JP2011048183A - Karaoke machine having feature in automatic power-off control - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve power saving by automatic power-off control of power supply of each Karaoke machine installed in the large number of Karaoke rooms in suitable timing corresponding to using condition for each room, without imposing great burden on the employee of a store, or without employing a structure that human error is easily caused, or a structure with high equipment cost, which is intensively operated by remote control at a front desk etc. <P>SOLUTION: When a request music is finished, when a human sensor 21 does not sense any person while the next request music is registered, a first timer is started, and when a human sensor 21 does not sense any person while the request music is not registered, a second timer is started. When the human sensor 21 does not sense any person, by the time when time of the first timer or the second timer is up, a main power supply (20) is turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus characterized by automatic power-off control, and more particularly to a karaoke apparatus in which power-off control is performed using a human sensor that detects a person.

  In a karaoke store where karaoke devices are installed in multiple rooms, such as karaoke boxes, basically, employees of the store go around each room (karaoke room) and turn on / off the karaoke device one by one. I am doing work. Specifically, turn on the karaoke device in the room before the user enters the karaoke room, and turn off the karaoke device in the room after the user leaves the karaoke room. Do.

  However, in stores where karaoke rooms are set up across the floors of the building or stores where the number of karaoke rooms is extremely large, it takes a lot of labor to turn the power on and off each time a customer enters and leaves the room. Along with. For this reason, in such stores, the power of the karaoke device in each room is turned on once before the store opens, and can remain on until the store closes regardless of the user's entrance / exit. In many cases, this causes wasteful power consumption.

  Even when the power of the karaoke apparatus is kept on from the opening to the closing, it is necessary to turn off the power of the karaoke apparatus installed in each karaoke room manually at the time of closing. This work is also quite hard work if the number of installed devices is large. Also, because it is manually done, there are times when you forget to cut it. Therefore, in a store with a large number of installations, it is considered to introduce an off-timer function that automatically turns off the main power supply of the karaoke apparatus at a predetermined time.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-7690 (Patent Document 1), when a use start time and a use time of each room are input to a computer installed at the front of a karaoke store, the computer turns on the power of the karaoke device. In addition, a technique is disclosed in which the end time and the remaining time are calculated from the start time and the usage time, and the power to the karaoke apparatus is turned off when the remaining time becomes “0”.

  Further, in Patent No. 3515061 (Patent Document 2) and Patent No. 3515064 (Patent Document 3), when a scheduled time for turning off the main power of the karaoke device is set for each karaoke device, and the set time has passed A technique of off-timer control for turning off the main power supply of the karaoke apparatus according to the performance state of the requested music is disclosed.

  In Patent No. 3993034 (Patent Document 4), as a power saving measure, a human sensor for detecting a person is used as a power outlet power source of an electrical facility in a guest room (peripheral devices excluding lighting, a ventilation fan, and a karaoke device main body). Thus, a technique for on / off control for each room is disclosed. According to this technology, power can be saved by frequently turning off the power of the equipment according to the use situation of the guest room without adopting a configuration that requires high equipment costs such as centralized remote control at the front desk etc. be able to.

JP 4-7690 A Japanese Patent No. 3515061 Japanese Patent No. 3515064 Japanese Patent No. 3993034

  The technology used by store employees to input the start time and use time of each karaoke room to a computer installed at the front of the store, and to turn off the power of the karaoke device in each room individually based on this input. While it is possible to save labor for turning off the power of the karaoke apparatus in each room one by one, human error is likely to occur when an employee enters the use start time and use time of each room. For example, when there are many customers such as weekends, it is easy to make mistakes such as entering the usage time incorrectly. In addition, there is an equipment cost for centrally controlling the power supply of the karaoke apparatus in each room by a front computer.

  For each karaoke device, set the scheduled time to turn off the main power of the karaoke device, and the off timer control to turn off the main power of the karaoke device according to the performance state of the requested song when the set time has passed, Although there may not be equipment costs to centrally remotely control the power off of each karaoke device with the front computer, employees have to set the scheduled time to turn off the main power for each karaoke device. It is necessary to go around the karaoke device in each room, and in the end, in this case, the labor burden of the employee is not reduced.

  If only power saving is considered, a human sensor may be installed in each karaoke room, and the power outlet of the electrical equipment in the room where the human sensor is not detected can be turned off. The main power source of the karaoke device cannot be included in the electrical equipment to be controlled. A karaoke apparatus, which is a kind of computer system configured using a microprocessor, needs to correctly execute a predetermined on-control / off-control procedure (program) when the main power is turned on / off. Forcibly turning off the power without causing a failure.

  The human sensor does not always correctly detect the karaoke room even when the karaoke room is in use. For example, there are many cases where a user temporarily unattended a karaoke room being used due to a use such as a toilet.

  Moreover, even if there is a user in the room, there is no guarantee that the human sensor will always detect it. A typical human sensor currently used most frequently is a pyroelectric infrared sensor, which detects temperature changes caused by infrared rays radiated naturally from a person or animal having a temperature. . This pyroelectric infrared sensor may not be detected if the detection target person is stationary for a certain period of time. Furthermore, there is a detection blind spot in the sensor, and if the user happens to be in that blind spot, it may not be detected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the technical background as described above, and its purpose is not to put a great deal of labor on store employees, but also to concentrate on a configuration that tends to cause human error or at the front. Without adopting expensive equipment cost configuration such as remote control, the power of karaoke equipment installed in many karaoke rooms is automatically turned off at an appropriate timing according to the usage situation of each room The object is to provide a karaoke apparatus that can save power.

The karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is specified by the following items (1) to (6).
(1) A karaoke device provided with a human sensor and control means and capable of automatically turning off the main power source. (2) The human sensor is a person in a room where the karaoke device is installed. (3) The control means registers the requested song in the queue when the human sensor detects a person when one requested song registered in the queue has been played. If it has been registered, it is played, and if it is not registered, the program between songs is played back. (4) When the control means finishes playing the requested song registered in the queue, If the requested song is registered in the queue, the first timer is started. If the requested song is not registered in the queue, the second timer is started. (5) The first timer is time If the human sensor detects a person before the start, the requested music registered in the queue is played, and if the first timer times out without the human sensor detecting a person, the main power supply (6) When the human sensor detects a person before the second timer expires, the control means plays an inter-song program, and the human sensor does not detect the person. Turn off the main power when the timer expires

  Numerous karaoke rooms without burdening store employees and without adopting a configuration that is prone to human error or a configuration with high equipment costs such as centralized remote control at the front desk The power of the karaoke apparatus installed in the room can be automatically turned off at an appropriate timing according to the use situation of each room, and power can be saved.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the karaoke apparatus which makes one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement outline | summary of the component which makes the principal part of this invention.

=== Hardware configuration of karaoke equipment ===
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a hardware main body of a karaoke apparatus used in the system of the present invention.
This karaoke apparatus is a computer application device equivalent to a well-known personal computer, and the central processing unit 11 that forms the core of the karaoke apparatus forms a computer main body including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM.

  Under the control and management of the central processing unit 11, a karaoke host device via a hard disk device 12 as a large-capacity external storage, an optical disk playback device 13 such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, and a public communication line such as an optical communication line A communication control device 14 that communicates with a database server or the like, a user interface device 15 that exchanges input from a user and a response to the user, and generates an acoustic signal of accompaniment music based on MIDI music performance data Music generating device 16, accompaniment music, acoustic device 17 that amplifies acoustic signals from microphone 171, etc. and produces sound from speaker 172, display (display device) 182 using LCD, PDP, etc., should be displayed on this display 182 Video processing device 18 for processing video data, I / O such as USB port O), such as port 19, and the main power supply unit 20 is installed.

  The hard disk device 12 stores karaoke data including accompaniment music data mainly composed of MIDI data and lyric character data that is a generation origin of lyrics subtitles for a large number of karaoke songs. In addition, for the long-format video data in a predetermined format, script data that defines the video data processing sequence (storage location and processing order of video data to be processed, etc.) Table of contents information such as the release year and the singing part of the lyrics is also stored. Further, an inter-music program described later is also stored.

  The communication control device 14 includes a LAN interface 141. The karaoke apparatus is connected to a LAN in the store via the LAN interface 141, and is connected to an external computer or the like installed at the front via the LAN in the store. Further, the in-store LAN is connected to a dedicated line or a public communication line (WAN) via a router, and communicates with an external karaoke host device or a database server.

  The user interface device 15 includes an operation panel 151 of the karaoke device main body and a karaoke remote control device 152. In order to exchange operation information with the karaoke remote control device 152, short distance wireless communication means (IrDA transceiver, infrared LED, infrared light receiving element) capable of bidirectional communication is provided.

=== Karaoke performance reservation process ===
The central processing unit 11 identifies karaoke data, script data, table of contents information and the like of each music piece by the music piece ID, and manages this as a karaoke database. The central processing unit 11 receives a reservation command (request) from the user interface device 15. The reservation command includes a music ID (music identification code). When this reservation command is received, the music IDs included in the command are registered at the end of the processing reservation queue in the order of reception. And music ID is taken out sequentially from the head of a queue. When the music ID is extracted from the queue, the karaoke data for the corresponding music is extracted from the karaoke database and used for performance processing.

=== Inter-program and its playback process ===
When the music ID is not registered in the queue, the central processing unit 11 reproduces the inter-music program. An inter-song program is a sub-content such as advertising and publicity that is played between karaoke songs that are the main content. In this inter-song program, for example, introduction of new songs and provision of concert information to customers Etc. are performed.

  This inter-music program, which is created in accordance with the time of day, time zone, etc., is distributed from the distribution center to each karaoke device via a communication line and downloaded to the karaoke database in the karaoke device. The karaoke database always stores the latest inter-program programs.

  The central processing unit 11 selects the latest and accurate ones of the downloaded inter-program programs according to the time of day, time zone, and the user's preferences ascertained from the tendency of the requested music. Let it play.

=== Human sensor, signal output device, main power supply unit ===
A human sensor 21 and a signal output device 22 are connected to the I / O port 19. The human sensor 21 is configured using a pyroelectric infrared sensor, and its detection state is periodically checked by the central processing unit 11. The signal output device 22 operates under the control of the central processing unit 11, and outputs an illumination-off command signal to an external illumination control device in the form of a wireless signal such as infrared light or visible light.

  The main power supply unit 20 is controlled to be turned on / off by a predetermined control program executed by the central processing unit 11.

=== Component Parts Characterizing the Invention ===
In the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, control means for controlling the main power supply unit 20 and the like of the karaoke apparatus based on the detection of the human sensor 21 and the karaoke use status is configured in the central processing unit 11 as software.

  The control program executed by the control means includes a control program for automatically turning on / off the main power supply unit 20 of the karaoke apparatus in a predetermined procedure. The human sensor 21 is connected to the input / output port 19 of the karaoke device, and detects whether or not there is a person in the room where the karaoke device is installed.

=== Automatic main power-off control ===
In FIG. 2, when the requested music is registered in the queue, the control means plays the requested music (S101 → S102). On the other hand, if the requested song is not registered in the queue, the program between songs is played (S101 → S105).

  Here, when one of the requested songs registered in the queue is finished, if the human sensor detects a person, if the requested song is registered in the holding queue, it is played ( If it is not registered, the program between songs is reproduced (S104 → S101 → S105).

  On the other hand, when one of the requested songs registered in the queue is finished and the human sensor does not detect a person, the first timer is started if the requested song is registered in the queue ( If the requested music is not registered in the queue (S104 → S106 → S107), the second timer is started (S104 → S106 → S111).

Here, when the first timer is started, the control means operates as follows.
That is, if the human sensor detects a person before the first timer expires, the requested song registered in the queue is played (S107 → S108 → S101). However, if the first timer expires without the human sensor detecting a person, a predetermined power-off control program is executed to turn off the main power (S107 → S108 → S109 → S110).

On the other hand, when the second timer is started, the control means operates as follows.
That is, if the human sensor detects a person before the second timer expires, an inter-music program is played (S111 → S112 → S101 → S105). However, if the second timer expires without the human sensor detecting a person, a predetermined power-off control program is executed to turn off the main power (S111 → S112 → S113 → S110).

  In other words, when the human sensor does not detect a person, if there is registration of the requested song, a predetermined time set by the first timer is set, and if there is no registration of the requested song, it is set by the second timer. The main power-off control is executed after a predetermined time. However, even if the first or second timer is activated, if the human sensor detects a person before the timer expires, the timer is initialized to the state before activation ( The process before the timer is started is repeated (S108 → S101, S112 → S101).

  By the above, without imposing a great labor burden on store employees, without adopting a configuration that is prone to human error, or a configuration that requires high equipment costs such as centralized remote control at the front, It is possible to save power by automatically turning off the power of karaoke devices installed in many karaoke rooms at an appropriate timing according to the use situation of each room.

=== Set time of the first timer and the second timer ===
The set time of the first timer is set longer than the set time of the second timer. Both timers are activated when the human sensor does not detect a person, but the first timer says that the human sensor does not detect a person even though the requested song is registered in the queue. Invoked in the situation. In this situation, there is a high possibility that the user has just left the karaoke room being used temporarily for use such as a toilet. Therefore, in this case, it is preferable from the viewpoint of customer service to set a long grace time until the power-off control is executed.

  On the other hand, the second timer is started in a situation where the requested music is not registered in the queue and the human sensor does not detect a person. This situation is likely to occur when the user has finished using the karaoke and has left the karaoke room. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to set the grace time until the power-off control is performed so long that it is preferable to set at least shorter than the first timer in terms of power saving measures.

=== Lighting-off command to external lighting control device ===
When the first or second timer expires before the human sensor detects a person, a predetermined power-off control program is executed to turn off the main power (S110). At this time, the signal output device By configuring the control means so as to output an illumination-off command signal from the external illumination control device 22 to the external illumination control device, the illumination power source can be turned off together with the main power source of the karaoke device, thereby saving power. Can be further enhanced.

  Furthermore, when the external illumination control device supports the illumination off command signal by a radio signal such as infrared rays, by outputting the illumination off command signal by the radio signal, without accompanying the work burden such as wiring, It is possible to save lighting.

=== Notification of status data ===
As shown in FIG. 1, the karaoke apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a LAN interface 141 that enables communication with an external computer, and the current operation state is provided via the LAN interface 141. Function for notifying the external computer of the status data expressing whether the karaoke is being played, the program between songs is being played, the first timer is operating, or the second timer is operating. Can be configured. Thereby, it becomes possible to accurately manage and grasp the use situation of each room from the computer at the front of the store.

=== Automatic main power on control ===
Although not shown, after the main power is turned off by the power off control program, the human sensor detects the person in the standby operation executed in the power saving mode (or sleep mode) when the main power is off. It is also possible to periodically check whether or not a person is detected, and when a person is detected by the check, a power-on control program is executed to automatically turn on the power.

  In the standby operation executed in the power saving mode when the main power is turned off, when the front computer is accessed periodically via the LAN, and the power on command is received from the front computer through the periodic access. A power-on control program may be executed to automatically turn on the power.

11 Central processing unit 12 Hard disk device 13 Optical disk playback device 14 Communication control device 141 LAN interface (I / F)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 User interface apparatus 151 Operation panel 152 Karaoke remote control apparatus 16 Music production | generation apparatus 171 Microphone 172 Speaker 17 Sound apparatus 18 Video processing apparatus 182 Display (display apparatus)
19 I / O (input / output) port 20 Main power supply unit 21 Human sensor 22 Signal output device

Claims (5)

The karaoke apparatus specified by the following items (1) to (6).
(1) A karaoke device provided with a human sensor and control means and capable of automatically turning off the main power source. (2) The human sensor is a person in a room where the karaoke device is installed. (3) The control means registers the requested song in the queue when the human sensor detects a person when one requested song registered in the queue has been played. If it has been registered, it is played, and if it is not registered, the program between songs is played back. (4) When the control means finishes playing the requested song registered in the queue, If the requested song is registered in the queue, the first timer is started. If the requested song is not registered in the queue, the second timer is started. (5) The first timer is time If the human sensor detects a person before the start, the requested music registered in the queue is played, and if the first timer times out without the human sensor detecting a person, the main power supply (6) When the human sensor detects a person before the second timer expires, the control means plays an inter-song program, and the human sensor does not detect the person. Turn off the main power when the timer expires The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set time of the first timer is longer than the set time of the second timer. Provided with a signal output means capable of outputting a lighting off command signal to an external lighting control device,
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs an illumination off command signal from the signal output unit when the main power supply is turned off. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal output means outputs a wireless illumination-off command signal. With a LAN interface that enables communication with external computers,
The control means can notify the external computer of state data expressing whether the current operation state is during karaoke performance, during inter-program playback, during the first timer operation, or during the second timer operation. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1.

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