JP2004085895A - Remote controller for retrieval type karaoke - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller for a karaoke, which controller can freely make processing for returning to a previous procedure in musical composition retrieval across a plurality of retrieval modes while saving memory usage. <P>SOLUTION: A musical composition retrieval data base is managed to present various kinds of information by characters and images, to acknowledge the input associated with the presented information and to present Nth retrieval menu for retrieval of desired music. A musical composition collection which is a result of the Nth retrieval corresponding to the conditions selected by users is presented from a manu and the Nth retrieval conditions are temporarily stored. The (N+)th retrieval menu for retrieval of the desired music is presented from the musical composition collection and the musical composition collection which is a result of the (N+)th retrieval corresponding to the conditions selected by the users from the menu is presented. When the user instructs the return to the screen for the result of the Nth retrieval in this state, the retrieval processing is executed again in accordance with the temporarily stored Nth retrieval conditions, and musical composition collection, which is a result of the Nth retrieval, is presented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a search-type karaoke remote control device used in conjunction with a karaoke performance device, and more particularly, to a search return processing technique.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-99048 discloses a music selection reservation device that is used in a wired connection with a karaoke performance device. This device automatically searches for karaoke songs based on the input character string and displays a list of the search results each time a character input operation from the user is accepted according to the menu selected by the user from various search menus. I do. Then, a performance reservation signal of a music piece specified by the user from among the signals is transferred to the karaoke performance device. There is also a refined search function that further narrows the target from the search results of a certain search menu by other attributes.
[0003]
The search-type karaoke remote control device that has been put to practical use by the applicants is a computer-based device built on the basis of a palmtop-type personal computer with a liquid crystal touch panel type user interface. Karaoke software produced and distributed by the applicants Is provided with a song index database. In addition to the song name search mode and the singer name search mode, there is also a function of searching for songs by various methods, such as a fashion search mode for searching during a trendy season. The user can search for music using these search methods, and can register the searched music in a queue of the karaoke apparatus by a simple operation. Then, the karaoke apparatus plays each song according to the order registered in the queue. With this karaoke remote control device, the user can not only sing at the karaoke place, but also enjoy a great deal of the procedure up to the reservation of the music to be played.
[0004]
The present applicant considered that it would be convenient if the search mode could be changed so that the results of the immediately preceding search could be taken over and narrowed down, or the user could freely return to the middle stage. Then, it is particularly convenient when searching for a song that is not easy to remember, such as a song whose name starts with "Natsu" and a singer feels that the name starts with "E". For the time being, I tried searching by song name, but there were 24 songs starting with "Natsu" and they didn't come close. At that point, if the mode is changed to the singer name search mode, a song whose singer name starts with "e" can be searched from among the 24 songs whose song name starts with "Natsu". Still not found. Reconsidering that it may have been “Natsuni” instead of “Natsuno”, returning to the song title search mode again, deleting “N” from the displayed “Natsu” and re-entering “Ni”, Search for songs that begin with "Natsuni". In addition, you can freely switch to the singer name search mode and search for songs that start with “Natsuni” and start with “E”.
[0005]
This can be easily realized by storing the results in a memory every time a search is performed. However, the writable memory capacity of such a search-type karaoke remote control device is limited, and it is not practical to hold all the histories searched over a plurality of search modes during use.
[0006]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method that can freely return to the previous procedure in music search over a plurality of search modes while saving memory usage.
[0007]
A search-type karaoke remote control device according to the present invention includes means for managing a song index database corresponding to a karaoke song database, and presents various information to a user by characters and images and inputs a user input related to the presented information. Means for presenting to the user an N-order search menu (N is an integer of 1 or more) for searching for a desired song based on the attribute items of the song index database; Means for extracting an Nth order search result music set corresponding to the Nth search condition selected and input by the user from among them, presenting the music set to the user, and temporarily storing the Nth search condition; In connection with the presentation of the Nth search result music set, an (N + 1) next search for searching the desired music set from the music set based on the attribute item of the music index database Means for presenting the menu to the user; and extracting the (N + 1) next search result music set corresponding to the (N + 1) next search condition selected and input by the user from the (N + 1) next search menu. (N + 1) means for presenting the next search result music set to the user instead of the Nth search result music set, and use for instructing to return to the Nth search result screen in the presentation state of the (N + 1) next search result music set When there is a user input, the search processing is re-executed based on the temporarily stored N-th search condition to extract the N-th search result music set from the music index database, and the (N + 1) next search for the music set Means for presenting to the user in place of the result music set.
[0008]
In the present invention, preferably, means for temporarily storing the (N + 1) next search condition, and a user instructing to return to the (N + 1) next search result screen again after returning to the presentation state of the Nth search result music set. Means for presenting to the user the (N + 1) th search result music set instead of the Nth search result music set when an input is made.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
=== Configuration of Karaoke Remote Control Device ===
FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of a search-type karaoke remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an electronic system configuration. This karaoke remote control device is a panel-type keyboardless computer having a thickness of about B5 size and a thickness.
[0010]
A large part of the front of the apparatus is occupied by a liquid crystal touch panel 1 in which a transparent touch sensor 1b is superposed on a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) 1a, and a central processing unit 2 including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and a liquid crystal display. A display driver 3 for displaying and driving the display panel 1a; an input detection circuit 4 for detecting input coordinates with respect to the transparent touch sensor 1b; a flash memory 5 which is a large-capacity external storage; Wireless communication means (IrDA transceiver 6, infrared LED 7, infrared light receiving element 8), a power supply battery (not shown) to be charged in connection with the charging station, and a karaoke performance device via a data communication device attached to the charging station. A communication control unit 9 for performing data communication and the like are mounted. The infrared LED 7 and the infrared light receiving element 8 are arranged in the upper central portion of the remote controller, and are laid out above the liquid crystal touch panel 1 so that the directivity thereof is oriented.
[0011]
The central processing unit 2 stores and manages the music index database in the flash memory 5. The song index database is a database that describes attribute information of a large number of songs to be played by the karaoke apparatus, and includes a song number (song identifier), a song name, an artist name, lyrics of a sung portion, a trend, and music. Various attribute information (attribute items), such as genre classification, titles of used movies and TV dramas, used TV commercials, history of winning various music awards, and whether or not the songs are duet songs, are included therein. When the karaoke remote control device is connected to a charging station connected to the karaoke performance device, the central processing unit 2 performs data communication with the karaoke performance device via the communication control unit 9 to update the contents of the music index database. The system is configured.
[0012]
Note that the short-range wireless means is not limited to the IrDA interface. It may be a Bluetooth interface or another type of wireless signal.
[0013]
=== Basic search procedure and song selection reservation using song index database ===
The central processing unit 2 of the karaoke remote control device executes a process for a user to search for a desired music based on the music index database. In the initial state of the database search process, a search menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 1. This search menu screen (top screen) is illustrated in FIG. In this screen, for example, when touch input is performed on the “song name” search button 21, the display is switched to a kana character palette screen of 50 sounds, and the kana character is touched on the screen, and the song title is input in order from the first letter (to the middle) If a search execution button is touched, a corresponding music group is extracted from the music index database and is listed and displayed. When the user selects a desired song from among them and performs a reservation event operation, the short-range wireless communication means (IrDA transceiver 6, infrared LED 7, infrared light receiving element 8) communicates with a karaoke playing device located nearby, and The performance reservation information including the identification information is notified to the karaoke performance device.
[0014]
=== Narrowing down search ===
4A to 4D show screen transition examples and FIG. 5 shows a processing flow diagram of the narrowing-down search processing with the return processing according to the present embodiment.
[0015]
When a user starts searching for a desired song using the karaoke remote controller, first, the central processing unit 2 resets the contents (search conditions described later) temporarily stored in the flash memory 5 (FIG. 5 step 501). When the user inputs search conditions from the top screen of FIG. 3 as described above (step 502), the recognized search conditions are temporarily stored in the flash memory 5 as primary search conditions (step 503). For example, the example of FIG. 4 shows the result of selecting the "song name" search mode, inputting the word "Manano", and searching with the "Search" button ((A)-(B)). The primary search condition in this case is “songs whose titles begin with“ Manano ””.
[0016]
Subsequently, the music index database is searched based on the primary search condition (step 504), and the results (primary search result music set) are displayed in a list on the screen ((B), step 505).
[0017]
When the "refine" button is touched on this screen, a search menu for further narrowing down the search from the primary search result is displayed on the screen (C). Thus, the user can input the secondary search condition in the same manner as the input of the primary search condition. For example, "request 40" of "new score" is input as a secondary search condition (D). The central processing unit 2 temporarily stores the secondary search conditions in a memory and displays a list of search results (secondary search result music sets) narrowed down from the primary search result music set based on the secondary search conditions on a screen. I do. That is, among the songs whose titles begin with “Manano”, new songs that are in the top 40 with the most requests are listed on the screen.
[0018]
The screen showing the secondary search result is also provided with a “narrow down” button, so that the user can input tertiary search conditions in the same manner (step 507). Then, the desired music can be further narrowed down from the secondary search result music set based on the input tertiary search condition.
[0019]
In this way, the order n of the search condition is increased one by one from each search result one by one (step 507), and the search condition is narrowed down, so that the desired music can be easily found. At this time, each search condition is temporarily stored in the flash memory 5.
[0020]
=== "Return" processing ===
A "return" button is provided on each screen displaying these n-order search results. When the user touches this, the previous search result, that is, the (n-1) next search result can be displayed again. When recognizing that the user has touched the “return” button while displaying the n-th search result on the screen (step 506), the central processing unit 2 calculates (n−1) (steps 508 to 508). 509) The entirety from the primary search condition to the (n-1) th search condition is extracted from the flash memory 5. Then, the music index database is searched by applying the first search condition to the (n-1) next search condition in this order. That is, the search processing in which the (n-1) next search result music set is narrowed down is reproduced.
[0021]
(N-1) When the user further touches the "return" button on the screen displaying the next search result, the central processing unit 2 executes the (n-2) ) Retrieve the search process by extracting the next search condition from the memory.
However, when the user touches the “return” button on the screen displaying the primary search result, the screen returns to the top screen of FIG. 3 (step 508).
[0022]
It should be noted that a “next” button may be provided as a button having a meaning opposite to the “back” button. For example, if the user touches the "return" button on the screen displaying the n-th search result, the (n-1) next search result is displayed on the screen as described above. By touching the “next” button, the n-th search result can be displayed again. In this way, even if the "return" button is touched due to an operation error, the original state can be easily restored. For example, when the central processing unit 2 recognizes that the user has touched the "next" button while displaying the (n-1) next search result, the n-th search condition is taken out of the memory and the (n- 1) It can be easily realized by reproducing the process of narrowing down the music set from the next search result by the nth search condition.
[0023]
=== Other Embodiments ===
In the above embodiment, the operation input from the user is recognized, and the content is stored as each search condition. Of course, it is also possible to adopt a method in which each operation input is left in the history one by one and the contents of each operation input are recognized when it is recognized that the “return” button is touched. In this case, the operation input history of the “return” button may not be left. Alternatively, the operation input history of the “return” button may be left, and used as a marker indicating the end of the history.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the search-type karaoke remote control apparatus which concerns on this invention, the process which follows a search history can be freely performed, without requiring a huge memory amount. As a result, the usability of the search-type karaoke remote control device is dramatically improved, and an increase in the number of karaoke users can be expected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a search-type karaoke remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electronic system configuration of a search-type karaoke remote control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a music selection menu screen in the search-type karaoke remote control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of screen transition of a search process in the search-type karaoke remote control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of a refined search processing with return processing in the search-type karaoke remote control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal touch panel 2 Central processing unit 5 Flash memory 6 IrDA transceiver 7 Infrared LED

Claims (2)

Means for managing a song index database corresponding to the karaoke song database;
A user interface that presents various types of information to the user using characters and images and recognizes user input related to the presented information;
Means for presenting to the user an N-order search menu (N is an integer of 1 or more) for searching for a desired song based on the attribute items of the song index database;
Means for extracting an N-order search result song set corresponding to the N-order search condition selected and input by the user from the N-order search menu, and presenting the song set to the user;
Means for temporarily storing an N-order search condition;
Means for presenting to the user an (N + 1) next search menu for searching for a desired song from the song set based on the attribute item of the song index database in association with the presentation of the N-th search result song set;
The (N + 1) next search result music set corresponding to the (N + 1) next search condition input and selected by the user from the (N + 1) next search menu is extracted, and the (N + 1) next search result music set is sorted into the Nth order. Means for presenting to the user in place of the search result music set;
(N + 1) Next search result In the presentation state of the music set, if there is a user input instructing to return to the Nth search result screen, the search process is re-executed based on the temporarily stored Nth search condition. Means for extracting the Nth search result music set from the music index database and presenting the music set to the user instead of the (N + 1) th search result music set;
A search-type karaoke remote control device, comprising: Means for temporarily storing (N + 1) next search conditions,
After returning to the presentation state of the Nth search result music set, if there is a user input instructing to return to the (N + 1) next search result screen again, the (N + 1) next search result music set is displayed in the Nth search result. Means for presenting to the user instead of the music set;
A search-type karaoke remote control device, comprising:

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