JP2006047625A - Electronic music device and computer program applied to same device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely select a display screen on an electronic music device side as a client terminal. <P>SOLUTION: A browser section BR acquires a reproduction style prescription file from a content distributing server 30 and passes it to a reproduction control section CT. The reproduction control section CT acquires a music content file specified by a reproduction content list in the reproduction style prescription file from the content distributing server 30. The reproduction control section CT cooperates with a sound source 43 to reproduce a musical piece corresponding to the music contents in a reproduction style prescribed by the reproduction style prescription file. The reproduction control section CT displays the music contents on a display unit 42 in a display style prescribed by the reproduction style prescription file. When a user operates an input operator group 41 to change the display style of the display unit 42, the reproduction control section CT changes the display style of the display unit 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic music apparatus that reproduces music content received from a content distribution server and a computer program applied to the apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is well known that an electronic music apparatus as a client terminal requests music content from a content distribution server and receives and reproduces music content transmitted from the content distribution server. In particular, Patent Document 1 below discloses a music content distribution system for karaoke. In this music content distribution system, a lyrics flag is attached to the music content. When the lyrics flag is “1”, the lyrics are displayed on the electronic music apparatus side, and when the lyrics flag is “0”. Does not display lyrics on the electronic music device. Thereby, it is possible to provide a control for providing a display of lyrics together with music for registered users and providing only music for unregistered users.
JP 2003-114690 A

  However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, for the registered user, the lyrics are always displayed on the display screen of the electronic music device, and the display mode of the display screen is changed even when the user desires a display screen other than the lyrics. The user could not switch freely.

  The present invention has been made to address the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic music apparatus in which a user can freely select a display screen and a computer program applied to the apparatus. Is.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized by receiving means for receiving music content and data for defining the music content display mode, and reproducing means for playing back music corresponding to the received music content. Display control means for displaying the received music content on the display in a display manner defined by the received prescribed data during reproduction of the music, and a display manner of the display is prescribed by the received prescribed data There is a change means for changing to a display mode different from the display mode. In this case, the music content may be, for example, song data representing music, lyrics data representing lyrics, score data representing a score, and the like. The display unit displays lyrics, music scores, and the like.

  In the present invention configured as described above, since the display mode of the display device can be changed to a display mode different from the display mode specified by the received specified data, the display screen desired by the user can be changed. Music content can be played while watching.

  The present invention can be configured and implemented not only as an apparatus invention but also as a computer program and method invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a music content distribution system including an electronic music apparatus according to the present invention. The electronic music device is a generic name of, for example, an electronic musical instrument 11, an automatic performance device 12, a personal computer 13, and a karaoke device 14, and these electronic musical instrument 11, automatic performance device 12, personal computer 13, karaoke device 14 and the like are Internet. Are connected to a network 20 such as a public telephone line, a dedicated line, or a LAN. A content distribution server 30 is connected to the network 20. The content distribution server 30 includes a database 31 and is configured by a computer device that executes the content distribution program of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the database 31 stores a plurality of content distribution page data, a plurality of reproduction mode defining files, and a plurality of content files. Each content distribution page data is data representing a display screen (see FIGS. 7A to 7C) for acquiring content by the browser unit BR of the electronic music apparatus described later. Each playback mode definition file is specified by a link provided in the display screen data and specifies the playback mode of music content described later. Distribution type data, screen control data, automatic playback control data, repeat playback control data, It has playback content list data. Each content file stores song data representing music, lyric data representing lyrics, score data representing a score (or note data representing a note string), and the like.

  The distribution type data indicates whether the distribution type of the music content is a download type or a stream type. Here, the download type is a distribution type of music content that is allowed to be used a plurality of times by allowing the user to save to a recording medium. The stream type is a distribution type of music content that is prohibited from being stored in a recording medium by the user, and is a distribution type of music content that is only temporarily used by the user's electronic music device. The screen control data represents any one of the browser screen, the lyrics screen, and the score screen to be displayed. The automatic reproduction control data indicates whether or not the distributed music content is automatically reproduced. The repeat reproduction control data indicates whether or not a plurality of music contents are reproduced. The reproduction content list data includes a pair or a plurality of pairs of content URLs and detailed content information. The content URL specifies a content file. The detailed content information represents the music content song name, composer, artist, copyright information, and the like.

  On the other hand, the electronic music apparatus (electronic musical instrument 11, automatic performance apparatus 12, personal computer 13, karaoke apparatus 14, etc.) has an input operator group 41, a display 42, and a sound source circuit 43 as shown in FIG. The input operator group 41 includes a plurality of operators for instructing the operation of the electronic music apparatus, and the operations of the plurality of operators are detected by a detection circuit 44 connected to the bus 50. The plurality of operators include a switch operator, a volume operator, a mouse, and the like. In a keyboard type electronic musical instrument, a white key and a black key are also included. The display 42 is composed of a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or the like, and displays characters, numbers, figures, and the like. The display mode of the display 42 is controlled by a display control circuit 45 connected to the bus 50. The tone generator circuit 43 is connected to the bus 50 and forms a musical tone signal based on performance data supplied under the control of the CPU 61, which will be described later. At the same time, an effect is applied to the formed musical tone signal to produce a sound system. Output to 46. The sound system 46 includes a speaker, an amplifier and the like, and generates a musical sound corresponding to the musical sound signal from the sound source circuit 43.

  The electronic music apparatus includes a CPU 61, a timer 62, a ROM 63, and a RAM 64 that are connected to the bus 50 and constitute a microcomputer main body, and an external storage device 65, a communication interface circuit 66, and an output interface circuit. 67 is also provided. The external storage device 65 includes various recording media such as a hard disk HD preinstalled in the electronic music device, a compact disc CD that can be mounted on the electronic music device, and a flexible disk FD, and a drive unit for each of the recording media. It is possible to store and read a large amount of data and programs. These data and programs are stored in advance on the hard disk HD, supplied to the hard disk HD from a compact disk CD, flexible disk FD, or the like, or supplied to the hard disk HD from the outside via the communication interface circuit 66. . In the present embodiment, in particular, the browser program and the reproduction control program of FIG. 4 are stored in the hard disk HD. It should also be noted that in this specification, the RAM 64 is composed of a volatile memory, and the external storage device 65 is composed of a nonvolatile memory.

  The communication interface circuit 66 is connected to the network 20. The output interface circuit 67 outputs MIDI format data to the outside via the MIDI output terminal 67a. The output interface circuit 67 outputs general digital data including the generated digital musical tone signal which is not in the MIDI format to the outside via the digital output terminal 67b.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. In the description of the operation, the functional block diagram of FIG. 3 representing each function of the electronic music apparatus realized by the hardware circuit and program processing of FIG. 2 will be described. In FIG. 3, a temporary storage unit 64a is a volatile memory area provided in the RAM 64 of FIG. The recording medium 65a corresponds to a nonvolatile memory area such as a hard disk HD, a compact disk CD, or a flexible disk FD included in the external storage device 65. The browser part BR is a function realized by the CPU 21 executing the browser program of FIG. The reproduction control unit CT is a function realized by the CPU 21 executing the reproduction control program of FIG. Therefore, in the following description, it is assumed that the browser unit BR and the playback control unit CT execute the browser program and the playback control program, respectively. The other parts of the electronic music apparatus of FIG. 3 are the same as the parts denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG.

  When the user operates the input operator group 41 to start the browser program, the browser unit BR accesses the distribution page of the content distribution server 30 and distributes the content to the content distribution server 30 in step B11 of FIG. Request page data. In response to this request, the content distribution server 30 transmits the content distribution page data to the browser unit BR in step S11. The content distribution page data may be stored in advance in the content distribution server 30 or may be dynamically generated every time the browser unit BR accesses. In step B12, the browser unit BR receives the transmitted content distribution page data, and displays the content distribution page represented by the received content distribution page data on the display unit 42. When the user clicks a link displayed on the displayed content distribution page (that is, a mouse pointer is applied to the link and a mouse switch is pressed), the browser unit BR responds to the link in step B13. The content distribution server 30 is requested for the reproduction mode defining file (that is, the linked playback mode defining file). Then, in response to this request, the content distribution server 30 transmits the requested reproduction mode definition file to the browser unit BR. This reproduction mode definition file may also be stored in advance in the content distribution server 30, or may be dynamically generated at each request.

  As described above, the operation until the browser unit BR receives the reproduction mode definition file from the content distribution server 30 will be described with a specific example. Initially, the content distribution page data transmitted from the content distribution server 30 to the browser unit BR represents the first page of the content distribution service, and the display 42 displays this first page. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the first page is a menu listing items such as karaoke, lesson, and BGM for specifying the purpose of use of the music content. When a user selects one item in the menu by operating the input operator group 41, next, as shown in the display example in FIG. 7B, the user belongs to the item. Whether “automatic playback” (a plurality of songs determined in advance by the content distribution server 30) is selected for each musical instrument-compatible music type (for example, piano music, guitar music, etc.) classified according to the main musical instrument type Whether to select a specific genre designation such as jazz, rock or folk is displayed on the display 42. When the user selects “automatic playback” of the desired musical instrument-compatible song type, the playback mode definition file stored in the content distribution server 30 and corresponding to the selected musical instrument-compatible song type “automatic playback” is displayed in the browser part BR. Sent to.

  On the other hand, if the user selects a genre designation of a desired musical instrument-compatible music type in the display state of FIG. 7B, the selected musical instrument-compatible music is displayed as shown in FIG. 7C. A plurality of genres such as jazz, rock and folk belonging to the type are displayed. When the user selects a specific genre, a reproduction mode defining file that is stored in the content distribution server 30 and that belongs to the musical instrument-compatible song type and that corresponds to the selected genre is transmitted to the browser unit BR.

  In this way, when the specific playback mode definition file is transmitted from the content distribution server 30 to the browser unit BR, the browser unit BR receives the transmitted playback mode specification file and controls playback in step B14. Supply to the section CT. On the other hand, the reproduction control unit CT executes the process of the reproduction control routine in step C10 using the supplied reproduction mode defining file. In the reproduction control routine, as shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, in step C11, it is determined whether the distribution type data in the supplied reproduction mode defining file defines the distribution type of download or stream. judge.

  If download is specified, the playback control unit CT uses the playback content list (content URL) in the playback mode specification file to send all the content files specified by the content URL to the content distribution server in step C12. Get from. Then, all the acquired content files are stored in the recording medium 65a. In this case, the distribution server 30 transmits the content file to the reproduction control unit CT by the process of step S13.

  On the other hand, if the distribution type data in the reproduction mode defining file defines a stream as the distribution type, the function of the output interface circuit 67 is stopped in step C13, and the MIDI data is output from the MIDI output terminal 67a and the digital output terminal 67b. In addition, the digital data is prohibited from being output to the outside. Next, in step C14, the input functions of the operators used for storing and editing data in the input operator group 41 are stopped, and the operations of these operators are invalidated. Thus, as will be described later, even if a content file is acquired, the acquired content file and various data generated based on the content file are stored and saved in the recording medium 65a, edited, and output to the outside. Is prohibited.

  After the process of step C14, the playback control unit CT controls the display screen of the display 42 based on the screen control data in the playback mode definition file. That is, if the screen control data represents a browser, the browser screen as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C is displayed. If the screen control data represents lyrics, the screen display for displaying lyrics is switched. If the screen control data represents a score, the screen display for displaying the score can be switched. However, in these lyrics and score display, since actual music content has not yet been acquired, the actual lyrics and score are not displayed.

  Next, in step C16, the playback control unit CT controls the display device 42 based on the content detailed information of the top content list data in the playback mode definition file, and the display device 42 controls the content detailed information (music). The content title, composer, artist, and copyright information are displayed (see FIGS. 7D and 7F). After the processing of step C16, the playback control unit CT uses the content URL of the top content list data in the playback mode defining file to send the content file specified by the URL to the content distribution server 30 in step C17. Request. Then, the content file distributed from the content distribution server 30 is acquired and written in the temporary storage unit 64a.

  After acquiring the content file, the playback control unit CT determines whether or not the automatic playback control data in the playback mode defining file indicates “automatic playback” in step C18, and indicates “automatic playback”. If so, the program proceeds to step C21 in FIG. On the other hand, if the automatic reproduction control data does not indicate “automatic reproduction”, it is determined as “No” in step C18, and a user's start instruction is issued by operating the start operator in the input operator group 41. Until then, the cyclic processing composed of steps C19 and C20 is repeatedly executed. During the circulation process, the reproduction control unit CT accepts the operation of the screen change operator in the input operator group 41 by the process of step C20. When the screen change operator is operated by the user, the display screen of the display 42 is switched in accordance with an instruction by the operation of the screen change operator. As a result, the display screen of the display 42 on which the detailed content information is displayed is switched to a browser screen as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, for example. Through the processing in step C20, the user can freely switch the display screen of the display 42 defined by the screen control data in the reproduction mode defining file before the music content is reproduced. If the start is instructed by the operation of the start operator during the cyclic processing of steps C19 and C20, “Yes” is determined in step C19, and the program proceeds to the processing of step C21 in FIG.

  In step C21, the reproduction of the music is started using the music content stored in the temporary storage unit 64a, and the cyclic processing consisting of steps C22 to C26 is started repeatedly. During this circulation processing, the song data included in the music content stored in the temporary storage unit 64a is sequentially output to the sound source circuit 43 as the music progresses. Since the tone generator circuit 43 sequentially generates musical sound signals corresponding to the music data and generates the sound via the sound system 46, the music based on the music data included in the music content is reproduced. In parallel with the reproduction of the music, unless the screen change is instructed by the process of step C20, the display screen of the display 42 displays the content detailed information (music content song name, composer, artist, copyright information). ) To the screen display set by the process of step C15. For example, when the screen control data represents lyrics, the display screen of the display 42 is switched from the content detailed information display of FIG. 7D to the lyrics display of FIG. When the screen control data represents a score, the display screen of the display 42 is switched from the content detailed information display of FIG. 7 (F) to the score display of FIG. 7 (G). If the screen control data represents a browser, the detailed content information is still displayed. However, when a screen change is instructed by the process of step C20, the display screen of the display 42 follows the instruction in step C20.

  When the reproduction of one piece of music content specified by the reproduction content list data in the reproduction mode definition file is completed during the circulation process including the steps C22 to C26, the supplied reproduction mode definition file is processed by the process of step C22. Using the content URL of the next content list data in the content, the content file specified by the URL is acquired from the content distribution server 30, and the previous content file stored in the temporary storage unit 64a is deleted and newly added. The acquired content file is written in the temporary storage unit 64a. Also in this case, the content distribution server 30 transmits the content file to the reproduction control unit CT by the process of step S13 in FIG. Then, as described above, the song data in the newly acquired content file is reproduced, and at the same time, the lyrics, the score, or the browser screen is displayed on the display 42.

  Further, during the circulation process, in step C23, it is determined whether or not the reproduction of the music content specified by the reproduction content list in the reproduction mode definition file has reached the end. If the reproduction of the music content has not reached the end, it is determined in step C24 whether or not there has been an instruction to stop the user by operating the stop operator in the input operator group 41. If there is no stop instruction from the user, the playback mode of the music content is controlled in step C25 according to the operation of the playback control operators such as pause, resume, fast forward and rewind in the input operator group 41. In step C26, as in the process of step C20, the operation of the screen change operator in the input operator group 41 is accepted, and when the screen change operator is operated by the user, the screen change operator The display screen of the display 42 is switched according to the instruction by the operation. Through the processing in step C26, the user can freely switch the display screen of the display 42 defined by the screen control data in the reproduction mode defining file even during reproduction of the music content.

  Further, during the circulation process, when the reproduction of the music content specified by the reproduction content list in the reproduction mode definition file reaches the end, “Yes” is determined in step C23, and the program proceeds to the process of step C27. . In step C27, it is determined whether or not the repeat reproduction control data in the reproduction mode defining file indicates “repeat”. If "repeat" is indicated, the above-described circulation processing of steps C22 to C26 is executed again. On the other hand, if “repeat” is not indicated, “No” is determined in step C27, and the process proceeds to steps C28 to C30. When the user operates the stop operator in the input operator group 41 to instruct the stop during the circulation process of steps C22 to C26, the determination is “Yes” in step C24, and the program is executed in step C28. The process proceeds to ~ C30.

  In step C28, the function of the output interface circuit 67 is restored, and the prohibition of the output of MIDI data and digital data from the MIDI output terminal 67a and the digital output terminal 67b is released. In step C29, the input functions of the operators used for storing and editing data in the input operator group 41 are restored, and the operation invalidity of these operators is canceled. In step C30, the music content stored in the temporary storage unit 64a is erased, and the execution of this playback control routine is terminated.

  Further, regarding the content file produced by the user operating the input operator group 41 or the content file downloaded to the recording medium 65a by the process of step C12, the content file is transferred to the temporary storage unit 64a, and the above-described content file is transferred. Music content can be played back by a playback program comprising the processes of steps C18 to C26. In this case, the output interface circuit 67 is functioning, and outputs music content to the outside via the MIDI output terminal 67a, and outputs digital data representing the reproduced sound to the outside via the digital output terminal 67b. it can. Furthermore, the user can read and use the content file stored and stored in the recording medium 65a at any time by executing a separately prepared program, and can edit the content of the music content. Then, the edited content file can be newly saved and output to the outside. In other words, the user-generated content and download content are stored in the temporary storage unit 64a shared with the stream-delivered content file so that the reproduction program is shared, and only the user-created content and download content are externally output and edited. And stream distribution is maintained by allowing storage.

  Furthermore, in carrying out the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, both the MIDI output terminal 67a and the digital output terminal 67b are provided in the electronic music apparatus, but only one of them may be provided. In addition, regarding the editing function and the storage function, only one of the functions may be displayed on the electronic music apparatus. Furthermore, regarding the lyric display and the score display, only one of the functions may be displayed on the electronic music apparatus.

  Further, in the above embodiment, common screen control data is provided for a plurality of content files in the reproduction regulation file. However, instead of this, screen control data representing a display screen of a browser, lyrics, or a score may be provided for each content file specified by the reproduction content list data. According to this, for the same song, first listen to the playback music on the browser display screen, then practice the song on the lyrics display screen, and finally practice the instrument on the score display screen Thus, a content distribution service can be realized in various reproduction modes. In such a case, the screen control data may be included in the reproduction content list. Further, the screen control data may be included as a system exclusive message in the content file.

1 is a schematic diagram of a network system including an electronic music device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a whole block diagram of the said electronic music apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of a content distribution server and an electronic music apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a content delivery program, a browser program, and a reproduction | regeneration control program. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first half part of the reproduction control routine of FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the reproduction control routine of FIG. 4. FIG. (A)-(G) is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of a display.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Electronic musical instrument, 12 ... Automatic performance apparatus, 13 ... Personal computer, 14 ... Karaoke apparatus, 30 ... Content distribution server, 31 ... Database, 41 ... Input operator group, 42 ... Display, 43 ... Sound source circuit, 61 ... CPU, 64 ... RAM, 64a ... temporary storage unit, 65 ... external storage device, 65a ... recording medium, 66 ... communication interface circuit, 67 ... output interface circuit, 67a ... MIDI output terminal, 67b ... digital output terminal, BR ... browser Part, CT ... reproduction control part.

Claims (2)

Receiving means for receiving music content and data defining the music content display mode;
Playback means for playing back music corresponding to the received music content;
Display control means for displaying the received music content on a display in a display mode defined by defined data during reproduction of the music;
An electronic music apparatus comprising: changing means for changing the display mode of the display to a display mode different from the display mode defined by the received specified data. A receiving step of receiving music data and regulation data defining a display mode of the music contents;
A reproduction step of reproducing a music corresponding to the received music content;
A display control step of displaying the received music content on a display device in a display mode defined by the received defined data during reproduction of the music;
A computer program applied to an electronic music apparatus, comprising: a changing step of changing a display mode of the display device to a display mode different from a display mode defined by the received specified data.

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