JP2005092228A - Karaoke playing device receiving and using karaoke video disk from external video server and performing evaluation questionnaires - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke playing device which receives and plays karaoke video disks from an external video server and performs questionnaires for evaluation. <P>SOLUTION: The karaoke playing device is characterized in that before a karaoke accompaniment to some song is played, a karaoke video disk exclusive to the song is received from the external video server and is displayed on a display in synchronism with the performance of the karaoke accompaniment, and questionnaire for impressions on the karaoke video disk are performed after the performance by using a human interface means, and questionnaire results are delivered to an external questionnaire totaling server at proper time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke performance apparatus that obtains and uses a karaoke video work from an external video server, and more particularly to a karaoke performance apparatus that conducts a quality evaluation questionnaire for the karaoke video work that has been ordered.

  A karaoke performance device is a device that outputs karaoke accompaniment music and lyric images in synchronism and outputs an audio image. Usually, lyric images are displayed with a moving image as a background. Karaoke performance devices for the current mainstream online karaoke system separately provide accompaniment music for karaoke music and karaoke data for a large number of songs that are the origin of the generation of lyric images and video data for a long time that is the origin of the generation of the background video. Are managed and accumulated. When playing karaoke music, the video data for a short time extracted from the video data for a long time is reproduced and connected to be edited into a series of background videos. That is, there is no dedicated background image for each karaoke piece, and a long time image is used. Currently, it is specified for each karaoke song which part of the video to extract and join from a long time, so it is not necessary to display a background video that is far from the contents of accompaniment music and lyrics. It has been devised.

  Prior to the advent of the online karaoke system, karaoke performance devices that play “packaged software” in which accompaniment music, lyric images, and background video were recorded on an optical video disc were the mainstream. The background video displayed by this karaoke performance device is produced exclusively for each piece of music, and is an unvoiced ultra-short film made to fit the contents of accompaniment music and lyrics. You can start by creating a combined scenario.

  As described above, the background video organization method includes a method of using video data for a long time (shared video method) and a method of reproducing a video created exclusively for music (dedicated video method). The shared video method eliminates the need to create video data dedicated to the new karaoke song, so it can reduce the cost of creating video data and can respond quickly to the release of new music. There is an advantage. However, you can't expect a karaoke video that can be enjoyed according to the content of the music like the dedicated video system, and if you keep karaoke for a long time, you will get bored with the same video coming out many times. Especially for those who are singing, watching karaoke video is a great pleasure, but it is not satisfied.

  The dedicated video system can match the contents of music and the background video, and some of them are excellent enough to be used as a single video work. On the other hand, there is a drawback that it takes cost and time to create an image. In addition, the same background video is displayed when the same musical piece is played, and karaoke users eventually get bored with the video.

  By the way, the recent spread of digital video cameras and higher performance and lower prices of personal computers have made it possible for ordinary households to fully perform video editing and processing that required expensive and large-scale equipment. Some people create highly complete images that can be called “video works”.

  Therefore, the inventors of the present application paid attention to those who are “self-proclaimed” video artists who create these excellent video works. People who call themselves filmmakers would like to see more of their work and try to compete with other filmmakers to test their skills. Instead of providing a place for competition, he wanted to make a video for karaoke songs. And for those who have provided video works, if the karaoke users can rate their video works and present the results of the questionnaires in some form, the video artist can make his own work. We thought that we could know evaluation for.

  In Japan, tens of thousands of performance devices for online karaoke systems are scattered throughout the country, and many people enjoy karaoke on a daily basis. If many people who enjoy karaoke can see their own karaoke video by using this environment, they should be able to satisfy the creativity of self-proclaimed video artists.

  On the other hand, a karaoke company can obtain a video work dedicated to music without cost. In addition, it is possible to collect karaoke video product review questionnaires from karaoke users, and analyze the results to use it as a reference when organizing karaoke video in a shared video format. For karaoke users, various video works that match the content of the music can be viewed along with the accompaniment music.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke performance apparatus that obtains and uses karaoke video works from an external video server and conducts an evaluation questionnaire.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the invention, prior to playing karaoke accompaniment music of a certain song, a karaoke video work dedicated to the music is ordered from an external video server, and the karaoke video work is obtained. In response to the performance of karaoke accompaniment music, it is displayed on the display, and after completion of the performance, a questionnaire that asks about the impression of watching the karaoke video work is conducted using human interface means, and the questionnaire results are sent to an external questionnaire counting server in a timely manner. The karaoke performance device was delivered.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first invention, the karaoke performance apparatus comprising means for receiving the total result of the questionnaire result from the questionnaire totaling server, and totaling result reporting means for presenting the total result to the user in a timely manner It is said.

  In the second invention, when a certain karaoke piece is played, a piece introduction means for presenting information about the karaoke piece corresponding to the piece of music, and a user for designating one of the karaoke pieces being presented. Means for accepting input, wherein the totaling result reporting means extracts a questionnaire totaling result for the designated video work from the totaling result received from the questionnaire totaling server and presents a karaoke performance device as a third Invented.

  According to a fourth invention, in the second invention, when performing a certain karaoke song, the fourth invention comprises a work introduction means for presenting information about a karaoke video work corresponding to the song, and the counting result reporting means is a predetermined user. The karaoke performance device accepts input and extracts and presents a questionnaire total result for the karaoke video work presented by the work introduction means from the total result received from the questionnaire total server.

  According to a fifth invention, in the second invention, the tabulation result reporting means selects an appropriate karaoke video work based on the tabulation result received from the questionnaire tabulation server, and displays a questionnaire tabulation result for the video work. It was set as the karaoke performance apparatus to show.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to store and manage a karaoke video work dedicated to karaoke music in the video server, and display the video work together with the performance of the corresponding karaoke music on the karaoke performance device. For karaoke users, it is possible to view a different video from the usual karaoke accompaniment music, and a new way of enjoying karaoke can be obtained. For karaoke operators, profits can be expected to increase by incorporating those who wish to view video works as karaoke users.

  Furthermore, it is possible to carry out a questionnaire survey of karaoke users for video works, and to appropriately output the result of the questionnaire. For this reason, for example, if a karaoke video work is recruited as a contribution from a general video artist, and the questionnaire result is fed back to the video artist, the video artist can recognize the evaluation of his work. For the karaoke business, the questionnaire results are valuable data for knowing the preferences of karaoke users.

=== Network configuration ===
FIG. 1 shows a network configuration diagram to which a method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The karaoke performance devices 1 scattered in various places are performance terminals in a known communication karaoke system, and are connected to a karaoke host device 3 via a public telephone network 2. The karaoke host device 3 accumulates karaoke data of a large number of karaoke songs in association with song numbers, distributes karaoke data of new music to each karaoke performance device 1, and from each karaoke performance device 1 the operation status and karaoke. Collect the performance status of the music.

  The karaoke performance device 1 is connected to the public telephone network 2 as a part of the communication karaoke system, and can also be connected to the Internet 4. A computer 5 used by an unspecified number of users such as a personal computer (PC) and a server computer 6 that provides various services to the user computer 5 are connected to the Internet 4. A video server 6a, which is operated and managed by a karaoke company and is a requirement of the present invention, is also connected to the Internet as one of the server computers.

=== Outline of the Invention ===
The present invention stores a dedicated video work (karaoke video work) for each karaoke piece in a video server, uses the karaoke video work with a karaoke performance device, and takes a questionnaire about the work from the karaoke user. Is the method. In this embodiment, a karaoke business operator recruits karaoke video works widely from ordinary people, and the video server 6a has a function for accepting posting of the video work and a function for delivering the accepted video work to the karaoke apparatus. I have.

=== Creation / Submission of Video Works ===
The video server 6a communicates with a PC (sitter PC) 5a operated by the poster of the karaoke video work via the Internet 4 to accept posting of the karaoke video work. Then, the moving image data and various data constituting the karaoke video work are registered in the video database attached in association with the music number of the karaoke music specified by the contributor. The music number is a music identifier used when the requested music is designated by the karaoke performance device, and is the same as that associated with the karaoke data. Karaoke video works include video data, personal information about the contributor (name, age, gender, etc.), text data describing comments on the work by the contributor himself.

  In this embodiment, since large-capacity video data is exchanged via the Internet 4, the karaoke performance device 1 is connected to the Internet 4 via a broadband communication line such as optical fiber, DSL (digital subscriber line), or CATV. It has an environment for connection. Also, it is desirable that the poster PC 5a also has this broadband Internet connection environment.

  Contributor, to determine whether to adopt any music as a theme in advance, to the creation of the image that matches the content of the song. Then, the created karaoke video work is uploaded to the video server 6a. The video server 6a of the present embodiment has a basic function as a Web server, performs HTTP communication with the browser of the poster PC 5a, and guides the posting guidelines for karaoke video works (posting guidance page) and posting. A web page (post accepting page) for accepting karaoke is delivered to the contributor PC 5a, and the contributor performs a karaoke video work posting procedure through this HTTP communication.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the guide page for posting guidelines. If a person who browses the posting guide page 30 wants to post a karaoke video work, the person first selects a karaoke piece as a theme. You may accept submissions of karaoke video works for all karaoke songs, but in this example, the karaoke provider picks up several songs for each genre from a number of karaoke songs and uses that song as the theme for karaoke. The submission of the video work is accepted, and the web page of the submission guidelines lists the music to be posted and its performance time. If the user wishes to obtain the lyrics of a song, the user can designate a “lyric” button 32 in the list 31 to download a text file of the lyrics to the poster PC 5a. Of course, in addition to the lyrics, accompaniment music described by MIDI data or the like can be downloaded.

  Next, the contributor creates moving image data in a predetermined file format in accordance with the performance time of the music selected as the theme, and uploads various data including the moving image data to the video server 6a as a karaoke video work. . As described above, the video server 6a registers the song number, moving image data, personal information of the poster, comments, and the like of the karaoke song selected by the poster as a theme in the video database as a karaoke video work. In this embodiment, MPEG1 format moving picture data is created and registered.

  3A and 3B show schematic views of a posting acceptance page for registering a karaoke video work. The page 40 includes a list down box 41 for selecting a karaoke piece selected as a theme song by the poster, and a file corresponding to moving image data of a video work stored in an external storage such as a hard disk device in the poster PC 5a. Form 42 for entering the storage location and file name ・ Form for entering the author's profile (age, gender, name, address, etc.) and check box 43 ・ Text for entering the author's comment A box 44 and the like are provided. In addition, a “reference” button 45 for displaying and specifying a moving image file by displaying the file storage structure in the external storage is also provided. When a required item is selected / input and the “Send” button 46 is designated, the browser of the contributor PC 5a is entered / instructed as data indicating which karaoke piece has been selected, a video file, and a profile. Each item and the character string entered as a comment are delivered to the video server 6a. In addition, (B) shows a schematic view of the screen when the theme song is selected.

  The video server 6a has a comparison table in which data indicating which karaoke song is selected on the posting acceptance page and the song number are associated with each other, and the song number corresponding to the song selected by the poster PC 5a is displayed. At the same time, the video file delivered to the number, each item entered as the poster profile, and the text data of the comment are associated with each other and registered in the video database. Further, the video server 6a manages the music number, the profile of the contributor, the comment, and the moving image file name in association with each other as index information about the karaoke video work registered in the video database. Each time a new karaoke video work is registered, the index information is updated.

=== Use of video works in karaoke performance equipment ===
In the present embodiment, the karaoke video work registered in the video server 6a can be used as the background video of the lyrics during the karaoke performance in the karaoke performance device 1. FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of the karaoke performance apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. The karaoke performance device 1 includes a modem 21 for communicating with the karaoke host device 3 via the public telephone network 2. The karaoke performance device 1 is also provided with a broadband-compatible modem 22 for connecting to the Internet 4 via a broadband communication line because the karaoke performance device 1 receives a large amount of video data from the video server 6a. Then, it communicates with the video server 6 a in a timely manner, receives index information of the video database, and stores it in the hard disk device 12. Also, the hard disk device 12 stores, as karaoke data, music generation data that is the origin of karaoke accompaniment music described in MIDI format and lyric rendering data that is the generation origin of the lyrics image as karaoke data for a large number of karaoke songs. Are stored in association with each other. Similarly to the conventional karaoke performance apparatus, shared video data that is displayed as a background image of the lyrics image when the karaoke video work is not used, that is, during normal karaoke performance is also stored. In addition, each karaoke data includes video script data that specifies at what timing, from which data recording position, and how much video data is to be decoded when playing that karaoke music piece. Yes.

  When the music number is transferred from the remote control transmitter 14, the central control unit 11 that performs overall control of the karaoke performance device 1 stores the number in the internal RAM in the order of transfer, and manages the music number as a queue for performance processing. To do. Then, the music numbers in the queue are picked up in order. Then, the picked music number is referred to the index information. When the music number exists, the character image is bitmap-developed in the video RAM 22 in the video control unit 21 using the profile and comment data associated with the music number in the index information as introduction information of the video work. The video control unit 21 displays the character image on the display 25 as characters. When a plurality of karaoke video works are associated with each other, each video work is numbered and displayed. If there are many corresponding karaoke video works, scroll information may be displayed to display introduction information about all the video works. FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the comment list display screen.

  If the karaoke user sees the introduction information and there is a karaoke video work of interest, the karaoke user inputs the number using the remote control transmitter 14 or the like. If you are not interested, enter a number to indicate that. When receiving the number input corresponding to the karaoke video work, the central control unit 11 accesses the video server 6a and delivers the moving image file name associated with the number specified by the index information. The video server 6 a downloads the designated moving image file to the karaoke performance device 1.

  When the downloading of the moving image file is completed, the central control unit 11 sequentially transfers the music generation data of the requested music to the synthesizer 17 to generate an audio signal of accompaniment music. The audio signal of the accompaniment music is input to the mixing amplifier 18 together with the audio signal input from the microphone 20, and the mixed audio signal is acoustically output from the speaker 19. Further, the lyric rendering data is processed to generate lyric images including lyric character strings synchronized with the accompaniment music, and the bitmaps are sequentially developed in the video RAM 22, and the moving image data obtained from the video server 6a is sent to the video control unit 21. Forward.

  The video control unit 21 is hardware for dedicated graphics processing, and includes a video RAM 22, an MPEG1 moving image data decoding unit 23 and a superimpose processing unit 24, and is transferred from the central control unit 11. The moving image data is decoded into a video signal of the background video, and the lyrics image sequentially bitmap-developed in the video RAM 22 is superimposed on the background video and displayed on the display 25. When the karaoke video work is not designated or when the requested music is not associated with the requested music, the central control unit 11 performs appropriate shared video based on the corresponding video script data when performing the performance processing of the requested music. Data is taken out from an appropriate recording position and transferred to the video controller 21. The video control unit 21 decodes the karaoke video data and displays and outputs a background video.

=== Collecting and counting questionnaires ===
When the central control unit 11 outputs a karaoke video work as a background video during the performance of a certain karaoke piece, the central control unit 11 generates a standard questionnaire screen and displays it on the display 25 after the end of the performance. FIG. 6 shows an outline of this questionnaire screen. Question items in the questionnaire are a multiple-choice method, and a question can be answered only by a numeric keypad input from the remote control transmitter 14 or the like. In addition to such a question format, a free sentence can also be input if a character palette is generated on the screen and characters can be input by an instruction of a cursor moving on the screen. The karaoke performance device may be provided with a keyboard for inputting characters. When the karaoke user gives an instruction to “confirm” after answering the questionnaire questions, the questionnaire result is delivered to the video server.

  The video server counts and stores the questionnaire results collected from karaoke performance terminals in each area for each question count item. Further, in this embodiment, the tabulation results are distributed to karaoke performance devices in various places in a timely manner, and the karaoke performance device can present the evaluation to karaoke users in a timely manner. Specifically, when a predetermined user input is made while the comment list shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, a questionnaire result for each video work in the comment list is displayed in a graph. FIG. 7 shows a schematic screen of the questionnaire result.

=== Other Embodiments ===
In the said Example, when playing a certain karaoke music piece, after showing a corresponding karaoke video work, the questionnaire total result about all the karaoke video works shown by user input was displayed. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and a questionnaire count result may be automatically displayed. Alternatively, after presenting all karaoke video works corresponding to a certain karaoke piece, the user may designate one of them and display a questionnaire count result for the karaoke video work.

  Also, not only when karaoke music is played, but based on the results of the questionnaire, for example, the karaoke video work with the highest overall evaluation and the name of the karaoke music corresponding to the work are presented. The output form of the result can be changed as appropriate.

  The delivery destination of the questionnaire result acquired by the karaoke performance device may not be the video server. There may be a separate computer (questionnaire counting computer) for receiving and counting questionnaire results from a large number of karaoke performance devices. Of course, the karaoke performance device and the questionnaire counting computer may communicate via the Internet or via a public telephone line. Further, the karaoke host device that is the distribution source of karaoke data may be provided with the function of a questionnaire counting computer.

  The output of the questionnaire results is not limited to the karaoke performance device, for example, it is output to a computer operated by the person in charge of the karaoke business, and the result is analyzed by the karaoke business and the future development of the karaoke business For example, it can be used for appropriate purposes by being output as appropriate, such as being used as data for market research. Of course, the result of the questionnaire may be notified to the contributor by an appropriate communication means such as e-mail.

  In video data download timing and decoding processing in a karaoke performance device, the video control unit does not transfer all the video data and then transfers it to the video control unit, but synchronizes the downloaded data portion with the start of the performance of the karaoke music. You may forward to. Then, a karaoke video work may be reproduced in real time as a “streaming video” by performing a download process in parallel with the transfer process.

  The karaoke video work may not be displayed as the background video of the lyrics. You may display on a display different from a background image | video.

  In the above embodiment, a karaoke video work is recruited from a contributor, but a karaoke company may produce it and prepare it in a video server.

1 shows a network configuration diagram to which a method in an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. It is the schematic of the web page which the video server in the said Example provides, and has shown the page for guiding contribution of a karaoke video work. It is the schematic of the web page which the video server in the said Example provides, and has shown the page for accepting | posting a karaoke video work. The functional block diagram of the karaoke performance apparatus in the said Example is shown. The screen schematic at the time of displaying the index information of a karaoke image work on the display of the said karaoke performance apparatus is shown. Question items displayed on the display when a questionnaire is received by the karaoke performance device are shown as a schematic screen view. The screen schematic at the time of displaying a questionnaire result on the display of the said karaoke performance apparatus is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 Karaoke performance device 5a Contributor PC
6a Video server 11 Central control unit 12 Hard disk device 21 Video control unit

Claims (5)

  Prior to playing the karaoke accompaniment music of a song, the karaoke video work dedicated to the song is ordered from an external video server, and the karaoke video work is displayed on the display in synchronization with the performance of the karaoke accompaniment music. A karaoke performance device characterized in that after completion of the performance, a questionnaire asking about the impression of watching the karaoke video work is carried out using human interface means, and the result of the questionnaire is delivered to an external questionnaire totaling server in a timely manner.   2. The karaoke performance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving the result of the questionnaire result from the questionnaire totaling server and a result reporting means for presenting the result of the questionnaire to the user in a timely manner.   3. The work introduction means for presenting information about a karaoke video work corresponding to the music piece when playing a karaoke music piece, and a user input for designating one of the karaoke video works being presented Karaoke performance device, wherein the totaling result reporting means extracts and presents a questionnaire totaling result for the designated video work from the totaling result received from the questionnaire totaling server .   3. The work introduction means for presenting information about a karaoke video work corresponding to the music piece when playing a certain karaoke music piece, wherein the counting result reporting means receives a predetermined user input, and the work introduction means A karaoke performance device characterized in that a questionnaire total result for a karaoke video work presented by means is extracted from the total result received from the questionnaire total server and presented. In Claim 2, the said total result report means selects an appropriate karaoke video work based on the said total result received from the said questionnaire totalization server, and presents the questionnaire total result about the said video work, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Karaoke performance device to play.

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