),
Mi (1), ... are simply "do", "re", "mi", ...
.., and de (2), les (2), mi (2),
"Do,""Re," and "Mi." This is the same in the description of step S5 in FIG.

Then, the incoming phrase synthesizing section 32 outputs the one phrase thus generated to the sound source 12. The sound source 12 outputs sound as a ringtone from the sounder 13 based on one input phrase. And CPU3
0 indicates the incoming phrase synthesizing unit 3 until the incoming response operation is performed.
Repeated output is made in units of 2 to 1 phrase, so that the mobile phone outputs a ringtone consisting of a repetitive melody until the user performs an incoming call answering operation or switches to a so-called answering machine function. Become.

As described above, the portable telephone automatically generates a melody according to the telephone number of the caller and outputs the melody as a ringtone. That is, the mobile phone converts the caller's telephone number into a note name, and automatically assigns the obtained note name sequence to a predetermined number of measures to generate a melody of one phrase. The mobile phone repeatedly plays such a melody until an incoming call response operation is performed.

Normally, a predetermined number of measures will be repeatedly reproduced as one phrase until such an incoming call answering operation is performed, so that the ring tone is reproduced as a melody sound. Become.

As described above, the portable telephone can be provided with a melody ring tone automatically determined according to the telephone number without the need for a troublesome operation of presetting the ring tone according to the telephone number. Can be sounded, and the melody automatically generated in such a manner is always melodious.

Further, since the mobile phone automatically determines the ring tone according to the telephone number, there is no need to provide storage means for the original ring tone.

Also, at the beginning of the ring tone corresponding to the telephone number,
Since it always shows the area code, the user simply listens to it, and at least the mobile phone (currently, for example, "09
0 ") or a PHS terminal (currently, for example," 070 ")
It will be possible to distinguish between a home phone (for example, "03" in the Tokyo area), a pay phone, and a phone number without notification.

Further, according to such a portable telephone, a person who has an absolute tone can recognize the incoming ring tone only by listening to the ring tone and know the telephone number.

Further, if the telephone number is a frequent call, even a person without absolute pitch can easily remember the melody because the ring tone is melody. This allows a user without absolute pitch to know the caller, for example, before looking at the display of the mobile phone.

As described above, the portable telephone has various effects. Note that the mobile phone to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the telephone number of the destination telephone is not always notified at the time of an incoming call. That is, in the current system, no notification is made when a public telephone or a caller sets the telephone number to non-reporting on his own telephone side.

The portable telephone responds to such a case.
An appropriate telephone number (for example, a telephone number that will not be used) is assigned to a public telephone or an incoming call made by the non-notification setting.

More specifically, a number such as 111-1111-1111 is assigned to an incoming call from a public telephone, and a 000-
Assign 0000-0000. As a result, even when the caller's telephone number is not notified, the incoming call can be known by a melody ringtone. It should be noted that such an assignment can be made automatically by the mobile phone or by the user in advance with an arbitrary phone number.

FIG. 7 shows a series of processes in a portable telephone having such a function. When an incoming call is received in step 1, the CPU 30 causes the telephone number extracting unit 31 to extract information on the incoming telephone number from the receiving unit 4 in step S2.

If the number has not been notified, the CPU 30 determines in step S3 that the number is 111-111-1111.
And if it is a public telephone, a number from 000-000-0000 is assigned in step S4.

Then, in step S5, the CPU 30 obtains a note name string corresponding to the telephone number based on the scale table TB1, and obtains the note name string in such a manner based on the rhythm table TB2. A predetermined number of measures (for example, two measures) constituting one phrase are assigned. At this time, the remaining part is rested.

Subsequently, in step S6, the CPU 30 controls the sound source 12 based on one phrase generated in this way and outputs it from the sounder 13 as a ringtone. Further, CPU 30 displays the telephone number of the caller on display unit 7.

In step S7, CPU 30 determines whether the user has answered the call, that is, whether or not an incoming call response operation has been performed, and repeats one phrase generated based on the telephone number until the incoming call response operation is performed. Reproduce.

When the incoming call response operation is performed, the CPU 30 stops the ringing and starts a process for starting a call in step S8.

The mobile phone executes a series of processes as described above when a non-notification setting or a call is made from a public phone.

Further, the portable telephone can be provided with a function of giving an effect such as an echo to the output melody. The same applies to the case where the output form of the melody is compatible with chords.

Further, the mobile phone can be provided with a function of giving a melody effect to the output melody. In this case, the mobile phone is provided with, for example, a plurality of sounding bodies that independently generate sounds, and outputs one phrase from each sounding body at a predetermined interval. For example, mobile phones are the first
A case where four sounding bodies are provided as the fourth sounding body will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 8, the portable telephone starts sounding from the beginning of one phrase in the first sounding body, and the timing at which the next eighth note is sounded in the first sounding body. Then, the second sounding body starts sounding from the beginning of the same one phrase as the first sounding body. Then, similarly, the third and fourth sounding bodies are started to sound at intervals shifted by an eighth note. Then, the mobile phone repeatedly performs the output from the first to fourth sounding bodies performed in this manner until the user performs an incoming call response operation. However, in the case of repetition, the waiting time for starting sounding is not inserted in each sounding body.

The mobile phone is provided with such first to fourth sounding bodies, so that a single melody can output a ringtone as a new chord simultaneously with an effect like an echo. In addition, by setting the timing to be delayed to a quarter note, a half note, or the like, an effect like a round singing can be obtained.

Further, the portable telephone may be provided with a function of setting a playing speed or a reproducing speed for the ringtone output as described above. For example, the setting may be automatically performed by the mobile phone based on some information, or may be performed by the user.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that a musical scale table for converting a telephone number into a melody is prepared. However, as described above, a musical name is made to correspond to each numeral of a telephone number. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various tone names output when the key is operated can be associated with each numeric key of the mobile phone based on the various scales as described above.
That is, in the mobile phone, a tone name output when the key is operated is assigned to each of the twelve keys based on a predetermined scale instead of the key tone.

By providing such a function to the portable telephone, the portable telephone can be used as a simple keyboard for outputting a pitch name corresponding to the key operation by key operation. Therefore, if a pentatonic scale of five scales (for example, Blue Note or Okinawan scale) as described above is assigned to each key, the keys of the mobile phone can be operated to play a blues-style or Okinawa-style melody. Become like

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a mobile phone has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a communication device that notifies an incoming call by a ring tone, such as a home telephone device or a PH
The present invention can be applied to the S terminal.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a description has been given by citing a telephone number as information unique to the user of the caller. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, the name of the user. When the user-specific information is a name, for example, a ringtone is generated as follows.

As a general function, a portable telephone has a function of displaying a caller's name on a display unit at the time of an incoming call. This is because the telephone number and the user name of the telephone number are associated with each other and registered in the mobile phone in advance, so that when a call is received, the corresponding user name is displayed on the display unit based on the notified telephone number. Function. The mobile phone to which the present invention is applied utilizes such a function to generate a ringtone based on the user name specified from the telephone number notified at the time of the incoming call. For example, using a user name registered as an alphabet, a tone name string is obtained from the alphabet corresponding to the name. In this case, a table in which alphabets and note names are associated with each other is prepared in advance, and the table is used to convert the alphabet into corresponding note names to obtain a note name string. Then, the pitch names thus obtained are assigned to a predetermined number of measures. As a result, a ringtone can be generated according to the user name that is the unique information of the caller.

[0106]

According to the communication terminal apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit in which the correspondence between elements constituting information and a plurality of types of pitch names is held, and an incoming call based on the association held by the storage unit. Means for converting the unique information of the caller into a plurality of pitch names, and assigning the plurality of pitch names to a predetermined number of measures, and a predetermined number of measures to which the pitch names are assigned by the pitch name conversion means. Is provided repeatedly as a unit, and ring tone output means for outputting as a ring tone by the sound output means is provided, so that the correspondence between elements constituting information and a plurality of types of tone names is held in the storage means. Based on this association, the unique information of the incoming caller is converted into a plurality of pitch names, and the plurality of pitch names are assigned to a predetermined number of measures by pitch name conversion means, and the ring tone output means, Note name in note name conversion means Assigned a predetermined number of measures can be outputted as a ringtone in the repeating sound reproduced by outputting means as a unit.

Thus, the communication terminal device automatically assigns a tone name obtained based on the unique information of the caller to a predetermined number of measures, and repeats the ring tone reproduced by the allocated predetermined number of measures as a unit. Can be output, the ringtone pattern can be easily changed for each caller, and a musically natural ringtone can be output.

Further, the ring tone reproducing method according to the present invention converts the information unique to the incoming caller into a plurality of tone names based on the correspondence between the elements constituting the information and the plurality of tone names. A converting step, an allocating step of allocating a plurality of pitch names converted in the converting step to a predetermined number of measures, and a sound being reproduced and reproduced in units of the predetermined number of measures to which the pitch names are allocated in the allocating step. By having a ringtone output step of outputting as a ringtone by the output means, by assigning a tone name obtained by the unique information of the caller to a predetermined number of measures,
It is possible to output a ringtone repeatedly reproduced in units of the assigned predetermined number of measures.

As a result, the ringtone reproducing method can easily change the ringtone pattern for each caller, and can output a natural ringtone in terms of music.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a part that generates a ringtone, which is a main part of the mobile phone described above.

FIG. 3 is a diagram used to explain a rhythm table composed of eighth notes;

FIG. 4 is a diagram used to explain a rhythm table composed of quarter notes;

FIG. 5 is a diagram used for explaining a rhythm table including a combination of different phrases.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one phrase generated by converting a telephone number based on a scale table and a rhythm table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a series of processes of one function of the mobile phone.

FIG. 8 is a diagram used to describe a case where a ringtone having a ringing effect is generated.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 ROM, 30 CPU, 31 telephone number extraction unit, 3
2 Incoming phrase synthesizing unit, TB1 scale table, TB
2 rhythm table

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 1/57 H04B 7/26 109L

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A sound output unit for outputting a sound to the outside, a storage unit in which correspondence between elements constituting information and a plurality of types of note names is held, and a correspondence held by the storage unit. A name conversion means for converting the unique information of the incoming caller into a plurality of pitch names, and assigning the plurality of pitch names to a predetermined number of measures; and A communication terminal device comprising: a ring tone output unit that repeatedly reproduces a predetermined number of measures as a unit and outputs the ring tone by the sound output unit. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the unit of the predetermined number of measures is one phrase. 3. An element constituting the information is a numeral, and the tone name conversion means converts a telephone number, which is the unique information of the incoming caller, into a plurality of tone names. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein 4. A plurality of tables for assigning note names to a predetermined number of measures according to telephone numbers having different numbers of digits, and storage means for storing the plurality of tables are provided. The communication terminal device according to claim 3, wherein 5. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the association is to associate pitch names irregularly with elements constituting information. 6. The communication terminal device according to claim 3, wherein a scale corresponding to at least two octaves is associated with each of the numbers 1, 2,..., 8, 9, and 0. 7. By omitting a predetermined note name, at least two
7. The communication terminal device according to claim 6, wherein a scale corresponding to an octave is assigned. 8. The communication terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the association is made based on a pentatonic scale. 9. The storage means has a plurality of types of correspondence between elements constituting information and a plurality of types of pitch names, and the pitch name conversion means receives an incoming call based on the one type of the correspondence. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said unique information of the caller is converted into a plurality of pitch names. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects one of the plurality of types of association in accordance with an external operation, wherein the tone name conversion unit selects one of the plurality of types of association. 10. The communication terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the unique information of the incoming caller is converted into a plurality of pitch names based on the association. 11. A conversion step of converting the unique information of the incoming caller into a plurality of pitch names based on the correspondence between the elements constituting the information and the plurality of pitch names. Allocating the plurality of pitch names assigned to a predetermined number of measures, and repeatedly playing back the predetermined number of measures to which the pitch names are allocated in the allocation step as a unit, and generating a ring tone by the sound output means. A ring tone output step of outputting.