JP2004125825A - Karaoke (sing-along machine) device characterized by mood image selection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Karaoke device which displays mood images according with a retrieval system selectively inputted by a user when retrieving a musical piece. <P>SOLUTION: The Karaoke device is provided with a retrieval system music selection means, a Karaoke playing means, and a mood image output means, and the retrieval system music selection means makes reservation for playing of a musical piece selected in a retrieval system selected from a plurality of kinds of retrieval systems by the user on the basis of a musical piece index database wherein attribute information of musical pieces is described, and the Karaoke playing means plays Karaoke accompaniment music of the reserved musical piece, and the mood image output means takes out a mood image program related to the musical piece and the retrieval system selected in selecting the musical piece by the retrieval system music selection means, from a mood image database to output images when playing Karaoke accompaniment music of the reserved musical piece. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus that displays a mood image on a display when performing karaoke accompaniment music, and in particular, selects a mood image program suitable for a search method selected by a user when searching for a desired song from a mood image database. Regarding the display method.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a karaoke apparatus, the mood image displayed on the display when the accompaniment music of the karaoke music is performed is a common communication type karaoke apparatus, in which a common mood image is recorded on a CD-ROM or the like and used for each music. Turning. However, mood videos are now one of the pleasures of karaoke, and making the mood videos rich and rich will greatly enhance the commerciality of karaoke. For this reason, various ideas have been developed.
[0003]
For example, among such shared mood videos, a mood image to be used for each song is determined in advance, and when the song is played, a certain mood image is always displayed. There is also a method in which a mood image suitable for the music genre of a song is randomly selected and displayed.
There are also karaoke companies that perform location based on the content of the music, make former singers appear, and create and supply video programs dedicated to each music with various ideas. Furthermore, a method has been put to practical use in which submissions of works produced by amateur video artists are accepted and made into video programs for each music piece. In addition, a method of selecting a karaoke user from among these various video programs has been developed.
[0004]
On the other hand, there are various karaoke music selection tools. For example, there is a search-type karaoke remote control device practically used by the present applicant. This karaoke remote control device is provided with various search methods such as a song name search and a singer name search, as well as a search at the time of the trend.
[0005]
The inventor of the present invention considered that it would be convenient if a program suitable for the user's taste and emotions was automatically selected from among many video programs without requiring any further operation by the user. For that purpose, we focused on what approach the user selected the music. Even if we arrived at the same song, we thought that the degree of passion for that song would be reflected in the difference in approach.
[0006]
For example, a user who selects a song using the “song name” search is considered to have a strong commitment to the song itself, and would be pleased when a mood video created specifically for that song is displayed.
On the other hand, a user who has selected a song by "singer name" search will be greatly pleased if a mood image in which the singer himself appears is displayed because he or she prefers the former singer.
Or, users who select songs in the "that time" search may be particularly reminiscent of that era, so if TV programs, people, and news videos that were talked about at that time were displayed as mood videos, it would be exciting. Would.
Alternatively, displaying a promotion video as a mood image for a user who has selected a song in the "new music" search not only makes the user happy but also enhances the advertising effect.
[0007]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus that displays a mood image according to a search method selected and input by a user when searching for music.
A karaoke apparatus according to the present invention includes a search-type song selection unit, a karaoke performance unit, and a mood image output unit. The search-type song selection unit uses a plurality of types of search methods based on a song index database that describes song attribute information. The user makes a performance reservation for the music selected by the search method selected by the user, the karaoke performance means plays the karaoke accompaniment music of the performance-reserved music, and the mood video output means performs When performing karaoke accompaniment music, a mood video program associated with the music and the search method when the music is selected by the search-type music selection means is extracted from the mood video database and output as a video. .
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
=== Configuration example of karaoke apparatus ===
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example mainly of hardware of a communication karaoke apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The karaoke apparatus is a computer application device equivalent to a personal computer. The central processing unit 1 is a computer body including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and reproduces a hard disk device 2 and a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM as a large-capacity external storage. Optical disk device 3, a communication control device 4 for communicating with a karaoke host device via a subscriber telephone line or an ISDN line, and a user interface device 5 for exchanging input from a user and responding to the user. A music generating device 6 for generating an audio signal of accompaniment music based on MIDI music performance data, an audio device 7 for amplifying an accompaniment music or an audio signal from a microphone and generating sound from a speaker, a CRT, an LCD or A display 8 using a PDP or the like and video data to be displayed on the display 8 are processed. And a video processing device 9 for.
The user interface device 5 includes an operation panel (keyboard and display) of the device main body, and includes a searchable karaoke remote control device equipped with short-range wireless communication means (IrDA transceiver, infrared LED, infrared light receiving element). are doing.
[0009]
=== Karaoke data basic processing ===
Upon receiving a music request via the user interface device 5, the central processing unit 1 creates a performance reservation queue in an appropriate storage unit based on the reserved music information included in the request, and plays the karaoke music. I manage the order. The music reservation number includes the music number of the desired music. When the performance reservation information is input, the central processing unit 1 confirms that the music number in the music reservation number is the number of a playable music registered in the karaoke database, and registers the music number in a queue. .
[0010]
The central processing unit 1 extracts music numbers from the queue in the order of registration, extracts karaoke data of the corresponding music from the karaoke database constructed in the hard disk device 2, and processes the karaoke data. The karaoke data is composed of music performance data, which is the origin of accompaniment music represented by MIDI data or ADPCM data, using song numbers as keys, lyrics subtitle data for displaying lyrics subtitles synchronized with the accompaniment music, and accompaniment music. Is a data group to which a video selection descriptor that directly or indirectly designates a mood video program to be displayed as a mood video during the output period is associated.
[0011]
It should be noted that a video database that is displayed as mood video during a karaoke performance is also constructed using the hard disk device 2 and the optical disk device 3 as storage resources. The central processing unit 1 fetches an appropriate mood video program from the video database based on the video selection descriptor as a part of the processing of the karaoke data, transfers it to the video processing device 9, and displays it on the display 8.
[0012]
In the present embodiment, as will be described later, a plurality of mood video program options are included as the video selection descriptor, and the mood video program to be displayed during the performance is selected by selecting one of the options during the performance. It is decided.
[0013]
=== Search-type karaoke remote controller ===
The karaoke device according to the present embodiment is provided with a search-type karaoke remote control device. FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the search-type karaoke remote control device, and FIG. 3 shows an example of the electronic system configuration. This karaoke remote control device is a panel-type keyboardless computer having a thickness of about B5 size and a thickness.
[0014]
Externally, most of the front of the apparatus is occupied by a liquid crystal touch panel 21 in which a transparent touch sensor 21b is superimposed on a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) 21a, and a central processing unit 22 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a liquid crystal display. A display driver 23 for driving and driving the display panel 21a; an input detection circuit 24 for detecting input coordinates to the transparent touch sensor 21b; a flash memory 25 as a large-capacity external storage; and a short-range wireless communication for communicating with a karaoke device Communication means (IrDA transceiver 26 / infrared LED 27 / infrared light receiving element 28), a power supply battery (not shown) to be charged in connection with the charging station, and data communication with the karaoke device via a data communication device attached to the charging station A communication control unit 29 and the like are mounted. The infrared LED 27 and the infrared light receiving element 28 are arranged in the upper central part of the karaoke remote control device, and are laid out above the liquid crystal touch panel 21 so that the directivity thereof is oriented.
[0015]
The central processing unit 22 stores and manages the music index database in the flash memory 25. 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 song numbers, song titles, singer names, lyrics of sung parts, trendy seasons, music genre categories, and duet songs. Various attribute information, such as whether or not it is included, is included in this. When the search-type karaoke remote control device is connected to the charging station connected to the karaoke device, the central processing unit 22 performs data communication with the karaoke device via the communication control unit 29 to update the contents of the music index database. The system is configured.
[0016]
The central processing unit 22 of the search-type karaoke remote control device executes a process for a user to search for a desired music based on the music index database. In an initial state of the database search processing, a search menu screen (top screen) is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 21. FIG. 4 illustrates a search menu screen (top screen). In the present embodiment, menus (search methods) such as a song name search, a singer name search, a new song search, a time search, a duet search, a genre search, a reservation history search, and a song number input are provided.
[0017]
For example, a song name search is a search by designating a part of a song name. When the "song name" search button is touched, the display is switched to a kana character palette screen of 50 sounds. Touch the kana character on the screen to input the song title in order from the initial letter (may be in the middle), and touch and enter the search execution button to refer to the song title in the attribute information in the song index database and The music group to be played is extracted and listed and displayed in a list.
[0018]
The singer name search is to specify the name of the original singer of the music and to search from the music of the singer. As in the case of the song name search, when the singer name is input in order from the initial, the corresponding song group is extracted and displayed in a list by referring to the singer name from the attribute information of the song index database.
[0019]
Similarly, a genre search is a search for a music genre category such as enka, pops, or western music, and searches for songs that fall into that genre. This is for searching for a desired song from among the songs. A duet search is a search for a duet song. A corresponding music group is extracted and displayed based on the music genre category and the registration information such as "new music" and "due to music" in the attribute information of the music index database.
[0020]
In addition, search at that time is a search for songs that people of a certain age hit at a certain age or grade in the past, songs that won a record award or were sung in a red and white song battle, To display. When information on the age of the user is input, the era to be searched is specified from the information and the music index database is referred to. Then, a corresponding music group is extracted and displayed from the attribute information of the music database based on the registered information such as the trendy season, “hit songs”, and “red and white song battle songs”.
[0021]
In addition, search methods such as a reservation history search for searching again from music pieces that have been reserved for performance and a music number input for directly specifying a music number can also be used.
[0022]
When the user selects a desired song from the songs displayed in a list as described above and performs a reservation event operation, the short-range wireless communication means (IrDA transceiver 26, infrared LED 27, infrared light receiving element 28) is positioned near the user. It communicates with the existing karaoke apparatus and notifies the karaoke apparatus of performance reservation information including the music number of the desired music.
[0023]
In the search-type karaoke remote controller of this embodiment, the search method selected on the search menu screen when the user searches for a desired song and information related to the method are temporarily stored in a memory. The performance reservation information to be notified to the karaoke apparatus includes search method-related information together with the search method.
[0024]
=== Video Selection Descriptor and Video Selection Process ===
FIG. 5 shows the logical configuration of the video selection descriptor included in the karaoke data of each music piece in this embodiment. The video selection descriptor indicates location information and selection conditions in the video database for a mood video program that can be displayed when the music is played. FIG. 5 shows only the items related to the image type among the image selection information items covering a large number of items. The video types include promotion videos, personal appearance videos, story mood videos, videos at the time of fashion, couple videos, genre videos, etc., and information on whereabouts in the video database of video programs corresponding to each video type is associated. .
[0025]
The location information of each video program is generally represented by a segment ID indicating a start position and an end position of the video program. Here, the section ID is represented by, for example, a combination of information of a disk storage location specified by a drive number / tray number or the like of an optical disk reproducing device and a reproduction position of the disk specified by a track number or the like. . Alternatively, as the location information, video script data in which the elapsed time from the start of the karaoke performance and the segment ID of the video program to be displayed are associated and arranged in chronological order can be used.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 6, the karaoke apparatus also creates and manages a table in which the search method used by the user for music selection and the type of mood video are associated with each other. In FIG. 6, for example, when a music piece selected by a new music search is performed, a promotion video such as a new music promotion video is displayed. In addition, when a music piece selected by a singer name search is performed, a video of the former singer himself appearing is displayed. When performing a song selected by song name search, reservation history, or direct entry of a song number, a story mood video created specifically for the song is displayed. Similarly, when a song selected by that time search is performed, a trendy video composed of trendy programs and news at that time specified at that time is displayed, and when playing a song selected by duet search, a couple is played. Display a couple video composed of video works with the theme or reminiscent of. Then, when the music selected by the genre search is performed, a genre image composed of image images of the genre (enka, pops, western music, etc.) is displayed.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the performance reservation information received by the karaoke apparatus from the search-type karaoke remote controller includes a search method selected by the user to search for the music and information related to the search method. For example, if the selected search method is a singer name search, information including the input singer name is also included. In addition, in the case of that time search, information such as a designated time is also included. The received information is managed in association with the music number in the queue.
[0028]
When the music number of the music to be played next is determined according to the performance queue, the central processing unit 1 of the karaoke apparatus retrieves the karaoke data corresponding to the music number from the karaoke database and starts the performance preparation. At the same time, a process of selecting an option of the video selection descriptor described above is performed. That is, first, the video type corresponding to the search method associated with the music number is extracted, the video type is compared with the video selection descriptor included in the karaoke data, and the location information of the corresponding video program is extracted. When the karaoke performance starts, a mood video program is taken out of the mood video database according to the location information, reproduced, and displayed on the display.
[0029]
As described above, the user is automatically selected from a plurality of mood video programs based on the search method selected at the time of music search, so that the user's feelings and The mood image according to the preference is displayed.
[0030]
=== Other Embodiments ===
In the video selection descriptor illustrated in FIG. 5, for each music, a video program is associated with all video types. In this case, it does not matter whether the video program is dedicated to music or shared. On the other hand, it is also possible to adopt a method of associating only when a video program dedicated to music is supplied. If the video program is not associated with the video type corresponding to the search method selected by the user for the video selection descriptor of a certain song, for example, the video program is shared based on the search method or search method related information. An appropriate video section can be extracted from the mood video program and displayed.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the karaoke apparatus which concerns on this invention, it becomes possible to automatically select and display the video suitable for a user's feelings and taste from several mood video programs. Therefore, even if the same music is selected by the same person, different mood video programs may be displayed depending on emotions, and the enjoyment of karaoke increases. Also, since karaoke can be enjoyed easily without requiring any troublesome operation, an increase in karaoke users can be expected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of a searchable karaoke remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 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. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a top screen displayed on the search-type karaoke remote control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a logical configuration of a video selection descriptor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying a correspondence table between a search method and a video type according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central processing unit 2 Hard disk device 3 Optical disk device 4 Communication control device 5 User interface device 6 Music generation device 7 Sound device 8 Display 9 Video processing device

Claims (1)

Equipped with search formula selection means, karaoke performance means, mood video output means,
The search formula song selecting means reserves a performance of a song selected by a search method selected by the user from a plurality of types of search methods based on a song index database describing attribute information of the song,
The karaoke performance means plays the karaoke accompaniment music of the music piece reserved for performance,
The mood video output means, when performing the karaoke accompaniment music of the music piece reserved for performance, is associated with the music and the search method when the music is selected by the search formula music selection means from the mood video database. Take out mood video program and output video,
A karaoke apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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