JP2008046590A - Karaoke machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke machine capable of immediately responding to a variable kinds of requests with small cache capacity. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of karaoke machines 6 are connected together via network 4 such as Ethernet(R), and each karaoke machine 6 is communicable with one another. Each karaoke machine 6 stores data of several thousands to about ten thousands music pieces. Moreover, each karaoke machine 6 can communicate with a distribution center 2 via a network modem 4 - a communication line 3. When a request is made in the karaoke machine 6, and when the music data are cache data stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) 8, the data are read out of an HDD 8 and priority of the song is set to the highest rank. When the music data are stored as the cache data, and when the cache area of the HDD 8 is full, it is stored, after the cache data of the lowest priority is deleted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus that efficiently reads music data before the start of performance.

  The communication karaoke apparatus generates karaoke performance sound by downloading music data from the distribution center and driving a sound source or the like with the music data. However, in the method of downloading music data from the distribution center every time a user requests a music, it takes time from the request to the start of performance, and the distribution center must be accessed every time, so the communication cost is high. However, there are problems such as frequent access from the terminal and increased communication overhead.

  Therefore, in recent communication karaoke apparatuses, an HDD or a CD-ROM changer is connected, and many karaoke songs are stored in advance in these storage devices.

  However, the number of karaoke songs that have been announced has reached 10,000, and it is not possible to memorize all of them on the karaoke device side. The other songs are downloaded from the distribution center when requested, and once downloaded, the songs may be requested again, so the cache songs within the cache area capacity may be requested. Is stored on the hard disk.

  Therefore, if the cache area is large, any song requested can be dealt with immediately. However, if a large number of cache songs are stored, a large-capacity hard disk storage device is required. there were.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus that can immediately respond to various types of requests with a small cache capacity.

  The invention of claim 1 of this application is a karaoke apparatus in which a plurality of karaoke apparatuses are connected on a network, and a center communication means for communicating with a distribution center having a distribution function of karaoke song data, via the network Network communication means for communicating with other karaoke devices connected to the network, storage means for storing karaoke song data, and new song data from the distribution center, and the song data as new song data New song data writing means stored in the storage means, cache data writing means for receiving song data from another karaoke apparatus or distribution center, and storing the received song data as cache data with priorities, and karaoke songs Is requested, the song data of the requested song is stored in the memory If the song data of the requested song is cache data stored in the storage means, the cache data is read and the cache data is read. When the priority of data is set to the highest level and the song data of the requested song is not stored in the storage means, the received song data is received and read from another karaoke apparatus or the distribution center A karaoke apparatus comprising: a tune data reading means for causing the cache data writing means to write as the highest level cache data, wherein the cache data writing means has a capacity of the storage means when writing the tune data as cache data. Is full, the highest priority There and writes erase the cached data.

  The invention of claim 2 of this application is characterized in that, when the received music data is cache data of another karaoke apparatus, the reading means does not cause the cache data writing means to write the music data.

  In the invention of claim 3 of this application, when there is a cache data transmission request from another karaoke device, the reading means transfers the cache data to the other karaoke device, and the priority order of the transferred cache data Is set to a lower level.

In the present invention, storage storage means such as a hard disk is provided, and music data distributed (downloaded) from the distribution center is stored as new music data. In addition, music data downloaded from another karaoke apparatus or distribution center is stored with priority as cache data.
When there is a request for a karaoke song, if it is new song data stored in the storage means, the new song data is read from the storage means and the performance of the karaoke song is executed. In the case of a song that is not stored in the storage means, it is downloaded from a distribution center or another karaoke device connected via a network. Before downloading from the distribution center, inquires of other karaoke devices connected via the network whether or not the song data is stored, and if there is a stored karaoke device, the music from the karaoke device is stored. Transfer data. Since the network communication speed is extremely high compared to the communication speed with a distribution center connected by a telephone line or the like, this transfer requires a shorter time.
When there is a request for a karaoke song, if the cache data is stored in the storage means, the cache data is read out from the storage means and the priority of this song is set to the highest.
When storing as cache data, if the capacity of the storage means is full, the cache data with the lowest priority is erased and stored. The cache data of karaoke songs with many requests has a higher priority and is not deleted.

  If the karaoke device is provided with a storage device such as a CD-ROM changer that is not fast in reading speed, if the other karaoke device caches this data, it is better to transfer the data from the other karaoke device. It may be faster than reading a CD-ROM set in a ROM changer. In this case as well, other devices may be inquired and read.

  According to the present invention, when music data received from another karaoke apparatus or distribution center is written as cache data, when the capacity of the storage means is full, the previously stored cache data is erased and the current cache data is deleted. Write data. Since the cache data of songs with many requests is not erased, it is possible to respond to various types of requests immediately with a small cache capacity.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of one karaoke apparatus constituting the karaoke system.

  In FIG. 1, a karaoke system 1 is installed in a store or the like where a plurality of karaoke devices such as a karaoke box are installed. The karaoke system 1 is formed by connecting a plurality of (three in the figure) communication karaoke apparatuses via a network 4 such as Ethernet (registered trademark). Further, in the configuration of the figure, a network modem 5 is further connected to the network 4. The communication karaoke apparatuses 6 can communicate with each other via the network 4 and the communication speed is about 10 Mbps. Each communication karaoke apparatus 6 can communicate with the distribution center 2 via the network modem 5-telephone line 3. If the telephone line 3 is a digital line (ISDN), the network modem 5 may be changed to a terminal adapter (TA). The communication speed between the communication karaoke apparatus 6 and the distribution center is about 64 kbps.

  Each communication karaoke device 6 includes a karaoke device main body 7, a hard disk storage device 8 incorporated in the main body, and an external CD-ROM changer 9. The hard disk 8 and the CD-ROM are for playing karaoke songs. Music data for thousands of songs is stored. The data transfer rate of a general hard disk storage device is about 20 Mbyte / sec, and the data transfer rate of a general CD-ROM changer is about 600 kbyte / sec.

  In FIG. 2, the karaoke apparatus main body 7 has a control unit 10 composed of a microcomputer, ROM, RAM 100, etc., and this control unit 10 controls the operation of the entire apparatus. A communication interface 11, a peripheral device interface 12, a karaoke performance execution unit 13, and a video display unit 14 are connected to the control unit 10. The communication interface 11 is an interface for transmitting / receiving data to / from the network 4. The peripheral device interface 12 is an interface for controlling the hard disk 8 and the CD-ROM changer 9 to transmit and receive data, and is configured by an interface such as SCSI, for example. The karaoke performance execution unit 13 has a sound source, a mixing amplifier, and the like, and is connected to a microphone 15 and a speaker 16. The sound source generates a karaoke performance sound based on the music data read into the RAM 100 from the hard disk storage device 8, the CD-ROM changer 9 or another communication karaoke device 7 on the network, and the distribution center 2. The mixing amplifier mixes the karaoke performance sound and the singing voice signal input from the microphone 15 and amplifies the sound to a power capable of driving the speaker 16. The video display unit 14 is connected to a monitor 17 and displays a background video and lyrics telop on the monitor 17. The background video is input from the CD-ROM changer 9 as a video signal. The lyrics telop is a video signal in which the control unit 10 reads out font data stored in the hard disk storage device 8 and forms a character pattern based on the lyrics display data included in the music data. The video display unit 14 synthesizes these video signals by superimposing and outputs them to the monitor 17.

  The CD-ROM changer 9 incorporates a plurality of (six in the figure) CD-ROMs, and in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10, one of them is set on the tray so that it can be read out. . In a general CD-ROM changer, it takes about 10 seconds to change the CD-ROM set on the tray. Of the six CD-ROMs, one is one that stores song data of a classic karaoke song, and song data of about 1500 songs is stored. Other CD-ROMs store background video data compressed in the MPEG format. The CD-ROM changer 9 has a built-in MPEG decoder. When the background video data is read, the data is decoded by the MPEG decoder and directly input to the video display unit 14 as a video signal. On the other hand, when reading music data, it is input to the control unit 10 via the peripheral device interface 12. The control unit 10 stores this music data in the RAM 100.

  In this embodiment, six CD-ROM changers 9 are stored in one tray, but a larger-scale one may be connected. For example, if it is possible to store 18 CD-ROMs with 6 trays in 3 trays, 3 CD-ROMs can be read in parallel.

  On the other hand, the hard disk storage device 8 is configured as shown in FIG. 5B, and storage areas such as a program storage area 20, a font data storage area 21, and a music data storage area 22 are set on the hard disk. . The program storage area 20 stores a system program for the apparatus, a karaoke performance execution program for executing a karaoke performance, and the like. These programs are read into the RAM 100 of the control unit 10 when the karaoke device 6 is powered on. The font data 21 is character pattern data for displaying characters such as lyrics on the monitor 17, and the controller 10 synthesizes the lyrics telop using the font data and outputs it to the video display unit 14 during karaoke performance. The song data storage area 22 includes a new song data storage area 221 and a cache data storage area 222, each storing song data (new song data) of a new song and song data (cache data) cached from other low-speed data storage. Has been.

  This karaoke device periodically communicates with the distribution center 2 and receives download of song data of newly announced karaoke songs. The song data of this new song is stored in this new song data storage area 221. The music data stored in the new music data storage area 221 is not erased. On the other hand, in the cache data storage area 222, music data of karaoke songs recently played other than new songs are stored. The music data other than the new music is stored in the CD-ROM, the other karaoke device 6, the distribution center 2, etc., and is read into the RAM 100 of the control unit 10 when requested, but the data transfer of each of the above devices The speed is much lower than the data transfer speed of the hard disk storage device 8. Therefore, only recently played music data is written in the cache data storage area 222 so that it can quickly respond when this music is requested again. When the karaoke song is played many times, the cache data storage area 222 becomes full. At that time, the old cache data is deleted in order. In this case, even if cache data has been stored for a long time, the data that has been played again recently is updated as new data. In FIG. 5B, the new song data storage area 221 and the cache data storage area 222 are separated, but these may be integrated and the remaining area storing the new song data may be used as the cache area. .

  3 to 5 are flowcharts showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus 6.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation until there is a request for a karaoke song and the performance of this song is started. This processing operation is executed when there is a request when a karaoke song is not being played, or when a karaoke song is currently being played and there is a reservation for the next karaoke song. First, the song number of the karaoke song to be played is input from the remote control device or the reservation list (s1). A search is made as to whether the song is a new song or a cached song stored in the hard disk storage device 8 (s2). If it is a song stored in the hard disk storage device 8, it is read into the RAM 12 (s3) and a karaoke song is played. Execute (s4).

  If the song data of the requested song is not stored in the hard disk storage device 8 of the own device, an inquiry is made as to whether another karaoke device stores the song data in the hard disk storage device via the network 4 (s5). A reply to this inquiry is received from each karaoke device (s6), and if there is a device storing this music data in the hard disk storage device (s7), this music data is received from that device (s8). As described above, since the network has a transfer speed of about 10 Mbps, even a song stored in a CD-ROM can be obtained in a shorter time than setting a CD-ROM in the CD-ROM changer 9 and reading it. Music data can be read. The received data is stored in the RAM 100 (s3), and the performance of the karaoke song is executed (s4).

  On the other hand, if this song is not stored in the hard disk storage device of another karaoke device, a search is made as to whether this song data is stored in the CD-ROM of the own CD-ROM changer 9 (s9). . If this music data is stored in the CD-ROM, it is determined whether or not the own CD-ROM changer 9 is currently usable (s10). For example, if the CD-ROM changer 9 is currently reproducing the background video, the music data cannot be read. When the CD-ROM changer 9 is usable, the CD-ROM storing the music data is set on the tray and read out (s11), and stored in the RAM 12 (s3). The performance is executed (s4).

  On the other hand, when the music data is not stored in the CD-ROM of the own device, or is stored in the CD-ROM but the CD-ROM changer 9 cannot be used at present, the music data is connected via the network 4. An inquiry is made to another karaoke apparatus (s12). That is, it inquires whether the music data is stored in the CD-ROM and the CD-ROM changer can be used. If a response to this inquiry is received from each karaoke device (s13), and there is a device in which music data is stored in the CD-ROM and the CD-ROM changer can be used (s14), the device uses the CD-ROM changer. To receive the music data from the device (s15). The received music data is stored in the RAM 12 (s3), and a karaoke performance is executed (s4).

  On the other hand, if the music data cannot be read into the RAM 100 by any of the above methods, the cause is checked (s16). If the reason why the music data could not be read is that it was stored in the CD-ROM but the CD-ROM changer could not be used, return to s9 and use the CD-ROM changer of your own device or another device. Wait until When it becomes available, the music data is read from the device. On the other hand, if the music data is not stored in the HDD or CD-ROM of any karaoke device, the network center 5 is used to call the distribution center 2 (s17), and the music data is transmitted from the distribution center 2. Is downloaded (s18). The downloaded music data is stored in the RAM 100 (s3), and the performance of the karaoke music is executed (s4).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation when 30 seconds have elapsed since the start of the performance of the karaoke song. When 30 seconds elapse from the start of the song, the song is played and the number of performances is counted up once. Then, the cache processing of the music data read into the RAM 100 by the above operation is executed. First, it is determined whether or not the music data is read from the hard disk storage device 8 of the own device (s21). If the song data is not read from its own hard disk storage device 8, the song data is stored in the cache data storage of the hard disk storage device 8 so that it can be quickly read into the RAM 100 when the song is next requested. Write to area 222 (s22). Then, this music number is written at the top of the list storing the ranking of the cache music (s23). In this cache operation, if there is an empty area in the cache music storage area 222, the write operation is sufficient. However, when the cache music storage area 222 is full, the cache music stored in this cache is erased and then the current cache Write a song.

  On the other hand, if the song data of the song played this time is read from the hard disk storage device 8 of the own device, it is determined whether the song is a new song or a cache song (s24). In the case of a new song, there is no priority order and it will not be erased, so it returns as it is. In the case of a cache music, the priority of this music is rewritten to the upper level so as not to be deleted when a new cache music is written (s25).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when receiving an inquiry from another karaoke apparatus searching for music data. When an inquiry is received (s30), it is first determined whether the inquiry content is "stored in hard disk storage device 8" or "stored in CD-ROM" (s31).

  In the case of an inquiry as to whether or not it is stored in the hard disk storage device 8, a list of new songs and cached songs is searched with the inquiry song number (s32), and if this song number is found (s33), it is transmitted. A message indicating that it is possible is returned (s34). On the other hand, when this song cannot be found (s33), a message indicating that transmission is impossible is returned (s35). When a transmittable message is returned (s34), it is confirmed whether there is a transmission request from the partner's karaoke device (s36). When there is a transmission request, this music data is read from the hard disk storage device 8, and the network 4 is transmitted to the partner device via S4 (s37). If there is no transmission request, it is determined that a transmission request has been made to another apparatus, and the operation is terminated.

  In the case of an inquiry as to whether or not it is stored in the CD-ROM, the song list in the CD-ROM is searched for the inquiry song number (s40), and when this song number is found (s41), the current CD -It is determined whether the ROM changer 9 is usable (s43). If it is usable, a message indicating that the music data can be transmitted is returned (s45). Thereafter, it is confirmed whether there is a transmission request from the partner karaoke device (s46). If there is a transmission request, a CD-ROM storing the music data is set on the tray, and a CD-ROM changer is set. The music data is read from 9 and transmitted to the partner apparatus (s47). If there is no transmission request, it is determined that a transmission request has been made to another apparatus, and the operation is terminated. On the other hand, when the searched music is not in the CD-ROM (s41), a message indicating that transmission is impossible is returned (s42). If the music data is found but the CD-ROM changer 9 is currently being used for other purposes and cannot be used to read the music data, it returns a message indicating that transmission is currently impossible (s44). In this case, when the CD-ROM changer 9 is currently out of order and cannot be used, a transmission impossible message in s42 is returned.

  In the above embodiment, the network modem 5 is used so that all the karaoke apparatuses 6 on the network 4 can be shared and used by one unit, but a modem (TA) is individually connected to each karaoke apparatus. The modem may be connected to only some karaoke apparatuses. In this case, the work of calling the distribution center 2 and downloading the music data is performed exclusively by the karaoke apparatus connected to the modem (TA). After this karaoke device has downloaded the music data from the center, the music data is transferred to the target karaoke device via the network 4, and then the downloaded karaoke device erases the music data. Good.

  In the above case, the downloaded karaoke apparatus may store the downloaded music data as a cache music. In this case, when a plurality of karaoke apparatuses share and download music data from the distribution center 2, genres such as enka and pop may be determined for each apparatus. In this way, each device can be characterized in that many songs of a specific genre are cached and the songs of that genre are immediately applied.

  In addition, when there is a reply from the plurality of karaoke apparatuses in response to the inquiry, “song data can be transmitted”, a transmission request may be returned to the apparatus that responded first, and the apparatus can be sent to the above-mentioned transmittable message. It is also possible to include data indicating the current load status, select a device with a light load, and return a transmission request to the device.

  When a song stored in the hard disk storage device 8 as a cached song is transmitted to another karaoke device 6, the other device also writes this song data as a cached song on the hard disk. The song will be duplicated. If priority is given to the priority of songs in each karaoke device, this is sufficient, and if the number of cache songs is to be increased by eliminating duplication, this cache song can be deleted on the sending side, or The receiving and playing side should discard this song after the performance. In this case, if it is the cache music of another karaoke apparatus, s22 and s23 of FIG. 4 should just be skipped. In contrast to the above, when the cache music is transmitted to another device, the order of the cache music may be updated.

  In the above embodiment, the music data stored in the CD-ROM of the own device is also transferred from the karaoke device when stored in the other hard disk storage device 8, but the CD of the own device is used. The music data stored in the ROM may not be transferred from another device, and may wait until the own CD-ROM changer 9 can be used. That is, s7, s8 and s9, s10, s11 in FIG. 3 may be interchanged.

The figure which shows the network system of the karaoke apparatus which is embodiment of this invention Block diagram showing schematic configuration of karaoke equipment Flow chart showing operation of the karaoke apparatus Flow chart showing operation of the karaoke apparatus Flow chart showing operation of the karaoke apparatus

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Karaoke system, 2 ... Distribution center,
4 ... Network, 5 ... Network modem,
6 ... karaoke device, 8 ... hard disk storage device,
9 ... CD-ROM changer,
222 ... Cache data storage area

Claims (3)

A karaoke device in which multiple units are connected on a network,
Center communication means for communicating with a distribution center having a distribution function of karaoke song data;
Network communication means for communicating with other karaoke devices connected to the network via the network;
Storage means for storing karaoke song data;
New song data writing means for receiving new song data from the distribution center and storing the song data as new song data in the storage means;
Cache data writing means for receiving music data from another karaoke apparatus or distribution center and storing the received music data with priority as cache data;
When there is a request for a karaoke song, if the song data of the requested song is new song data stored in the storage means, the new song data is read and the song data of the requested song is stored in the storage means. If the cache data is stored, the cache data is read and the priority of the cache data is set to the highest order. When the song data of the requested song is not stored in the storage means, Music data reading means for receiving and reading from the karaoke apparatus or the distribution center and for writing the read music data to the cache data writing means as uppermost cache data;
A karaoke device equipped with
The cache data writing means, when writing the music data as cache data, if the capacity of the storage means is full, the cache data having the lowest priority is written after being erased.   2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the received music data is cache data of another karaoke apparatus, the reading means does not write the music data to the cache data writing means.   The reading means transfers cache data to another karaoke device when there is a cache data transmission request from another karaoke device, and sets the priority of the transferred cache data to a lower order. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1.

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